ARLINGTON, Va., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "We strongly commend
 U.S. Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma for fighting to preserve our nation's
 historic unity in the English language by introducing legislation in the
 Senate today to make English the official language of government
 operations," says K.C. McAlpin, executive director of ProEnglish, a group
 that advocates for official English.
     "Americans need to tell their U.S. Senators to ignore those who are
 trying to divide our country by language and culture, and respond instead
 to the vast majority of Americans who want to make English our official
 language," McAlpin added.
     The bill, the S.I. Hayakawa Official English Act, S. 1335 is similar to
 H.R. 769 that was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.
 In addition to declaring English the official language of government, the
 legislation would eliminate bilingual ballots.
     A 2006 Zogby poll found 84 percent of American voters support making
 English our official language, and 63 percent oppose printing ballots in
 foreign languages. In addition a Harvard University survey of the nation's
 youth released in April showed that 72 percent of young people between the
 ages of 18 and 24 years favor official English, including majorities of
 both Hispanic and Asian young people.
     S. 1335 also takes aim at the 'temporary' provision of the Voting
 Rights Act (VRA) that now requires many states and counties to provide
 multilingual voting ballots and materials.
     "Printing ballots in foreign languages is wasteful and redundant,"
 McAlpin said. "Not only are immigrants required to know English to
 naturalize and become citizens. But federal law already guarantees every
 voter the right to bring an interpreter into the voting booth if he or she
 cannot understand a ballot written in English," he continued.
     "As Senator S.I. Hayakawa saw more than a generation ago this country
 needs to defend its precious legacy of linguistic unity by making English
 the official language of government operations. Passage of the Inhofe and
 King bills would simply reinforce what President Bush and the presidential
 candidates of both parties are saying publicly -- that immigrants to this
 country have a responsibility to learn English," McAlpin concluded.
 
 

SOURCE ProEnglish