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HR 1621 111th Congress House

Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009

Official title: To withhold Federal funds from schools that permit or require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance or the national anthem in a language other than English.

Introduced: May 21, 2009 See on congress.gov
Education Civil actions and liabilityEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationForeign language and bilingual programs
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 14, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Mar 19, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Mar 19, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 14, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009 - Prohibits state or local educational agencies from requiring or permitting the Pledge of Allegiance or national anthem to be recited or sung in any language other than English in any elementary or secondary school under their jurisdiction.

Withholds federal funds from state or local educational agencies that violate such prohibition, unless the funds are specifically appropriated to such agencies after they have been found to be violating the prohibition.

Establishes a private right of action for persons injured by violations of such prohibition.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 2
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jun 10, 2010
 R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · May 21, 2009
Fallin, Mary
· Mar 19, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1621: Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1621/
MLA
"H.R. 1621: Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1621/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1621, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1621/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1621: Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1621/)
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