Speech #1010057123

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 1630. legislation that vests authority for the naturalization of individuals wishing to become U.S. citizens with the U.S. Attorney General. In addition. this bill streamlines the process by allowing the Attorney General to adjudicate naturalization petitions. Backlogs in the naturalization process have developed over a number of years due to an increased volume of applications for citizenship. In 1981. there were 171.000 petitions filed for naturalization. and in 1985. 306.000 applications were submitted. Personnel and funding levels within the Immigration and Naturalization Service as well as heavy dockets in the Judiciary have not kept pace with the demand. especially in heavyvolume areas such as New York and California. Paperwork backlogs in the executive and Judicial branches make the road to citizenship a lengthy process. In order to streamline the process. H.R. 1630 vests authority for naturalization with the Attorney General. thus providing a onestep process from application to swearingin. It allows an applicant to give his oath of citizenship in court or in an administrative ceremony. Concerns were raised at the full Judiciary Committee level on a provision added to this years bill. H.R. 1630 provided for de novo review in district court after 90 days. Subsequent to the full committee markups. these concerns were worked out among Judiciary Members. The bill now provides that a naturalization application may be submitted to the court if the Immigration and Naturalization Service has not acted upon the application after 120 days. This provision applies only at the interview stage. after the application has already been reviewed by the INS. In addition. the court has the option to remand the case back to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Mr. Speaker. I am hopeful that this legislation will help reduce the backlogs in the naturalization process. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr.