Congress · Laws

A bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act to provide that any employee who is a member of a religion or sect historically holding conscientious objection to joining or financially supporting a labor organization shall not be required to do so.

Public Law 96-593 · H.R. 4774 · 96th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 24, 1980 · Labor and Employment

Sponsor: Rep. Frank Thompson (D-NJ-4)

Cosponsors (10): Rep. John Ashbrook, Rep. John Erlenborn,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 349 yea, 15 nay349–15
SenateMethod not stated

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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #44 (349-15))

Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that any employee who is a member of and adheres to a bona fide religion, body, or sect historically holding conscientious objection to joining or financially supporting a labor organization shall not be required to do so.

Allows such employee to be required in an employment contract to pay sums in lieu of and equal to dues and initiation fees to a nonreligious, nonlabor, charitable organization chosen by the employee.

Authorizes the labor organization to charge such employee the reasonable cost of any grievance-arbitration procedure instigated by and for such employee's benefit.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 351 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

351 yea15 nay67 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(219)

Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9
Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
Rep. Eugene AtkinsonD-PA-25
Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
Rep. James SantiniD-NV
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7
Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7

Republicans who voted yea(132)

Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
Rep. Charles DoughertyR-PA-4
Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-19
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2
Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. William RoyerR-CA-11
Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. James CourterR-NJ-13
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-37
Rep. Jon HinsonR-MS-4
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
Rep. Gary LeeR-NY-33
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-18
Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-29
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-34
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39
Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
Rep. Daniel CraneR-IL-22
Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-22

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 709 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.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Education and Workforce Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred to

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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.

Dec 24, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-593.
Dec 15, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Dec 13, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Feb 18, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Feb 12, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #44 (349-15).House roll call 44
Feb 11, 1980FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
Oct 4, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Education and Workforce Committee
Jul 12, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce Committee
IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.