John Conyers: “The Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 1999, was introduced by Representative Vento. It provides long overdue…”

“The Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 1999, was introduced by Representative Vento. It provides long overdue assistance for the naturalization requirements of U.S. citizenship to a valiant group of people who fought for our country many years ago. Between 130,000 and 150,000 Laotian Hmong have entered the United States as refugees since 1975. Many have found it difficult to naturalize because of cultural obstacles to learning how to read English. This is due in part to the fact that the culture of the Hmong did not include a written form of their language until recent decades. H.R. 371 would exempt the Hmong naturalization applicants from the English language requirements if they have served with special guerrilla units or irregular forces operating from bases in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War (or were spouses or widows of such persons on the day on which such persons applied for admission as refugees). This legislation passed the House by voice vote on May 2 and I have no problem with the Senate amendments concerning the certification requirement which were technical in nature.”