Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 08/10/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
Disapproving the rule submitted to the Congress by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on June 6, 2007, relating to adjustment of the Immigration and Naturalization Benefit Application and Petition Fee Schedule.

7/30/2007--Introduced.

Disapproves the rule submitted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to the Congress on June 6, 2007, relating to adjustment of the immigration and naturalization benefit application and petition fee schedule, and states that such rule shall have no force or effect.

Latest Action: 02/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1911-1912)

Bill Text
A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes. 2/13/2007--Introduced. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2008 for military operations and military construction. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund and the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (3) research, development, test, and evaluation, including ballistic missile defense; (4) operation and maintenance, including defense working capital funds, the defense health program, chemical agents and munitions destruction, and environmental restoration; (5) active and reserve military personnel, including [...]

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Latest Action: 02/16/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2179)

Bill Text
A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas.

2/16/2007--Introduced.

Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who were naturalized under the Immigration Act of 1990 from worldwide or numerical limitations on immigrant visas.

Latest Action: 11/08/2007 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to comprehensively reform immigration law, and for other purposes. 1/31/2007--Introduced. Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide increased protections and eligibility for family-sponsored immigrants. Directs the Secretary of State to establish a Board of Family-based Visa Appeals within the Department of State. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to deny a family-based immigration petition by a U.S. petitioner for an alien spouse or child if: (1) the petitioner is on the national sex offender registry for a conviction that resulted in more than one year's imprisonment; (2) the petitioner has failed to rebut such information within 90 days; and (3) granting the petition would put a spouse or child beneficiary in danger of sexual abuse. Directs the Secretary to establish the Task Force to Rescue Immigrant Victims of [...]

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Latest Action: 05/18/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the official language of the Government of the United States, and for other purposes. 1/31/2007--Introduced. National Language Act of 2007 - Makes English the official language of the U.S. government. Requires the government to: (1) conduct its official business in English, including publications, income tax forms, and informational materials; and (2) preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the United States of America. Provides that no person has a right, entitlement, or claim to have the government act, communicate, perform, or provide services or materials in any other language, unless specifically stated in applicable law. Provides that this Act shall not apply to the use of a language other than English for religious purposes, for training in foreign languages for international communication, or in school programs designed to encourage students to learn foreign languages. [...]

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Latest Action: 09/26/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12090-12091)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes. 3/6/2007--Introduced. Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2007 or the DREAM Act of 2007 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien's eligibility for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. national is similarly eligible without regard to such state residence. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of, and adjust to conditional permanent resident status, an alien who: (1) entered the United States before his or her sixteenth birthday, and has been [...]

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Latest Action: 03/07/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2803-2804)

Bill Text
A bill to assist aliens who have been lawfully admitted in becoming citizens of the United States, and for other purposes.

3/7/2007--Introduced.

Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise provisions respecting: (1) immigration service fees; and (2) naturalization testing.

Prohibits an applicant or petitioner for U.S. permanent residence or citizenship from being required to use an electronic method to file any application to, or access a customer account.

Requires: (1) a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study and report on naturalization background checks; and (2) the Attorney General to make reasonable efforts to complete background checks of applicants for temporary or permanent residence or citizenship within 90 days.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a national citizenship promotion program to assist lawful permanent resident aliens become citizens.

Latest Action: 03/07/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to improve the administration of elections for Federal office, and for other purposes. 3/7/2007--Introduced. Count Every Vote Act of 2005 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 with respect to : (1) voter verification and mandatory auditing by state officials; (2) provisional ballots and requirements for casting and counting them; (3) shortening of voter wait lines; (4) equitable allocation of voting systems, poll workers, and election resources; (5) absentee balloting; (6) training of poll workers; (7) standards for purging voters; (8) an election day registration grant program; (9) standards for early voting; (10) voter registration and identification; (11) prohibition of deceptive practices and certain campaign activities; (12) voting rights of individuals convicted of criminal offenses; and (13) the Election Assistance Commission. Makes appropriations to carry out this Act. Federal Election Day Act of [...]

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Latest Action: 12/06/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H14456-14462)

Bill Text
To declare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to Congress' powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section 8, of the Constitution. 2/12/2007--Introduced. English Language Unity Act of 2007 - Amends federal to declare English to be the official language of the United States. Requires: (1) official functions of the United States (meaning in this case the states and the District of Columbia) to be conducted in English; and (2) a uniform English language rule for U.S. naturalization, and all naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in English. Sets forth exceptions to and rules of construction for such requirements. Declares that English language requirements and workplace policies, whether [...]

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Latest Action: 03/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
To provide for cancellation of removal and adjustment of status for certain long-term residents who entered the United States as children. 2/28/2007--Introduced. Education Access for Rightful Noncitizens Act or the EARN Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of, and adjust to conditional permanent resident status, an alien who: (1) entered the United States prior to his or her sixteenth birthday, and has been present in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding enactment of this Act; (2) is a person of good moral character; (3) is not inadmissible or deportable under specified grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (4) at the time of application, has been admitted to an institution of higher education, or has earned a high school or general education diploma in the United States; and (5) from the age of 16 and older, has never been under a final order of exclusion, deportation, or removal. Sets forth [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Bill Text
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize pilot or demonstration programs to prepare high school students to pass the United States citizenship exam.

9/18/2008--Introduced.

People Resolved to Obtain an Understanding of Democracy (P.R.O.U.D.) Act - Amends part D (Fund for the Improvement of Education) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the funding of demonstration or pilot programs to assist high school students who seek U.S. citizenship in satisfying the requirements that they understand the English language, fundamentals of our history, and principles and form of our government.

Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-912.

Bill Text
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect the well-being of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--Introduced. States that any person who served honorably as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces (Armed Forces) in support of contingency operations shall be eligible for naturalization as if the person had served during a period of presidentially-designated military hostilities. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the period for filing a naturalization application after completion of eligible military service. Eliminates conditional permanent resident status for certain alien spouses (and sons or daughters) who are members or veterans of the Armed Forces. Sets forth factors to be considered in initiating removal proceedings against active duty members of the Armed Forces or veterans. Prohibits removal of an alien who is a member or veteran of the Armed Forces based upon: (1) illegal reentry; (2) [...]

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Latest Action: 10/09/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to establish a liaison with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to expedite naturalization applications filed by members of the Armed Forces and to establish a deadline for processing such applications. 10/9/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on August 1, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an Office of the FBI Liaison in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which shall monitor and assist with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) functions related to expeditiously processing naturalization applications filed by or on behalf of: (1) members and former members of the Armed Forces; (2) current spouses of active Armed Forces members and surviving spouses and children of U.S.[...]

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Latest Action: 04/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt certain elderly persons from demonstrating an understanding of the English language and the history, principles, and form of government of the United States as a requirement for naturalization, and to permit certain other elderly persons to take the history and government examination in a language of their choice.

4/9/2008--Introduced.

Senior Citizenship Act of 2008 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt certain older persons from the naturalization U.S. history-government and English language requirements and permit certain other older persons to take such history-government examination in a language other than English.

Latest Action: 04/09/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to United States citizenship.

4/9/2008--Introduced.

Constitutional Amendment - States that a person born in the United States shall not be a U.S. citizen unless: (1) one parent of the person is a U.S. citizen; (2) one parent of the person is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who resides in the United States; (3) one parent of the person is an alien performing active service in the U.S. Armed Forces; or (4) the person is naturalized in accordance with the laws of the United States.

Latest Action: 06/05/2008 - Mr. Spratt brought up conference report H. Rept. 110-659 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 1214.

Bill Text
An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013. 5/20/2008--Conference report filed in House.    (There are 4 other summaries) Sets forth the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2009, including the appropriate budgetary levels for FY2008 and FY2010-FY2013. Title I: Recommended Levels and Amounts - (Sec. 101) Lists recommended budgetary levels and amounts, for FY2008-FY2013, with respect to: (1) federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits (on-budget); (5) debt subject to limit; and (6) debt held by the public. (Sec. 102) Lists the appropriate levels of new budget authority, outlays, and administrative expenses for Social Security, U.S. Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses, and specified major functional [...]

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Latest Action: 03/06/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 606.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prescribe the binding oath or affirmation of renunciation and allegiance required to be naturalized as a citizen of the United States, to encourage and support the efforts of prospective citizens of the United States to become citizens, and for other purposes. 3/5/2008--Introduced. Strengthening American Citizenship Act of 2007 [sic] - Directs the Chief of the Office of Citizenship of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide grants (not to exceed $500) to assist legal U.S. residents who declare an intent to apply for citizenship in the United States to meet naturalization requirements. Provides such grants to an accredited institution of higher education or other qualified educational institution for tuition, fees, books, and other educational resources required by the English language course in which the legal resident is enrolled. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide [...]

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Latest Action: 02/28/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A bill to clarify the law and ensure that children born to United States citizens while serving overseas in the military are eligible to become President.

2/28/2008--Introduced.

Children of Military Families Natural Born Citizen Act - Declares that the term "natural born Citizen" in article II, section 1, clause 5 of the Constitution, dealing with the criteria for election to President of the United States, includes any person born to any U.S. citizen while serving in the active or reserve components of the U.S. armed forces.