[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATURALIZATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2001

  Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise today as an original cosponsor of 
the Bruce Vento Hmong Veterans Naturalization Extension Act of 2001. 
This important piece of legislation will ensure that the sizable Hmong 
population in Wisconsin is able to take advantage of a status 
adjustment opportunity extended to them unanimously by this Congress 
last year. The Hmong, and particularly the Lao Veterans of America, 
deserve our respect and honor for all their help during the conflict in 
Vietnam.
  The Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000 waives the English 
language requirement and provides for a translator during 
administration of the Civics test for all Hmong Veterans of the Special 
Forces in Laos and their spouses and widows applying for U.S. 
citizenship. However, the Hmong veteran community only had the benefit 
of this legislation for 18 months. Since enactment, fewer than half of 
all Hmong veterans and their family members have been able to seek 
citizenship under these standards. The legislation introduced today 
would give those eligible an additional 18 months to apply for 
citizenship under the Naturalization Act.
  I commend my colleague Senator Wellstone for his efforts on behalf of 
the Hmong population living in the upper midwestern United States, and 
I urge expeditious consideration of this legislation.

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