HARRISBURG – The Statue of Liberty has a plaque at its base that is inscribed with an Emma Lazarus poem. In part, that piece says, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses learning to breathe free.”
That poem was written in the 1800s and placed on the statue in 1903. When both of those happened, the United States had no official language and still does not today even though more than 80 percent of the population speaks it, according to Wikipedia and the CIA’s World Factbook. The next-highest percentage speak Spanish.
Twenty-seven states have designated English as the official language, with Pennsylvania close to becoming No. 28. (Three states also recognize a second language as well.)
The state House approved the measure Wednesday with a vote of 159-34.
In the measure, English would become the official language of the state and of government.
“The people of the United States have brought to this nation the cultural heritage of many nations. The people of the United States, despite their many differences, have lived together harmoniously and productively as citizens of one nation. The traditional and common language of this commonwealth is English,” the bill says
The bill does provide for some exemptions to English as the official language, such as in courses for foreign languages, the promotion of international commerce and in other ways that might infringe on a person’s rights.
The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.