Inhofe Amendment
Encyclopedia
The Inhofe Amendment was an amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, a United States Senate
bill that would have changed current immigration law allowing more immigrants into the United States. The amendment was passed by the Senate on May 18, 2006 by a vote of 62-35. The bill did not pass the United States House of Representatives
.
According to the amendment, written by Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), the Federal government will no longer provide multilingual communications and services, except for those already guaranteed by law. It would also make English
the "national language
" and require new citizens to pass a test of their English proficiency and knowledge of American history.
Key portion of the final amendment, section 767 of the bill:
Shortly after the approval of the Inhofe amendment, the Senate voted for another bill by Sen. Ken Salazar
(D-Colo.), according to which English is the "common unifying language of the United States," but mandated that nothing in that declaration "shall diminish or expand any existing rights" regarding multilingual services. It passed 58-39.
The Inhofe amendment is in the spirit of the controversy over the border with Mexico
and illegal immigrants currently inhabiting the United States
estimated to be around 12 million. The amendment was rejected by 34 senators, and voted for by 63 senators.
, Democrat from Nevada
, called the amendment "racist" in a speech before the Senate, arguing that it targeted speakers of Spanish.
Senators Bunning (R-KY), Martinez (R-FL), Rockefeller (D-WV) did not vote.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
bill that would have changed current immigration law allowing more immigrants into the United States. The amendment was passed by the Senate on May 18, 2006 by a vote of 62-35. The bill did not pass the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
According to the amendment, written by Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), the Federal government will no longer provide multilingual communications and services, except for those already guaranteed by law. It would also make English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
the "national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
" and require new citizens to pass a test of their English proficiency and knowledge of American history.
Key portion of the final amendment, section 767 of the bill:
The Government of the United States shall preserve and enhance the role of English as the national language of the United States of America. Unless otherwise authorized or provided by 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.http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.2611.ES:
Shortly after the approval of the Inhofe amendment, the Senate voted for another bill by Sen. Ken Salazar
Ken Salazar
Kenneth Lee "Ken" Salazar is the current United States Secretary of the Interior, in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martinez were the first Hispanic U.S...
(D-Colo.), according to which English is the "common unifying language of the United States," but mandated that nothing in that declaration "shall diminish or expand any existing rights" regarding multilingual services. It passed 58-39.
The Inhofe amendment is in the spirit of the controversy over the border with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and illegal immigrants currently inhabiting the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
estimated to be around 12 million. The amendment was rejected by 34 senators, and voted for by 63 senators.
Supporting reasons for the amendment
Inhofe proposed his amendment, saying that there should not be a right to demand that government business be conducted in any other language, that there is a unifying effect with a common language, and indicating the importance of knowing English to get ahead in America.Criticism of the amendment
Senator Harry ReidHarry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
, Democrat from Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, called the amendment "racist" in a speech before the Senate, arguing that it targeted speakers of Spanish.
Votes of Senators on Amendment
| YEAs (63) | NEAs (34) |
|---|---|
|
|
Senators Bunning (R-KY), Martinez (R-FL), Rockefeller (D-WV) did not vote.
See also
- English-only movementEnglish-only movementEnglish-only movement, also known as Official English movement, refers to a political movement for the use only of the English language in official government operations through the establishing of English as the only official language in the United States...
- National languageNational languageA national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
- Languages in the United StatesLanguages in the United StatesEnglish is the de facto national language of the United States, with 82% of the population claiming it as a mother tongue, and some 96% claiming to speak it "well" or "very well." However, no official language exists at the federal level...
- United States immigration debate
- Illegal ImmigrationIllegal immigrationIllegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
External links
- US English - Supports English as official language.