21st Century Language Act of 2012
Public Law 112-231 · S. 2367 · 112th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Dec 28, 2012 · Finance and Financial Sector
Sponsor: Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen. Mike Johanns
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 398 yea, 1 nay398–1
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
21st Century Language Act of 2012 - Removes references to the word "lunatic" from rules of construction of the U.S. Code and banking law provisions concerning: (1) trust powers of banks, and (2) bank consolidations and mergers.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 112th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 398 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
398 yea1 nay32 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(181)
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Marcia FudgeD-OH-11
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Karen BassD-CA-33
Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Judy ChuD-CA-32
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Mazie HironoD-HI-2
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Frederica WilsonD-FL-17
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Cedric RichmondD-LA-2
Rep. Hansen ClarkeD-MI-13
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. Ted DeutchD-FL-19
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Janice HahnD-CA-36
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
Rep. Paul TonkoD-NY-21
Rep. David CursonD-MI-11
Rep. Albio SiresD-NJ-13
Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. David CicillineD-RI-1
Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
Rep. Suzanne BonamiciD-OR-1
Rep. Colleen HanabusaD-HI-1
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. Terri SewellD-AL-7
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-10
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. William KeatingD-MA-10
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
Rep. Ben LujánD-NM-3
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Mark CritzD-PA-12
Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Suzan DelBeneD-WA-1
Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
Rep. Ron BarberD-AZ-8
Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Martin HeinrichD-NM-1
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Gerald ConnollyD-VA-11
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Gary PetersD-MI-9
Rep. Ed PerlmutterD-CO-7
Rep. Jared PolisD-CO-2
Rep. Jim HimesD-CT-4
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
Rep. John CarneyD-DE
Rep. Kathleen HochulD-NY-26
Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
Rep. Kurt SchraderD-OR-5
Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
Rep. William OwensD-NY-23
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. Larry KissellD-NC-8
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Dan BorenD-OK-2
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Republicans who voted yea(217)
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
Rep. Patrick MeehanR-PA-7
Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
Rep. Bob DoldR-IL-10
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Jon RunyanR-NJ-3
Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
Rep. Christopher GibsonR-NY-20
Rep. Michael GrimmR-NY-13
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. Richard HannaR-NY-24
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Lou BarlettaR-PA-11
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
Rep. Michael FitzpatrickR-PA-8
Rep. David McKinleyR-WV-1
Rep. David RiveraR-FL-25
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Steve StiversR-OH-15
Rep. Aaron SchockR-IL-18
Rep. Robert TurnerR-NY-9
Rep. Nan HayworthR-NY-19
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
Rep. Adam KinzingerR-IL-11
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
Rep. Glenn ThompsonR-PA-5
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Mike KellyR-PA-3
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
Rep. Joseph HeckR-NV-3
Rep. Steve WomackR-AR-3
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. Rick CrawfordR-AR-1
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. Rick BergR-ND
Rep. Leonard LanceR-NJ-7
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Tom ReedR-NY-29
Rep. Gregg HarperR-MS-3
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
Rep. Robert WittmanR-VA-1
Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
Rep. Martha RobyR-AL-2
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Kristi NoemR-SD
Rep. Chip CravaackR-MN-8
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Brett GuthrieR-KY-2
Rep. Jaime Herrera BeutlerR-WA-3
Rep. James RenacciR-OH-16
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Larry BucshonR-IN-8
Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Jeff DenhamR-CA-19
Rep. Vern BuchananR-FL-13
Rep. Scott TiptonR-CO-3
Rep. Erik PaulsenR-MN-3
Rep. Tim GriffinR-AR-2
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. Bob GibbsR-OH-18
Rep. Frank GuintaR-NH-1
Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
Rep. Scott RigellR-VA-2
Rep. Mark AmodeiR-NV-2
Rep. Allen WestR-FL-22
Rep. Bill CassidyR-LA-6
Rep. Renee EllmersR-NC-2
Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5
Rep. Steven PalazzoR-MS-4
Rep. Blaine LuetkemeyerR-MO-9
Rep. Bill JohnsonR-OH-6
Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
Rep. Daniel WebsterR-FL-8
Rep. Jean SchmidtR-OH-2
Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
Rep. Kevin McCarthyR-CA-22
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Phil RoeR-TN-1
Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
Rep. Randy HultgrenR-IL-14
Rep. Alan NunneleeR-MS-1
Rep. Mike CoffmanR-CO-6
Rep. Chuck FleischmannR-TN-3
Rep. Sean DuffyR-WI-7
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. Adrian SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Pete OlsonR-TX-22
Rep. Paul GosarR-AZ-1
Rep. Scott DesJarlaisR-TN-4
Rep. Cory GardnerR-CO-4
Rep. Robert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Vicky HartzlerR-MO-4
Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
Rep. Morgan GriffithR-VA-9
Rep. Richard NugentR-FL-5
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Stephen FincherR-TN-8
Rep. Thomas RooneyR-FL-16
Rep. Blake FarentholdR-TX-27
Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
Rep. Andy HarrisR-MD-1
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. James LankfordR-OK-5
Rep. Todd YoungR-IN-9
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Bill PoseyR-FL-15
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. Lynn JenkinsR-KS-2
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Quico CansecoR-TX-23
Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1
Rep. Mo BrooksR-AL-5
Rep. Robert HurtR-VA-5
Rep. Tim WalbergR-MI-7
Rep. Ann Marie BuerkleR-NY-25
Rep. Diane BlackR-TN-6
Rep. Sandy AdamsR-FL-24
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Phil GingreyR-GA-11
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. Steve SoutherlandR-FL-2
Rep. Kevin YoderR-KS-3
Rep. Dan BenishekR-MI-1
Rep. Steve ScaliseR-LA-1
Rep. Kenny MarchantR-TX-24
Rep. Reid RibbleR-WI-8
Rep. Dennis RossR-FL-12
Rep. Bill FloresR-TX-17
Rep. Austin ScottR-GA-8
Rep. Patrick McHenryR-NC-10
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Jeff LandryR-LA-3
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
Rep. Billy LongR-MO-7
Rep. John FlemingR-LA-4
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Cynthia LummisR-WY
Rep. Ted PoeR-TX-2
Rep. Todd RokitaR-IN-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
Rep. David SchweikertR-AZ-5
Rep. Bill HuizengaR-MI-2
Rep. Tom PriceR-GA-6
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
Rep. Lynn WestmorelandR-GA-3
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
Rep. Michael ConawayR-TX-11
Rep. Jason ChaffetzR-UT-3
Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
Rep. Tim ScottR-SC-1
Rep. Virginia FoxxR-NC-5
Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
Rep. Rob WoodallR-GA-7
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
Rep. Mike PompeoR-KS-4
Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
Rep. Trey GowdyR-SC-4
Rep. Doug LambornR-CO-5
Rep. Ben QuayleR-AZ-3
Rep. Raúl LabradorR-ID-1
Rep. Tim HuelskampR-KS-1
Rep. Jim JordanR-OH-4
Rep. Jeff DuncanR-SC-3
Rep. Joe WalshR-IL-8
Rep. Scott GarrettR-NJ-5
Rep. Marlin StutzmanR-IN-3
Rep. Tom McClintockR-CA-4
Rep. Mick MulvaneyR-SC-5
Rep. Justin AmashR-MI-3
Rep. Tom GravesR-GA-9
Rep. Thomas MassieR-KY-4
Rep. Paul BrounR-GA-10
Rep. Jeff FlakeR-AZ-6
Rep. John CampbellR-CA-48
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1562 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Financial Services Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.
S.Con.Res. 63Related bill
A concurrent resolution correcting the enrollment of S. 2367.
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.
- Dec 28, 2012Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 112-231.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 20, 2012FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Dec 19, 2012FloorFloor · Message received in the Senate: Returned to the Senate pursuant to the provisions of S.Con.Res. 63.
- Dec 5, 2012FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 398 - 1 (Roll no. 619).House roll call 619
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2367.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Jul 31, 2012CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
- May 25, 2012FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- May 24, 2012FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- May 23, 2012FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged Unanimous Consent.
- Apr 25, 2012CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2734)
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.