Bruce F. Vento: “I rise today to oppose this legislation, H.R. 123. This measure would establish English as the official language of the…”

“I rise today to oppose this legislation, H.R. 123. This measure would establish English as the official language of the United States, an unnecessary move that would only serve to polarize our communities and segregate those for whom English proficiency may not be so easily attained. This underlying measure is a solution in search of a problem, which is more likely to disrupt and deny the rights of U.S. citizens than to enhance the rights of Americans. This measure is unnecessary. In America, English is already our common language, and making it official will do nothing to increase its use. Custom and practice of our language will not be enhanced by such cumbersome forced feeding. Even in Government, this holds true. For example, the General Accounting Office has reported that 99.94 percent of U.S. Government documents are printed in English only. While I communicate mostly in English to my constituents in the Fourth District of Minnesota, I do occasionally send correspondence in other languages. The original legislation would prevent my office, or any congressional office, from sending non-English correspondence to our constituents. These citizens deserve equal representation and access to their Federal Government, and denying Congress the ability to communicate with them limits their rights and privileges under the law.”