English Language Fluency Act

On Sep 10, 1998, the House voted 221–189 on “On Passage” (HR 3892). Result: Passed. By party: Republicans 207–10, Democrats 14–178, Independents 0–1. It was a party-line vote: most Democrats and most Republicans voted on opposite sides. 24 members voted against their own party.

During the 105th Congress (1997–1998), Bill Clinton was president, and Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Result: Passed
Yes: 221
No: 189
Did not vote: 34
Date: Sep 10, 1998

By party

Republicans207 yes · 10 no · 14 didn’t vote
Democrats14 yes · 178 no · 20 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Robert E. (Bud) Cramer Jr. D-AL voted yes
Brad Sherman D-CA voted yes
Nancy Lee Johnson R-CT voted no
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL voted no
Lincoln Diaz-Balart R-FL voted no
Michael Dean Crapo R-ID voted no
William Oliver Lipinski D-IL voted yes
Henry Scott (Scotty) Baesler D-KY voted yes
Christopher John D-LA voted yes
Constance A. Morella R-MD voted no
James (Jim) Ramstad R-MN voted no
Collin Clark Peterson D-MN voted yes
Patsy Ann (Pat) Danner D-MO voted yes
Gary Eugene (Gene) Taylor D-MS voted yes
Mike Mcintyre D-NC voted yes
William Thomas Redmond R-NM voted no
Benjamin Arthur Gilman R-NY voted no
James A. Traficant Jr. D-OH voted yes
Robert William Ney R-OH voted no
Barton Jennings Gordon D-TN voted yes
Ralph Moody Hall D-TX voted yes
Ronald Ernest Paul R-TX voted no
Owen Bradford Pickett D-VA voted yes
Virgil H. Goode Jr. D-VA 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 Fluency Act: House Vote, Sep 10, 1998,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/105-H-1044/english-language-fluency-act (accessed 2026-10-13).