[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 11, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6371-S6372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMARKS OF JUDGE CHRISTINA REISS
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, on August 16, I had the honor of attending
a naturalization ceremony at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in
Burlington, VT, conducted by the Chief Judge of the United States
District Court for the District of Vermont, Christina Reiss. This
naturalization ceremony was especially timely as the Senate had in June
voted strongly in favor of passing a comprehensive immigration reform
bill. I am proud of the Senate's work on that legislation, and
especially proud of the thorough process we had in the Judiciary
Committee to give that legislation a fair and public hearing.
I have attended many naturalization ceremonies over the years and
never fail to come away inspired by the process and by the
participants. Judge Reiss' most recent naturalization ceremony was a
reminder of how meaningful American citizenship is, and of what an
accomplishment it is for those who earn it. Judge Reiss invited me to
address the new Americans, but I was particularly moved by her remarks
to the 10 new Americans who were naturalized as citizens of the United
States that day.
Judge Reiss delivered a positive, uplifting, and powerful message to
these men and women about what it means to be an American. Her message
to them was one of hope. It was also a challenge to be the
transformative force that so many immigrants have been for America
throughout our history. Judge Reiss encouraged their civic
participation and commitment to our constitutional values. She called
upon them to be full participants in our democracy, to exercise their
rights and their responsibilities by voting, and to embrace the rule of
law. And Judge Reiss' remarks were a warm Vermont welcome to the 10 new
citizens who chose to make Vermont their home.
As I listened to Judge Reiss deliver her remarks, I reflected on my
own family's history of immigration and the experience of my wife
Marcelle's mother and father who became citizens and made Vermont their
home. I hope the message they heard when they swore the oath to become
citizens was as inspirational as the one Judge Reiss delivered this
summer in Vermont. And I hope the 10 new American citizens we welcomed
together on August 16 will take her words to heart as they begin this
new chapter in their lives.
I ask unanimous consent that a copy of Judge Reiss' remarks of August
16, 2013, be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Remarks by United States District Judge Christina Reiss
Delivered at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in Burlington, Vermont,
August 16, 2013
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my honor as Chief Judge of the United States District
Court for the District of Vermont, and as an American
citizen, to address you on this special occasion. You are
about to undergo an important transformation for which you
have carefully and thoughtfully prepared. By the end of this
ceremony, you will be a United States citizen.
I am sure that you had many thoughts and feelings as you
went through the process of becoming a United States citizen.
I want to assure you that you are not alone. Most people
here, including me, have had family members who went through
this very same process. America is a land of immigrants. With
the exception of Native Americans, we all come from other
places. Like you, our family members made sacrifices and
faced challenges in order to live in this country. We made
this country our home. You have made the important decision
to make it your home. This is exciting and important for both
you and for our country. Your transformation is our country's
transformation. Our country gains strength and becomes a
better place with the contributions of our new citizens.
You are about to take a solemn oath. In that oath, you will
claim the United States as your own country and you will
renounce allegiance to all others. You will swear to support
and defend the Constitution, and the laws of the United
States. And you will promise that you will bear true faith
and allegiance to this country. I want to talk with you
briefly about what some of those promises mean.
As you know, the United States of America was created
through a declaration by its citizens that it would, from now
on, be a free and independent nation. The Declaration of
Independence also recognizes that we are all created equal,
and that we are all entitled to ``life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.'' Those rights are not just something
written on a piece of paper. Those rights represent an
agreement between us, as fellow citizens, regarding how we
will treat each other. Those rights also represent an
agreement between us and our Government, regarding what we
may expect from our Government, and what it may expect from
us in return.
You, too, will be able to enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by
the United States Constitution. But as always, with any right
comes responsibilities. In accepting the benefits of American
citizenship, you likewise accept its responsibilities.
Our society, our freedom, depends on the rule of law. The
rule of law requires that every person obey the laws of this
country. No person and no organization is above the law. The
rule of law is thus an agreement of the citizens of this
country to obey the law, to defend it, and to uphold it. The
rule of law is what makes our country safe, free, and
productive.
If you disagree with a law, you may work to change it. You
may vote, you may exercise your freedom of speech, you may
seek elected or appointed office, and you may petition the
Government. In this country, we encourage citizens to get
involved and to work to change the country and its laws for
the better.
I know that some of you may come from countries where this
opportunity was not available to you. Indeed, you may come
from places where by seeking to change a law, you put your
life in danger. Here, your right to lawfully seek change will
be fully protected.
I urge you to exercise all of your rights and
responsibilities as a United States citizen. The right to
vote is endangered each time you fail to vote. The freedom of
speech is threatened when you do not express your opinions,
and stand silent when you should speak up. It is also
threatened when you do not tolerate the views of others, or
allow their rights to be violated. The rights of all citizens
must be protected, if you expect your own rights to be
protected.
Before I end my remarks, I want to say a few things about
Vermont because I believe that you have chosen to live in a
very special place. As you know, Vermont was not one of the
original 13 colonies to sign the Declaration of Independence,
but it was the first state to forbid slavery in its own
constitution in 1777. Vermont has often been at the forefront
of this country in protecting human rights. This is a special
place. It is a beautiful place. Enjoy it, cherish it, and
make it your home. You are welcome here. President Dwight D.
Eisenhower said something about Vermonters which I think is
very true. In speaking to the people gathered at the State
Dairy Festival in Rutland, he said:
``There are certain things I do know about you. I know that
Americans everywhere are the same, in their longing for
peace, a peace that is characterized by justice, by
consideration for others, by decency above all, by its
insistence on respect for the individual human being.''
It is my hope that your life in the United States is
characterized by justice, by consideration for others, by
decency, and by insistence on respect for all human beings.
In conclusion, I wish simply to say, ``Welcome my fellow
American citizens. Welcome, my American brothers and
sisters.'' I wish you success and happiness in pursuing the
American dream.
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