Speech #990184730

As a result. Filipinos are the only significant group enlisting in the Armed Forces of the United States without having first gained permanent residence status. A few Filipino service members may qualify for immigrant visas under the various preference categories and thereby qualify for citizenship under 10 U.S.C. 1439. The majority. however. are unable to qualify in this way given the preference criteria established and the huge backlog of immigrant visa applications now existing in the Philippines. Thus Filipinos would be the principal beneficiaries of the passage of H.R. Enactment of H.R. 4755 would place Filipinos on an equal footing with permanent resident aliens who enlist in the military. ensure that they receive equal treatment and comparable benefits for identical services rendered the United States. end the perceived discrimination against Filipinos who enlist in the military. and help enhance a good relationship with the Republic of the Philippines. I would add that passage of this legislation would simply restore the situation which prevailed under the Nationality Act of 1940. which included a waiver of the requirement of permanent resident status for alien service members who served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States. it would not confer any advantage to Filipino service members beyond that already granted by law to other alien service members. who differ only in having been admitted for permanent residence. It should not result in any major increase in the number of immigrants from the Philippines. A large number of Filipinos presently in the U.S. Navy already qualify under 8 U.S.C. 1440 as wartime veterans. and a few will be covered by the provisions of 8 U.S.C. 1439.