The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, led by Chairwoman Donna M. Christensen (D-VI), will hold a second legislative 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.

NOTE: This hearing will serve as a continuation of the March 22, 2007 legislative hearing, and will provide further insight into H.R. 900 and H.R. 1230.

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

When:
Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at 3:00 p.m.

Where:
Room 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Witnesses:
Panel 1
Honorable C. Kevin Marshall, Co-Chair of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Political Status; Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice

Panel 2
Honorable Anibal Acevedo Vila, Governor, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Former Member of U.S. Congress; President, Popular Democratic Party
Mr. Ruben Berrios Martinez, President, Puerto Rican Independence Party
Honorable Pedro Rossello, Former Governor and current Senator, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; President, New Progressive Party

Panel 3
Honorable Kenneth D. McClintock, President of the Puerto Rican Senate
Honorable Jose Aponte-Hernandez, Speaker of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Honorable Jose L. Dalmau-Santiago, Senate Minority Leader, Popular Democratic Party
Honorable Hector Ferrer-Rios, House Minority Leader, Popular Democratic Party

Panel 4
Mr. Fernando Martin, Executive President, Puerto Rican Independence Party
Mr. Nestor Duprey, Spokesman, Puerto Ricans for Free Association and Social Justice (MAS)
Honorable Carlos Romero Barcelo, Former Governor, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Former Member of U.S. Congress
Mr. Juan Manuel Garcia Passalacqua, Lawyer, Writer, Political Analyst

Opening Statement
Chairwoman Donna M. Christensen