[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 183 (Friday, November 15, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4803 CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF MILITARY MEMBERS 
                         AND CIVIL SERVANTS ACT

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                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2019

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
4803, the ``Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil 
Servants Act.''
  H.R. 4803 establishes that a foreign-born child of a U.S. citizen 
member of the Armed Forces or government employee may automatically 
acquire U.S. citizenship even if the child is not residing in the 
United States.
  This bill is necessary because the Trump Administration announced on 
August 28, 2019 that it was changing its policy guidance and ending 
automatic American citizenship for children of U.S. service members and 
other federal workers stationed abroad.
  With these changes, government employees stationed abroad who are 
green card holders would have to move back to the U.S. and live there 
for three to five years in order to apply for citizenship for their 
child.
  Previously, children born to U.S. citizen parents were considered to 
be ``residing in the United States,'' and therefore would be 
automatically granted citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality 
Act Sec. 320.
  Without this legislation, children born abroad to U.S. service 
members and government employees in U.S. military hospitals or 
diplomatic facilities, will not be residing in the United States, and 
thus will not considered American citizens.
  This disadvantages children of parents who serve our country abroad.
  Under H.R. 4803, necessary requirements would be fulfilled if a 
foreign-born child is living in the legal and physical custody of the 
citizen armed services member or government employee who has been 
stationed abroad (or the accompanying spouse of such a citizen), and 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.
  It is critical for the United States Congress to stand with the women 
and men who have served our country and allow their children 
citizenship.
  By allowing lawful, permanent resident children of members of the 
U.S. Armed Forces or federal government employees who are residing 
overseas to automatically acquire citizenship once certain conditions 
are met, parents avoid the inconvenience, expense, and paperwork delays 
required under current law, and continue their service commitment 
without interruption.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
4803, and allow foreign-born children of U.S. citizens who have served 
as a member of the Armed Forces or are government' employees, to 
automatically acquire citizenship for their foreign born American 
child.

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