PRINTER'S NO. 2341
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
539
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, O'BRIEN AND KIRKLAND, OCTOBER 14, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 14, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating Spanish as the official language of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania and urging its use in all official acts of
State and local government.
WHEREAS, In 1565, Spanish explorers established the first
permanent settlement in what is now the United States, called
Saint Augustine, in what is today known as the state of Florida;
and
WHEREAS, Early Spanish explorations and settlements in North
America, including the Spanish language of those early settlers,
laid the landscape for the formation of what we know today as
the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Latinos are the largest minority ethnic group in the
United States, with more than 810,000 residing in Pennsylvania;
and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has been further enriched by the
waves of immigrants that it has both received and welcomed,
particularly by those of Hispanic descent; and
WHEREAS, Innumerable individuals of Hispanic descent have
made many great and noteworthy contributions to this
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Commonwealth in all fields of interest, including medicine, the
military, politics, aeronautics, academia, labor and industry,
business, sports and the arts and entertainment; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Hispanic population has served as a
foundation to this Commonwealth's economy and continues to play
an integral role in the cultural diversity of our State; and
WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau projects that the
country's Hispanic population will reach 132.8 million by July
1, 2050, which will constitute 30% of the overall population of
the United States; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to communicate with the residents of
this Commonwealth, Pennsylvania must be forward thinking and
preemptive in addressing and embracing both an impending local
and national demographic transformation; and
WHEREAS, Designating Spanish as the official language of the
Commonwealth serves the overall interests of our government and
its citizens by bridging unnecessary cultural and language gaps;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate Spanish
as the official language of the Commonwealth and urge its use in
all official acts of State and local governments.
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