Speech #1040159508

Englishonly legislation is potentially dangerous because it encourages nativism. raises constitutional issue about free speech and empowers the Federal Government to regulatefor the first time In our countrys 219year historyhow Americans speak. The message of Englishonly legislation cannot be that English should be Americas common language because it already Is. Is the message then that we are less than those who speak only English? For those of us with different mother tongues. it is not at all incompatible to practice the continuance of a mother tongue. to be a good American. and recognize that the lingua franca is English. As Congress considers Englishonly measures. I urge my colleagues to consider the implications of such legislation and the message it will send to this Nation of immigrants. Mr. Speaker.