119-hr449

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 449 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 449

 To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain 
naturalization requirements for United States nationals, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 15, 2025

Mrs. Radewagen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain 
naturalization requirements for United States nationals, and for other 
 purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. WAIVER OF CERTAIN NATURALIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNITED 
 STATES NATIONALS TO BECOME UNITED STATES CITIZENS.

    (a) 

=== Findings ===
-The Congress finds the following:

    (1) Both United States citizens and United States nationals 
 are persons who owe permanent allegiance to the United States.

    (2) United States nationals serve in the United States 
 Armed Services at a very high per capita rate.

    (3) Commissioned military officers and certain security 
 clearances require United States nationals to become United 
 States citizens.

    (4) Many United States nationals desire to become United 
 States citizens.

    (5) United States nationals attend United States Department 
 of Education curriculum-approved and regulated schools.

    (6) United States nationals serving in the military or 
 other United States national civilians desiring to obtain 
 United States citizenship should be entitled to citizenship on 
 an expedited basis without having to move, having any further 
 educational testing required, or having any fee or cost 
 assessed.

    (b) Naturalization of Certain United States Nationals.--

Section 325 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1436) is amended to 
read as follows:

``

SEC. 325. NATIONALS BUT NOT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES; RESIDENCE 
 WITHIN OUTLYING POSSESSIONS.

 ``

    (a) Eligibility for Naturalization.--A person not a citizen who 
owes permanent allegiance to the United States, and who is otherwise 
qualified, may--
 ``

    (1) if the person becomes a resident of any State, be 
 naturalized upon compliance with the applicable requirements of 
 this title, except that in applications for naturalization 
 filed under the provisions of this section, residence and 
 physical presence within the United States within the meaning 
 of this title shall include residence and physical presence 
 within any of the outlying possessions of the United States; or
 ``

    (2) if the person has continuously resided in any State 
 or outlying possession of the United States from birth to the 
 date of approval of the application, be naturalized upon 
 compliance with the applicable requirements of this title other 
 than sections 312 and 337

    (a) and paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) of 
 

section 316

    (a) .
 ``

    (b) Jurisdiction.--The Secretary shall provide that applications, 
interviews, filings, oaths, ceremonies, or other proceedings under this 
title, to the extent applicable, are available in an outlying 
possession of the United States with respect to--
 ``

    (1) any applicant for naturalization under subsection

    (a)

    (2) ;
 ``

    (2) any applicant for naturalization under 

section 328 or 
 329 who is a resident of an outlying possession of the United 
 States; or
 ``

    (3) any child described in 

section 322

    (a)

    (5)
        (B) for whom 
 an application is made under 

section 322.
 ``
            (c) Construction.--In determining eligibility for naturalization 
under subsection

    (a)

    (2) --
 ``

    (1) absence from any State or outlying possession of the 
 United States for a continuous period of more than 180 days 
 shall break the continuity of such residence, unless the person 
 establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Homeland 
 Security that the person did not abandon such person's 
 residence during such period;
 ``

    (2) in conducting the investigation and examination of 
 the person under sections 332

    (a) and 335, the Secretary of 
 Homeland Security may in the discretion of the Secretary waive 
 a personal interview of the person; and
 ``

    (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the discretion 
 of the Secretary, may impose a reduced fee for an application 
 for naturalization under such subsection compared to other 
 applications for naturalization, taking into account the 
 relative costs of processing an application for naturalization 
 under such subsection.''.
            (c) Children of United States Nationals.--

Section 322

    (a)

    (5) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1433

    (a)

    (5) ) is amended to 
read as follows:
 ``

    (5) The child--
 ``
        (A) is temporarily present in the United States 
 pursuant to a lawful admission, and is maintaining such 
 lawful status; or
 ``
        (B) is present and resides in an outlying 
 possession of the United States''.
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