Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) introduced a bill Thursday to designate English as the official language of the United States.

Vance's legislation would also impose a universal English language testing standard as a prerequisite for naturalization.

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“This commonsense legislation recognizes an inherent truth: English is the language of this country. That is why the overwhelming majority of the American people support this proposal,” Vance argued. “The English language has been a cornerstone of American culture for over 250 years. It is far past time for Congress to codify its place into law, which is exactly what this bill does.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) co-sponsored the legislation, which is titled the English Language Unity Act. The bill also applies to government regulations, actions, publications, and laws.

Vance cited a Rasmussen poll that determined 78% of U.S. adults felt that English should become the official language.

Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) proposed a similar policy last week, with Republicans having sought to make English the official language for decades.

"In the melting pot of the United States of America, our common English language promotes unity and fosters cultural integration," Good said. "It is also in the best interests of our legal immigrants, as proficiency in English helps them assimilate into our culture, succeed in the workplace, and reach their greatest potential.”

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Currently, the U.S. is one of several nations that does not have an official language. English is by far the most common language spoken in the U.S. and is the official language of 31 states and all territories.

Carveouts under the bill include instruction of languages, tourism, commerce, the census, "communication necessary for national security," and procedures to protect the rights of defendants.