SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) BACKLOG.—The term ‘‘backlog’’ means—
(A) with respect to an immigration benefit
application relating to status as an immigrant,
the period of time in excess of 90 days that
such application has been pending before the
Immigration and Naturalization Service; and
(B) with respect to an immigration benefit
application relating to status as a non-
immigrant, the period of time in excess of 30
days that such application has been pending be-
fore the Immigration and Naturalization Serv-
ice.
(2) IMMIGRATION BENEFIT APPLICATION.—The
term ‘‘immigration benefit application’’ means any
application or petition to confer, certify, change, ad-
just, or extend any status granted under the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act.
SEC. 4. IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT.
(a) AUTHORITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The
Attorney General shall take such measures as may be nec-
essary to—
(1) reduce the backlog in the processing of im-
migration benefit applications, with the objective of
the total elimination of the backlog not later than
one year after the date of enactment of this Act;
(2) make such other improvements in the proc-
essing of immigration benefit applications as may be
necessary to ensure that a backlog does not develop
after such date; and
(3) make such improvements in infrastructure
as may be necessary to effectively provide immigra-
tion services.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Justice from
time to time such sums as may be necessary for the
Attorney General to carry out subsection (a).
(2) DESIGNATION
OF
ACCOUNT
IN
TREAS-
URY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph
(1) may be referred to as the ‘‘Immigration Services
and Infrastructure Improvements Account’’.
(3) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to paragraph (1) are authorized to
remain available until expended.
(4) LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES.—None of
the funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1)
may be expended until the report described in sec-
tion 5(a) has been submitted to Congress.
SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) BACKLOG ELIMINATION PLAN.—
(1) REPORT
REQUIRED.—Not later than 90
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the At-
torney General shall submit a report to the Commit-
tees on the Judiciary and Appropriations of the Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives concerning—
(A) the backlogs in immigration benefit ap-
plications in existence as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act; and
(B) the Attorney General’s plan for elimi-
nating such backlogs.
(2) REPORT
ELEMENTS.—The report shall
include—
(A) an assessment of the data systems
used in adjudicating and reporting on the sta-
tus 
of 
immigration 
benefit 
applications,
including—
(i) a description of the adequacy of
existing computer hardware, computer
software, and other mechanisms to comply
with the adjudications and reporting re-
quirements of this Act; and
(ii) a plan for implementing improve-
ments to existing data systems to accom-
plish the purpose of this Act, as described
in section 2(b);
(B) a description of the quality controls to
be put into force to ensure timely, fair, accu-
rate, and complete processing and adjudication
of such applications;
(C) the elements specified in subsection
(b)(2);
(D) an estimate of the amount of appro-
priated funds that would be necessary in order
to eliminate the backlogs in each category of
immigration benefit applications described in
subsection (b)(2); and
(E) a detailed plan on how the Attorney
General will use any funds in the Immigration
Services and Infrastructure Improvements Ac-
count to comply with the purposes of this Act.
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning 90 days after the
end of the first fiscal year for which any appropria-
tion authorized by section 4(b) is made, and 90 days
after the end of each fiscal year thereafter, the At-
torney General shall submit a report to the Commit-
tees on the Judiciary and Appropriations of the Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives concerning the
status of—
(A) the Immigration Services and Infra-
structure Improvements Account including any
unobligated balances of appropriations in the
Account; and
(B) the Attorney General’s efforts to elimi-
nate backlogs in any immigration benefit appli-
cation described in paragraph (2).
(2) REPORT
ELEMENTS.—The report shall
include—
(A) State-by-State data on—
(i) the number of naturalization cases
adjudicated in each quarter of each fiscal
year;
(ii) the average processing time for
naturalization applications;
(iii) the number of naturalization ap-
plications pending for up to 3 months, 6
months, 12 months, 18 months, 24
months, 36 months, and 48 months or
more;
(iv) estimated processing times adju-
dicating newly submitted naturalization ap-
plications;