Speech #1090156445

What we have seen since 1975 is partly because we are the enablers there has been less assimilation instead of more assimilation. The direction for more languages in America has increased towards more and more languages in America instead of less. and we still have in place this mandate for foreign language ballots. The reason that I am opposed to requiring them at the Federal level is because if you are a naturalized citizen here in United States. by law you will have had to demonstrate your proficiency in both the spoken and written word of the English language. That is the standard that is required before you can be a naturalized citizen. And so if you are a naturalized citizen in America. you have no claim to a foreign language ballot because the certification of your citizenship says you are certified to vote in English. That is one of the important responsibilities of citizenship. And if the standard wasnt high enough that you can read a ballot. we need to raise the standard. not lower the standard and hand you a ballot in a language where there may be errors in because we dont have enough interpreters to interpret into other foreign languages.