[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 4 Introduced in House (IH)]






105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 4

               Entitled the ``English Plus Resolution''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 1997

 Mr. Serrano submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
               Entitled the ``English Plus Resolution''.

Whereas English is the language of the United States, and all members of the 
        society recognize the importance of English to national life and 
        individual accomplishment;
Whereas many residents of the United States speak native languages other than 
        English, including many languages indigenous to this country, and these 
        linguistic resources should be conserved and developed;
Whereas this Nation was founded on a commitment to democratic principles, and 
        not on racial, ethnic, or religious homogeneity, and has drawn strength 
        from a diversity of languages and cultures and from a respect for 
        individual liberties;
Whereas multilingualism, or the ability to speak languages in addition to 
        English, is a tremendous resource to the United States because such 
        ability enhances American competitiveness in global markets by 
        permitting improved communication and cross-cultural understanding 
        between producers and suppliers, vendors and clients, and retailers and 
        consumers;
Whereas multilingualism improves United States diplomatic efforts by fostering 
        enhanced communication and greater understanding between nations;
Whereas multilingualism has historically been an essential element of national 
        security, including the use of Native American languages in the 
        development of coded communications during World War II, the Korean War, 
        and the Vietnam War;
Whereas multilingualism promotes greater cross-cultural understanding between 
        different racial and ethnic groups in the United States;
Whereas there is no threat to the status of English in the United States, a 
        language that is spoken by 94 percent of United States residents, 
        according to the 1990 United States Census, and there is no need to 
        designate any official United States language or to adopt similar 
        restrictionist legislation;
Whereas ``English-only'' measures, or proposals to designate English as the sole 
        official language of the United States, would violate traditions of 
        cultural pluralism, divide communities along ethnic lines, jeopardize 
        the provision of law enforcement, public health, education, and other 
        vital services to those whose English is limited, impair government 
        efficiency, and undercut the national interest by hindering the 
        development of language skills needed to enhance international 
        competitiveness and conduct diplomacy; and
Whereas such ``English-only'' measures would represent an unwarranted Federal 
        regulation of self-expression, abrogate constitutional rights to freedom 
        of expression and equal protection of the laws, violate international 
        human rights treaties to which the United States is a signatory, and 
        contradict the spirit of the 1923 Supreme Court case Meyer v. Nebraska, 
        wherein the Court declared that ``The protection of the Constitution 
        extends to all; to those who speak other languages as well as to those 
        born with English on the tongue'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the United States Government should pursue policies that--
            (1) encourage all residents of this country to become fully 
        proficient in English by expanding educational opportunities 
        and access to information technologies;
            (2) conserve and develop the Nation's linguistic resources 
        by encouraging all residents of this country to learn or 
        maintain skills in a language other than English;
            (3) assist Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Native 
        Hawaiians, and other peoples indigenous to the United States, 
        in their efforts to prevent the extinction of their languages 
        and cultures;
            (4) continue to provide services in languages other than 
        English as needed to facilitate access to essential functions 
        of government, promote public health and safety, ensure due 
        process, promote equal educational opportunity, and protect 
        fundamental rights; and
            (5) recognize the importance of multilingualism to vital 
        American interests and individual rights, and oppose ``English-
        only'' measures and other restrictionist language measures.
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