Notes on 48 U.S.C. § 731 : US Code - Notes

Search Notes on 48 U.S.C. § 731 : US Code - Notes

(Mar. 2, 1917, ch. 145, Sec. 1, 39 Stat. 951; May 17, 1932, ch.
190, 47 Stat. 158.)
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this
Act", meaning act Mar. 2, 1917, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951, as amended,
known as the Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act and also popularly
known as the Jones Act, which is classified principally to this
chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title note set out below and Tables.
PRIOR PROVISIONS
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act
Apr. 12, 1900, ch. 191, 31 Stat. 77, which is popularly known as
the "Foraker Act" and also as the "Puerto Rico Civil Code".
Section 1 of act Apr. 12, 1900, was similar to this section,
except that it described the adjacent islands and waters of those
islands as those lying east of the seventy-fourth meridian of
longitude west of Greenwich, which were ceded to the United States
by the Government of Spain by the treaty of Dec. 10, 1898, 30 Stat.
1754.
CHANGE OF NAME
"Puerto Rico" substituted in text for "Porto Rico" pursuant to
act May 17, 1932, which is classified to section 731a of this
title.
SHORT TITLE
Act July 3, 1950, ch. 446, Sec. 4, 64 Stat. 319, provided, in
part, that the act of Mar. 2, 1917, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951 [enacting
this chapter, section 1019 of this title, section 46 of Title 2,
The Congress, and section 358 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality,
and amending sections 325, 327, and 328 of former Title 39, Postal
Service], may be cited as the "Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act".
The act of Mar. 2, 1917, is also popularly known as the "Jones
Act".
UNITED STATES-PUERTO RICO COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF PUERTO RICO
Pub. L. 88-271, Feb. 20, 1964, 78 Stat. 17, as amended by Pub. L.
89-84, July 24, 1965, 79 Stat. 261, established a United States-
Puerto Rico Commission on the Status of Puerto Rico to study all
factors, including but not limited to applicable laws, treaties,
constitutions, and agreements having a bearing on the relationship
between the United States and Puerto Rico. The Commission was
required to render its report to the President of the United
States, the Congress of the United States, the Governor of Puerto
Rico, and the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico not later than
Sept. 30, 1966.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT
The administration of the Government of Puerto Rico was
transferred from the Bureau of Insular Affairs to the Office of
Territories (formerly the Division of Territories and Island
Possessions and now the Office of Territorial Affairs), in the
Department of the Interior by Executive Order No. 6726, eff. May
29, 1934, eff. Mar. 2, 1935. For present government of the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, see section 731d of this title.
EX. ORD. NO. 13183. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT'S TASK FORCE ON
PUERTO RICO'S STATUS
Ex. Ord. No. 13183, Dec. 23, 2000, 65 F.R. 82889, as amended by
Ex. Ord. No. 13209, Apr. 30, 2001, 66 F.R. 22105; Ex. Ord. No.
13319, Dec. 3, 2003, 68 F.R. 68233, provided:
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 [see Tables for classification], 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
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director for
Intergovernmental Affairs. The Task Force shall be co-chaired by
the Attorney General's designee and the Deputy Assistant to the
President and Director for Intergovernmental Affairs.
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 as needed, but no less frequently than once every 2
years, on progress made in the determination of Puerto Rico's
ultimate status.