To permit Members of Congress to administer the oath of allegiance to applicants for naturalization, and for other purposes.

I thank the gentleman for the time, and I thank Mr. Smith for his kind words and his support of the bill and his suggestions to change the bill.

Any Member of Congress, any American for that matter, who has ever been to one of these ceremonies knows that there is no greater joy seen anywhere than when folks dress up and come with their American flags to become American citizens. It is really a wonderful event. I have had the opportunity to attend a few and have seen the joy and the pride. Usually, one person is becoming a citizen, but he or she will bring 25 members of the family, whether they are citizens or not, because it is that kind of an occasion.

It is also an occasion where they, for the first time, really get to see government up close in that the people that are invited there are from the community, but they are government officials and so on. So up to now--if this bill becomes law--the only people allowed to administer the oath, as has been said, are judges or members of the administration. This bill would allow Members of Congress and Senators to administer that oath.

Now, while the bill does not speak directly to this issue, I will tell you how this idea came about. A member of my community came to me and said, Guess what? I'm going to become a citizen, and I want you to swear me in. I want you to administer the oath.

And I was touched. I said, My God, that you would want me to help you become an American, something that I and so many of us have by birth, since birth, it's a great honor for me.

Then it dawned on me. I said, I should check with staff to see if I'm allowed to do this. And I found out that I'm not allowed to do it.

Now, it won't be that it would take care of that situation of one individual asking for it, but as has been said here, we will not--and this is the change Mr. Smith was so good at including. We will be invited to ceremonies, as we are now. The ceremonies will be set up by Homeland Security. We will not pick the date, the place, or who is going to get sworn in. But when we're invited now, the possibility is open for the administration officials to say, Why don't you join us in administering the oath, or, Why don't you administer the oath.

And I will tell you again that I don't know that there is a greater honor for someone to become a citizen and a greater honor for us on some occasions to be able to administer the oath. So the changes that are made, because there will be some questions about it, I think are strong changes. They comply with rules that say that none of these ceremonies should ever be politicized. But I really think that as people are being sworn in, to have present a Senator, a Member of Congress, and every so often to have them administer the oath only strengthens the bond between these new Americans and their government, a fuller understanding. After all, we are a question on the immigration test. A lot of people don't know that one of the questions on the

immigration test is: Who is your Congressman? Do you know who your Congressman is? Some don't pass that question; others do pass.

It is a great honor. There is not much more to say. It is a simple thought that should have been taken care of a long time ago, and I'm looking forward to the day when I'm invited to a ceremony and I can administer the oath to someone.

So I thank all the Members, and I hope that this bill can pass and become law.

I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island.

Reclaiming my time, the gentleman brings up an interesting point that we have discussed at other times on this floor.

I must say that I neglected to mention that the bill also includes Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to be able to administer the oath of office. So, interestingly enough, in the territories, new Americans will become citizens on that day with the participation of the Resident Commissioner or the Delegates.

So, again, thank you. And all this is an extension of the celebration of, as you have said, Mr. Smith, probably the greatest honor this country gives anyone, which is to become an American citizen. Thank you so much.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to compliment Congressman Serrano for his creative idea to allow Members to administer the oath of allegiance to individuals being naturalized as citizens.

H.R. 4862 gives Members of Congress the ability to play a significant role in the naturalization ceremony, which can be and should be an inspiring experience for those becoming U.S. citizens.

Citizenship is the highest honor our Nation can bestow and naturalization ceremonies give us the opportunity to honor individuals who have come to contribute to America. Americans who take the oath of allegiance know the importance of swearing to ``support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.'' It is a solemn, yet joyful and patriotic, experience.

I appreciate the majority leader and Congressman Serrano making some improvements to the initial bill. The revised language clarifies that Members, whether Representatives or Senators, can only administer the oath to individuals from their own congressional district or, in the case of Senators, from their own State.

In order to prevent this privilege from being used for political purposes, no Member can administer the oath of allegiance during the 90 days prior to any election in which that Member is a candidate. The 90- day period parallels the House rules that prohibit House-funded mailings 90 days before an election.

And, finally, I requested that language be added to ensure that the Member can only administer the oath at a naturalization ceremony set up, conducted, and overseen by the Department of Homeland Security, which is the current practice.

The many redrafts of the language do show why legislation should be subjected to proper process where Members can participate in hearings and learn from experts in the issue area.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which gives Members of Congress the ability to more fully participate in naturalization ceremonies. It is appropriate for Members of Congress, who wrote our naturalization laws, to play an expanded role in helping individuals become a part of the most free and most prosperous country in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment Congressman Serrano and Congressman Kennedy as well. They so beautifully described why these naturalization ceremonies are so important and why they are so meaningful to our newest citizens.

I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4862) to permit Members of Congress to administer the oath of allegiance to applicants for naturalization, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 4862, introduced by Mr. Serrano of New York, will allow Members of Congress to administer the oath of allegiance to naturalizing U.S. citizens.

The naturalization ceremony is a crucial landmark for immigrants. They have waited patiently to immigrate to the United States and have worked hard once they got here and have faithfully fulfilled all their obligations to this country that they have chosen to adopt as their home.

In applying to become U.S. citizens, they have made the choice to become full participating members of our community. Currently, only judges or certain officials in the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, are allowed to administer the oath of allegiance at naturalization ceremonies.

H.R. 4862 would allow Members of Congress to participate meaningfully in these solemn occasions by allowing them to administer the oath of allegiance at naturalization ceremonies. I have attended many. They are wonderful, heartfelt programs; and I think that the oath being given by a recognized public official such as a Member of Congress would mean much to the people that are becoming American citizens.

The bill, as amended, clarifies the role of a Member of Congress, the naturalization process that will be limited to administering the oath of allegiance. Furthermore, it prohibits a Member of Congress from administering the oath of allegiance within 90 days of any election in which he or she is a candidate to prevent even the appearance of any possible undue influence upon the election.

I commend our colleague, Jose Serrano, for his leadership in introducing this bill and thank Ranking Member Lamar Smith and Immigration Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren for their support of this measure. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of this legislation, Mr. Serrano of the great State of New York and the home of the Yankees and Frank Sinatra across the river.

(Mr. SERRANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield back the balance of my time and ask that we pass the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4862, which permits Members of Congress to administer the oath of allegiance to applicants for naturalization. I strongly support this bill and am a proud cosponsor of this bill.

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, more than 700,000 immigrants become U.S. citizens every year.

America is a diverse nation that was built on immigrants. As we all know, immigrants have made, and continue to make, lasting contributions to our society. In my home state of Georgia, immigrants comprise at least 11.9 percent of the state workforce. Thus, it is important to do all we can to create pathways for immigrants to become U.S. citizens. America is known for its rich diversity which is truly a source of strength and competitiveness.

At naturalization ceremonies, immigrants finally have the chance to become official citizens of the United States. Becoming a naturalized citizen U.S. citizen is a process that can take years to accomplish. Individuals must not only be knowledgeable about U.S. history, but be very patient. Naturalization is a special moment in their lives when all of their hard work, determination, and persistence ultimately pays off and they become U.S. citizens.

I look forward to having the opportunity to administer the oath of allegiance to applicants for naturalization. Immigrants have, and will continue, to make long-lasting contributions to the United States. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 4862 and urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I intend to object to proceeding to H.R. 4862, a bill that amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with regard to naturalization authority. H.R. 4862 would permit Members of Congress to administer the oath of allegiance to applicants for naturalization. I object to the bill because, according to administration officials, it would require Members of Congress to administer the oath of allegiance only at times determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, notwithstanding the Senate Calendar or the legislative work that is required by Members of Congress. We need to understand what exactly this bill allows or requires and not just rush it through in the waning hours and minutes of this Congress.

Mr. President, I also intend to object to proceeding to the nomination of Norm Eisen to be Ambassador to the Czech Republic at the Department of State for the following reasons.

I object to the proceeding to the nomination because of Mr. Eisen's role in the firing of the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service, CNCS, and his lack of candor about that matter when questioned by congressional investigators. The details of Mr. Eisen's role in the firing and his misrepresentations about that matter are detailed in the Joint Minority Staff Report of the House Committee on Government Reform and the Senate Finance Committee, dated November 20, 2009.