Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5325, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the consideration of H.R. 5325, a deceitful effort by House Republicans to yet again dehumanize an entire group of people. It pains me to even say the phrase ``illegal alien'' out loud because it is pejorative, it is offensive, and has no place in our modern discourse.

The Library of Congress is correct to leave this phrase in the pages of history and never to have it uttered again.
The importance of the Library of Congress' decision to discontinue and remove the outdated phrase cannot be emphasized enough. Libraries nationwide and around the world look to the Library of Congress' subject headings and other standards to publish information. As lawmakers representing a country of immigrants, Congress should not assist in the dissemination of information that perpetuates racism and promotes hate.

Of course, I am not at all surprised that congressional Republicans would resort to inserting themselves into bibliographic decisions that are normally reserved for librarians, not appropriators or politicians.

Republicans hypocritically claim to want to keep government out of people's lives, but want government to intrude and dictate standards only when it benefits their bigoted views.

Sadly, today's effort and other past maneuvers to block President Obama's executive actions on immigration falls in line with the concerted effort to move our country backward. We are better than that.

Instead of promoting antiquated and deplorable language, we should be tackling any number of important issues--affordable education, tax reform, and promoting job growth--not telling librarians and educators how to do their jobs.

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