The Senate first voted 63-34 to make English the national language after lawmakers who led the effort said it would promote national unity.
The Senate also voted 58-39 to make English the nation's "common and unifying language."
White House spokesman Tony Snow said Friday that President Bush supports both measures.
"What the president has said all along is that he wants to make sure that people who become American citizens have a command of the English language," Snow said. "It's as simple as that."
"We are trying to make an assimilation statement," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of two dozen senators who voted Thursday for both English proposals.
"This bill actually has some legally operative force that says you don't have - unless it's otherwise provided by law - you do not have an entitlement to government services in another language."
Specifically, the bill says that "unless otherwise authorized or provided by law, no person has a right, entitlement or claim to have the government of the U.S. or any of its officials or representatives act, communicate, perform or provide services, or provide materials in any language other than English."
The amendment continues, "If any forms are issued by the federal government in a language other that English ... the English language version of the form is the sole authority for all legal purposes."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060519/ap_on_go_co/immigration_104http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/19/news/english.phphttp://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060519/pl_afp/uspoliticsimmigration_060519160827http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1980874&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14614255.htm
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