[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 38 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______


                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 1994

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of March 21, 1994, I 
unavoidably missed rollcall vote No. 73, to strike the title of the 
bill that reauthorizes bilingual education programs within H.R. 6, 
``The Improving America's Schools Act.''
  I strongly opposed Congressman Roth's amendment to eliminate 
bilingual education, and would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 
73. When one out of every seven children nationally comes to school 
speaking a language other than English, we need to expand bilingual 
education programs not eliminate them. These programs teach limited 
English proficient students English, and give them the opportunity to 
learn other subjects, like math and science, as they transition into 
English instruction.
  My partial day absence was due to the fact that I was on my way back, 
along with the President's official observer delegation, from Central 
America where I was observing and monitoring El Salvador's election as 
part of the United States Citizens Observer Mission.

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