I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1709 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 23, 2017 Ms. Plaskett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 1, United States Code, to provide for a definition of the term State and to include territories therein, and for other purposes.

1. The term State To include territories for purposes of Federal law (a) The term State To include territories Chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 9. Rule of construction regarding the term State In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the term State shall include any territory of the United States, unless the statute, rule, regulation, or interpretation explicitly excludes the territories from the definition of the term or otherwise precludes their inclusion. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 9. Rule of construction regarding the term State . .