[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 91 (Thursday, June 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2016

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the vote on the 
Question of Consideration of the Resolution, the Rule for H.R. 5325, 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2017 (Roll Call Number 283), I 
would have voted ``no.''
  Had the question failed, Rep. Castro would have been able to offer 
his bill H.R. 3785, Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in 
Government Expression (CHANGE) Act. H.R. 3785 would strike the term 
``illegal alien'' from federal law and replace it with the term 
``undocumented foreign national.'' Rep. Castro offered an amendment in 
Rules Committee to H.R. 5325, which was not made in order, that would 
reverse House Republican language restricting the Librarian of Congress 
from implementing changes to subject headings from ``illegal alien'' to 
``undocumented immigrant.''
  I support the Library of Congress's decision to no longer use the 
subject heading ``illegal alien'' and instead use ``noncitizens'' and 
``unauthorized immigration.'' The phrase ``illegal alien'' is offensive 
and dehumanizing to many, and I support the Library's thoughtful 
decision.

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