Bob Barr: “in reviewing my file on the English language bill, I came across a letter dated November 10, 1994, 2 days after the…”

“in reviewing my file on the English language bill, I came across a letter dated November 10, 1994, 2 days after the elections of 1994 in which I was elected to represent the people of the seventh district to the United States, and this letter, a ``Dear Colleague,'' is written by Bill Emerson from the great State of Missouri. He wrote me even long before I had been sworn into the Congress about a dream of his, a dream that 1 day he would witness, with the support of people he hoped like myself as a new Member of Congress and so many other of his colleagues, that our country, our Congress would take a step forward of unity, brotherhood, and common goodwill, and that is to enact his language of government act. Mr. Chairman, there was not a divisive or mean-spirited bone in Bill Emerson's body. And he believed so strongly in this dream that the very first letter that I, and probably every other newly elected Member received within 2 days after we were elected to the Congress, was a very positive, warm letter from him asking us to sign on to this legislation. I immediately called his office. Signed on, and became the first original cosponsor of this legislation. And I am honored today here, Mr. Chairman, to stand up and say, let us make Bill Emerson's dream a reality, and pass this important legislation.”