[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 45 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 45

 Posthumously proclaiming soldiers of Asian descent who fought in the 
        Civil War to be honorary citizens of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2003

  Mr. Honda (for himself, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Abercrombie, Ms. Eddie 
    Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Lee, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
Lofgren, Mr. Filner, Ms. Carson of Indiana, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Wu, Mr. 
 Towns, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. George Miller of California, 
 Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Case, Mr. Kind, Mr. Conyers, Mr. 
McGovern, Ms. Watson, Mr. Baca, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Matsui, Mr. Scott 
of Virginia, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. 
 Ney, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Larson of 
  Connecticut, Ms. Solis, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Rangel, and Ms. 
Bordallo) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 Posthumously proclaiming soldiers of Asian descent who fought in the 
        Civil War to be honorary citizens of the United States.

Whereas the United States on rare occasions confers honorary citizenship on 
        individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to this country or 
        to humankind throughout the world;
Whereas honorary citizenship is and should remain an extraordinary honor not 
        lightly conferred nor frequently granted;
Whereas posthumous citizenship is an honorary status commemorating the bravery 
        and sacrifices of these persons; it does not convey any benefits under 
        the Immigration and Nationality Act to any relative of the decedent;
Whereas current law provides for the granting of United States citizenship to 
        aliens or noncitizen nationals of the United States who die because of 
        injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by honorable, active duty 
        service in the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas it has been determined that numerous soldiers of Asian descent fought 
        bravely and honorably in the Union and Confederate armed forces during 
        the United States Civil War;
Whereas many of these soldiers were denied citizenship following their service 
        as a result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and general anti-Asian 
        sentiment prevalent at that time; and
Whereas the Congress overturned the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 in 1943 to end 
        this injustice to Asian immigrants but did not extend citizenship to 
        those who had rightfully earned this honor but were denied the chance to 
        seek it by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That soldiers of Asian descent 
who fought in the Civil War are posthumously proclaimed to be honorary 
citizens of the United States
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