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H.R. 1954: Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003

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H.R. 1954: Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003

108th Congress · introduced 2003-05-06 · Immigration · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 142.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2003-05-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 239 (2003): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR1954 (2003-06-04), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 142. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003

Plain summary

Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, with respect to naturalization through armed forces service during nonhostile periods, to reduce the required service from three years to one year. Prohibits imposition of naturalization application or certificate fees and related State documentation fees for armed forces members seeking to naturalize. Permits revocation of citizenship, including posthumous citizenship, for military separation under other than honorable conditions before an individual has served honorably for at least five years. Provides for overseas naturalization proceedings for members of the armed forces. (Sec. 3) Prohibits imposition of a fee from a person seeking posthumous citizenship for a member of the armed forces who died from injury or disease incurred while serving honorably on active military service during a period of hostilities. Retains immediate relative status for the alien spouse (until remarriage), child (under 21 years old and unmarried), or parent (lawfully authorized to be in the United States on the day of the armed forces member's death) of a person granted posthumous U.S. citizenship through death from injury or disease incurred while serving honorably on active military service during a period of hostilities (posthumous citizen). Permits family member self-petitions for immigrant status in instances where the armed forces member had not filed prior to death. (Requires a petition for a child under 18 years old to be filed by a parent or legal guardian.) Requires all related petitions to be filed within two years of the granting of posthumous citizenship. Converts previously filed petitions for family sponsored immigrant status to immediate relative status upon granting of posthumous citizenship. Waives public charge grounds of inadmissibility. Makes such provisions applicable to the surviving spouse, child, and parent of a person who died on or after September 11, 2001. Permits a permanent resident surviving spouse of a posthumous citizen who died on or after September 11, 2001, to immediately apply for naturalization. (Sec. 4) Treats the alien spouse (until remarriage), child (under 21 years old and unmarried), or parent of a U.S. citizen who died on or after September 11, 2001, from injury or disease incurred while serving honorably on active military service during a period of hostilities as a valid petitioner for immediate family status. (States that the military branch of the deceased citizen shall determine whether appropriate requirements were satisfied.) Maintains the validity of an immediate relative petition filed prior to the citizen's death. Permits surviving spouse, child, or parent (lawfully authorized to be in the United States on the day of the citizen's death) self-petitions for immigrant status. (Requires a petition for a child under 18 years old to be filed by a parent or legal guardian.) Requires all related petitions to be filed within two years of the citizen's death. Waives public charge grounds of inadmissibility. Replaces specified references to "Attorney General" with "Secretary of Homeland Security." .

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · 17 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1954, Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003 (2003-05-15); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1954, Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003 (2003-05-15); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1954, Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003 (2003-06-26); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1954, Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003 (2003-06-26)

Cosponsors on this site

Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (4)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Sponsor and cosponsor
The sponsor is the member who introduces a bill and leads it. Cosponsors are other members who sign on to show support.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr1954 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108