Speech #1010106249

But sadly. the heroic acts of the Filipinos went unrewarded. and Americas wartime promises were unjustly rescinded through a series of ignoble acts. In 1942. Congress acted to reestablish the policy it had set forth during World War I. by providing for the naturalization of aliens honorably serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War I1. However. many veterans were unable to meet the filing deadline because of the Attorney Generals wrongful decision not to accept naturalization petitions by not assigning an examiner in the Philippines for a period of 9 months. Since that time. Filipino veterans have sought retribution in the courts. winning three circuit court judgments. In each case. the court found that the Government lacked authority to have revoked the naturalization authority in the Philippines and as such could not deny naturalization by enforcing the filing deadline. The third district court In the case of Pangilinan versus INS. held that the courts powers were sufficiently broad to offer a remedy for what it found to be the wrongful decision of the Attorney Generalnot to provide continuous naturalization authority In the Philippines during the filing period. Paradoxically enough for these valiant veterans. the Supreme Court in INS versus Pangilinan. overturned the three ninth circuit court decisions on a technicality. rather than on the merits of their case. The Supreme Court essentially stated. that the courts do not possess the legal authority to override a statutory deadline imposed by Congress on naturalization benefits that it has conferred. Only Congress. which previously recognized the contribution made by these vetetans during World War II. Is capable of restoring naturalization rights to them. Mr. Speaker. the bill that I have introduced. H.R. 525. would permit the naturalization of these veterans. and resolve their long battle for justice. This legislation would extend United States citizenship to all war veterans who were born In the Philippines and served honorably in an active duty status in the military. air. or naval forces of the United States between September 1. 1939. and December 31. 1946. It is my understanding that the Department of Justice. and the Veterans Administration support this bill.