English as the official Language Legislation

As I was watching CSPAN the other day, i saw the subtitling talking about a new official language vote that was taking place in senate. After research, i found out the bill they are discussing is more influential than I first perceived. First, the bill says that all official business and negotiations within the United States must be in English, barring a few exceptions, "declaring that no one has a right to federal communications in a language other than english." The bill passed 63-34 in what I found to be a truly shocking vote. I feel like this bill merely fosters political apathy and distrust. It is one more limitiation in the path of anyone that speaks a foreign language yet wishes to be active politically. I feel like this is the wrong move in a point where voter turnout is already low. It will be funny to see how the law is changed and manipulated for big corporations and visiting dignitaries, while remaining unfair to the common people. Furthermore, the most shocking part is the part of the bill that calls for English Proficiency Exams as a part of citizenship. Ha! Does this mean all those children in American schools that cannot pass the "No Child Left Behind" English Proficiency Exams should not be citizens, or wait, maybe we should just take away their citizenship until they can pass them. It is truly a sad indication when the land of opportunity and freedom closes its doors to anyone of a foreign toungue. Am i the only one that is this surprised and distraught over this bill? Is this really President Bush's and the Republican Administration's first step towards the newly laid immigration policy? If it is I think we are moving in the wrong direction. I think it will be interesting to see how this affects immigration and current citizens if passed and signed.