[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1859-E1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 1588, NATIONAL DEFENSE 
                 AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004

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                               speech of

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2003

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in opposition to this 
motion to instruct House conferees to H.R. 1588. Certainly, this Member 
has no objections to expediting citizenship for non-citizen members 
serving in U.S. armed services and supports efforts to provide 
appropriate incentives for a very small percentage of the few non-
citizens who meet established requirements to join our professional 
military forces. However, in granting citizenship to these qualified 
men and women, it is not necessary or desirable to also grant priority 
to their parents, spouses, and children. And it is certainly not 
appropriate to waive the requirement that such family members 
financially support themselves in the U.S. Unfortunately, the 
provisions in the Senate-passed version of H.R. 1588, which this motion 
instructs House conferees to accept, would have that effect.
  Through the provisions, the spouses, children under the age of 21, 
and parents of men

[[Page E1860]]

and women who have been granted citizenship based on their service in 
the U.S. armed forces and who have died in the line of duty would be 
authorized to seek permanent resident status on an expedited basis. 
Then, unlike other people seeking legal immigrant status, these family 
members would not be required to meet financial thresholds which 
indicate that they would not immediately be public charges.
  Most of the American public is unaware of these provisions. Enacting 
such excessive inducements for joining the U.S. military is a step in 
the wrong direction, particularly if it results in this country 
increasingly depending upon what could come to be thought of and called 
``foreign mercenaries'' to serve in the armed forces. This practice has 
too many similarities to the mercenary forces of the Roman Empire in 
its decline as Roman citizens themselves became unwilling to serve in 
the Roman legions. Imagine, too, the reactions of foreign nations that 
begin to see our military personnel as serving almost solely to gain 
citizenship for themselves and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member encouraged his colleagues to vote against 
the Rodriguez motion to instruct.

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