I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 371
To expedite the naturalization of aliens who served with special guerrilla
units in Laos.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 19, 1999
Mr. VENTO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary
A BILL
To expedite the naturalization of aliens who served with
special guerrilla units in Laos.
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 ‘‘Hmong Veterans’ Nat-
uralization Act of 1999’’.
HR 371 IH
SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIRE-
MENT FOR CERTAIN ALIENS WHO SERVED
WITH SPECIAL GUERRILLA UNITS OR IRREG-
ULAR FORCES IN LAOS.
The requirement of paragraph (1) of section 312(a)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1423(a)(1)) shall not apply to the naturalization of any
person—
(1) who—
(A) was admitted into the United States as
a refugee from Laos pursuant to section 207 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1157); and
(B) served with a special guerrilla unit, or
irregular forces, operating from a base in Laos
in support of the United States military at any
time during the period beginning February 28,
1961, and ending September 18, 1978; or
(2) who—
(A) satisfies the requirement of paragraph
(1)(A); and
(B) was the spouse of a person described
in paragraph (1) on the day on which such de-
scribed person applied for admission into the
United States as a refugee.
HR 371 IH
SEC. 3. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION CONCERNING CIVICS RE-
QUIREMENT 
FOR 
CERTAIN 
ALIENS 
WHO
SERVED WITH SPECIAL GUERRILLA UNITS OR
IRREGULAR FORCES IN LAOS.
The Attorney General shall provide for special consid-
eration, as determined by the Attorney General, concern-
ing the requirement of paragraph (2) of section 312(a)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1423(a)(2)) with respect to the naturalization of any per-
son described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 2 of this
Act.
SEC. 4. DOCUMENTATION OF QUALIFYING SERVICE.
A person seeking an exemption under section 2 or
special consideration under section 3 shall submit to the
Attorney General documentation of their, or their
spouse’s, service with a special guerrilla unit, or irregular
forces, described in section 2(1)(B), in the form of—
(1) original documents;
(2) an affidavit of the serving person’s superior
officer;
(3) two affidavits from other individuals who
also were serving with such a special guerrilla unit,
or irregular forces, and who personally knew of the
person’s service; or
(4) other appropriate proof.
HR 371 IH
SEC. 5. DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR EXEMPTION
AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.
In determining a person’s eligibility for an exemption
under section 2 or special consideration under section 3,
the Attorney General—
(1) shall review the refugee processing docu-
mentation for the person, or, in an appropriate case,
for the person and the person’s spouse, to verify that
the requirements of section 2 relating to refugee ap-
plications and admissions have been satisfied;
(2) shall consider the documentation submitted
by the person under section 4;
(3) shall request an advisory opinion from the
Secretary of Defense regarding the person’s, or their
spouse’s, service in a special guerrilla unit, or irregu-
lar forces, described in section 2(1)(B) and shall
take into account that opinion; and
(4) may consider any certification prepared by
the organization known as ‘‘Lao Veterans of Amer-
ica, Inc.’’, or any similar organization maintaining
records with respect to Hmong veterans or their
families.
SEC. 6. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION AND PAYMENT OF
FEES.
This Act shall apply to a person only if the person’s
application for naturalization is filed, as provided in sec-
HR 371 IH
tion 334 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1445), with appropriate fees not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 7. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
total number of aliens who may be granted an exemption
under section 2 or special consideration under section 3,
or both, may not exceed 45,000.
Amend the title of the bill to read as follows: ‘‘A bill
to facilitate the naturalization of aliens who served with
special guerrilla units or irregular forces in Laos.’’.
Æ