Document Actions
Chairman Pleased With Language Hearing
TOPEKA - Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Chair Don Myers (R-Derby) was pleased with the hearing yesterday of House Bill 2140 to establish English as the Official State Language.
“English is the common language of Kansas. The inability to communicate adequately is a great barrier and many American immigrants would testify to the life changes that occur when they learn to communicate in English," Chairman Myers said. "House Bill 2140 is pro-immigrant as it would encourage those who are not proficient to become able to communicate better and enhance their lives.”
Also at the hearing was Ben Piper, who is the Director of Government Relations for ProEnglish, a non-profit English advocacy organization. During his testimony in support of this measure Mr. Piper asserted, “Making English the official language of Kansas would re-direct taxpayer dollars from multilingual government. More than 40 languages are spoken in the State of Kansas and it would be costly, divisive and impractical for the state to communicate in all of them.”
Chairman Myers expects HB 2140 will receive committee recommendation next week and reach the full House before the end of session.
-30-