The American "melting pot" has succeeded in creating a vibrant new culture among peoples of many different cultural backgrounds largely because of the widespread use of a common language. English. Learning English has been the primary task of every immigrant group for two centuries. Particination in the common language has rapidly made available to each new group the political and economic benefits of American society. Those who have mastered English have overcome the major hurdle to full participation in our democracy. Today I am introducing a constitutional amendment declaring as the law of the land what is already a political and social reality: That English is the official language of the United States. This amendment is needed to clarify the confusing signals we have given in recent years to Immigrant groups. For example. the requirements for naturalization as a U.S. citizen say you must be able to "read. write. and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language." And though you must be a citizen to vote. some recent legislation has required bilingual ballots in some areas. This amendment would end that contradictory. logically conflicting. situation. Bilingual education programs were originally designed to help nonEnglishspeaking children learn English quickly so they could Join the mainstream of education and of our society.
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immigrant naturalization Immigrant