[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE EMPOWERMENT ACT AMENDMENT

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                        HON. MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 1996

  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I propose the following two amendments to 
H.R. 123, the English Language Empowerment Act.
  The first amendment provides an exemption under the definition of 
official business for actions or documents related to Social Security 
entitlements. The amendment inserts a new subparagraph on page 7, line 
10--of the text of H.R. 3898--which would read as follows: ``actions 
and documents that inform individuals of benefits under the Social 
Security Act.'' Legal residents of the United States, who have not been 
required to learn English because they have not participated in 
naturalization procedures, are entitled to know about the benefits they 
have accrued by working in this country.
  The second amendment provides an exemption for actions or documents 
related to the Internal Revenue Code. The amendment insert a new 
subparagraph on page 7, line 10 which would read as follows: ``actions 
and documents that inform individuals of their rights and 
responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.'' Legal 
residents who work in the United States should be informed in the 
language that they understand of their responsibilities to pay taxes.
  I urge my colleagues to support these amendments.

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