I

104TH 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

JANUARY 30, 1995

Mr. ROTH (for himself, Mr. PACKARD, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. BARTLETT of

Maryland, Mr. PARKER, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. COBLE, Mr. ARCHER, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. BUNNING of Kentucky, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr.

STUMP, Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina, Mr. ROGERS, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. HANCOCK, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. HUTCHINSON,

Mr. NEY, Mr. FORBES, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr.

ROHRABACHER, Mr. OXLEY, and Mr. KING) introduced the following bill;

which was referred to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities

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 1995’’.
2

•HR 739 IH

1 SEC. 2. ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.

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

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

4 ‘‘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.

‘‘169. Enforcement.

5 ‘‘§ 161. Declaration of official language

6 ‘‘English is the official language of the Government

7 of the United States.

8 ‘‘§ 162. Preferred language of communication

9 ‘‘English is the preferred language of communication

10 among citizens of the United States.

11 ‘‘§ 163. Preserving and enhancing the role of the offi12 cial language

13 ‘‘The Government of the United States shall promote

14 and support the use of English for communications among

15 United States citizens. Communications by officers and

16 employees of the Government of the United States with

17 United States citizens shall be in English.
3

•HR 739 IH

1 ‘‘§ 164. Duties of citizenship

2 ‘‘All United States citizens should be encouraged to

3 read, write, and speak English to the extent of their phys4 ical and mental abilities.

5 ‘‘§ 165. Reform of naturalization requirements

6 ‘‘(a) It has been the long-standing national belief that

7 full citizenship in the United States requires fluency in

8 English. English is the language of opportunity for all im9 migrants to take their rightful place in American society.

10 ‘‘(b) The Immigration and Naturalization Service

11 shall—

12 ‘‘(1) enforce the established English language

13 proficiency standard for all applicants for United

14 States citizenship, and

15 ‘‘(2) conduct all naturalization ceremonies en16 tirely in English.

17 ‘‘§ 166. Exceptions

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

19 other than English for—

20 ‘‘(1) religious purposes,

21 ‘‘(2) training in foreign languages for inter22 national communication, or

23 ‘‘(3) use of non-English terms of art in govern24 ment documents.
4

•HR 739 IH

1 ‘‘§ 167. Preemption

2 ‘‘This chapter preempts any State or Federal law

3 which is inconsistent with this chapter.

4 ‘‘§ 168. Construction

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

6 schools designed to encourage students to learn foreign

7 languages.

8 ‘‘§ 169. Enforcement

9 ‘‘(a) CAUSE OF ACTION.—Whoever is injured by a

10 violation of this chapter may, in a civil action, obtain ap11 propriate relief.

12 ‘‘(b) ATTORNEY’S FEES.—In any action under this

13 chapter, the court may allow a prevailing party, other than

14 the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of

15 costs.’’.

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

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

18 the end the following new item:

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

19 (c) REPEALS.—

20 (1) BILINGUAL EDUCATION.—Title VII of the

21 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

22 (other than sections 7201 through 7309) is repealed.
5

•HR 739 IH

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

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

3 is repealed.

Æ