Language Bill

[Andre Cramblit]

  I am happy to report that it passed last night at 8:30 p.m. Hooray.
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STATEMENT of Congressman Rick Renzi
The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act September
27, 2006

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Miller for
the opportunity to speak on this important piece of legislation. I also
want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Heather Wilson, for her
leadership on this important issue.

This bill amends the Native American Programs Act to allow the
Administration for Native Americans under the Dept. of Health and Human
Services to award grants to strengthen Native American language
immersion programs.

This measure is vital to preserving the diminishing Native languages in
tribes across the nation, including many in my district. As an original
cosponsor on this measure, I am thankful for the bipartisan effort to
preserve the languages of those people who hold the original history of
our country.

In my own district, the Navajo people have a very successful language
immersion program. In 2001, the Navajo Language Immersion School at the
Window Rock Unified School District was established by Dr. Deborah
Dennison. At the first grade level, students are instructed in the
Navajo Language 90% of the time, and the remaining 10% of their lessons
are in English. With each year, these Navajo students are immersed in
English more and more until there is an equal balance of language
instruction.

The students in this successful program cover academic content areas in
both Navajo and English and the results have been astounding. These
students perform better on the standardized tests than students in
"regular classrooms. Moreover, since it was established, the Navajo
Language Immersion School has consistently met No Child Left Behind’s
designation of "Annual Yearly Progress" and they have also met "Arizona
Learns" standards. I hope this kind of excellence in learning and
education can be duplicated throughout Indian Country.

While some may worry that this program would decrease the importance of
the English language in the United States, we must remember the
contributions that Native Americans who speak their Native language have
made to our country. During World Wars I and II, Native American
languages, including the Navajo language, played a vital role in
protecting our nation. Navajo people and other Native Americans were
employed as "Code Talkers" during the wars, and implemented a code that
our enemies could not break. Thus it was through their language that we
overcame our enemies.

U.S. English, an organization dedicated to promoting English as the
official
language of the United States, has stated that, "
official English
legislation proposed by U.S.ENGLISH does not prevent the use of Native
American languages ... In education, U.S.ENGLISH supports the right of
tribal governments and autonomous Native American communities to make
their native languages the primary language of instruction in their
schools."

Therefore, it is paramount that we pass this legislation. As it helps us
protect not only an essential part of Native American history but also
helps
us safeguard a larger part of United States character and culture for
future
generations to learn their Native language.

A wise friend once shared with me that "To take away a people’s language
is to begin to conquer them." Let us join together to support and
preserve the first American’s Native languages.