Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act

Fingerprints for members of Armed Forces

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Privacy Act of 1974), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall use the fingerprints provided by an individual at the time the individual enlisted in the Armed Forces to satisfy any requirement for fingerprints that is part of an application for naturalization if— (1)the individual may be naturalized pursuant to section 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439–1440); (2)the individual was fingerprinted in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Defense at the time the individual enlisted in the Armed Forces; (3)the individual submits an application for naturalization not later than 24 months after the date on which the individual enlisted in the Armed Forces; and (4)the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the fingerprints are sufficient to adjudicate the applicant’s naturalization application. (b)

Most timely and effective adjudication

Nothing in this section shall preclude an individual described in subsection (a) from submitting new fingerprints to the Secretary of Homeland Security. If the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that submitting new fingerprints would result in more timely and effective adjudication of the individual’s naturalization application, the Secretary shall inform the individual that submitting new fingerprints would result in more timely and effective adjudication of the individual’s naturalization application, along with a description of how to submit new fingerprints. (c)

Cooperation

The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall determine the format of fingerprints acceptable for usage under subsection (a). The Secretary of Defense, or any other official having custody of the fingerprints referred to in subsection (a), shall make such prints available to the Secretary of Homeland Security for the purpose described in subsection (a) without charge and shall otherwise cooperate with the Secretary of Homeland Security in fulfilling the Secretary’s satisfaction of the requirement under subsection (a).

Provision of information on military naturalization

(a)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the effective date of any modification to a regulation related to naturalization under section 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439–1440), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall update as necessary the appropriate Internet site or sites maintained by the Secretary to reflect such modification. (b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Homeland Security should update as necessary the appropriate application form or forms promulgated by the Secretary not later than 180 days after an effective date described in subsection (a).

Reports

(a)

Adjudication process

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the entire process for the adjudication of an application for naturalization filed pursuant to section 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439–1440), including the process that begins at the time the application is mailed to, or received by, the Secretary of Homeland Security, regardless of whether the Secretary determines that such application is complete, through the final disposition of such application. Such report shall include a description of— (1)the methods of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense to prepare, handle, and adjudicate such applications; (2)the effectiveness of the chain of authority, supervision, and training of employees of the Federal Government or of other entities, including contract employees, who have any role in such process or adjudication; and (3)the ability of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense to use technology to facilitate or accomplish any aspect of such process or adjudication. (b)

Implementation

(1)

Study

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the implementation of this Act by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense, including studying any technology that may be used to improve the efficiency of the naturalization process for members of the Armed Forces. (2)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date that the Comptroller General submits the report required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the study required by paragraph (1). The report shall include any recommendations of the Comptroller General for improving the implementation of this Act by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of Defense. (c)

Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1)the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and (2)the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.