[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E433-E434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO END PENALTY FOR CITIZENSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 2004

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to ensure 
that family members who have petitioned to immigrate into the United 
States are not penalized as a result of an award of citizenship to a 
sponsoring parent or spouse.
  My office has been involved in many cases in which my constituents 
are caught in a contradictory situation. If a legal resident sponsor of 
immigration applicants becomes a U.S. citizen, the petition he or she 
filed as a legal permanent resident is essentially moved from the 
second preference category to the first preference category with 
accompanying alteration of the category priority date.
  While this is not a problem for most, as the wait list for the first 
preference category is generally shorter, it has become a problem for 
some, primarily our families from the Philippines. It is here that, 
unfortunately, the quota for unmarried sons or daughters of American 
citizens is longer than that for unmarried sons and daughters of legal 
permanent residents. As a result, the wait time for some petitions is

[[Page E434]]

in fact lengthened, even though their preference status is improved.
  My bill will end this unwitting penalty of citizenship and allow the 
approved petition, originally filed by a legal permanent resident, to 
keep that given priority date or place in line should a 
reclassification of a sponsor occur. This will ensure that a family 
member will not have to wait for a longer period just because his or 
her petitioner became a U.S. citizen.
  We should not continue to penalize both those who we welcome to the 
responsibility of citizenship and their families. I urge the bill's 
passage.

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