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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.

USA115th CongressS-678| Senate 
| Updated: 3/21/2017
James M. Inhofe

James M. Inhofe

Republican Senator

Oklahoma

Cosponsors (6)
David Perdue (Republican)Tom Cotton (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)Luther Strange (Republican)Mike Rounds (Republican)Johnny Isakson (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • 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 Act 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
Mar 2, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Mar 21, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 21, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • March 2, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-997
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.


  • March 21, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 21, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 115-997: 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.
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

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.

USA115th CongressS-678| Senate 
| Updated: 3/21/2017
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 Act 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
Mar 2, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Mar 21, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 21, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • March 2, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-997
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.


  • March 21, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 21, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
James M. Inhofe

James M. Inhofe

Republican Senator

Oklahoma

Cosponsors (6)
David Perdue (Republican)Tom Cotton (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)Luther Strange (Republican)Mike Rounds (Republican)Johnny Isakson (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 115-997: 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.
  • 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