Rep. Michele Bachmann announced Thursday that she is withdrawing her dual Swiss citizenship. 

The issue of her citizenship had generated a flurry of news stories in recent days. The firebrand conservative congresswoman says she's been a dual citizen since 1978, when she married her husband of Swiss descent -- and that the status was automatic under Swiss law. Bachmann, R-Minn., on Wednesday called the issue a "non-story." 

But on Thursday, she said she's making a change and wants to make clear she's a "proud" American.   

"Today I sent a letter to the Swiss Consulate requesting withdrawal of my dual Swiss citizenship, which was conferred upon me by operation of Swiss law when I married my husband in 1978," Bachmann said in a statement. 

"I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen. I am, and always have been, 100 percent committed to our United States Constitution and the United States of America." 

Bachmann is a former Republican presidential candidate. She recently endorsed Mitt Romney.