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Oklahoma House of Representatives Media Division May 6, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
House Overwhelmingly Approves Official English Proposal Goes to Voters in 2010 OKLAHOMA CITY – The citizens of Oklahoma will have the opportunity to make English the official language of their state government following final House passage of legislation today. “As our common language, English and the ‘melting pot’ process it makes possible has made the United States the most successful multi-ethnic nation in history,” said state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. “This legislation will reinforce our nation’s unity and help end the drift toward linguistic Balkanization.” House Joint Resolution 1042, by Terrill and State Sen. Anthony Sykes, recognizes that English is Oklahoma’s common and unifying language, and declares that all official actions of the state must be conducted in English. It also bars individuals from suing the state to have services provided in languages other than English. Under the provisions of the legislation, private individuals and businesses will still be allowed to use whatever language they choose. Only official government business would be affected. The bill also contains specific provisions protecting the “use, study, development, or encouragement” of any Native American language, including the languages used by Oklahoma’s 39 federally recognized Native American tribes. “Making English the official language of state government is both wise policy and cost-effective,” said Sykes, R-Moore. “Oklahoma taxpayers should not have to pay to print government materials in up to 300 languages or be required to pay interpreters. This legislation will prevent that kind of waste of taxpayer funds.” “Our government should encourage immigrants to assimilate so they can pursue the American dream, and this legislation encourages that process,” said state Rep. George Faught, a Muskogee Republican and co-author of the bill. “We need to encourage legal immigrants to join mainstream American society and not live in linguistic isolation.” “This is a common-sense idea whose time has come,” said state Rep. Mike Christian, an Oklahoma City Republican who also co-authored the bill. “There is no compelling reason for the state to waste money printing documents or manuals in languages seldom or never used in Oklahoma.” ProEnglish and English First have endorsed the revised version of House Joint Resolution 1042. In a joint written statement, ProEnglish Executive Director K.C. McAlpin and English First Director of Government Relations Aloysius Hogan said the legislation “will make a lasting contribution to the unity and well being of Oklahoma.” U.S. English also endorsed the bill. In a written statement, U.S. English Chairman Mauro E. Mujica said, “When approved by voters in 2010 and added to the state constitution, this measure will be one of the very best official English laws in the nation.” House Joint Resolution 1042 achieved final passage in the Oklahoma House of Representatives today on an 89-8 vote. The proposal now goes to the ballot where voters will decide the issue in 2010. According to a recent poll conducted by SoonerPoll.com for the Tulsa World, 86 percent of Oklahomans support making English the official language of state government. Thirty other states have already adopted official English laws as have more than 50 nations around the globe. ### Please click here to read joint ProEnglish/English First letter to State Rep. Randy Terrill and State Sen. Anthony Sykes. |
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