Some come here as students. Some come here as researchers. to create jobs for us. Some come here as refugees. For those Americans who come here legally and who are prospective citizens. especially given the large number of people coming from overseas. we need to do everything we can to help those persons become Americans. I have filed several amendments. They seek to promote learning English. our common language. and what it means to become an American through an understanding of history and civics. For example. one of these amendments will help these legal immigrants learn English and what it means to be an American. to codify the oath of allegiance. and to make English our national language. Another amendment would ask the Government Accountability Office to provide a comprehensive report on the costs Imposed on the public and private sector by having millions of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are not proficient in English. So far in this debate the Senate has already passed my amendment to establish a Presidential award to recognize companies who have taken extraordinary efforts to help their employees learn English and American history and civics. Some may say that is not so important. we all agree with that. It is awfully important. If you take a look at Europe today and you see the difficulty France has helping immigrants become French. and that Germany has helping immigrant workers become German. and that Japan hasbecause no one has an idea of what it might mean to become Japanese if you are not born Japaneseyou can see how fortunate we are in this country to have literally invented the concept of becoming American. We say it does not matter what your race is. it doesnt matter who your grandfather is. you come here. you take the oath George Washington gave his officers at Valley Forge and you say: I am not whatever I was. I pledge allegiance to America.
Keywords matched
immigrants immigrant refugees