WHEREAS:

The culture of the United States has always been enriched by the diversity of its people; and,

WHEREAS:

An important part of that diversity consists of the languages spoken by our citizens; and,

WHEREAS:

Any action that would restrict or prevent state and local governments from communicating with their citizens in their own native languages will unfairly discriminate against those citizens and make them feel they are in a second-class status; and,

WHEREAS:

The English First Organization has persuaded some members of Congress to introduce joint resolutions proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishing English as the official language of the United States; and,

WHEREAS:

These resolutions, House Joint Resolution 96 and Senate Joint Resolution 20, although touted as promoting national unity will in fact act to divide multiethnic communities of our country and seriously erode the progress our society has made in civil rights and equal protection of the law for all people.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

AFSCME opposes any initiative — Federal, state or local — which would dictate that English be the only official language of that locality; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

AFSCME support the U.S. House of Representatives Hispanic Caucus' bill H.R. 5042, The English Proficiency Act, to fund literacy programs; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

AFSCME oppose the sense of House Joint Resolution 96 and Senate Joint Resolution 20 and urge all members of Congress to oppose these or similar measures in the future.