ACTION ALERT
Contact your representative
to cosponsor and support HR 1229 the
National Language Act of 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
By Frank McGlynn
Acting Executive Director
Last month, when I wrote to
you and asked for your help in getting cosponsors and building support for
Senator Inhofe's S.991, the National Language Act of 2009, I promised that I
would also try to get a matching bill introduced in the House of
Representatives. I explained that, in the past, official English
bills have successfully been passed in the House OR the Senate - but never at
the same time.
Well, thanks to Rep. Peter
King of New York, a great Congressman and good friend of English First, we now
have excellent bills in both chambers, doubling our chances to pass an official
language bill this year! Congressman King's bill, H.R. 1229, the
National Language Act of 2009, is virtually identical to Senator Inhofe's S.991,
ensuring that both bills can be passed quickly without the need of any wrangling
between the House and Senate to come up with unified legislation.
And with the latest polling
data confirming, on May 14th, 2009, that eighty-four percent (84%) of Americans
say English should be the official language of the United States, most
politicians would have to think twice about opposing these bills. This
tells me that, despite the opposition that may come from the pro-Hispanic lobby,
if we can force a vote on the National Language Act, in either chamber, we can
pass a great official language bill this year. Both bills are off to a
good start with S.991 having 14 cosponsors in the Senate and H.R.1229 having 25
cosponsors in the House. It is a good start but now it is up to us, you
and me, to find more cosponsors and build momentum for these excellent
bills.
Once that is done, the stage
will be set for the next move, which is to attach either of these bills as
amendments to any fast moving bill going through the House or the Senate.
Then, our friends in Congress will call for a roll call vote which forces
Representatives and Senators to go on record as supporting or opposing English
as our official language. If we can force a roll call vote, I know it will
pass because very few Representatives or Senators want to be on record as
opposing a measure that has the support of 84% of the American
people.
Making English the official
language will eliminate the burden on the federal government to provide
documents and/or services in languages other than English.
If you agree with our
strategy, then I must call upon you, once again, to lend your support by sending
an email to your representative asking him or her to support and become a
co-sponsor of H.R. 1229, the National Language Act of 2009.
CLICK HERE TO
SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR REPRESENATIVE ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT H.R. 1229 AND
TO BECOME CO-SPONSORS OF THIS IMPORTANT BILL.
Finally, I must ask if you
can also help us out with a contribution to ensure we have the financial
resources to help Congressman King pass H.R.1229. Whatever amount you can afford
to give at this time will be a great aid in our battle to pass this vital piece
of legislation. Click here
to contribute. To win this battle, we need to make sure every
Congressman has a copy of this latest polling data in their hands so when they
are asked to cast their vote, they will honor the wishes of their constituents,
not the radical pro-Hispanic lobbies.
So please send us a
contribution, in whatever amount you can safely afford to donate, and we will do
everything in our power to pass the National Language Act this year, making
English the official language of the United States - finally!
Thank you for your continued
support for our work.
Sincerely,
Frank
McGlynn
Acting Executive Director
P.S. We have passed
the first hurdle - we have two matching bills in the House and Senate.
With your help, we can make English the official language of the United States
this year. Please help us at this critical moment! Moreover, even if
you cannot afford to contribute any money at this time, please remember to send
an email to your Representative. We need your help to overcome the
opposition in the House and Senate.
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For further information please refer to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
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