W.V. County Commissioners Sound the Call – Pass Official English Legislation

Leaders of state’s 55 counties approve resolution to promote "common thread"

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. – In a location noted for its fall colors and winter wonder, the County Commissioners of West Virginia today put their support behind another aspect of Americana – the English language. The resolution adopted by the leaders of West Virginia’s 55 counties calls upon the federal, state and county government to adopt English as the official language.

Like the region’s vibrant seasons, the resolution embraces our rich cultural history, noting “the United States and West Virginia are comprised of individuals from many ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.” Yet just as the calendar bundles up those diverse months, the measure acknowledges “the common thread binding individuals of differing backgrounds has been the English language,” and “command of the English language is necessary to participate in, and take full advantage of, the opportunities afforded by American life.” Wayne County Commissioner Charles Sammons made the presentation in support of the effort, which called for Congressional passage of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act as well as common language initiatives on the state and county levels.

Though West Virginia’s limited English proficient population is small, opportunities in the Mountain State have made it an increasingly popular destination for newcomers. The 2000 Census found more speakers of Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Tagalog than 10 years earlier as the foreign-born population edged up by 22 percent over that span.

“From my experiences with English learners there, West Virginians appear to be at the forefront in terms of a dedication toward a common language,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman/CEO of U.S. English, Inc. “Newcomers are as anxious to knock down language barriers as they are to challenge the state’s legendary terrain. The County Commissioners’ resolution to support common language legislation is yet another proud step in this unifying, pro-America tradition.”

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.