Thousands of bills are introduced in Congress every year.  For a bill to become law, however, it must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate in identical form and be signed by the President. When a bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House refers it to a standing committee. 

It is the committee's job to review the bill, hold hearings to garner public opinion, mark it up (change it) as they see fit, and then report it to the full House for a vote.  If the committee does not report the bill, it cannot be voted on never becomes law.

If a bill makes it to the floor of the House for a vote, the Rules Committee assigns a "rule" for debate on the bill.  Some rules allow for any number of amendments to the bill right on the House floor.  Other, more restrictive rules, allow few or no amendments and call for a simple up or down vote.

Congressman Pitts has introduced several bills during the 105th (1997 and 1998) and 106th (1999 and 2000), 107th (2001 and 2002), and 108th (2003 and 2004) Congresses.  Information about these bills is available from the links on this page.