Category: Official English

1. Making English the Official Language of the United States:

• Cosponsored the English Language Unity Act (H.R. 997) in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011.

 "Well, it’s practical because we can all understand each other. I sometimes think that those who attack bilingualism sometimes are jealous, & we feel inferior, because we’re not capable. But we should have one language. But we, as federal officials, as a congressman or a president, we only have authority over the federal government. So I think all federal things should be in English. But when it comes to bilingualism in schools or the states, under our Constitution, it really is permissible. And the states can decide that. But under the conditions that we have today, I think it is good and proper to have one language, which would be English, for all legal matters at the national level. But this doesn’t preclude bilingualism in private use or in education or in local government.

      Source: 2007 Republican primary debate on Univision in response to the question, "Do you think that there would be a practical value of making English our official language?"  Dec 9, 2007

• Ron Paul responded to and completed the ProEnglish presidential candidate issues survey.  To the question, "Would you sign a bill passed by Congress to make English the official language of the United States?"  Paul responded, "YES."
  

ProEnglish Evaluation:

2. Multilingual Ballots:

• Cosponsored the National Language Act in 2011 (H.R. 1164), 2009 (H.R. 1229), 2005 (H.R. 4408), 2003 (H.R. 931), 2001 (H.R. 1005), 1999, 1997.

• The National Language Act would repeal the bilingual ballot provisions contained in Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1975.

• Ron Paul responded to and completed the ProEnglish presidential candidate issues survey.  To the question, "Should federal voting ballots be offered in languages other than English?"  Rep. Paul answered, "NO."

3. DREAM Act Amnesty: (Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors*)

*ProEnglish assesses the candidates’ positions on the federally introduced DREAM Act because the legislation would grant legal status to millions of non-English-speaking persons without requiring English proficiency first. ProEnglish also opposes the DREAM Act because it would increase the demand for taxpayer-funded multilingual government services.

• Voted NO on final passage of the DREAM Act amnesty (H.R. 5281), Roll Call 625, Dec. 8, 2010

• ProEnglish presidential candidate issues survey question:  "Do you oppose legislation, such as the DREAM Act, that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens without requiring specific steps for them to learn English as a prerequisite for legalization?"  Rep. Paul responded, "YES."

4. Puerto Rican Statehood: (Requiring Puerto Rico to make English its sole official language before being admitted as the 51st state and opposing Congress passing legislation that rigs the self-determination process in Puerto Rico).

• Cosponsored the Puerto Rico Democracy Act (H.R. 2499) in the 110^th and 111^th Congresses.

• Did not vote on imposter “official English” amendment to the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 (H.R. 2499), Roll Call 237, April 29, 2010.

• Did not vote on final passage of H.R. 2499, Roll Call 242, April 29, 2010.

• ProEnglish presidential candidate issues survey:  "Should Puerto Rico be required to make English its only official language in the event that the people of Puerto Rico vote to become the 51st U.S. state?"  Rep. Paul responded, "Not taking a position at this time."

5. English-on-the-job:

• Cosponsored Rep. Tom Price’s Common Sense English Act during the 110^th and 111^th Congresses.

• ProEnglish presidential candidate issues survey:  "Should employers have the right to require employees to speak English on the job?"  Ron Paul responded, "YES."
  

6. Multiculturalism/Assimilation:

• Cosponsored Rep. Peter King’s legislation (H.R. 1307) to repeal Executive Order 13166 in the 107^th, 108^th, 109^th, 110^th, 111^th, 112^th Congresses.

• Cosponsored Rep. Virginia Foxx’s bill, the Multilingual Services Accounting Act during the 111^th (H.R. 1414) and 112^th (H.R. 1715) Congresses.

• ProEnglish presidential candidate issues survey:  "Should taxpayer dollars be used to provide government services in an unlimited number of languages via costly translated documents, websites, and interpreters?"  Rep. Paul responded, "NO."

• < Prev
• Next >