[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ESTER MARTINEZ NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES PRESERVATION ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. RICK RENZI

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2006

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman McKeon and 
Ranking Member Miller for the opportunity to speak on this important 
piece of legislation. I also want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman 
Heather Wilson, for her leadership on this important issue.
  This bill amends the Native American Programs Act to allow the 
Administration for Native Americans under the Dept. of Health and Human 
Services to award grants to strengthen Native American language 
immersion programs.
  This measure is vital to preserving the diminishing Native languages 
in tribes across the nation, including many in my district. As an 
original cosponsor on this measure, I am thankful for the bipartisan 
effort to preserve the languages of those people who hold the original 
history of our country.
  In my own district, the Navajo people have a very successful language 
immersion program. In 2001, the Navajo Language Immersion School at the 
Window Rock Unified School District was established by Dr. Deborah 
Dennison. At the first grade level, students are instructed in the 
Navajo Language 90% of the time, and the remaining 10% of their lessons 
are in English. With each year, these Navajo students are immersed in 
English more and more until there is an equal balance of language 
instruction.
  The students in this successful program cover academic content areas 
in both Navajo and English and the results have been astounding. These 
students perform better on the standardized tests than students in 
``regular'' classrooms. Moreover, since it was established, the Navajo 
Language Immersion School has consistently met No Child Left Behind's 
designation of ``Annual Yearly Progress'' and they have also met 
``Arizona Learns'' standards. I hope this kind of excellence in 
learning and education can be duplicated throughout Indian Country.
  While some may worry that this program would decrease the importance 
of the English language in the United States, we must remember the 
contributions that Native Americans who speak their Native language 
have made to our country. During World Wars I and II, Native American 
languages, including the Navajo language, played a vital role in 
protecting our nation. Navajo people and other Native Americans were 
employed as ``Code Talkers'' during the wars, and implemented a code 
that our enemies could not break. Thus it was through their language 
that we overcame our enemies.

  U.S. English, an organization dedicated to promoting English as the 
official language of the United States, has stated that, ``. . . 
official English legislation proposed by U.S.ENGLISH does not prevent 
the use of Native American languages . . . In education, U.S.ENGLISH 
supports the right of tribal governments and autonomous Native American 
communities to make their native languages the primary language of 
instruction in their schools.''
  Therefore, it is paramount that we pass this legislation. As it helps 
us protect not only an essential part of Native American history but 
also helps us safeguard a larger part of United States character and 
culture for future generations to learn their Native language.
  A wise friend once shared with me that ``To take away a people's 
language is to begin to conquer them.'' Let us join together to support 
and preserve the first American's Native languages.

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