Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000
Public Law 106-207 · H.R. 371 · 106th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on May 26, 2000 · Immigration
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MN-4)
Cosponsors (108): Rep. George Radanovich, Rep. Cal Dooley,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 - Waives the English language requirement and provides special consideration for the civics requirement with respect to the naturalization of an alien who: (1) was admitted into the United States as a refugee from Laos, and who served with a Laotian-based special guerilla or irregular unit in support of U.S. forces at any time from February 28, 1961, through September 18, 1978; or (2) was similarly admitted as a refugee and was the spouse of such an alien at the time of (such alien's) application for refugee admission.
(Sec. 4) Requires documentation of qualifying service in the form of: (1) original documents; (2) an affidavit by the person's superior officer; (3) two affidavits by individuals who served with such units and personally knew of the person's service; or (4) other appropriate proof.
(Sec. 5) States that the Attorney General, in determining eligibility for exemption or special consideration: (1) shall review documentation, and may request a military service advisory opinion from the Secretary of Defense; and (2) may consider documentation prepared by organizations maintaining records of Hmong veterans or their families.
(Sec. 6) Requires applications for naturalization benefits under this Act to be filed with appropriate fees no later than 18 months after enactment of such Act.
(Sec. 7) Limits to 45,000 the total number of aliens who may be granted such naturalization benefits.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.
- May 26, 2000Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 106-207.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 24, 2000PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 23, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Smith (TX) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
- May 18, 2000FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 3, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 2, 2000FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Hyde moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Apr 6, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Mar 30, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
- Mar 23, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Feb 25, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- Jan 19, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.