Official English Constitutional Amendment Introduced in Colorado

Voters would get ultimate say in Centennial State

Colorado Representative Dave Schultheis introduced legislation today that would strengthen existing measures that establish English the official language of Colorado. The bill, HCR06, calls for the state to conduct most written government operations in English. As with many official English measures, the bill makes exceptions for public health and safety, trade and tourism, or where language policies are prescribed by federal law.

“There may be a nationwide split on immigration policy, but Americans are nearly unanimous in their support of an assimilation policy,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English. “Americans expect that this country’s newest residents will proudly wave our flag and make strides to learn our language – English. An official English policy is the state government’s manner of endorsing that sentiment.”

While English is already the official language of Colorado, present law fails to elaborate how that declaration translates into daily government policy. House Concurrent Resolution 06 clarifies the intent of the measure, requiring the government to maintain its focus on English in most printed communication.

If passed by the Colorado House and Senate, the measure would appear on the general election ballot in November. Coloradans previously passed official English legislation through ballot initiative on Nov. 8, 1988. That measure succeeded with 63 percent of the vote. To date, official English initiatives have passed in all seven states in which they have appeared on the ballot.

“In a nation of immigrants, the English language is the one common trait we can rally behind,” continued Mujica, who came to the United States from Chile in 1965. “By doing government business in English, rather than continuing the spread of damaging multilingualism, we can lead all Americans toward opportunity and success. I congratulate Rep. Schultheis for his foresight in introducing this bill and look forward to its passage in the legislature."

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.