[Pages S913-S914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1950. Mr. INHOFE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 2579, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
to allow the premium tax credit with respect to

[[Page S914]]

unsubsidized COBRA continuation coverage; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ENGLISH LANGUAGE UNITY.

       (a) English as the Official Language of the United 
     States.--
       (1) In general.--Title 4, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

                     ``CHAPTER 6--OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

     ``SEC. 161. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES.

       ``The official language of the United States is English.

     ``SEC. 162. PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE ROLE OF THE OFFICIAL 
                   LANGUAGE.

       ``Representatives of the Federal Government shall have an 
     affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of 
     English as the official language of the Federal Government. 
     Such obligation shall include encouraging greater 
     opportunities for individuals to learn the English language.

     ``SEC. 163. OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT TO BE CONDUCTED 
                   IN ENGLISH.

       ``(a) Scope.--For the purposes of this section--
       ``(1) the term `official' refers to any function that--
       ``(A) binds the Government;
       ``(B) is required by law; or
       ``(C) is otherwise subject to scrutiny by either the press 
     or the public; and
       ``(2) the term `United States' means the several States and 
     the District of Columbia.
       ``(b) Official Functions.--The official functions of the 
     Government of the United States shall be conducted in 
     English.
       ``(c) Practical Effect.--This section--
       ``(1) shall apply to all laws, public proceedings, 
     regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs, and 
     policies; and
       ``(2) shall not apply to--
       ``(A) teaching of languages;
       ``(B) requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.);
       ``(C) actions, documents, or policies necessary for 
     national security, international relations, trade, tourism, 
     or commerce;
       ``(D) actions or documents that protect the public health 
     and safety;
       ``(E) actions or documents that facilitate the activities 
     of the Bureau of the Census in compiling any census of 
     population;
       ``(F) actions that protect the rights of victims of crimes 
     or criminal defendants; or
       ``(G) using terms of art or phrases from languages other 
     than English.

     ``SEC. 164. UNIFORM ENGLISH LANGUAGE RULE FOR NATURALIZATION.

       ``(a) Uniform Language Testing Standard.--All citizens of 
     the United States should be able to read and understand 
     generally the English language text of the Declaration of 
     Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the 
     laws of the United States made in pursuance of the 
     Constitution of the United States.
       ``(b) Ceremonies.--All naturalization ceremonies shall be 
     conducted in English.

     ``SEC. 165. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

       ``Nothing in this chapter shall be construed--
       ``(1) to prohibit a Member of Congress or any officer or 
     agent of the Federal Government, while performing official 
     functions under section 163, from communicating unofficially 
     through any medium with another person in a language other 
     than English (as long as official functions are performed in 
     English);
       ``(2) to limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or 
     Native American languages (as defined in the Native American 
     Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.));
       ``(3) to disparage any language or to discourage any person 
     from learning or using a language; or
       ``(4) to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the 
     United States.

     ``SEC. 166. STANDING.

       ``A person injured by a violation of this chapter may in a 
     civil action (including an action under chapter 151 of title 
     28) obtain appropriate relief.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of chapters at the 
     beginning of title 4, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to chapter 5 the following:

                   ``Chapter 6. Official Language''.

       (b) General Rules of Construction for English Language 
     Texts of the Laws of the United States.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 9. General rules of construction for laws of the 
       united states

       ``(a) English language requirements and workplace policies, 
     whether in the public or private sector, shall be 
     presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States.
       ``(b) Any ambiguity in the English language text of the 
     laws of the United States shall be resolved, in accordance 
     with the last two articles of the Bill of Rights, not to deny 
     or disparage rights retained by the people, and to reserve 
     powers to the States respectively, or to the people.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8 the 
     following:

``9. General rules of construction for laws of the United States.''.

       (c) Implementing Regulations.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security shall issue for public notice and comment a 
     proposed rule for uniform testing English language ability of 
     candidates for naturalization, which shall be based upon the 
     principles that--
       (1) all citizens of the United States should be able to 
     read and understand generally the English language text of 
     the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the 
     United States, and the laws of the United States which are 
     made in pursuance thereof; and
       (2) any exceptions to the standard described in paragraph 
     (1) should be limited to extraordinary circumstances, such as 
     asylum.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.
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