[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 54 (Monday, May 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4161-S4162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AFFIRMING THAT STATEMENTS OF NATIONAL UNITY SHOULD BE IN ENGLISH

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now 
proceed to S. Res. 458.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 458) affirming that statements of 
     national unity, including the National Anthem, should be 
     recited or sung in English.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I rise to oppose a resolution stating 
that it is the Sense of the Senate that statements of national unity, 
including the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Oath 
of Allegiance sworn by new U.S. citizens should be recited or sung in 
English.
  I agree with my colleagues that English is the common language of the 
United States and I join with them in urging all people who come to the 
U.S. and those who want to become U.S. citizens to learn the English 
language and understand our culture. Conversely, I believe the U.S. 
would benefit if its citizens knew the languages and cultures of other 
nations. We must develop long-term relationships with people throughout 
the world and learn to speak other languages, whether or not the 
languages spoken are considered critical for a particular situation or 
emergency. As 9/11 showed us, the failures of communication can do 
swift damage.
  S. Res. 458 acknowledges that the vast majority of Americans are 
immigrants or descendants of immigrants, and that millions of Americans 
speak or study other languages. It further states that despite the 
linguistic and historic cultural diversity of the nation we are all 
Americans and our common language is English. However, even though 
English is our common language, the State Department offers 
translations of the National Anthem, the U.S. Constitution, the Pledge 
of Allegiance, and other U.S. documents in French, Arabic, and other 
foreign languages on its Web site to help people better understand 
America. Nor did President Bush refrain from singing the National 
Anthem in Spanish when he was running for office in 2000 or prevent pop 
star Jon Secada from singing our anthem in both English and Spanish 
when entertaining the President in 2001.

[[Page S4162]]

  The resolution offered by my colleagues states that the original 
national motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum--from many, one--
is incorporated into the Great Seal of the United States, is printed on 
U.S. currency, and inscribed on the wall of the Senate Chamber. The 
sponsors of this resolution use these examples to argue that from many 
languages and backgrounds we have one language--English. However, our 
Nation's motto is written in Latin--not English.
  The translation of key statements of national unity, such as the 
Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, affords immigrants who 
have not fully learned the English language and individuals from all 
across the world the opportunity to better understand these symbols of 
America and the ideals of freedom that they represent. Such 
translations help those outside the U.S. to better understand our 
culture and our beliefs.
  Last June, the Pew Global Attitudes Project released a report on 
America's image. Survey results from the citizens of 16 nations found 
that only six nations, one of which is the U.S., have a 50 percent or 
more favorable view of the United States. We cannot win the hearts and 
minds of people of other nations and promote American ideals if we 
close the door on people expressing their support for our country and 
the freedoms on which it was founded.
  Our Constitution grants us the freedom of speech. This resolution, by 
limiting the language in which we can recite the Pledge of Allegiance 
or sing the National Anthem, violates the spirit of the Constitution 
and is antithetical to the very freedoms and beliefs that these 
statements of national unity represent.
  To limit the ability of non-English speakers to know about the United 
States and, in turn, show their support for the U.S., would be a 
disservice to the country. Since this resolution is non-binding I will 
not object to it being acted upon by the Senate. However, I do not 
support the resolution.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 458) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 458

       Whereas Francis Scott Key wrote the words of the Star-
     Spangled Banner in English in 1814, inspired by the sight of 
     the American flag still waving at Fort McHenry after 25 hours 
     of continual bombardment by British forces;
       Whereas Congress declared the Star-Spangled Banner the 
     National Anthem of the United States in 1931 (section 301 of 
     title 3, United States Code);
       Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United 
     States, written in English, was first specified in law by 
     Congress in 1942 (section 4 of title 4, United States Code);
       Whereas the Oath of Allegiance, to which lawful permanent 
     residents swear upon becoming citizens of the United States 
     (as required under section 337 of the Immigration and 
     Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1448)), is based, in part, on 
     language originally written in English by General George 
     Washington and sworn by him and his general officers at 
     Valley Forge in 1778;
       Whereas the vast majority of Americans are immigrants or 
     the descendants of immigrants, proud of their ancestral 
     country, but prouder still to be American;
       Whereas millions of Americans speak or study additional 
     languages, but English is their common language;
       Whereas the original national motto of the United States, 
     ``E Pluribus Unum'', meaning ``from many, one'', signifies 
     the coming together of people from many foreign countries to 
     form one Nation, was incorporated into the Great Seal of the 
     United States in 1776, is printed on currency of the United 
     States, and inscribed on the wall of the Senate chamber;
       Whereas the people of the United States are united not by 
     race, ancestry, or origin, but by a common language, English, 
     and by common belief in the principles prescribed in the 
     founding documents of the Nation, especially the Declaration 
     of Independence and the Constitution; and
       Whereas, to become citizens of the United States, under 
     sections 312 and 337 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     (8 U.S.C. 1423 and 1448), lawful permanent residents of the 
     United States who have immigrated from foreign countries 
     must, among other requirements, renounce allegiance to the 
     government of their country of origin, swear allegiance to 
     the laws and Constitution of the United States, and 
     demonstrate an understanding of the English language: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate affirms that statements or songs 
     that symbolize the unity of the Nation, including the 
     National Anthem, the Oath of Allegiance sworn by new United 
     States citizens, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of 
     the United States, should be recited or sung in English, the 
     common language of the United States.

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