[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING NORTHWEST INDIANA'S NEWEST CITIZENS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2016

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and sincerity 
that I take this time to congratulate twenty-five individuals who will 
take their oath of citizenship on Friday, September 16, 2016. This 
memorable occasion, presided over by Judge Philip Simon, will be held 
at the United States Courthouse and Federal Building in Hammond, 
Indiana.
  America is a country founded by immigrants. From its beginning, 
settlers have come from countries around the world to the United States 
in search of better lives for their families. Oath ceremonies are a 
shining example of what is so great about the United States of 
America--that people from all over the world can come together and 
unite as members of a free, democratic nation. These individuals 
realize that nowhere else in the world offers a better opportunity for 
success than here in America.
  On September 16, 2016, the following people, representing many 
nations throughout the world, will take their oaths of citizenship in 
Hammond, Indiana: Jolly Rameshchandra Joshi, Placido Agustin Lopez 
Garcia, Gun Margaret Porter, Mei Han, Huong Ngoc Kha, Albino Akon 
Ibrahim Akon, Sergio Alaniz, Rozeta Bajmakoska, Anjin Balleza Carter, 
Patty Ann Veronica Cornwall, Morten Ring Eskildsen, Shylaja 
Balakrisnan, Balakrishnan Rajagopala Iyer, Jihwan Jeff Jeong, Vania 
Nshuti Kagabo, Elizabeth Lopez de Martinez, Pedro Martin Marin, Celia 
Martinez de Campos, Patricia Navarrete-Arceo, Yejee Oh, Pamellah Akinyi 
Otieno Owilli, Ericka Alejandra Sanchez, Oretha Fannie Smith, Abel 
Soto, and Shuhui Grace Yang.
  Although each individual has sought to become a citizen of the United 
States for his or her own reasons, be it for education, occupation, or 
to offer their loved ones better lives, each is inspired by the fact 
that the United States of America is, as Abraham Lincoln described it, 
a country ``. . . of the people, by the people, and for the people.'' 
They realize that the United States is truly a free nation. By seeking 
American citizenship, they have made the decision that they want to 
live in a place where, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the 
Constitution, they can practice religion as they choose, speak their 
minds without fear of punishment, and assemble in peaceful protest 
should they choose to do so.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask you and my other distinguished 
colleagues to join me in congratulating these individuals who will 
become citizens of the United States of America on September 16, 2016. 
They, too, are American citizens, and they, too, are guaranteed the 
inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We, 
as a free and democratic nation, congratulate them and welcome them.

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