Missouri Representative Cynthia Davis has pre-filed legislation in Missouri that would eliminate driver’s license exams in languages other than English. House Bill 1231 would require that all applicants for a Missouri driver’s license take the exam in English without the use of a language interpreter.

Missouri is one of 41 states where residents can take their driver’s license exam in a language other than English. As of May 2009, the Show Me State offered the licensing exam in 12 languages – English, Bosnian, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Only eight states – Alabama California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island – offered the exam in more languages.

Five other representatives – Brian Nieves, Jerry Nolte, Sue Allen, Marilyn Ruestman and Chuck Gatschenberger joined Rep. Davis in introducing H.B. 1231. The Missouri legislature returns to session on Jan. 6, 2010.

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 2 million members.