By Jeremy Walsh
More money may be coming to help boost Queens’ immigrant population in its efforts to learn English.
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) are sponsoring the Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Skills Act, which would provide tax incentives to business owners who offer their employees English training and educators who choose to teach English to immigrants, as well as boost federal education funding for English language learning courses.
Clarke and a number of immigrant advocates gathered in front of Cafe Terrazza in Elmhurst Monday to hail the bill, which has yet to pass either the House or the Senate. Gillibrand was unable to attend the event because of a vote in Washington, spokeswoman Angie Hu said.
“This legislation provides strong federal investments needed to … give our immigrant communities a path to becoming citizens and building a brighter future,” Gillibrand said in a prepared statement.
Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican Immigrants, hailed the legislation.
“Although we spoke English in our home, many of my friends, classmates and neighbors spoke French Creole,” she said, noting that of 1.5 million people in the city who need English language instruction, fewer than 100,000 receive any lessons. “Every newcomer to America knows they need to learn English skills.”
The bill would give tax breaks up to $1,000 per employee for business owners who offer English instruction. It would also expand federal Department of Education grants to states for English language classes from $70 million to $200 million and ensure the majority of the funding goes to states with substantial growth in immigrant populations.
Freddie Castiblanco, who owns Cafe Terrazza, said he started working on his business eight years ago after immigrating from Colombia and encountered many challenges.
“The linguistic barrier for this is … formidable,” he said. “This legislation will empower our workers, definitely.”
Ana Maria Archila, director of the immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York, regarded the bill as a useful step in a larger process.
“What Sen. Gillibrand and Congresswoman Clarke have done with this bill is expand the question of immigration to beyond ‘who is in this country and under what circumstances,’” Archila said.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jewalsh@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
