IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 3 

Entitled the ‘‘English Plus Resolution’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 6, 2009 

Mr. SERRANO submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Entitled the ‘‘English Plus Resolution’’. 

Whereas English is the language of the United States, and 

all members of the society recognize the importance of 

English to national life and individual accomplishment; 

Whereas many residents of the United States speak native 

languages other than English, including many languages 

indigenous to this country, and these linguistic resources 

should be conserved and developed; 

Whereas this Nation was founded on a commitment to democratic principles, and not on racial, ethnic, or religious 

homogeneity, and has drawn strength from a diversity of 

languages and cultures and from a respect for individual 

liberties; 

Whereas multilingualism, or the ability to speak languages in 

addition to English, is a tremendous resource to the 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
2 

•HCON 3 IH 

United States because such ability enhances American 

competitiveness in global markets by permitting improved 

communication and cross-cultural understanding between 

producers and suppliers, vendors and clients, and retailers and consumers; 

Whereas multilingualism improves United States diplomatic 

efforts by fostering enhanced communication and greater 

understanding between nations; 

Whereas multilingualism has historically been an essential 

element of national security, including the use of Native 

American languages in the development of coded communications during World War II, the Korean War, and the 

Vietnam War; 

Whereas multilingualism promotes greater cross-cultural understanding between different racial and ethnic groups in 

the United States; 

Whereas there is no threat to the status of English in the 

United States, a language that is spoken by 92 percent 

of United States residents, according to the 2000 United 

States Census, and there is no need to designate any official United States language or to adopt similar restrictionist legislation; 

Whereas ‘‘English-only’’ measures, or proposals to designate 

English as the sole official language of the United States, 

would violate traditions of cultural pluralism, divide communities along ethnic lines, jeopardize the provision of 

law enforcement, public health, education, and other vital 

services to those whose English is limited, impair government efficiency, and undercut the national interest by 

hindering the development of language skills needed to 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
3 

•HCON 3 IH 

enhance international competitiveness and conduct diplomacy; and 

Whereas such ‘‘English-only’’ measures would represent an 

unwarranted Federal regulation of self-expression, abrogate constitutional rights to freedom of expression and 

equal protection of the laws, violate international human 

rights treaties to which the United States is a signatory, 

and contradict the spirit of the 1923 Supreme Court case 

Meyer v. Nebraska, wherein the Court declared that 

‘‘The protection of the Constitution extends to all; to 

those who speak other languages as well as to those born 

with English on the tongue’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the United States Government should 

3 pursue policies that— 

4 (1) encourage all residents of this country to 

5 become fully proficient in English by expanding edu6 cational opportunities and access to information 

7 technologies; 

8 (2) conserve and develop the Nation’s linguistic 

9 resources by encouraging all residents of this coun10 try to learn or maintain skills in languages other 

11 than English; 

12 (3) assist Native Americans, Native Alaskans, 

13 Native Hawaiians, and other peoples indigenous to 

14 the United States, in their efforts to prevent the ex15 tinction of their languages and cultures; 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
4 

•HCON 3 IH 

1 (4) continue to provide services in languages 

2 other than English as needed to facilitate access to 

3 essential functions of government, promote public 

4 health and safety, ensure due process, promote equal 

5 educational opportunity, and protect fundamental 

6 rights; and 

7 (5) recognize the importance of multilingualism 

8 to vital American interests and individual rights, and 

9 oppose ‘‘English-only’’ measures and other restric10 tionist language measures. 

Æ 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS