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ARLINGTON, VA - "In the decade since the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform urged 'the Americanization of new immigrants,' two successive administrations, one Democrat and one Republican, have utterly failed to strengthen the English component of the citizenship test or to take other steps necessary to enhance the role of English in the assimilation of immigrants,'" says ProEnglish Executive Director K.C. McAlpin. He praises the just-released letter nine U.S. senators sent to President George W. Bush that urges him to embrace four key English initiatives.

The letter was sponsored by Senator James Inhofe, R-Okla., and co-signed by Senators Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. Elizabeth Dole, N.C., Richard Burr, R.-N.C., Jim DeMint, R-S.C., Norm Coleman, R-Minn. and Jeff Sessions, Ala.

"Ten years ago the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, chaired by the late Rep. Barbara Jordan, D-Tex., made a number of cogent recommendations for action that have languished while assimilation policy is stuck in reverse," McAlpin said. The senators' letter urges the president to:

* Support a law making English the official language of U.S. government operations;

* Strengthen the English component of the U.S. Naturalization Test. The letter quotes a Commission recommendation: "The English test should accurately and fairly measure an immigrant's ability to speak, read and write; the current practice of dictating English sentences for applicants to write is not an effective means of testing English proficiency."

* Repeal Executive Order 13166 that requires all levels of government as well as other federal funds recipients to provide translation and interpreter services for non-English speakers.

* Support new initiatives to encourage individuals, businesses, government entities and others to foster English fluency.

"Enhancing the role of English in our society will strengthen assimilation and preserve our country's unity," Senator Jim Inhofe said. "This debate is not just about preserving our culture and heritage, but also about bettering the odds of our nation's newest potential citizens."

McAlpin added, "This letter marking the 10th anniversary of the Jordan Commission report highlights how much of the Commission's carefully considered report has been ignored." A copy of the letter is available on ProEnglish's website: www.proenglish.org.