Nydia M. Velazquez: “it is amazing to me that a party that claims to be trying to win Hispanic votes attacks us time and time again. Worse…”

“it is amazing to me that a party that claims to be trying to win Hispanic votes attacks us time and time again. Worse yet, today they are attacking our children. I hope that every Latino in this country hears this message loud and clear. We do not count with the Republicans, our children do not count, and our future does not count. Why else would bilingual education come under attack year after year? Already, Republicans tried to slash $75 million for bilingual and immigrant education, 22 percent for fiscal year 1998 funding, and this is in a bill that provides disaster aid to flood victims. Today's move makes perfect sense for a party that plays politics with virtually every issue. Well, I have news for my colleagues across the aisle. Your English Language Fluency Act will have the opposite effect. It will force children into illiteracy. It will ruin their futures. It will hold back their families, and it will hurt our country. According to supporters of H.R. 3892, bilingual education does not work, it is a waste of money, and so on. The fact is, bilingual education does work. By teaching core classes like math and science in a child's native language, while effectively teaching English, we can make sure that children do not fall behind in basic skills. But Republicans will slash funding, eliminate training, weaken programs, and then say that the programs do not work.”