[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 52 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2359-H2362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HMONG VETERANS' NATURALIZATION ACT OF 2000
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 371) to expedite the naturalization of aliens who served with
special guerilla units in Laos, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 371
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 ``Hmong Veterans'
Naturalization Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR
CERTAIN ALIENS WHO SERVED WITH SPECIAL
GUERRILLA UNITS OR IRREGULAR FORCES IN LAOS.
The requirement of paragraph (1) of section 312(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(a)(1)) shall
not apply to the naturalization of any person--
(1) who--
(A) was admitted into the United States as a refugee from
Laos pursuant to section 207 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157); and
(B) served with a special guerrilla unit, or irregular
forces, operating from a base in Laos in support of the
United States military at any time during the period
beginning February 28, 1961, and ending September 18, 1978;
or
(2) who--
(A) satisfies the requirement of paragraph (1)(A); and
(B) was the spouse of a person described in paragraph (1)
on the day on which such described person applied for
admission into the United States as a refugee.
SEC. 3. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION CONCERNING CIVICS REQUIREMENT
FOR CERTAIN ALIENS WHO SERVED WITH SPECIAL
GUERRILLA UNITS OR IRREGULAR FORCES IN LAOS.
The Attorney General shall provide for special
consideration, as determined by the Attorney General,
concerning the requirement of paragraph (2) of section 312(a)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(a)(2))
with respect to the naturalization of any person described in
paragraph (1) or (2) of section 2 of this Act.
SEC. 4. DOCUMENTATION OF QUALIFYING SERVICE.
A person seeking an exemption under section 2 or special
consideration under section 3 shall submit to the Attorney
General documentation of their, or their spouse's, service
with a special guerrilla unit, or irregular forces, described
in section 2(1)(B), in the form of--
(1) original documents;
(2) an affidavit of the serving person's superior officer;
(3) two affidavits from other individuals who also were
serving with such a special guerrilla unit, or irregular
forces, and who personally knew of the person's service; or
(4) other appropriate proof.
SEC. 5. DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR EXEMPTION AND
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.
In determining a person's eligibility for an exemption
under section 2 or special consideration under section 3, the
Attorney General--
(1) shall review the refugee processing documentation for
the person, or, in an appropriate case, for the person and
the person's spouse, to verify that the requirements of
section 2 relating to refugee applications and admissions
have been satisfied;
(2) shall consider the documentation submitted by the
person under section 4;
(3) shall request an advisory opinion from the Secretary of
Defense regarding the person's, or their spouse's, service in
a special guerrilla unit, or irregular forces, described in
section 2(1)(B) and shall take into account that opinion; and
(4) may consider any certification prepared by the
organization known as ``Lao Veterans of America, Inc.'', or
any similar organization maintaining records with respect to
Hmong veterans or their families.
SEC. 6. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION AND PAYMENT OF FEES.
This Act shall apply to a person only if the person's
application for naturalization is filed, as provided in
section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1445), with appropriate fees not later than 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 7. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the total
number of aliens who may be granted an exemption under
section 2 or special consideration under section 3, or both,
may not exceed 45,000.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
General Leave
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 371, the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today, Mr. Speaker, this body considers legislation to facilitate
citizenship opportunities for Hmong refugees who were recruited by the
United States to assist our combat effort in Indochina. Twenty-five
years after the end of the Vietnam War, we honor the heroism and
sacrifices of the Hmong.
At great personal peril and loss of life, they fought with us and
performed critical roles in dangerous missions on our behalf.
As a former CIA officer pointed out in a statement submitted to the
Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims in
the last Congress, and I quote, ``Throughout the war, CIA's
paramilitary forces collected intelligence, used it in combat
operations to tie down some 50,000 North Vietnamese forces in Laos,
rescued downed American pilots and protected sensitive American
installations at remote mountain tops.''
[[Page H2360]]
Those Hmong veterans who survive the war face severe persecution for
their association with us.
H.R. 371 acknowledges that many Hmong veterans face unique language
problems that present insurmountable obstacles to U.S. citizenship. The
Hmong we recruited during the Vietnam War, including some at a very
early age, lived at a predominantly preliterate society.
Lieutenant Colonel Wangyee Vang, National President, Lao Veterans of
America, explained in his statement for the 1997 hearing of the
Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims, ``Cultural barriers and the
fact that a written Hmong language was not used in much of Laos until
late in its history have compounded the problems of literacy for the
Hmong.''
In recognition of their compelling and extraordinary sacrifices, H.R.
371 provides for an exemption from the English language requirement and
authorizes special consideration related to the civics requirement.
The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento), our esteemed colleague, is
the author of this legislation, and he may have put it best when he
testified as follows before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims
in the last Congress: ``They probably have passed the most important
test, Mr. Chairman, and that is risking their lives for the values and
beliefs that we revere as Americans and saving American lives.''
The step we hopefully will take today is overdue. In the 104th
Congress, this body passed an omnibus immigration reform bill in a form
that included provisions designed to expedite naturalization for those
who served with special guerilla units in Laos, but these provisions
were not incorporated in the final version of the legislation.
In the 105th Congress, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento)
introduced as H.R. 371 language virtually identical to the original
House-passed provisions from the previous Congress.
In June 1997, the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held a
hearing on H.R. 371. The following year, the subcommittee favorably
reported an amended version of the bill to the full Committee on the
Judiciary. As amended, H.R. 371 addressed concerns about the potential
for fraud by delineating steps to be taken in determining eligibility
and limiting to 45,000 the number of potential beneficiaries.
Although the full Committee on the Judiciary in June 1998 ordered the
bill as amended in subcommittee favorably reported, no further action
was taken in the 105th Congress. In the 106th Congress, the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Vento) reintroduced his bill under the same number,
incorporating changes the Committee on the Judiciary supported in 1998.
In March of this year, the full Committee on the Judiciary acted again
favorably, this time ordering H.R. 371 reported by voice vote.
As this history documents, the details of this legislation have been
considered thoroughly by the Committee on the Judiciary, and we bring
it up on the floor today with improvements my committee approved in
both the last Congress and the current Congress. In our most recent
markup, I displayed a Pandau ``story cloth'' depicting the escape of
Hmong refugees across the Mekong River to a camp in Thailand after
their villages were strafed by Communist forces in Laos. Such story
cloths were a way of communicating Hmong history by people who knew no
written language.
This bill will permit a limited number of lawful permanent residents
of the United States who served with special guerilla units or
irregular forces in support of the U.S. military during the Vietnam war
to become citizens. They must have been legally admitted to this
country as refugees from Laos, and provision is also made for certain
spouses who came as refugees.
{time} 1515
It is particularly significant that the bill before us focuses on
people who are already here in the United States legally and
permanently. In view of their commitment to our democracy and the great
hardships they endured when they made common cause with us, we act
appropriately by extending a hand to them now and helping them become
citizens of their adopted land. This is just and humane legislation
Members can endorse regardless of political affiliation.
Governor Ventura of Minnesota appealed to me on behalf of these
freedom fighters in February, and I welcomed the opportunity to assure
him and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento) that I would do
whatever I could to help get H.R. 371 enacted into law. Supporters of
this important bill include the American Legion and the Special Forces
Association. I urge my colleagues to support enactment of H.R. 371.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume;
and I, of course, rise in strong support of this measure, the Hmong
Veterans Naturalization Act.
First and foremost I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman, for his leadership and
continuing support throughout the committee process. I would also like
to, of course, acknowledge the strong support I have had from my friend
and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), who for some time
has encouraged and helped me refine this legislation; and of course the
ranking member on the committee, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Conyers).
I would especially like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Watt) for his work in the past years, as well as the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), the current ranking member on the
subcommittee with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).
Furthermore, of course, the Department of Justice and the Immigration
and Naturalization Service have extended themselves and provided
assistance and counsel in working out the final language in the bill.
As we know in this body, good intentions are not enough. We need to
have precise language with regards to Immigration and Naturalization
Service issues because misunderstandings do arise.
Today is a historic day and, of course, this past month we have been
talking about the 25-year anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the
last of the American troops leaving Vietnam. Events have been relived
these past weeks, harsh memories of Vietnam that are unpleasant to all
Americans. While the Vietnam War is over for all America, the plight of
our friends within this region and Laos must be remembered.
The Lao-Hmong soldiers, as young as 10 years old, were recruited and
fought and died alongside 58,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, and airmen in
Vietnam. As a result of their contributions, bravery and loyalty to the
United States, the Lao-Hmong were tragically overrun by the Communist
forces and lost their homeland and status in Laos after the Vietnam
War. Between 10,000 and 20,000 Lao-Hmong were killed in combat-related
incidents, and over 100,000 had to flee to refugee camps and other
nations to survive.
Mr. Speaker, this is a point where we can be very proud that the
United States did not abandon these camps and these people, but we
responded and opened our doors for refugee assistance and permitted
them to come into the United States. Today, in Minnesota, because of
the growing population in the Midwest, we have nearly 60,000 Lao-Hmong
that now know Minnesota as their new home.
Many of the older Lao-Hmong patriots who made it to the U.S. are
separated from their family members and have had great difficulty in
adjusting to many aspects of life and culture in the United States,
including passing aspects of our required citizenship tests. Learning
to read in English has been the greatest obstacle for the Lao-Hmong
because written characters in the Hmong language have only been
introduced in recent years.
As the chairman of the committee pointed out, the Pandau did the
illustrations because they did not have a written language. Very often
the only way they could record their history was through their
wonderful artwork. If my colleagues would like to see some more of
this, Mr. Speaker, they can come to St. Paul, and even in my office. I
have a large hanging about the size of a bedspread of this type of
depicted character which reflects this wonderful needle work and craft
work and history really of the Lao-Hmong and their Chinese origin.
This act, of course, has been explained by the chairman. It
facilitates the assistance with regards to citizenship. It extends this
benefit. There are
[[Page H2361]]
tight limits on the bill. I would note that the chairman of the
committee has gone beyond and above the call of duty. He had to arm
wrestle Governor Jesse Ventura; and fortunately, they declared a draw
and he decided to move ahead with the legislation.
This legislation is supported by a whole host of veterans
organizations. It is good legislation. It is targeted legislation. It
is limited. And it does respond, I think, to the Lao-Hmong problem.
I would say to my colleagues that while the English language and
citizenship tests are important, that the Lao-Hmong have indeed passed
a more important test. They put their lives on the line to save
American sailors and soldiers. They put their lives on the line for the
values that are reflected in the promise of America and in this Nation.
And so I am proud to stand here today to represent them and to ask my
colleagues for their support in supporting this bill.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman
yield?
Mr. VENTO. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to thank
this gentleman for this legislation and for sticking with it all this
time on behalf of the Lao-Hmong.
As the gentleman knows, California has many Lao-Hmong residents in
our State and also in my district, and they have been fantastic
constituents and residents of our State and of our country. I want to
thank the gentleman so very much for finally getting this bill to the
floor again so that we can deal with this problem that he has so
adequately addressed.
Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman; and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on
International Relations.
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time, and I am pleased to rise in strong support of H.R. 371, the Hmong
Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000.
It is long overdue, Mr. Speaker, that we gave special recognition to
the Hmong, who courageously fought with our personnel in Vietnam. They
were working in the underground activities in Laos. I had the
opportunity of visiting General Vang Pao headquarters back in 1973, and
he showed me all the bullet holes around his headquarters where they
had been attacked time and time again. They served valiantly and
courageously. Then, after the war was over, we left them out to dry, to
hang; and we have not done anything to assist them over these years.
I want to commend our distinguished chairman of the Committee on the
Judiciary, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for expediting the
naturalization of aliens who served with special guerrilla units in
Laos, guerrilla units that did an outstanding job on behalf of our
Nation. We can do no less for so many who did so much for all of us.
Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to
mention that there are 108 sponsors of this, including colleagues like
the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind), who has a significant
population. The entire Minnesota delegation is in support of this, as
are numerous Members from this area.
The gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) and the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Smith) wanted to speak on this, and I know they are going to put
their statements in the record.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to
say that, in addition to being very honored to help pass this excellent
bill and the regret it took so many years to get to this point, one of
the ancillary benefits of the campaign for this bill was a visit by the
governor of Minnesota, Mr. Ventura. He and I did engage in some arm
wrestling. And I want to say that the fact that he let me win has
nothing to do with my support for this excellent bill.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 371, the Hmong
Veterans' Naturalization Act.
H.R. 371, is a necessary step in assisting the Hmong, a special group
of legal immigrants who served with the U.S. Armed Forces and now
require help in obtaining U.S. citizenship. It waives the residency
requirement for those Hmong and their spouses. Additionally, it waives
the English language test and residency requirement for attainment of
U.S. citizenship. It would only affect individuals who reside legally
in this country and would not grant veteran's status or make the Hmong
people who served in the Special Guerrilla Forces eligible for
veterans' benefits.
This important legislation would impact thousands of people in the
United States, including the large Lao-Hmong community in my home
district of western Wisconsin. The history of Hmong demonstrates the
need for this legislation. The Hmong are not considered veterans by our
government even though they participated in covert operations directed
by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Many served in non-uniformed
units, therefore making it uncertain if ``veteran'' status can be
proved. The Hmong aided our efforts during the Southeastern Asian
conflict at a high personal cost. Between 10,000 and 20,000 Hmong lost
their lives. The Hmong population lost their homeland to Communist
forces. After the war, more than 100,000 Hmong were forced to either
flee or live in refugee camps. Many Hmong were separated from their
families.
The process of assimilation to the United States has been especially
challenging for the Hmong. A major problem for many Hmong is an
insufficient command of the English language which prevents them from
completing the naturalization process. This is partly due to the fact
that the Hmong did not have a written language until the 1950s.
Therefore, learning to speak, read, and write the English language has
been extremely difficult. The English-learning process has also been
stymied by the high rate of illiteracy among the Hmong in this recently
acquired written language. The majority of the Hmong who were brought
to the United States as political refugees had very little opportunity
for education during their war-ravaged years in Laos.
Mr. Speaker, the Hmong people need our help. It is wrong to abandon
these men and women who served as valuable allies to us during the
Southeastern Asian conflict and that is why I support H.R. 371.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
371, the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000. I commend my
colleague, Mr. Bruce Vento, for his leadership and sponsorship with
this important measure.
The Hmong veterans have more than proven themselves worthy of
American citizenship. It is the obligation of the United States
government to pass this bill, which will create an exemption of the
English language requirement for naturalization purposes.
As many of us are aware, from 1961-73 during the Vietnam War, the
Central Intelligence Agency recruited tens of thousands of Hmong and
Laotians to serve in special guerrilla forces fighting the North
Vietnamese and the Communist government in Laos. These soldiers fought
valiantly alongside American troops. Through their efforts, they were
able to defend intelligence sites, prevent thousands of U.S. troops
from an ambush by North Vietnamese troops, and rescue hundreds of
downed American pilots. Between 10,000-20,000 Hmong and Laotian
soldiers lost their lives in service to the U.S. government.
Unfortunatley, when the war ended, Hmong and Laotians were forced to
flee their country in an effort to avoid persecution by their
governments. The sacrifices they had to make were immense--they gave up
their homes, their livelihood and their country. Over 150,000 of them
have resettled in the U.S. as political refugees.
Since then, many Hmong and Laotian veterans have faced great
difficulty in attaining naturalization status. In fact, today,
approximately 60.4 percent of the Hmong and 66.1 percent of the
Laotians are still legal permanent residents.
The barriers Hmong and Laotian veterans face involve the significant
level of illiteracy and predominant lack of formal education in their
community. It was only forty short years ago that Hmong became a
written language; thus, many in their community have never learned to
read, or to write. This fact leads to the incredible difficulty, and
sometimes, impossibility, for the Hmong veterans to learn the English
language enough to pass the citizenship test.
Mr. Speaker, during the Vietnam war, the U.S. government promised the
Hmong and Laotian soldiers that they would find a refuge in the United
States if we lost the war. In fact, the CIA promised to evacuate the
Hmong, only to leave them behind in 1974.
It is important for us now to fulfill that promise, and to recognize
and honor the contributions the Hmong and Laotian veterans have made,
as well as the lives that were lost, to
[[Page H2362]]
the United States war efforts. The best way for us to do those things
is to grant an exemption for these individuals from the English
language requirement for naturalization. This exemption, like our
fulfillment of the promise, is long overdue.
Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker I stand with my colleagues in
support of H.R. 371, the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act.
By approving this bill, we will make an important contribution to the
efforts of the thousands of Hmong veterans and their families to become
United States citizens. For over two decades, Hmong veterans have
encountered serious obstacles that have impeded their ability to become
U.S. citizens. This bill addresses this by exempting Hmong veterans
from English language proficiency and residency requirements.
Many Americans are only beginning to appreciate and recognize the
invaluable service and bravery of Hmong veterans. Today, we have an
opportunity to assure that their service to freedom and to the United
States will not be forgotten.
Hmong veterans fought in the Vietnam War alongside American forces at
great personal peril and loss of life. They performed critical roles in
dangerous missions, collected vital intelligence, rescued downed
American pilots and defended sensitive American installations at remote
locations.
Tragically, at the end of the war and as a result of their service
and bravery, tens of thousands of Hmong freedom fighters and their
families constantly faced the horrible reality of life in prison camps
and the threat of genocide.
Many Hmong veterans and their families sought refuge in the United
States. California's Central Valley, which I represent, has been a
primary relocation site for them. I am proud that the Central Valley is
one of the most ethnically diverse parts of the country and that the
Hmong community has contributed greatly to that diversity and enriched
us with their traditions.
In light of their service, heroism and dedication to freedom, it is
only fitting that America embrace those Hmong veterans that fought with
distinction and honor. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of
this bill.
Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I rise as a cosponsor of
H.R. 371, the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 1999, to honor the
Hmong people, many of whom risked their lives or died in service to the
United States during the Vietnam War.
There are over 16,000 Hmong in my home-state of Wisconsin, and the
legislation before the House of Representatives today will help many
Hmong patriots who made it to the U.S. and are currently separated from
their families.
This bill will allow more Hmomg people to become United States
Citizens by providing interpreter-assistance during the citizenship
test. Unlike other languages, written characters were only introduced
in the Hmong language in recent years, so learning to read in a foreign
language presents an extremely difficult challenge. By providing
interpreters, the family reunification process in the Hmong community
can begin sooner.
Providing this service is a very small token of our appreciation for
a people that so loyally fought on behalf of the United States, some of
whom started fighting at the age of 10. The Hmong ``mountain men'' not
only rescued downed American pilots, but fought heroically alongside
U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War.
It is my hope that by passing this bill today, the United States
Congress will show its gratitude to the Hmong people, in appreciation
of the many sacrifices they have made for this country.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill
because the Hmong have stood by the U.S. at a crucial time in our
history and now is the time to repay and honor the loyalty of Hmong
veterans. The Hmong were a pre-literate society. I would like to
congratulate Congressman Bruce Vento for his leadership on this issue.
The Hmong had no written language in use when the United States
recruited them during the Vietnam War. The best symbol of why H.R. 371
is necessary is the Hmong ``story cloth,'' the Pandau cloth, that is
their embroidered cloth record of important historical events and oral
traditions.
The Hmong were recruited, largely, as boy soldiers. Many of the
veterans of the U.S. secret Army were recruited at age 12, 13 and 14
years of age. The CIA in coordination with ``Air America'' built
hundreds of airstrips and bases for the Hmong and their American
advisors to conduct military operations.
The Hmong were critical to the American war strategy in S.E. Asia--
especially the U.S. air strategy. Mr. Speaker, this legislation
provides for the expedited naturalization of Hmong veterans of the U.S.
Secret Army currently residing in the United States (as legal aliens)
who served with U.S. clandestine and special forces during the Vietnam
War by allowing them to take the citizenship test with a translator
since the Hmong are a tribal people with no written language, thus
relying solely on the ``story cloths''.
The bill is capped at 45,000, in terms of the total number of Hmong
veterans, their widows and orphans who currently reside in the United
States who would fall under the legislation. This cap is supported by
the Hmong veterans in the United States and is considered to be a
generous cap. I support this legislation to provide relief to the Hmong
heroes.
Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hmong
Veterans' Naturalization Act because I feel that we should reward these
brave individuals who assisted American efforts in the war against
communism in Southeast Asia. The Hmong which we seek to honor today
were a Laotian-based guerrilla group who fought valiantly alongside
American and South Vietnamese troops in Vietnam. Many Hmong risked and
lost their lives in defense of democracy at a crucial time in the
history of that region. With Communism spreading across the Asian
continent during the 60's, it was crucial for American troops to
receive indigenous help in defense of South Vietnam. They were brave
soldiers of freedom at time of great uncertainty, and their efforts
have gone largely ignored for far too long.
Today, the Hmong are valuable citizens and employees in many
communities across the United States, including the 10th district of
North Carolina which I have the privilege to serve. In fact, I employ
several Hmong in my company in Hickory, NC. They are truly great
citizens who offer a strong work ethic and another facet of cultural
diversity to my community, and to communities across this nation.
The Laotian Hmong have been the victims of persecution and genocide
at the hands of the Communist government in Laos, largely due to the
help they provided America during the Vietnam War. Now it is time for
us to reward them for their sacrifice and service. Please vote yes
today on H.R. 371; let us reward these brave people by expediting the
naturalization of Hmong aliens who served with these special guerrilla
units in Laos during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 371, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to
facilitate the naturalization of aliens who served with special
guerrilla units or irregular forces in Laos.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________