Mike Honda: “My amendment is a straightforward amendment that would remove language in the bill that targets immigrant integration…”

“My amendment is a straightforward amendment that would remove language in the bill that targets immigrant integration grants. What are immigrant integration grants, and why are they important? Every year, immigrant integration grants provide funding to local churches, schools, and community centers across the Nation, from Catholic Charities in Dallas to the Ukrainian Community Center of Washington State to West Georgia Technical College to prepare legal permanent residents for citizenship. Let me repeat, Mr. Chairman: these grants are for legal permanent residents, or citizens in waiting, like many of our parents and grandparents who came to America not speaking a word of English or knowing the great history and civics of our country. Citizenship instruction through these grants must include U.S. history and government lessons and civics-focused English lessons. We often hear from the other side that immigrants coming to this country should learn English, and they should. These grants provide a way for immigrants to do exactly that. It is perhaps fortuitous--and that is spelled F-O-R-T-U-I-T-O-U-S, fortuitous--that we are debating this amendment as the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee begins its annual competition this week. As one goes down the list of the 275 young student spellers, it is worth noting and pointing out that many of them have parents who are immigrants or are immigrants themselves.…”