Mr. Speaker. as a member of the Armed Services Committee. I rise in support of H.R. 15147 which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the naturalization of persons who have served in combatant areas in active duty service in the Armed Forces of the United States. The purpose in amending the act is to facilitate naturalization of aliens who have served in an active duty status in our Armed Forces in an area designated by the President as involving armed conflict after February 28. 1961. This legislation would provide the same benefits to the Vietnam veteran that was afforded our veteran aliens of World Wars I and II and the Korean conflict. Since the passage of the Nationality Act of 1940. our nationalization laws have conferred special benefits upon aliens serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. It is only appropriate that we afford to these most recent combat veterans relief from some of the general requirements for naturalization applicable to civilians. The amendment embodied in this bill does not limit the benefits of section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to Vietnam veterans but adds a new category which includes those persons who after February 28. 1961. served in any area during a period of time designated by Presidential Executive order as an area in which the Armed Forces of the United States have engaged in military operations involving armed conflict with a hostile foreign force. I urge all my colleagues to join with me in supporting H.R. 15147.
Keywords matched
naturalization Immigration