[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2302-S2303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ERWIN MITCHELL AND THE GEORGIA PROJECT

  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, on March 7, 2001, the Washington Post 
reported that the recent census indicates a 60-percent growth in our 
Nation's Hispanic population, which now totals 35.3 million. Georgia 
has also been witness to this growth. In 1991 the Hispanic student 
population in Dalton, GA, was only 4 percent and now 10 years later, 
Hispanic enrollment in Dalton public schools has skyrocketed to 51 
percent. The data from the 1999-2000 school year show that 45 percent 
of students in Dalton and 13 percent in Whitfield County are Spanish 
speaking. There are children of hard-working families who are an 
important part of the Dalton community. Accordingly, business and 
community leaders in that north Georgia community recognize the need 
for innovative and comprehensive solutions to address the recent influx 
of immigrants. Recent studies show that where quality education 
programs are joined with community-based services, immigrants have an 
increased opportunity to become an integral part of their community and 
their children are better prepared to achieve success in school.
  The Georgia Project has provided an innovative solution to the needs 
of northwest Georgia. This is a teacher exchange program which brings 
bilingual teachers from Mexico to provide language instruction to all 
Dalton/Whitfield students. In addition, the program also sponsors a 
Summer Institute which provides Dalton/Whitfield teachers with the 
opportunity to study Mexican culture and history and the Spanish 
language in Monterrey, Mexico.
  The driving force behind this endeavor has been the creative efforts 
of Erwin Mitchell. His dedication to public service and fairness was 
evident during his days as a Member of the House of Representatives. 
This same dedication and spirit of duty were the guiding forces behind 
the award-winning Georgia Project. As the mastermind behind the Georgia 
Project, Erwin Mitchell's efforts have been confirmed by the rising 
test scores of Dalton/Whitfield students on the Iowa Test of Basic 
Skills. His work has recently been recognized by both the National 
Education Association, NEA, and the National Association for Bilingual 
Education, NABE. The NEA has selected him to receive the NEA's 2001 
George I. Sanchez Memorial Award for his ``exemplary contributions in 
the area of human and civil rights.'' NABE has named him the 2001 
Citizen of the Year for his ``efforts in shaping a successful future 
for America's students.''
  This wave of immigration is not limited to Georgia alone. For 
example, the Waterloo, IA, school system is being challenged to teach 
400 Bosnian refugee children who came here without knowing our 
language, culture or customs. Schools in Wausau, WI, are filled with 
Asian children wanting to achieve success in the United States. In 
Wayne County, MI, 34 percent of the student population are Arabic-
speaking and receive special help. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 
the recently arrived immigrant and refugee population living here today 
will account for 75 percent of the total U.S. population growth over 
the next 50 years. This growth is occurring in places like New York, 
Los Angeles, and Miami, but also in nontraditional immigrant 
communities like Gainesville, GA, and Fremont County, ID. Innovative 
programs are being offered across the country to help accommodate these 
populations, which is why I have once again introduced the Immigrants 
to New Americans Act. This legislation will create a competitive grant 
program within the Department of Education that funds model programs, 
which, one, help immigrant children to succeed in America's classrooms 
and,

[[Page S2303]]

two, help their families access community services such as job 
training, transportation, counseling, and child care.
  Our country's diversity is growing and it is vital for us to support 
successful programs like the Georgia Project that address the needs of 
changing communities.

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