U.S. Senate Votes to Make English the National Language

Measure to reduce government multilingualism passes with strong bi-partisan margin

Washington, D.C. – By a bi-partisan vote of 64-33, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment late last night to make English the national language of the United States and reduce the entitlement to multilingual services. The S.I. Hayakawa National Language Amendment Act of 2007, offered by Sen. James Inhofe to the comprehensive immigration reform legislation currently pending in the Senate, declares that there is no affirmative right to receive services in languages other than English, except where required by federal law.

“If we want to understand what made past waves of American immigrants so successful, we must focus on the language that helped them become Americans – English,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “I want to thank those Senators who voted to continue America’s proud tradition of uniting our diverse people through one common language. In recent years, our nation has gotten away from the strong governmental message sent by operating overwhelmingly in English. This vote indicates that we are ready to leave the failed experiment of government multilingualism and return to increasing English learning.”

Under the approved amendment, English would be declared the national language of the United States government, calling upon federal agencies to “preserve and enhance the role of English as the national language of the United States of America.” While the measure does not prohibit information and documents in languages other than English, it clarifies that while a government agency can opt to provide services in other languages, citizens do not have an affirmative right to ask for such services. An exception is made for existing federal law, such as in health care and judicial matters. Sixteen Senators were co-sponsors of the measure.

A Zogby International poll released in May found that 83 percent of Americans support making English the official language of the United States. The poll of 993 likely voters revealed that strong majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents favored official English legislation.

Last year, the Senate approved a similar amendment by Sen. Inhofe by a bi-partisan vote of 62-35

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.