I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3123

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt certain elderly 

persons from demonstrating an understanding of the English language 

and the history, principles, and form of government of the United States 

as a requirement for naturalization, and to permit certain other elderly 

persons to take the history and government examination in a language 

of their choice. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2003

Mr. NADLER (for himself, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. 

SERRANO, Mr. DOOLEY of California, Mr. CASE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. 

FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Ms. 

MCCOLLUM, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. WEINER, and Mr. ENGEL) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 

Judiciary 

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt 

certain elderly persons from demonstrating an understanding of the English language and the history, principles, and form of government of the United States 

as a requirement for naturalization, and to permit certain other elderly persons to take the history and government examination in a language of their choice.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Senior Citizenship Act 

3 of 2003’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FULFILLMENT BY ELDERLY PERSONS OF REQUIRE5 MENT FOR NATURALIZATION RELATING TO 

6 KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE. 

7 Section 312(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality 

8 Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(b)(2)) is amended—

9 (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 

10 by striking ‘‘334, either—’’ and inserting ‘‘334—’’; 

11 (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘, or’’ at 

12 the end and inserting a semicolon; 

13 (3) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 

14 at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

15 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(C) is over sixty-five years of age and has been 

17 living in the United States for periods totaling at 

18 least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for 

19 permanent residence.’’. 

20 SEC. 3. FULFILLMENT BY ELDERLY PERSONS OF REQUIRE21 MENT FOR NATURALIZATION RELATING TO 

22 KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE 

23 UNITED STATES. 

24 Section 312(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality 

25 Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(b)(3)) is amended—
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1 (1) by striking ‘‘(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘(3)(A)’’; 

2 and 

3 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(B) In the case of a person who, on the date of the 

5 filing of the person’s application for naturalization, as pro6 vided in section 334, is over sixty-five years of age and 

7 has been living in the United States for periods totaling 

8 at least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for 

9 permanent residence, the Attorney General shall permit 

10 the person to fulfill the requirement of subsection (a)(2) 

11 through an examination in a language other than English 

12 selected by the person. 

13 ‘‘(C) In the case of a person who, on the date of the 

14 filing of the person’s application for naturalization, as pro15 vided in section 334, is over seventy-five years of age and 

16 has been living in the United States for periods totaling 

17 at least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for 

18 permanent residence, the requirement of subsection (a)(2) 

19 shall not apply.’’. 

20 SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

21 The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 

22 on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply 

23 to applications for naturalization pending on or after such 

24 date.

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