THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 23, 2000
EXECUTIVE ORDER
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ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT'S TASK
FORCE
ON PUERTO RICO'S STATUS
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including Public Law 106-346, it is
hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the executive branch of the
Government of the United States of America to help answer the questions
that the people of Puerto Rico have asked for years regarding the options
for the islands? future status and the process for realizing an option.
Further, it is our policy to consider and develop positions on proposals,
without preference among the options, for the Commonwealth?s future status;
to discuss such proposals with representatives of the people of Puerto Rico
and the Congress; to work with leaders of the Commonwealth and the Congress
to clarify the options to enable Puerto Ricans to determine their
preference among options for the islands? future status that are not
incompatible with the Constitution and basic laws and policies of the
United States; and to implement such an option if chosen by a majority,
including helping Puerto Ricans obtain a governing arrangement under which
they would vote for national government officials, if they choose such a
status.
Sec. 2. The President's Task Force on Puerto Rico?s Status. There is
established a task force to be known as "The President?s Task Force on
Puerto Rico?s Status" (Task Force). It shall be composed of designees of
each member of the President's Cabinet and the Co-Chairs of the President's
Interagency Group on Puerto Rico (Interagency Group). The Task Force shall
be co-chaired by the Attorney General's designee and a Co-Chair of the
Interagency Group.
Sec. 3. Functions. The Task Force shall seek to implement the policy
set forth in section 1 of this order. It shall ensure official attention
to and facilitate action on matters related to proposals for Puerto Rico?s
status and the process by which an option can be realized. It shall
provide advice and recommendations on such matters to the President and the
Congress. It shall also provide advice and recommendations to assist the
Executive Office of the President in fulfilling its responsibilities under
Public Law 106-346 to transfer funding to the Elections Commission of the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for public education on and a public choice
among options for Puerto Rico?s future status that are not incompatible
with the Constitution and the basic laws and policies of the United States.
Sec. 4. Report. The Task Force shall report on its actions to the
President not later than May 1, 2001, and thereafter as needed but not less
than annually on progress made in the determination of Puerto Rico?s
ultimate status.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 23, 2000.
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