[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ENGLISH LANGUAGE EMPOWERMENT ACT OF 1996

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                               speech of

                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 123) to 
     amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the 
     official language of the Government of the United States:

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, the Gingrich Republicans have 
now apparently adopted the carrot and the stick concept of legislative 
strategy and behavior. The Gingrich Republicans would rather wield the 
stick at people who are different and punish them because they are non-
English speaking. The stick: read like me, talk like me, or don't try 
to be like me--successful, confident, self-sufficient. Not a carrot, 
learn the English language as well as your native language, then you 
can be more economically competitively because I don't speak your 
language. Republican stick: I don't want to compete with you on a level 
playing field and I am in control, so I will make a rule that says you 
will not ever have a chance to catch up with me.
  As if the major political parties of America needed any further 
demonstration of their differences, H.R. 123 is another prime example 
from its intend to its description. The Gingrich Republicans labeled it 
the English Language Empowerment Act, but to the Democrats it is the 
English-only bill. When we look at the differences in the political 
parties, this can be another prime example of the arrogant, elitist 
demeanor of the Gingrich Republicans who do not subscribe to the basic 
principles of polite society and guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution 
that we don't all have to be the same to be acceptable.
  I support programs to assist immigrants and other non-English-
speaking persons to learn the English language. Furthermore, I believe 
it is important that our Government provide these individuals every 
opportunity to achieve this goal. However, at the same time, we must 
remain respectful of the traditions and cultures of those who came to 
America in search of safety, economic opportunity, a new life. No law 
should ever be passed which states, or even implies, that immigrants to 
the United States must give up their native language or traditions. It 
is, in fact, the intermingling of such diverse peoples which has made 
our country so great and this must be remembered. I am one of the 
fortunate Members who is privileged in representing a district that is 
diverse with a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual constituency. We 
celebrate our diversity in all things and oppose any efforts to impose 
a one-size-fits-all mentality for language.
  One example of the ill-conceived results of this bill would be to 
discontinue bilingual ballots. As the cultural makeup of our Nation 
continually changes, so too must the Government adapt to most 
effectively serve the needs of all its citizens. In 1992, when Congress 
passed the Voting Rights Improvement Act authorizing bilingual 
registration forms and ballots to communities with bilingual 
populations, there were over 88,000 people in Cook County, IL, who had 
not previously been able to vote because they were not fluent in the 
English language. One of the most fundamental rights that we Americans 
are guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution is the right to vote.
  Voting, justice, education, economics, and safety are just some of 
the areas where language should not be a barrier to access or equality. 
This bill, in attempting to discriminate against non-English-speaking 
persons, begins an unfortunate precedent.
  I urge my colleagues to defeat this legislation.

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