News & Media

December 2009 - January 2009

December 2009 - January 2009

The new year opens with many prospects on the official English front, both in Congress and state legislatures. In addition to measures already pending, a number of legislators plan to introduce new bills, and multiple opportunities could arise in Congress to reduce multilingualism. Before the year is out, Oklahomans will vote on official English and U.S. citizens in every state will cast ballots for the members of the 112th Congress.

Missouri Representative Cynthia Davis has pre-filed legislation in Missouri that would eliminate driver’s license exams in languages other than English. House Bill 1231 would require that all applicants for a Missouri driver’s license take the exam in English without the use of a language interpreter.

Congress is at it again – attempting to allow the federal government to force private companies to conduct business in languages other than English.

U.S. English Director of Government Relations Tim Schultz discusses the importance of requiring prospective motorists to take the exam in English, including parallels to other requirements states make for would-be drivers.

At the end of last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that the administration would pursue immigration reform legislation in 2010. In her speech, Napolitano reiterated that under the plan promoted by the administration, illegal immigrants would have to register, pay fines and all taxes they owe, pass a criminal background check and learn English.

As an organization which counts tens of thousands of veterans in our ranks, and as the children, grandchildren  and parents of immigrants ourselves, U.S. English, Inc. wishes to thank all of the men and women who have protected our country and preserved our freedoms.

Those who have served in the military understand the importance of effective communication; the battlefield is no place for misunderstandings. During its long and illustrious history, the armed forces have been our most notable melting pot, bringing together individuals from different backgrounds for the same purpose – protecting our country.

52 weeks from today, Oklahoma voters will have the opportunity to make English the official language of the state via ballot initiative. In this audiocast, Tim Schultz, Director of Government Relations for U.S. English, Inc., discusses the road to getting the Oklahoma measure on the ballot, chronicling our efforts in the most recent legislative session and the earlier obstacles we overcame to achieve this feat.

Parents in New Haven, Connecticut are locked in a battle with the school district, demanding that the school district provide translations and translators for Spanish speaking parents.

Audio clip regaridng the introduction of the Lee Amendment to stop the government from forcing private businesses to operate in multiple languages.

One frequent question we often receive about official English concerns the type, or dialect, of English that U.S. English is advocating.

U.S. English, Inc. representatives discuss the possible drawbacks of programs that aim to make students fluent in two languages.

Action is picking up in the Senate on S. 991, legislation that would make English the official language of the United States. Introduced by Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, S. 991 is the companion measure to H.R. 997 in the House of Representatives.

As reported in hundreds of news outlets this week, the U.S. Census will be spending $26 million to send Spanish-language Census forms to communities around the nation. The 14 million forms, which will be targeted to specific neighborhoods, raise questions about how the government deals with non-English speaking populations and what is being done to promote English acquisition in the United States.

Iowa Representative Tom Latham became the 128th co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, as the push for official English legislation heats up in Congress.

A Census report out this week found that the percentage of Americans who were born outside of the United States declined between 2007 and 2008, marking the first decrease in many years. Despite the reversed trend, the United States remains a place of great diversity – 12.5 percent, or one-eighth, of the population was born abroad.

Representative Dave Camp became the 127th co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, marking the seventh member of Congress joining the effort to make English the official language since Congress returned from recess two weeks ago.

A new survey in Virginia is the latest evidence of a strong groundswell of support for policies that allow employers to require that English be spoken on the job. Hear more from Tim Schultz, U.S. English, Inc. Director of Govenrment Relations.

Two representatives signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 997 yesterday, bringing the total number of co-sponsors of the English Language Unity Act to 126.

Congress returned from its summer recess on Tuesday and four Representatives marked the occasion by becoming co-sponsors of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act. The addition of these four members – Rep. Jo Bonner, Rep. John Mica, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Rep. Mike Pence – brings the total number of co-sponsors to 124, or nearly 30 percent of the House of Representatives.

In recent years, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has unfairly targeted employers who require that their employees speak English while on the job. In this audiocast, Tim Schultz, Director of Government Relations for U.S. English, Inc. discusses the meaning of an English-in-the-Workplace policy, the benefits and legal standing of such directives, and legislative efforts currently underway in the states and Congress.

Efforts are currently underway in the U.S. Congress that could result in Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state.  Tim Schultz, U.S. English, Inc. Director of Government Relations, speaks about these efforts, the possible language policy implications of Puerto Rican statehood, and efforts U.S. English is making to amend the bill.

In this U.S. English audio broadcast, U.S. English Director of Government Relations Tim Schultz discusses the recent efforts of U.S. English and the Oklahoma Congressional delegation. Schultz discusses the attempt by the U.S. Department of Justice to derail the official English bill in Oklahoma and what U.S. English and members of Congress are doing to push back.

Representative Pete Sessions today became the newest co-sponsor of legislation to make English the official language of the United States, increasing the number of supporters to 120.

A New Jersey appeals court refused to reinstate the driver’s license of a non-English speaking DWI suspect last week, finding, “the right to due process does not automatically carry with it a right to have government documents translated into one’s native language.” The decision by the three judge panel was issued in the case of German Marquez, who was appealing the seven-month suspension of his license for driving while intoxicated.

The number of co-sponsors of the English Language Unity Act increased to 119 yesterday with the support of Michigan Congressman Fred Upton.

Congressman Michael Turner became a co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, representing the fourth representative this month to support legislation to make English the official language of the United States.

Support for official English legislation increased again yesterday, as Alabama Representative Robert Aderholt added his name as a co-sponsor of the English Language Unity Act. The seven-term Representative from Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District is the second new co-sponsor of H.R. 997 this week and the third this month.

Rep. Lincoln Davis became the newest co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday. The addition of the Tennessee Democrat increases the number of supporters of legislation to make English the official language of the United States to 116 members from 36 states.

Recent reports that hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified mechanics are unable to comprehend the English language has led Rep. Brian Bilbray and several other Capitol Hill offices to contact Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood with their concerns.

Rep. Roy Blunt signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, increasing the number of House members supporting the English Language Unity Act to 115.

The Louisiana House Government Affairs Committee approved a resolution yesterday that urges the federal government to make English the official language of the United States.

U.S. English Director of Government Relations Tim Schultz discusses the efforts of U.S. English on Capitol Hill and our latest strategies for increasing support for H.R. 997.

Tim Schultz of U.S. English discusses the recently passed measure in Oklahoma that will give voters the chance to make English the official language in Nov. 2010.

Rep. J. Gresham Barrett of South Carolina became the newest co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, bringing the total number of co-sponsors of the English Language Unity Act to 114.

May 2009 survey from Rasmussen Reports finds that more than five-in-six Americans approve making English the official language of the United States.

New Jersey Congressman Scott Garrett became the newest co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, bringing the total number of co-sponsors of legislation to make English the official language to 113.

New Fraser Institute study examines the cost of doing government business in two languages.

New SoonerPoll.com survey finds nearly seven-in-eight likely voters in support of official English; Oklahoma House to vote this week.

Notable official English activity in state legislatures over the last two weeks

Freshman Representative Tom Rooney became the latest co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, increasing the number of co-sponsors of legislation to make English the official language to 112.

Mississippi Democrat is the 111 co-sponsor of the English Language Unity Act in the 111th Congress.

California Congressman is the 110th co-sponsor of H.R. 997.

The Oklahoma Senate is likely to consider official English legislation during this week, potentially moving Oklahoma closer to becoming the 31st state to make English its official language.

The Employee Affairs Subcommittee of the Tennessee House of Representatives voted 5-0 today to approve H.B. 480 and send it to the full committee for consideration.

Legislative happenings from across the nation.

New co-sponsors were added to three official English-related bills now pending in the 111th Congress.

The Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee voted 9-6 yesterday to approve a measure that would give Oklahoma voters the opportunity to make English the official language of the state.

The Tennessee Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously yesterday to pass S. 11, legislation that would require most written driver’s license exams in the state to be taken in English.

The Georgia House of Representatives approved legislation yesterday that would require almost all prospective motorists in the state to take their driver’s license exam in English. The bill, which passed the Senate earlier this month, was agreed to in the House by a strong margin of 104-58. If small differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills are ironed out, the measure will go to Gov. Sonny Purdue for his signature.

Arizona Congressman becomes 109th co-sponsor of English Language Unity Act; 2 new co-sponsors for American Elections Act.

New measures introduced in Connecticut and South Carolina

Rep. John Campbell of California and Rep. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania became the newest co-sponsors of H.R. 997 today, increasing the number of supporters of legislation to make English the official language to 108. With the addition of these two representatives and lead sponsor Rep. Steve King, H.R. 997 now has co-sponsorship from more than one-quarter of the House of Representatives.

Rep. Gregg Harper became the newest co-sponsor of H.R. 997 yesterday, raising the total number of co-sponsors of legislation to make English the official language of the United States to 106.

California Representative Ken Calvert became the newest co-sponsor of H.R. 997 today, bringing the number of supporters of legislation to make English the official language of the United States to 105.

Legislation to make English the official language and reduce government multilingualism continued to pick up steam in Congress this week.

The English Language Unity Act picked up its 102nd co-sponsor in the House of Representatives with the support of Rep. Pete Olson. Rep. Olson, a first term Congressman from the 22nd Congressional District of Texas, signed onto H.R. 997 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 102 from 35 states.

In a vote today, the Transportation Committee of the Missouri House of Representatives recommended passage of H.B. 696, legislation that would require all Missouri driver’s license examinations to be conducted in English.

The number of co-sponsors of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act climbed to 101 with the addition of Rep. Todd Tiahrt. Rep. Tiahrt joins lead sponsor Rep. Steve King and the 100 additional co-sponsors from 35 states in supporting legislation to make English the official language of the United States.

H.R. 997, legislation to make English the official language received additional support in Congress yesterday, picking up two more co-sponsors.

H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act, picked up five new co-sponsors in the House of Representatives yesterday, increasing the total number of supporters to 97.

Three Representatives added their names as supporters of H.R. 997 yesterday, bringing the total number of co-sponsors of the bill to make English the official language to 91.

Five additional members of Congress have signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act.

In the past two weeks, new legislation to make English the official language has been introduced in five states, bringing the total to 14 in the 2009 legislative session.

The South Dakota Senate affairs committee voted yesterday to approve a constitutional amendment that would strengthen the state's official English law. If the measure, S.J.R. 2, passes the full Senate and House, it would appear on the general election ballot in November.

An article in today's Charleston Gazette focuses on the driver of a tractor trailer who lost control of his vehicle on I-79 and spilled 43,000 pounds of cocoa on the road.

Congressman Dean Heller has re-introduced the American Elections Act in the 111th Congress. The bill, H.R. 764, would modify existing law and reduce the entitlement to multilingual ballots, limiting ballot translations to English, Native American languages and Alaskan Native dialects. H.R. 764 is similar legislation to H.R. 5971 in the 110th Congress, a bill which had more than 50 co-sponsors.

Only one month into the new year, 12 states have pending legislation that would reduce government multilingualism and promote English acquisition.

In Oklahoma, supporters of official English have announced plans to introduce new legislation to make English the official language of the state when the legislature convenes in February. Last year, similar legislation passed in the House of Representatives, 70-28, but was not considered in the Senate before the end of the session. If the Senate had passed the bill, it would have been presented to the voters on the November ballot. Recent statewide polls have shown that more than three-quarters of Oklahomans favor passage of the bill.

On Jan. 22, 2009, Nashville voters will go to the polls to decide a ballot initiative that would make English the official language of Nashville. In this new video, U.S. English Senior Government Relations Associate Matt Santos discusses some of the myths and realities of the ballot initiative.

U.S. English Chairman Mauro E. Mujica wrote the following Letter to the editor of the Tennessean after the newspaper published a misleading op-ed on Nashville's pending official English initiative. The letter appears below.