[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3323 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3323

  To promote the naturalization of eligible individuals by making the 
  administration of oaths of allegiance more efficient, improving the 
  dissemination of information about eligibility and requirements for 
    naturalization, making grants for citizenship preparation, and 
requiring the Attorney General periodically to consult with appropriate 
             private organizations, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 1996

Mr. Becerra (for himself, Mr. Pastor, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Serrano, Ms. 
Velazquez, Mr. Torres, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Martinez, 
   Mr. Berman, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Farr of California, Mr. Matsui, Ms. 
 Waters, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Filner, Mr. 
Tejeda, Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, Mr. de la Garza, Mr. Gutierrez, 
Mr. Underwood, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Schumer, Mr. McDermott, Ms. 
Ros-Lehtinen, and Mr. Watt of North Carolina) introduced the following 
       bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To promote the naturalization of eligible individuals by making the 
  administration of oaths of allegiance more efficient, improving the 
  dissemination of information about eligibility and requirements for 
    naturalization, making grants for citizenship preparation, and 
requiring the Attorney General periodically to consult with appropriate 
             private organizations, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Proud To Be an American Citizen Act 
of 1996''.

SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE.

    (a) Naturalization Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Section 310(b) of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1421(b)) is amended to read as 
        follows:
    ``(b) Authority to Administer Oaths.--
            ``(1) Jurisdiction.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to section 337(c), each 
                applicant for naturalization shall have the oath of 
                allegiance under section 337(a) administered by the 
                Attorney General or by an eligible court that has 
                submitted the notice described in subparagraph (B) and 
                is conducting oath administration ceremonies pursuant 
                to a schedule developed by the Attorney General under 
                subparagraph (C). Such an eligible court shall have 
                authority to administer such oath to an applicant for 
                naturalization residing within the jurisdiction of the 
                court during the period described in paragraph 
                (3)(A)(i).
                    ``(B) Notification by court.--An eligible court 
                that wishes to have authority to administer the oath of 
                allegiance to applicants for naturalization during a 
                fiscal year shall notify the Attorney General of such 
                wish not later than the first day of the 60-day period 
                terminating on the last day of the preceding fiscal 
                year.
                    ``(C) Development of oath administration ceremony 
                schedule.--For each eligible court that has provided 
                notice under subparagraph (B) in a fiscal year, the 
                Attorney General, in consultation with the court, shall 
                develop, not later than the first day of the 30-day 
                period terminating on the last day of the year, an oath 
                administration ceremony schedule for the succeeding 
                fiscal year that establishes, at a minimum, the 
                following:
                            ``(i) The days during such succeeding year 
                        on which the court will schedule oath 
                        administration ceremonies.
                            ``(ii) The number of such ceremonies that 
                        the court will conduct on each such day.
                            ``(iii) The total number of applicants for 
                        naturalization to whom the court will 
                        administer the oath of allegiance on each such 
                        day.
            ``(2) Assignment of individuals.--
                    ``(A) Establishment of exclusive authority.--In the 
                case of an eligible court exercising authority under 
                paragraph (1) with respect to applicants for 
                naturalization residing within the jurisdiction of the 
                court, the Attorney General, in accordance with 
                procedures established by the Attorney General under 
                subparagraph (C), may designate the court, at the time 
                of the approval of such an applicant's application for 
                naturalization, as having exclusive authority to 
                administer the oath of allegiance to the applicant 
                during the period specified in paragraph (3)(A)(i).
                    ``(B) Information.--In the case of a designation of 
                an eligible court under subparagraph (A) with respect 
                to an applicant for naturalization, the Attorney 
                General--
                            ``(i) shall inform the applicant of the 
                        court's exclusive authority at the time of the 
                        approval of the application for naturalization;
                            ``(ii) shall determine the date, place, and 
                        time of the oath administration ceremony at 
                        which the applicant will take the oath of 
                        allegiance and shall inform the applicant of 
                        such information not later than 10 days before 
                        such date;
                            ``(iii) shall forward to the court not 
                        later than 10 days after the date of approval 
                        of the application such information as may be 
                        necessary to administer the oath of allegiance 
                        to the applicant; and
                            ``(iv) shall promptly forward to the court 
                        a certificate of naturalization (prepared by 
                        the Attorney General under subsection (e)).
                    ``(C) Procedures for designation of courts.--The 
                procedures referred to in subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) shall be developed and revised 
                        jointly by the Attorney General and each 
                        eligible court that has provided notice under 
                        paragraph (1)(B) or, in a case in which more 
                        than one eligible court in an area has provided 
                        notice under such paragraph with respect to 
                        applicants for naturalization residing within 
                        the area, by the Attorney General with all such 
                        courts collectively; and
                            ``(ii) shall be consistent with the 
                        schedules developed by the Attorney General 
                        under paragraph (1)(C) (and shall be revised 
                        from time to time as necessary to ensure such 
                        consistency); and
                            ``(iii) shall require an eligible court 
                        that determines that it will be unable, during 
                        the period specified in paragraph (3)(A)(i), to 
                        administer the oath of allegiance to any 
                        applicant for naturalization who is directed, 
                        or who may be directed, to the court under 
                        subparagraphs (A) and (B) to notify the 
                        Attorney General of such determination as soon 
                        as practicable.
            ``(3) Scope of exclusive authority.--
                    ``(A) Limited period and advance notice required.--
                The exclusive authority of an eligible court under 
                paragraph (2) shall apply with respect to an applicant 
                for naturalization--
                            ``(i) only during the 30-day period 
                        beginning on the date on which the Attorney 
                        General certifies to the court that the 
                        applicant is eligible for naturalization;
                            ``(ii) only if the court has notified the 
                        Attorney General, prior to the date of 
                        certification of eligibility, of the day or 
                        days (during such 30-day period) on which the 
                        court has scheduled oath administration 
                        ceremonies; and
                            ``(iii) only if the court has not notified 
                        the Attorney General under paragraph 
                        (2)(C)(iii) that it will be unable to 
                        administer the oath of allegiance to the 
                        applicant.
                    ``(B) Authority of attorney general.--Subject to 
                subparagraph (C), the Attorney General shall not 
                administer the oath of allegiance to an applicant for 
                naturalization under subsection (a) during the period 
                in which exclusive authority to administer the oath of 
                allegiance may be exercised by an eligible court under 
                this subsection with respect to the applicant.
                    ``(C) Waiver of exclusive authority.--An eligible 
                court may waive exclusive authority to administer the 
                oath of allegiance to an applicant for naturalization 
                under this subsection if the Attorney General has not 
                provided the court with the certification described in 
                subparagraph (A)(i) within a reasonable time before the 
                date scheduled by the Attorney General for the oath 
                administration ceremony.
            ``(4) Requirements on attorney general.--
                    ``(A) Administration of oaths.--
                            ``(i) No exclusive authority established.--
                        In any case in which an eligible court has not 
                        been designated, at the time of the approval of 
                        an applicant's application for naturalization, 
                        as having exclusive authority to administer the 
                        oath of allegiance to the applicant, the 
                        Attorney General shall administer such oath to 
                        the applicant during the 30-day period 
                        beginning on the date of such approval.
                            ``(ii) Delay in exercising exclusive 
                        authority.--Subject to clauses (iii) and (iv), 
                        in any case in which an eligible court has not 
                        administered the oath of allegiance to an 
                        applicant for naturalization during the period 
                        in which exclusive authority to administer the 
                        oath of allegiance may be exercised by the 
                        court under this subsection with respect to the 
                        applicant, the Attorney General shall 
                        administer the oath to the applicant during the 
                        30-day period beginning on the date of the 
                        termination of such period of exclusive 
                        authority.
                            ``(iii) Determination of inability to 
                        exercise authority.--In any case in which an 
                        eligible court has notified the Attorney 
                        General under paragraph (2)(C)(iii) that it 
                        will be unable to administer the oath of 
                        allegiance to an applicant for naturalization 
                        during the period in which exclusive authority 
                        to administer the oath of allegiance may be 
                        exercised by the court under this subsection 
                        with respect to the applicant, the Attorney 
                        General shall administer the oath to the 
                        applicant during the 30-day period beginning on 
                        the date the Attorney General receives such 
                        notice.
                            ``(iv) Waiver of exclusive authority.--Upon 
                        notification of a court's waiver of exclusive 
                        authority under paragraph (3)(C), the Attorney 
                        General shall promptly notify the applicant for 
                        naturalization of the waiver and shall 
                        administer the oath of allegiance to the 
                        applicant during the 30-day period beginning on 
                        the date on which the Attorney General receives 
                        notification of the waiver.
                    ``(B) Notice to applicants.--In any case in which 
                the Attorney General is required to administer the oath 
                of allegiance to an applicant for naturalization under 
                subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall determine 
                the date, place, and time for the administrative 
                naturalization and shall inform the applicant of such 
                information not later than 10 days before such date.
            ``(5) Eligible courts.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        the term ``eligible court'' means--
                    ``(A) a district court of the United States in any 
                State; or
                    ``(B) any court of record in any State having a 
                seal, a clerk, and jurisdiction in actions in law or 
                equity, or law and equity, in which the amount in 
                controversy is unlimited.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 339(a)(1) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1450(a)(1)) is 
        amended by striking ``310(b)(2)(A)(ii),'' and inserting 
        ``310(b)(2)(B)(iv),''.
    (b) Certificates of Naturalization.--
            (1) In general.--Section 310 of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1421) is amended by adding at the end 
        the following:
    ``(e) Certificates of Naturalization.--The Attorney General shall 
issue a certificate of naturalization, in such form as the Attorney 
General may prescribe, to persons admitted to citizenship in conformity 
with the provisions of this title.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The Immigration and 
        Naturalization Act is amended by striking sections 332(e) and 
        338.
    (c) Oath of Renunciation and Allegiance.--
            (1) Waiver of requirement for certain individuals with a 
        disability.--Section 337(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 
        Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
``The Attorney General may waive the taking of the oath by a person if 
in the opinion of the Attorney General the person is unable to 
understand its meaning because of a physical or developmental 
disability or mental impairment.''.
            (2) Expedited oath administration.--Section 337(c) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(c)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``grant an expedited judicial oath 
                administration ceremony, a court'' and inserting 
                ``grant such an expedited judicial ceremony or 
                administrative naturalization, the Attorney General'';
                    (B) by striking ``scheduled ceremony,'' and 
                inserting ``scheduled ceremony or administrative 
                naturalization,'';
                    (C) by striking ``If an expedited judicial oath 
                administration ceremony is impracticable,'' and 
                inserting ``In a case where the Attorney General has 
                granted an expedited judicial oath administration 
                ceremony but the court determines that the ceremony is 
                impracticable,''; and
                    (D) by striking ``who may provide'' and inserting 
                ``who shall provide''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1997.

SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR NATURALIZATION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 286 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1356) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) by striking ``as offsetting receipts''; and
                    (B) by striking ``other immigrants.'' and inserting 
                ``other immigrants and the costs of grants under 
                section 332(i).'';
            (2) in subsection (n)--
                    (A) by striking ``to reimburse any appropriation 
                the amount paid out of such appropriation'' and 
                inserting ``solely''; and
                    (B) by striking ``reimbursed'' and inserting 
                ``withdrawn''; and
            (3) in subsection (o)--
                    (A) by striking ``annually'' and inserting 
                ``quarterly''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
``Such statements shall specify, to the extent practicable, the source 
and amount of any fee deposited into the account and the purpose and 
amount of any withdrawal from the account.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS AS TO UNDERSTANDING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, HISTORY, 
              PRINCIPLES, AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 312 of the Immigration and Nationalization 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1423) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``language:'' and all 
        that follows through ``applicant;'' and inserting 
        ``language;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) The Attorney General may establish by regulation standards 
and procedures consistent with this section relating to the means by 
which an applicant for naturalization may satisfy the requirements of 
subsection (a).
    ``(d)(1) The Attorney General shall by regulation establish 
standards and procedures for the administration of examinations under 
this section by persons other than the Attorney General who are 
authorized to administer such examinations.
    ``(2) In promulgating regulations under paragraph (1), the Attorney 
General shall consult experts in linguistics, education, and 
testing.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 5. CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 332(b) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1443(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``is authorized to'' and inserting 
        ``shall'';
            (2) by striking ``the sending of names of candidates for 
        naturalization to the public schools,''; and
            (3) by striking ``such candidates as are'' and inserting 
        ``candidates for naturalization who are''.
    (b) Grants for Citizenship Preparation.--Section 332 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1443) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(i)(1) The Attorney General shall make grants for citizenship 
preparation on a competitive basis to appropriate community groups, 
private voluntary agencies, and other relevant organizations under such 
terms and conditions as the Attorney General may establish consistent 
with this subsection.
    ``(2) Such grants shall be made solely from deposits into the 
`Immigration Examinations Fee Account' referred to in subsections (m), 
(n), and (o) of section 286.
    ``(3) The total of such grants in any fiscal year--
            ``(A) shall exceed 5 percent of the total of all deposits 
        made into the `Immigration Examinations Fee Account' during the 
        previous fiscal year; and
            ``(B) may not exceed 8 percent of such total deposits.
    ``(4) The Federal share of the cost of any program or activity 
conducted with financial assistance under this subsection may not 
exceed 50 percent of such cost.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 6. DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION ON NATURALIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 332(h) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1443(h)) is amended by inserting ``in written and 
electronic form, through public libraries, Federal, State, and local 
agencies, and other means, applications for naturalization and'' after 
``distribute''.
    (b) Distribution to New Permanent Residents.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 9 of title II of the Immigration 
        and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1351 et seq.) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:

            ``distribution of information on naturalization

    ``Sec. 294. The Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall 
provide for the distribution to each alien who is issued an immigrant 
visa or who otherwise acquires the status of an alien lawfully admitted 
to the United States for permanent residence with a written statement 
that summarizes--
            ``(1) the benefits and obligations of United States 
        citizenship;
            ``(2) the requirements under chapter 2 of title III for 
        such an alien to become a naturalized citizen of the United 
        States and any facts concerning such an alien that could 
        disqualify the alien from citizenship; and
            ``(3) the documents and records that the alien should 
        collect and retain in order to assist the alien in preparing an 
        application for naturalization when the submission of such an 
        application is timely.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by inserting after 
        the item relating to section 293 the following:

``Sec. 294. Distribution of information on naturalization.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 7. CONSULTATION WITH CITIZENSHIP COUNCILS.

    (a) In General.--Section 332 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1443), as amended by section 3(b)(2), is amended by adding 
after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) The Attorney General shall consult, not less than once a 
month during a calendar year, with appropriate community groups, 
private voluntary agencies, and other relevant organizations serving 
each district of the Service in the United States in which the number 
of applications for naturalization filed during the preceding fiscal 
year exceeded 10,000, for the following purposes:
            ``(1) Planning and scheduling citizenship preparation 
        programs and activities to be carried out in the district.
            ``(2) Discussing administrative and logistical aspects of 
        future examinations of applicants for naturalization in the 
        district, including examinations conducted at locations other 
        than an office of the Attorney General.
            ``(3) Discussing administrative and logistical aspects of 
        future ceremonies in the district for the administration of 
        oaths of allegiance under section 337.
            ``(4) Planning, and evaluating the effectiveness of, 
        efforts by the Attorney General in the district to promote 
        citizenship preparation and to distribute to the public 
        information about the opportunities and responsibilities of 
        citizenship.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 8. APPLICATIONS FOR NATURALIZATION.

    (a) Return of Deficient Applications.--Section 334 of the 
Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1445) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(g)(1) In cases where the Attorney General returns an application 
for naturalization to the applicant before the application is 
considered to be filed by the Attorney General, the returned 
application shall be accompanied by a written notice summarizing the 
reason for the return and stating the requirements that need to be met 
in order for the application to be resubmitted and considered as filed.
    ``(2) In cases where the Attorney General returns an application 
for naturalization under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall 
provide by regulation for a reasonable opportunity for the applicant to 
resubmit the application.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 9. EXAMINATIONS UPON APPLICATIONS FOR NATURALIZATION.

    (a) Withdrawals of Applications; Failures to Appear for 
Examinations.--Section 335(e) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1446(e)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e)(1) After an application for naturalization has been filed 
with the Attorney General, the applicant shall not be permitted to 
withdraw his application, except with the consent of the Attorney 
General.
    ``(2) In cases where the Attorney General does not consent to the 
withdrawal of the application, the application shall be determined on 
its merits and a final order determination made accordingly. In cases 
where the Attorney General consents to the withdrawal of the 
application, the Attorney General shall provide the applicant with a 
written notice summarizing the reason for the withdrawal and the 
consent and informing the applicant of the rules governing reopening of 
the application.
    ``(3) In cases where the Attorney General consents to the 
withdrawal of an application for naturalization, the Attorney General 
shall provide by regulation for a reasonable opportunity for the 
applicant to reopen the application.
    ``(4) In cases where an applicant fails to prosecute an application 
for naturalization, the application shall be decided on the merits 
unless the Attorney General dismisses it for lack of prosecution.
    ``(5) If an applicant fails to appear for an examination upon an 
application for naturalization that is scheduled to be conducted by an 
employee of the Service, the Attorney General shall close the 
application temporarily but may not decide the application on its 
merits, or dismiss the application for failure to prosecute, before the 
date that is one year after the date of the scheduled examination. In 
cases where the Attorney General closes an application under this 
paragraph, the Attorney General shall provide by regulation for a 
reasonable opportunity for the applicant to reopen the application, 
subject to the payment of a fee, not to exceed 15 percent of the fee 
imposed for filing the application, except that no fee may be imposed 
where the applicant provides written notice to the Attorney General of 
the reason for the non-appearance and the applicant's request to 
reschedule the examination within 30 days after the date of the 
scheduled examination. All such fees shall be deposited into the 
`Immigration Examinations Fee Account' referred to in subsections (m), 
(n), and (o) of section 286. The Attorney General may waive the 
imposition of a fee under this paragraph under such circumstances as 
the Attorney General determines appropriate.''.
    (b) Notice of Examination.--Section 335(b) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1446(b)) is amended by inserting after the 
first sentence the following:
``After such an examination is scheduled, the Attorney General shall 
provide to the applicant, not later than 10 days before the date for 
which the examination is scheduled, a written notice of the date, 
place, and time of the examination and any documents or records that 
the applicant should bring to the examination.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 10. REPORT ON STATISTICS CONCERNING APPLICATIONS FOR 
              NATURALIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 332 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1443), as amended by section 5(b), is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(j) Not later than 120 days after the termination of a fiscal 
year, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Congress 
containing the following:
            ``(1) With respect to requests for withdrawal of an 
        application for naturalization under section 335(e)--
                    ``(A) the number of such requests that were made, 
                granted, and denied during the year;
                    ``(B) the age, national origin, and years of 
                residency in the United States of each applicant who 
                made such a request during the year, and the outcome of 
                the request, including whether or not the applicant 
                reopened the application during the year; and
                    ``(C) the reason given by the Attorney General for 
                granting or denying consent for each such request.
            ``(2) With respect to applications for naturalization 
        returned under section 334(g)--
                    ``(A) the number of such returns that were made 
                during the year;
                    ``(B) the reason for each such return; and
                    ``(C) whether or not the applicant resubmitted the 
                application during the year.
            ``(3) With respect to examinations upon an application for 
        naturalization under section 335--
                    ``(A) the percentage of such examinations that were 
                continued during the year to afford the applicant an 
                opportunity to overcome deficiencies and, with respect 
                to each such continued examination, the reason why the 
                continuance was necessary; and
                    ``(B) the number of applicants who failed to appear 
                during the year for such an examination that was 
                scheduled to be conducted by an employee of the 
                Service.''
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 1996.

SEC. 11. NATURALIZATION THROUGH SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) In General.--Section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1440) is amended by striking ``a date designated by the 
President by Executive order as the date of termination of the Vietnam 
hostilities,'' each place such term appears and inserting ``October 15, 
1978,''.

SEC. 12. NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD ON NATURALIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title III of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

              ``national advisory board on naturalization

    ``Sec. 362. (a) Establishment.--There is established a board to be 
known as the `National Advisory Board on Naturalization' (in this 
section referred to as the `Board'.
    ``(b) Duties.--The Board--
            ``(1) shall evaluate on an ongoing basis the implementation 
        of this title by the Attorney General;
            ``(2) shall assess on an ongoing basis the adequacy of 
        resources and funds available to the Attorney General for the 
        implementation of this title;
            ``(3) shall prepare independent biannual reports to the 
        President, the Congress, and the Attorney General relating to 
        the evaluations and assessments made under paragraphs (1) and 
        (2); and
            ``(4) otherwise shall advise the President, the Congress, 
        and the Attorney General with respect to the implementation of 
        this title.
    ``(c) Composition.--
            ``(1) Number and appointment.--The Board shall be composed 
        of 15 voting members, who shall be appointed by the Attorney 
        General, except as otherwise provided, as follows:
                    ``(A) Two members drawn from among individuals 
                having extensive academic experience in the study of 
                immigration.
                    ``(B) Three members drawn from among individuals 
                having been recently naturalized, including at least 
                two who are engaged in nonprofessional employment.
                    ``(C) Three members drawn from among individuals 
                having extensive recent experience in counseling and 
                advising resident aliens to become naturalized 
                citizens.
                    ``(D) Three members drawn from among individuals 
                having extensive experience in advocating the interests 
                of immigrants.
                    ``(E) Two members to be appointed by the Committee 
                on the Judiciary of the Senate.
                    ``(F) Two members to be appointed by the Committee 
                on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
            ``(2) Staggered terms.--The members shall serve staggered 
        terms, in a manner deemed appropriate by the Attorney General.
            ``(3) Chair; vice chair.--At the first meeting of the Board 
        each year, the members of the Board shall elect a chair and 
        vice chair, who shall serve for a term of one year.
            ``(4) Meetings.--The Board shall meet a sufficient number 
        of times each year to carry out its responsibilities under this 
        section.
            ``(d) Administrative Support.--The Attorney General shall 
        provide administrative support, including staffing, to enable 
        the Board to fulfill its functions.
    ``(e) Compensation.--
            ``(1) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or 
        regular places of business in the performance of duties for the 
        Board, Board members shall be allowed travel expenses, 
        including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
        for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    ``(2) Pay.--Members of the Board who are not officers or employees 
of the United States shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of 
the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is 
engaged in the actual business of the Board.
    ``(f) Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall 
apply to the Board, except to the extent that such provisions are 
inconsistent with this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 361 the following:

``Sec. 362. National advisory board on naturalization.''.

SEC. 13. SUPPORT OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall make available funds 
under this section, in each of 5 consecutive fiscal years (beginning 
with fiscal year 1997), to the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
or to other public or private nonprofit entities to support 
demonstration projects under this section at 10 sites throughout the 
United States. Each such project shall be designed to provide for the 
administration of the oath of allegiance (under section 337(a) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act) on a business day around the 4th of 
July for approximately 500 people whose application for naturalization 
has been approved. Each project shall provide for appropriate outreach 
and ceremonial and celebratory activities.
    (b) Selection of Sites.--The Attorney General shall, in the 
Attorney General's discretion, select diverse locations for sites on 
the basis of the number of naturalization applicants living in 
proximity to each site and on the degree of local community 
participation and support in the project to be held at the site. Not 
more than 2 sites may be located in the same State. The Attorney 
General should consider changing the sites selected from year to year.
    (c) Amounts Available; Use of Funds.--
            (1) Amount.--The amount that may be made available under 
        this section with respect to any single site for a site for a 
        year shall not exceed $5,000.
            (2) Use.--Funds provided under this section may only be 
        used to cover expenses incurred carrying out symbolic swearing-
        in ceremonies at the demonstration sites, including expenses 
        for--
                    (A) cost of personnel of the Immigration and 
                Naturalization Service (including travel and overtime 
                expenses)
                    (B) local outreach,
                    (C) rental of space, and
                    (D) costs of printing appropriate brochures and 
                other information about the ceremonies.
            (3) Availability of funds.--Funds in the ``Immigration 
        Examinations Fee Account'' referred to in subsections (m), (n), 
        and (o) of section 286 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
        may be used to carry out this section.
    (d) Application.--In the case of an entity other than the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service seeking to conduct a 
demonstration project under this section, no amounts may be made 
available to the entity under this section unless an appropriate 
application has been made to, and approved by, the Attorney General, in 
a form and manner specified by the Attorney General.
    (e) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a)(36) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(36)).
                                 <all>