ProEnglish Executive Director Robert Vandervoort Applauds Rick Santorum for Defending English in Puerto Rico – Urges Romney to Do the Same

Contact: Phil Kent
March 15, 2012                                                                                           Phone: (404)226-3549

Arlington, VA—ProEnglish, the nation’s leading advocate of official English, applauds GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum for declaring that English must become the primary official language of Puerto Rico if it decides to become a state.

While visiting Puerto Rico on March 14th, Santorum was interviewed by El Vocero and asked about the island remaining Spanish-speaking if it decides to petition for U.S. Statehood. Santorum replied, “English must be the main language. Other states have more than one language, like Hawaii, but to be a state of the Union, English has to be the main language.”

“ProEnglish thanks Sen. Santorum for his courageous stand and his intent to preserve English as the common, unifying language of the United States,” said ProEnglish board member Phil Kent. Santorum’s public declaration has improved his grade on ProEnglish’s interactive candidate scorecard from a ‘B’ to an ‘A-minus.’ He now ties Newt Gingrich in the rankings.

“The Romney campaign has today insinuated that Gov. Romney opposes an English language requirement of any kind, but why does the Governor oppose making English the language of government and schools in Puerto Rico?” asked Kent.

No territory with a primary official language other than English has ever been admitted to the Union and no existing U.S. state government operates in any other language on a day-to-day basis. Puerto Rico would be a striking exception.

“It’s not easy to be vocal about the inevitable language implications that statehood will have for Spanish-speaking Puerto Rico when you are a candidate running for President and visiting the island,” said Kent.   “But Senator Santorum rose above party politics this week. Americans nationwide should thank him for highlighting this important issue which will confront all Americans this November.”