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H.R. 997 · 111th Congress

English Language Unity Act of 2009

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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 111th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

SKR KingSponsor
138 cosponsors · 7 D, 131 R
WAR Akin RBR Bartlett BBR Bilbray DBR Burton HBR Brown MBR Blackburn MBR Burgess MBR Bachmann GBR Bilirakis PBR Broun HCR Coble JCR Culberson DDR Dreier JDR Duncan TFR Franks VFR Foxx MFR Fallin JFR Fleming SGR Graves WHR Herger PHR Hoekstra DHR Hunter BIR Inglis SJR Johnson WJR Jones JKR Kline FLR Lucas SLR LaTourette BLR Luetkemeyer CLR Lummis JMR McHugh SMR Myrick GMR Miller PMR McHenry MMR McCaul KMR Marchant TMR McClintock JPR Pitts RPR Paul TPR Platts TPR Poe HRR Rogers DRR Rohrabacher MRR Rogers MRR Rogers PRR Roe CSR Stearns MSR Simpson BSR Shuster JSR Sullivan JSR Schmidt ASR Smith PTR Tiberi ZWR Wamp EWR Whitfield FWR Wolf LWR Westmoreland RWR Wittman RAR Alexander JAD Altmire SBR Bachus JBR Barton JBR Boozman GBR Brown-Waite CBR Boustany ECR Cantor GDR Davis JFR Forbes EGR Gallegly RHR Hall JJR Jordan JLR Linder JMR Moran TMR McCotter CMR McMorris Rodgers RNR Neugebauer TPR Petri TPR Price DRR Rehberg MSR Souder ASR Schock GTD Taylor JWR Wilson VBR Buchanan JCR Chaffetz PGR Gingrey DHR Heller DMR Manzullo BPR Posey JBR Biggert PKR King CLR Lee SCR Capito JFR Fortenberry BGR Goodlatte APR Putnam SSR Scalise CCD Carney RLR Latta MMD McIntyre TTR Tiahrt POR Olson LJR Jenkins KMR McCarthy KCR Calvert GHR Harper JCR Campbell GTR Thompson JSR Shadegg ERR Royce TCD Childers TRR Rooney SGR Garrett JGR Gresham Barrett RBR Blunt LDD Davis RAR Aderholt MTR Turner FUR Upton PSR Sessions JBR Bonner JAR Ann Emerson JMR Mica MPR Pence NDR Deal DIR Issa DCR Camp TLR Latham RBR Bishop TMR Murphy JMR Miller CPD Peterson BMR McKeon LGR Gohmert DLR Lamborn GWR Walden PGR Griffith MCR Coffman

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

English Language Unity Act of 2009 - Makes English the official language of the United States.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Feb 11, 2009

English Language Unity Act of 2009 - Makes English the official language of the United States.

Requires, subject to exceptions and rules of construction, that: (1) official functions of the United States be conducted in English; and (2) all naturalization ceremonies be conducted in English. Establishes a uniform English language rule for naturalization.

Makes English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security 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 2009

Latest action (Jul 23, 2009): Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Policy area: Government Operations and Politics · Origin: House · Introduced: Feb 11, 2009

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

No recorded floor vote found.