23876 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS September 6, 1995 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS SENATOR DOLE'S CALL FOR REC­ remains the world's one and only super­ LOBBYING OGNIZING ENGLISH AS AMERI­ power. We will never apologize for that. Our CA'S OFFICIAL LANGUAGE goal is not just to be strong enough to turn back a threat. We must be so strong no one HON. LEE H. HAMILTON HON.GEORGEP. RADANOVICH ever again is even tempted to threaten us, at OF INDIANA all. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA But if we are to return this country to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, September 6, 1995 greatness, we must do more than restore Wednesday, September 6, 1995 America's defenses. We must return as a peo­ Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, many of ple to the original concept of what it means insert my Washington Report for Wednesday, us in this House-indeed, close to 200 of us­ to be American. This means tackling sub­ August 9, 1995, into the CONGRESSIONAL have joined in sponsoring various legislative jects the arbiters of political correctness RECORD. measures that would declare English as our don't even want discussed: For example, The report follows: English must be recognized as America's of­ country's official language. Beyond mere dec­ ficial language. Western tradition and Amer­ LOBBYING AND SPECIAL INTERESTS laration, and depending on the particular pro­ ican greatness must be taught in our Governing in America has become increas­ posal, these bills and resolutions contain var­ schools. And the Federal government just ingly difficult in recent years. Part of the ious mechanisms of implementation and en­ end its war on traditional American values. problem is that the country is much bigger forcement. than it used to be. Since World War II, the The movement behind recognizing English America has always been more than just a population of the U.S. has grown from 130 place on a map, it has held a claim on our million people to 260 million. The country as our official language, I believe, is growing hearts. We are a nation dedicated to a propo­ by the day. I continue to receive communica­ has become much more diverse: more than sition: that all men and women are created half of all California voters in the 1996 elec­ tions irom my constituents, asking that we, in equal, endowed by our Creator with certain, tion will be non-white, and some of my col­ Congress, take action accordingly, and I am inalienable rights. Our forefathers rejected leagues will barely speak a word of English pleased to be a cosponsor of two such Eng­ race and religion as the forces to form a na­ during their next congressional campaign. lish language measures, H.R. 123 and H.R. tion, choosing instead the ideals of freedom The country also faces difficult policy is­ 1005. and democracy. It was a radical gamble, and sues-from balancing the budget to the chal­ And, Mr. Speaker, it is with this emerging ever since we have held it to be an article of lenge of cheap labor abroad. But part of the English energy in mind that I take particular faith that those who would be Americans problem is also the increasing role of special pleasure in making available excerpts from a must first abandon lesser allegiances. As interests in the political process. speech by the distinguished majority leader of Franklin Roosevelt once said, " Americanism Special interests groups have become the U.S. Senate, Bos DOLE, in which he ... is not, and never was, a matter of race much more numerous and well-organized in and ancestry." recent years. Washington, of course, has al­ stressed the unifying role of one language. ways had lobbyists, and contacting Members Senator DOLE addressed the American Legion Succeeding waves of immigrants have been of Congress is a basic form of political ex­ Convention in Indianapolis, IN, earlier this drawn to America by this idea. Lacking the pression. But we have far more lobbyists now week on Labor Day. centuries-old, primal bonds of other nations, than ever before and they have become very You are Freedom's heroes and American we have used our language, our history and sophisticated and aggressive. Lobbying is patriots, and I'm proud to be among you. our code of values to make the American ex­ one of the biggest growth industries around. Each of you has answered America's call­ periment work. We have used them to forge There are more than 12,000 registered lobby­ whether it was to fight for our freedom ,' or to millions of diverse individuals into one peo­ ists in Washington today, three times more defend the peace in which we have prospered ple with a common purpose. Language, his­ than 20 years ago, but studies show that for so many years. Each of you knows what tory and values: these are the strings that there are actually close to 100,000 people in it means to wear the uniform of your coun­ bind our hearts to America. These are the Washington who conduct lobbying activities. try, to put your country first and to be will­ forces that have held us together-allowing I used to hear from just a few farm groups on ing to bear any sacrifice to keep her free. us to be diverse and yet united, to absorb un­ agricultural legislation, for example. Today Because of you, and those who came before told millions of immigrants while coming there are dozens of groups that represent you, we Americans are the freest people on the closest any country ever has to the class­ every commodity; not long ago I was visited earth. And you know as well as I do how we less, upwardly mobile society of our ideals. by people representing Hawaiian Macadamia stay that way; we must remain the strongest nut growers. Many lobbyists now also rep­ country on earth. But these keys to unity are under attack resent foreign governments or companies. That's what I want to talk with you about from our government and from intellectual In recent years lobbyists have also greatly today. Keeping America strong-in her elites who seem embarrassed by America. expanded their grassroots efforts-trying to might and in her heart, in the face of exter­ What we see as opportunity they see as op­ persuade ordinary voters to advocate by nal enemies and in the presence of threats pression. Where we see a proud past, they see their letters and contacts with legislators. from within. America is still the land of the a legacy of shame. What we hold as moral They use the technologies of the electronic free and the home of the brave, and a great truth, they call intolerance. They have false age and can quickly reach and recruit thou­ century of hope and opportunity is about to theories, long dissertations and endless stud­ sands of Americans. With their increasing unfold before us. But to claim that future, ies to back them up. But they know so much numbers and influence, lobbyists have be­ America needs your help. For some in Amer­ they have somehow missed the fact that the come a real power in Washington. They can ica believe our might is no longer needed, United States of America is the greatest organize mass demonstrations and flood and some think our definition of what it force for good the world has ever known. Members' offices with phone calls, fax mes­ means to be an American is out of date. sages, and letters. Of course, neither is true. Can there be any Yes, we have our faults. But part of what doubt that the world is still a dangerous makes me so proud to be an American is the BENEFITS OF LOBBYISTS place? Yes, the Cold War is over. We won one constant effort of our people to do better-to In some ways the growth of these interest of humanity's greatest struggles against to­ make our country right and good and just. groups and lobbying efforts is healthy. I talitarianism and oppression. But today Unfortunately some policies and programs sometimes walk through the halls of Capitol peace is threatened and dark forces are mul­ born out of that desire have gone awry. Hill and think I am in the middle of a con­ tiplying in almost every corner of the world. Begun for the best of reasons and then hi­ vention or jamboree. Americans of all per­ For the demands of freedom require us to jacked by the Embarrassed-to-be-American suasions are clamoring to be heard. No single modernize our forces, to maintain our tech­ crowd, certain Federal programs are untying group dominates and freedom of expression nological edge, and to ensure that America the strings of citizenship. is widespread and vigorous. e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. September 6, 1995 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 23877 Lobbyists can play an important role in ernment for redress of grievances, but there In 1896, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Rectory the legislative process. They help to facili­ are abuses that need to be checked. Our was established on 2319 South Third Street, tate the flow of information between legisla­ goals should not be to try to stamp out lob­ in South Philadelphia.