Speaker. H.R. 525 is introduced by the gentleman from California . This bill would permit the naturalization of Filipino veterans who fought valiantly in the Second World War for the United States as well as for their homeland of the Philippines. Over 40 years ago Congress extended a promise to these Filipino soldiers by amending the Nationality Act of 1940 and allowing them to apply for naturalization. Unfortunately. the opportunity to apply was rescinded when an executive decision was made to remove the naturalization examiners from the Philippines for a 9month period during which applications could have been made. Many lawsuits have arisen from that decision. In 1988 the Supreme Court ruled in the case of INS versus Pangilinan. The Court ruled it had no power to confer citizenship rights since Congress. in the exercise of its exclusive constitutional authority over naturalization. imposed limitations as to the time for filing naturalization petitions pursuant to the act. For that reason. many Filipino veterans have been cut off from any opportunity to exercise the naturalization rights which Congress extended to them back in the 1940s. Mr. Speaker. we have the opportunity today in this legislation to extend to these heroic Filipino veterans the right to apply for United States citizenship 40 years after the time when we intended to have that go in effect. This legislation is supported by the administration. by the American Legion. by the Filipino Ambassador to the United States. and by the United FilipinoAmerican World War II Veterans Association. In considering the legal immigration reform bill in this session of the 101st Congress. the Senate has passed similar legislation as amended. The Veterans Administration estimates that there are approximately 60.000 World War II veterans who may avail themselves of the benefits of this legislation. In order to avail themselves of the benefits of this legislation. the individuals will need to travel to the United States and make application for this naturalization process. Mr. Speaker.
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naturalization immigration