American Voters Send 150 Official English Supporters to Congress

In a historic election, American voters sent 150 candidates to Congress who have demonstrated their support for making English the official language. 

In the House of Representatives, the tally includes 120 co-sponsors and the lead sponsor of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act. Among those re-elected were 114 “A in English” award winners, who earned high marks for their support of official English in the 110th Congress, as well as nine new members who signed pledges vowing to support official English legislation if elected to the 111th Congress. On the Senate side, Americans returned 16 candidates who earned “A” grades for their support of official English in the 110th Congress. These individuals will rejoin 29 incumbent supporters who were not up for election in this cycle. The roster of 16 re-elected members does not include two candidates who were leading their respective contests, but whose races appeared to be headed for recounts. 

“Americans have made it clear they want change in government, but they have also made it clear that they want to make English the official language of the United States,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “For the last 25 years, numerous polls have found that regardless of party affiliation, race or gender, the vast majority of Americans want to see our government do business overwhelmingly in English.” 

Surveys conducted over the last two years have found strong support for official English legislation, including a July 2008 Zogby poll which found nearly 80 percent of Americans favoring such a measure. During the 110th Congress, more than 150 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act and a majority supported efforts to protect employers who institute English-in-the-Workplace policies. On the Senate side, the chamber voted 64-33 in May 2007 to make English the “national language” of the United States. 

“I want to congratulate the newly elected members of Congress and look forward to welcoming all of our Congressional leaders back to Washington early next year,” continued Mujica. “I hope that these new legislators will look to build on the work done in previous years and I eagerly await an opportunity to unite all Americans under the common language of English.”