Let’s have one language under law
By US congressman Randy Weber writes about his work as part of our nation’s government – exclusively in The Post
A common language is a cohesive bond allowing people to build strong relationships at work and in communities. In ancient Egypt, papyrus was utilized as a way to keep records, to maintain the nation’s history and even give accounting of taxes.
Civilizations were growing and numerous languages were being established. Around 1050 BC, the Phoenicians created what we now know as the alphabet as a means of providing cohesion to communication.
The adaptation of the Phoenicians’ alphabet proved successful, especially with the rise of maritime trading between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Today, there are 178 countries that recognize an official language. English is the most common official language, recognized in more than 50 countries. French is second, with 29 countries, and Arabic is third, with 26 countries.
An official language for a country is actually quite commonplace. In the United States, 31 states have mandated English as the official language. An August 2014 Rasmussen poll showed that 83 per cent of Americans believe English should be the nation’s official language. So what is the hold-up with the federal government making it so?
When our national debt is $18 trillion and rising, we should be looking at every option to save money and cut costs. Having English as our official language would save our government millions of dollars.
In 2000, president Bill Clinton signed into law executive order 13166 – “improving access to services for persons with limited English proficiency”. This executive order mandated that federal agencies examine and identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency, or LEP, and develop and implement a system to provide those services. In 2002, the management and budget office projected that the cost of services to the LEP community could be as high as $1 billion to $2 billion annually.
I recently co-sponsored HR 997, a bill by congressman Steve King of Iowa known as the English language unity act. It is a commonsense piece of legislation that requires all official functions of the United States be conducted in English, establishes a uniform language requirement for naturalization and requires our government to promote and encourage English-language learning. Not only will this cut costs and save taxpayer dollars; it will also allow legal immigrants to assimilate more effectively.
The United States is known to be a melting pot that celebrates diversity. Having English as its official language would be the bond that holds this great nation together.
Randy Weber is the US representative for the 14th district of Texas, which covers Brazoria, Galveston and Jefferson Counties.
