08-R121

2008 -- S 2787

Enacted 03/26/08

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO EXPEDITE CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR OUR COUNTRY'S VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED SERVICES

Introduced By: Senators C Levesque, Goodwin, Paiva-Weed, Pichardo, and Metts

Date Introduced: March 05, 2008

     WHEREAS, Throughout history our nation has been propitiously blessed with so many

of its citizenry willing to serve this country at moments of great peril. These brave men and

women have been prepared to risk all and sacrifice everything in order to protect our precious

freedoms and liberties. Certainly, that commitment has earned them the right to be called

Americans; and

     WHEREAS, According to recently published figures, 7,200 honorably discharged service

members have citizenship applications pending. Many of these men and women have been

waiting years for our government to process their paperwork; and

     WHEREAS, Delays in background checks, misplaced paperwork, confusion about

deployments, and a myriad of other problems have plagued the processing of our service people's

applications; and

     WHEREAS, It is this country's moral obligation to assist these courageous men and

women with filing and obtaining United States citizenship, they have earned not only our

gratitude but also our unmitigated support; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully urges the United States Congress and the Congressional Committees on

Veterans Affairs to expedite citizenship applications for veterans and members of the armed

services; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

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LC02379

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