I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1379 
To assist aliens who have been lawfully admitted in becoming citizens of 
the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 7, 2007 
Mr. GUTIERREZ (for himself, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. HONDA, Mr. ABER-
CROMBIE, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. REYES) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary 
A BILL 
To assist aliens who have been lawfully admitted in becoming 
citizens of the United States, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Immigration service fees. 
Sec. 3. Administration of tests for naturalization. 
Sec. 4. Voluntary electronic filing of applications. 
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Sec. 5. Timely background checks. 
Sec. 6. National citizenship promotion program. 
SEC. 2. IMMIGRATION SERVICE FEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (m) of section 286 of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(m) IMMIGRATION SERVICE FEES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2) and notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, all adjudication fees as are designated by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security in regulations shall 
be deposited as offsetting receipts into a separate ac-
count entitled ‘Immigration Examinations Fee Ac-
count’ in the Treasury of the United States, whether 
collected directly by the Secretary or through clerks 
of courts. 
‘‘(2) VIRGIN ISLANDS AND GUAM.—All fees re-
ceived by the Secretary of Homeland Security from 
applicants residing in the Virgin Islands of the 
United States, or in Guam, under this subsection 
shall be paid over to the treasury of the Virgin Is-
lands or to the treasury of Guam, respectively. 
‘‘(3) FEES FOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Secretary of Homeland Security 
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may set fees for providing immigration services 
at a level that will— 
‘‘(i) ensure recovery of the full costs 
of providing such services, or a portion 
thereof, including the costs of similar serv-
ices provided without charge to asylum ap-
plicants or other immigrants; and 
‘‘(ii) recover the full cost of admin-
istering the collection of fees under this 
paragraph, or a portion thereof. 
‘‘(B) REPORT
REQUIREMENT.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security may not increase 
any fee under this paragraph above the level of 
such fee on the day before the date of the intro-
duction of the Citizenship Promotion Act of 
2007, until— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary submits to the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives a report that— 
‘‘(I) identifies the direct and indi-
rect costs associated with providing 
immigration 
services, 
and 
distin-
guishes such costs from immigration 
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enforcement and national security 
costs; and 
‘‘(II) contains information re-
garding the amount the fee will be in-
creased; and 
‘‘(ii) a period of 45 days has expired 
beginning on the date that the report in 
clause (i) is received by the committees de-
scribed in such clause.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Secretary of Homeland Security should 
set fees under section 286(m)(3) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)(3)), as 
amended by subsection (a) of this section, at a level 
that ensures recovery of only the direct costs associ-
ated with the services described in such section 
286(m)(3); and 
(2) Congress should appropriate to the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security such funds as may be 
necessary to cover the indirect costs associated with 
the services described in such section 286(m)(3). 
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 286 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356) is 
amended— 
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(1) in subsections (d), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), (k), 
(l), (n), (o), (q), (t), and (u), by striking ‘‘Attorney 
General’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of Homeland Security’’; 
(2) in subsection (i) of such section, by striking 
‘‘Attorney General’s’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary’s’’; 
and 
(3) in subsection (r)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Depart-
ment of Justice’’ and inserting ‘‘Department of 
Homeland Security’’; and 
(B) in paragraphs (3) and (4), by striking 
‘‘Attorney General’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—For 
each fiscal year, there is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary of Homeland Security an amount equal to 
the difference between the fees collected under section 
286(m)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1356(m)(3)), as amended by subsection (a) of this 
section, and the cost of providing the services referred to 
in such section 286(m)(3). 
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SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION OF TESTS FOR NATURALIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 312 of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) NATURALIZATION TEST.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENTS.—Except as otherwise 
provided in this title, a person may not be natural-
ized as a citizen of the United States upon the appli-
cation of such person if such person cannot dem-
onstrate the following: 
‘‘(A) A proficiency in the English lan-
guage. 
‘‘(B) A knowledge and understanding of— 
‘‘(i) the fundamentals of the history of 
the United States; and 
‘‘(ii) the principles and form of gov-
ernment of the United States. 
‘‘(2) TESTING.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in administering any test 
that the Secretary uses to determine whether 
an applicant for naturalization as a citizen of 
the United States has the proficiency and 
knowledge sufficient to meet the requirements 
of paragraph (1), shall administer such test 
uniformly throughout the United States. 
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‘‘(B) CONSIDERATION.—In selecting and 
phrasing items in the administration of a test 
described in subparagraph (A) and in evalu-
ating the performance of an applicant on such 
test, the Secretary shall consider the following: 
‘‘(i) The age of the applicant. 
‘‘(ii) The education level of the appli-
cant. 
‘‘(iii) The amount of time the appli-
cant has resided in the United States. 
‘‘(iv) The efforts made by the appli-
cant, and the opportunities available to the 
applicant, to acquire the knowledge and 
proficiencies required by paragraph (1). 
‘‘(v) Such other factors as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(C) ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING.—The 
requirement in paragraph (1)(A) shall be satis-
factorily met if an applicant can— 
‘‘(i) speak words in ordinary usage in 
the English language; and 
‘‘(ii) read or write simple words and 
phrases in ordinary usage in the English 
language. 
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‘‘(D) PROHIBITION
ON
EXTRAORDINARY 
AND
UNREASONABLE
CONDITIONS.—The Sec-
retary may not impose any extraordinary or un-
reasonable condition on any applicant seeking 
to meet the requirements of paragraph (1).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Subsection (b) of 
such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(A)’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(2)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(B)’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘The Attorney General’’ 
and inserting ‘‘The Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘determined by the Attor-
ney General’’ and inserting ‘‘determined by the 
Secretary’’. 
SEC. 4. VOLUNTARY ELECTRONIC FILING OF APPLICA-
TIONS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security may not require 
that an applicant or petitioner for permanent residence or 
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citizenship of the United States use an electronic method 
to file any application to, or access a customer account. 
SEC. 5. TIMELY BACKGROUND CHECKS. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study on the proc-
ess used by the Department of Justice on the day 
before the date of the enactment of this Act to con-
duct a background check on an applicant for citizen-
ship of the United States. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and annually 
thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall report to Congress on the findings of 
the study required by paragraph (1). 
(3) CONTENTS
OF
REPORT.—The report re-
quired by paragraph (2) shall include the following 
information with respect to the calendar year pre-
ceding the date on which the report is filed: 
(A) The number of background checks con-
ducted by the Department of Justice on appli-
cants for citizenship of the United States. 
(B) The types of such background checks 
conducted. 
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(C) The average time spent on each such 
type of background check. 
(D) A description of the obstacles that im-
pede the timely completion of such background 
checks. 
(b) 
TIMELY
COMPLETION
OF
BACKGROUND 
CHECKS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a request 
submitted to the Attorney General by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security for a background check on an 
applicant for temporary or permanent residence or 
citizenship of the United States, the Attorney Gen-
eral shall make a reasonable effort to complete a 
background check on such applicant not later than 
90 days after the Attorney General receives such re-
quest from the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(2) DELAYS ON BACKGROUND CHECKS.—If a 
background check described in paragraph (1) is not 
completed by the Attorney General before the date 
that is 91 days after the date that the Attorney 
General receives a request described in paragraph 
(1)— 
(A) the Attorney General shall document 
the reason why such background check was not 
completed before such date; 
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(B) if such background check is not com-
pleted before the date that is 121 days after the 
date of such receipt, then the Attorney General 
shall document the reason why such back-
ground check was not completed before such 
date; and 
(C) if such background check is not com-
pleted before the date that is 181 days after the 
date of such receipt, then the Attorney General 
shall, not later than 210 days after the date of 
such receipt, submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees and the Secretary of Home-
land Security a report that describes— 
(i) the reason that such background 
check was not completed within 180 days; 
and 
(ii) the earliest date on which the At-
torney General is certain the background 
check will be completed. 
(3) ANNUAL
REPORT
ON
DELAYED
BACK-
GROUND CHECKS.—Not later than the end of each 
fiscal year, the Attorney General shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report con-
taining, with respect to that fiscal year— 
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(A) the number of background checks de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) or (C) of para-
graph (2); 
(B) the time taken to complete each such 
background check; 
(C) a statistical analysis of the causes of 
the delays in completing such background 
checks; and 
(D) a description of the efforts being made 
by the Attorney General to address each such 
cause. 
(4) NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANT.—If, with re-
spect to a background check on an applicant de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland 
Security receives a report under paragraph (2)(C), 
then the Secretary shall provide to such applicant a 
copy of such report, redacted to remove any classi-
fied information contained therein. 
(5) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate 
congressional committees’’ means the following: 
(A) The Committee on the Judiciary of the 
Senate. 
(B) The Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
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(C) The Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives. 
(D) The Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives. 
(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Attor-
ney General such funds as may be necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this subsection. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 
2008, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall es-
tablish a program to assist aliens who have been 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in becom-
ing citizens of the United States. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The program required by 
paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘‘New Ameri-
cans Initiative’’ (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Program’’). 
(b) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—As part of the Program 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity shall— 
(1) award grants in accordance with subsection 
(c); and 
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(2) carry out outreach activities in accordance 
with subsection (d). 
(c) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall award grants to eligible entities to as-
sist aliens who have been lawfully admitted for per-
manent residence in becoming citizens of the United 
States. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means a not-for- 
profit organization that has experience working with 
immigrant communities. 
(3) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Grants awarded under 
this subsection shall be used for activities to assist 
aliens who have been lawfully admitted for perma-
nent residence in becoming citizens of the United 
States, including— 
(A) conducting English language and citi-
zenship classes for such aliens; 
(B) providing legal assistance, by attorneys 
or entities accredited by the Board of Immigra-
tion Appeals, to such aliens to assist such aliens 
in becoming citizens of the United States; 
(C) carrying out outreach activities and 
providing education to immigrant communities 
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to assist such aliens in becoming citizens of the 
United States; and 
(D) assisting such aliens with applications 
to become citizens of the United States, as al-
lowed by Federal and State law. 
(4) APPLICATION FOR GRANT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each eligible entity 
seeking a grant under this subsection shall sub-
mit an application to the Secretary of Home-
land Security at such time, in such manner, 
and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary shall require. 
(B) CONTENTS.—Each application sub-
mitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall in-
clude a description of— 
(i) the activities for which a grant 
under this section is sought; 
(ii) the manner in which the entity 
plans to leverage available private and 
State and local government resources to 
assist aliens who have been lawfully admit-
ted for permanent residence in becoming 
citizens of the United States; 
(iii) the experience of the entity in 
carrying out the activities for which a 
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grant under this section is sought, includ-
ing the number of aliens and geographic 
regions served by such entity; and 
(iv) the manner in which the entity 
plans to employ best practices developed by 
adult educators, State and local govern-
ments, and community organizations— 
(I) to promote citizenship and 
civic participation by such aliens; and 
(II) to provide assistance to such 
aliens with the process of becoming 
citizens of the United States. 
(d) OUTREACH.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall— 
(1) develop outreach materials targeted to 
aliens who have been lawfully admitted for perma-
nent residence to encourage such aliens to apply to 
become citizens of the United States; and 
(2) make such outreach materials available 
through— 
(A) public service announcements; 
(B) advertisements; and 
(C) such other media as the Secretary de-
termines is appropriate. 
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(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, $80,000,000 to carry out this section. 
Æ 
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