Ed Pastor: “It is a very interesting debate that we are having today. The legislation we are discussing, not the amendment, but the…”

“It is a very interesting debate that we are having today. The legislation we are discussing, not the amendment, but the base bill, is probably unconstitutional. All it does is prohibit a Federal official from communicating with a constituent in another language, other than English. This bill does not do anything to teach one English word to anyone or provide education in English. The author of this bill has said this is a symbol, a symbol that will unite us together. Mr. Chairman, symbols mean different things to different people. The symbolic gesture of this bill to many Americans will symbolize intolerance, will symbolize arrogance. I ask my colleagues to support the Serrano amendment and vote against the bill.”