WASHINGTON, July 31 -- As Puerto Rico prepares for a plebiscite in
December, a Senate committee chairman today released a scaled-back draft
bill that defines the three options: commonwealth, statehood or
independence.
The bill was released by Senator Frank H. Murkowski, the Alaska
Republican who heads the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Mr.
Murkowski said he had tried to use ''accurate'' and ''neutral''
definitions in the bill for the plebiscite, which is to be held on Dec.
13.
But Puerto Rico's Governor, Pedro J. Rossello, said he did not expect
the plebiscite to be approved by Congress because the Senate would
probably not pass a bill this year. The House has narrowly passed its
version of legislation that would recognize a plebiscite, and Governor
Rossello has said he will use the House language in the plebiscite.
Mr. Murkowski's bill makes clear that whether Puerto Rico is a
commonwealth, or a territory of the United States, Puerto Ricans are
citizens by Federal law, not by constitutional right, a definition that
commonwealth supporters vigorously oppose because they argue that
citizenship should be guaranteed.
Mr. Murkowski sought to allay concerns today by emphasizing that
Puerto Ricans should not fret about losing their citizenship.
''As long as Puerto Rico remains under U.S. sovereignty,'' he said at
a news conference here, ''its residents will remain U.S. citizens.''
Mr. Murkowski said his committee would consider the bill in
September, after the August break. But he cautioned that few legislative
days remained for the Senate this year.
Puerto Ricans were granted United States citizenship in 1917, and
their island was incorporated as a commonwealth in 1952. They can be
drafted into the military, but they cannot vote for Federal elected
officials, do not pay Federal taxes and cannot collect most Federal
benefits.
The House passed its version of the bill in March, and while it
includes definitions similar to those in the Murkowski bill, there are
differences. The Senator's language is narrower and does not direct
Puerto Rico to hold a plebiscite or compel Congress to act on it.
Critics say both bills favor statehood, although Mr. Murkowski tried to
blunt that accusation with language in his version.
Mr. Rossello, who advocates statehood, has asked the Puerto Rican
Legislature in its special August session to approve his bill for a
plebiscite. If no United States law is enacted by December, Mr. Rossello
asks that the language from the House bill serve as the foundation for
the plebiscite, since it has already cleared that chamber. The Governor
also said he favored the House bill, which Mr. Murkowski has rejected.
Mr. Rossello visited Capitol Hill today to lobby for
self-determination.
''If the Senate feels that this is a better version,'' he said,
''then the minimum the Senate should do is approve its version.''
