Strengthening American Citizenship Act of 2007

Summary

Strengthening American Citizenship Act of 2007 - Directs the Chief of the Office of Citizenship of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide grants (not to exceed $500) to assist legal U.S. residents who declare an intent to apply for citizenship in the United States to meet naturalization requirements. Provides such grants to an accredited institution of higher education or other qualified educational institution for tuition, fees, books, and other educational resources required by the English language course in which the legal resident is enrolled. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide that a legal U.S. resident who demonstrates English fluency will satisfy the residency requirement upon the completion of four (currently, five years) years of continuous U.S. legal residency. Directs the Secretary of DHS to: (1) establish an American citizenship grant program for qualified entities to provide civics, history, and English classes to promote the patriotic integration of prospective citizens; and (2) implement a strategy to enhance public awareness of naturalization ceremonies. Authorizes the Secretary to establish the United States Citizenship Foundation to support the functions of the Office of Citizenship. Amends INA to set forth a new oath of allegiance. Directs the Secretary to: (1) incorporate a knowledge and understanding of the oath of allegiance into the history and government citizenship test; and (2) notify the embassy of the country of which a new citizen was a citizen or subject that such citizen has renounced allegiance to that foreign country and sworn allegiance to the United States. Establishes a new citizens award program to recognize citizens who: (1) have made an outstanding contribution to the United States; and (2) were naturalized during the 10-year period ending on the date of such recognition.

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Timeline

1. 15 May 2007

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 15 May 2007

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6129-6130)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 15 May 2007

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 15 May 2007 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 15 May 2007

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 15 May 2007

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 15 May 2007

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Cochran, Thad [R-MS-4] · R · Sponsor
• John Cornyn · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Strengthening American Citizenship Act of 2007