text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Return of Talent Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. RETURN OF TALENT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--Title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
  (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317 the 
  following:
  
   ``temporary absence of persons participating in the return of talent 
                                  program
  
      ``Sec. 317A. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
  shall establish the Return of Talent Program to permit eligible aliens 
  to temporarily return to the alien's country of citizenship in order to 
  make a material contribution to that country if the country is engaged 
  in post-conflict reconstruction activities, for a period not exceeding 
  24 months, unless an exception is granted under subsection (d).
      ``(b) Eligible Alien.--An alien is eligible to participate in the 
  Return of Talent Program established under subsection (a) if the alien 
  meets the special immigrant description under section 101(a)(27)(N).
      ``(c) Family Members.--The spouse, parents, siblings, and any 
  children of an alien who participates in the Return of Talent Program 
  established under subsection (a) may return to such alien's country of 
  citizenship with the alien and reenter the United States with the 
  alien.
      ``(d) Extension of Time.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
  extend the 24-month period referred to in subsection (a) upon a showing 
  that circumstances warrant that an extension is necessary for post-
  conflict reconstruction efforts.
      ``(e) Residency Requirements.--An immigrant described in section 
  101(a)(27)(N) who participates in the Return of Talent Program 
  established under subsection (a), and the spouse, parents, siblings, 
  and any children who accompany such immigrant to that immigrant's 
  country of citizenship, shall be considered, during such period of 
  participation in the program--
              ``(1) for purposes of section 316(a), physically present 
          and residing in the United States for purposes of 
          naturalization within the meaning of that section; and
              ``(2) for purposes of section 316(b), to meet the 
          continuous residency requirements in that section.
      ``(f) Oversight and Enforcement.--The Secretary of Homeland 
  Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall oversee 
  and enforce the requirements of this section.''.
      (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for the Immigration 
  and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
  after the item relating to section 317 the following:
  
  ``317A. Temporary absence of persons participating in the Return of 
                              Talent Program.''.
  
  SEC. 3. ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS.
  
      Section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
  1101(a)(27)) is amended--
              (1) in subparagraph (L), by inserting a semicolon after 
          ``Improvement Act of 1998'';
              (2) in subparagraph (M), by striking the period and 
          inserting ``; or''; and
              (3) by adding at the end the following:
              ``(N) an immigrant who--
                      ``(i) has been lawfully admitted to the United 
                  States for permanent residence;
                      ``(ii) demonstrates an ability and willingness to 
                  make a material contribution to the post-conflict 
                  reconstruction in the alien's country of citizenship; 
                  and
                      ``(iii) as determined by the Secretary of State in 
                  consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security--
                              ``(I) is a citizen of a country in which 
                          Armed Forces of the United States are engaged, 
                          or have engaged in the 10 years preceding such 
                          determination, in combat or peacekeeping 
                          operations; or
                              ``(II) is a citizen of a country where 
                          authorization for United Nations peacekeeping 
                          operations was initiated by the United Nations 
                          Security Council during the 10 years preceding 
                          such determination.''.
  
  SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
  
      Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
  the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to Congress 
  that describes--
              (1) the countries of citizenship of the participants in the 
          Return of Talent Program established under section 2;
              (2) the post-conflict reconstruction efforts that 
          benefited, or were made possible, through participation in the 
          program; and
              (3) any other information that the Secretary of Homeland 
          Security determines to be appropriate.
  
  SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.
  
      Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
  the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promulgate regulations to 
  carry out this Act.
  
  SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There is authorized to be appropriated to the Bureau of Citizenship 
  and Immigration Services for each of the fiscal years 2004 and 2005, 
  such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
target: Return of Talent Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the Return of Talent Program to permit an eligible permanent resident alien and family members to temporarily return (two years with extension) to the alien's country of citizenship in order to make a material contribution to that country if the country is engaged in post-conflict reconstruction activities. States that such time abroad shall be considered as U.S. physical and continuous residency for naturalization purposes.
feat_title: A bill to establish The Return of Talent Program to allow aliens who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of citizenship of the alien if that country is engaged in post-conflict reconstruction, and for other purposes.