Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2010 - Authorizes the government of Puerto Rico: (1) to conduct a plebiscite giving voters the option to vote to continue Puerto Rico's present political status or to have a different political status; (2) if a majority of ballots favor continuing the present status, to conduct additional such plebiscites every eight years; and (3) if a majority of ballots favor having a different status, to conduct a plebiscite on the options of becoming fully independent from the United States, forming with the United States a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the Constitution, being admitted as a state of the Union, or continuing its present political status.
Prescribes the eligibility requirements for voting in a plebiscite. Requires the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to: (1) certify plebiscite results to the President and Congress; and (2) ensure that all ballots used for a plebiscite include the full content of the ballot printed in English. Directs the Commission to inform persons voting in a plebiscite that if Puerto Rico retains its current political status or is admitted as a state: (1) the official language requirements of the federal government shall apply to Puerto Rico; and (2) it is the best interest of the United States for the teaching of English to be promoted in Puerto Rico as the language of opportunity and empowerment in order to enable students in public schools to achieve English language proficiency.
Requires the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to pay all costs associated with such plebiscite (including the costs of printing, distribution, transportation, collection, and counting of all ballots).
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Burton (IN) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Burton (IN) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Velazquez amendment number 5.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Velazquez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Velazquez demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Velazquez amendment number 6.
DEBATE - At the conclusion of debate on the Velazquez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Velazquez amendment in the nature of a substitute number 7.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Velazquez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (WA) amendment in the nature of a substitute.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the question of adoption of amendments which had been previously debated and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2499.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text: CR H3041)
Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources. (consideration: CR H3057-3058; text: CR H3057)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (WA) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with an amendment to allow Puerto Rico to be admitted as a State of the Union and ensure that english shall be the official language of the State; and to allow the residents of Puerto Rico to have the right to own, possess, carry, or use firearms for lawful defense.
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H3058)
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 194 - 198 (Roll no. 241).
Roll Call #241 (House)Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 223 - 169, 1 Present (Roll no. 242).
Roll Call #242 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 223 - 169, 1 Present (Roll no. 242).
Roll Call #242 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.