Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “James Boulet National Language Act of 2014”.
James Boulet National Language Act of 2014
A BILL
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.
Sec. 2 English as official language
In general— Title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:
“6 LANGUAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT
“161. Declaration of official language
“English shall be the official language of the Government of the United States.
“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.
“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. If any forms are issued by the Federal Government in a language other than English (or such forms are completed in a language other than English), the English language version of the form is the sole authority for all legal purposes.
“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; or
“(3) to programs in schools designed to encourage students to learn foreign languages.”
Conforming amendment— The table of chapters for title 4, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
Sec. 3 Repeal of bilingual voting requirements
In general—
Bilingual election requirements— Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973aa–1a) is repealed.
Voting rights— Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973b) is amended by striking subsection (f).
Conforming amendments—
in section 204, by striking “or 203,”; and
in the first sentence of section 205, by striking “, 202, or 203” and inserting “or 202”.
References to section 4— The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.), as amended by the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–246), is amended—
in sections 2(a), 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 4(d), 5, 6, 8(a)(2)(A), and 13(a)(1), by striking “, or in contravention of the guarantees set forth in section 4(f)(2)”;
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
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. 4 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. 5 Nonpreemption
This Act (and the amendments made by this Act) shall not preempt any law of any State.