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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1984 (107th)

English Language Unity Act of 2001

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

24 May 2001

Last action

25 July 2001 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.

Sponsors

Rep. Barr, Bob [R-GA-7], Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4], Rep. Jenkins, William L. [R-TN-1], Rep. Shows, Ronnie [D-MS-4], Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6], Rep. Roukema, Marge [R-NJ-5], Rep. Hilleary, Van [R-TN-4], Rep. Ballenger, Cass [R-NC-10], Rep. Buyer, Steve [R-IN-4], Rep. Deal, Nathan [R-GA-9], Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6], Rep. Souder, Mark E. [R-IN-3], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Hoekstra, Peter [R-MI-2], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Kerns, Brian D. [R-IN-7], Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5], Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6], Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6], Rep. Lipinski, William O. [D-IL-3], Rep. Schaffer, Bob [R-CO-4], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-9], Rep. Stump, Bob [R-AZ-3], Rep. Shimkus, John [R-IL-15], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rep. Everett, Terry [R-AL-2]

Subjects

Asylum, Rule of law

Source updated

23 March 2026

Asylum · Rule of law

Summary

English Language Unity Act of 2001 - Amends specified Federal law to declare English to be the official language of the United States. Requires the official functions of the United States (meaning, in this case, the States and the District of Columbia) to be conducted in English. Requires a uniform English language rule for U.S. naturalization, and all naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in English. Sets forth exceptions to and rules of construction for such requirements. 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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 24 May 2001

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 24 May 2001

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 24 May 2001

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 24 May 2001

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 18 June 2001

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

    Source: Committee

  6. 25 July 2001

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 24 May 2001

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 24 May 2001

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 24 May 2001

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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