Speech #840065583

The present law makes it practically impossible for these Americans to obtain citizenship for their children without resigning their jobs and establishing residence within the United States of America for a considerable time. The amendment I am proposing would afford such children a means of obtaining citizenship comparable to that under which alien wives may obtain citizenship without the residence requirements within the United States. The proposed amendment will not change the provisions of the present law which requires that before the American parents of an adopted child can apply for naturalization. the child must be lawfully admitted to the United States and must satisfy all requirements for naturalization. The proposed amendment would only waive the residence requirements for those adopted children whose parents are residing abroad for reasons of their employment. In an overwhelming majority of cases the American parents want their adopted children to be United States citizens. These children residing abroad as a part of an American family are trained to think and feel as Americans. When the child is lawfully admitted to the United States and is otherwise eligible for naturalization. yet is unable to obtain citizenship because his adoptive father cannot say in this country for a long period of residence without losing his job. such family undergoes an undue hardship. The purpose of my amendment is to eliminate such hardships. It is my hope that the Committee on the Judiciary will take favorable action The Railroad Retirement Act Is in Need of Immediate Amendment To Remove Inequities and To Increase Benefits