What This Bill Does
This bill creates a National Office of New Americans within the President's office to help immigrants become citizens and integrate into American society. It establishes grant programs to provide legal help, English language classes, and job training for immigrants. The bill also removes barriers to citizenship by lowering fees, waiving English requirements for older immigrants, and allowing high school graduates to skip certain citizenship tests.
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Who It Affects
* Immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens
* Refugees and asylum seekers
* State and local governments
* Community organizations and nonprofits providing legal services
* Organizations offering English language and workforce training
* U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
* The Department of Homeland Security
* Other federal agencies involved in immigration services
##
Key Provisions
* The bill establishes the National Office of New Americans within the Executive Office of the President, headed by a Director appointed by the President with Senate approval (Sec. 102)
* The Attorney General shall award grants to legal service organizations to provide immigration legal assistance, citizenship help, and related services to eligible immigrants (Sec. 203)
* Grants are authorized for English language and integration programs, with funding prioritized for states with the highest foreign-born populations or recent immigrant growth (Sec. 204)
* Immigration service fees for naturalization are capped at no more than $50, and no fees are charged for applicants with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty line (Sec. 302 and 304)
* Immigrants over age 65 who have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years as permanent residents are waived from English and civics requirements for citizenship (Sec. 303)
* High school graduates who completed grades 9-12 in the U.S. and studied U.S. history, government, and civics are deemed to satisfy citizenship knowledge requirements (Sec. 305)
* A United States Citizenship and Integration Foundation is established to promote citizenship programs and support low-income immigrants seeking permanent residence or citizenship (Sec. 207)
##
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the federal government creates a new office dedicated to immigrant integration. Organizations can receive government grants to provide free or low-cost legal help and English classes to immigrants. The cost of becoming a citizen drops significantly for low-income people. Older immigrants and high school graduates face fewer obstacles to citizenship. Federal agencies must coordinate their immigration integration efforts through the new National Office of New Americans.
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Important Definitions
* **Immigrant**: A person who is not a U.S. citizen, is present in the United States, and either has a legal immigration status or intends to live permanently in the U.S. (Sec. 2)
* **Refugee**: Not specifically defined in this bill; the bill states it uses the meaning from the Immigration and Nationality Act (Sec. 2)
* **Limited English Proficient**: An individual who does not speak English as their primary language and has a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English (Sec. 204)
* **Adult English Language Learner**: An individual age 16 or older who is not enrolled in secondary school and who is limited English proficient (Sec. 204)
* **Service Area**: The jurisdiction or geographical area where an organization carries out funded activities (Sec. 201)
##
Effective Date
Provisions regarding naturalization for high school graduates take effect on the date of enactment, applying to applicants who apply on or after that date (Sec. 305). Most other specific effective dates are not specified in the bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 883
To establish the National Office of New Americans, to reduce obstacles
to United States citizenship, to support the integration of immigrants
into the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of the United States,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 21, 2023
Mr. MARKEY (for himself and Ms. WARREN) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To establish the National Office of New Americans, to reduce
obstacles to United States citizenship, to support the
integration of immigrants into the social, cultural, eco-
nomic, and civic life of the United States, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
3
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
4
‘‘New Deal for New Americans Act of 2023’’.
5
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
6
this Act is as follows:
7
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•S 883 IS
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I—NEW AMERICANS AND INTEGRATION
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. National Office of New Americans.
Sec. 103. Federal Initiative on New Americans.
TITLE II—PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE CITIZENSHIP, INTEGRATION,
AND PROSPERITY
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Sense of Congress on access to legal counsel.
Sec. 203. Legal Services and Immigration Assistance grant program.
Sec. 204. English as a Gateway to Integration grant program.
Sec. 205. Workforce Development and Shared Prosperity grant program.
Sec. 206. Department of Homeland Security grants.
Sec. 207. United States Citizenship and Integration Foundation.
Sec. 208. Pilot program to promote immigrant integration at State and local
levels.
Sec. 209. Authorization of appropriations for Foundation and pilot program.
TITLE III—REDUCING BARRIERS TO CITIZENSHIP
Sec. 301. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 302. Immigration service fees.
Sec. 303. Waiver of English requirement for senior new Americans.
Sec. 304. Reduce financial obstacles to naturalization.
Sec. 305. Naturalization for certain United States high school graduates.
Sec. 306. Family integration.
Sec. 307. Revision of grounds for deportation.
Sec. 308. Waiver to ensure access to citizenship.
Sec. 309. Naturalization ceremonies.
Sec. 310. Proud to Be a United States Citizen Program.
Sec. 311. Mission of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Sec. 312. Automatic registration of eligible individuals.
Sec. 313. Department of Homeland Security assistance in registration.
Sec. 314. Voter protection and security in automatic registration.
Sec. 315. Effective date.
TITLE IV—REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION
Sec. 401. Definition of Secretary.
Sec. 402. Minimum number of refugees to be admitted.
Sec. 403. Pre-arrival English language and work orientation training for ap-
proved refugee applicants.
Sec. 404. Update of reception and placement grants.
Sec. 405. Case management grant program.
Sec. 406. Increase in cash payments.
TITLE V—PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANTS
Sec. 501. Personally identifiable information.
Sec. 502. Voluntary participation in integration and inclusion activities.
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•S 883 IS
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
1
In this Act:
2
(1)
IMMIGRANT.—The
term
‘‘immigrant’’
3
means an individual who—
4
(A) is not a citizen or national of the
5
United States;
6
(B) is present in the United States; and
7
(C)(i) is in any status under the immigra-
8
tion laws; or
9
(ii)(I) is not in any status under the immi-
10
gration laws; and
11
(II) intends to resident permanently in the
12
United States.
13
(2) IMMIGRATION LAWS.—The term ‘‘immigra-
14
tion laws’’ has the meaning given the term in section
15
101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
16
U.S.C. 1101(a)).
17
(3) REFUGEE.—The term ‘‘refugee’’ has the
18
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Im-
19
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
20
TITLE I—NEW AMERICANS AND
21
INTEGRATION
22
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
23
In this title:
24
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•S 883 IS
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means
1
the Director of the National Office of New Ameri-
2
cans.
3
(2) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal
4
agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘agency’’
5
in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
6
(3) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the
7
National Office of New Americans established by
8
section 102(a).
9
SEC. 102. NATIONAL OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.
10
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF
11
NEW AMERICANS.—There is established within the Execu-
12
tive Office of the President an office to be known as the
13
‘‘National Office of New Americans’’.
14
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Office are the
15
following:
16
(1) To welcome and support immigrants and
17
refugees in the United States.
18
(2) To promote and support immigrant and ref-
19
ugee integration into, and inclusion in, the social,
20
cultural, economic, and civic life of the United
21
States.
22
(3) To ensure that the Federal Government and
23
Federal agencies promote the pursuit of United
24
States citizenship among immigrants and refugees.
25
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•S 883 IS
(4) To ensure access to quality English lan-
1
guage learning programs that support the successful
2
integration of immigrant adults, including by en-
3
hancing—
4
(A) employment and career prospects and
5
economic integration; and
6
(B) social integration in local communities
7
and participation in civic life, including engage-
8
ment with State and local governments, schools,
9
and private and nonprofit community institu-
10
tions.
11
(5) To improve access to workforce development
12
programs, including by ensuring that such programs
13
meet the demand and the unique language, training,
14
and educational needs of immigrants and refugees.
15
(6) To coordinate the efforts of Federal, State,
16
and local entities to support the effective social, eco-
17
nomic, linguistic, and civic integration of immi-
18
grants, refugees, and the children of immigrants and
19
refugees.
20
(7) To provide advice and leadership to the
21
President, Members of Congress, and other Federal
22
Government officials on the challenges and opportu-
23
nities facing such entities with respect to immigrant
24
and refugee integration.
25
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•S 883 IS
(8) To evaluate the scale, quality, and effective-
1
ness of Federal Government efforts with respect to
2
immigrant and refugee social and economic integra-
3
tion, including access to United States citizenship,
4
English language learning, education, and workforce
5
development programs.
6
(9) To identify the anticipated effects of new
7
Federal policies on existing integration efforts and
8
advise the President on how to address potential in-
9
tegration needs and the effects of such policies.
10
(10) With respect to immigrant and refugee in-
11
tegration efforts, to consult on a biannual basis with
12
State and local government officials on challenges
13
and opportunities presented by such efforts.
14
(11) With respect to the activities described in
15
paragraphs (8) through (10), to ensure the inclusion
16
of the perspectives of immigrants and refugees.
17
(12) With respect to the administration of the
18
grant programs under title II, to consult with the
19
applicable heads of Federal agencies.
20
(13) To submit to the President and the appro-
21
priate committees of Congress a biannual report
22
that describes the activities of the Office and the re-
23
sults of the consultation processes described in para-
24
graphs (10) through (12).
25
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•S 883 IS
(c) DIRECTOR.—
1
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Office shall be headed
2
by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Presi-
3
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
4
ate.
5
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director shall—
6
(A) establish policies, objectives, and prior-
7
ities for the Office with respect to immigrant
8
and refugee integration;
9
(B) with the assistance of the Deputy Di-
10
rector for Citizenship and Inclusion, the Deputy
11
Director for Workforce and the Economy, the
12
Deputy Director for Children’s Integration Suc-
13
cess, and the Associate Director of State and
14
Local Affairs, carry out the purposes of the Of-
15
fice, as described in subsection (b);
16
(C) serve as the Chair of the Federal Ini-
17
tiative for New Americans established under
18
section 103;
19
(D) make recommendations to the Presi-
20
dent on changes in the organization, manage-
21
ment, programs, and budget of the Federal
22
agencies to promote the integration of immi-
23
grants and refugees;
24
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•S 883 IS
(E) with respect to efforts to promote
1
United States citizenship and the integration of
2
immigrants and refugees, consult, support, and
3
coordinate with State and local governments;
4
and
5
(F) serve as a member of the Domestic
6
Policy Council and the National Economic
7
Council.
8
(3) POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR.—In carrying
9
out the responsibilities under paragraph (2) and the
10
purposes under subsection (b), the Director may—
11
(A) select, appoint, employ, and fix com-
12
pensation of such officers and employees as
13
may be necessary to carry out such responsibil-
14
ities and purposes;
15
(B) with the concurrence of the head of
16
the applicable Federal agency, direct the tem-
17
porary reassignment within the Federal Govern-
18
ment of personnel employed by such Federal
19
agency;
20
(C) use for administrative purposes, on a
21
reimbursable basis, the available services, equip-
22
ment, personnel, and facilities of Federal, State,
23
and local agencies;
24
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•S 883 IS
(D) procure the services of experts and
1
consultants, in accordance with section 3109 of
2
title 5, United States Code (relating to appoint-
3
ments in the Federal service) at rates of com-
4
pensation for individuals not to exceed the daily
5
equivalent of the rate of pay payable for level
6
GS–18 of the General Schedule under section
7
5332 of title 5, United States Code;
8
(E) accept and use donations of property
9
from Federal, State, and local government
10
agencies;
11
(F) use the mail in the same manner as
12
other Federal agencies; and
13
(G) monitor the implementation of immi-
14
grant and refugee integration-related activities
15
of the Federal Government, including by—
16
(i) conducting program and perform-
17
ance audits and evaluations of each Fed-
18
eral agency; and
19
(ii) requesting assistance from the In-
20
spector General of the applicable Federal
21
agency in such audits and evaluations.
22
(d) DEPUTY DIRECTORS.—
23
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Office
24
a Deputy Director for Citizenship and Inclusion, a
25
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•S 883 IS
Deputy Director for Workforce and the Economy,
1
and a Deputy Director for Children’s Integration
2
and Success, each of whom shall be appointed by the
3
President, in consultation with the Director.
4
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—
5
(A) DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR CITIZENSHIP
6
AND
INCLUSION.—The Deputy Director for
7
Citizenship and Inclusion shall, among other
8
duties as assigned by the Director, assist the
9
Director in promoting—
10
(i) inclusion of immigrants and refu-
11
gees in the social, economic, and civic life
12
of their communities and the United
13
States; and
14
(ii) access to United States citizen-
15
ship.
16
(B) DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR WORKFORCE
17
AND THE ECONOMY.—The Deputy Director for
18
Workforce and the Economy shall, among other
19
duties as assigned by the Director, assist the
20
Director in—
21
(i) promoting participation of immi-
22
grants and refugees in the United States
23
workforce; and
24
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•S 883 IS
(ii) increasing the contributions of im-
1
migrants and refugees to the United States
2
economy.
3
(C) DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR CHILDREN’S
4
INTEGRATION SUCCESS.—The Deputy Director
5
for Children’s Integration Success shall, among
6
other duties as assigned by the Director, assist
7
the Director in ensuring that Federal policies
8
and programs intended to support the healthy
9
development and educational success of children
10
are effective in reaching and serving the chil-
11
dren of immigrant families.
12
(e) BUREAU OF STATE AND LOCAL AFFAIRS.—
13
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within
14
the Office a Bureau of State and Local Affairs.
15
(2) ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.—
16
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau of State
17
and Local Affairs shall be headed by an Asso-
18
ciate Director of State and Local Affairs, who
19
shall be appointed by the President, in con-
20
sultation with the Director.
21
(B) DUTIES.—The Associate Director of
22
State and Local Affairs shall, among other du-
23
ties as assigned by the Director, assist the Di-
24
rector in coordinating the efforts of State and
25
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•S 883 IS
local entities to support the economic, linguistic,
1
and civic integration of immigrants, refugees,
2
and the children of immigrants and refugees.
3
(f) LIMITATION.—An individual may not serve as Di-
4
rector, Deputy Director for Citizenship and Inclusion,
5
Deputy Director for Workforce and the Economy, Deputy
6
Director for Children’s Integration Success, or Associate
7
Director of State and Local Affairs while serving i
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]