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H.R. 997 · 108th Congress

English Language Unity Act of 2003

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 108th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

SKR KingSponsor
108 cosponsors · 6 D, 102 R
RBR Bartlett DBR Burton GBR Brown-Waite VGR Goode JHR Hostettler RHR Hayes WLD Lipinski JPR Pitts CSR Stearns GTD Taylor JWR Wilson SCR Chabot NDR Deal JAR Ann Davis EIR Istook WJR Jones JKR Kline SMR Myrick MPR Pence CSR Shays TTR Tancredo RBR Baker JBR Boozman GGR Gutknecht PGR Gingrey CNR Norwood HBR Brown BJR Jenkins JGR Gresham Barrett SGR Graves RPR Paul LDD Davis RLR LaHood MSR Souder ESR Schrock SKR Kelly JBR Boehner BGR Goodlatte ZWR Wamp MBR Bilirakis PSR Sessions PHR Hoekstra TPR Petri JRR Ramstad PTR Tiberi JDR Doolittle JDR Hayworth JKR Kingston GMR Miller APR Putnam JAR Ann Emerson JMR McHugh JFR Forbes BNR Ney CPD Peterson TPR Platts CTR Taylor CBR Ballenger DBR Bereuter RBR Burr MBR Blackburn MCR Collins DRR Rehberg FUR Upton HCR Coble SCR Capito RHD Hall HHR Hyde JIR Isakson MOR Oxley NRD Rahall MBR Bono Mack JDR DeMint JMR Miller SBR Buyer MFR Foley SJR Johnson JBR Bonner JDR Duncan KCR Calvert BCR Cubin WHR Herger RLR Lewis SGR Garrett JKR Knollenberg WAR Akin CPR Pickering JSR Shimkus EWR Whitfield DCR Camp JMR McCrery CMR Miller FLR Lucas MMR Musgrave MHR Hart JQR Quinn PCR Crane MTR Turner RAR Aderholt MBR Burns JCR Culberson DRR Rohrabacher JSR Saxton BSR Shuster JHR Hefley JBR Biggert JRR Ryun ERR Royce

0 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

English Language Unity Act of 2003 - Amends specified Federal law to declare English to be the official language of the United States.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Feb 27, 2003
English Language Unity Act of 2003 - Amends specified Federal law to declare English to be the official language of the United States.

Gives representatives of the Federal Government an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the Federal Government, including encouraging greater opportunities for individuals to learn the English language.

Requires the official functions of the United States (meaning, in this case, the States and the District of Columbia) to be conducted in English. Sets forth exceptions to and rules of construction for such requirements.

Requires a uniform English language rule for U.S. naturalization, and all naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in English.

Amends specified Federal law to declare, as a general rule of construction, that English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with the Laws of the United States.

Requires the Department of Justice to issue for public notice and comment a proposed rule for uniform testing of 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.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: English Language Unity Act of 2003

Latest action (May 5, 2003): Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Policy area: Government Operations and Politics · Origin: House · Introduced: Feb 27, 2003

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.