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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: | Tim Schultz |
| August 6, 1998 | ||
| 202/833-0100 | ||
| 800/787-8216 |
U.S.ENGLISH URGES PASSAGE OF FEDERAL BILL TO REFORM BILINGUAL EDUCATION
Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman/CEO of U.S.ENGLISH, urged Congress to pass a bill to dramatically reform federal funding of bilingual education programs. "Bilingual education began with the best of intentions, but has degenerated into a program that usually gives children little or no exposure to English. As an immigrant myself, I can attest that learning English is the single most important guarantee of success in our country. Today, I challenge Congress to guarantee every child in America a right to learn English."
Mujica's comments came as the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on H.R. 3892, the "English Language Fluency Act." The bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank Riggs (R-CA), would allow local districts to use any method they choose in teaching English to children with limited English proficiency. It would give parents control over which type of program their children are placed in, require tracking of children's progress in learning English, and limit federally-funded bilingual education programs to three years.
"This bill is a moderate proposal that both parties can agree on," Mujica continued. "It does not go as far as California's Proposition 227-instead, it finds a middle ground between local control and making sure immigrant children get a heavy dose of English."
U.S.ENGLISH is the nation's oldest and largest organization dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S.ENGLISH now has more than 1.3 million members nationwide.
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