[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 14, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORT OF THE BILL TO PERMIT U.S. NATIONALS TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP 
                          FROM AMERICAN SAMOA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2012

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce my 
introduction of a bill to allow for U.S. Nationals who are born in 
American Samoa, to file an application for naturalization from American 
Samoa. Currently, American Samoans must travel thousands of miles to 
Hawaii or California and live there for 3 months before they can apply 
for citizenship. The financial burden of traveling to the U.S. placed 
on U.S. Nationals in American Samoa prevents many from applying for 
citizenship. My bill will lift this burden and help U.S. Nationals, who 
by definition owe a permanent allegiance to the United States, to apply 
for citizenship directly from American Samoa.
  My bill will also eliminate the requirements of knowledge of English 
and U.S. government for U.S. Nationals. American Samoa has been a 
territory of the United States for over one hundred years, and has in 
many ways adopted parts of American culture. The education system in 
American Samoa is modeled after the U.S. education system and students 
learn both English and about the U.S. government in American Samoan 
schools. The requirement of English proficiency and knowledge of the 
U.S. government was intended for foreign nationals who applied to 
become U.S. citizens. It is futile to test American Samoans on their 
knowledge of English and the U.S. government, since they learn these 
subjects in American Samoan schools.
  American Samoa has a per capita enlistment rate in the U.S. military 
that rivals any state. American Samoans have also joined the U.S. Armed 
Forces and fought and died for the United States during World War II, 
the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the Persian Gulf wars, and most 
recently the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite, these sacrifices of 
American Samoans, U.S. nationals still must travel to the U.S. and wait 
for 3 months prior to applying for naturalization.
  My bill will have a dramatic positive effect on the lives of U.S. 
nationals living in American Samoa by removing the hardship of 
traveling to the U.S. to apply for naturalization.
  It is with great enthusiasm that I submit this statement in support 
for the bill to streamline the naturalization process for American 
Samoans.