Mr. President. I am pleased the Senate has passed H.R. 3049. the judicial naturalization ceremonies amendments. I introduced the Senate companion legislation. S. 1726. which attempted to provide a balance between the numbers of individuals ready to be sworn in as new citizens. and the number of people who could conduct the ceremony. Prior to enactment of the Immigration Act of 1990. Federal judges had exclusive authority to administer the oath of allegiance. The Immigration Act eliminated the exclusivity and replaced it with a choice system. Individual applicants could choose to be sworn in by a judge in a formal ceremony. or by an employee of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The purpose of the choice system was to cut back on the mounting backlog of individuals waiting to be sworn in as new citizens of the United States. The choice system. while appealing. had an unintended negative effect. It lessened the significance of the swearingin ceremony. It also effectively stripped the judges of their historic role of administering the oath of allegiance. Clearly. the Immigration Act went too far in its attempt to address a very real problem: Too many people to be sworn in. and too few judges and ceremonies. S. 1726. and H.R. 3049 attempted to achieve a balance of interests. and I believe the legislation enacted today has achieved that balance. The legislation provides a temporary exclusive authority for the judges. while also allowing for Immigration and Naturalization Service officials to conduct ceremonies in a number of situations. Mr. President. the oath of allegiance culminates a multiyear process by which an immigrant seeking a new and better life is fully incorporated into the American citizenry. It is their idealism. their desire to fully contribute to the American dream. that continue to enrich our country. H.R. 3049. as did my companion legislation.
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naturalization Immigration immigrant Naturalization