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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 997 (115th)

English Language Unity Act of 2017

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

9 February 2017

Last action

2 March 2017 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Sponsors

Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4], Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9], Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1], Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11], Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1], Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE-1], Rep. Pittenger, Robert [R-NC-9], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2], Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11], Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24], Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26], Rep. Brooks, Mo [R-AL-5], Rep. Hice, Jody B. [R-GA-10], Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15], Rep. Scalise, Steve [R-LA-1], Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8], Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2], Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3], Rep. Collins, Chris [R-NY-27]

Subjects

Asylum, Rule of law

Source updated

11 August 2025

Asylum · Rule of law

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

English Language Unity Act of 2017 This bill establishes English as the official language of the United States. Naturalization ceremonies and official functions of the U.S. government, subject to exceptions, must be conducted in English. The bill declares that all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of U.S. laws. A person injured by a violation of this bill may obtain relief, including a declaratory judgment, in a civil action. English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with U.S. laws. Any ambiguity in U.S. laws shall be resolved in accordance with the rights retained by the people and the powers reserved to states under the Bill of Rights. The Department of Homeland Security shall 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. 9 February 2017

    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. 9 February 2017

    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. 9 February 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 9 February 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 2 March 2017

    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 · 9 February 2017

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 9 February 2017

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 9 February 2017

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 75 sponsors and actors.

Related records

Sources

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