[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2600 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2600

     To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to simplify the 
      requirements for United States nationals to become citizens.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2003

 Mr. Faleomavaega introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to simplify the 
      requirements for United States nationals to become citizens.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, persons born 
        in Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are citizens of 
        the United States at birth. Persons born in the United States 
        territory of American Samoa are nationals of the United States, 
        but not citizens, at birth.
            (2) The term ``national of the United States'' is defined 
        under the Immigration and Nationality Act to include persons 
        who, though not citizens of the United States, owe permanent 
        allegiance to the United States.
            (3) For more than 103 years, American Samoans who are 
        United States nationals have always demonstrated their loyalty 
        and allegiance to the United States. On April 17, 1900, the 
        village chiefs of Tutuila ceded their islands to the United 
        States. On July 16, 1904, the village chiefs of Manu'a did the 
        same. On February 20, 1929, the United States ratified the 
        Treaty of Cession of Tutuila and the Treaty of Cession of 
        Manu'a.
            (4) Since ratification of the Treaties of Cession, many 
        American Samoans who are United States nationals have joined 
        the United States Armed Forces and fought for the United States 
        during World War II, the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf 
        wars, and most recently in Iraq.
            (5) However, in order for American Samoans who are United 
        States nationals to become United States citizens, they must 
        follow the same procedure as aliens lawfully admitted for 
        permanent residence. This procedure requires, among other 
        steps, an application, fingerprinting, an interview, an English 
        language and civics examination, and participation in an oath 
        ceremony. The procedure may take years to complete.
            (6) Given that American Samoa's education system is 
        structured to closely resemble that of public schools in the 
        United States, that courses on United States history, civics, 
        and government are thoroughly taught, that English is the 
        language of public school instruction, and that United States 
        nationals by definition owe permanent allegiance to the United 
        States, it is in the national interest that United States 
        nationals be allowed to become United States citizens by more 
        expeditious means.

SEC. 2. NATURALIZATION FOR UNITED STATES NATIONALS.

    (a) Eligibility for United States Nationals to Become United States 
Citizens.--Section 325 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1436) is amended to read as follows:

  ``eligibility for naturalization for nationals of the united states

    ``Sec. 325. A person not a citizen who owes permanent allegiance to 
the United States may, if the person becomes a resident of any State, 
be naturalized (and furnished by the Secretary of Homeland Security 
with a certificate of citizenship) upon--
            ``(1) establishing to the satisfaction of the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security that the person is a national of the United 
        States; and
            ``(2) taking and subscribing before an immigration officer 
        within the United States to the oath of allegiance required by 
        this Act of an applicant for naturalization.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act is amended by amending the item relating to section 
325 to read as follows:

``Sec. 325. Eligibility for naturalization for nationals of the United 
                            States.''.
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