Language of Government Act of 1995

Summary: Language of Government Act of 1995 - Amends Federal law to declare English as the official language of the Government. 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require all public ceremonies in which the citizenship oath is administered to be conducted solely in English.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Language of Government Act of 
1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds and declares--
            (1) that the United States is comprised of individuals and 
        groups from diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic 
        backgrounds;
            (2) that the United States has benefited and continues to 
        benefit from this rich diversity;
            (3) that throughout the history of the Nation, the common 
        thread binding those of differing backgrounds has been a common 
        language;
            (4) that in order to preserve unity in diversity, and to 
        prevent division along linguistic lines, the United States 
        should maintain a language common to all people;
            (5) that English has historically been the common language 
        and the language of opportunity in the United States;
            (6) that the use of a single common language in the conduct 
        of the Government's official business will promote efficiency 
        and fairness to all people; and
            (7) that English should be recognized in law as the 
        language of official business of the Government.
    (b) Construction.--The amendments made by section 3--
            (1) are not intended in any way to discriminate against or 
        restrict the rights of any individual in the United States;
            (2) are not intended to discourage or prevent the use of 
        languages other than English in any nonofficial capacity; and
            (3) except where an existing law of the United States 
        directly contravenes the amendments made by section 3 (such as 
        by requiring the use of a language other than English for 
        official business of the Government of the United States), are 
        not intended to repeal existing laws of the United States.

SEC. 3. ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF GOVERNMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new chapter:

                ``CHAPTER 6--LANGUAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT

``Sec.
``161. Declaration of official language of Government.
``162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the official language.
``163. Official Government activities in English.
``164. Standing.
``165. Definitions.
``Sec. 161. Declaration of official language of Government
    ``The official language of the Government of the United States is 
English.
``Sec. 162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the official language
    ``The Government shall have an affirmative obligation to preserve 
and enhance the role of English as the official language of the United 
States Government. Such obligation shall include encouraging greater 
opportunities for individuals to learn the English language.
``Sec. 163. Official Government activities in English
    ``(a) Conduct of Business.--The Government shall conduct its 
official business in English.
    ``(b) Denial of Services.--No person shall be denied services, 
assistance, or facilities, directly or indirectly provided by the 
Government solely because the person communicates in English.
    ``(c) Entitlement.--Every person in the United States is entitled 
to--
            ``(1) communicate with the Government in English;
            ``(2) receive information from or contribute information to 
        the Government in English; and
            ``(3) be informed of or be subject to official orders in 
        English.
``Sec. 164. Standing
    ``Any person alleging injury arising from a violation of this 
chapter shall have standing to sue in the courts of the United States 
under sections 2201 and 2202 of title 28, United States Code, and for 
such other relief as may be considered appropriate by the courts.
``Sec. 165. Definitions
    ``For purposes of this chapter:
            ``(1) Government.--The term `Government' means all branches 
        of the Government of the United States and all employees and 
        officials of the Government of the United States while 
        performing official business.
            ``(2) Official business.--The term `official business' 
        means those governmental actions, documents, or policies which 
        are enforceable with the full weight and authority of the 
        Government, but does not include--
                    ``(A) actions or documents that are primarily 
                informational or educational;
                    ``(B) actions, documents, or policies that are not 
                enforceable in the United States;
                    ``(C) actions, documents, or policies necessary for 
                international relations, trade, or commerce;
                    ``(D) actions or documents that protect the public 
                health or safety;
                    ``(E) actions that protect the rights of victims of 
                crimes or criminal defendants; and
                    ``(F) documents that utilize terms of art or 
                phrases from languages other than English.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of chapters for title 4, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
item:

``6. Language of the Government.............................     161''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect upon the date of enactment of this Act, except that no suit may 
be commenced to enforce or determine rights under the amendments until 
January 1, 1996.

SEC. 4. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR CEREMONIES FOR ADMISSION OF 
              NEW CITIZENS.

    (a) Requirement.--Section 337(d) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(d)) is amended by adding at the end ``All public 
ceremonies in which the oath of allegiance is administered pursuant to 
this section shall be conducted solely in the English language.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. PREEMPTION.

    This Act (and the amendments made by this Act) shall not preempt 
any law of any State.