Joe Cunningham: “it is not an English-only bill. It is an official language of the Government bill. If it were an English-only bill, it…”

“it is not an English-only bill. It is an official language of the Government bill. If it were an English-only bill, it would apply not only to government but to private businesses, to churches, to neighborhoods and homes, and the bill does not do that. The gentlewoman talks about diversity. We encourage diversity and we encourage other languages, as in my own children. H.R. 123 does not apply to homes and churches, and neighborhoods, and communities, to public health, and safety, national security, international relations, the teaching of languages, the census, certain civil lawsuits, rights of crime victims or criminal defendants, or oral communication by the Federal Government. Mr. Chairman, when talking about diversity, the census study shows that there are going to be 20 million Americans that either do not speak English or are limited English-proficient. What hope does that person have or that family? None. In my own district, I can walk precincts and go in entire blocks where no one in that house except maybe the child that is going to school speaks English. No one. What help does that child have when they go home on geometry or chemistry? None. It is because the Government has subsidized and sent information, and there is no intent to ever learn English.”