[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 45 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 45
Posthumously proclaiming soldiers of Asian descent who fought in the
Civil War to be honorary citizens of the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 2, 2003
Mr. Honda (for himself, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Abercrombie, Ms. Eddie
Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Lee, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. Norton, Ms.
Lofgren, Mr. Filner, Ms. Carson of Indiana, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Wu, Mr.
Towns, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. George Miller of California,
Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Case, Mr. Kind, Mr. Conyers, Mr.
McGovern, Ms. Watson, Mr. Baca, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Matsui, Mr. Scott
of Virginia, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr.
Ney, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Larson of
Connecticut, Ms. Solis, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Rangel, and Ms.
Bordallo) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Posthumously proclaiming soldiers of Asian descent who fought in the
Civil War to be honorary citizens of the United States.
Whereas the United States on rare occasions confers honorary citizenship on
individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to this country or
to humankind throughout the world;
Whereas honorary citizenship is and should remain an extraordinary honor not
lightly conferred nor frequently granted;
Whereas posthumous citizenship is an honorary status commemorating the bravery
and sacrifices of these persons; it does not convey any benefits under
the Immigration and Nationality Act to any relative of the decedent;
Whereas current law provides for the granting of United States citizenship to
aliens or noncitizen nationals of the United States who die because of
injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by honorable, active duty
service in the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas it has been determined that numerous soldiers of Asian descent fought
bravely and honorably in the Union and Confederate armed forces during
the United States Civil War;
Whereas many of these soldiers were denied citizenship following their service
as a result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and general anti-Asian
sentiment prevalent at that time; and
Whereas the Congress overturned the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 in 1943 to end
this injustice to Asian immigrants but did not extend citizenship to
those who had rightfully earned this honor but were denied the chance to
seek it by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That soldiers of Asian descent
who fought in the Civil War are posthumously proclaimed to be honorary
citizens of the United States
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