[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8982-H8984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               AMENDMENTS

  Under clause 6 of rule XXIII, proposed amendments were submitted as 
follows:

[[Page H8983]]

                                H.R. 123

                        Offered By: Mr. Conyers

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 2: Page 6, after line 5, insert the following 
     (and redesignate any subsequent paragraphs accordingly):
       ``(2) to affect the bilingual election requirements of the 
     Voting Rights Act of 1965;''.
       Beginning on page 8, strike line 11 and all that follows 
     through page 10, line 3.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Mr. Cunningham

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 3: Page 6, after line 5, insert the following 
     (and redesignate any subsequent paragraphs accordingly):
       ``(2) to limit the preservation or use of Native American 
     languages;''.
       Page 7, after line 3, insert the following (and redesignate 
     any subsequent subparagraphs accordingly):
       ``(B) requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act;''.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Mr. Cunningham

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 4: Page 7, line 20, strike ``documents that 
     utilize'' and insert ``using''.

                                H.R. 123

                     Offered By: Mr. Green of Texas

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 5: Page 4, line 12, after the period, insert 
     the following:
       In order for the Federal Government to meet its obligation 
     of encouraging individuals to learn the English language, 
     this chapter shall take effect only after the date of the 
     enactment of an appropriation act which provides funding for 
     State programs under the Adult Education Act at a level that 
     exceeds $500,000,000.

                                H.R. 123

                     Offered By: Mr. Green of Texas

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 6: Page 5, strike lines 6 through 9.

                                H.R. 123

                     Offered By: Mr. Green of Texas

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 7: Page 7, after line 3, insert the following 
     (and redesignate any subsequent subparagraphs accordingly):
       ``(B) educational programs;''.

                                H.R. 123

                     Offered By: Mr. Green of Texas

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 8: Page 8, strike lines 8 through 10, and 
     insert the following:
       The amendments made by section 102 shall take effect only 
     after the date of the enactment of an appropriation act which 
     provides funding for title VII of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 at a level that exceeds 
     $500,000,000.

                                H.R. 123

                  Offered By: Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 9: Page 7, after line 10, insert the 
     following (and redesignate the following accordingly):
       ``(D) ballots for Federal elections;''.
       Beginning on page 8, strike line 11 and all that follows 
     through the end.

                                H.R. 123

                        Offered By: Mr. Martinez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 10: Page 7, line 1, strike ``income tax 
     forms,''.
       Page 7, after line 10, insert the following (and 
     redesignate any subsequent subparagraphs accordingly):
       ``(D) actions and documents that inform individuals of 
     their rights and responsibilities under the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986;''.

                                H.R. 123

                        Offered By: Mr. Martinez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 11: Page 7, after line 10, insert the 
     following (and redesignate any subsequent subparagraphs 
     accordingly):
       ``(D) actions and documents that inform individuals of 
     benefits under the Social Security Act;''.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Mr. Richardson

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 12: Page 7, after line 15, insert the 
     following (and redesignate any subsequent subparagraphs 
     accordingly):
       ``(F) planning sessions for and events and ceremonies at 
     any Olympic games;''.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Mr. Richardson

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 13: Beginning on page 8, strike line 11 and 
     all that follows through page 10, line 3.

                                H.R. 123

                     Offered By: Mr. Romero-Barcelo

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 14: Page 6, after line 5, insert the 
     following (and redesignate the subsequent paragraphs 
     accordingly):
       ``(2) to prohibit an agency from communicating in a 
     language other than English, either orally or in writing, if 
     such agency determines that communicating in a language other 
     than English will assist the agency in carrying out its 
     duties in a more efficient manner;''.

                                H.R. 123

                        Offered By: Mr. Serrano

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 15: Page 5, after line 23, insert the 
     following (and make any necessary conforming changes):
       ``(b) Application to Campaigns.--The requirements of this 
     chapter apply to Presidential campaigns and the Federal 
     Election Campaign fund.''.

                                H.R. 123

                        Offered By: Mr. Serrano

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 16: Page 8, before line 4, insert the 
     following new section:

     SEC. 103. PROHIBITION AGAINST COMBAT DUTY FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
                   ARMED FORCES NOT FLUENT IN ENGLISH.

       A member of the Armed Forces who is not fluent in the 
     English language in accordance with section 165(a) may not be 
     assigned to combat duty.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Mr. Underwood

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 17: Page 4, strike lines 8 through 12, and 
     insert ``promote the role of English as the language of the 
     Federal Government, and encourage greater opportunities for 
     individuals to learn the English language.''.
       Page 5, line 19, strike ``Except'' and insert ``(a) 
     Except''.
       Page 5, after line 23, insert the following:
       ``(b) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to 
     Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, or 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
       Page 6, line 4, strike ``orally'' and insert ``in oral, 
     electronic, multi-media, or broadcast form''.
       Page 6, after line 5, insert the following (and redesignate 
     subsequent paragraphs accordingly):
       ``(2) to prevent officials of the Federal Government from 
     communicating in a language other than English, when such 
     communicating facilitates the efficiency of government;
       ``(3) to affect the languages used by families;
       ``(4) to limit the promotion, preservation, instruction, or 
     use of languages indigenous to the United States;
       ``(5) to limit the access to the Federal Government by the 
     elderly;
       ``(6) to limit the access to the Federal Government of the 
     disabled;''.
       Page 6, strike lines 12 and 13, and insert the following:
       ``Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to violate the 
     rights and protections afforded under the 1st, 5th, and 14th 
     amendments of the Constitution of the United States.
       Page 7, strike line 3, and insert the following:
       ``(A) education and training, including early childhood 
     education, bilingual education, adult education, and special 
     education;
       ``(B) actions, documents, or policies necessary for 
     communication in Braille or American Sign Language;
       ``(C) religious materials and observances;
       ``(D) artistic, cultural, and sporting events;
       ``(E) all actions involving law enforcement, including the 
     Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement 
     Agency;
       Page 7, line 4, strike ``(B)'' and insert ``(F)''.
       Page 7, line 6, strike ``or''.
       Page 7, line 8, insert ``or'' after the semicolon.
       Page 7, line 8, insert the following:
       ``(iii) broadcasting, telecommunications, multi-media, and 
     the internet;
       Page 7, strike lines 9 and 10, and insert the following 
     (and redesignate subsequent subparagraphs accordingly):
       ``(G) public documents, acts, statements, votes, hearings, 
     and proceedings for the protection of individual or public 
     health, safety, and entitlements;
       ``(H) activities related to disaster relief, natural or 
     manmade;''.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Mr. Underwood

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 18: Page 6 after line 13, insert the 
     following (redesignating any subsequent sections accordingly 
     and conforming the table of contents):

     Sec. 169. Affirmation of indigenous languages

       ``Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the 
     promotion, preservation,

[[Page H8984]]

     instruction, or use of languages indigenous to the United 
     States.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Ms. Velazquez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 19: Page 4, strike lines 24 through 25, and 
     insert the following:
       ``(1) to communicate in any form with representatives of 
     the Federal Government in the language in which the person 
     feels most comfortable;''
       Page 5, after line 5, insert the following:
       ``(d) Elected Officials.--Every elected offical is entitled 
     to communicate in any form with constituents in the language 
     in which the elected official feels most comfortable;''.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Ms. Velazquez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 20: Page 7, after line 8, insert the 
     following (and redesignate any subsequent subparagraphs 
     accordingly):
       ``(C) actions or documents that the Veterans Administration 
     considers necessary to carry out its functions in an 
     efficient manner;''.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Ms. Velazquez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 21: Page 8, before line 4, insert the 
     following new section:

     SEC. 103. EFFECT OF ENGLISH FLUENCY REQUIREMENTS ON MEMBERS 
                   OF THE ARMED FORCES.

       No person may be complelled to serve as a member of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States unless that person is 
     fluent in the English language in accordance with section 
     165(a). Persons who are members of the Armed Forces as of the 
     date of the enactment of this Act shall have the opportunity 
     to receive an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces if 
     the member is not fluent in the English language in 
     accordance with section 165(a).

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Ms. Velazquez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 22: Insert at end of Title II, the following 
     new section:
       Sec.   . This Act shall not take effect until Congress has 
     funded bilingual education for three consecutive years at the 
     amount requested by the President's annual budget request.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Ms. Velazquez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 23: Insert at end of Title II, the following 
     new section:

     SEC.   . PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

       No provisions of this Act shall take effect on the date of 
     enactment if the Attorney General determines that 
     implementation of these provisions may increase 
     discrimination based on race, nationality or ancestry.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Ms. Velazquez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 24: Insert at end of Title II, the following 
     new section:

     SEC.   . LIMITATION OF BURDEN TO TAXPAYERS.

       No provisions of this Act shall take effect on the date of 
     enactment if the Director of the Office of Management and 
     Budget determines that implementation of these provisions 
     will increase the tax burden of taxpayers.

                                H.R. 123

                       Offered By: Ms. Velazquez

           (Page and line number references are to H.R. 3898)

       Amendment No. 25:

     SEC. 203. LIMITATION.

       This title and the amendments made by this title do not 
     apply with respect to any State, county, or other similar 
     political subdivision, if the Attorney General determines 
     that the voter turnout in the most recent election in that 
     State, county, or subdivision was below the national average.
_______________________________________________________________________
                              N O T I C E
     Except for Conference Reports on H.R. 3230, National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997; and H.R. 3603, Making 
   Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration and Related Agencies for fiscal year 1997, this issue of 
                        the Record is complete.
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