I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1005
To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the official
language of the Government of the United States, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 4, 1999
Mr. KING of New York (for himself, Mr. PAUL, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. HILLEARY,
Mrs. KELLY, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. WELDON of Florida,
Mr. LAHOOD, and Mrs. ROUKEMA) 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 subse-
quently 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 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 ‘‘National Language
Act of 1999’’.
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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. Official Government activities in English.
‘‘163. Exceptions.
‘‘§ 161. Declaration of official language
‘‘English shall be the official language of the Govern-
ment of the United States.
‘‘§ 162. Official Government activities in English
‘‘The Government of the United States shall conduct
its official business in English, including publications, in-
come tax forms, and informational materials.
‘‘§ 163. Exceptions
‘‘This chapter does not apply to the use of a language
other than English—
‘‘(1) for religious purposes;
‘‘(2) for training in foreign languages for inter-
national communication;
‘‘(3) to programs in schools designed to encour-
age students to learn foreign languages; or
‘‘(4) by persons over 62 years of age.
‘‘This chapter does not prevent the Government of
the United States from providing interpreters for persons
over 62 years of age.’’.
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of chap-
ters for title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:
‘‘6. Language of the Government .................................................
161’’.
SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS.
(a) REPEAL OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACT.—The
Bilingual Education Act (20 U.S.C. 3281 et seq.) is re-
pealed.
(b) TERMINATION OF OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDU-
CATION AND MINORITY LANGUAGES AFFAIRS.—The Of-
fice of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Af-
fairs in the Department of Education, established by part
D of the Bilingual Education Act (20 U.S.C. 3331 et
seq.), is terminated.
(c) RECAPTURE
OF UNEXPENDED FUNDS.—Any
funds that have been provided as grants under the Bilin-
gual Education Act (20 U.S.C. 3281 et seq.), and that
have not been expended before the date of the enactment
of this Act, shall be recaptured by the Secretary of Edu-
cation and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
(d) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.—
(1) COMPLETION OF PROGRAMS DURING CUR-
RENT SCHOOL YEAR.—Subsections (a) and (c) shall
not apply to any program under part A of the Bilin-
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gual Education Act (20 U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) until
completion of the most recent school year of the pro-
gram that commences after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
(2) ASSISTANCE FOR TRANSITION TO SPECIAL
ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS.—During
the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Education may
assist local educational agencies in the transition of
children enrolled in programs assisted under the Bi-
lingual Education Act (20 U.S.C. 3281 et seq.) to
Special Alternative Instructional Programs that do
not make use of the native language of the student.
SEC. 4. 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—
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(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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SEC. 5. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR CERE-
MONIES FOR ADMISSION OF NEW CITIZENS.
Section 337(d) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(d)) is amended by adding at the end
the following new sentence: ‘‘All public ceremonies in
which the oath of allegiance is administered pursuant to
this section shall be conducted solely in the English lan-
guage.’’.
SEC. 6. NONPREEMPTION.
This Act (and the amendments made by this Act)
shall not preempt any law of any State.
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