I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 345
To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the official
language of the Government of the United States and to amend the
Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that public ceremonies for
the admission of new citizens shall be considered solely in English.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 4, 1995
Mr. PICKETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on Economic and Educational Opportunities 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 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 to amend the Immigration and Nationality
Act to provide that public ceremonies for the admission
of new citizens shall be considered solely in English.
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 ‘‘Language of Govern-
ment Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares—
(1) that the United States is comprised of indi-
viduals and groups from diverse ethnic, cultural, and
linguistic backgrounds;
(2) that the United States has benefited and
continues to benefit from this rich diversity;
(3) that throughout the history of the Nation,
the common thread binding those of differing back-
grounds has been a common language;
(4) that in order to preserve unity in diversity,
and to prevent division along linguistic lines, the
United States should maintain a language common
to all people;
(5) that English has historically been the com-
mon language and the language of opportunity in
the United States;
(6) that the use of a single common language
in the conduct of the Government’s official business
will promote efficiency and fairness to all people;
and
(7) that English should be recognized in law as
the language of official business of the Government.
(b) CONSTRUCTION.—The amendments made by sec-
tion 3—
(1) are not intended in any way to discriminate
against or restrict the rights of any individual in the
United States;
(2) are not intended to discourage or prevent
the use of languages other than English in any
nonofficial capacity; and
(3) except where an existing law of the United
States directly contravenes the amendments made by
section 3 (such as by requiring the use of a language
other than English for official business of the Gov-
ernment of the United States), are not intended to
repeal existing laws of the United States.
SEC. 3. ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF GOVERN-
MENT.
(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 of Government.
‘‘162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the official language.
‘‘163. Official Government activities in English.
‘‘164. Standing.
‘‘165. Definitions.
‘‘§ 161. Declaration of official language of Govern-
ment
‘‘The official language of the Government of the
United States is English.
‘‘§ 162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the offi-
cial language
‘‘The Government shall have an affirmative obligation
to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official
language of the United States Government. Such obliga-
tion shall include encouraging greater opportunities for in-
dividuals to learn the English language.
‘‘§ 163. Official Government activities in English
‘‘(a) CONDUCT
OF BUSINESS.—The Government
shall conduct its official business in English.
‘‘(b) DENIAL OF SERVICES.—No person shall be de-
nied services, assistance, or facilities, directly or indirectly
provided by the Government solely because the person
communicates in English.
‘‘(c) ENTITLEMENT.—Every person in the United
States is entitled to—
‘‘(1) communicate with the Government in Eng-
lish;
‘‘(2) receive information from or contribute in-
formation to the Government in English; and
‘‘(3) be informed of or be subject to official or-
ders in English.
‘‘§ 164. Standing
‘‘Any person alleging injury arising from a violation
of this chapter shall have standing to sue in the courts
of the United States under sections 2201 and 2202 of title
28, United States Code, and for such other relief as may
be considered appropriate by the courts.
‘‘§ 165. Definitions
‘‘For purposes of this chapter:
‘‘(1) GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘Government’
means all branches of the Government of the United
States and all employees and officials of the Govern-
ment of the United States while performing official
business.
‘‘(2) OFFICIAL BUSINESS.—The term ‘official
business’ means those governmental actions, docu-
ments, or policies which are enforceable with the full
weight and authority of the Government, but does
not include—
‘‘(A) actions or documents that are pri-
marily informational or educational;
‘‘(B) actions, documents, or policies that
are not enforceable in the United States;
‘‘(C) actions, documents, or policies nec-
essary for international relations, trade, or com-
merce;
‘‘(D) actions or documents that protect the
public health or safety;
‘‘(E) actions that protect the rights of vic-
tims of crimes or criminal defendants; and
‘‘(F) documents that utilize terms of art or
phrases from languages other than English.’’.
(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’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect upon the date of enactment
of this Act, except that no suit may be commenced to en-
force or determine rights under the amendments until
January 1, 1996.
SEC. 4. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR CERE-
MONIES FOR ADMISSION OF NEW CITIZENS.
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Section 337(d) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(d)) is amended
by adding at the end ‘‘All public ceremonies in which the
oath of allegiance is administered pursuant to this section
shall be conducted solely in the English language.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall take effect 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. PREEMPTION.
This Act (and the amendments made by this Act)
shall not preempt any law of any State.
Æ