Speech #990186160

Speaker. I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the prompt passage of legislation that will enhance the celebrations scheduled in honor of the Statue of Libertys centennial this summer. I urge your support for House Joint Resolution 613. a bill to allow two people from each of our States and territories to become naturalized citizens at special ceremonies scheduled on Ellis Island during the Fourth of July weekend. As the Congressman from New Jerseys 14th Congressional District. I have a special interest in the statues birthday. and in the plans to restore Ellis Island. The view from Liberty State Park in my district provides a magnificent panorama of the harbor. My constituents have an inspiring view of the statue. and of the island gateway through which millions of Americas immigrants passed. Today. descendants of over 100 different nationalities continue to live in Hudson County. in the shadow of the statues uplifted torch. Liberty weekend is an excellent time for us to make a national recommitment to the precious American values of freedom. justice. and opportunity. Yet the Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS] said their hands were tied when we first suggested expanding the Ellis Island event. Current law requires petitioners for citizenship to be naturalized within the jurisdiction of the U.S. district court where they reside. INS said the law would have to be amended to allow people from across the country to participate in a single citizenship ceremony. I believe that. to be fair. the citizenship ceremony scheduled on Ellis Island should include people from every State in the Union. The bill I introduced with my colleagues. Congressman PETER RODINO and Congressman DEAN GALLO. will allow this historic event to be truly national in scope. By including participants from across our great land. it will symbolize our countrys unique character as a nation of immigrants. The legislation before us today will make a onetime exception to provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It was prepared in consultation with the Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS]. and authorizes the Governors of each of the 50 States. the District of Columbia. Puerto Rico. the Virgin Islands. and Guam to designate two people to participate in the special naturalization ceremony scheduled on Ellis Island in conjunction with the Statue of Liberty centennial celebration. The U.S. Department of Justice indicated that it "strongly recommends enactment of this resolution" in a letter from Assistant Attorney General John Bolton. Gov. Michael Castle. chairman of National Governors Associations Committee on Human Resources. noted in a letter that "this is an appropriate activity to celebrate the centennial and the restoration of the Statue of Liberty." I am pleased by their support of this measure. and by the Judiciary Committees prompt action on the bill. Americas unique character stems from the contributions of immigrants across the length and breadth of our great country. Passage of this bill will create a onceinalifetime opportunity for some of the immigrants whove settled throughout our land. It will be a fitting tribute to our immigrant heritage to confer citizenship upon this representative group over the Fourth of July. The historic nature of the event certainly merits this special action. I urge your support.