Press
Gallery
|
||||
 |
News |
|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: | Tim Schultz |
| July 16, 1998 | ||
| 202/833-0100 | ||
| 800/787-8216 |
U.S.ENGLISH URGES SENATOR LANDRIEU TO RECONSIDER REMARKS ON PUERTO RICO STATEHOOD
U.S.ENGLISH Chairman/CEO Mauro E. Mujica today publicly urged Sen. Mary Landrieu to reconsider statements she made in a Tuesday Senate committee hearing on statehood for Puerto Rico. Landrieu cited the example of Louisiana in arguing that Puerto Rico should not be required to adopt English as its sole official language before becoming our 51st state.
"I would remind Senator Landrieu that the experience of Louisiana is the best argument for requiring that any new state adopt English as its language," Mujica said. "After all, Congress required Louisiana to make English its sole official language as a condition of admission to the Union. Today, 99% of the state's population speaks English. Louisiana maintains its rich cultural heritage, but is also integrated into our nation through our common language."
Landrieu made her comments during a hearing on the "United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act." The bill, which passed the House of Representatives by one vote in April, would impose a binding referendum on Puerto Rico. If 50%-plus-one voters in Puerto Rico chose to become the 51st state, the U.S. would be obligated to accept the result. Currently, the bill makes no language requirements of Puerto Rico.
"The language issue is the key in this whole debate, since 75% of Puerto Ricans speak little or no English," Mujica explained. "We should address the language issue like Louisiana did, or we risk creating our own Quebec. Since Puerto Rico has been associated with the Union for 100 years without adopting English, it is doubtful that they are prepared to do what it takes to become part of the United States."
A recent nationwide poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies found that 74% of Americans favor requiring English as Puerto Rico's sole official language prior to becoming a state.
U.S.ENGLISH is the nation's oldest, largest 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 now has more than 1.3 million members nationwide, including more than 8,000 in Louisiana.
###
