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

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

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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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