Speech #860016609

Mr. President. the Department of the Navy has called my attention to a situation that I feel needs to be corrected. At the present time there is no provision in our immigration and naturalization laws to grant permanent resident status and thus eligibility for citizenship. to aliens who have honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States. including the Coast Guard. At the present time the Navy has the authority to recruit annually up to 2.000 Philippine nationals and the Coast Guard has the authority to recruit 500 Filipinos per year. Many of these Filipinos serve in the stewards mate ratings. but others serve in the many general ratings which make up our modern Navy. The Navy is highly pleased with the fine and loyal service performed by these men. The Department of the Navy has urged adoption of legislation to provide for the naturalization of aliens who enlist outside the United States and serve honorably in the Armed Forces. Legislation previous to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 permitted the granting of permanent resident status and United States citizenship outsideof the regular immigration quota to aliens who served honorably in the Armed Forces. I believe that there is need for such a provision in our laws at this time and I have worked closely with officials of the Navy Department in drawing up such a proposal which is contained in section 3 of the bill which I am now introducing. My proposal provides that permanent resident status may be granted aliens who have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States. including the Coast Guard. for period or periods aggregating 5 years when such alien is a person of good moral character and such action would not be contrary to the national welfare. safety. or security. Mr. President. I introduce. for appropriate reference. a bill to accord Korean war veterans equal naturalization privileges and to authorize the Attorney General to admit certain aliens who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for a period aggregating 5 years as permanent residents. and I ask unanimous consent that this bill be printed in the RECORD at the conclusion of my remarks.