Speech #710212787

Clearly. if a woman does not cease to be a citizen of the United States. she is at all times an American citizen. This is precisely the status in which Mrs. Owen is placed by virtue of her naturalization under the Cable Act. She is as one who doesNot cease to be a citizen of the United States by reason of her marriage * * *. But the majority reply. "Clearly. you are construing the Cable Act as retroactive while the act itself expressly states that it is not retroactive." The majority of the committee quote section 6 of the act. which reads: That section 1994 of the Revised Statutes and section 4 of the expatriation act of 1907 are repealed. Such repeal shall not terminate citizenship acquired or retained under either of such sections nor restore citizenship lost under section 4 of the expatriation act of 1907. True. the repeal itself does not terminate citizenship. nor does such repeal restore citizenship. but the act itself provides a means by which the married woman in question may take the initiative and by availing herself of naturalization proceedings. be restored to that status of American citizenship which she lost by her marriage prior to the passage of the Cable Act. No one will contend that the Congress lacks the power to. pass a retroactive act. There are many instances of the exercise of such a power.