Speech #820254330

Mr. President. House bill 401 Is designed to grant expeditious naturalization and other benefits under the naturalization laws to aliens who have served. are serving. or who shall serve actively and honorably In our Armed Forces between June 25. 1950. and June 30. 1955. both dates inclusive. The bill is In principle patterned generally after legislation enacted during World War II. and which was carried forward in section 324A of the Nationality Act of 1940. as amended. Under that legislation more than 100.000 persons were naturalized. more than 13.000 of whom were naturalized overseas. As approved by the Senate committee. the bill differs in policy from the bill as it passed the House of Representatives in two significant respects: First. the bill as passed by the House of Representatives would extend the benefits of the act to certain aliens who have not been admitted into the United States for permanent residence. The committee bill would limit the category of aliens who benefit under the bill to certain aliens who have been lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent residence. The purpose here is to prevent naturalization of aliens who jump ship or who otherwise remain in the United States in an illegal status but who succeed in getting in our Armed Forces. Second. the bill. as passed by the House of Representatives. did not require. as does the bill which the Senate committee has reported. that the alien to obtain the benefits of the act must have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States for a period or periods totaling not less than 30 days. Since this bill was reported. Congress has passed the Immigration and Nationality Act over the Presidents veto. That act. when it becomes effective 6 months from now. will operate to repeal the Nationality Act of 1940. Thus we have a technical situation which must be met by further technical amendments in this bill.