Speech #900175042

Mr. Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to rise in support of favorable consideration of H.R. 555. for the purpose of amending section 312(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section contains the general requirements that applicants for naturalization be able to speak. understand. read. and write the English language. and an exemption from those requirements. Indeed. I respectfully submit that the bill merely implements an existing congressional policy which has become largely ineffective with the passage of time. It is safe to state that. during the interim period of the past 13 years. the vast majority of aliens who could qualify for the English language exemption under section 312(1). in its present context. have availed themselves of the benefit and. if otherwise eligible. have become naturalized citizens of the United States. Accordingly. to a very considerable extent. the exemption provision has a relatively negligible application at the present time. On the other hand. among the more than 3 million aliens residing permanently in the United States. there are a very great many who were not eligible for .the English language exemption in 1952. either because they lacked a year or more of residence. or were 1 or more years under the age of 50.