PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 9, 2015
English Language Unity Act of 2015
Establishes English as the official language of the United States.
Requires naturalization ceremonies and official functions of the U.S. government, subject to exceptions, to be conducted in English.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Declares that all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of U.S. laws.
Allows a person injured by a violation of this Act to obtain relief, including a declaratory judgment, in a civil action.
Declares that English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with U.S. laws. Requires any ambiguity in U.S. laws to be resolved in accordance with the rights retained by the people and the powers reserved to states under the Bill of Rights.
Directs the Department of Homeland Security to 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.
People & committees
Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] · R–OK
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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