Mr. President. I am pleased that we have now reached the final stages of consideration of the Armed Forces Immigration Adjustment Act. This legislation is long overdue in providing special immigrant status to foreign nationals who have served honorably in our Armed Forces for at least 12 years. This bill passed the House of Representatives in the last Congress. was approved by our Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs as well as the Judiciary Committee and was cleared on all sides for final action by the Senate. But regrettably. for reasons completely unrelated to the substantial merits of this legislation. the clock ran out in the waning days of the Senate last October before final action could be taken. So I was pleased that the Senate saw fit earlier this year to make this bill among the first we passed when we reconvened in January. Mr. President. this bill is similar to provisions already in our immigration laws which grant permanent residence to foreign nationals who have served with distinction in our embassies abroad. It will reward those who honorably serve in our military for at least 12 years. This bill will principally affect Filipino servicemen in the United States Navy. which has indicated that about 400 foreign nationals enlist in our Armed Forces each year.
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immigrant Immigration Refugee immigration