Speech #730143901

Denial of the right of the husband to renounce citizenship on the same terms as the wife. upon marriage to an alien. This right Is equalized by the present bill. 3. Denial of the right of the alien woman to transmit nationality to her minor children upon her own naturalization. on the same terms that an alien father can transmit nationality to them by his own naturalization. The present bill equalizes this right. 4. Denial of the right of the alien husband of an American wife to acquire nationality on the same terms that an alien wife can* be naturalized. The present bill would equalize this right by declaring that a residence of 3 years Is required of an alien spouse of an American citizen before he or she can be naturalized. This lowers the residence requirement by 2 years for the alien husband and raises it by 2 years for the alien wife. 5. A few minor discriminations in the present law would also be repealed by this bill. A. At present the widow of a foreign man who has died before completing his naturalization may receive credit for the steps her deceased husband had taken. and proceed from that point to naturalize herself. Inasmuch as the naturalization of women is no longer derived through the naturalization of the husband. that part of the law would be repealed by the present bill. B. At present. when a foreign man who has taken out his naturalization papers becomes insane. his alien wife can proceed to her own naturalization with credit for the steps previously taken by her insane husband. For the reason stated above. this provision of the law would be repealed by the present bill. C. The remaining amendments are pro forma. to eliminate matter outlawed by the present bill if passed. The equal nationality bill. as submitted by women. consisted of provisions on the above points which merely equalize the existing law. in order to establish at every point the principle of equal nationality rights between men and women citizens. The House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization. in its Judgment. decided to make. at the same time. certain changes in the laws themselves. On these changes women are taking no stand. They are matters for the Congress to decide upon.