[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9077-9078]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      ARMED FORCES CITIZENSHIP ACT

  (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to 
announce that I have just introduced legislation making it possible for 
every legal immigrant serving on active duty in America's Armed Forces 
to become a U.S. citizen immediately. Not in 3 years or 5 years, but 
immediately.
  Once this bill is enacted, providing that all other requirements are 
met, on the same day that a young person is mustered into duty in our 
Armed Forces, he or she will be able to take the oath of office making 
them a citizen of the United States of America.
  Mr. Speaker, these patriotic men and women have willingly volunteered 
to carry out one of the most solemn duties that any nation can ask of 
its citizens, the defense of freedom. Thus, more than most, I believe 
that they have truly earned their opportunity to become citizens of the 
country whose uniform they wear so proudly.
  By enacting the Armed Services Citizens Act, America can do the right 
thing for some very brave men and women who are doing the right thing 
for America. So, Mr. Speaker, let us recognize their love of this 
country by enabling legal immigrants serving America's Armed Forces to 
become

[[Page 9078]]

citizens before, not after, they begin risking their lives to defend 
ours.

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