Official English language law...

that actually does something. Here's a draft for Congress:

“English is the official language of the United States.

Not withstanding any other provision of law, all documents, regulations, statutes, reports, and records of the United States shall be created, made, and printed in English only. Not withstanding any other provision of law, no document, regulation, statute, report, or record of the United States shall be translated into, distributed, or printed in any foreign language at public expense.

The only exceptions to this section are:

(a) The translation or transcription of evidence and proceedings in which a party or witness is unable to understand or communicate in English, to the extent necessary to make the proceedings or testimony comprehensible to the party or witness. In all such proceedings, the English version of the record shall be the official record.

(b) Communications on behalf of the United States which are prepared for transmission, or actually transmitted, solely to foreign countries.

(c) Reports or transcripts of communications originally generated in a language other than English, when such reports or transcripts are made to an officer or employee of the United States in the course and scope of his duties.

Inability of any person under the jurisdiction of the United States to understand or communicate in English will not impair any right due such person under the laws of the United States.

Inability of any person to understand or communicate in English sufficiently to perform his duties shall disqualify all such persons from holding office or employment of the United States.

No form or application procedure for any benefit requested from the United States under any educational, welfare, grant, or other such program will be prepared, conducted,or accepted for review in any language other than English.

Inability to understand a proceeding conducted in English shall disqualify any person from acting as a trier of fact or law in that proceeding.

Inability of any person under the jurisdiction of the United States to understand or communicate in English will not relieve such person of any duty imposed by the laws of the United States.

Inability of any person under the jurisdiction of the United States to understand or communicate in English may not be considered in any way as a defense, or as a mitigating factor, in any proceeding where such a person is accused of a crime or otherwise a party in any action before any adjudicatory proceeding of the United States. Evidence of such inability shall not be admitted in any proceeding for such purpose.”

How’s that?