[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9876-S9877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WELLSTONE (for himself, Mr. Helms, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Akaka, 
        Mr. Feingold, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Reed):
  S. 1467. A bill to amend the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 
2000 to extend the deadlines for application and payment of fees; to 
the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Bruce Vento 
Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Extension Act. The Act is named after my 
late colleague and dear friend, Congressman Bruce Vento. Congressman 
Vento dedicated much of his career to working with the Hmong community

[[Page S9877]]

in Minnesota. He worked for a decade to ensure the passage of the Hmong 
Veterans Naturalization Act. This bill would make it possible for all 
eligible Hmong veterans and their wives to receive the benefits they 
are due under this Act by extending the application deadline from 
November 26, 2001 to May 26, 2003.
  With less than 3 months remaining before the deadline passes for most 
of those covered under the Act, only 25 percent of all eligible 
applicants have filed for citizenship. Advocates for the Hmong believe 
it will be impossible for all those eligible to file by the deadline. 
The Hmong community has faced many challenges in getting veterans and 
their wives filed. The Department of Justice did not release its 
guidelines for 2\1/2\ months and many INS regional offices were 
unfamiliar with the guidelines for a period of time after that, 
resulting in eligible Hmong applicants being turned away. The language 
barrier that created the need for the Hmong Veteran Naturalization Act 
in the first place has meant that many Hmong needed assistance from 
Hmong community advocates to understand the citizenship process and to 
fill out the citizenship application. These advocacy organizations are 
vastly under-resourced and are overwhelmed by the demand for help from 
Hmong applicants.
  I want to make it clear. This bill would not increase the number of 
eligible applicants. It in no way would change the other requirements 
of the law. It simply would provide a necessary extension for existing 
eligible applicants.
  As the Senator from Minnesota, I am proud to represent one of the 
largest Hmong populations in America. My experience as a Senator has 
become much richer as a result of coming to know the history and 
culture of the Hmong people in Minnesota. I deeply respect their 
extraordinary efforts in support of the American people. I urge my 
colleagues' strong support of this legislation. The original Act was 
passed because of Hmong veterans' tremendous sacrifice on behalf of the 
United States during the Vietnam War and because of the unique literacy 
challenges the Hmong community faces. It would be wrong to deny the 
benefits of the Act to eligible veterans for reasons that are beyond 
their control. Let us fulfill the intent of the Act we passed last year 
and ensure that these veterans and their families receive the benefits 
they are due.
                                 ______