[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 52 (Thursday, May 4, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ENGLISH IN AMERICA

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, let me say that Democrats and Republicans 
are perhaps not all of one mind on the question the Senator just 
raised.
  I personally believe it is absolutely essential to the strength of 
America that we encourage and insist that people who come to this 
country speak in English. A common language is absolutely essential to 
the unity of a nation. I look to our neighbors to the north and see the 
incredible traumas they have been through because they are speaking in 
two different languages.
  My own strong belief is we ought to say the pledge in English, we 
ought to sing the national anthem in English. That doesn't prevent 
someone else from singing it in another language. That does not offend 
me. But I do think that it is absolutely essential for the strength and 
the unity of our Nation that those who come here, those who become 
citizens, are able to speak English.
  I come from a proud tradition of immigrants. We are sort of the North 
Dakota melting pot. I am part Danish, I am part Swedish, I am part 
Norwegian, I am part German, I am part Scots-Irish, I am part French. 
So many of the people of my State came here from Scandinavian and 
German countries. They are intensely proud of their traditions. Many of 
them continue to speak the languages they came to this country with, 
but almost without exception they made a priority of learning English, 
speaking in English. I believe that is essential to our common 
heritage, that we have a common language.
  I personally certainly believe that in any official setting, we ought 
to sing the anthem in English, we ought to say the pledge in English. 
If someone wants to, at some other setting, sing in some other 
language, that does not offend me, but in any official setting and in 
terms of what we ask and insist people do who are going to be part of 
our country, it is absolutely imperative they learn English. That is 
not just for the good of the country, although it is certainly that, it 
is also for their own good.
  My wife's family came here from Italy. My wife told me many times 
about growing up in that family. Her grandfather for a time came and 
lived with them. There was an insistence in their family on speaking 
English even though the grandfather who lived with them spoke no 
English.
  I find many who come from an immigrant background--as did I, as did 
my wife and her family--in our families, there was an understanding 
that the first order of business was to learn English, to speak English 
if we were going to be part of this country of which we are so proud.
  I hope very much this is not presented as a partisan matter. I don't 
think it is. As one person on this side of the aisle, I believe it is 
imperative that we take the pledge in English, that we sing the anthem 
in English, that we insist that people who come to be part of this 
country learn English. I believe it is absolutely essential that 
English clearly be the official language of our Nation. That is 
absolutely imperative for us as a country.
  I also believe it is absolutely in the interest of the people who 
come here. That is certainly the lesson learned in my family, of people 
coming from all over the globe. My relatives who came from Denmark, my 
relatives who came from Sweden, my relatives who came from Norway, and 
my relatives who came from Germany were so proud to be part of this 
country. And they recognized that it was in their interest and it was 
their responsibility as a first order of business to learn English.

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