[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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