HR1732119th Congress

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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