I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3604 

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, 2009 

Mr. NADLER of New York (for himself, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. FILNER, Mr. 

WEINER, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. STARK, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. GUTIERREZ, 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 2009’’. 

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 ‘‘Attorney General’’ each place 

2 such term appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of 

3 Homeland Security’’; 

4 (2) by striking ‘‘(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘(3)(A)’’; 

5 and 

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

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

8 filing of the person’s application for naturalization, as pro9 vided in section 334, is over sixty-five years of age and 

10 has been living in the United States for periods totaling 

11 at least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for 

12 permanent residence, the Secretary of Homeland Security 

13 shall permit the person to fulfill the requirement of sub14 section (a)(2) through an examination in a language other 

15 than English selected by the person. 

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

17 filing of the person’s application for naturalization, as pro18 vided in section 334, is over seventy-five years of age and 

19 has been living in the United States for periods totaling 

20 at least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for 

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

22 shall not apply.’’. 

23 SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

24 The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 

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


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1 to applications for naturalization pending on or after such 

2 date. 

Æ 


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