Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., co-sponsored an amendment to the immigration reform bill today that would make English the national language of the United States.

“Since the founding of this nation the ``Constitution and other important government documents have been written in English. Now it’s time for us to write English into the law,” said Enzi.

The Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 63-34 which is now included in the immigration reform bill currently being debated in the Senate.

Along with declaring English as the national language of the United States the amendment would require individuals to demonstrate sufficient understanding of English for usage in everyday life during the naturalization exam to attain citizenship. The amendment was introduced by Senator Jim Inhofe, R. Okla., and additional co-sponsors include Senators Bill Frist, R-Tenn., Robert Byrd, D-W. Va., Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and Jim Bunning, R-Ky.

Enzi was a co-sponsor of the last English as an official language bill introduced in the Senate in 1997. Enzi also plans to co-sponsor a stand alone bill that will further clarify and require all government official business and publications be in English.

English is the official language of 27 states and 51 nations. Wyoming declared English to be the official language of the state in 1996.