The Legislation received overwhelming popular support in the Missouri House
(Washington DC) — Republican State Senator Shane Roden has introduced legislation in the Missouri House that would require publicly funded schools to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in English once a day; up from the current weekly requirement.
Sen. Roden has argued that the Pledge must legally be recited in English because it is the official language of the State. Missouri voters approved a State Constitutional Amendment making English the official language in 2008. The Bill garnered overwhelming popular support; passing 128-25 in the Missouri House. Another vote is scheduled later this week, before heading to the Senate.
“I would like to thank Senator Roden for introducing and supporting this important piece of legislation,” said US English Chairman Mauro E. Mujica. “The overwhelming support the Bill has received in the Missouri House accurately reflects the common sense and popular will of Missouri residents; who came out in large numbers in 2008 to vote for a State Constitutional Amendment making English the official language of the Show Me State,” concluded Chairman Mujica.
U.S. English embraces and supports diversity in Missouri and throughout the country, and we encourage Americans to understand and speak multiple languages. However, we should also embrace and elevate our one common and shared language, English. Having public school students in Missouri recite the Pledge of Allegiance in English would do just that. Because Missouri voters, regardless of their background, intuitively understand and appreciate the inclusive and unifying power that the English language has come to represent in Missouri and throughout our nation.