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H.R. 997 · 109th Congress

English Language Unity Act of 2005

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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 109th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

SKR KingSponsor
164 cosponsors · 6 D, 158 R
RAR Alexander SBR Bachus RBR Baker RBR Bartlett JBR Boehner DBR Burton JBR Boozman JBR Bonner GBR Brown-Waite KCR Calvert SCR Chabot HCR Coble BCR Cubin SCR Capito JCR Culberson JDR Doolittle JAR Ann Davis LDD Davis JFR Forbes VGR Goode BGR Goodlatte GGR Gutknecht SGR Graves SGR Garrett PGR Gingrey RHR Hayes EIR Istook BJR Jenkins SJR Johnson WJR Jones JKR Kingston JKR Knollenberg JKR Kline RLR Lewis JMR McHugh SMR Myrick DMR Manzullo GMR Miller JMR Miller BNR Ney TPR Petri JPR Pitts RPR Paul TPR Platts MPR Pence JRR Ramstad DRR Rohrabacher MRR Rogers PSR Sessions BSR Shuster CTR Taylor GTD Taylor TTR Tancredo ZWR Wamp EWR Whitfield RWR Wicker JWR Wilson DCR Camp RLR LaHood JRR Ryun VFR Foxx RPR Portman DIR Issa RKR Kuhl PTR Tiberi HBR Brown MBR Bono Mack MBR Blackburn JDR Duncan CMR Miller DRR Rehberg GDR Davis GRR Radanovich WAR Akin SBR Buyer JAR Ann Emerson WHR Herger CNR Norwood TPR Price MTR Turner MBR Bilirakis JDR Hayworth ERR Royce JBR Bradley TFR Franks PKD Kanjorski KMR Marchant LGR Gohmert JHR Hostettler RAR Aderholt CBR Boustany JLR Linder PHR Hoekstra RHR Hall FLR Lucas JBR Biggert JGR Gresham Barrett RBR Bishop NDR Deal JMR McCrery RNR Neugebauer JSR Saxton TTR Tiahrt CSR Stearns CSR Shays DWR Weldon MHR Hart MMR Musgrave MOR Oxley HRR Rogers MSR Souder MSR Sodrel BIR Inglis PMR McHenry SKR Kelly JWR Walsh WGR Gilchrest APR Putnam CPD Peterson CBR Bass TFR Feeney CMR McMorris Rodgers LWR Westmoreland CPR Pickering JPR Peterson FUR Upton CWR Weldon JHR Hefley RPR Pombo RRR Regula JNR Nussle KHR Hulshof JSR Shadegg CCR Chocola JSR Shimkus ECR Cantor BMR McKeon BBR Beauprez FWR Wolf JSR Schmidt DPD Payne PKR King GWR Walden JCR Campbell JMR Mica TMR McCotter JBR Barton TDR Drake NJR Johnson MSR Simpson MKR Kennedy JMR Moran JCR Carter MFR Foley BOR Otter JWR Weller BCD Cramer JSR Schwarz TER Everett JFR Fortenberry JSR Sullivan TPR Poe MRR Rogers BBR Bilbray

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

English Language Unity Act of 2005 - Declares English to be the official language of the United States. Establishes the affirmative obligation of the representatives of the Federal Government to preserve and enhance the role of the English language as the Government's official language.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Mar 1, 2005

English Language Unity Act of 2005 - Declares English to be the official language of the United States. Establishes the affirmative obligation of the representatives of the Federal Government to preserve and enhance the role of the English language as the Government's official language. Requires the official functions of the Government to be conducted in English. Requires: (1) a uniform English language testing standard for U.S. naturalization; and (2) all naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in English. Sets forth exceptions to, and rules of construction for, such requirements.

Authorizes persons injured by violations of this Act to obtain appropriate relief in civil actions.

Declares, 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 Secretary of Homeland Security to issue for public notice and comment 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.

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 2005

Latest action (May 19, 2006): Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2948-2949)

Policy area: Government Operations and Politics · Origin: House · Introduced: Mar 1, 2005

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

No recorded floor vote found.