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HR 622 105th Congress House

Declaration of Official Language Act of 1997

Official title: To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the official language of the Government of the United States.

Introduced: February 12, 1997 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics BallotsBilingual educationBilingual election requirementsCitizenship
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Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesDiscriminationEducationElementary and secondary educationEnglish languageFederal preemptionGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityImmigrationLawLegal feesMinoritiesNaturalizationParties to actionsStandards
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 5, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Feb 21, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House Judiciary
Feb 5, 1997
Referred 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.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 5, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Declaration of Official Language Act of 1997 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that English is the preferred language of communication among U.S. citizens. Requires the U.S. Government to promote and support the use of English for communications among U.S. citizens. Requires communications by officers and employees of the U.S. Government with U.S. citizens to be in English.

Directs the Immigration and Naturalization Service to: (1) enforce the established English language proficiency standard for all applicants for U.S. citizenship; and (2) conduct all naturalization ceremonies entirely in English.

Allows anyone injured by a violation of such provisions to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action. Authorizes the court in any such action to allow a prevailing party, other than the U.S. Government, a reasonable attorney's fee as part of costs.

Repeals the Bilingual Education Act (title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965).

Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to repeal bilingual voting requirements.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 3
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jun 3, 1997
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · May 20, 1997
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Feb 12, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 622: Declaration of Official Language Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-622/
MLA
"H.R. 622: Declaration of Official Language Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-622/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 622, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-622/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 622: Declaration of Official Language Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-622/)
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