{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20141207050253/http://lujan.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1493", "Lujan Introduces Legislation to Preserve Native American Languages", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Ben Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n of New Mexico\u2019s Third District announced that he recently introduced legislation to help Native American communities preserve their traditional languages.\u00a0 This updated reauthorization of the Esther Martinez Native American Language Preservation Act improves and reauthorizes an existing program to support tribal communities and makes resources available to achieve this vital goal. \u201cLanguage preservation is a vital component of broader efforts to preserve the nuances of Native American culture and traditions that are often lost in translation.\u00a0 Language is an essential part of history, culture, and way of life,\u201d Congressman Luj\u00e1n said.\u00a0 \u201cThe preservation of culture depends upon the endurance of native languages that have been an integral part of tribes in New Mexico and across the country.\u00a0 Continuing the successful programs implemented by the Esther Martinez Native American Language Preservation Act will help expand fluency in native languages, helping tribal communities preserve their cultural traditions and ensuring that these languages will continue to provide meaning and value to future generations.\u201d In 2006, the Esther Martinez Native American Language Preservation Act was signed into law to support language immersion programs, language survival schools, and language restoration programs.\u00a0 In addition to reauthorizing this important effort, Luj\u00e1n\u2019s bill also increases the sustainability and flexibility of the program by extending the duration of grant awards to up to five years, giving projects a more stable funding source and increasing the impact of each project.\u00a0 Additionally, more language schools and language nests in low populated and remote areas will be eligible to access this important grant funding.\u00a0 The reauthorization of this legislation would allow existing programs to continue through Fiscal Year 2019.\u00a0 \u00a0 Previously, in February of 2013, Luj\u00e1n introduced legislation to extend the Esther Martinez Native American Language Preservation Act.\u00a0 This new, strengthened legislation mirrors a Senate companion bill that was recently reported favorably to the full Senate by the Committee on Indian Affairs.\u00a0 This effort enjoys bipartisan support and was introduced with the support of five co-sponsors.  #\u00a0 #\u00a0 #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141207050253/http://lujan.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1493"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5652012079954147, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}