U.S.English Chairman Testifies in Annapolis for Official English Legislation

U.S. English, Inc., Chairman/CEO Mauro E. Mujica testified in the Maryland House of Delegates in Annapolis today to support House Bill 1152, legislation that would make English the official language of Maryland.

"In Maryland there are approximately 116 languages spoken other than English. This measure will help ensure that citizens can communicate in a common language. H.B. 1152 does not dictate anyone's personal language choice, but it puts the state's government behind the proposition that every immigrant should learn English.

"As an immigrant whose native language is Spanish, I embrace my culture and native tongue. I speak Spanish at home with my wife and children, and encourage others to maintain their heritage. H.B. 1152 is not about dividing, it is about uniting all Americans through our common language — English."

Americans are overwhelmingly in support of official English legislation, as evidenced by a recent Zogby poll which found that 82 percent of likely voters support making English the official language of the United States. The Maryland legislature has responded by passing legislation in both 1994 and 1998, only to have the result vetoed by the governor.

H.B. 1152 calls for the government to conduct official business in English and ensures that the state does not have an obligation to provide foreign language services. The bill takes into account numerous common sense exceptions to ensure the constitutional rights for all Marylanders. Public health and safety information, law enforcement, and courtroom translation would all be exempted from the law. Furthermore, Maryland's official English legislation expressly permits the use of non-English languages when necessary to comply with federal law.

"Only by giving people a common language can we ensure that everyone has an equal chance to achieve their dreams in American society," said Mujica. "As an immigrant I have had the first-hand opportunity to observe the positive impact and empowerment that results from immigrants learning English, the common language of the United States."

## 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.