[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1525-E1526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE RESTORATION OF WOMEN'S CITIZENSHIP ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 1999

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Restoration of 
Women's Citizenship Act, legislation that corrects an antiquated law 
that mars our nation's history.
  In 1922, Rose Bouslacchi, an American citizen, married Conrad 
Sabatini, a tailor by profession and an immigrant from northern Italy. 
When the couple married, a federal law existed which stripped women of 
their U.S. citizenship if they married alien men. Later that year the 
U.S. granted Conrad Sabatini the privilege of citizenship but in 
accordance with the law, refused to reinstate Rose Bouslacchi's 
citizenship.
  During the course of her life Rose Bouslacchi reared a family of five 
daughters, each a college graduate and each a contributor to the well 
being of our nation. Four became teachers and one became a nurse. Rose 
Bouslacchi was an active member of her church and worked with her 
husband in the running of their business. Her life embodied the values 
of family and faith, representing the best of America. But, Rose 
Bouslacchi could never be called an American again.

[[Page E1526]]

  Rose Bouslacchi was not alone. There were many women affected by this 
law. On September 22, 1922, the Congress recognized the gross 
inequality of the Act, and in a series of acts, created procedures to 
reinstate citizenship for most of the women affected by this law. But 
the changes will never help Rose Bouslacchi. By a legislative 
oversight, the women who married between 1907 and 1922 were not able to 
retain their citizenship until procedures were created in 1952, at 
which point many of these women had passed on. The Restoration of 
Women's Citizenship Act will rid our history completely of this 
discriminatory law by granting citizenship posthumously to the women 
who didn't live long enough to take advantage of the Nationality Act of 
1952.
  I urge all my colleagues to join me in this important effort by 
cosponsoring the Restoration of Women's Citizenship Act.

                          ____________________