English Language Unity Act of 2005 Soars Past 100 co-sponsors

With 106 supporters, H.R. 997 among most widely endorsed in House

With the addition of eight more co-sponsors this month, H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act of 2005, has become one of the few bills in the 109th Congress to exceed 100 supporters. Introduced by Rep. Steve King (IA), this bi-partisan legislation would make English the official language of the United States government.

“At a time when Congress is increasingly focusing on what it means to be an American, our representatives are upholding the importance of a common language,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “Many of the co-sponsors of H.R. 997 represent Congressional districts where the number of people who struggle with language barriers has increased significantly. They are noting the same trends that Sen. S.I. Hayakawa noted two decades ago – splintered communities, lower wages, and decreased opportunities. With this in mind, they’ve come to Washington to see what they can do to unite America, not divide it.”

With 106 co-sponsors from 34 states, H.R. 997 ranks among the 50 most widely supported House bills this year, in the top three percent of more than 2,400 legislative proposals. Though the 109th Congress is only four months old, H.R. 997 is just two co-sponsors shy of the number of supporters of the English Language Unity Act of 2003 (also H.R. 997) in the 108th Congress. It is currently pending in the House Committee on the Judiciary as well as the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Official English measures have long been popular with the public and those elected to serve in Congress. For nearly a generation, polls have found support for making English the official language among four-fifths of the population, including a 2004 Zogby poll which pegged the rate at 82 percent. Since 1981, more than 550 Members of Congress representing all 50 states have sponsored, co-sponsored or voted for official English measures a total of more than 2,500 times.

“I am pleased to see the enthusiastic support among our Congressional leaders,” added Mujica. “We thank those who have vowed to support our efforts and invite the rest of Congress to join our pro-America, pro-immigrant cause. We hope that this outstanding show of support in the House will earn this legislation the committee hearing and vote it deserves.”

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.