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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill Friday to expedite the naturalization process for the many men and women serving in the U.S. military who are not citizens. The Military Citizenship Act would make it faster and easier for those soldiers to become U.S. citizens as many of them fight and even die to defend their adopted country, and the freedom it represents. The Cornyn bill enhances other legislation currently being proposed by addressing additional hurdles in the path to full citizenship. One obstacle for many seeking citizenship is that they are often sent overseas during their service. While in the application process, service members are currently required to pay their own way, and use most of their leave-time to return to the United States for citizenship interviews, tests and to be sworn in. A key part of the Military Citizenship Act is to speed the path to citizenship for soldiers by making it easier for them to get home for the final steps of naturalization, a process which is currently very burdensome. The bill requires the Department of Defense to develop a policy allowing non-citizens leave and higher flight priority on military transport flights back to the U.S."Non-citizens serving in our military put their lives on the line to protect and defend the freedoms that we all enjoy. They are showing their commitment to the ideals that have made this country great, not by words alone, but by their actions, their sacrifice and their service,” Cornyn said. “I firmly believe we should do everything possible to help these men and women who serve voluntarily to become U.S. citizens.” Currently, legal permanent residents may become U.S. citizens after serving three years in the military, passing civics and English proficiency tests, and paying immigration fees required for citizenship. During time of war, the three-year waiting period for military personnel is waived by an Executive Order of President Bush. In order to address the requirement for peacetime, however, the bill shortens the time of service required before naturalization from three to two years."This bill is especially timely as the war in Iraq continues. Our courageous soldiers fighting valiantly in the Middle East and serving in various parts of the world to defend our freedom and protect our security deserve to be official citizens of this great country,” Cornyn said.