House Passes Puerto Rico Democracy Act without English Requirements

Bill creates a federally sanctioned vote that could lead to the island becoming the 51st U.S. state

(Washington, D.C.) – On Thursday night, The United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 2499, Puerto Rico Democracy Act by a vote of 233-169. In a separate vote, an amendment that would have required English as the sole official language as a condition for Puerto Rican statehood was defeated 194-198.

"All Americans who care about our national unity should be outraged by this vote," explained Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of the Board of U.S. English, Inc. "No state has ever come into the Union where its core organs of government operate in a foreign language and Puerto Rico must not be an exception."

Puerto Rico has language policies that are unlike any state in the Union's history. English is taught as a foreign language in public schools, and the courts and legislature are conducted in Spanish, with English translations available only by special request. Congress has previously required language requirements as a condition for statehood when the language of potential states was in genuine doubt: Congress required French Louisiana to conduct its government functions in English, and required Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma to make English the language of public education.

The Act, sponsored by Puerto Rico Delegate Pedro Pierluisi, now heads to the Senate, where is has yet to find a sponsor

"This bill constitutes an invitation by Congress to take a very large step on the road to statehood," Mujica continued. "But this invitation must not be issued without full clarity about the consequences of statehood for Puerto Rico and for the current 50 states. On behalf of our members and the millions of Puerto Ricans who oppose this flawed bill, I pledge that we will work tirelessly to fight this battle in the Senate."