[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1883 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1883

 To codify procedures regarding naturalization ceremonies conducted by 
                  the Secretary of Homeland Security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 17, 2007

 Mr. Fossella introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To codify procedures regarding naturalization ceremonies conducted by 
                  the Secretary of Homeland Security.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ADMINISTRATIVE NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES.

    Section 337 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e)(1) The ceremonies described in subsection (d) shall, at a 
minimum, contain the following events:
                    ``(A) The introduction will consist of preparatory 
                remarks to explain the nature and significance of the 
                ceremony as well as an introduction of the Department 
                of Homeland Security representative conducting the 
                ceremony and special guests, participants, or groups.
                    ``(B) The introduction of the new citizens may be 
                accomplished either by Department of Homeland Security 
                personnel or by the individuals themselves. The name 
                and country of origin of each applicant should be 
                included. If it is not practical to include the name of 
                each applicant due to the size of the group being 
                naturalized, a brief statement setting forth the number 
                of persons to be administered the oath and their 
                countries of origin should be made.
                    ``(C) The oath of allegiance is administered by a 
                Department of Homeland Security officer consistent with 
                this section.
                    ``(D) The new citizens should be requested to 
                recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the 
                United States. Either Service personnel, a guest, or 
                one of the new citizens may lead the group.
                    ``(E) A guest speaker (e.g., prominent civic 
                leader, naturalized citizen, judge, etc.) or a 
                Department of Homeland Security official will deliver 
                appropriate remarks. A prepared statement or 
                congratulatory message from the President, Attorney 
                General, or Commissioner may be used. The address 
                should focus on the form and distinctiveness of the 
                United States Government and the privileges and 
                responsibilities of citizenship.
                    ``(F) Civic and patriotic groups (e.g., D.A.R., 
                League of Women Voters, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy 
                Scouts, etc.) should be introduced and allowed to 
                present brief congratulatory remarks or special 
                programs.
                    ``(G) An individual commencement-style presentation 
                should be used if possible; or the certificate may be 
                delivered at the conclusion of the ceremony. Subsequent 
                delivery via mail should be avoided. The new citizens 
                are to be provided with appropriate commemorative 
                material, and the President's welcoming letter.
    ``(2) Ceremonies may include activities in addition to those 
specified in paragraph (1) if the activities are in keeping with the 
dignity of the occasion.
    ``(3) Care should be taken to avoid associating ceremonies with 
such activities as partisan political functions, denominational 
religious functions, sporting events, or functions designed to draw 
crowds unrelated to the ceremony and which would not be in keeping with 
the dignity of the naturalization process.
    ``(f)(1) The ceremonies described in subsection (d) may be 
conducted at--
            ``(A) Department of Homeland Security offices or 
        facilities;
            ``(B) public sites such as city, county, state or Federal 
        buildings;
            ``(C) school auditoriums, possibly as a part of civics 
        curricula;
            ``(D) court facilities;
            ``(E) historic sites (ideally as a part of special 
        commemorative events);
            ``(F) Outreach locations, such as community agencies or 
        fraternal organizations; or
            ``(G) other appropriate facilities in keeping with the 
        dignity of the occasion.
    ``(2) The decor of the oath ceremony location must be in keeping 
with the dignity and importance of the conferring of United States 
citizenship. While the Department of Homeland Security office need not 
copy doggedly the decor of a typical Federal court house, such type of 
decor should be kept in mind when planning ceremonies. At a minimum, 
the flag of the United States and the Department of Homeland Security 
pennant will be prominently displayed. A dais or podium should be 
provided for the use of the officiating employees and speakers. 
Facilities must be clean and neat. When planning space requirements, 
ample provision must be made for the guests of new citizens.
    ``(g) A separate calendar reflecting dates of administrative oath 
ceremonies for the calendar year shall be completed for each Department 
of Homeland Security office conducting naturalization activities. It 
shall be completed by January 31 of each year. The calendar, in 
addition to the dates of the ceremonies, must reflect the location of 
each ceremony and the number of persons to be scheduled for the 
ceremony. It must also indicate the total number of oath ceremonies 
actually held in the prior calendar year, and the number of abbreviated 
ceremonies held pursuant to subsection (h).
    ``(h)(1) When a district director or officer-in-charge determines 
that it is in the national interest that an applicant not wait until a 
scheduled oath ceremony to be administered the oath, an abbreviated 
oath ceremony may be held. In such case, only those items listed in 
subparagraphs (C), (E), and (G) of subsection (e)(1) need be included 
in the ceremony.
    ``(2) When it is determined that an abbreviated ceremony will be 
held, the district director or officer-in-charge will place in the 
applicant's service file a memorandum explaining the need for the 
abbreviated ceremony.''.
                                 <all>