Speech #850055709

Mr. President. the purpose of the bill is to enable a former naturalized United States citizen to regain his citizenship. which was lost because of residence abroad. The beneficiary of the bill is a 57yearold native of Turkey who first entered the United States on July 4. 1919. at Lewiston. N. Y.. and was admitted at that time for lawful permanent residence. On January 21. 1934. he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. and in March of the same year he returned to Greece. to marry his childhood sweetheart. For various reasons. he has remained in Greece since that date. and was held to have lost his United States citizenship under the provisions of section 404 (b) of the Nationality Act of 1940. the provisions of which became effective in October 1946. The beneficiary has 3 children. 2 of whom are presently in the United States. attending school. Under the provisions of section 404 (b) of the Nationality Act of 1940. a naturalized citizen of the United States lost his nationality by residing continuously for 3 years in the territory of the foreign country of which he was formerly a national. The effective date of this provision was extended several times because of World War II. Although the beneficiary had hoped to return to the United States prior to the effective date of October 14. 1946. it is my understanding that he suffered considerably at the hands of the German occupation troops in Greece. during the war years. as a United States citizen. and. as a result of his imprisonment. contracted a serious arthritic condition.