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H.R. 997 · 114th Congress

English Language Unity Act of 2015

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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 114th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

SKR KingSponsor
90 cosponsors · 90 R
MBR Brooks JDR Duncan TFR Franks DJR Joyce DLR Lamborn TMR McClintock TMR Massie SPR Palazzo DRR Rohrabacher MRR Rogers MSR Salmon WJR Jones JMR Miller CSR Stewart RWR Wittman CFR Fleischmann PRR Roe THR Huelskamp KMR Marchant MMR Meadows EWR Whitfield LBR Barletta MTR Turner LGR Gohmert DBR Benishek BGR Gibbs JFR Forbes DBR Black SJR Johnson LJR Jenkins BPR Posey RAR Allen RLR Latta RZR Zinke BBR Babin SFR Fincher SGR Graves BLR Luetkemeyer CMR Miller LWR Westmoreland HRR Rogers KRR Rothfus MBR Blackburn DCR Collins RNR Nugent TPR Price VHR Hartzler VFR Foxx JWR Wilson RBR Bishop JDR Duncan KCR Calvert JFR Fleming GBR Bilirakis AMR Mooney MBR Burgess SPR Perry BSR Shuster SSR Stivers JHR Hice RWR Weber RAR Aderholt MMR McCaul SDR DesJarlais BLR Loudermilk JFR Fortenberry ASR Scott DBR Brat TMR Murphy RHR Hudson PTR Tiberi CBR Boustany DHR Hunter GHR Harper CCR Collins TYR Yoho TKR Kelly JMR Mica KCR Cramer RNR Neugebauer SSR Scalise MBR Bishop SCR Chabot DIR Issa DLR LaMalfa RPR Pittenger RAR Abraham GGR Grothman DRR Rouzer BCR Carter

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

Establishes English as the official language of the United States.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Feb 13, 2015

English Language Unity Act of 2015

Establishes English as the official language of the United States.

Requires naturalization ceremonies and official functions of the U.S. government, subject to exceptions, to be conducted in English.

Declares that all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of U.S. laws.

Allows a person injured by a violation of this Act to obtain relief, including a declaratory judgment, in a civil action.

Declares that English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with U.S. laws. Requires any ambiguity in U.S. laws to be resolved in accordance with the rights retained by the people and the powers reserved to states under the Bill of Rights.

Directs the Department of Homeland Security to 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.

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 2015

Latest action (Mar 16, 2015): Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Policy area: Government Operations and Politics · Origin: House · Introduced: Feb 13, 2015

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

No recorded floor vote found.