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 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 2003’’. 
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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