Received: (news@localhost) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.6.8/940311.01ccg) id VAA06027 for nifl-esl@novel.nifl.gov; Thu, 2 Nov 1995 21:11:09 -0500 Path: literacy.nifl.gov!nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov From: MMBelanger@aol.com Newsgroups: nifl.esl Subject: English Only Gets Hearing in Congress Date: 2 Nov 1995 21:11:08 -0500 Organization: National Institute for Literacy Lines: 82 Sender: listproc@literacy.nifl.gov Distribution: nifl Message-ID: <951102203107_80398693@emout05.mail.aol.com> Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov NNTP-Posting-Host: literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Apparently-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Status: RO X-Status: My name is Maurice Belanger, new subscriber to this list. I work for the National Immigration Forum. In the past, the Forum had a project to monitor the English Only movement. Unfortunately, with so many other things going on in Congress, the issue cannot be a priority for us. Nevertheless, I do try to keep tabs on what is going on , and here is my summary of the hearing that was held a couple weeks ago, giving the opportunity for members of Congress who have English Only proposals pending to make there case. The summary was originally done for members of the National Immigration Forum: Hearing on English Only Held in House The House Subcommittee on Childhood, Youth and Families of the Economic and Educational Opportunities Committee held a hearing on the issue of English as the "official" language of the U.S. The Committee is Chaired by Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-CA). The hearing did not focus on any specific bill, and witnesses were limited to members of Congress testifying in two panels. The first panel consisted of members who have pending legislation on the issue: Rep. Bill Emerson (R-MO), whose Language of Government Act (H.R. 123) is the principle piece of legislation advancing the English Only cause in this Congress with more than 180 co-sponsors testified first. Emerson's bill would make English the official language of government, directing that the government "shall conduct it's official business in English. It gives citizens the right to bring a lawsuit against the government if they feel they are being denied the right to be served by the Government in English. Rep. Emerson said that in the last 15-20 years, the federal government has established "official multi-lingualism." As an example, he cited a GAO study which found that "hundreds" of government documents are printed in a language other than English. Committee member Dale Kildee (D-MI) pointed out that the GAO found that 265 out of 400,000 government documents were printed in other languages, or approximately 6/100 of 1 percent. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), who has sponsored the Senate version of the Language of Government Act (S. 175). He said that legislating Official English does nothing more than help people assimilate. The bill contains no provision to provide resources to help people learn English. Rep. Toby Roth (R-WI), whose Declaration of Official Language Act (H.R. 739) would make English the Official language and would declare English to be "the preferred language of communication among citizens. The bill would preempt any State or Federal law that is inconsistent, and would repeal bilingual education and bilingual ballots. Roth stated that without Official English, the country is in danger of experiencing "linguistic apartheid." Rep. Peter King (R-NY), whose National Language Act (H.R. 1005) would declare English to be the official language of the U.S., and would terminate bilingual education and bilingual ballots. He repeatedly talked about children in New York who were being "forced" into bilingual education programs. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), whose English Plus Resolution (HCR 83) would state a sense of the Congress that the government pursue strategies that encourage all Americans to become proficient in English and to learn another language. He questioned assertions by proponents of English Only that immigrants are "refusing" to learn English by pointing out that English classes in cities across the U.S. are full. It was clear by their questions that members of the Subcommittee Republican and Democrat are very skeptical of the need for English Only legislation. Members of the Subcommittee acknowledged that English is the common language of the U.S., but didn't see the need to legislate it. None found evidence that the U.S. was splitting apart by language groups. Rep. Patsy Mink (D-HI), disputed the assertion that making English official would "unify" the country, saying that she doesn't feel a particular bond to others who speak English. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) noted that it is no coincidence that the various English Only proposals are gaining prominence at a time when there is "shameful immigrant bashing" going on in this country. In a second panel of members of Congress, Rep. Sonny Bono (R-CA) testified in favor of English Only. In his characteristically thoughtful manner, Bono said, "We'll learn the language faster if we speak English Only. Enough is enough with this bleeding heart stuff." Another hearing was held on November first, with mostly advocates of English Only testifying. I did not attend, but will try to sumarize from the written statements at some point. Maurice Belanger MMBelanger@aol.com
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