H.R. 2499: Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2010
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H.R. 2499: Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2010
111th Congress · introduced 2009-05-19 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2009-05-19 · official record
- Who proposed it: Resident Commissioner Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR-At Large] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: 9 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 234 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29), Agreed to. See all
- Where it stands now: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2010
Plain summary
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).
Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “Yea” vote
If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.
A “Nay” vote
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What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2010
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
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The strongest published arguments
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Alternatives
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Resident Commissioner Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR-At Large] · 181 cosponsors
Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2499, Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 (2009-07-28); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2499, Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 (2009-07-28)
Cosponsors on this site
Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Jim Costa (D-CA), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and 121 more.
Recorded votes
- House roll call 234 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Agreed to
- House roll call 235 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Failed
- House roll call 236 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Failed
- House roll call 237 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Agreed to
- House roll call 238 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Failed
- House roll call 239 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Failed
- House roll call 240 (2010): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Failed
- House roll call 241 (2010): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Failed
- House roll call 242 (2010): On Passage, HR2499 (2010-04-29): Passed
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111hr2499.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/hr>
Record fed-us-cong111-hr2499 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111