United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 997 (113th)
English Language Unity Act of 2013
Introduced
6 March 2013
Last action
8 April 2013 · Referred
Status
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Sponsors
Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4], Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3], Rep. Gingrey, Phil [R-GA-11], Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4], Rep. Nunnelee, Alan [R-MS-1], Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6], Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1], Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10], Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-48], Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15], Rep. Broun, Paul C. [R-GA-10], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7], Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11], Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-3], Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5], Rep. Kingston, Jack [R-GA-1], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. McIntyre, Mike [D-NC-7], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3], Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3], Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2], Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9], Rep. Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12], Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4], Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1], Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Nugent, Richard B. [R-FL-11], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4], Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3], Rep. Young, C. W. Bill [R-FL-13], Rep. Stockman, Steve [R-TX-36], Rep. Bridenstine, Jim [R-OK-1], Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24], Rep. Rothfus, Keith J. [R-PA-12], Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1], Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]
Subjects
Asylum, Rule of law
Source updated
27 January 2026
Summary
English Language Unity Act of 2013 - Makes English the official language of the United States. Requires, subject to exceptions and rules of construction, that: (1) official functions of the U.S. government 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 (DHS) 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
6 March 2013
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
6 March 2013
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
6 March 2013
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
8 April 2013
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Source: Committee
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Introduced in House · 6 March 2013 · Download file
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in House (text)
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 6 March 2013
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 6 March 2013
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 6 March 2013
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Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Gingrey, Phil [R-GA-11] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Nunnelee, Alan [R-MS-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-48] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Broun, Paul C. [R-GA-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Kingston, Jack [R-GA-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. McIntyre, Mike [D-NC-7] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Nugent, Richard B. [R-FL-11] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Young, C. W. Bill [R-FL-13] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Stockman, Steve [R-TX-36] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Bridenstine, Jim [R-OK-1] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Rothfus, Keith J. [R-PA-12] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3] · R · Cosponsor
Showing 48 of 97 sponsors and actors.
Related records
- related to ← English Language Unity Act of 2013
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/997
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/113/hr/997
- us · 113-hr-997 · source updated 27 January 2026