In a move to promote national unity and cultural cohesion, on Thursday, March 30, Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) introduced a bill that would make English the official language of the United States. The bill, titled the English Language Unity Act of 2023, would require that all official functions of the federal government be conducted in English and that all naturalization ceremonies include an oath to support and defend the English language.
Senator Vance, who is a bestselling author and a former Marine, said that his bill is motivated by his personal experience growing up in a working-class family in Ohio. “I know firsthand how important it is to speak English in order to succeed in this country,” he said. “English is not only the language of commerce and opportunity, but also the language of our common heritage and values. Making English our official language would send a clear message that we are one nation, indivisible, under God.”
The bill has already garnered support from several conservative groups and lawmakers, who argue that English is essential for assimilation and integration of immigrants. They also point out that 32 states have already adopted English as their official language, and that most countries around the world have an official language. According to a 2018 poll by Rasmussen Reports, 81% of Americans support making English the official language of the United States.
The number of languages in which government documents are routinely produced–such as Census forms–has exploded in recent years. Instructions for the 2020 Census, for example, were produced in no fewer than 59 non-English languages, including Igbo, Marathi, Twi, and Yoruba.
To no one’s surprise, the bill faces opposition from liberal groups and lawmakers, who claim that it is “discriminatory” and “divisive.” Imposing English as the official language they say would violate the rights and freedoms of linguistic minorities. And, of course, since “diversity is our strength,” America should celebrate its Tower-of-Babel multilingualism.
The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where it is expected to face a heated debate. Senator Vance said he is confident that his bill will pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by a newly re-elected President Trump. “This is a common-sense proposal that reflects the will of the American people,” he said. “It’s time to make English our official language and reaffirm our national identity.”
For more, see Breitbart News.