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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 997 (114th)

English Language Unity Act of 2015

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

13 February 2015

Last action

16 March 2015 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Sponsors

Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3], Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5], Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-48], Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5], Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Brooks, Mo [R-AL-5], Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1], Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3], Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2], Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24], Rep. Whitfield, Ed [R-KY-1], Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11], Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11], Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1], Rep. Benishek, Dan [R-MI-1], Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7], Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4], Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3], Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8], Rep. Jenkins, Lynn [R-KS-2], Rep. Black, Diane [R-TN-6], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3], Rep. Fincher, Stephen Lee [R-TN-8], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Miller, Candice S. [R-MI-10], Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3], Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5], Rep. Rothfus, Keith J. [R-PA-12], Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9], Rep. Nugent, Richard B. [R-FL-11], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Rep. Price, Tom [R-GA-6], Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4]

Subjects

Asylum, Rule of law

Source updated

12 August 2025

Asylum · Rule of law

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

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.

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

Timeline

  1. 13 February 2015

    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. 13 February 2015

    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. 13 February 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 13 February 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 16 March 2015

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

    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 · 13 February 2015

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 13 February 2015

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 13 February 2015

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 93 sponsors and actors.

Related records

Sources

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