Senate Passes Measure to make English the National Language

62-35 vote gives assimilation key role in immigration debate

The U.S. Senate today approved an amendment offered by Sen. James Inhofe that would make English the national language of the United States. The amendment, offered as part of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, passed by a margin of 62-35. The measure declares that there is no affirmative right to receive services in languages other than English, except where required by federal law. In addition, the measure upholds English as part of U.S. naturalization requirements.

“This is a historic vote in support of the language that has united Americans for more than two centuries,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of the Board of U.S. English, Inc. “Making English the national language is a longstanding oversight that today’s Senate vote corrected. Today’s vote heeded the voices of the vast majority of Americans who believe that English is a crucial part of being an American.”

According to a 2005 poll by Zogby International, 79 percent of Americans support making English the official language of the United States, including more than two-thirds of Democrats and four-fifths of first- and second-generation Americans. H.R. 997, legislation pending in the U.S. House of Representatives that would make English the official language recently collected its 150th co-sponsor and is one of the most widely supported bills in the 109th Congress.

The embrace of English as the official language of the United States was fitting in the wake of President George W. Bush’s Monday night speech imploring immigration reform. In his speech, the President told the nation, “The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society and embrace our common identity as Americans.” Included in the binding factors mentioned by the President was the English language, which he called “the key to unlocking the opportunity of America.”

“The debate on the Senate floor today contained many different viewpoints, but the Senators were unanimous in their belief that English is the unifying factor and the key to opportunity in the United States.,” continued Mujica. “In our diverse country, we must focus on the things that bring us together. Without a common language, we are not a nation of immigrants, but instead groups of immigrants living a nation ”

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.