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Congressman
Toby Roth, Republican from Wisconsin, has introduced legislation
to proclaim English the official language of the United States. He has been
an outspoken advocate of creating an official langauge, going to the floor of
the House of Representatives to speak out on the issue.
Rep. Roth argues that the Government's efforts to supply education and information in several languages has worked to divide America. He has siad, "Today in America we are splitting our country up. We are no longer the melting pot, but we are becoming, as the anti-English establishment would have us, as a salad bowl. I don't believe America is a salad bowl. I don't believe in hyphenated Americans. I believe we are all Americans. That is why this issue of the English language is so important."
Click here to read statements Representative Roth made on the Floor of the House of Representatives on July 10, December 5, and January 30, 1996.A question from Barbara Silver of Sandusky, OH:
Why have we not had an official language before now? And what makes now such an important time to create one?
Congressman Roth responds:
The movement to designate English the official language has been underway for many years in American cities, counties and states. While a federal designation is still pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, 22 states have already passed laws declaring English the official state language. The United States is actually the exception--not the rule--among the nations of the world, most of which already have an official language. In Germany, the official language is German; in France, the official language is French, and so on.
Why do we need official English now? In America today, we see our country breaking up into ethnic, racial and linguistic groups as never before. By the year 2000, according to the government's National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education, more than 40 million Americans will not have a working knowledge of the English language. This staggering statistic paints a bleak picture for the future for our country. We could become an America that ceases to be one nation, one people--to paraphrase the Pledge of Allegiance. English is the common bond that holds our people and our society together as a nation. We must preserve English by making it our official language.
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A question from Terry Griffin of Hillsboro, OR:
If HR 739 becomes law who decides what constitutes the official English language? In other nations (Germany and France for example) there are government agencies which define the rules for the official language.
Congressman Roth responds:
The people have already decided that English should be our official language. A recent USA Today/Weekend Magazine survey found that 97% of the 47,000 respondents favored making English our official language. In one survey conducted by National Write Your Congressman, a non-partisan advocacy group, more than 11,000 people supported the idea of official English.
The purpose of H.R. 739 is to eliminate bureaucracy, not create it. There would be no "Ministry of Culture" like the agency overseeing language issues in France. My bill simply states that when dealing with the government, voting, going to public schools and becoming a U.S. citizen, the primary language used should be English. Unlike official language laws in other countries, this bill does not create a "language police," nor would it affect storefronts, street signs or languages spoken in the home. The preservation of one's culture and heritage is important to all of us in America, and it should be encouraged.
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A question from Kiley Thompson of New York, NY:
You claim in your statements on the floor of Congress that your bill would save as much as $12 billion. But won't it cost millions, if not billions, to fully fund English education programs? Does your legislation pay that bill or is it going to be an unfunded mandate on local governments with high immigrant populations?
Congressman Roth responds:
My legislation seeks to dismantle unfunded federal mandates. Under current law, a massive bureaucracy has been created that teaches our schoolchildren in more than 100 different languages. In New York, for example, children are taught in 82 different languages--necessitating schoolbooks, special teachers and millions of dollars in additional expenditures for you, the taxpayer.
My bill would eliminate this costly and ineffective bureaucracy and also ban federally-mandated bilingual ballots and other costly government forms. Did you know that in California, you can take your drivers' license exam in more than 30 languages? And the City of Los Angeles last year spent $900,000 printing multilingual ballots.
I agree that this money could be better spent teaching new Americans and their children to speak English. There are waiting lists for English education classes, and fully funding these courses should be our top priority.
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A question from Matt Corey of Austin, Texas:
What do you think the likelihood of your bill passing is? Have your efforts been supported by leaders or other members of Congress?
Congressman Roth responds:
In all likelihood, my bill will pass through Congress in 1996. With 95 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, it enjoys more support in Washington than any other measure of its kind. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Presidential frontrunner Bob Dole have also pledged their support to make English America's official language.
Congressional action on the bill has been dramatic over the past year. For the first time ever, Congress held a series of hearings on making English our official language. This was an important education for the American people and for Members of Congress as well. The hearings highlighted the importance of English as our common language, and Congressional leaders have been encouraged to take action on my bill this year.
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A question from Amy Jackson of Norfolk, VA:
I would think that your legislation would increase the drop out levels of those students who have trouble learning English as a second language. How do you plan on limiting the negative impact of making English the official language? Are there any other potential problems?
Congressman Roth responds:
In fact, the current system of bilingual education accounts for more dropouts than any mainstream English-based education program. A government study of New York City schools found a much higher dropout rate among students in bilingual programs. In some cases, parents are fighting to keep their children out of bilingual programs because of the second-rate education they receive.
The benefits of declaring English our official language far outweigh any problems. The current problem is this: by discouraging schools to teach children in English, we are not preparing our students to be successful in the job market or to be leaders in their communities. Ornesto Ortiz, a south Texas rancher, put it best when he said: "At school, they teach my children in Spanish so they can become busboys and waiters. At home, I teach them in English so they can become doctors and lawyers." Mr. Ortiz sums it up best. For many years, a working knowledge of English has been the first rung on the ladder of opportunity for new Americans.
The international language of business and commerce is English. For new Americans and their children, the language of opportunity is the English language. By declaring English our official language, we provide a much clearer path for people seeking the American dream.
I don't believe that there is any compelling reason to HAVE an official language in the United States. Everyone that comes here and everyone that lives here knows that in order to succeed in the USA, you must be able to communicate. I do believe, however, that we should provide more English as a second language courses for adults.
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English as our official Language
Congressman Roth's approach is correct! Communication and understanding is difficult enough when we all speak the same language. The government should force residents to have at least a working knowledge of English?
The government's efforts to educate our people in MANY languages is inadvertently dividing us as a nation.
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English? Yes!
Without a standard medium of comunication, to often we find the so called "social diversity" creating a very real sense of social isolation separating a people who now more than ever need and deserve a sense of solidarity, a sense of comunity, a sense of union.
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English as an official language
I read the Disuniting of America at least five years ago and am disappointed that it has not had more of an impact. Every day I see more and more evidence that bi-lingual education is harming our non-English speaking citizens. I support the congressman in his efforts and hope that the money now wasted on teaching in a multitude of languages goes to better our schools and not to enrich a politically correct agenda.
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