•HCON 83 IH
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
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,
•HCON 83 IH
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
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;
(2) conserve and develop the Nation’s linguistic
resources by encouraging all residents of this coun-
try to learn or maintain skills in a language other
then English;
•HCON 83 IH
(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;
(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 similar lan-
guage restrictionist measures.
Æ