Speaker. I would like to make two points in response to the gentleman from Missouri. No. 1. there is no literacy test required for voting in the United States today by virtue of the action of the Congress. In 1970 in extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965. we enacted a nationwide ban on literacy tests for voting. No. 2. this bill merely proposes to extend the present law. Under the present law. if an alien was 50 years of age and had lived in the United States for 20 years as of December 24. 1952. he would have been eligible for naturalization without passing a literacy test. This bill advances that date to exempt an alien over 50 years of age who has lived in the United States for 20 years at the time of filing an application for naturalization. In other words. if an alien is 50 years old and has lived for 20 years in the United States. at the time of filing his .petition for naturalization. he shall not be required to pass an English language literacy test. Mr. Speaker. there is a very humanitarian purpose behind this legislation. and that is to permit those aliens who wish to be citizens. yet are barred by the literacy requirement. to do so after they have lived in the United States for 20 years and are 50 years old. There are many people in this country who have come from foreign lands seeking freedom and opportunity. They have made major contributions to our national life. but for one reason or another. and usually it is a psychological matter. they find it very difficult to take and pass a literacy test. This legislation is consistent with the purpose that we had in mind when we abolished the literacy test for voting. and we should do no less for the small number of deserving people involved under this bill.
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naturalization literacy test literacy tests