HR 931 IH

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.

February 26, 2003

Mr. KING of New York (for himself, Mr. PAUL, Mr. GOODE, Mr. CRANE, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. FORBES, Mr. AKIN, Mr. EVERETT, Mr. COBLE, Mr. BURR, Mr. BAKER, Mr. NEY, Mr. KING of Iowa, and Mr. DOOLITTLE) 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 concerned

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 Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `National Language Act of 2003'.

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. Preserving and enhancing the role of the official language.

`164. Exceptions.

`Sec. 161. Declaration of official language

`English shall be the official language of the Government of the United States.

`Sec. 162. Official Government activities in English

`The Government of the United States shall conduct its official business in English, including publications, income tax forms, and informational materials.

`Sec. 163. Preserving and enhancing the role of the official language

`The Government of the United States shall preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the United States of America. Unless specifically stated in applicable law, 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 exceptions are made, that does not create a legal entitlement to additional services in that language or any language other than English.

`Sec. 164. 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 international communication;

`(3) to programs in schools designed to encourage 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.'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of chapters for title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

161'.

SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

(a) REPEAL OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACT- The Bilingual Education Act (20 U.S.C. 3281 et seq.) is repealed.

(b) TERMINATION OF OFFICE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND MINORITY LANGUAGES AFFAIRS- The Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs 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 Bilingual 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 Education and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.

(d) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS-

(1) COMPLETION OF PROGRAMS DURING CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR- Subsections (a) and (c) shall not apply to any program under part A of the Bilingual Education Act (20 U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) until completion of the most recent school year of the program that commences after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) ASSISTANCE FOR TRANSITION TO SPECIAL ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS- During the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education may assist local educational agencies in the transition of children enrolled in programs assisted under the Bilingual 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--

(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 section 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 section 4(a), by striking `or (in the case of a State or subdivision which sought a declaratory judgment under the second sentence of this subsection) 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'.

SEC. 5. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR CEREMONIES 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 language.'.

SEC. 6. NONPREEMPTION.

This Act (and the amendments made by this Act) shall not preempt any law of any State.