I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 964

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

MARCH 8, 2001

Mr. NADLER 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 2001’’.

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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