The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, led by Chairwoman Donna M. Christensen (D-VI), will hold a hearing to review legislation to address the future political status of Puerto Rico. The hearing will focus on two legislative proposals introduced in the 110^th Congress:

• H.R. 900 (Serrano), the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007: To provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico
• H.R. 1230 (Velazquez), the Puerto Rico Self Determination Act of 2007: To recognize the right of the People of Puerto Rico to call a Constitutional Convention through which the people would exercise their natural right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision.

Subject:
House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 900 (Serrano) and H.R. 1230 (Velazquez)

When:
Thursday, March 22, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.

Where:
Room 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Witnesses:
Panel 1
Mr. Kenneth Thomas, Congressional Research Service
Professor Carlos I. Gorrin Peralta , Puerto Rico's Inter-American University School of Law
Mr. Ramon Luis Nieves , Executive Director, Movimiento Autonomista Socialdemocrata
Professor Richard Pildes, New York University School of Law
Mr. Thomas C. Goldstein, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

Panel 2
Mr. Manuel Mejia, Chairman, Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Enrique Baquero, President, Puerto Rico Foundation for Democratic Action
Mr. Jose Luis Fernandez, President, Inter American Entrepreneurs Association

Panel 3
Mr. Jorge Pedroza, State Council President, Vietnam Veterans of America
Mr. Luis E. Gonzalez Vales, Official Historian of Puerto Rico
Ms. Veronica Ferraiuoli, President, Puerto Rico Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
Ms. Celina Romany, President, Puerto Rico Bar Association
Ms. Aida Diaz, President, Puerto Rico Teachers Association

Opening Statement
Chairwoman Donna M. Christensen