Letters |
I've correspondence with my state and federal representatives for a number of years with limited results. I started saving my emails to and from elected officials, I've posted them here for all to read. They are not in any order or by office. In June of 2006 I sent an Email to Senator Patty Murray. Wanting her to support English as the official language of the United States. I also sent a copy of my response to Senator Murray's email to Senator Cantwell. Senator Murray's Response From: Senator@murray.senate.gov
Thank you for contacting me about the status of the English language in the United States. I appreciate hearing from you, and apologize for the delay in my response. In the 109th Congress, several pieces of legislation were introduced that would establish English as the official language of the United States. This included H.J.Res 43, which would have amended the Constitution to make English our official language, while H.R.997 and H.R. 4408 were introduced in the House of Representatives and would have made English our national language through federal statute. Additionally, H.R.136 would have repealed Executive Order 13166 and prohibit federal funding of any service that current law requires be provided in languages other than English. Each of these bills would have had a significant impact on the ability of non-English speaking Americans to access essential services and to exercise their rights as Americans. Strong economic and social pressures already compel most Americans and those living in America to learn English. Statistics show all but a small percentage of Americans already speak English. A law or Constitutional amendment mandating English as the official language of the United States government is divisive and will not assist non-English speaking Americans in learning English. Rather than dividing our country, we should encourage citizens to learn English to hasten their integration and acceptance into American society and to maximize their economic competitiveness. Towards this goal, we should provide better support for public and private efforts to teach the English language. As a U.S. Senator, I have worked hard to fully fund child and adult literacy programs, such as English as a second language (ESL) education. I believe it is critical to promote community initiatives that give Americans the skills they need to succeed, including the ability to speak English. Rest assured, should any of these bills or similar legislation before the Senate in the 110th Congress, I will certainly keep your views in mind. Once again, thank you for contacting me. Please stay in touch. Sincerely,
P.S. I'd like to invite you to receive Patty Murray's Washington View, my weekly legislative update by e-mail. If you are interested in receiving my update, please sign up here: http://murray.senate.gov/updates. My Response to Senator Murray and cc to Senator Cantwell Dear Senator Murray, Thank you for your response about English as the official language of the United States. You stated in your response “Each of these bills would have had a significant impact on the ability of non-English speaking Americans to access essential services and to exercise their rights as Americans.” According to the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (www.uscis.gov),
one of the requirements to become a citizen is, “an ability to read,
write and speak English.” So the argument you put forward is mute
according Federal requirements for citizenship i.e. American. Respectfully, Randy G Lancaster Senator Cantwell's Response to the CC of the above email. From: Maria_Cantwell@cantwell.senate.gov Subject: From the Office of Senator Cantwell Dear Mr. Lancaster ,
Thank you for contacting me regarding your views on establishing an official language of the United States . I appreciate hearing your views on this issue.
I believe that English is the common language of the United States . Its use provides a sense of unity for the melting pots of cultures and ethnicities that played a key role in America 's formation and contribute to its continued growth. For this reason, current law requires applicants for citizenship in the United States to demonstrate their ability to read, write, and speak English, and prove a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government.
On May 25, 2006, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act by a vote of 62-36. I voted for this legislation because it contains numerous provisions to enhance border security, creates a guest worker program to meet the needs of state businesses, and confronts the issue of undocumented immigrants. A key provision of this legislation reiterates the need for immigrants to learn English as one of several steps they must take before than can earn citizenship.
In addition, I supported an amendment ( S.A. 4073) to this legislation introduced by Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) declaring that the English language is the "common and unifying language of the United States ," and calling for efforts to be made to preserve and enhance usage of the English language. You will be pleased to know that this amendment was passed on May 18, 2006, by a vote of 58-39. However, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act was not enacted by the close of the 109th Congress, and will therefore need to be reintroduced for further consideration.
Like you, I believe that it is important to promote integration of immigrants into the United States by using a common language. However, I am concerned that efforts to limit the availability of government services for persons with limited or no English proficiency may endanger the public's heath and may inhibit emergency preparedness systems. The United States government must have the ability and legal authority to disseminate critical information in a timely fashion in the case of another hurricane, terrorist attack, or other emergency. For instance, facing the threat of an avian flue pandemic or other public health emergency, the United States government must be able to quickly disseminate information to all communities, regardless of the primary language spoken, in order to stem the spread of the disease.
I support programs that provide all Americans with access and opportunity in our society, but I also believe it is important for all citizens to learn English. To that end, I am supportive of efforts to provide English as a Second Language classes and other similar initiatives to help immigrants learn our common language. Please be assured I will keep your views in mind should the Senate consider other legislation on this issue.
Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter. Finally, you may be interested in signing up for my weekly update for Washington State residents. Every Monday, I provide a brief outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance to Washington State . If you are interested in subscribing to this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov . Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.
For future correspondence with my office, please visit my website at Following was an Item from Senator Murray's New letter sent to me on January 19th, 2007 From: Murray, Webmaster (Murray) [Webmaster@murray.senate.gov] Subject: Changing the Way Business is Done in DC - U.S. Senator Patty Murray's Washington View AG NEWS: Working for Washington State Farm Families This week I helped sponsor the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security This bill would help secure a legal and dependable farm workforce by providing better working conditions for farm workers in the U.S. It will also help to ensure that farm workers who have been working and paying taxes in the U.S. receive proper legal protections. My Response . Senator Murray, Read the purposed bill at Farmworkers Justice I sent a copy of this email to Senator Cantwell, Her response below. From: Maria_Cantwell@cantwell.senate.gov Subject: From the Office of Senator Cantwell Sun 1/21/2007 1:36 PM Dear Mr. Lancaster,
Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts regarding immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
On May 25, 2006, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act by a vote of 62-36. I voted for this legislation because it contains numerous provisions to enhance border security, creates a guest worker program to meet the needs of state businesses, and confronts the issue of undocumented immigrants.
I firmly believe that any changes to our national policy on immigration must keep border security and enforcement as a top priority. If enacted, this legislation would authorize 14,000 additional border agents and at least 2,500 port of entry inspectors, and would authorize a virtual fence to allow the border to be patrolled with unmanned aircraft, cameras, sensors, and other technology, expanding the reach and effectiveness of our border security personnel. It would also authorize the hiring of 10,000 agents to enforce employment regulations as part of a program that would require employers to check Social Security numbers of new hires against a federal database.
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act includes a measure I sponsored to help northern border communities cover the high cost of prosecuting Federal border crimes. Based on an existing program for the southern border, this provision would authorize almost $30 million annually to reimburse border communities for the cost of prosecuting cases, detaining suspects, and constructing holding spaces. The Senate immigration reform bill also incorporates legislation I cosponsored to make it a crime to construct or finance a tunnel across a border leading into the U.S. Currently, tunnel construction is not a crime, meaning suspects only face drug conspiracy or illegal immigration charges, and are not charged for the actual tunnel construction, even though it poses a serious threat to national security. This provision would subject guilty parties to a prison term of up to 20 years, and hold property owners who permit tunnel construction accountable. An amendment I cosponsored with other Northwest Senators to direct the Defense Department to use unmanned aerial vehicles for border surveillance along the northern border as part of a one-year pilot program was also included.
Immigration policy must also address the need to fill labor shortages in certain fields such as technology and agriculture, and accommodate market demands for foreign labor. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act expands our temporary guest worker program to allow up to 200,000 foreign workers to obtain visas and fill vacant jobs in the United States, a change that will help meet the needs of businesses and agriculture producers. Individuals would receive a three-year visa, renewable once, and would be eligible to apply for permanent residence after holding a visa for a period of 4 years.
The bill would also make illegal immigrants who have been in the United States since April 5, 2001 eligible for legal status after working in the United States for six years, passing a background check, paying back taxes, holding a job, learning civics and English, and paying a $3,250 fine. Illegal immigrants who have been in this country between two and five years would have to register with the Department of Homeland Security. Within three years of their registration, they would have to leave the United States and could return by applying for a visa. After clearing a background check, paying back taxes, and meeting other requirements, these individuals would qualify for legal permanent residence status. An additional 1.5 million agricultural workers would be eligible for permanent legal residence if they could prove they worked in agriculture in the United States previously, and if they worked three to five more years in agriculture. To help meet the needs of Washington state's high-tech industries, the bill increases the annual H1-B visa cap from 65,000 to 115,000. It also includes a bipartisan measure, which I sponsored, to increase the proportion of visas currently issued each year to highly-skilled workers, and to workers with advanced degrees. In doing so, this provision would help meet America's growing need for scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. As you may know, the House of Representatives passed its version of the immigration reform legislation on December 16, 2006. However, the House and Senate did not reconcile the two versions of this legislation before the close of the 109th Congress. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind should I have the opportunity to consider legislation reforming our nation's immigration policy in the 110th Congress. Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter. Finally, you may be interested in signing up for my weekly update for Washington state residents. Every Monday, I provide a brief outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance to Washington state. If you are interested in subscribing to this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Maria CantwellUnited States Senator For future correspondence with my office, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html Senator Murray wants to attach the (AgJOBS) Act of 2007 to Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. Searching Bill and Resolutions on the Federal Web site I found a Bill sponsored by Senator Cantwell and objected to the following: 110th CONGRESS 1st Session January 4, 2007 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MR. REID (for himself and MR. Leahy and _____ ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. A BILL To recognize the heritage of the United States as a nation of immigrants and amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for more effective border and employment enforcement, to prevent illegal immigration, to reform and rationalize avenues for legal immigration, and for other purposes. See Full Bill Senator Patrick Leahy My Email Response to Senator Cantwell supporting such language. Dear Senator Cantwell, I object to the following statement made in S 9 IS (January 4, 2007) “To recognize the heritage of the United States as a nation of immigrants” I am not an immigrant; I hold no allegiance to any other country but the United States of America. I was born an American, raised as an American, learned the history of America, My family is in it’s 11th generation as Americans and we use no prefix before American to describe ourselves. i.e. African, Mexican, Irish, etc. Members of my family have been in every war since United States proclaimed it’s independences including the latest actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. So we have shed our blood for this Country we were born and raised in and do not consider our nation to be an immigrant nation. Yes, we accept immigrants into our country legally and welcome them into this country if they are willing to assimilate into the American Society. This can only be accomplished by the immigrant learning to speak, write and read English, learn our history and how our Government works. They must be willing to hold no allegiance to any other country or flag but that of the United States and only then can they become a citizen of our great Country. Please consider changing the wording of this bill out of respect for native born Americans. If you consider the United State an immigrant nation, then all of the countries of Europe and Asia are immigrant nations if the “Out of Africa” theory is to be believed. Respectfully Submitted, Randy G Lancaster
The Following emails have been sent to the above Washington Legislators with there responses. Gentlemen, I’ve read a number of proposed ballot measures to protect Washington
State Citizens from illegal immigrants. I’ve sent the statistics
to you on the criminal activities of illegal immigrants and receive a
short reply from Mr. Blake stating “I share your concerns”.
(2) If the person is unable to provide the SSN, either because it is not known or has not been issued, the person must: (a) Apply for the SSN; (b) Provide proof that the SSN has been applied for; and (c) Provide the SSN when it is received. (3) Assistance will not be delayed, denied or terminated pending the issuance of an SSN by the Social Security Administration. However, a person who does not comply with these requirements is not eligible for assistance. (4) For cash, medical, and food assistance benefits, a person cannot be disqualified from receiving benefits for refusing to apply for or supply an SSN based on religious grounds. (5) For food assistance programs: (a) A person can receive benefits for the month of application and the following month if the person attempted to apply for the SSN and made every effort to provide the needed information to the Social Security Administration. (b) A newborn may receive benefits for up to six months from the date of birth if the household is unable to provide proof of application for an SSN at the time of birth. (6) For medical programs, a newborn as described in WAC 388-505-0210(1) is eligible for categorically needy (CN) medical without meeting the SSN requirement until the baby's first birthday. (7) There is no SSN requirement for the following programs: (a) The consolidated emergency assistance program; (b) The refugee cash and medical assistance program; (c) The alien emergency medical program; (d) The state-funded pregnant woman program; and (e) Detoxification services. This boggles the mind. A loophole that needs to be plugged… I could
fill pages of such loopholes in the DSH rules and laws costing TAXPAYERS
Millions of dollars. Respectfully No Response Gentlemen: Our State is under attack and you as our representatives are sworn under
RCW 43.01.020 (“support the Constitution of the United States and
the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington”) I could quote
both State and Federal Constitutions but you should know your duties to
the citizens and the state. Please do something before our state dissolves into vigilante justice. Respectfully, Response Below From: Blake, Rep. Brian [Blake.Brian@leg.wa.gov] To: Randy Lancaster Subject: RE: Protect Us Randy, I share your concerns. Brian
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