| <home>
-- <press releases> --
<September 28 , 2006>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—September 28, 2006— The House of Representatives yesterday passed H.R. 4766, the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006, which was supported and cosponsored by Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo. H.R. 4776 also received the support of the 28th Guam Legislature through their passage of Resolution 199 authored by Senator Judith T. Won Pat. H.R. 4766 authorizes the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) within the United States Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to schools and educational institutions to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of indigenous languages across the United States. “The enactment of H.R. 4766 is important for Guam as it would increase federal resources for local programs to promote and preserve the Chamorro language. It is important that the Chamorro language be kept vibrant and alive for generations to come. The funding that this bill authorizes will help achieve that goal,” Bordallo said. The Chamorro language has survived for 5,000 years. Today it is predominantly spoken among the manam’ko, Guam’s elder community. Declining use by younger generations on Guam is of concern to educators. Future generations on Guam may be deprived of native Chamorro speakers if this trend continues. “This bill raises awareness of the importance of preserving indigenous languages in the United States and its territories,” Bordallo said. “It also serves to support existing language-conservation programs and delegates specific funds to ensure that the diversity of this country is preserved and cultivated,” Bordallo added. The U.S. Senate will now have to favorably consider H.R. 4766 before it can be sent to the President for his action and enacted into law. The full text of Congresswoman Bordallo’s remarks as printed in the September 28, 2006, Congressional Record follows: STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4766 Mr. Speaker: I rise in support of H.R. 4766, the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006. This is important legislation which seeks to protect, preserve, and promote indigenous languages across the United States. Among the estimated 175 indigenous languages spoken by citizens of the United States today is the Chamorro language, the indigenous language of the Chamorro people of Guam. Ethnographers and linguists recognize the Chamorro language as belonging to the western group of the Austronesian language family. The Chamorro language has been spoken by the Chamorro people for more than 5000 years. It is a beautiful language that has survived outside influences and westernization. Chamorro and English are the official languages of Guam. I am proud to support H.R. 4766 because it proposes to increase federal resources for Native American language immersion programs. The version of H.R. 4766 that has been brought to the House floor this evening also would amend the Native American Programs Act to authorize the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to organizations and colleges dedicated to Native American language preservation. The bill specifically authorizes grants to establish site-based educational programs for children and their families, “survivor schools,” and restoration programs. The preservation of the Chamorro language and culture is within the current authorized mission of the ANA-administered grant programs that H.R. 4766 seeks to expand and for which it seeks to reauthorize funding. The Native American Programs Act, which H.R. 4766 seeks to amend, contains a definition for “Native American Pacific Islander” that includes the Chamorro people and our indigenous language. This definition is codified in 42 U.S.C. 2992c and should guide the ANA in administering future grant programs in accordance with this legislation should it be enacted. Mr. Speaker, I also note for the record that H.R. 4766 has received the support of the 28th Guam Legislature. The inclusion of the Chamorro language as among the Native American languages sought to be preserved by this legislation is an important element. I urge support for H.R. 4766. I thank the sponsor of this bill, my colleague from New Mexico, Mrs. Wilson, and the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Education and Workforce Committee, for advancing this legislation and for ensuring Guam and the Pacific Territories were included in the legislation. # # # Contact: Joseph E. Duenas in 671-477-4272/4. joseph.duenas@mail.house.gov or joy.james@mail.house.gov . |
