Issue Position: Overseas Americans

Issue Position

Millions of Americans, including military personnel and civilians, live and work across the world. Although they live overseas, many of these U.S. citizens continue to vote and pay taxes in the U.S. Whether or not they work for American businesses overseas, they help increase exports of American goods and services because they traditionally buy American goods, sell American goods, and create business opportunities for U.S. companies and workers. Their role in strengthening the U.S. economy, creating jobs in the United States, and extending American influence around the globe is vital to the well-being of our nation.

In the 110th Congress Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) and I founded the Americans Abroad Caucus. The purpose of this bi-partisan caucus is to provide a forum for discussion of the issues that are important to overseas Americans including citizenship, census, voting, banking access, and taxation. These citizens have the right to vote in local, state and national elections but unfortunately they often experience difficulties ranging from learning and meeting the requirements imposed by fifty-five states and territories, to obtaining the mailing addresses and phone numbers to request a ballot, to receiving that ballot before the deadlines have passed. These overseas Americans also have the right to be counted in the decennial census.

Most recently, in response to reports that Americans citizens living abroad are being routinely denied foreign and domestic banking services, I have sent letters to the Treasury Department, in both the previous and current administrations. I continue to chair the Caucus and advocate for the unique concerns of overseas Americans.

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