I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5759 
To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the national 
language of the Government of the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 10, 2008 
Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mrs. 
DRAKE, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. 
MUSGRAVE, Mr. PITTS, Mr. GOODE, Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. 
WALBERG, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. FRANKS 
of Arizona, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, 
Mr. LINDER, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. WAMP, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. COBLE, 
Ms. FOXX, Mr. POE, and Mrs. MYRICK) 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 national language of the Government of the 
United States, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘English as the Official 
Language Act of 2008’’. 
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SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 4. 
Title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 6—LANGUAGE OF THE 
GOVERNMENT 
‘‘161. Declaration of national language. 
‘‘162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the national language. 
‘‘163. Use of language other than English. 
‘‘SEC. 161. DECLARATION OF NATIONAL LANGUAGE. 
‘‘English shall be the national language of the Gov-
ernment of the United States. 
‘‘SEC. 162. PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE ROLE OF 
THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Government of the United 
States shall preserve and enhance the role of English as 
the national language of the United States of America. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Unless specifically provided by 
statute, no person has a right, entitlement, or claim to 
have the Government of the United States or any of its 
officials or representatives act, communicate, perform or 
provide services, or provide materials in any language 
other than English. If an exception is made with respect 
to the use of a language other than English, the exception 
does not create a legal entitlement to additional services 
in that language or any language other than English. 
‘‘(c) FORMS.—If any form is issued by the Federal 
Government in a language other than English (or such 
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form is completed in a language other than English), the 
English language version of the form is the sole authority 
for all legal purposes. 
‘‘SEC. 163. USE OF LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. 
‘‘Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the use of a 
language other than English.’’. 
SEC. 3. 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’’. 
Æ 
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