[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INHOFE (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Isakson, Mr. 
        Chambliss, Mr. Burr, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Bunning, Mr. 
        Coburn, Mr. Wicker, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Thune, Mr. 
        Corker, and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 992. A bill to amend title 4, United States Code, to declare 
English as the national language of the Government of the United 
States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 992

       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 
     2009''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 4.

       (a) In General.--Title 4, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

                ``CHAPTER 6--LANGUAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT

``Sec.
``161. Declaration of national language.
``162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the national language.
``163. Use of language other than English.

     ``Sec. 161. Declaration of national language

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

     ``Sec. 162. Preserving and enhancing the role of the national 
       language

       ``(a) In General.--The Government of the United States 
     shall preserve and enhance the role of English as the 
     national language of the United States of America.
       ``(b) Exception.--Unless specifically provided by statute, 
     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 an exception is made with respect to the use of a 
     language other than English, the exception does not create a 
     legal entitlement to additional services in that language or 
     any language other than English.
       ``(c) Forms.--If any form is issued by the Federal 
     Government in a language other than English (or such form is 
     completed in a language other than English), the English 
     language version of the form is the sole authority for all 
     legal purposes.

     ``Sec. 163. Use of language other than English

       ``Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the use of a 
     language other than English.''.
       (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''.guage of the Government........................................

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