Speech #900204402

The peacetime serviceman must petition while still in the service or within 6 months after its termination. the wartime serviceman has no time limitation. The peacetime serviceman needs a lawful admission for permanent residence. while the wartime serviceman can substitute in its stead his induction or enlistment while in the United States. These distinctions between naturalization benefits accorded wartime veterans and benefits available to those who served during times of peace have always been a part of the act. Inasmuoh as the benefits of section 329 are presently limited to specified periods of time. such as in the case of Korean veterans who served between June 25. 1950. and July 1. 1955. aliens now serving in Vietnam are eligible only for the benefits of peacetime service found in section 328. In view of the fact that these aliens serving in Vietnam are willing to give our country faithful and honorable service. even to the point of laying down their lives in combat. they deserve the benefits of citizenship of this country for which they are fighting. Many of my colleagues shared this view and Joined with me in introducing bills to confer to them the naturalization benefits of section 329. My Subcommittee on Immigration and Nationality held extensive hearings and meetings on these bills. in both public and executive sessions. We received testimony from Members of Congress. from officials of the Departments of State and Justice. from military representatives of the Department of Defense. and from representatives of veterans organizations. In evaluating this testimony. it was the considered judgment of the subcommittee that section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act relating to wartime service should be amended to provide these expeditious naturalization benefits on a continuing basis for aliens who served. or will serve at any time in the future. and actual areas of combat. This approach is distinguished from prior legislation wherein expeditious naturalization benefits were made available to aliens serving in our Armed Forces between periods of time relating to World War I. World War II. and Korea. These benefits. for the most part. were enacted into law after hostilities ceased. and specified beginning and cutoff dates of qualifying honorable service which was not limited as to in what area of the world the service was performed.