House bill would make English the official U.S. language and tighten citizenship tests

What does this do?

HR 1772 would establish English as the official language of the United States in federal law and require that all official government business, including laws, regulations, publications, and public proceedings, be conducted in English. The Department of Homeland Security would have 180 days to develop a standardized English test for citizenship applicants, benchmarked against the ability to read and generally understand documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Naturalization ceremonies would also be required to be held in English.

Who does it affect?

The bill most directly affects immigrants going through the naturalization process and people who interact with the federal government in languages other than English. It also affects federal agencies that currently provide services or materials in multiple languages, as well as private and public employers, since English-only workplace policies would be presumed legal under the bill.

Why does it matter?

Federal agencies that currently offer multilingual services or materials would need to reassess or curtail those offerings. People seeking citizenship who are not yet proficient in English, along with those who rely on government services in other languages, could face new barriers under the law.

Where does it stand?