PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14] · R–GA
Legislative record
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Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Jul 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-03-05 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed English Language Unity Act of 2025 would make English the official U.S. language and generally require federal government business to use English, with specified exceptions. It would require naturalization ceremonies in English and a proposed rule for uniform English testing of naturalization applicants. It would also create a legal presumption favoring English-language requirements and workplace policies in both government and private workplaces.
This Act may be cited as the English Language Unity Act of 2025.
The official language of the United States is English.
The official functions of the Government of the United States shall be conducted in English.
All naturalization ceremonies shall be conducted in English.
issue for public notice and comment a proposed rule for uniform testing of English language ability of candidates for naturalization
English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States.
The bill's findings describe English as a historical source of unity and say states should establish it as their official language, subject to constitutional and state-law restrictions. These are legislative declarations, rather than a command requiring states to act.
The Congress finds and declares the following:
Throughout the history of the United States, one of the common threads binding individuals of differing backgrounds has been the English language.
States should establish the English language as the official language of their respective States, and otherwise promote the English language within their respective States, subject to the prohibitions enumerated in the Constitution of the United States and in laws of the respective States.
Section 3 would designate English as the official U.S. language and require federal representatives to take affirmative steps to preserve and enhance its role in the federal government.
The official language of the United States is English.
Representatives of the Federal Government shall have an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the Federal Government.
The proposed English requirement would cover federal functions that bind the government, are legally required, or are subject to press or public scrutiny. It would apply to laws, public proceedings, regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs, and policies, subject to exceptions. For this requirement, the bill defines the United States as the states and the District of Columbia.
The official functions of the Government of the United States shall be conducted in English.
For the purposes of this section, the term United States means the several States and the District of Columbia, and the term official refers to any function that (i) binds the Government, (ii) is required by law, or (iii) is otherwise subject to scrutiny by either the press or the public.
This section shall apply to all laws, public proceedings, regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs, and policies, but does not apply to—
The official-functions requirement would exclude language teaching, requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and actions, documents, or policies necessary for national security, international relations, trade, tourism, or commerce.
but does not apply to— (1) teaching of languages; (2) requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; (3) actions, documents, or policies necessary for national security, international relations, trade, tourism, or commerce;
Other exceptions would cover actions or documents protecting public health and safety or facilitating population censuses, actions protecting crime victims' or criminal defendants' rights, and specialized terms or phrases from other languages.
(4) actions or documents that protect the public health and safety; (5) actions or documents that facilitate the activities of the Bureau of the Census in compiling any census of population; (6) actions that protect the rights of victims of crimes or criminal defendants; or (7) using terms of art or phrases from languages other than English.
For naturalization—the process of becoming a citizen—the bill says applicants should generally be able to read and understand the English text of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and federal laws made under the Constitution. This provision uses “should,” rather than an express “shall” requirement for applicants.
All those applying for naturalization 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 made in pursuance of the Constitution.
The bill would require all naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in English.
All naturalization ceremonies shall be conducted in English.
Members of Congress and federal officers or agents could still communicate unofficially with another person in another language, through any medium, while performing official functions, provided the official functions are performed in English.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed— (1) to prohibit a Member of Congress or any officer or agent of the Federal Government, while performing official functions, from communicating unofficially through any medium with another person in a language other than English (as long as official functions are performed in English);
The proposed official-language chapter could not be interpreted to limit preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages, as defined in the Native American Languages Act.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed—
(2) to limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages (as defined in the Native American Languages Act);
The official-language chapter would also include instructions against interpreting it to disparage a language, discourage anyone from learning or using a language, or conflict with the Constitution.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed—
(3) to disparage any language or to discourage any person from learning or using a language; or (4) to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States.
Section 4 would establish a presumption that English-language requirements and workplace policies in the public and private sectors comply with federal law. A presumption is a starting assumption, rather than an unconditional declaration that every such requirement or policy is lawful.
English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States.
Section 4 would direct that unclear English text in federal laws be interpreted consistently with the last two articles of the Bill of Rights: preserving rights retained by the people and powers reserved to the states or the people.
Any ambiguity in the English language text of the laws of the United States shall be resolved, in accordance with the last two articles of the Bill of Rights, not to deny or disparage rights retained by the people, and to reserve powers to the States respectively, or to the people.
Within 180 days after enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security would have to issue a proposed rule for public notice and comment on uniform English testing for naturalization applicants. The rule would be based on the principle that citizens should generally be able to read and understand the specified founding documents and federal laws. The deadline concerns a proposed rule, not completion of a final rule.
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, issue for public notice and comment a proposed rule for uniform testing of English language ability of candidates for naturalization, based upon the principles that 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 which are made in pursuance thereof.
Under a new provision titled National English Language Day, the President would have to issue a proclamation recognizing English's integral role in the nation. The provision specifies neither a calendar date nor an annual proclamation schedule.
149. National English Language Day (a) Proclamation The President shall issue a proclamation recognizing the integral nature of the English language in the American nation.
The amendments establishing the official-language chapter, legal interpretation rules, and proclamation provision would take effect 180 days after enactment.
The amendments made by sections 3, 4, and 6 shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
The supplied actions snapshot, updated July 21, 2025, records House introduction on March 5, 2025, and referral that day to the Education and Workforce, Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform committees for consideration of provisions within their respective jurisdictions.
Source snapshot updated 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z.
2025-03-05: Introduced in House
2025-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-03-05. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish the absence of riders in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish the absence of earmarks in other versions or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
A narrowly scoped safeguard within the main policy qualifies as a targeted protection. This classification is not a judgment about its justification.
People and communities preserving or using Native Alaskan or Native American languages would receive a specific safeguard: the official-language chapter could not be interpreted to limit that preservation or use. This is a targeted protection within the English-language policy, not an express blanket exemption from every official-function requirement. The referenced statutory definition is not supplied, so the full scope of covered languages cannot be established here.
The official functions of the Government of the United States shall be conducted in English.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed—
(2) to limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages (as defined in the Native American Languages Act);
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Jul 21, 2025. How PlainBill uses AI