News & Media

New Hampshire Legislature Tells Congress, “Pass Official English”

House Concurrent Resolution 6 passed the House on Apr. 6 and the Senate, 15-8, on June 2. The measure does not need approval by New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch.

"The people of New Hampshire have long been known for their primary role in picking America's leaders," said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English. "Now, they have sent an unmistakable message to our leaders in Congress: Official English legislation is vital to our continued ability to be a united nation of immigrants. Congress should listen to this message and enact the English Language Unity Act as soon as possible."

The English Language Unity Act would require the United States government to conduct official business in English. Specifically, H.R. 997 would make it so that "all laws, public proceedings, regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs and policies" are conducted in the English language. Numerous common sense exceptions are included in the legislation to protect the well-being of all Americans, including public safety, national security, and commerce. More than half of the U.S. states have adopted English as their official language, including New Hampshire in 1995.

“New Hampshire has gone from 4.5 percent immigrant in 1850 to more than 22 percent immigrant in 1910 back to 4.5 percent immigrant in 2000,” explained Mujica. “With newcomers becoming an increasing part of New Hampshire’s population once again, we must promote the unifying language that turned many past immigrants into successful Americans. English has and should always be the tie between all Americans – newcomers and natives.

To date, H.R. 997 has collected 118 co-sponsors, making it one of the most widely supported bills in the 109th Congress. The list of supporters includes one of the two members of the New Hampshire delegation – Rep. Jeb Bradley. This legislation is currently pending in House Committee on Education and the Workforce, as well as the House Committee on the judiciary.

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.