I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 739

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

language of the Government of the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 2, 1993

Mr. ROTH (for himself, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. PACKARD, Mr. BAKER of Louisiana,

Mr. SISISKY, Mr. CRANE, Mr. ARMEY, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. ROHRABACHER,

Mr. HYDE, and Mr. HERGER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

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

as the official language of the Government of the United

States.

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Declaration of Official

5 Language Act of 1993’’.

6 SEC. 2. ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.

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

8 amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:
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1 ‘‘CHAPTER 6—LANGUAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT

‘‘Sec.

‘‘161. Declaration of official language.

‘‘162. Preferred language of communication.

‘‘163. Preserving and enhancing the role of the official language.

‘‘164. Duties of citizenship.

‘‘165. Reform of naturalization requirement.

‘‘166. Exceptions.

‘‘167. Preemption.

‘‘168. Construction.

2 ‘‘§ 161. Declaration of official language

3 ‘‘English is the official language of the Government

4 of the United States.

5 ‘‘§ 162. Preferred language of communication

6 ‘‘English is the preferred language of communication

7 among citizens of the United States.

8 ‘‘§ 163. Preserving and enhancing the role of the offi9 cial language

10 ‘‘The Government of the United States shall promote

11 and support the use of English for communications among

12 United States citizens. Communications by officers and

13 employees of the Government of the United States with

14 United States citizens shall be in English.

15 ‘‘§ 164. Duties of citizenship

16 ‘‘All United States citizens should be able to read,

17 write, and speak English to the extent of their physical

18 and mental abilities.

19 ‘‘§ 165. Reform of naturalization requirements

20 ‘‘The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall—
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1 ‘‘(1) establish an English language proficiency

2 standard for all applicants for United States citizen3 ship, and

4 ‘‘(2) establish a written and oral examination to

5 test for the achievement of such standard by such

6 applicants.

7 ‘‘§ 166. Exceptions

8 ‘‘This chapter does not apply to the use of a language

9 other than English for—

10 ‘‘(1) religious purposes, or

11 ‘‘(2) training in foreign languages for inter12 national communication.

13 ‘‘§ 167. Preemption

14 ‘‘This chapter preempts any State or Federal law

15 which is inconsistent with this chapter.

16 ‘‘§ 168. Construction

17 ‘‘This Act is not intended to affect programs in

18 schools designed to encourage students to learn foreign

19 languages.’’.

20 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters

21 for title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding at

22 the end the following new item:

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

23 (c) REPEALS.—
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1 (1) BILINGUAL EDUCATION.—Title VII of the

2 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is

3 repealed.

4 (2) BILINGUAL BALLOT.—Section 203 of the

5 Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973aa–1a)

6 is repealed.

Æ