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104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 345

To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the official

language of the Government of the United States and to amend the

Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that public ceremonies for

the admission of new citizens shall be considered solely in English.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 4, 1995

Mr. PICKETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities and, in addition, to the

Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English

as the official language of the Government of the United

States and to amend the Immigration and Nationality

Act to provide that public ceremonies for the admission

of new citizens shall be considered solely in English.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Language of Govern3 ment Act of 1995’’.

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION.

5 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares—

6 (1) that the United States is comprised of indi7 viduals and groups from diverse ethnic, cultural, and

8 linguistic backgrounds;

9 (2) that the United States has benefited and

10 continues to benefit from this rich diversity;

11 (3) that throughout the history of the Nation,

12 the common thread binding those of differing back13 grounds has been a common language;

14 (4) that in order to preserve unity in diversity,

15 and to prevent division along linguistic lines, the

16 United States should maintain a language common

17 to all people;

18 (5) that English has historically been the com19 mon language and the language of opportunity in

20 the United States;

21 (6) that the use of a single common language

22 in the conduct of the Government’s official business

23 will promote efficiency and fairness to all people;

24 and

25 (7) that English should be recognized in law as

26 the language of official business of the Government.
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1 (b) CONSTRUCTION.—The amendments made by sec2 tion 3—

3 (1) are not intended in any way to discriminate

4 against or restrict the rights of any individual in the

5 United States;

6 (2) are not intended to discourage or prevent

7 the use of languages other than English in any

8 nonofficial capacity; and

9 (3) except where an existing law of the United

10 States directly contravenes the amendments made by

11 section 3 (such as by requiring the use of a language

12 other than English for official business of the Gov13 ernment of the United States), are not intended to

14 repeal existing laws of the United States.

15 SEC. 3. ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF GOVERN16 MENT.

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title 4, United States Code, is

18 amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:

19 ‘‘CHAPTER 6—LANGUAGE OF THE

20 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.
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1 ‘‘§ 161. Declaration of official language of Govern2 ment

3 ‘‘The official language of the Government of the

4 United States is English.

5 ‘‘§ 162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the offi6 cial language

7 ‘‘The Government shall have an affirmative obligation

8 to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official

9 language of the United States Government. Such obliga10 tion shall include encouraging greater opportunities for in11 dividuals to learn the English language.

12 ‘‘§ 163. Official Government activities in English

13 ‘‘(a) CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.—The Government

14 shall conduct its official business in English.

15 ‘‘(b) DENIAL OF SERVICES.—No person shall be de16 nied services, assistance, or facilities, directly or indirectly

17 provided by the Government solely because the person

18 communicates in English.

19 ‘‘(c) ENTITLEMENT.—Every person in the United

20 States is entitled to—

21 ‘‘(1) communicate with the Government in Eng22 lish;

23 ‘‘(2) receive information from or contribute in24 formation to the Government in English; and

25 ‘‘(3) be informed of or be subject to official or26 ders in English.
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1 ‘‘§ 164. Standing

2 ‘‘Any person alleging injury arising from a violation

3 of this chapter shall have standing to sue in the courts

4 of the United States under sections 2201 and 2202 of title

5 28, United States Code, and for such other relief as may

6 be considered appropriate by the courts.

7 ‘‘§ 165. Definitions

8 ‘‘For purposes of this chapter:

9 ‘‘(1) GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘Government’

10 means all branches of the Government of the United

11 States and all employees and officials of the Govern12 ment of the United States while performing official

13 business.

14 ‘‘(2) OFFICIAL BUSINESS.—The term ‘official

15 business’ means those governmental actions, docu16 ments, or policies which are enforceable with the full

17 weight and authority of the Government, but does

18 not include—

19 ‘‘(A) actions or documents that are pri20 marily informational or educational;

21 ‘‘(B) actions, documents, or policies that

22 are not enforceable in the United States;

23 ‘‘(C) actions, documents, or policies nec24 essary for international relations, trade, or com25 merce;
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1 ‘‘(D) actions or documents that protect the

2 public health or safety;

3 ‘‘(E) actions that protect the rights of vic4 tims of crimes or criminal defendants; and

5 ‘‘(F) documents that utilize terms of art or

6 phrases from languages other than English.’’.

7 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of chap8 ters for title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding

9 at the end the following new item:

‘‘6. Language of the Government ................................................. 161’’.

10 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

11 this section shall take effect upon the date of enactment

12 of this Act, except that no suit may be commenced to en13 force or determine rights under the amendments until

14 January 1, 1996.

15 SEC. 4. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR CERE16 MONIES FOR ADMISSION OF NEW CITIZENS.

17 (a) REQUIREMENT.—Section 337(d) of the Immigra18 tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(d)) is amended

19 by adding at the end ‘‘All public ceremonies in which the

20 oath of allegiance is administered pursuant to this section

21 shall be conducted solely in the English language.’’.

22 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by

23 subsection (a) shall take effect 60 days after the date of

24 enactment of this Act.
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1 SEC. 5. PREEMPTION.

2 This Act (and the amendments made by this Act)

3 shall not preempt any law of any State.

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