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English Language Unity Act of 2017

Introduced: January 29, 2018 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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
Mar 2, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Feb 9, 2017
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.
Feb 9, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now March 2, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 678 Related bill English Language Unity Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 46
All 46 Republican 32
R
Bergman, Jack
Michigan · Oct 26, 2018
 R
Budd, Ted
North Carolina · Sep 26, 2018
Black, Diane
· Jul 23, 2018
Jenkins, Lynn
· Jun 13, 2018
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · May 24, 2018
Handel, Karen
· Jan 29, 2018
 R
Smith, Adrian
Nebraska · Jan 8, 2018
Abraham, Ralph
· Nov 28, 2017
Mitchell, Paul
· Oct 25, 2017
 R
Norman, Ralph
South Carolina · Oct 19, 2017
Brat, Dave
· Oct 2, 2017
JOHNSON, SAM
· Sep 28, 2017
 R
Babin, Brian
Texas · Sep 27, 2017
Byrne, Bradley
· Aug 29, 2017
ROHRABACHER, DANA
· Aug 8, 2017
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Jul 25, 2017
Rooney, Francis
· Jul 17, 2017
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Jul 13, 2017
 R
Perry, Scott
Pennsylvania · Jul 11, 2017
 R
Allen, Rick W.
Georgia · Jun 28, 2017
 R
Womack, Steve
Arkansas · Jun 26, 2017
Collins, Chris
· Jun 23, 2017
 R
Carter, Earl L. "Buddy"
Georgia · Jun 20, 2017
Harper, Gregg
· Jun 20, 2017
 R
Bilirakis, Gus M.
Florida · Jun 7, 2017
 R
Scalise, Steve
Louisiana · Apr 28, 2017
 R
Rouzer, David
North Carolina · Mar 23, 2017
 R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Mar 20, 2017
 R
Hudson, Richard
North Carolina · Mar 20, 2017
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Mar 20, 2017
 R
Kelly, Trent
Mississippi · Mar 13, 2017
 R
Banks, Jim
Indiana · Mar 8, 2017
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Mar 8, 2017
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Mar 8, 2017
 R
McCaul, Michael T.
Texas · Mar 8, 2017
Pittenger, Robert
· Mar 8, 2017
 R
Weber, Randy K. Sr.
Texas · Mar 8, 2017
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Mar 1, 2017
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Mar 1, 2017
 R
Foxx, Virginia
North Carolina · Feb 24, 2017
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Feb 21, 2017
 R
Loudermilk, Barry
Georgia · Feb 15, 2017
 R
McClintock, Tom
California · Feb 15, 2017
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Feb 15, 2017
 R
Massie, Thomas
Kentucky · Feb 13, 2017
Collins, Doug
· Feb 9, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 997: English Language Unity Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-997/
MLA
"H.R. 997: English Language Unity Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-997/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 997, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-997/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 997: English Language Unity Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-997/)
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