Eni explores citizenship bill for U.S. nationals in American Samoa by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Correspondent Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin is looking into proposed federal legislation that would give U.S. Nationals living in American Samoa the option of applying and becoming U.S. citizens, instead of having to reside for a certain period of time in one of the 50 states. Speaking on his Wednesday radio program, Faleomavaega said he wants to explore this option and research by his office is being carried out for a possible measure to be introduced in Congress. Asked why he is seeking to sponsor the legislation, Faleomavaega told Samoa News yesterday that this was based on requests received by his office. "I thought it was an excellent idea to give our people in American Samoa an opportunity to become US citizens should they choose to do so," he said via e-mail from Washington. "What I mean is that I am working on crafting a proposed bill to allow U.S. nationals born in American Samoa 'the option' - if they want to - to apply directly for U.S. citizenship from American Samoa." He explained that the bill will waive certain requirements like having to take a test about the U.S. Constitution and history of the U.S. - since by and large, all US nationals born in American Samoa have already been schooled and learned about America from the time they obtained elementary and high school educations. "Another issue to waive is having to live physically for 3 months in a state - which doesn't make sense - before a US national could qualify to apply for citizenship. I see this requirement as unnecessary," he said. "The application would go directly to the Department of Homeland Security, and upon completion and approval of the necessary paperwork, the US national can be sworn in as a citizen by either our Chief Justice or Associate Justice of the High Court, since both are federally appointed judges by the Secretary of the Interior." "It's no guarantee that this bill will be approved, but it will certainly be worth a try. This way, our people don't have to wait for a referendum to indicate if our people collectively want US citizenship, but it gives our people an option to become a US citizen, and doing so from American Samoa," he said. "Again, I'm working on drafting the bill, and until I'm satisfied with the proposal I will then share it with our people and leaders." Faleomavaega has legislation pending in Congress, which directs the Secretary of Interior to place on a referendum three questions and one question asked whether individuals who are born in American Samoa should become citizens of the United States. Some lawmakers have said last year that if any U.S. national wants to become a U.S. citizens, that individual should move to the states and reside there, but some local residents disagree saying that there is no need to do this since American Samoa is already part of the United States. "I get complaints all over the country from our residents who have lived on the Mainland for years, and only to find out later that they don't qualify for programs that are provided by the states. And they feel they're been discriminated against when actually they never bothered to apply for citizenship when they lived in the US for all those years," said Faleomavaega. Reach the reporter at fili@samoanews.com © Osini Faleatasi Inc. dba Samoa News reserves all rights.