KING
INTRODUCES
BILL TO MAKE
ENGLISH
OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE OF
U.S.
WASHINGTON
---
Congressman
Steve King
(IA-05)
today
introduced
legislation
to make it
easier for
American
immigrants
to fully
realize the
benefits of
American
opportunities.
H.R. 997,
the English
Language
Unity Act of
2007 would
establish
English as
the official
language of
the United
States. The
bill would
require the
federal
government
to conduct
business in
English, but
would not
put
restrictions
on languages
spoken or on
the private
sector. The
bill has
broad
support with
26
co-sponsors.
There are
over 6,000
languages
spoken
throughout
the world,
and in the
United
States there
are at least
28 different
dominant
languages --
those spoken
by at least
100,000
people. The
English
Language
Unity Act
helps
immigrants
by
encouraging
them to
learn
English to
fully
integrate
into
American
society.
"English is
the language
of
opportunity
in America,"
said King.
"Immigrants
have come
here from
all over the
world for
centuries to
inherit our
culture and
opportunities.
The best way
for our
newcomers to
work toward
their own
success is
through our
common bond
of
language."
According to
the U.S.
Census,
almost
twelve
million
Americans
are
linguistically
isolated.
The number
of Americans
who do not
speak
English has
increased
176 percent
over the
last twenty
years.
In addition,
immigrants
who are not
proficient
in English
earn
significantly
less than
English-
proficient
immigrants
with similar
backgrounds,
experience
and
education.
A 2005 Zogby
International
poll found
that 79
percent of
Americans
favor making
English the
official
language of
the United
States. In
addition,
over half of
the states
have already
established
English as
their
official
language.
The bill is
identical to
legislation
King
introduced
in the 109th
Congress.
The
legislation
was one of
the most
supported
bills in the
109th
Congress.
During
debate on
the Senate
immigration
bill last
May, the
U.S. Senate
passed an
amendment by
Senator
Inhofe that
would
establish
English as
the national
language.
