Congress records the debates on the Floor in a publication separate from the House Journal. The record of Congressional debates has had serveral different names thougout U.S. history:

The Annals of Congress, formally known as The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, cover the 1st Congress through the first session of the 18th Congress, from 1789 to 1824. The Annals were not published contemporaneously, but were compiled between 1834 and 1856, using the best records available, primarily newspaper accounts. Speeches are paraphrased rather than presented verbatim, but the record of debate is nonetheless fuller than that available from the House and Senate Journals.

The Register of Debates is a record of the congressional debates of the 18th Congress, 2nd Session through the 25th Congress, 1st Session (1824-37). It is the second of the four series of publications containing the debates of Congress.

The Congressional Globe is the third of the four series of publications containing the debates of Congress. The Globe, as it is usually called, contains the congressional debates of the 23rd through 42nd Congresses (1833-73). Initially the Globe contained a "condensed report" or abstract rather than a verbatim report of the debates and proceedings. With the 32nd Congress (1851), however, the Globe began to provide something approaching verbatim transcription.

The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Printed by the Government Printing Office, it is the fourth and final series of publications containing the debates of Congress. The Record is far more comprehensive than its predecessors in reporting Congressional debates. It is a verbatim report of the proceedings and debates in the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. Recent versions of the Record may be found in THOMAS, the legislative information site at the Library of Congress. This site debuted during the 104th Congress, but contains searchable text of the contemporary Record.

The Government Printing Office also publishes recent Congressional Records on its website: GPO: Congressional Record.

Content courtesy of Libray of Congress - American Memory Collection

Since A. Bill already knows from searching the House Journals that the first Federal holiday bill number is "H.R.2224," and that it was passed in 1870, A. Bill can find a record of the debates for H.R.2224 by searching the Congressional Globe!




The following is an excerpt from The Congressional Globe from June 17, 1870 and chronicles the House floor debates on H.R. 2224.

June 17, 1870

   Holidays in the District

Mr. COOK. The Committee for the District of Columbia, to whom was referred a memorial of bankers and business men of this District asking that certain days be declared to be holidays, have instructed me to report a bill and recommend its passage.

Accordingly, a bill (H.R.) No. 2224) making the 1st day of January, the 25th day of December, the 4th day of July, and Thanksgiving day holidays was received, and read a first and second time.

The question was on ordering the bill to be engrossed and read a third time.

The bill, which was read, provides that the 1st day of January, commonly called Christmas day, and any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States as a day of public fasting or thanksgiving, shall be holidays; and for all purposes of presenting for payment or acceptance of the maturity and protest and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks, promissory notes, and other negotiable commercial paper shall be treated and considered as is the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and that all notes, drafts , checks or other commercial or negotiable papers falling due or maturing on either of said holidays shall be deemed as having matured the day previously.

Mr. PAINE. I did not notice whether this bill applies only to the District of Columbia or generally to all the United States.

Mr. COOK. The bill was drawn to correspond with similar laws of States around the District; the intention is that it shall apply only to the District of Columbia.

Mr. DICKEY. Then the bill requires some amendments.

The SPEAKER. As the bill now reads, the Chair is of opinion that it is not specifically limited in its operation to the District of Columbia.

Mr. COOK. Then I move to insert the words "in the District of Columbia" after the word "that" where it first occurs.

The SPEAKER. The Committee for the District of Columbia would have no right to report any bill to-day except relating to business for the District of Columbia.

The amendment moved by Mr. Cook was then agreed to.

Mr. HOAR. I move to further amend the bill by striking out the phrases "commonly called New Year's Day," "commonly called Christmas Day," and "commonly called Sunday."

Mr. DICKEY. I hope that will not be done. We of the Quaker extraction in Pennsylvania call Sunday the first day of the week, and are conscientious in so doing.

Mr. COOK. The phrase is also in accordance with he laws of the States surrounding the District.

Mr. HOAR. It seems to me that this Congress would be justly an object of derision if it should put into a grave statute such terms as those I have moved to strike out.

Mr. DICKEY. I think not; there is a very respectable denomination in my State, the Seventh-Day Baptists, who do not regard the first day of the week as the Sabbath day at all.

Mr. HOAR. That is not the point. If the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. DICKEY] will be kind enough to attend one moment he will see that the bill does not say "Sunday, commonly called the first day of the week," but it says, "the first day of the week," and then it adds "commonly called Sunday." It seems to me that cannot be necessary.

Mr. DICKEY. I think it is commonly called Sunday.

The question was then taken on the amendment moved by Mr. Hoar; and it was not agreed to.

Mr. HAMILTON. I ask the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. COOK] to yield to me to offer an amendment.

Mr. COOK. What is the amendment?

Mr. HAMILTON. I desire to move to insert the words "emancipation day" after the words "the 1st day of January."

Mr. COOK. The 1st day of January is already in the bill.

Mr. HAMILTON. It is in as "New Year's" and not as "emancipation day."

Mr. COOK. I cannot yield for that amendment.

The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

Mr. COOK moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. COOK. I move to amend the title by adding thereto the words "in the District of Columbia."

The amendment was agreed to.



Onto Clue 4: Bills & Resolutions . . .