This bill declares English as the official language of the United States and establishes that federal government operations must be conducted in English. The legislation requires all naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in English and directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop new uniform testing standards for citizenship applicants based on their ability to read and understand English texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and U.S. laws. The bill includes several exceptions for language teaching, disability education, national security matters, public health and safety, census activities, criminal justice, and foreign language terms used as technical or specialized language. The bill allows individuals harmed by violations to pursue legal action and becomes effective 180 days after enactment, with the Department of Homeland Security required to propose implementing regulations within that same timeframe.
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