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 under-
standing of the English language and the history, prin-
ciples, and form of government of the United States
as a requirement for naturalization, and to permit cer-
tain other elderly persons to take the history and govern-
ment examination in a language of their choice.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Senior Citizenship Act
of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FULFILLMENT BY ELDERLY PERSONS OF REQUIRE-
MENT FOR NATURALIZATION RELATING TO
KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Section 312(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(b)(2)) is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking ‘‘334, either—’’ and inserting ‘‘334—’’;
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘, or’’ at
the end and inserting a semicolon;
(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) is over sixty-five years of age and has been
living in the United States for periods totaling at
least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for
permanent residence.’’.
SEC. 3. FULFILLMENT BY ELDERLY PERSONS OF REQUIRE-
MENT FOR NATURALIZATION RELATING TO
KNOWLEDGE 
OF 
GOVERNMENT 
OF 
THE
UNITED STATES.
Section 312(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(b)(3)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘(3)(A)’’;
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(B) In the case of a person who, on the date of the
filing of the person’s application for naturalization, as pro-
vided in section 334, is over sixty-five years of age and
has been living in the United States for periods totaling
at least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for
permanent residence, the Attorney General shall permit
the person to fulfill the requirement of subsection (a)(2)
through an examination in a language other than English
selected by the person.
‘‘(C) In the case of a person who, on the date of the
filing of the person’s application for naturalization, as pro-
vided in section 334, is over seventy-five years of age and
has been living in the United States for periods totaling
at least five years subsequent to a lawful admission for
permanent residence, the requirement of subsection (a)(2)
shall not apply.’’.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply
to applications for naturalization pending on or after such
date.
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