Bill Sponsor
House Bill 997
115th Congress(2017-2018)
English Language Unity Act of 2017
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Feb 9, 2017
Overview
Text
Sponsor
Introduced
Feb 9, 2017
Latest Action
Mar 2, 2017
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
997
Congress
115
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Government Operations and Politics
Primary focus of measure is government administration, including agency organization, contracting, facilities and property, information management and services; rulemaking and administrative law; elections and political activities; government employees and officials; Presidents; ethics and public participation; postal service. Measures concerning agency appropriations and the budget process may fall under Economics and Public Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
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Iowa
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Alabama
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California
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California
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California
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Florida
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Indiana
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Kentucky
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Louisiana
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Michigan
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Missouri
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Missouri
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Nebraska
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North Carolina
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North Carolina
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Pennsylvania
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South Carolina
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South Carolina
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Tennessee
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Tennessee
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Virginia
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Virginia
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West Virginia
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
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.

Text (1)
February 9, 2017
Actions (3)
03/02/2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
02/09/2017
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.
02/09/2017
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:34:54 PM