Shuster Signs On To Bill Declaring English As U.S. Official Language
Congressman Bill Shuster signed on as an original cosponsor to the English Language Unity Act, which declares English to be the official language of the United States, requires the official functions of the government to be conducted in English and creates a uniform testing standard for U.S. naturalization.
"It's common sense that immigrants coming to our country should learn to speak and read English in order to become part of our society," said Shuster, a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus. "I believe speaking English is an appropriate requirement."
H.R. 997 calls on the Secretary of Homeland Security to impose uniform testing of the English language for naturalization candidates. This standard is based upon two principles: 1) all citizens should be able to read and understand, at least in general, the English text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the laws of the United States; and 2) any exceptions to this should be limited to extraordinary circumstances.
"This legislation should be included in any immigration reform proposal that moves forward," said Shuster. "It seems simple enough, and I'm hopeful this will generate even more support throughout Congress."
The legislation has 152 cosponsors in the United States House of Representatives and is currently awaiting action in the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution. More than twenty-six states either have laws declaring or have effectively adopted English as its official language, including Pennsylvania.
http://www.house.gov/list/press/pa09_shuster/englishofficiallanguage.html