Frank Riggs: “Reclaiming my time, yes, it in fact was. We heard expert testimony. I realize that people can differ. My response to…”

“Reclaiming my time, yes, it in fact was. We heard expert testimony. I realize that people can differ. My response to this is we heard from many people who are concerned about the fact that our limited or non-English speaking students languish too long in native language instruction programs, in native language instruction classrooms, and that that may be a contributing factor to the unacceptably high dropout rate on the part of Hispanic American students. That is why we are attempting to address this concern with this legislation here and now. I will further discuss later today a poll that just came out within the last few days, and this is a newspaper article dated August 26, that found that 88 percent, and I want to get the exact number here, 88 percent of immigrant children questioned preferred speaking English, and they are eager to embrace English and eager to make the transition to English proficiency and English fluency at the earliest possible date. I would argue that is the real key to their future academic and professional success in their adult lives.”