[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 24302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   SUPPORTING THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

  (Mr. RYUN of Kansas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, the Oath of Allegiance has served as 
the gateway to American citizenship for over 200 years. When immigrants 
speak its forceful words, they pledge their unfettered allegiance to 
America, our Constitution, and our laws.
  This important symbol of American citizenship is not specified by 
law. However, it can be changed on the whim of a government agency. In 
fact, such a change was recently attempted and would have transformed 
an absolute commitment to our Constitution into a conditional 
statement, thereby weakening our citizenship. That is why I introduced 
H.R. 3191, which would establish the oath as Federal law.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout our history, our Nation has been strengthened 
by immigrants who came here to pursue the American dream. Establishing 
the oath as the law of the land would remind all Americans that 
pursuing that dream also requires a full-time commitment to 
citizenship. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation to strengthen the meaning of our citizenship.

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