Speech #1050137444

Speaker. I rise today to introduce legislation to make a technical correction to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. The bill clarifies the right of noncitizen nationals of the United States to make contributions in connection with federal elections. Mr. Speaker. I represent the territory of American Samoa. the only U.S. soil in the Southern hemisphere. Persons born in American Samoa of noncitizen U.S. parents are given the status of U.S. national. These individuals are nationals of the United States. but not U.S. citizens. They owe their allegiance to the United States. serve in the U.S. military. carry U.S. passports. and have the same access to the United States as do U.S. citizens. They are not foreign nationals or aliens. Approximately 90% of the residents of American Samoa are noncitizen U.S. nationals. This status can be acquired only by birth in American Samoa or by birth in a foreign country from parents. one or both of whom are U.S. nationals. Federal law currently specifies that U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens may make contributions to candidates for federal office. If federal law were interpreted to prohibit noncitizen U.S. nationals from contributing to federal elections. the vast majority of the residents of my Congressional district would be prohibited from contributing to candidates running for the office of delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa. Additionally. the noncitizen U.S. nationals residing in the states of the United States. estimated to be between 35.000 and 100.000. would also be prohibited from contributing. I do not believe this was the intent of Congress when it passed the Federal Election Campaign Act. At that time. there were many fewer U.S. nationals in the United States. and the position of delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa did not exist. Several years ago. out of concern that then current law could be interpreted to prohibit noncitizen nationals from making political contributions. I requested and received an opinion from the Federal Elections Commission indicating that political contributions could be accepted from noncitizen nationals. This administrative clarification of an ambiguous law has been the basis upon which I have relied in accepting funds in my Congressional district. Federal court opinions in recent years have led to increased flexibility in the use of some campaign funds. and publicized violations of federal election law in the 1996 presidential campaign have prompted efforts in Congress to change the current system.