IB
Union Calendar No. 426
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3999
[Report No. 106–745]
To clarify the process for the adoption of local constitutional self-government
for the United States Virgin Islands and Guam, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 16, 2000
Mr. YOUNG
of Alaska (for himself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, and Mr.
FALEOMAVAEGA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
JULY 17, 2000
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 16, 2000]
A BILL
To clarify the process for the adoption of local constitutional
self-government for the United States Virgin Islands and
Guam, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
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•HR 3999 RH
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Virgin Islands and
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Guam Constitutional Self-Government Act of 2000’’.
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
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Congress makes the following findings:
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(1) Congress established a process in 1976 for the
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United States territories of the Virgin Islands and
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Guam to advance local self-government by the adop-
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tion of constitutions through their respective internal
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political processes, pursuant to Public Law 94–584
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(90 Stat. 2899), but did not require review and ap-
11
proval of those constitutions by Congress.
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(2) The Virgin Islands and Guam have not
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adopted constitutions as authorized and therefore,
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Congress has enacted amendments to the underlying
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Federal laws establishing local territorial government,
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the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, ap-
17
proved by Congress on July 22, 1954 (68 Stat. 497),
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and the Organic Act of Guam, approved by Congress
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on August 1, 1950 (64 Stat. 384), respectively, in re-
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sponse to periodic petitions from the Virgin Islands
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and Guam for various changes to the three branches
22
of government of those territories.
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(3) Congress has been requested to amend the ex-
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isting Federal authorization for constitutional govern-
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ment (Public Law 94–584; 90 Stat. 2899), to assure
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•HR 3999 RH
the people of the Virgin Islands and Guam that adop-
1
tion of a constitution would not preclude their further
2
right to self-determination.
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(4) Review and approval by Congress of any
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proposed 
constitution 
would 
ensure 
that 
the
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constitution—
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(A) is consistent with the sovereignty of the
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United States in the Virgin Islands and Guam,
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respectively, and the provisions of the United
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States Constitution, treaties and laws applicable
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to the Virgin Islands and Guam, respectively;
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(B) provides for a republican form of gov-
12
ernment, consisting of three branches (executive,
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legislative, and judicial); and
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(C) contains a bill of rights.
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SEC. 3. CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS.
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(a) CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF CONSTITUTION.—
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Section 5 of Public Law 94–584 (90 Stat. 2900) is amended
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by inserting ‘‘, which may include recommendations re-
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garding which provisions of the relevant organic Act should
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be repealed when the constitution takes effect,’’ after ‘‘to-
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gether with his comments’’.
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(b) SELF-DETERMINATION NOT AFFECTED.—Public
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Law 94–584 (90 Stat. 2899 et seq.) is amended by adding
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at the end the following new section:
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•HR 3999 RH
‘‘SEC. 6. Establishment of local constitutional self-gov-
1
ernment pursuant to this Act shall not preclude or prejudice
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the further exercise in the future by the people of Guam
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or the Virgin Islands of the right of self-determination re-
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garding the ultimate political status of either such terri-
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tory.’’.
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Union Calendar No. 426
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3999
[Report No. 106–745]
A BILL
To clarify the process for the adoption of local con-
stitutional self-government for the United States
Virgin Islands and Guam, and for other pur-
poses.
JULY 17, 2000
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed