[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FAIRNESS FOR AMERICA'S HEROES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction 
of my bill, the ``Fairness for America's Heroes Act.''
  Currently, there are more than 37,000 non-citizens on active duty in 
our military and each year approximately 7,000 new non-citizens join 
the armed forces.
  These brave men and women are willing to die defending our nation, 
and it is imperative that we recognize their selflessness and spirit--
not only when someone is killed in battle, but from the moment they are 
called up for combat duty.
  We need laws that reflect non-citizen soldiers' heroism and their 
patriotism. That say we are grateful for your sacrifice; we understand 
the risks and dangers of combat duty; and to honor your dedication and 
devotion, we are granting you citizenship. This is a right that these 
men and women have earned and deserve.
  Throughout history non-citizen soldiers have stood shoulder-to-
shoulder with native-born Americans in defense of our nation. They 
fight with vigor and valor to protect the American dream, and they risk 
their lives everyday for the safety and security of our country.
  All of those who serve--regardless of race, regardless of gender, 
regardless of country of origin--are without hesitation recognized as 
America's heroes. The legislation I am introducing today will allow 
them, rightfully and justly, to also be recognized as Americans. This 
is a distinction they have certainly earned and deserve.
  The ``Fairness for America's Heroes Act'' grants citizenship 
automatically to non-citizen soldiers assigned to combat duty.
  The legislation says that no soldier will ever again have to come 
home in a body bag to be recognized as an American. No soldier's family 
will ever again have to sort through mounds of paperwork so their loved 
ones can receive citizenship posthumously. It also says that no soldier 
will ever again have to be preoccupied or worry what will happen to 
their family's immigration status if they are killed in battle.
  It enables immediate family members of servicemen and servicewomen to 
receive expedited processing of their immigration status, and, perhaps 
most important, it honors the enormous contributions immigrants make to 
our military and to our society every day.
  To understand these contributions, you have to look no further than 
the young men who heroically and valiantly served their adopted country 
in the war against Iraq: Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez, Corporal Jose 
Garibay, Private First Class Francisco Martinez-Flores, Lance Corporal 
Jesus Suarez del Solar.
  These brave young men, barely in their twenties, died fighting for 
our country, but the ideals and principles they fought for must not.
  Those ideals can be summed up most eloquently with the words of Lance 
Corporal Gutierrez' brother, who said that Jose joined the Marines ``to 
pay a little back of what he'd gotten from the U.S.''
  These young men, many of whom left war-torn, war-ravaged countries, 
understood that America is the type of place that permits you to dream 
as big as your heart will allow. They were willing to fight and die for 
that dream, and our immigration system should reflect and respect that 
sacrifice.
  You see, Mr. Speaker, immigrants' presence in our military is nothing 
new. Immigrants have fought in every war since the American Revolution. 
In fact, immigrants account for 20 percent of the recipients of the 
Congressional Medal of Honor.
  In Silvis, Illinois, just west of Chicago, Ill., there is a street 
called Hero Street U.S.A. This street stands as a tribute to honor 
eight young Latino men who lost their lives courageously defending our 
country during World War II and Korea. They went to war without 
hesitation even though people often ignored them or treated them as 
second-class individuals. The sacrifice and strength of these young men 
sparked an unrivaled and unmatched wave of service in their community.
  The Department of Defense has documented that no street of comparable 
size has sent as many men and women to serve in the Armed Forces.
  While tributes like these are important, and speeches are moving, we 
must back up our rhetoric with action. The swift passage of this 
legislation is an important place to begin.
  It will say to these heroic young servicemembers that we recognize 
and respect your contributions; we honor your spirit and your service; 
and that you personify the pride and patriotism that makes this Nation 
so great.
  I urge my colleagues to properly recognize these brave men and women 
by supporting the ``Fairness for America's Heroes Act.''

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