I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 50
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 6, 1999
Mr. STUMP (for himself and Mr. TANCREDO) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce,
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 con-
cerned
A BILL
To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English
as the official language of the Government of the United
States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Declaration of Official
Language Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.
(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.
‘‘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.
‘‘§ 161. Declaration of official language
‘‘English is the official language of the Government
of the United States.
‘‘§ 162. Preferred language of communication
‘‘English is the preferred language of communication
among citizens of the United States.
‘‘§ 163. Preserving and enhancing the role of the offi-
cial language
‘‘The Government of the United States shall promote
and support the use of English for communications among
United States citizens. Communications by officers and
employees of the Government of the United States with
United States citizens shall be in English.
‘‘§ 164. Duties of citizenship
‘‘All United States citizens should be encouraged to
read, write, and speak English to the extent of their phys-
ical and mental abilities.
‘‘§ 165. Reform of naturalization requirements
‘‘(a) It has been the long-standing national belief that
full citizenship in the United States requires fluency in
English. English is the language of opportunity for all im-
migrants to take their rightful place in American society.
‘‘(b) The Immigration and Naturalization Service
shall—
‘‘(1) enforce the established English language
proficiency standard for all applicants for United
States citizenship, and
‘‘(2) conduct all naturalization ceremonies en-
tirely in English.
‘‘§ 166. Exceptions
‘‘This chapter does not apply to the use of a language
other than English for—
‘‘(1) religious purposes,
‘‘(2) training in foreign languages for inter-
national communication, or
‘‘(3) use of non-English terms of art in govern-
ment documents.
‘‘§ 167. Preemption
‘‘This chapter preempts any State or Federal law
which is inconsistent with this chapter.
‘‘§ 168. Construction
‘‘This Act is not intended to affect programs in
schools designed to encourage students to learn foreign
languages.
‘‘§ 169. Enforcement
‘‘(a) CAUSE OF ACTION.—Whoever is injured by a
violation of this chapter may, in a civil action, obtain ap-
propriate relief.
‘‘(b) ATTORNEY’S FEES.—In any action under this
chapter, the court may allow a prevailing party, other than
the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of
costs.’’.
(b) CLERICAL 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) REPEALS.—Title VII of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (other than sections 7201
through 7309) is repealed.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF BILINGUAL VOTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) BILINGUAL
ELECTION
REQUIREMENTS.—
Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42
U.S.C. 1973aa–1a) is repealed.
(2) VOTING RIGHTS.—Section 4 of the Voting
Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973b) is amended
by striking subsection (f).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) REFERENCES TO SECTION 203.—The Voting
Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.) is
amended—
(A) in section 204, by striking ‘‘or 203,’’;
and
(B) in the first sentence of section 205, by
striking ‘‘, 202, or 203’’ and inserting ‘‘or
202’’.
(2) REFERENCES TO SECTION 4.—The Voting
Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.) is
amended—
(A) in sections 2(a), 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 4(d),
5, 6, and 13, by striking ‘‘, or in contravention
of the guarantees set forth in section 4(f)(2)’’;
(B) in paragraphs (1)(A) and (3) of sec-
tion 4(a), by striking ‘‘or (in the case of a State
or subdivision seeking a declaratory judgment
under the second sentence of this subsection) in
contravention of the guarantees of subsection
(f)(2)’’; and
(C) in paragraphs (1)(B) and (5) of sec-
tion 4(a), by striking ‘‘or (in the case of a State
or subdivision which sought a declaratory judg-
ment under the second sentence of this sub-
section) that denials or abridgments of the right
to vote in contravention of the guarantees of
subsection (f)(2) have occurred anywhere in the
territory of such State or subdivision’’.
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