H.R. 997: English Language Unity Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-02-09 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-02-09 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

English Language Unity Act of 2017

Plain 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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

English Language Unity Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] · 72 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Thomas Massie (R-KY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Sam Graves (R-MO), Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Jim Banks (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Harold Rogers (R-KY), Richard Hudson (R-NC), David Rouzer (R-NC), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Steve Womack (R-AR), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Scott Perry (R-PA), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Ralph Norman (R-SC) and 12 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr997.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr997 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115