Speech #900123016

Mr. President. on behalf of my senior colleague from Pennsylvania . and myself. I introduce. for appropriate reference. a bill to amend section 336(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce from 60 days to 30 days the period immediately preceding the November general election during which applicants for citizenship cannot take their oaths of allegiance to the United States. The 60day prohibition against administration of the oath of allegiance is an anachronism. Moreover. it interferes with the meaningful observance of Citizenship DaySeptember 17and Constitution Week - September 17 through 23provided by Federal statute and presidential proclamation. On April 4. 1966. the board of governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association passed a resolution memorializing Congress to correct this anachronistic provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Last year I offered a bill in response to that request. and I reintroduce this bill at this time.