[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11682]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMISSION ON AMERICANS 
                       LIVING ABROAD ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 2015

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, there are an 
estimated 6-8 million constituents scattered across the world who 
promote our culture and values while strengthening our nation's global 
influence as they live and work abroad. For years I have worked to 
ensure that overseas Americans can fully exercise their rights as U.S. 
citizens by having their voices heard loud and clear by Congress. Eight 
years ago, I formed the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus because I 
wanted to bring awareness and focus to the concerns of those residing 
abroad. U.S. citizens remain just that, citizens, regardless of where 
they choose to live and should not be ignored by virtue of residence.
  Our constituents living and working abroad have consistently voiced 
concerns about the impact federal policies have on the issues directly 
affecting them like voting, immigration, access to financial 
institutions, and taxation. The time has come to take a look at the 
importance of federal policies for our overseas community rather than 
continuing to ignore the calls from our abroad constituents. That is 
why today I am introducing the Commission on Americans Living Abroad 
Act, which creates an Executive Commission with the main purpose of 
examining those concerns. The Commission creates a 10 member panel to 
examine the impact of federal policymaking on U.S. citizens abroad. The 
resulting study would then be used by Congress and the Executive Branch 
when considering the best steps we can take to engage the abroad 
community and ensure their voices are heard. This process will ensure 
clearer awareness of the federal issues impacting Americans abroad and 
will open a path for coordination with those communities towards more 
robust representation.
  We must take a real and comprehensive look at how we, as Members of 
Congress, respond to U.S. citizens living abroad. Each of our 
constituents has a right to have their interests represented and to 
have a role in the political process. The Commission on Americans 
Living Abroad would establish a foundation from which we can work to 
better serve the needs of our global constituents. I welcome and urge 
my colleagues to lend their support to this bill.

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