Official English Legislation Introduced in Pennsylvania

46 co-sponsors join effort; Similar measure passed House in 2006

Washington, D.C. -- State Representative RoseMarie Swanger introduced legislation this morning to make English the official language, making Pennsylvania the 23rd state this year to have an official English measure under consideration. The Pennsylvania Official Language Act (H.B. 1959) would require that all official government business be conducted in English, while making exceptions for activities involving public health and other essential transactions. The bill was introduced with 46 legislators as co-sponsors.

"I want to thank Rep. Swanger and her colleagues who have pledged to support the language that unites all Americans," said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. "Since the Founders drew up the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, English has brought our diverse society together. For the benefit of our newest immigrants, we must continue to make sure that government is focused on English learning, not providing a permanent crutch."

The quick response among Pennsylvania legislators for official English is parallel to the strong support the measure finds across the state. According to an September 2006 poll from Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc., 77 percent of Pennsylvanians support making English the official language of the state, including 82 percent of Republicans and 73 percent of Democrats. The survey of 625 likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.

Last year, the Pennsylvania House passed official English legislation by a margin of 122-70, but the Senate did not act upon the measure before the end of the session. If this bill was passed by the legislature and signed into law, Pennsylvania would join 30 other states in making English its official language. Three of those states have adopted common language legislation in the last 12 months — Arizona, Idaho and Kansas.

"I look forward to working with the Pennsylvania legislature on this issue in the very near future," continued Mujica. "The quicker we encourage more Pennsylvanians into the English-speaking mainstream, the better our society will be able to communicate and thrive."