Mr. President. today. I have introduced the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 1997. The purpose of this bill Is to help expedite the naturalization of Hmong veterans who served and fought alongside the United States during the United States secret war in Laos. This legislation acknowledges their service and officially recognizes the service of Hmong and other ethnic Lao veterans who sacrificed and loyally fought for America and its principles of freedom. human rights. and democracy. This legislation continues the tradition of recognizing the service of those who came to the aid of the United States in times of war. Current law permits aliens or noncitizens who served honorably in the U.S. military forces during wartime to be naturalized. regardless of age. period of U.S. residence. or physical presence in the United States. However. expedited naturalization does not apply to Hmong and Lao veterans and their families because of the covert status of their work. This bill would help expedite this process by eliminating the literacy requirement In the naturalization process. Classified studies conducted by the defense policy think tank RAND have recently been declassified. They show the unique and important role that the Hmong people played during the Vietnam war.
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