Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2006

H.R. 4963, the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2006, establishes a formal legal process for the people of Puerto Rico to decide the future political status of the island. The bill authorizes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to hold a constitutional convention where elected delegates would develop a specific proposal for self-determination, such as statehood, independence, or a modified commonwealth status.

For citizens in Puerto Rico, this legislation creates a structured path toward a permanent political status by requiring any proposal drafted by the convention to be submitted to the U.S. Congress for approval and then returned to the island’s voters for a final referendum. If the proposal is approved by both Congress and the people of Puerto Rico, the bill mandates that Congress pass a joint resolution to implement the change. If a proposal fails at any stage, the bill provides a mechanism to restart the process through a new convention and new delegates.