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HR 4312 102th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Ballots Bilingual election requirements Discrimination Election administration English language Voter registration Voting

Voting Rights Improvement Act of 1992

Introduced: February 25, 1992 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 49 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 26, 1992
Signed by President.
Aug 26, 1992
Became Public Law No: 102-344.
Aug 17, 1992
Presented to President.
Aug 10, 1992
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Aug 7, 1992
Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2236 without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 75-20. Record Vote No: 180.
Aug 7, 1992
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2236 without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 75-20. Record Vote No: 180.
Aug 7, 1992
Amendment SP 2915 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 35-60. Record Vote No: 179.
Aug 7, 1992
Amendment SP 2911 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 32-63. Record Vote No: 178.
Aug 7, 1992
Considered by Senate.
Aug 6, 1992
Amendment SP 2915 proposed by Senator Simpson.
Aug 6, 1992
Amendment SP 2911 proposed by Senator Simpson.
Aug 6, 1992
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Aug 5, 1992
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
Aug 4, 1992
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.
Aug 4, 1992
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
Aug 4, 1992
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate.
Jul 30, 1992
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 581.
Jul 28, 1992
Received in the Senate.
Jul 24, 1992
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 522, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate.
Jul 24, 1992
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 24, 1992
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 237 - 125 (Roll No. 319).
Jul 24, 1992
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 172 - 195 (Roll no. 318).
Jul 24, 1992
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Jul 24, 1992
DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the McCollum motion to recommit with instructions. The amendment contained in the instructions would require the Federal Government to make grants to counties required to provide bilingual assistance in registering and voting under the Voting Rights Act. The grants would cover the cost of providing bilingual voting assistance.
Jul 24, 1992
Mr. McCollum moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.
Jul 24, 1992
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Jul 24, 1992
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Jul 24, 1992
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4312.
Jul 24, 1992
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 522, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with twenty minutes of debate on the Rohrabacher amendment.
Jul 24, 1992
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 522, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with twenty minutes of debate on the McCollum amendment.
Jul 24, 1992
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 522, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with twenty minutes of debate on the Vander Jagt amendment.
Jul 24, 1992
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 522, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Condit amendment.
Jul 24, 1992
GENERAL DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 522, the Committee of the Whole resumed general debate.
Jul 24, 1992
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Jul 24, 1992
Considered as unfinished business.
Jul 23, 1992
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 4312 as unfinished business.
Jul 23, 1992
GENERAL DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 522, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of debate.
Jul 23, 1992
The Speaker designated the Honorable Jolene Unsoeld to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
Jul 23, 1992
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 522 and Rule XXIII.
Jul 23, 1992
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4312 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI are waived. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order. No further amendment shall be in order unless printed in the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 6 of rule XXIII prior to the beginning of consideration of the bill. Debate on each amendment and amendments thereto, shall not exceed 20 minutes.
Jul 23, 1992
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 522.
Jul 23, 1992
Rule H. Res. 522 passed House.
Jul 22, 1992
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 522 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4312 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI are waived. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order. No further amendment shall be in order unless printed in the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 6 of rule XXIII prior to the beginning of consideration of the bill. Debate on each amendment and amendments thereto, shall not exceed 20 minutes.
Jul 8, 1992
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 102-655.
Jul 8, 1992
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 365.
Jun 4, 1992
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 4, 1992
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
May 7, 1992
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
May 7, 1992
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jul 24, 1992 House · vote #319 On Passage Passed 237125 See who voted →
Jul 24, 1992 House · vote #318 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 172195 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 8

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to 6 failed 1 pending / other

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 2,915 To require federal funding for the costs of compliance. Failed Aug 7, 1992
SAMDT 2,911 To modify the application of the bilingual voting requirements and require certain studies. Failed Aug 7, 1992
HAMDT 751 Amendment in the nature of a substitute. Agreed to Jul 24, 1992
HAMDT 750 Amendment sought to delete language that expands the number of counties that are required to provide bilingua… Failed Jul 24, 1992
HAMDT 749 Amendment sought to require that only U.S. citizens could request and receive bilingual voting assistance. Failed Jul 24, 1992
HAMDT 748 Amendment sought to exempt voting units from the requirement of providing bilingual ballots where the number … Withdrawn Jul 24, 1992
HAMDT 747 Amendment sought to require the Federal government to compensate counties and States for all costs incurred i… Failed Jul 24, 1992
HAMDT 746 Amendment in the nature of a substitute sought to extend for 5 years the existing provisions of the Voting Ri… Failed Jul 24, 1992
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992 - Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to extend the termination date on the prohibition of covered States and political subdivisions providing voting materials only in English. Modifies criteria for determining whether a State or subdivision is covered.

What's happening now August 26, 1992

Became Public Law No: 102-344.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4312: Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4312/
MLA
"H.R. 4312: Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4312/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4312, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4312/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4312: Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4312/)
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