[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E3-E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCTION OF THE HMONG VETERANS NATURALIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                            January 7, 1997

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Hmong Veterans 
Naturalization Act, which would ease naturalization requirements for 
the Hmong, of Laos, who fought alongside the United States Armed Forces 
during the Vietnam war. Hmong of all ages fought and died alongside 
U.S. soldiers, and as a result of the brave position they took and 
their loyalty to the United States, the Hmong, tragically, lost their 
homeland. Between 10,000 and 20,000 Hmong were killed in combat and 
over 100,000 had to flee to refugee camps to survive.
  Although it wasn't apparent then, their actions had a major impact on 
achieving today's global order and the positive changes of the past 
decade. Extreme sacrifices were made by those engaged in the jungles 
and the highlands, whether in uniform or in peasant clothing and for 
those whose homeland became the battlefield. For their heroic efforts, 
the Lao-Hmong veterans deserve this recognition and consideration.
  Many Hmong who survived the conflict were welcomed to the United 
States and today should be honored for the contributions they are 
making to our communities in my Minnesota district and to our Nation. 
Their success in rebuilding their families and communities in the 
United States stands as a tribute to their strength, but their cause 
would be greatly helped by passage of the legislation I am introducing 
today, the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act.
  While it is clear that the Hmong served bravely and sacrificed dearly 
in the Vietnam war, many of those who did survive and made it to the 
United States, are separated from other family members and are having a 
difficult time adjusting to life in the United States. Fortunately, 
there is something we can do to speed up the process of family 
reunification and ease the adjustment of the Hmong into U.S. society, 
at no cost to the Federal Government.
  My legislation makes the attainment of citizenship easier for those 
who served in the special guerrilla units by waiving the English 
language test and residency requirement. The greatest obstacle for the 
Hmong in becoming a citizen is passing the English test. Written 
characters for Hmong have only been introduced recently, and whatever 
changes most Hmong who served may have had to learn a written language 
were disrupted by the war.

[[Page E4]]

  This bill would also waive the residency requirement for those who 
served in order to speed up the process of family reunification. 
Current law permits aliens or noncitizen nationals who served honorably 
during World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam 
war to be naturalized regardless of age, period of residence, or 
physical presence in the United States. There is a well-established 
precedent of modifying naturalization requirement for military service, 
recently reaffirmed by passage of legislation granting citizenship to 
those who served in the Filipino Scouts during World War II.
  The Hmong stood by the United States at a crucial time, and that 
service deserves recognition. Today we should stand with the Lao-Hmong 
in their struggle to become citizens and to live a good life in our 
Nation.

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