Speech #730144050

In regard to the capacity of an American father and an American mother to transmit American nationality to a child born abroad: The principal change which this legislation will make in the nationality laws of the United States will be to remove the present inequality between a father and mother with regard to the capacity to transmit nationality to a legitimate child born outside the United States. The present law of the United States on this subject discriminates against the mother. This law is as follows: "A legitimate child born outside the jurisdiction of the United States of a father having United States citizenship at the time of the childs birth has United States citizenship (regardless of whether the father is a native or a naturalized citizen) if the father has at some time prior to the childs birth resided in the United States. In order to receive the protection of the United States. such a child. If it should continue to reside outside the United States. must record at an American consulate upon reaching the age of 18 its intention to become a resident and remain a citizen of the United States. and must take the oath of allegiance to the United States upon reaching majority. On the other hand. a legitimate child born outside the jurisdiction *of the United States of a mother having United States citizenship and a foreign father has no claim to United States citizenship." Considerable objection has been raised against this legislation because of the possibility of increasing immigration. It was stated on the floor a few days ago by the gentleman from Ohio. and a former member of the Committee on Immigration. Mr. JENKINS. who. in explaining that he had previously opposed this bill. stated that such opposition was not on the grounds of immigration. which latter he considered to be negligible. If the sole desire of those opposing it on such grounds were to decrease immigration by denying admission to either sex entering into marriage with foreigners. immigration. indeed. would be much more greatly restricted by turning the tables and allowing only female American citizens the right to transmit nationality to their children. for. indeed. Mr. Speaker. it is a wellaccepted fact that at least 10 males contract foreign marriages to that of 1 female.