[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WELLSTONE (for himself, Mr. Robb, and Mr. Feingold):
  S. 890. A bill to facilitate the naturalization of aliens who served 
with special guerrilla units or irregular forces in Laos; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.


               hmong veterans' naturalization act of 1999

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today as an 
original cosponsor of the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 1999. I 
commend the Senator from Minnesota [Mr. Wellstone] and our colleague in 
the House of Representatives, Congressman Vento, for their commitment 
to this important issue.
  I honor the service of the Lao and Hmong veterans to the United 
States, and appreciate the great personal risk they faced when they 
chose to help this country. I am pleased that many of them have chosen 
to make the United States, and my home state of Wisconsin, their 
adopted homeland.
  In my view, Mr. President, this bill, which would expedite the 
naturalization process for 45,000 Lao and Hmong veterans and their 
spouses, is the least we can for the help repay the huge debt we owe 
these brave individuals. I have had the opportunity to meet many Lao 
and Hmong veterans and their families as I travel throughout Wisconsin. 
I am struck by the profound importance they place on becoming citizens 
of the United States. This bill would help them reach that goal.
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