American Farm Bureau and The National Grange Support H.R. 997, The English Language Unity Act of 2003

Growing Number of Organizations Urge Congress to Pass Official English Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Farm Bureau Federation and The National Grange, the nation’s largest farm organizations with over five million members between them, today announced their support for H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act of 2003. Introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IA), the bill would make English the official language of the United States government.

The American Farm Bureau and National Grange join a growing list of groups endorsing H.R. 997, including: The Knights of Lithuania, the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, the National Slovak Society, the Dutch International Society and the Croatian Fraternal Union of America.

Recognizing that fluency in English is necessary for full integration into the American mainstream, the English Language Unity Act of 2003 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 health and safety, national security, international relations, trade, tourism and commerce.

Rep. King's bill does not prevent anyone from speaking languages other than English nor does it take away a person's heritage or culture by encouraging them to learn the nation's common language. It simply mandates the federal government to conduct its official business in English. The government must lead by example so that everyone has an equal chance to go as far as their talent can take them.

“The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the principles set forth in H.R. 997, The English Language Unity Act of 2003,” said Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Encouraging greater opportunities to learn English will help millions achieve the American dream. In addition, studies by the U.S. Department of Education show a link between income level and proficiency in English.”

“Our national motto is E pluribus Unum – out of many, one,” says Leroy Watson, Legislative Director of the National Grange. “Immigrants of many nationalities built our nation, but our long tradition of assimilation has always included the adoption of English as the common means of communication. H.R. 997 empowers immigrants by giving them incentives to learn English.”

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.