OFFICIAL OSIA STATEMENT

Washington, DC-- Jan. 31, 2006 “The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the nation’s oldest and largest organization for men and women of Italian heritage, congratulates Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. on his appointment to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

“OSIA also commends President George W. Bush on this excellent choice. Italian Americans constitute the fifth largest ethnic group in the nation. However, today marks only the second time in our history that a person of Italian heritage will serve on the highest court in the land. We thank President Bush for this distinction.

“A special commendation is also given to those OSIA members and supporters, including our state Grand Lodges and the chairs of our anti-defamation arm, the Sons of Italy Commission for Social Justice, who contacted their senators to express support of Judge Alito.

“We are confident that given Judge Alito's character and legal preparation, he will be a fair and impartial justice who will serve the highest court in the land with honor.”

ATTRIBUTE TO Vincent Sarno,
National President, Order Sons of Italy in America

OSIA is the largest and oldest national organization in the U.S. for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. It has more than 600,000 members and supporters and a network of more than 700 chapters coast to coast. OSIA works at the community, national and international levels to promote the heritage and culture of an estimated 26 million Italian Americans, the nation’s fifth largest ethnic group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. See www.osia.org.