Date: 2003-06-04
Speaker: LINDA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to stand here and support this bill. but I just want to bring peoples attention to one part of the bill in particular I am concerned .about. and that is parents of legal permanent resident soldiers killed in combat who are not eligible for citizenship if they were outside the United States at the time their child was killed. Those same parents would be eligible for citizenship if they are. here in the United States. It makes no sense to differentiate between the two. A parent is a parent. whether or not they happen to have gone to their home country for a short time. or whether they are in the process of waiting for a visa application renewal. or whether some other circumstances have forced them to be outside the U.S. when their child was killed: I urge the other body to correct this aspect of the bill. but I rise in support of the bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. In this country. noncitizens have worn our military uniforms and fought In our battles throughout our history. One of my uncles served in the military as a legal permanent resident during the Korean War. Now. approximately 3 percent of our military are legal permanent residents. I am a strong supporter of measures that provide opportunities for legal permanent residents serving in our military to become U.S. citizens. These individuals are making enormous sacrifices. Without being citizens. and without having the protections that status would give them. these immigrant men and women are willing to risk their own lives to defend this nation. The least we can do Is give them something In return. What this bill does Is to provide them the opportunity to apply for citizenship after 2 years of military service. instead of the 3 years requirement in current law. It also allows for the spouse and children of legal permanent resident soldiers. killed in action. to apply for citizenship. I commend Chairman SENSENBRENNER. and other Members of the House. for Introducing legislation to address this issue. I appreciate Chairman SENSENBRENNERS willingness and diligence In working closely with Democrats to produce a bill that we can support. I still have some concerns with aspects of this bill. however. and hope that we are able to work out these issues. In particular. I am concerned that parents of legal permanent resident soldiers killed in combat and not eligible for citizenship If they were outside the U.S. at the time their child was killed. Those same parents would be eligible if they are here In the U.S. It makes no sense. A parent is a parent. whether or not they happen to have gone to their home country for a short time. or whether they are In the process of waiting for a visa application renewal. or whether some other circumstance has forced them to be outside the U.S. when their child was killed.. I urge the other body to correct this aspect of the bill. In addition. during consideration of this bill in the Judiciary Committee. I joined with Mr. Berman In offering an amendment to provide a discretionary waiver to the Secretary of Homeland Security for three categories of people. Unfortunately. that amendment failed. I will work with Mr. Berman to encourage the other Body to Include this provision in their version. Again. I applaud Chairman SENSENBRENNER and other Members who have worked so diligently on this issue. I hope that. with continued work in conference with the other Body. we can produce a bill that truly honors our legal permanent resident soldiers.