Teddy Wilson/coloradoindependent.com
02/16/2012
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Colorado Republican Congressmen Mike Coffman (CD-6) and Doug Lamborn (CD-5) have joined a hundred of their colleagues this year in sponsoring a bill to make English the official language of the United States.

English language bills are among those introduced practically every session of Congress without any expectation of making it to a vote by the full House or Senate. This year, however, the bill might get a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. Texas Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) told WOAI that he would “support efforts to make English the official language and may consider bringing up the issue in the House Judiciary Committee down the road.”

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Suzanne Bibby, director of government relations at ProEnglish, told the Texas Independent that the example of the Filipino nurses was “not a very relevant” argument. “That wouldn’t have an effect on those nurses,” said Bibby. “This bill would only effect federal government or federal agencies.” Bibby says that the text of the bill includes seven exceptions. [emphasis added]

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“Behind all of this is a very racist and xenophobic view.” said De La Cruz. “While it is currently targeted largely at the Latino community, this is not a new issue. There was a push for English as the national language in the late 1800s when there was a large push of German immigrants, and with every wave of immigrants there is always these types of proposed laws.”

“We consider that ridiculous,” said Bibby of the claim that the legislation is motivated by racism and xenophobia. “Latinos and Hispanics are not the only immigrant populations in the United States, but Spanish is the most commonly accommodated language in the United States. No other languages should be accommodated over others for political reasons.” [emphasis added]

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