1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Strengthening American
Citizenship Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I—Learning English
Sec. 101. English fluency.
Sec. 102. Savings provision.
TITLE II—Education about the American way of life
Sec. 201. American citizenship grant program.
Sec. 202. Funding for the Office of Citizenship.
Sec. 203. Restriction on use of funds.
Sec. 204. Reporting requirement.
TITLE III—Codifying the oath of allegiance
Sec. 301. Oath or affirmation of renunciation and
allegiance.
TITLE IV—Celebrating new citizens
Sec. 401. Establishment of new citizens award
program.
Sec. 402. Naturalization ceremonies.
2.In this Act:
(1)The term Oath of Allegiance means the
binding oath (or affirmation) of allegiance required to be naturalized as a
citizen of the United States, as prescribed in subsection (e) of section 337 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(e)), as added by section
301(a)(2).
(2)Except
as otherwise provided, the term Secretary means the Secretary of
Homeland Security.
<enum>I</enum><header>Learning English</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBF35977A06CD4AE3B06424A18F44B863" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>English
fluency</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0AFC30167B154247B47A2668C84C44C6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Education
grants</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3740D90F99D34F0581E59DE3086C9CED"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Chief of the Office of Citizenship of the Department of Homeland Security
(referred to in this subsection as the <quote>Chief</quote>) shall establish a
grant program to provide grants in an amount not to exceed $500 to assist
lawful permanent residents of the United States who declare an intent to apply
for citizenship in the United States to meet the requirements under section 312
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id991048B1A93D452F89A238A25025392A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of
funds</header><text>Grant funds awarded under this subsection shall be paid
directly to an accredited institution of higher education or other qualified
educational institution (as determined by the Chief) for tuition, fees, books,
and other educational resources required by a course on the English language in
which the lawful permanent resident is enrolled.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFA39EC727742446CB64F6196FBC88E18"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Application</header><text>A
lawful permanent resident desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit
an application to the Chief at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by
such information as the Chief may reasonably require.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5EB5233405284674A37F201233B288EA"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>If
insufficient funds are available to award grants to all qualified applicants,
the Chief shall give priority based on the financial need of the
applicants.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0D1C80BECD9C4F7986DCCA27A4D0DCD6"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>The
Secretary, upon relevant registration of a lawful permanent resident with the
Department of Homeland Security, shall notify such lawful permanent resident of
the availability of grants under this subsection for lawful permanent residents
who declare an intent to apply for United States citizenship.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id787F449C4BE9482A80AF7FA192A0FDC3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Faster
citizenship for English fluency</header><text>Section 316 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1427) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5022BD1D0A4E4B9B9DBE1E01679AE537" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id39DA88AA6E28497DB5AFDF400E1056CB"><enum>(g)</enum><text>A lawful
permanent resident of the United States who demonstrates English fluency, in
accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security,
in consultation with the Secretary of State, will satisfy the residency
requirement under subsection (a) upon the completion of 4 years of continuous
legal residency in the United
States.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8946E4C776994C30B898D1738B428E8F"><enum>102.</enum><header>Savings
provision</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this Act
shall be construed to—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAE6EA54A7723463A86CC4D812BD8828D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">modify the English language requirements
for naturalization under section 312(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(a)(1)); or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A00276618B1483DB7B43C85E5BC8A94"><enum>(2)</enum><text>influence the
naturalization test redesign process of the Office of Citizenship of the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services (except for the requirement under
section 301(b)).</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Education about
the American way of life</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id68C57E1C129A49B2B148CA3AC7FAA69D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>American citizenship
grant program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idED58C4AAAA5D4CF1956F5288F7C845F3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
establish a competitive grant program to provide financial assistance
for—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id13F1FFCACD614B97BE60F647F35E2F1A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">efforts by entities (including veterans and
patriotic organizations) certified by the Office of Citizenship of the
Department of Homeland Security to promote the patriotic integration of
prospective citizens into the American way of life by providing civics,
history, and English as a second language courses, with a specific emphasis on
attachment to principles of the Constitution of the United States, the heroes
of American history (including military heroes), and the meaning of the Oath of
Allegiance; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE87E954E488C4F97B9B795A209ABEB16"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other activities approved by the Secretary
to promote the patriotic integration of prospective citizens and the
implementation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.),
including grants—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id555A49A841874BE181B2ADF58CD987D1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to promote an understanding of the form of
government and history of the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id48F1DEFAA8794607B888B98CC77074ED"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to promote an attachment to the principles
of the Constitution of the United States and the well being and happiness of
the people of the United States.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA777CDFD66A3486E974F192166C38C73"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Acceptance of
gifts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
accept and use gifts from the United States Citizenship Foundation, established
under section 202(a), for grants under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id80AB13A4EA074B358F5543E75CE8C111"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id109C2A33C9654F478EF94281DB439CA5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header>Funding for the
Office of Citizenship</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id229E8556CE3845AEA7B23763D8591043"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, acting through the Director
of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, is authorized to
establish the United States Citizenship Foundation (referred to in this section
as the <quote>Foundation</quote>), an organization duly incorporated in the
District of Columbia, exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to
support the functions of the Office of Citizenship, which shall include the
patriotic integration of prospective citizens into—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3D9E64CF6FF14074B1BF6816BACA15FF"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">American common values and traditions,
including an understanding of the history of the United States and the
principles of the Constitution of the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1B3C943367CE4DCB834315427AD20E2D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">civic traditions of the United States,
including the Pledge of Allegiance, respect for the flag of the United States,
and voting in public elections.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idACB00A3B2D6E41919FE515939B713D68"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Dedicated
funding</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6032203F07CF40D49BD083C8517A3CE7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not less than 1.5 percent of the funds made available to
the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (including fees and
appropriated funds) shall be dedicated to the functions of the Office of
Citizenship, which shall include the patriotic integration of prospective
citizens into—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD742453FA81646209AC1BDD09E703652"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">American common values and traditions,
including an understanding of American history and the principles of the
Constitution of the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id605FDBA0E3614FF0B9BE20DBBE22D05B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">civic traditions of the United States,
including the Pledge of Allegiance, respect for the flag of the United States,
and voting in public elections.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC58F5FE66F4B4995ADFE39C86F788C49"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Sense of
congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that dedicating increased
funds to the Office of Citizenship should not result in an increase in fees
charged by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBA6DA8D4FCB94F409AC8A3062ED6DB6C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Gifts</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC394CD83437E41A3B6A579631823B4DD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>To
foundation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Foundation may
solicit, accept, and make gifts of money and other property in accordance with
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16EAEB5290D44EC2878B9F2207E18144"><enum>(2)</enum><header>From
foundation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office of
Citizenship may accept gifts from the Foundation to support the functions of
the Office.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6765A6C693C94CC983990FE7DACDF01F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the
mission of the Office of Citizenship, including the patriotic integration of
prospective citizens into—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0471B1256C2A41A9866C7399BA2CB1F1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">American common values and traditions,
including an understanding of American history and the principles of the
Constitution of the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idADE9363821EA450188B0F3AC60DBA920"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">civic traditions of the United States,
including the Pledge of Allegiance, respect for the flag of the United States,
and voting in public elections.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46C0684FD3624F00B48511DF22F859AE"><enum>203.</enum><header>Restriction on
use of funds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Amounts
appropriated to carry out a program under this title may not be used to
organize individuals for the purpose of political activism or advocacy.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5595B4BD4269464DBBAF06BE5423D097"><enum>204.</enum><header>Reporting
requirement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Chief of the
Office of Citizenship shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the
Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on the Judiciary of
the House of Representatives, an annual report that contains—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ACD1177DEB14D2588E89E3787760C8D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a list of the
entities that have received funds from the Office of Citizenship during the
reporting period under this title and the amount of funding received by each
such entity;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD5E5B42FB30348F6A72D1F12AA8B350B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an evaluation of
the extent to which grants received under this title and title I successfully
promoted an understanding of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA0178F2128204195AAA7286574CEB3C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the English
language; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6B122B4CC87C431FA9B0A02C0EF3D3F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>American history
and government, including the heroes of American history, the meaning of the
Oath of Allegiance, and an attachment to the principles of the Constitution of
the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7BBF00F80F394B49A5020C67DA44FDF5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>information about
the number of lawful permanent residents who were able to achieve the knowledge
described under paragraph (2) as a result of the grants provided under this
title and title I.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Codifying the
oath of allegiance</header>
<section id="id3B326DBBFFC24CF3AC49063F5E8FCE6D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Oath or affirmation
of renunciation and allegiance</header>
<subsection id="H9A3D944CD15146B7866DAA669F193BB0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Revision of
oath</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 337 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H659500801A5842A1945516EB90337000"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a),
by striking <quote>under section 310(b) an oath</quote> and all that follows
through <quote>personal moral code.</quote> and inserting <quote>under section
310(b), the oath (or affirmation) of allegiance prescribed in subsection
(e).</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5630956A98744D41AD647C664C714BBB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H33CAEB88CA7C41A8AA348414C9F48D50" style="USC">
<subsection id="H782BEC8C2B434F229489000936D8E9E"><enum>(e)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD1C415294A5A4420A28548C214EBA23A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Subject to paragraphs
(2) and (3), the oath (or affirmation) of allegiance prescribed in this
subsection is as follows: <quote>I take this oath solemnly, freely, and without
any mental reservation. I absolutely and entirely renounce all allegiance to
any foreign state or power of which I have been a subject or citizen. My
fidelity and allegiance from this day forward are to the United States of
America. I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and laws of
the United States, and will support and defend them against all enemies,
foreign and domestic. I will bear arms, or perform noncombatant military or
civilian service, on behalf of the United States when required by law. This I
do solemnly swear, so help me God.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFD1C88AA769843B4B7156757FAF54CCF" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If a person, by reason of religious
training and belief (or individual interpretation thereof) or for other reasons
of good conscience, cannot take the oath prescribed in paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC8085F4F4A304B75B8D61B4D6BBE0010"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with the term <term>oath</term>
included, the term <term>affirmation</term> shall be substituted for the term
<term>oath</term>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H86DE73F07C1D48AE9597D4CBCE3D4D8C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with the phrase <quote>so help me
God</quote> included, the phrase <quote>so help me God</quote> shall be
omitted.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7B1A7B753E7045389391DE279C80AC17" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a person shows by clear and convincing
evidence to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that such person, by
reason of religious training and belief, cannot take the oath prescribed in
paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H67266BF4FB494EF4AEEFB949C00033E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>because such person is opposed to the
bearing of arms in the Armed Forces of the United States, the words <quote>bear
arms, or</quote> shall be omitted; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD1657419DB9C4AB39B6C4700803958F4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>because such person is opposed to any
type of service in the Armed Forces of the United States, the words <quote>bear
arms, or</quote> and <quote>noncombatant military or</quote> shall be
omitted.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H07AFC9E996CF43B79128819E0882AF8F" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>As used in this subsection, the term
<term>religious training and belief</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="id00DA4B546F5D47D2B61086864C83B355"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means a belief of an individual in
relation to a Supreme Being involving duties superior to those arising from any
human relation; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9CE61024A6AD4C5596AEE7404BB1F9A4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include essentially
political, sociological, or philosophical views or a merely personal moral
code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5C0D43F82DD4438A8292ED1DF351998D" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Any reference in this title to
<quote>oath</quote> or <quote>oath of allegiance</quote> under this section
shall be deemed to refer to the oath (or affirmation) of allegiance prescribed
under this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD9E678430A254D5AB1C36845198D632D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>History and
government test</header><text>The Secretary shall incorporate a knowledge and
understanding of the meaning of the Oath of Allegiance into the history and
government test given to applicants for citizenship.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDdedcaed48283438586ff11bd29ccd2a9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Notice to
foreign embassies</header><text>Upon the naturalization of a new citizen, the
Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall notify the embassy
of the country of which the new citizen was a citizen or subject that such
citizen has—</text>
<paragraph id="ID684e476e1f5040ce8d8d3f3f6ddbc08e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>renounced
allegiance to that foreign country; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1814a80d194540e28d54d598f67ae07f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>sworn allegiance
to the United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE330C5DB21844E13A50C94A352D556F6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Celebrating new
citizens</header>
<section id="id23FCF31B859F45199805388F3288C2C2"><enum>401.</enum><header>Establishment
of new citizens award program</header>
<subsection id="IDd6d58ba859d749408cf3e88e31dbb10e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There
is established a new citizens award program to recognize citizens who—</text>
<paragraph id="idAC33F4A8D0C34E8699EE532033928B51"><enum>(1)</enum><text>have made an
outstanding contribution to the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE41D79DD7F5D4B4683D1EAD79916060A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>are naturalized
during the 10-year period ending on the date of such recognition.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDADA1DE4E5DDF4EEB965F155EC82314FF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Presentation
authorized</header>
<paragraph id="id2D0DC61EE0F042BB81FECCCD43AF08D6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The President is authorized to present a medal, in
recognition of outstanding contributions to the United States, to citizens
described in subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7AE9AEBFE707481EB147E985BC2EDC17"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Maximum number
of awards</header><text>Not more than 10 citizens may receive a medal under
this section in any calendar year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id88D1E37BB86F4D11AC0EF000F4FD685D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Design and
striking</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a medal with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
President.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD93E8288918C40E4B01C47606EEAF7DD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>National
medals</header><text>The medals struck pursuant to this section are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDa2450ef701ea4cf295d8ed69a1397c3c"><enum>402.</enum><header>Naturalization
ceremonies</header>
<subsection id="idA3F25D1FB0204FFD9388170B9073D38C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, in
consultation with the Director of the National Park Service, the Archivist of
the United States, and other appropriate Federal officials, shall develop and
implement a strategy to enhance the public awareness of naturalization
ceremonies.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCC6DD4680F5A4F1BBF53080E72EBF652"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Venues</header><text>In
developing the strategy under this section, the Secretary shall consider the
use of outstanding and historic locations as venues for select naturalization
ceremonies.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id10FE839245604DF9BAEA5D0C62E66504"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reporting
requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall annually submit a report to Congress that contains—</text>
<paragraph id="id2003EC7BDF124733BB76D0B29C5BF657"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the content of the strategy developed under
this section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE036780F30B941AEAB75718602033BE7"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the progress made towards the
implementation of such strategy.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>