Rep. Gill Bill Enforces English Language Proficiency for All

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Brandon Gill (TX-26) today introduced the English Language Proficiency Act to rescind the English proficiency and civics examination exceptions from U.S. naturalization law. The bill holds every citizenship applicant, regardless of age, to the same standard of understanding the English language, history, principles, and form of government of the United States.

“English is the common tongue that holds American communities together,” said Rep Gill. “It is of paramount importance that every American citizen be able to communicate in the same language. My bill holds everyone to the same standard already on the books, restoring equal treatment under nationalization law.”

Congress has tested newcomers' civic attachment since the Naturalization Act of 1802, which required aliens seeking citizenship to demonstrate good moral character and loyalty to the Constitution. Current law carves out an exception that lets certain elderly aliens skip the English proficiency and civics exams that every other applicant must pass. Rep. Gill’s English Language Proficiency Act repeals the age-based exemptions, closing the carve-out for good. The bill adds no new naturalization requirements. It simply holds every applicant to the same standard already on the books.

Cosponsors (3): Reps. Randy Fine, Barry Moore, Beth Van Duyne

Supporting Groups: Immigration Accountability Project, Pro English

Background: 

• Non-English speakers at home nearly tripled over the last three decades, climbing from 23.1 million to 67.8 million people, or roughly one in five Americans, according to Census Bureau data cited by the State Department.
• The Naturalization Act of 1802 requires naturalized aliens to be “of a good moral character, attached to the principles of the constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.” While the test of one’s attachment to the principles of the Constitution may not have been formalized until the 20th century, it has always been a condition of naturalization.
• The English Language Proficiency Act amends away the age-based exceptions in 8 USC §1423. It does not add any additional conditions for naturalization. 
• According to the Department of State’s 2026 data, the number of people who spoke a language other than English at home nearly tripled from 23.1 million (about 1 in 10) to 67.8 million (about 1 in 5) over three recent decades, according to the Census Bureau. The top five non-English languages spoken in U.S. households also include Chinese (spoken by 3.49 million in U.S. homes, or 5.2% of such households); Tagalog (1.7 million, or 2.6%); Vietnamese (1.5 million, or 2.3%); and Arabic (1.2 million, or 1.9%). Americans are welcome to speak languages other than English, but English is our common tongue, and a shared language strengthens the civic bonds that enable communities to pursue the good.

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