[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4949 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4949

   To establish the National Office of New Americans to support the 
   integration of immigrants to the United States into the economic, 
  social, cultural, and civic life of their local communities and the 
                    Nation, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 24, 2014

    Mr. Cardenas (for himself and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish the National Office of New Americans to support the 
   integration of immigrants to the United States into the economic, 
  social, cultural, and civic life of their local communities and the 
                    Nation, 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 ``New American Success Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Findings and declaration of policy.
                 TITLE I--CITIZENSHIP AND NEW AMERICANS

Sec. 101. National Office of New Americans.
Sec. 102. Task Force on New Americans.
Sec. 103. Authorization of appropriations.
                            TITLE II--GRANTS

Sec. 201. Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance Grants.
Sec. 202. Integration Success Grants.
Sec. 203. Integration Success Fund.
                  TITLE III--ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING

Sec. 301. Waiver of English requirement for senior new Americans.
                          TITLE IV--RULEMAKING

Sec. 401. Rulemaking requirement.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are 
        13,400,000 non-citizen residents in the United States with 
        limited proficiency in English.
            (2) According to the Department of Homeland Security, 
        approximately 1,100,000 legal immigrants enter the country 
        annually. About half of these legal immigrants lack full 
        proficiency in English.
            (3) According to the Migration Policy Institute, an 
        estimated 70 percent of the unauthorized immigrant population 
        ages 19 and older have limited proficiency in English.
            (4) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 
        two-thirds of the foreign-born population does not have a 
        postsecondary degree, and foreign-born adults are three times 
        more likely to lack a high school diploma or equivalent than 
        native-born adults.
            (5) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19 of the 
        30 fastest growing occupations require workers with some form 
        of postsecondary education or training.
            (6) These statistics suggest that a lack of English 
        proficiency and limited education serve as serious impediments 
        to labor market success for immigrants.
            (7) A century ago, during the last great wave of 
        immigration to this country, the public and private sectors 
        promoted the integration of newcomers through the Settlement 
        House movement, the founding of the modern public library 
        system, the establishment of universal public education.
            (8) Although currently dozens of Federal and State programs 
        support, and thousands of government agencies and nonprofit 
        organizations operate, programs that teach English, promote 
        acquisition of workforce skills, provide citizenship 
        assistance, and otherwise promote the integration of immigrants 
        and their children, such programs are often not coordinated or 
        aligned, limiting the capacity of such programs to identify and 
        test promising practices, leverage resources, or bring 
        effective interventions to scale.
            (9) It is in the national interest to facilitate the rapid 
        acquisition of English language skills by immigrants to the 
        United States and to otherwise promote the integration of 
        immigrants and their children into the mainstream of our 
        economy and society.
            (10) Empowering immigrants and their family members to 
        effectively integrate into the mainstream of the economic, 
        social, cultural, and civic life of their local communities and 
        the Nation as a whole will ensure that United States 
        immigration policies result in more productive and competitive 
        local economies and more cohesive and harmonious communities.
            (11) Data, policies, and programs relevant to immigrant 
        integration crosscut the responsibilities of numerous Federal 
        agencies as well as those of State and local governments and 
        nongovernmental actors.
            (12) The overlapping nature of integration issues and the 
        lack of coordination of immigration policies and programs make 
        it difficult for the President and Congress to understand and 
        respond to pressing integration challenges and opportunities.
            (13) Improved coordination of integration goals, policies, 
        and programs across sectors and levels of government would 
        greatly enhance the ability of the Federal Government to create 
        and maintain an immigration system that is more suited to 
        modern times and benefits the interests of the Federal 
        Government, communities with growing immigrant populations, as 
        well as immigrants and their family members.
    (b) Declaration of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States 
to--
            (1) promote the civic, linguistic, and economic integration 
        of immigrants and their young children into the United States;
            (2) establish national goals for integrating immigrants and 
        their young children into the United States, and measure the 
        degree to which such goals are met;
            (3) assess and coordinate Federal policies, regulations, 
        and programs related to the integration of immigrants, 
        including an assessment of Federal agency jurisdiction and 
        budget concerns;
            (4) consult with State and local governments on integration 
        challenges and opportunities for the purpose of improving 
        Federal integration policy and program efforts;
            (5) track the performance of Federal, State, and local 
        integration initiatives, including measures of reach, 
        effectiveness, and cost; and
            (6) engage stakeholders at different government and 
        nongovernment levels to identify integration opportunities and 
        challenges.

                 TITLE I--CITIZENSHIP AND NEW AMERICANS

SEC. 101. NATIONAL OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.

    (a) Establishment of National Office of New Americans.--
            (1) In general.--There is established in the Executive 
        Office of the President a National Office of New Americans (in 
        this title referred to as the ``Office'').
            (2) Appointment of directors.--There shall be at the head 
        of the Office a Director appointed by the President (in this 
        title referred to as the ``Director''). The President is 
        authorized to appoint a Deputy Director and such Assistant 
        Directors as the President determines to be necessary.
    (b) Functions.--The functions of the Office are--
            (1) to oversee and coordinate the efforts of Federal, 
        State, and local entities to ensure the effective economic, 
        linguistic, and civic integration of immigrants and their 
        children;
            (2) to provide advice and leadership to the President, 
        Congress, and other Federal Government officials on the 
        challenges and opportunities facing such entities with regards 
        to immigrant integration;
            (3) to establish national goals for immigrant integration 
        and measure the degree to which such goals are met;
            (4) to serve as a member of the Domestic Policy Council;
            (5) to cooperate closely with the Office of Management and 
        Budget and other relevant executive agencies and departments to 
        analyze the impact of immigration policies and of immigrant 
        integration efforts on the Federal budget;
            (6) to evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of 
        Federal Government efforts concerning immigrant integration;
            (7) to identify the anticipated effects of new Federal 
        immigration policies on existing integration efforts and advise 
        the President on how to address any potential integration needs 
        or impacts resulting from such policies;
            (8) to consult on a biannual basis with State and local 
        government officials on the immigrant integration challenges 
        and opportunities facing State and units of local government;
            (9) to consult with the Secretaries and Directors 
        identified in title II on the administration of the grant 
        programs established by such title; and
            (10) to submit to the President and the appropriate 
        congressional committees a biannual report that describes the 
        activities of the Office and the results of the consultation 
        process provided in paragraph (8).
    (c) Deadline for Establishment.--The Office shall begin operating 
not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 102. TASK FORCE ON NEW AMERICANS.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall establish within the 
        Office of New Americans a Task Force on New Americans.
            (2) Deadline for establishment.--The Task Force shall be 
        fully operational not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Purpose.--The purposes of the Task Force are--
            (1) to establish a coordinated Federal program to respond 
        effectively to immigrant integration issues; and
            (2) to advise and assist the Director in identifying and 
        implementing the necessary policies to carry out such program.
    (c) Membership.--The Task Force shall be comprised of--
            (1) the Director, who shall serve as Chair of the Task 
        Force;
            (2) the Secretary of the Treasury;
            (3) the Attorney General;
            (4) the Secretary of Commerce;
            (5) the Secretary of Labor;
            (6) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
            (7) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
            (8) the Secretary of Education;
            (9) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
            (10) the Director of the Small Business Administration;
            (11) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
            (12) the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
        Protection; and
            (13) any other individual the Director of the National 
        Office of New Americans invites to participate who occupies a 
        position listed under level I or II of the Executive Schedule, 
        as provided in sections 5312 and 5313 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
    (d) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of 
        the Chair and perform such duties as the Chair reasonably 
        requires.
            (2) Coordinated response to immigrant issues.--The Task 
        Force shall work with executive agencies and departments to 
        provide a coordinated Federal response to adequately address 
        issues that affect the lives of new immigrants and local 
        communities with growing immigrant populations, including--
                    (A) early childhood care and education;
                    (B) elementary, secondary and postsecondary 
                education;
                    (C) adult education and workforce training;
                    (D) health care;
                    (E) naturalization; and
                    (F) economic development.
            (3) Liaison with federal agencies.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member of the Task Force 
                shall serve as a liaison to the respective agency of 
                the member to ensure that the agency participates in 
                the activities of the Task Force in a timely and 
                meaningful manner.
                    (B) Duties of a liaison.--The duties of each member 
                as an agency liaison include--
                            (i) creating immigrant integration goals 
                        within the agency;
                            (ii) creating immigration integration 
                        indicators within the agency;
                            (iii) implementing the biannual 
                        consultation process described in section 
                        101(b)(8) by consulting with the State and 
                        local counterparts of the agency; and
                            (iv) reporting to the Task Force on the 
                        progress made by the agency in achieving the 
                        goals and indicators described in clauses (i) 
                        and (ii).
            (4) Recommendations of the task force.--
                    (A) Report.--The Director of the Task Force shall 
                submit to Congress a report that includes the 
                following:
                            (i) Findings from the consultation process 
                        described in section 101(b)(8), including a 
                        description of the immigrant integration 
                        challenges and opportunities facing States and 
                        units of local government.
                            (ii) Recommendations on the effects of 
                        pending legislation and executive branch policy 
                        proposals related to immigration.
                            (iii) Suggestions for changes to Federal 
                        programs or policies that have a negative 
                        impact on new immigrants and local communities 
                        with growing immigrant populations, in 
                        comparison to the general population.
                            (iv) Recommendations on legislative 
                        solutions to promote immigrant integration.
                    (B) Reporting deadline.--
                            (i) Report required.--Except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), the Task Force shall submit a 
                        report required by subparagraph (A) not later 
                        than 18 months after the Task Force is fully 
                        operational and every two years thereafter.
                            (ii) Exception.--The Task Force is not 
                        required to submit a report described in clause 
                        (i) if the total number of aliens issued 
                        immigrant visas or granted permanent residence 
                        under section 201 of the Immigration and 
                        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151), including 
                        individuals subject and not subject to 
                        numerical limitations for admission, is less 
                        than 500,000 at any time during a period of two 
                        years ending on the required submission date of 
                        such report pursuant to clause (i).

SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    In addition to any amounts otherwise made available to the Office, 
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
to carry out this title.

                            TITLE II--GRANTS

SEC. 201. INITIAL ENTRY, ADJUSTMENT, AND CITIZENSHIP ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

    (a) Authorization.--The Director of Citizenship and Immigration 
Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Office of 
New Americans, shall award Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship 
Assistance grants to eligible entities.
    (b) Eligibility.--An entity eligible to receive a grant under this 
section is a unit of local government, private organization, community-
based organization, or not-for-profit organization--
            (1) that provides authorized direct legal assistance to 
        immigrants to the United States; and
            (2) that submits to the Director of Citizenship and 
        Immigration Services an application at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as such Director, in 
        consultation with the Director of the National Office of New 
        Americans, may reasonably require.
    (c) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Funds awarded under this section may be 
        used to provide to an eligible non-citizen legal assistance 
        relating to the immigration status of such non-citizen, or 
        related services. Such assistance may include--
                    (A) screening to assess the eligibility of a 
                prospective applicant seeking a change in immigration 
                status;
                    (B) completing immigration applications;
                    (C) gathering proof of identification, employment, 
                residence, and tax payment;
                    (D) gathering proof of relationships to eligible 
                family members;
                    (E) applying for any waivers for which an applicant 
                and qualifying family members may be eligible; and
                    (F) advising an applicant on the rights and 
                responsibilities of United States citizenship.
            (2) Immigrants eligible for assistance.--A non-citizen is 
        eligible to receive the assistance described in paragraph (1) 
        if such non-citizen is--
                    (A) seeking to become a permanent resident or 
                naturalized citizen; or
                    (B) seeking relief from removal and authorization 
                to remain in the United States lawfully and 
                permanently.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, priority 
shall be given to--
            (1) entities that demonstrate intent to use grant funds to 
        serve individuals living in a State with a foreign-born 
        population of not less than 5 percent that has experienced an 
        increase that is higher than the national average in the 
        population of non-citizen residents during the most recent 10-
        year period, based on data compiled by the Office of 
        Immigration Statistics or the United States Census Bureau, or 
        units of local government located within such State; or
            (2) entities that demonstrate intent to use grant funds to 
        serve individuals living in any of the 10 States with the 
        highest number of non-citizen residents, based on data compiled 
        by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United States 
        Census Bureau, or units of local government located within such 
        State.
    (e) Certification.--In order to receive a payment under this 
section, a participating entity shall submit to the Director of 
Citizenship and Immigration Services a certification that the proposed 
uses of grant funds by the entity are consistent with this section and 
meet all necessary criteria determined by the Director of Citizenship 
and Immigration Services in consultation with the Director of the 
National Office of New Americans.
    (f) Annual Report and Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days after the 
end of each fiscal year for which an entity receives grant funds under 
this section, the entity shall submit to the Director of Citizenship 
and Immigration Services the following:
            (1) A report that describes--
                    (A) the activities undertaken by the entity that 
                were funded entirely or partially by the grant funds;
                    (B) the geographic area or areas served by the 
                grant funds;
                    (C) an estimate of the number of non-citizens 
                living in the jurisdiction or service area of the 
                entity, which demonstrates that the entity made a 
                reasonable effort to determine such number;
                    (D) the number of non-citizens receiving assistance 
                that was funded entirely or partially by grant funds 
                received by the entity; and
                    (E) the primary languages spoken in the 
                jurisdiction or service area of the entity.
            (2) An evaluation of any program of the entity using grant 
        funds under this section, including an assessment of--
                    (A) the effectiveness of such program and 
                recommendations for improving the program;
                    (B) the future needs of immigrants to the United 
                States; and
                    (C) the future needs of States and units of local 
                government related to immigrant integration.
    (g) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' means each 
of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    (h) Effective Period.--This section shall be in effect for a period 
of 10 fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2016.

SEC. 202. INTEGRATION SUCCESS GRANTS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education, the Secretary 
of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans 
(in this section referred to as the ``Director''), may jointly provide 
grants on a competitive basis to improve the economic, linguistic, and 
civic integration of immigrants and their children.
    (b) Eligibility.--An entity eligible to receive a grant under this 
section is a State, or a unit of local government working in 
partnership with a not-for-profit organization or community-based 
organization, that submits to the Secretaries an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretaries, in consultation with the Director, may reasonably require, 
which may include--
            (1) a proposal outlining the methods the entity intends to 
        use to effectively carry out the activities funded by the 
        grant;
            (2) a sociodemographic profile of non-citizens living 
        within the jurisdiction or service area of the entity; and
            (3) a description of opportunities and challenges in 
        improving the economic, linguistic, and civic integration of 
        immigrants.
    (c) Use of Funds.--An entity awarded a grant under this section may 
use the grant funds--
            (1) to expand access to, and improve the quality of, 
        programs supporting the economic advancement of immigrants in 
        areas that include financial literacy, small business 
        development, employment navigation, and training opportunities;
            (2) to expand programs that provide basic adult education 
        and contextualized English language skills that improve the 
        literacy, numeracy, workforce skills, and educational 
        attainment of immigrants over the age of 18;
            (3) to expand access to programs that assist immigrants in 
        obtaining recognized postsecondary credentials or employment, 
        or in building measurable skills to lead to the attainment of 
        an industry-recognized credential or certificate; and
            (4) to educate immigrants about United States history, 
        civics, citizenship rights and responsibilities, democracy, 
        opportunities to engage in the civic life of their community, 
        unit of local government, and State, and the navigation of 
        local systems that support the economic, linguistic, and civic 
        integration of individuals and families.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, priority 
shall be given to--
            (1) an entity that uses not less than ten percent of 
        matching funds from non-Federal sources;
            (2) an entity that collaborates with at least one public or 
        private entity to carry out a comprehensive plan to improve the 
        coordination of relevant immigrant integration services and 
        accelerate the integration progress; and
            (3) a State--
                    (A) that has a foreign born population of not less 
                than 5 percent and that has experienced an increase in 
                non-citizen residents that is higher than the national 
                average during the most recent 10-year period, based on 
                data compiled by the Office of Immigration Statistics 
                or the United States Census Bureau, or a unit of local 
                government located within such State; or
                    (B) that is one of the 10 States with the highest 
                number of non-citizen residents, based on data compiled 
                by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United 
                States Census Bureau, or a unit of local government 
                located within such State.
    (e) Certification.--In order to receive a payment under this 
section, a participating entity shall provide the Secretaries with a 
certification that the proposed uses of grant funds by the entity are 
consistent with this section and meet all necessary criteria determined 
by the Secretaries in consultation with the Director.
    (f) Annual Report and Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days after the 
end of each fiscal year for which an entity receives a grant under this 
section, such entity shall submit to the Secretaries the following:
            (1) A report that describes--
                    (A) the activities undertaken by the entity;
                    (B) the geographic area or areas served by the 
                grant funds; and
                    (C) a description of the sociodemographic 
                characteristics of individuals served by the grant 
                funds; and
            (2) An evaluation of any program of the entity that 
        receives grant funds, including an assessment of--
                    (A) the effectiveness of such program and 
                recommendations for improving the program;
                    (B) the future needs of immigrants to the United 
                States; and
                    (C) the future needs of States and units of local 
                government related to immigrant integration.
    (g) Annual Report to States.--The Director of the National Office 
of New Americans shall inform each State annually of the amount of 
funds available to such State under this section.
    (h) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' means each 
of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    (i) Effective Period.--This section shall be in effect for a period 
of 10 fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2016.

SEC. 203. INTEGRATION SUCCESS FUND.

    (a) In General.--There is established in the Treasury an account 
known as the ``Integration Success Fund''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Integration Success Fund such funds as may be 
necessary to carry out this title.
    (c) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Director of the National 
Office of New Americans may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, 
bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, 
for the purpose of awarding grants established under sections 201 and 
202. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of 
other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be 
deposited in the Integration Success Fund established by subsection (a) 
and shall be available for disbursement to eligible entities in 
accordance with this title.

                  TITLE III--ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING

SEC. 301. WAIVER OF ENGLISH REQUIREMENT FOR SENIOR NEW AMERICANS.

    Section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423) 
is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) The requirements under subsection (a) shall not apply to any 
person who--
            ``(1) is unable to comply with such requirements because of 
        physical or mental disability, including developmental or 
        intellectual disability; or
            ``(2) on the date on which the person's application for 
        naturalization is filed under section 334--
                    ``(A) is older than 65 years of age; and
                    ``(B) has been living in the United States for 
                periods totaling at least 5 years after being lawfully 
                admitted for permanent residence.
    ``(c) The requirement under subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to 
any person who, on the date on which the person's application for 
naturalization is filed under section 334--
            ``(1) is older than 50 years of age and has been living in 
        the United States for periods totaling at least 20 years after 
        being lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
            ``(2) is older than 55 years of age and has been living in 
        the United States for periods totaling at least 15 years after 
        being lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or
            ``(3) is older than 60 years of age and has been living in 
        the United States for periods totaling at least 10 years after 
        being lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
    ``(d) The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive, on a case-by-
case basis, the requirement under subsection (a)(2) on behalf of any 
person who, on the date on which the person's application for 
naturalization is filed under section 334--
            ``(1) is older than 60 years of age; and
            ``(2) has been living in the United States for periods 
        totaling at least 10 years after being lawfully admitted for 
        permanent residence.''.

                          TITLE IV--RULEMAKING

SEC. 401. RULEMAKING REQUIREMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, each person or persons 
responsible for carrying out a provision of this Act or an amendment 
made by this Act shall promulgate regulations to carry out such 
provision.
    (b) Consultation With National Office of New Americans.--For each 
provision of this Act for which the Director of the National Office of 
New Americans is not the person responsible for carrying out such 
provision, the responsible person or persons shall consult with the 
Director in promulgating the regulations described in subsection (a).
                                 <all>