HR 123 104th Congress House Arts, Culture, Religion Alaska Bilingual election requirements Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Discrimination English language Federal preemption Government Operations and Politics Immigration Language and languages Law Minorities Native Americans Naturalization Parties to actions State laws

Language of Government Act of 1995

Introduced: March 8, 1995 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 31 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Aug 2, 1996

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Aug 1, 1996

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 499, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of debate on the Serrano amendment.

Aug 1, 1996

The Committee of the Whole resumed debate.

Aug 1, 1996

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Aug 1, 1996

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 259 - 169 (Roll no. 391).

Aug 1, 1996

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 171 - 257 (Roll No. 390). (consideration: CR H9771)

Aug 1, 1996

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

Aug 1, 1996

DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Serrano motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion require that the bill be reported back to the House with an amendment in the nature of a substitute which consists essentially of the text of the Serrano amendment previously rejected by the Committee of the Whole, but with certain modifications.

Aug 1, 1996

Mr. Serrano moved to recommit with instructions to Economic and Educational.

Aug 1, 1996

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.

Aug 1, 1996

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

Aug 1, 1996

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 123.

Aug 1, 1996

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 499, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cunningham amendent.

Aug 1, 1996

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.

Aug 1, 1996

The Speaker designated the Honorable James V. Hansen to act as Chairman of the Committee.

Aug 1, 1996

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 499 and Rule XXIII.

Aug 1, 1996

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 123 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of H.R. 3898. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

Aug 1, 1996

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 499. (consideration: CR H9738-9772)

Aug 1, 1996

Rule H. Res. 499 passed House.

Jul 31, 1996

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 499 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 123 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of H.R. 3898. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

Jul 30, 1996

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 387.

Jul 30, 1996

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Economic and Educational. H. Rept. 104-723.

Jul 24, 1996

Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families Discharged.

Jul 24, 1996

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 17.

Jul 24, 1996

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Dec 19, 1995

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2417-1418)

Jan 25, 1995

Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.

Jan 5, 1995

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E35)

Jan 4, 1995

Referred to the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

Jan 4, 1995

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E13, E24)

Jan 4, 1995

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 2

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Aug 1, 1996	House · vote #391	On Passage	Passed	259–169	See who voted →
Aug 1, 1996	House · vote #390	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions	Failed	171–257	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 2

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 1 failed

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
HAMDT 1,376	—	An amendment in the nature of a substitute to express that it is the sense of Congress that the U.S. governme…	Failed	Aug 1, 1996
HAMDT 1,375	—	An amendment to specify that the provisions of the bill shall not affect native American languages, or have a…	Agreed to	Aug 1, 1996

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Language of Government Act of 1995 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that the Government has an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language. Requires the Government to conduct its official business in English. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because he or she communicates in English.

What's happening now August 2, 1996

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Related & companion bills 3

Bill text 4 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 3

Early Childhood, Youth and Families Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Education and Workforce Committee
Education and Workforce Committee
House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 6

Wicker, Roger F.

Mississippi · Sep 6, 1995

Graham, Lindsey

South Carolina · Mar 8, 1995

Sanford, Mark

· Mar 8, 1995

Lucas, Frank D.

Oklahoma · Jan 20, 1995

Rogers, Harold

Kentucky · Jan 20, 1995

Calvert, Ken

California · Jan 4, 1995

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 123: Bill Emerson English Language Empowerment Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-123/

MLA

"H.R. 123: Bill Emerson English Language Empowerment Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-123/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 123, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-123/.

Markdown link

[H.R. 123: Bill Emerson English Language Empowerment Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-123/)