[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H9986-H9987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ENGLISH THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Roth] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, on August 1 this Congress finally began to 
show as much sense, common sense, as the American people by 
overwhelmingly passing our bill to make English the official language 
of the United States. Make no mistake about this, this was an historic 
accomplishment. For the first time in over two decades, Congress has 
taken a concrete step toward cementing our national unit by reinforcing 
our most important common bond, the English language. After 25 years of 
Great Society social experimentation, we are finally starting to 
reverse the tide.
  That historic vote was cast on the 1st of August, the first step 
toward returning to a commonsense policy of promoting American unity by 
promoting the teaching and learning of English. But the battle has just 
begun. There is still so much left to be done, starting with the 
Senate.
  Acting on the bill that we passed here in the House, we now ask the 
Senate to pass this legislation and send it onto the President for his 
signature. Frankly, I know that President Clinton will sign this bill. 
The overwhelming majority of the American people support making English 
our official language. I do not believe that the President wants to 
alienate a large segment of the electorate just 60 days before the 
election.
  When push comes to shove, Bill Clinton will sign that bill. And as he 
did when he was Governor of Arkansas, the President should sign this 
bill, not only because it has certain political advantage that it 
confers on him. He should sign it because this is the most important 
piece of legislation this Congress and his administration will 
consider.
  Mr. Speaker, we have witnessed events recently that have testified to 
the fragility of nations: the sundering of the Soviet Union, the 
breakup of Yugoslavia, the near divorce between Quebec and the rest of 
Canada. Secessionist tides are rising all across Eastern and even 
Western Europe. All these incidents share a common thread. The thread, 
incidentally and ironically enough, is the unraveling of national unity 
across the world today. The twin forces of nationalism and tribalism 
are plunging nations into a separatism spiral, and the United States is 
not immune.
  America is the most diverse Nation in the history of the world. We 
are a people from every corner of the globe. We represent every 
culture, every language, every religion, every difference imaginable. 
The last census, for example, indicated that over 320 languages are 
spoken in our schools, cities, and communities. Do not think for a 
second that this Nation can avoid the fate

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that has been fallen other multicultural, multi-ethnic nations. If we 
have averted their fate so far, it is no small thanks to our common 
language, our common glue, our commonality, the English language.
  As Winston Churchill said, the common language is a nation's most 
priceless inheritance, and when we pass on, this Nation, our traditions 
and our values, on to those people who are following us, passing on a 
common language is our Nation's most priceless inheritance that we can 
pass on. At the dawn of the 21st century, Churchill's observation, as 
usual, could not be more true. A common language is now more important 
than perhaps ever before.
  My friends, we cannot stand idly by and hope that the global forces 
of separatism will pass us by. That is like closing our eyes and 
praying that a hurricane will suddenly veer off and project a different 
path and spare our town. We need to steel our national resolve to the 
storm and solidify the ties that bind us together as a nation.
  I know the majority of the people in this body have demonstrated on 
August 1 that they truly believe that English as our official language 
is the right course. I ask Members to join me once again in a 
continuation of that struggle and urge the Senate to take up this bill 
and finish the job. It is true we stop depending on divine intervention 
to spare our Nation from separatist forces. We have an obligation as 
leaders to the American people and to our posterity. Let us send a 
clear message and signal to our colleagues in the Senate to make 
English our official language.

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