IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 5
Entitled the ‘‘English Plus Resolution’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 7, 2003
Mr. SERRANO submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
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 demo-
cratic 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
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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 retail-
ers 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 commu-
nications during World War II, the Korean War, and the 
Vietnam War; 
Whereas multilingualism promotes greater cross-cultural un-
derstanding 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 94 percent 
of United States residents, according to the 1990 United 
States Census, and there is no need to designate any offi-
cial United States language or to adopt similar restric-
tionist 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 com-
munities along ethnic lines, jeopardize the provision of 
law enforcement, public health, education, and other vital 
services to those whose English is limited, impair govern-
ment efficiency, and undercut the national interest by 
hindering the development of language skills needed to
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enhance international competitiveness and conduct diplo-
macy; and 
Whereas such ‘‘English-only’’ measures would represent an 
unwarranted Federal regulation of self-expression, abro-
gate 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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the United States Government should 
pursue policies that—
(1) encourage all residents of this country to 
become fully proficient in English by expanding edu-
cational opportunities and access to information 
technologies; 
(2) conserve and develop the Nation’s linguistic 
resources by encouraging all residents of this coun-
try to learn or maintain skills in languages other 
than English; 
(3) assist Native Americans, Native Alaskans, 
Native Hawaiians, and other peoples indigenous to 
the United States, in their efforts to prevent the ex-
tinction of their languages and cultures;
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(4) continue to provide services in languages 
other than English as needed to facilitate access to 
essential functions of government, promote public 
health and safety, ensure due process, promote equal 
educational opportunity, and protect fundamental 
rights; and 
(5) recognize the importance of multilingualism 
to vital American interests and individual rights, and 
oppose ‘‘English-only’’ measures and other restric-
tionist language measures.
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