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Many
Americans would be surprised to learn that English is not the official language
of the United States. The second session of the 108th Congress opened with legislation
to make English the official language of the United States as one of the most
widely supported issues. To date, there are 104 co-sponsors
of H.R. 997, the English Language Unity Act. Review
the bill
A
2004 Zogby poll conducted Jan.15-18 with 1,000 likely voters found that 82 percent
of Americans want official English. You need to remind your U.S. Representative
that you are among the 82 percent of Americans who want to see our country unite
under one common language. The
National Grange has supported H.R. 997 and its policy on English as U.S. official
language is as follows: The
National Grange favors a Constitutional amendment to make English the official
national language, and that children in public school be taught English. The National
Grange supports legislation to require that English be used on all forms through
out the United States.
National
Grange Legislative Director Leroy Watson has sent a
letter last year to U.S. House Representatives to support H.R. 997. "Immigrants
of many nationalities built our nation, but our long tradition of assimilation
has always included the adoption of English as the common means of communication.Knowledge
of English leads to the realization of the American dream by helping immigrants
to participate fully in our economy and to access government services," the letter
said.
U.S.
Newswire - American Farm Bureau, The National Grange Support H.R. 997, The English
Language Unity Act of 2003 PLEASE
WRITE YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO EXPRESS YOUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR MAKING ENGLISH
THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES AND TO URGE HIM/HER TO SUPPORT H.R.
997. Contact
information for U.S. House Representative | Sample
letter: |
Dear
Rep. ___________:
I
am writing to urge you to support the Official English bill, H.R. 997 being considered
by Congress. As a voter and taxpayer in your district, I am among the 82 percent
of Americans who want English designated as the official language of the United
States. The United
States desperately needs the unity that a shared national language can provide.
H.R. 997 would require nearly all federal official government business to be conducted
in English, and all documents to be printed in English. I
strongly encourage you to sign on as a cosponsor of H.R. 997 and to pass this
important piece of legislation in this session. Sincerely, (Signature)
(Name)__________________________ (Grange/Grange
name and number) __________________________ |
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If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091
or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
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to Subscribe To  The New
Grange? For all subscription and circulation inquiries, Contact: Jonathan
Hill. | 
