1Designating Spanish as the official language of the Commonwealth
2of Pennsylvania and urging its use in all official acts of
3State and local government.

4WHEREAS, In 1565, Spanish explorers established the first
5permanent settlement in what is now the United States, called
6Saint Augustine, in what is today known as the state of Florida;
7and

8WHEREAS, Early Spanish explorations and settlements in North
9America, including the Spanish language of those early settlers,
10laid the landscape for the formation of what we know today as
11the United States of America; and

12WHEREAS, Latinos are the largest minority ethnic group in the
13United States today, with more than 810,000 residing in
14Pennsylvania; and

15WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has been further enriched by the
16waves of immigrants that it has both received and welcomed,
17particularly by those of Hispanic descent; and

18WHEREAS, Innumerable individuals of Hispanic descent have
19made many great and noteworthy contributions to this

1Commonwealth in all fields of interest, including medicine, the
2military, politics, aeronautics, academia, labor and industry,
3business, sports and the arts and entertainment; and

4WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Hispanic population has served as a
5foundation to this Commonwealth's economy and continues to play
6an integral role in the cultural diversity of our State; and

7WHEREAS, The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the country's
8Hispanic population will reach 132.8 million by July 1, 2050,
9which will constitute 30% of the overall population of the
10United States; and

11WHEREAS, In an effort to communicate with the citizens of
12this Commonwealth, Pennsylvania must be forward thinking and
13preemptive in addressing and embracing both an impending local
14and national demographic transformation; and

15WHEREAS, Designating Spanish as the official language of the
16Commonwealth serves the overall interests of our government and
17its citizens by bridging unnecessary cultural and language gaps;
18therefore be it

19RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate Spanish
20as the official language of the Commonwealth, and urge its use
21in all official acts of State and local governments.