[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KIRK:
  S. 1059. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to deem 
any person who has received an award from the Armed Forces of the 
United States for engagement in active combat or active participation 
in combat to have satisfied certain requirements for naturalization; to 
the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that waives 
the naturalization requirements for non-citizen recipients of our armed 
forces' combat service awards. When a soldier, sailor, airman, or 
marine puts their life on the line for the United States, it only makes 
sense that we reciprocate their commitment to this nation by awarding 
these heroes U.S. citizenship as expeditiously as possible.
  These awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Medical 
Badge, the Combat Action Badge, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Air Force 
Combat Action Medal, or any equivalent award recipients. They recognize 
a servicemember's presence under hostile fire or engagement in combat 
missions.
  According to the Center for Naval Analysis, roughly 70,000 non-
citizens enlisted in the active duty military between 1999 and 2008. 
These men and women have served in Operations New Dawn and Iraqi 
Freedom, and continue to serve today in Operation Enduring Freedom and 
elsewhere around the world.
  The contributions of these men and women to the character of our 
military are unquestionable, and they possess language and cultural 
skills that are critical to the Department of Defense's mission. This 
legislation honors their service, and I encourage my colleagues to 
support its passage.
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