House Vote: Restriction on Jurisdiction of the EEOC
Summary: Prohibits the EEOC from taking action against employers with "English-only" policies in the workplace
Result: Amendment Rejected
A vote against the amendment was counted as a + vote (in line with LCCR's position)
View individual member votes on this bill by state:
Bill Name: Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
Bill Number: H.R. 3093
Issue: Immigration
Date: 07/26/07
Roll Call No. 734
During consideration of an appropriations measure to fund the Departments of Commerce and Justice and several other agencies, Rep. Cliff Stearns, R. Fla., offered an amendment that would prohibit the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from taking action against employers with "English-only" policies in the workplace.
LCCR opposed the amendment.
The EEOC's existing policy strikes a fair and sensible balance: it allows employers to adopt English-only rules when they can be justified by business necessity, such as when employees must deal with customers, in communications with management, or during emergencies.
Because language ability closely reflects national origin, however, the EEOC rightly views more expansive English-only rules – i.e. ones that are not necessary for business operations – as inherently discriminatory.
By preventing the EEOC from taking action against such policies, the Stearns amendment would open the doors to discrimination on the basis of national origin and severely undercut the EEOC's vital mission.
Result: The House rejected the Stearns amendment (202-212).
