Douglas Alexander: “Today is Citizenship Day. On this day in 1787 the Constitution of the United States was signed. In 1952, Congress passed…”

“Today is Citizenship Day. On this day in 1787 the Constitution of the United States was signed. In 1952, Congress passed a law designating Citizenship Day on this day with the intent of recognizing those who had become American citizens during the preceding year. In the ceremony where an immigrant becomes a naturalized citizen of this country, where he or she becomes a new American, he or she swears an oath of renunciation and allegiance. Last week, on September 11, I noted that the oath of allegiance is currently a matter of mere Federal regulation and not a matter of law. I said that Congress ought to enshrine the oath in law. Today, on behalf of Mr. Burns, Mr. Sessions, and 30 Members of the Senate, I rise to introduce legislation to do precisely that--to make the current oath of allegiance the law of the land. Doing so will give the oath of allegiance the same status enjoyed by other key symbols and statements of being an American--the American flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, and our national motto.”