HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98-4726, by Representatives Veloria, Clements, Butler, Skinner, Hankins, Van Luven, Lisk, Kenney, L. Thomas and Conway

     WHEREAS, A well-educated and diverse population is vital to the economic development of our state and the well-being of its citizens; and

     WHEREAS, Refugees and immigrants are served with distinction by teachers, curriculum developers, linguists, and bilingual specialists who help them learn English; and

     WHEREAS, Washington state's public schools, community colleges, and state universities provide valuable instruction to students and adults seeking to enhance their English skills; and

     WHEREAS, Eight thousand participants from the United States and eighty other countries will gather at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle on March 17-21, 1998, for the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) annual convention;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives pay tribute to the TESOL 1998 convention, welcoming participants to the fair state of Washington; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That March be named English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education Month in the state of Washington.

     I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

     Resolution 4726 adopted by the House of Representatives

                         March 11, 1998.

                ________________________________

                 Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk