English Language Empowerment Act

On Aug 1, 1996, the House voted 259–169 on “On Passage” (HR 123). Result: Passed. By party: Republicans 223–8, Democrats 36–160, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 44 members voted against their own party.

During the 104th Congress (1995–1996), Bill Clinton was president, and Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Result: Passed
Yes: 259
No: 169
Did not vote: 17
Date: Aug 1, 1996

By party

Republicans223 yes · 8 no · 5 didn’t vote
Democrats36 yes · 160 no · 12 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

John Glen Browder D-AL voted yes
Tom Bevill D-AL voted yes
Robert E. (Bud) Cramer Jr. D-AL voted yes
Blanche Lambert Lincoln D-AR voted yes
Gary Adrian Condit D-CA voted yes
Jane L. Harman D-CA voted yes
Karen L. Thurman D-FL voted yes
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL voted no
Lincoln Diaz-Balart R-FL voted no
William Oliver Lipinski D-IL voted yes
Glenn Poshard D-IL voted yes
Lee Herbert Hamilton D-IN voted yes
Henry Scott (Scotty) Baesler D-KY voted yes
Constance A. Morella R-MD voted no
Collin Clark Peterson D-MN voted yes
Isaac Newton Skelton IV (Ike) D-MO voted yes
Patsy Ann (Pat) Danner D-MO voted yes
Harold Lee Volkmer D-MO voted yes
Gillespie V. (Sonny) Montgomery D-MS voted yes
Gary Eugene (Gene) Taylor D-MS voted yes
Willie Gathrel (Bill) Hefner D-NC voted yes
Steven Harvey Schiff R-NM voted no
Joseph Richard Skeen R-NM voted no
John Eric Ensign R-NV voted no
Thomas J. Manton D-NY voted yes
Michael Robert Mcnulty D-NY voted yes
James A. Traficant Jr. D-OH voted yes
William K. Brewster D-OK voted yes
Jim Bunn R-OR voted no
Thomas Timothy (Tim) Holden D-PA voted yes
Paul E. Kanjorski D-PA voted yes
Frank R. Mascara D-PA voted yes
John McKee Spratt Jr. D-SC voted yes
Timothy Peter (Tim) Johnson D-SD voted yes
Robert Nelson Clement D-TN voted yes
Barton Jennings Gordon D-TN voted yes
John S. Tanner D-TN voted yes
Ralph Moody Hall D-TX voted yes
Charles Walter Stenholm D-TX voted yes
Henry Bonilla R-TX voted no
Owen Bradford Pickett D-VA voted yes
Norman Sisisky D-VA voted yes
Lewis Franklin Payne Jr. D-VA voted yes
David Ross Obey D-WI voted yes

How each representative voted: Yes

How each representative voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “English Language Empowerment Act: House Vote, Aug 1, 1996,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/104-H-1257/english-language-empowerment-act (accessed 2026-10-16).