Speech #1090153518

Language minority citizens are required to pay taxes and serve in the military without regard to their level of English proficiency. If they can shoulder those burdens of citizenship. they should be able to share in the benefits of voting with appropriate assistance to exercise the vote. Section 203 protects citizens. not illegal immigrants: Section 203 mandates language assistance based on a trigger formula for language minorities from four language groups: Native Americans. Native Alaskans. Asian Americans. and persons of Spanish heritage. The immigrant debate should not influence the debate on ensuring that the fundamental right to vote is exercised equally by English and nonEnglish proficient citizens. According to the 2000 census. threequarters of those protected by Section 203 are nativeborn citizens. For example. 100 percent of Native Americans and Nalive Alaskans were born in the United States. 98.6 percent of Puerto Ricans protected by Section 4( e) were born in the United States. and 84.2 percent of Lalinos were born in the United States.