Correspondence From Senator Tom Harkin; Making English the official language

Correspondence From Senator Tom Harkin; Making English the official language

June 1, 2007

Dear Michael:

    Thank you for contacting me.  I am always glad to hear from you.

    I appreciate your views on making English the official language of the United States. During the 109th Congress, I voted in favor of an amendment that would have declared English as the common and unifying language of the United States because I feel strongly that immigrants to this country should learn English.  As you may know, this amendment was included in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, that did not pass through Congress.

    I believe this amendment reflected the realities of our country, namely that English is already the common language of the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 92% of Americans had no difficulty speaking English.  Less than one percent of U.S. Government documents are published in a language other than English.  Additionally, the vast majority people in this country who are not familiar with the English language want to learn it.

    While I believe that immigrants to this country should learn English, I am concerned about the health and safety of all Americans.  Making English the official language would undercut federal, state, and local capacity to provide vital information and services to immigrants and Americans who are speakers of other languages.  As a result, millions of Americans with limited English proficiency could be denied access to medical care and important health information, such as vaccinations and the treatment of communicable diseases.  This would not only affect their own health, but the health of all of our communities.  In addition, making English the official language could hinder the ability of individuals to obtain public safety information.

    Again, thanks for sharing your views with me.  Please don't hesitate to let me know how you feel on any issue that concerns you.

                    Sincerely,

                    Tom Harkin
                    United States Senator

TH/

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