GUARD VA Benefits Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pappas
In Committee
Summary
This bill would make English the official language of the United States. It would require official federal functions to be conducted in English and set a uniform English test and English-language naturalization ceremonies.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Stronger English test for citizenship
DHS would have 180 days to propose one uniform English test for naturalization. The test would expect you to read and understand the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and U.S. laws. Exceptions would be rare, such as certain asylum cases. All naturalization ceremonies would be held in English. This could delay or raise costs for applicants with limited English.
Federal government business in English
If enacted, English would be the official U.S. language. Official actions that bind the government or are required by law would be done in English, including laws, meetings, regulations, forms, and orders. Exceptions would cover language teaching, special education for students with disabilities, national security, international trade and tourism, public health and safety, Census work, criminal rights, and technical terms. Federal officials would be told to preserve and promote English, and English workplace rules would be presumed lawful. These rules would start 180 days after enactment.
Right to sue over language rules
If enacted, anyone harmed by a violation of the official‑language rules could sue in federal court. People could seek appropriate relief under federal civil procedures. This would take effect 180 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pappas
NH • D
Cosponsors
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Golden (ME)
ME • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Connolly
VA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Strickland
WA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Casar
TX • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Newhouse
WA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Stevens
MI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Strong
AL • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
McClain Delaney
MD • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Morrison
MN • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Dexter
OR • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Larsen (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Goodlander
NH • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Fleischmann
TN • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Case
HI • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Bynum
OR • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Courtney
CT • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Leger Fernandez
NM • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Owens
UT • R
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Kaptur
OH • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Rogers (KY)
KY • R
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Olszewski
MD • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Figures
AL • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Min
CA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Vasquez
NM • D
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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