IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 148 
Supporting the goals and ideals of International Mother Language Day in 
bringing attention to the importance of preserving linguistic and cultural 
heritage through education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 
Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. CARSON, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, Mr. GRI-
JALVA, Ms. NORTON, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. SABLAN, and Ms. TITUS) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Oversight and Accountability 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of International Mother Lan-
guage Day in bringing attention to the importance of 
preserving linguistic and cultural heritage through edu-
cation. 
Whereas the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cul-
tural Organization (UNESCO) established International 
Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999, to pro-
mote linguistic diversity and multilingualism; 
Whereas the annual International Mother Language Day 
celebration date, February 21, was chosen to commemo-
rate the day in 1952 in Bangladesh when students died 
demonstrating for recognition of Bengali as a national 
language of Pakistan; 
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•HRES 148 IH 
Whereas UNESCO establishes a different theme for the an-
nual celebration of International Mother Language Day 
each year, promoting various aspects of linguistic edu-
cation; 
Whereas 2022 marked the first year of UNESCO’s Decade 
of Indigenous Languages, intended to raise awareness of 
the critical loss of indigenous languages and the urgent 
need to preserve, revitalize, and celebrate them; 
Whereas according to the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s 
Languages in Danger, out of the over 7,000 existing lan-
guages in the world, at least 230 have become extinct 
since 1950, approximately 2,473 other languages are 
classified as ‘‘endangered’’, and approximately 3,000 lan-
guages could disappear before the end of the century; 
Whereas the United States Census Bureau has identified ap-
proximately 350 languages spoken in the United States, 
at least 150 of which are distinct Native North American 
languages; 
Whereas according to the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s 
Languages in Danger, 280 Native North American lan-
guages were spoken in the continental United States 
when the Europeans arrived and more than 115 are al-
ready extinct, with many more critically endangered; and 
Whereas the United States enjoys a rich and diverse cultural 
heritage and preserving existing languages is an essential 
piece to preserving this heritage: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Inter-
national Mother Language Day; and 
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•HRES 148 IH 
(2) encourages the people of the United States 
to observe International Mother Language Day with 
appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities. 
Æ 
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