Speech #1040201732

Earlier this month. I introduced S. 1677. the Citizenship Promotion Act. My bill would establish a Citizenship Promotion Agency [CPA] within INS to assist eligible Immigrants with naturalization. The CPA would be able to work with government agencies as well as nonprofit organizations to assist in its naturalization outreach obligations. My bill would also create a ninemember National Advisory Board on Citizenship to advise on naturalization objectives. And finally. my legislation would establish a naturalization examinations fee account within the U.S. Treasury to ensure that naturalization fees are spent on naturalizationnot redirected elsewhere. Such naturalization activities could include English language instruction for immigrants trying to become citizens. In closing. I would like to reiterate my support for many of the provisions in the illegal immigration bill. I look forward to working with both Chairman SIMPsON and Senator KENNEDY in making further improvements to this legislation. Thank you. I will close by saying this. I said at the outset that there is a real difference between illegal immigration and legal immigration. My own mother became a naturalized citizen in 1937. When she died in 1991. she left me a very special little pouch that had two things in it: Her wedding band and her certificate of naturalization. I think Americans understand how much naturalized citizens cherish this homeland. Therefore. I am working with Senator SIMPSON and Senator KENNEDY to get an amendment adopted which would recognize the beauty of those naturalization ceremonies. And I pick up on an amendment that passed overwhelmingly in the House that would give some modest sums of money to conduct those naturalization ceremonies. We want to put the "N" back into the INS-"naturalization." It is a beautiful ceremony. and those are some of our finest citizens. I could give you the list of some of those naturalized citizens. But I think you all know how many of our wonderful leaders in this country in entertainment. in politics. and in all fields are naturalized citizens. So I want to thank the Senator from Massachusetts for yielding me so generously of his time. I feel this is such an Important issue to my State.