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Related Resources at the Library
For each bill in THOMAS Bill Summary & Status, committee information is shown on the full-display menu. This information can contain two choices:
- Referral, Reporting, Origin, Subcommittee(s)
- Other Committee Information
Referral, Reporting, Origin, Subcommittee(s)
The Referral, Reporting, Origin and Subcommittee(s) link leads to a display laying out any committees to which a bill was referred -- Committee(s) of Referral; out of which it was reported -- Committee(s) Reporting; from which it originated -- Committee(s) of Origin; and/or any subcommittees of referral -- Subcommittee(s). The name of each committee is in turn linked to other bills for which it is also the committee of referral, origin, or reporting. Subcommittees are not linked.
Committee/Subcommittee of Referral
Once a bill has been introduced, it is almost always referred to committee. In both the House and Senate, bills may be referred to two or more committees (multiple referrals) concurrently or sequentially, or a bill may be divided, and part sent to one committee, part to another -- since many issues for congressional consideration cut across committee jurisdictions. (Committee jurisdictions are areas of policy for which that committee is responsible, as outlined in House or Senate Rules).
The full committee often refers the bill to a specialized subcommittee for further study, hearings, revision, and approval. House subcommittees are designated by the abbreviation Hsc and Senate Subcommittees are designated by Ssc. Note: Subcommittee information is not prepared by the Congressional Research Service, but comes directly from the House and Senate systems and may be incomplete.
When the bill is returned to full committee after consideration in the subcommittee, more hearings and changes in its language may occur.
Committee of Reporting
The full committee may then approve, or "report" the legislation with or without amendment back to the House or Senate floor. For a measure that has been reported out, THOMAS lists the Committee(s) of Reporting in the committee display. In very few cases, a committee may unfavorably report out, or disapprove passage of a bill; more commonly, however, such disapproved bills are not reported out at all, but "die" in committee, and no further action is taken.
Committee of Origin
Occasionally a committee considers proposals that have not been formally introduced. It then drafts or originates legislation in its area of jurisdiction which is introduced by the committee chair. In this instance, THOMAS lists the Committee of Origin in the committee display.
Other Committee Information
For some bills, House committees may provide additional background information. When available, the “Related Committee Documents” link will be active and lead to this additional information provided by the House of Representatives. Note that some documents may contain partisan views, not necessarily reflecting the views of Library of Congress staff.
This information is listed by full committee and subcommittee (when applicable). Titles for each document are supplied by committee staff. Documents may be one or more of the following types:
- Hearing Schedules
- Hearing Transcripts (Spoken hearing testimony)
- Witness Lists (Lists of persons testifying at hearing)
- Witness Prepared Statement (Written testimony submitted by a witness in advance of the hearing)
- Committee Briefs
- Dear Colleague Letters (Letter from a member soliciting cosponsors or support for a measure or position)
- Press Releases
- Articles (from magazines/newspapers)
For a more complete description of the committee process, read Introduction and Referral to Committee in How Our Laws Our Made.