Bruce F. Vento: “Mr. Chairman I rise today in support of an amendment I drafted to address a fundamental problem being experienced by…”

“Mr. Chairman I rise today in support of an amendment I drafted to address a fundamental problem being experienced by legal U.S. residents, the Hmong. This measure would expedite the naturalization of Hmong people who served in Special Guerrilla Forces assisting the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. My amendment corrects a serious problem affecting Hmong people in the United States today who served alongside United States soldiers in Southeast Asia. It expedites the naturalization of aliens who served in these units in Laos and their spouses or widows by waiving the language requirement and the residency requirement aliens normally must meet. These two significant barriers to citizenship today affect the Hmong in a unique manner. From 1960 to 1975 Hmong people of all ages fought and died alongside United States soldiers in units recruited, trained, and funded by the CIA. During the war, between 10,000 and 20,000 Hmong tragically were killed in combat and as the conflict resulted in a bitter conclusion, 100,000 Hmong had to flee to refugee camps to survive the persecution and retribution that surely would have followed. The Hmong stood loyally by the United States during the long bitter course of the Vietnam War, but because the Hmong did not serve in regular United States military units, they are not eligible for expedited naturalization as other uniformed U.S. veterans and others may be. The Vento amendment would remedy this problem and inequity.”