H.R. 887House115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed House

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend honorary citizenship to otherwise qualified noncitizens who enlisted in the Philippines and died while serving on active duty with the United States Armed Forces during certain periods of hostilities, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:32 PM UTC

The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow posthumous (honorary) U.S. citizenship for non‑citizen nationals who enlisted in the Philippines and died while on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces between September 1, 1939 and December 31, 1946. It requires the military department that employed the service member to verify the eligibility criteria. The change also removes certain benefit restrictions so these individuals’ families can receive the same posthumous benefits as other qualifying service members.

Key Provisions

Expands eligibility for posthumous citizenship to include noncitizens who enlisted in the Philippines and died in service during the specified World‑II period.
Mandates that the executive department under which the person served certify that the individual met the service, death, and enlistment requirements.
Excludes sections 319(d) and the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act provision from applying to these posthumous citizens, allowing them to receive benefits.
Updates related procedural language in the Immigration and Nationality Act to reflect the new eligibility and certification requirements.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

December 13, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 6, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 6, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

March 9, 2017

HouseFloor

Mr. Goodlatte asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

December 12, 2018 • 4:20 PM

HouseCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

Judiciary Committee

December 12, 2018

HouseFloor

Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H10152-10153)

December 12, 2018 • 4:21 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H10152-10153)

December 12, 2018 • 4:21 PM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H10152-10153)

December 12, 2018 • 4:21 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

December 12, 2018 • 4:21 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

December 13, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 887 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6 · Dec 12, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 887) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued December 13, 2018

IIB

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 887

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 13, 2018

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

AN ACT

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend honorary citizenship to otherwise qualified noncitizens who enlisted in the Philippines and died while serving on active duty with the United States Armed Forces during certain periods of hostilities, and for other purposes.

Granting of posthumous citizenship to otherwise qualified noncitizens who enlisted in the Philippines

(a)

In General

Section 329A(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440–1(b)) is amended to read as follows:

(b)

Noncitizens eligible for posthumous citizenship

(1)

In general

A person referred to in subsection (a) is a person who, while an alien or a noncitizen national of the United States—

(A)

served honorably in an active-duty status in the military, air, or naval forces of the United States during any period described in the first sentence of section 329(a);

(B)

died as a result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by that service; and

(C)

either—

(i)

satisfied the requirements of clause (1) or (2) of the first sentence of section 329(a); or

(ii)

enlisted, reenlisted, extended enlistment, or was inducted in the Philippines and died during the period beginning September 1, 1939, and ending December 31, 1946.

(2)

Determination of satisfaction of requirements

The executive department under which a person described in paragraph (1) served shall determine whether the person satisfied the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C)(ii) of paragraph (1).

(3)

Posthumous benefits

In the case of a person to which paragraph (1)(C)(ii) applies—

(A)

section 319(d) shall not apply; and

(B)

section 1703 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136; 117 Stat. 1693; 8 U.S.C. 1151 note) shall not apply.

(b)

Conforming Amendments

Section 329A(c)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440–1(c)(2)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting (or, in the case of an individual to which clause (ii) of subsection (b)(1)(C) applies, the date of the enactment of such clause (ii)) after the date of enactment of this section;

(2)

by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following new subparagraph:

(B)

the request is accompanied by a duly authenticated certificate from the executive department under which the person served which states that the person satisfied the requirements of—

(i)

subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1); and

(ii)

if applicable, subparagraph (C)(ii) of subsection (b)(1); and

; and

(3)

in subparagraph (C), by striking of subsection (b)(3) and inserting of subsection (b)(1)(C)(i).

Passed the House of Representatives December 12, 2018.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk.