Speech #770013395

Ohio. 196.214. Connecticut. 152.664. It is expected that a complete index of all noncitizens will be available July 1. Receipt cards are now going out to registrants at a daily rate of 80.000. while the Federal Bureau of Investigation is clearing fingerprint forms at the rate of 50.000 daily. By March 1 it is hoped all registered aliens will have received their cards. I feel it is my duty to bring these facts to the attention of the House. because I feel it is the responsibility of Congress to formulate plans which will simplify the procedure for worthy aliens to avail themselves of our citizenship. I do not know the reason why such a large number of people have not availed themselves of our naturalization laws. but the fact remains that there are almost 5.000.000 unnaturalized aliens within the borders of our country. A great many of these aliens upon entering our country signified their intention of becoming permanent residents. Certainly all those of this group who are eligible should have become citizens or. at least. filed their declaration of intention. I realize that many of these aliens have applied for citizenship but. for one reason or another. failed to qualify. To my personal knowledge. there are many persons now advanced in years who have been residents of this country for more than a quarter of a century who are not citizens. although in many cases they are the parents of some of our most outstanding Americans. It seems a pity that people who have made such a substantial contribution to the welfare of our Government through their children. should not find it possible to obtain their certificates of naturalization. I hope that the membership of the House will give serious consideration to this alien problem and that the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization shall formally invite the membership to submit suggestions as to ways and means of solving the problem. I sincerely believe that remedial legislation should be prepared at once and that the best minds of the House should be directed in the bringing about of legislation sympathetic and humanitarian. Section 313 of Public 853. Seventysixth Congress. provides that a foreignborn child may be deemed a citizen of the United States when the parent becomes naturalized while such child is under the age of 18. I think we might also deem an alien parent a citizen when the aliens children born in the United States become 21 years of age. notwithstanding any other provision of law except as to continuous residence in the United States since the birth of the child and the requirement as to good character. I ask and hope for your cooperation.