National Language Act of 2011
Latest action · Jun 1, 2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMar 17, 2011
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
National Language Act of 2011 - Makes English the official language of the U.S. government. Requires the government to: (1) conduct its official business in English, including publications, income tax forms, and informational materials; and (2) preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the United States. Provides that no person has a right, entitlement, or claim to have the government act, communicate, perform, or provide services or materials in any other language, unless specifically stated in applicable law.
Provides that this Act is inapplicable to the use of a language other than English for religious purposes, for training in foreign languages for international communication, or in school programs designed to encourage students to learn foreign languages. Allows the U.S. government to provide interpreters for persons over age 62.
Repeals provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 regarding bilingual election requirements and regarding congressional findings of voting discrimination against language minorities, prohibition of English-only elections, and other remedial measures.
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that all public ceremonies in which the oath of allegiance is administered pursuant to such Act be conducted solely in English.
Prohibits this Act from preempting any state law.
Cosponsors 32
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Mar 17, 2011 to Mar 20, 2012, with 7 there on the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-CA | Elton Gallegly | Original | Mar 17, 2011 |
| R-VA | J. Randy Forbes | Original | Mar 17, 2011 |
| R-PA | Jim Gerlach | Original | Mar 17, 2011 |
| R-TN | Marsha Blackburn | Original | Mar 17, 2011 |
| R-GA | Paul C. Broun | Original | Mar 17, 2011 |
| R-TX | Ron Paul | Original | Mar 17, 2011 |
| R-MD | Roscoe G. Bartlett | Original | Mar 17, 2011 |
| R-IA | Steve King | Mar 31, 2011 | |
| R-CA | Gary G. Miller | Apr 1, 2011 | |
| R-GA | Jack Kingston | May 2, 2011 | |
| R-NC | Howard Coble | Jun 2, 2011 | |
| R-VA | Bob Goodlatte | Jul 6, 2011 | |
| R-CA | Brian P. Bilbray | Jul 21, 2011 | |
| R-OK | Frank D. Lucas | Jul 22, 2011 | |
| R-MI | Thaddeus G. McCotter | Jul 28, 2011 | |
| R-CA | Edward R. Royce | Aug 1, 2011 | |
| R-OH | Bill Johnson | Sep 21, 2011 | |
| R-MD | Andy Harris | Oct 12, 2011 | |
| R-FL | Vern Buchanan | Oct 12, 2011 | |
| R-CA | Ken Calvert | Nov 4, 2011 | |
| R-OH | Robert E. Latta | Nov 15, 2011 | |
| R-TN | John J. Duncan, Jr. | Nov 16, 2011 | |
| R-NC | Walter B. Jones | Nov 16, 2011 | |
| R-SC | Jeff Duncan | Nov 17, 2011 | |
| R-GA | Lynn A. Westmoreland | Nov 17, 2011 | |
| R-MO | Billy Long | Nov 29, 2011 | |
| R-TX | Mac Thornberry | Nov 29, 2011 | |
| R-VA | Robert J. Wittman | Nov 30, 2011 | |
| R-TN | Stephen Lee Fincher | Feb 27, 2012 | |
| R-AZ | Trent Franks | Mar 5, 2012 | |
| R-ND | Rick Berg | Mar 20, 2012 | |
| R-PA | Tim Murphy | Mar 20, 2012 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jun 1, 2011Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
- Mar 17, 2011Introduced in House
- Mar 17, 2011Referred 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.
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Government Operations and Politics.
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Mar 17, 2011Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.