I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 574
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for less restrictive
standards for naturalization as a citizen of the United States for certain
categories of persons.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 4, 1997
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii (for herself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. PASTOR, Mr.
SERRANO, Mr. STARK, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. DELLUMS,
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ,
Mr. GUTIERREZ, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. LEWIS
of Georgia, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. TORRES, Ms. MCKINNEY,
Mr. OLVER, and Mr. JEFFERSON) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide
for less restrictive standards for naturalization as a citi-
zen of the United States for certain categories of per-
sons.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LESS RESTRICTIVE STANDARDS FOR NATU-
RALIZATION AS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED
STATES FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PER-
SONS.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 322 the fol-
lowing:
‘‘NATURALIZATION OF PERSONS WHO HAVE RESIDED IN
THE UNITED STATES FOR 20 YEARS, ARE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, ARE UNIT-
ED
STATES
VETERANS, OR
HAVE
ATTAINED
YEARS OF AGE
‘‘SEC. 323. (a) The requirements in sections 312 and
316 shall not apply to the following persons applying for
naturalization as a citizen of the United States:
‘‘(1) A person who has resided in the United
States as a lawful permanent resident for at least 20
years.
‘‘(2) A person who is a lawful permanent resi-
dent of the United States and who has been accred-
ited by the Social Security Administration with 40
quarters of coverage under title II of the Social Se-
curity Act.
‘‘(3) A person who is a lawful permanent resi-
dent of the United States and who is a veteran, as
defined in section 101(2) of title 38, United States
Code.
‘‘(4) A person who is at least 70 years old and
has resided in the United States as a lawful perma-
nent resident for at least 5 years.
‘‘(b) A person described in subsection (a) shall not
be eligible for naturalization as a citizen of the United
States unless the person is—
‘‘(1) of good moral character;
‘‘(2) attached to the principles of the Constitu-
tion of the United States; and
‘‘(3) well disposed to the good order and happi-
ness of the United States.
‘‘(c) A person who has been convicted of a crime pun-
ishable by imprisonment for more than 12 months shall
not be eligible under this section for naturalization as a
citizen of the United States.
‘‘(d) Section 310(b)(1)(B) shall not apply with re-
spect to a person naturalized as a citizen of the United
States pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
‘‘(e) An applicant for naturalization under this sub-
section may be administered the oath of allegiance under
section 337(a) by any district court of the United States,
without regard to the residence of the applicant.’’.
SEC. 2. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.
The table of contents of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 322 the following:
‘‘Sec. 323. Naturalization of persons who have resided in the United States for
20 years, are eligible to receive social security benefits, are
United States veterans, or have attained 70 years of age.’’.
Æ