I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4168 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prescribe the binding 
oath or affirmation of renunciation and allegiance required to be natural-
ized as a citizen of the United States, to encourage and support the 
efforts of prospective citizens of the United States to become citizens, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 27, 2005 
Mr. RYUN of Kansas (for himself, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. 
TANCREDO, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, 
and Mr. FORBES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Finan-
cial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prescribe 
the binding oath or affirmation of renunciation and alle-
giance required to be naturalized as a citizen of the 
United States, to encourage and support the efforts of 
prospective citizens of the United States to become citi-
zens, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Amer-
ican Citizenship Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.—The term ‘‘Oath 
of Allegiance’’ means the binding oath (or affirma-
tion) of allegiance required to be naturalized as a 
citizen of the United States, as prescribed in sub-
section (e) of section 337 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(e)), as added by sec-
tion 301(a)(2). 
(2) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise provided, 
the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Home-
land Security. 
TITLE I—LEARNING ENGLISH 
SEC. 101. ENGLISH FLUENCY. 
(a) EDUCATION GRANTS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Chief of the Office 
of Citizenship of the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity (referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Chief’’) 
shall establish a grant program to provide grants in 
an amount not to exceed $500 to assist legal resi-
dents of the United States who declare an intent to 
apply for citizenship in the United States to meet
the requirements under section 312 of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423). 
(2) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Grant funds awarded 
under this subsection shall be paid directly to an ac-
credited institution of higher education or other 
qualified educational institution (as determined by 
the Chief) for tuition, fees, books, and other edu-
cational resources required by a course on the 
English language in which the legal resident is en-
rolled. 
(3) APPLICATION.—A legal resident desiring a 
grant under this subsection shall submit an applica-
tion to the Chief at such time, in such manner, and 
accompanied by such information as the Chief may 
reasonably require. 
(4) PRIORITY.—If insufficient funds are avail-
able to award grants to all qualified applicants, the 
Chief shall give priority based on the financial need 
of the applicants. 
(5) NOTICE.—The Secretary, upon relevant reg-
istration of a legal resident with the Department of 
Homeland Security, shall notify such legal resident 
of the availability of grants under this subsection for 
legal residents who declare an intent to apply for 
United States citizenship.
(b) FASTER CITIZENSHIP FOR ENGLISH FLUENCY.— 
Section 316 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1427) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) A legal resident of the United States who dem-
onstrates English fluency, in accordance with regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, will satisfy the resi-
dency requirement under subsection (a) upon the comple-
tion of 4 years of continuous legal residency in the United 
States.’’. 
SEC. 102. SAVINGS PROVISION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to— 
(1) modify the English language requirements 
for naturalization under section 312(a)(1) of the Im-
migration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1423(a)(1)); or 
(2) influence the naturalization test redesign 
process of the Office of Citizenship of the United 
States Citizenship and Immigration Services (except 
for the requirement under section 301(b) of this 
Act).
TITLE II—EDUCATION ABOUT 
THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE 
SEC. 201. AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
competitive grant program to provide financial assistance 
for— 
(1) efforts by entities (including veterans and 
patriotic organizations) certified by the Office of 
Citizenship of the Department of Homeland Security 
to promote the patriotic integration of prospective 
citizens into the American way of life by providing 
civics, history, and English as a second language 
courses, with a specific emphasis on attachment to 
principles of the Constitution of the United States, 
the heroes of American history (including military 
heroes), and the meaning of the Oath of Allegiance; 
and 
(2) other activities approved by the Secretary to 
promote the patriotic integration of prospective citi-
zens and the implementation of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), including 
grants— 
(A) to promote an understanding of the 
form of government and history of the United 
States; and
(B) to promote an attachment to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution of the United States 
and the well being and happiness of the people 
of the United States. 
(b) ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.—The Secretary may ac-
cept and use gifts from the United States Citizenship 
Foundation, if the foundation is established under section 
202(a), for grants under this section. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 202. FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF CITIZENSHIP. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration 
Services, is authorized to establish the United States Citi-
zenship Foundation (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Foundation’’), an organization duly incorporated in the 
District of Columbia, exclusively for charitable and edu-
cational purposes to support the functions of the Office 
of Citizenship, which shall include the patriotic integration 
of prospective citizens into— 
(1) American common values and traditions, in-
cluding an understanding of the history of the 
United States and the principles of the Constitution 
of the United States; and