WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- A measure to make English the official language of the United States is gaining ground in the U.S. Congress.
The measure by U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, has drawn the support of 57 other members of Congress, reports the Des Moines Register.
It would require that the federal government conduct business in English, with some exemptions. It would also mandate that rules be developed to test the English language ability of immigrants who want to become U.S. citizens.
In a statement, King said, "English is the language of opportunity in America," and that learning it will open the doors to better opportunities for immigrants.
As a state senator, King led the effort in 2002 that made Iowa the 27th state to adopt English as its official language.
Raul Gonzalez of National Council of La Raza, an advocacy group for the Hispanic community, said King's bill is "a solution in search of a problem" because a vast majority of people in the United States speak English.
