PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Oct 9, 2008
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on August 1, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an Office of the FBI Liaison in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which shall monitor and assist with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) functions related to expeditiously processing naturalization applications filed by or on behalf of: (1) members and former members of the Armed Forces; (2) current spouses of active Armed Forces members and surviving spouses and children of U.S. citizens who died while on active duty; or (3) deceased individuals eligible for posthumous citizenship.
Authorizes appropriations.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Amends the the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within six months of receipt of a naturalization application filed by a member of the Armed Forces, or the spouse, surviving spouse, or child of such member: (1) process and adjudicate the application, including background checks; or (2) provide the applicant with an explanation for the inability to meet such deadline and an estimate of the adjudication date.
Requires that: (1) the Director of USCIS report annually to the appropriate congressional subcommittees identifying all such naturalization applications that have not been processed and adjudicated within one year because of background check delays; and (2) the Comptroller General report to Congress regarding the average length of time taken by USCIS to process and adjudicate naturalization applications filed by members of the Armed Forces, deceased members of the Armed Forces, and their spouses and children.
Repeals the provisions of this Act five years after the date of enactment of this Act.
People & committees
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] · D–NY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 110-382.
Became Public Law No: 110-382.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Cleared for White House.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 668). (text: CR 9/27/2008 H10257)
House roll call 668 · Individual votesMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 668).(text: CR 9/27/2008 H10257)
House roll call 668 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10309)
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Smith (TX) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2840.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10257-10258)
Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9433-9434; text as passed Senate: CR S9433-9434)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9433-9434; text as passed Senate: CR S9433-9434)
An errata sheet on written report No. 110-440 was printed.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 936.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-440.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-440.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.2840 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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