News & Media

U.S. English, Inc. Chairman Denounces the Use of Spanish on Senate Floor

Statement by Mauro E. Mujica

“S.I. Hayakawa, the noted linguist and Senator, once noted that the members of the U.S. House and Senate were descendants of speakers of 250 to 350 languages. If each member chose to address his or her remarks in their ancestral language, the ensuing gridlock would slow down an already lengthy legislative process. Moreover, the need for translation services – for speakers of our common language – would add millions of dollars to our mounting deficit.

“For more than two centuries, thousands of members of Congress have spoken on the record in English. These members, with roots touching almost every corner of the Earth, have understood that while it is good for individuals to be bilingual, multilingualism in government is costly and divisive. That is why we need to make English the official language of the United States.

“Speaking English to the nation is an inclusive gesture toward our diverse citizenry. Spanish may be the native language of many Americans, but like 320 other languages spoken by Americans, it is a language that includes some and alienates most. We have received calls from U.S. English members all around the country who are worried that they will not be able to understand the proceedings in their own legislature.

“Though Senator Martinez’s speech in Spanish may have been unparalleled in the history of the Senate, I believe it is a landmark of dubious distinction. For the sake of national unity, I hope the use of a foreign language on the Senate floor was a one-time publicity stunt and not a tactic that will be employed in the future.”

U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.