,i  #aadth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #cbja  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,july #bc1 #bjae ,mr4
 ,crdenas 7for himself and ,ms4         
,ros-,lehtinen7 introduced the following
 bill2 which was referred to the        
,committee on the ,judiciary1 and in    
addition to the ,committee on ,education
 and the ,workforce1 for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the ,speaker1
 in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the           
jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
,a ,,bill  ,to support the integration  
of immigrants to the ,united ,states    
into the economic1 social1 cultural1 and
 civic life of their local communities  
and the ,nation1 and for other purposes4
  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be    
cited as the ,new ,american ,success    
,act of #bjae4  #b4 ,table of contents  
,the table of contents for this ,act is 
as follows3  ,sec4 #a4 ,short title4    
,sec4 #b4 ,table of contents4 ,sec4 #c4 
,findings and declaration of policy4    

,title ,i--,grants ,sec4 #aja4 ,initial 
,entry1 ,adjustment1 and ,citizenship   
,assistance ,grants4 ,sec4 #ajb4        
,integration ,success ,grants4 ,sec4    
#ajc4 ,integration ,success ,fund4      
,title ,,ii--,english ,language         
,learning ,sec4 #bja4 ,waiver of        
,english requirement for senior new     
,americans4  #c4 ,findings and          
declaration of policy  7a7 ,findings    
,congress makes the following findings3 
7#a7 ,according to the ,migration       
,policy ,institute1 there are           
#ac1djj1jjj non-citizen residents in the
 ,united ,states with limited           
proficiency in ,english4  7#b7          
,according to the ,department of        
,homeland ,security1 approximately      
#a1ajj1jjj legal immigrants enter the   
country annually4 ,about half of these  
legal immigrants lack full proficiency  
in ,english4  7#c7 ,according to the    
,bureau of ,labor ,statistics1 more than
 two-thirds of the foreign-born         
population does not have a postsecondary

 degree1 and foreign-born adults are    
three times more likely to lack a high  
school diploma or equivalent than       
native-born adults4  7#d7 ,according to 
the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics1 #ai  
of the #cj fastest growing occupations  
require workers with some form of       
postsecondary education or training4    
7#e7 ,these statistics suggest that a   
lack of ,english proficiency and limited
 education serve as serious impediments 
to labor market success for immigrants4 
7#f7 ,a century ago1 during the last    
great wave of immigration to this       
country1 the public and private sectors 
promoted the integration of newcomers   
through the ,settlement ,house movement1
 the founding of the modern public      
library system1 the establishment of    
universal public education4  7#g7       
,although currently dozens of ,federal  
and ,state programs support1 and        
thousands of government agencies and    
nonprofit organizations operate1        
programs that teach ,english1 promote   

acquisition of workforce skills1 provide
 citizenship assistance1 and otherwise  
promote the integration of immigrants   
and their children1 such programs are   
often not coordinated or aligned1       
limiting the capacity of such programs  
to identify and test promising          
practices1 leverage resources1 or bring 
effective interventions to scale4  7#h7 
,it is in the national interest to      
facilitate the rapid acquisition of     
,english language skills by immigrants  
to the ,united ,states and to otherwise 
promote the integration of immigrants   
and their children into the mainstream  
of our economy and society4  7#i7       
,empowering immigrants and their family 
members to effectively integrate into   
the mainstream of the economic1 social1 
cultural1 and civic life of their local 
communities and the ,nation as a whole  
will ensure that ,united ,states        
immigration policies result in more     
productive and competitive local        
economies and more cohesive and         

harmonious communities4  7#aj7 ,data1   
policies1 and programs relevant to      
immigrant integration crosscut the      
responsibilities of numerous ,federal   
agencies as well as those of ,state and 
local governments and nongovernmental   
actors4  7#aa7 ,the overlapping nature  
of integration issues and the lack of   
coordination of immigration policies and
 programs make it difficult for the     
,president and ,congress to understand  
and respond to pressing integration     
challenges and opportunities4  7#ab7    
,improved coordination of integration   
goals1 policies1 and programs across    
sectors and levels of government would  
greatly enhance the ability of the      
,federal ,government to create and      
maintain an immigration system that is  
more suited to modern times and benefits
 the interests of the ,federal          
,government1 communities with growing   
immigrant populations1 as well as       
immigrants and their family members4    
7b7 ,declaration of policy ,it is the   

policy of the ,united ,states to-- 7#a7 
promote the civic1 linguistic1 and      
economic integration of immigrants and  
their young children into the ,united   
,states2  7#b7 establish national goals 
for integrating immigrants and their    
young children into the ,united ,states1
 and measure the degree to which such   
goals are met2  7#c7 assess and         
coordinate ,federal policies1           
regulations1 and programs related to the
 integration of immigrants1 including an
 assessment of ,federal agency          
jurisdiction and budget concerns2  7#d7 
consult with ,state and local           
governments on integration challenges   
and opportunities for the purpose of    
improving ,federal integration policy   
and program efforts2  7#e7 track the    
performance of ,federal1 ,state1 and    
local integration initiatives1 including
 measures of reach1 effectiveness1 and  
cost2 and  7#f7 engage stakeholders at  
different government and nongovernment  
levels to identify integration          

opportunities and challenges4  ,i       
,grants  #aja4 ,initial ,entry1         
,adjustment1 and ,citizenship           
,assistance ,grants  7a7 ,authorization 
,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security  
shall award ,initial ,entry1            
,adjustment1 and ,citizenship           
,assistance grants to eligible entities4
  7b7 ,eligibility ,an entity eligible  
to receive a grant under this section is
 a unit of local government1            
community-based organization1 or public 
or private nonprofit organization--     
7#a7 that provides direct assistance to 
immigrants to the ,united ,states2 and  
7#b7 that submits to the ,secretary of  
,homeland ,security an application at   
such time1 in such manner1 and          
containing such information as such     
,secretary may reasonably require4  7c7 
,use of funds  7#a7 ,in ,general ,funds 
awarded under this section may be used  
to provide to an eligible non-citizen   
assistance relating to the immigration  
status of such non-citizen1 or related  

services4 ,such assistance may include--
  7,a7 screening to assess the          
eligibility of a prospective applicant  
seeking a change in immigration status2 
7,b7 completing immigration             
applications2  7,c7 gathering proof of  
identification1 employment1 residence1  
and tax payment2  7,d7 gathering proof  
of relationships to eligible family     
members2  7,e7 applying for any waivers 
for which an applicant and qualifying   
family members may be eligible2  7,f7   
advising an applicant on the rights and 
responsibilities of ,united ,states     
citizenship2 and  7,g7 instruction--    
7i7 on the rights and responsibilities  
of ,united ,states citizenship2  7ii7 in
 civics and civics-based ,english as a  
second language2 and  7iii7 in applying 
for ,united ,states citizenship4  7#b7  
,immigrants eligible for assistance ,a  
non-citizen is eligible to receive the  
assistance described in paragraph 7#a7  
if such non-citizen is--  7,a7 seeking  
to become a permanent resident or       

naturalized citizen2 or  7,b7 seeking   
relief from removal in order lawfully to
 remain in the ,united ,states4  7d7    
,priority ,in awarding grants under this
 section1 priority shall be given to--  
7#a7 entities that demonstrate intent to
 use grant funds to serve individuals   
living in a ,state with a foreign-born  
population of not less than #e percent  
that has experienced an increase that is
 higher than the national average in the
 population of non-citizen residents    
during the most recent #aj-year period1 
based on data compiled by the ,office of
 ,immigration ,statistics or the ,united
 ,states ,census ,bureau1 or units of   
local government located within such    
,state2 or  7#b7 entities that          
demonstrate intent to use grant funds to
 serve individuals living in any of the 
#aj ,states with the highest number of  
non-citizen residents1 based on data    
compiled by the ,office of ,immigration 
,statistics or the ,united ,states      
,census ,bureau1 or units of local      

government located within such ,state4  
7e7 ,certification ,in order to receive 
a payment under this section1 a         
participating entity shall submit to the
 ,secretary a certification that the    
proposed uses of grant funds by the     
entity are consistent with this section 
and meet all necessary criteria         
determined by the ,secretary4  7f7      
,annual report and evaluation ,not later
 than #ij days after the end of each    
fiscal year for which an entity receives
 grant funds under this section1 the    
entity shall submit to the ,secretary of
 ,homeland ,security the following3     
7#a7 ,a report that describes-- 7,a7 the
 activities undertaken by the entity    
that were funded entirely or partially  
by the grant funds2  7,b7 the geographic
 area or areas served by the grant      
funds2  7,c7 an estimate of the number  
of non-citizens living in the           
jurisdiction or service area of the     
entity1 which demonstrates that the     
entity made a reasonable effort to      

determine such number2  7,d7 the number 
of non-citizens receiving assistance    
that was funded entirely or partially by
 grant funds received by the entity2 and
  7,e7 the primary languages spoken in  
the jurisdiction or service area of the 
entity4  7#b7 ,an evaluation of any     
program of the entity using grant funds 
under this section1 including an        
assessment of--  7,a7 the effectiveness 
of such program and recommendations for 
improving the program2  7,b7 the future 
needs of immigrants to the ,united      
,states2 and  7,c7 the future needs of  
,states and units of local government   
related to immigrant integration4  7g7  
,state defined ,in this section1 the    
term ,state means each of the several   
,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the
 ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the    
,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1
 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth
 of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4    
7h7 ,effective period ,this section     
shall be in effect for a period of #aj  

fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 
#bjah4  #ajb4 ,integration ,success     
,grants  7a7 ,grants ,authorized ,the   
,secretary of ,homeland ,security may   
provide grants on a competitive basis to
 improve the economic1 linguistic1 and  
civic integration of immigrants and     
their children4  7b7 ,eligibility ,an   
entity eligible to receive a grant under
 this section is a ,state or a unit of  
local government that submits to the    
,secretary an application at such time1 
in such manner1 and containing such     
information as the ,secretary may       
reasonably require1 which may include-- 
7#a7 a proposal outlining the methods   
the entity intends to use to effectively
 carry out the activities funded by the 
grant2  7#b7 a sociodemographic profile 
of non-citizens living within the       
jurisdiction or service area of the     
entity2  7#c7 a description of          
opportunities and challenges in         
improving the economic1 linguistic1 and 
civic integration of immigrants2 and    

7#d7 a comprehensive plan to improve the
 coordination of relevant immigrant     
integration services4  7c7 ,use of      
,funds ,an entity awarded a grant under 
this section may use the grant funds--  
7#a7 to expand access to1 and improve   
the quality of1 programs supporting the 
economic advancement of immigrants in   
areas that include financial literacy1  
small business development1 employment  
navigation1 and training opportunities1 
including cultural competency training  
for ,state1 county1 and local government
 officials that provide direct services 
to immigrants and their families2  7#b7 
to expand programs that provide basic   
adult education and contextualized      
,english language skills that improve   
the literacy1 numeracy1 workforce       
skills1 and educational attainment of   
immigrants over the age of #ah2  7#c7 to
 expand access to programs that assist  
immigrants in learning ,english1        
obtaining recognized postsecondary      
credentials or employment1 or in        

building measurable skills to lead to   
the attainment of an industry-recognized
 credential or certificate2 and  7#d7 to
 educate immigrants about ,united       
,states history1 civics1 citizenship    
rights and responsibilities1 democracy1 
opportunities to engage in the civic    
life of their community1 unit of local  
government1 and ,state1 and the         
navigation of local systems that support
 the economic1 linguistic1 and civic    
integration of individuals and families4
  7d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants     
under this section1 priority shall be   
given to-- 7#a7 an entity that uses not 
less than ten percent of matching funds 
from non-,federal sources2  7#b7 an     
entity that collaborates with at least  
one public or private entity to carry   
out the comprehensive plan referred to  
under subsection 7b77#d72 and  7#c7 a   
,state-- 7,a7 that has a foreign born   
population of not less than #e percent  
and that has experienced an increase in 
non-citizen residents that is higher    

than the national average during the    
most recent #aj-year period1 based on   
data compiled by the ,office of         
,immigration ,statistics or the ,united 
,states ,census ,bureau1 or a unit of   
local government located within such    
,state2 or  7,b7 that is one of the #aj 
,states with the highest number of      
non-citizen residents1 based on data    
compiled by the ,office of ,immigration 
,statistics or the ,united ,states      
,census ,bureau1 or a unit of local     
government located within such ,state4  
7e7 ,certification ,in order to receive 
a payment under this section1 a         
participating entity shall provide the  
,secretary with a certification that the
 proposed uses of grant funds by the    
entity are consistent with this section 
and meet all necessary criteria         
determined by the ,secretary4  7f7      
,annual report and evaluation ,not later
 than #ij days after the end of each    
fiscal year for which an entity receives
 a grant under this section1 such entity

 shall submit to the ,secretary the     
following3  7#a7 ,a report that         
describes-- 7,a7 the activities         
undertaken by the entity2  7,b7 the     
geographic area or areas served by the  
grant funds2 and  7,c7 a description of 
the sociodemographic characteristics of 
individuals served by the grant funds4  
7#b7 ,an evaluation of any program of   
the entity that receives grant funds1   
including an assessment of-- 7,a7 the   
effectiveness of such program and       
recommendations for improving the       
program2  7,b7 the future needs of      
immigrants to the ,united ,states2 and  
7,c7 the future needs of ,states and    
units of local government related to    
immigrant integration4  7g7 ,state      
defined ,in this section1 the term      
,state means each of the several        
,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the
 ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the    
,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1
 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth
 of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4    

7h7 ,effective period ,this section     
shall be in effect for a period of #aj  
fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 
#bjah4  #ajc4 ,integration ,success     
,fund  7a7 ,in general ,there is        
established within the general fund of  
the ,treasury of the ,united ,states a  
separate account which shall be known as
 the ,integration ,success ,fund4       
,twenty percent of the amounts deposited
 into the ,integration ,success ,fund   
shall remain available until expended to
 carry out section #aja1 and #hj percent
 of the amounts deposited into such fund
 shall remain available until expended  
to carry out section #ajb4  7b7 ,gifts1 
bequests1 and devises ,the ,secretary of
 ,homeland ,security may solicit1       
accept1 use1 and dispose of gifts1      
bequests1 or devises of services or     
property1 both real and personal1 for   
the purpose of awarding grants under    
section #aja1 and #hj percent of the    
amounts deposited into such fund shall  
remain available until expended to carry

 out section #ajb4 ,gifts1 bequests1 or 
devises of money and proceeds from sales
 of other property received as gifts1   
bequests1 or devises shall be deposited 
in the ,integration ,success ,fund      
established by subsection 7a7 and shall 
be available for disbursement to        
eligible entities in accordance with    
this title4  ,,ii ,english ,language    
,learning  #bja4 ,waiver of ,english    
requirement for senior new ,americans   
,section #cab of the ,immigration and   
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #adbc7  
is amended by striking subsection 7b7   
and inserting the following3  7b7 ,the  
requirements under subsection 7a7 shall 
not apply to any person who-- 7#a7 is   
unable to comply with such requirements 
because of physical or mental           
disability1 including developmental or  
intellectual disability2 or  7#b7 on the
 date on which the person's application 
for naturalization is filed under       
section #ccd-- 7,a7 is older than #fe   
years of age2 and  7,b7 has been living 

in the ,united ,states for periods      
totaling at least #e years after being  
lawfully admitted for permanent         
residence4  7c7 ,the requirement under  
subsection 7a77#a7 shall not apply to   
any person who1 on the date on which the
 person's application for naturalization
 is filed under section #ccd--  7#a7 is 
older than #ej years of age and has been
 living in the ,united ,states for      
periods totaling at least #bj years     
after being lawfully admitted for       
permanent residence2  7#b7 is older than
 #ee years of age and has been living in
 the ,united ,states for periods        
totaling at least #ae years after being 
lawfully admitted for permanent         
residence2 or  7#c7 is older than #fj   
years of age and has been living in the 
,united ,states for periods totaling at 
least #aj years after being lawfully    
admitted for permanent residence4  7d7  
,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security  
may waive1 on a case-by-case basis1 the 
requirement under subsection 7a77#b7 on 

behalf of any person who1 on the date on
 which the person's application for     
naturalization is filed under section   
#ccd--  7#a7 is older than #fj years of 
age2 and  7#b7 has been living in the   
,united ,states for periods totaling at 
least #aj years after being lawfully    
admitted for permanent residence4  4