[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            H.R. 4056, LEGISLATION FOR AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 1996

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced legislation, H.R. 
4056, to make it easier for legal residents to become citizens. Since 
Congress is passing laws that deny programs to noncitizens, it's 
appropriate to make it easier for them to become citizens.
  The bill I have introduced, H.R. 4056, is legislation which 
authorizes automatic U.S. citizenship for three categories of legal 
permanent residents: Persons who have resided in the United States for 
at least 20 years; persons who have worked and paid Social Security 
taxes for at least 40 quarters; persons who are at least 70 years old 
and who have lived legally in the United States for at least 5 years; 
and persons who are U.S. veterans with an honorable discharge.
  Current requirements for naturalization are retained including that 
of: Good moral character, attached to the principles of the 
Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order 
and happiness of the United States.
  There exist long backlogs in the naturalization workloads of the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service delaying citizenship for law-
abiding individuals described in my legislation--those who have lived a 
significant amount of time in the United States, dedicated workers, the 
elderly, and our veterans. I strongly urge my colleagues to support my 
legislation, H.R. 4056, which enhances and hastens the acquisition of 
U.S. citizenship to truly worthy individuals.

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