For Immediate Release
September, 27, 2007
Contact: Phil Kent
Phone: (404) 226-3549

Senators Urge President Bush to Promote English

ARLINGTON, VA – “In the decade since the U.S. Commission on
Immigration Reform urged ‘the Americanization of new immigrants,’ two
successive administrations, one Democrat and one Republican, have utterly
failed to strengthen the English component of the citizenship test or to
take other steps necessary to enhance the role of English in the
assimilation of immigrants,'” says ProEnglish Executive Director K.C.
McAlpin. He praises the just-released letter nine U.S. senators sent to
President George W. Bush that urges him to embrace four key English
initiatives.

The letter was sponsored by Senator James Inhofe, R-Okla., and
co-signed by Senators Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Saxby
Chambliss, R-Ga. Elizabeth Dole, N.C., Richard Burr, R.-N.C., Jim DeMint,
R-S.C., Norm Coleman, R-Minn. and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.

“Ten years ago the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, chaired by
the late Rep. Barbara Jordan, D-Tex., made a number of cogent
recommendations for action that have languished while assimilation policy is
stuck in reverse,” McAlpin said. The senators’ letter urges the president
to:

* Support a law making English the official language of U.S.
government operations;

* Strengthen the English component of the U.S. Naturalization Test.
The letter quotes a Commission recommendation: “The English test should
accurately and fairly measure an immigrant’s ability to speak, read and
write; the current practice of dictating English sentences for applicants to
write is not an effective means of testing English proficiency.”

* Repeal Executive Order 13166 that requires all levels of
government as well as other federal funds recipients to provide translation
and interpreter services for non-English speakers.

* Support new initiatives to encourage individuals, businesses,
government entities and others to foster English fluency.

“Enhancing the role of English in our society will strengthen
assimilation and preserve our country’s unity,” Senator Jim Inhofe said.
“This debate is not just about preserving our culture and heritage, but also
about bettering the odds of our nation’s newest potential citizens.”

McAlpin added, “This letter marking the 10th anniversary of the
Jordan Commission report highlights how much of the Commission’s carefully
considered report has been ignored.” A copy of the letter is available on
ProEnglish’s website: www.proenglish.org.
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