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To declare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to Congress' powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section 8, of the Constitution.

USA115th CongressHR-997| House 
| Updated: 3/2/2017
Steve King

Steve King

Republican Representative

Iowa

Cosponsors (72)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Chris Stewart (Republican)Michael C. Burgess (Republican)Karen C. Handel (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)Bob Gibbs (Republican)Adrian Smith (Republican)Mo Brooks (Republican)Trent Kelly (Republican)Gregg Harper (Republican)Mark Meadows (Republican)Steven M. Palazzo (Republican)Alexander X. Mooney (Republican)Jim Banks (Republican)Steve Stivers (Republican)Steve Womack (Republican)Rick W. Allen (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Lynn Jenkins (Republican)Tom McClintock (Republican)David Rouzer (Republican)Jeff Duncan (Republican)Doug Collins (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Dana Rohrabacher (Republican)Billy Long (Republican)Lou Barletta (Republican)Rob Bishop (Republican)Sam Johnson (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Todd Rokita (Republican)Thomas Massie (Republican)Scott Perry (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Ralph Lee Abraham (Republican)Kenny Marchant (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Steve Scalise (Republican)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Paul Mitchell (Independent)A. Drew Ferguson (Republican)Jody B. Hice (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)Mike D. Rogers (Republican)Richard Hudson (Republican)Chris Collins (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Dave Brat (Republican)Sam Graves (Republican)Diane Black (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Jeff Fortenberry (Republican)Bradley Byrne (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Virginia Foxx (Republican)Ralph Norman (Republican)Trent Franks (Republican)Harold Rogers (Republican)Jack Bergman (Republican)John J. Duncan (Republican)Louie Gohmert (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)David P. Roe (Republican)Robert B. Aderholt (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Francis Rooney (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
English Language Unity Act of 2017 This bill establishes English as the official language of the United States. Naturalization ceremonies and official functions of the U.S. government, subject to exceptions, must be conducted in English. The bill declares that all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of U.S. laws. A person injured by a violation of this bill may obtain relief, including a declaratory judgment, in a civil action. English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with U.S. laws. Any ambiguity in U.S. laws shall be resolved in accordance with the rights retained by the people and the powers reserved to states under the Bill of Rights. The Department of Homeland Security shall issue a proposed rule for uniform testing of the English language ability of candidates for naturalization based upon the principles that: (1) all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States; and (2) any exceptions to this standard should be limited to extraordinary circumstances, such as asylum.
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Timeline
Feb 9, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 9, 2017
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.
Mar 2, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Mar 21, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-678
Introduced in Senate
  • February 9, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 9, 2017
    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.


  • March 2, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.


  • March 21, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-678
    Introduced in Senate

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 115-678: A bill to delcare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to Congress' powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section 8, of the Constitution.
Academic performance and assessmentsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresCitizenship and naturalizationCivil actions and liabilityConstitution and constitutional amendmentsDepartment of Homeland SecurityForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesState and local government operations

To declare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to Congress' powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section 8, of the Constitution.

USA115th CongressHR-997| House 
| Updated: 3/2/2017
English Language Unity Act of 2017 This bill establishes English as the official language of the United States. Naturalization ceremonies and official functions of the U.S. government, subject to exceptions, must be conducted in English. The bill declares that all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of U.S. laws. A person injured by a violation of this bill may obtain relief, including a declaratory judgment, in a civil action. English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with U.S. laws. Any ambiguity in U.S. laws shall be resolved in accordance with the rights retained by the people and the powers reserved to states under the Bill of Rights. The Department of Homeland Security shall issue a proposed rule for uniform testing of the English language ability of candidates for naturalization based upon the principles that: (1) all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States; and (2) any exceptions to this standard should be limited to extraordinary circumstances, such as asylum.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 9, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 9, 2017
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.
Mar 2, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Mar 21, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-678
Introduced in Senate
  • February 9, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 9, 2017
    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.


  • March 2, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.


  • March 21, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-678
    Introduced in Senate
Steve King

Steve King

Republican Representative

Iowa

Cosponsors (72)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Chris Stewart (Republican)Michael C. Burgess (Republican)Karen C. Handel (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)Bob Gibbs (Republican)Adrian Smith (Republican)Mo Brooks (Republican)Trent Kelly (Republican)Gregg Harper (Republican)Mark Meadows (Republican)Steven M. Palazzo (Republican)Alexander X. Mooney (Republican)Jim Banks (Republican)Steve Stivers (Republican)Steve Womack (Republican)Rick W. Allen (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Lynn Jenkins (Republican)Tom McClintock (Republican)David Rouzer (Republican)Jeff Duncan (Republican)Doug Collins (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Dana Rohrabacher (Republican)Billy Long (Republican)Lou Barletta (Republican)Rob Bishop (Republican)Sam Johnson (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Todd Rokita (Republican)Thomas Massie (Republican)Scott Perry (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Ralph Lee Abraham (Republican)Kenny Marchant (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Steve Scalise (Republican)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Paul Mitchell (Independent)A. Drew Ferguson (Republican)Jody B. Hice (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)Mike D. Rogers (Republican)Richard Hudson (Republican)Chris Collins (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Dave Brat (Republican)Sam Graves (Republican)Diane Black (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Jeff Fortenberry (Republican)Bradley Byrne (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Virginia Foxx (Republican)Ralph Norman (Republican)Trent Franks (Republican)Harold Rogers (Republican)Jack Bergman (Republican)John J. Duncan (Republican)Louie Gohmert (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)David P. Roe (Republican)Robert B. Aderholt (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Francis Rooney (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 115-678: A bill to delcare English as the official language of the United States, to establish a uniform English language rule for naturalization, and to avoid misconstructions of the English language texts of the laws of the United States, pursuant to Congress' powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States and to establish a uniform rule of naturalization under article I, section 8, of the Constitution.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Academic performance and assessmentsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresCitizenship and naturalizationCivil actions and liabilityConstitution and constitutional amendmentsDepartment of Homeland SecurityForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesState and local government operations