Bill to Make English, Spanish Official in Puerto Rico Passes
English will soon take its place beside Spanish as an official language of this U.S. territory.
The Legislature, dominated by pro-statehood lawmakers, late Monday passed a bill making English and Spanish official languages. The bill passed, 18 to 8, in the Senate and 37 to 13 in the House.
Pro-statehood Gov. Pedro Rossello is expected to sign the bill this week and it will take effect immediately.
The plan revokes a 1991 law that made Spanish the island’s only official language.
The issue is sensitive for Puerto Ricans, many of whom are uneasy about what they see as the Americanization of the island. Spain colonized Puerto Rico and controlled it for 400 years before ceding it to the United States in 1898.
On Sunday, an estimated 100,000 people marched to protest the bill.
Puerto Rico’s 3.6 million people have U.S. citizenship, receive many federal benefits, such as Social Security and food stamps, and are eligible for military service.
They do not pay U.S. taxes and cannot vote in federal elections. They are represented in Congress by a non-voting delegate.
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