Tracking Legislation
Now that you have learned the steps
a bill takes to become a law, let's show how that model works with a
real bill. In addition, you'll learn how to obtain this information
on GPO Access. This is the Government Printing Office's online
server of official legislative and regulatory materials.
Since this bill was active in 1997,
remember to choose the year 1997 when using the databases on GPO
Access. Also, whenever typing a phrase in a search terms box use
quotation marks for more specific results. When you do a search in a
database, documents are available in ASCII text
and PDF formats.
|
Tracking the legislative history of
H.R. 408,
The International Dolphin Conservation Program Act |
How
to find this information on GPO Access |
 The first step in H.R. 408's journey was its introduction in Congress. The
number H.R. 408 indicates that the bill was introduced in the House of Representatives.On January 9, 1997, the bill was introduced by its sponsor (Rep. Wayne
Gilchrest of Maryland) and recorded in the Congressional Record.
At this point, the Introduced Version (the very
first version) of the bill is published by the Government Printing Office (GPO). |
To
find when H.R. 408 was introduced in the Congressional Record
database, choose the year 1997 and type "H.R. 408" AND Gilchrest in the
search terms box. It should be your 7th result -- cr09ja97H, Public Bills and
Resolutions. CR stands for Congressional Record, 09ja97 is the date January 9, 1997,
and H stands for the House.
To find the Introduced Version in the Congressional Bills
database, choose the 105th Congress and type "H.R. 408" in the search terms box.
The introduced version (ih) should be your 7th result. Look for the result
that says, "Introduced in House." |
 Next, H.R.
408 was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee for closer
analysis. After debating the bill, the committee released the
Reported Version of the bill, and referred
the bill to the House floor. |
To find the Reported Version in the Congressional
Bills database, choose the year 1997 and type "H.R.
408" in the search terms box. The reported version (rh)
should be your 5th result -- H.R. 408 (rh).*
You can also read the reports on H.R. 408 in
the Congressional
Reports database. Choose the 105th Congress, check both
the House and Senate reports, and type "H.R. 408"
in the search terms box. There are three reports on this bill:
H.Rpt.105-74, Pt. 1, H.Rpt.105-74, Pt. 2, and H.Rpt.105-103
H.R. 408.
|
* In the Text version, added text
is enclosed in quotes. Deleted text is preceded by a <DELETED>
tag and followed by a </DELETED> tag. In the PDF version, added
text is presented in italics. Deleted text is stricken through with
a line.
 Once released, H.R. 408
went on the House Calendar. The full House debated H.R. 408 and on May
21, 1997 voted in its favor. There were 262 yeas, 166 nays, and 6 no votes. |
View
H.R. 408 on the calendar in the House Calendars database.
Not available at this time.
To find the debate over H.R. 408 in the Congressional Record
database, choose the year 1997 and type "H.R. 408" in the search terms
box. It should be your 1st result -- cr21my97H. |
Finally, the House released the Engrossed Version of the
bill. At this point, the bill officially became known as an Act. |
To
find the Engrossed Version in the Congressional Bills
database, choose the 105th Congress and type "H.R. 408" in the search terms box.
The engrossed version (eih) should be your 4th result. Look for the result
that says, "Engrossed in House." |
|
