1. Whether your approach is to access
print, microform, web, or online sources, or a combination thereof,
your search will be facilitated by first determining the year
and P.L. number of the law in which you are interested.
The first two digits of the P.L. number identifies the Congress.
For example, P.L. 85-24 refers to the 85th Congress. If
you have only the name of the law, consult the Popular Name
Index to either the USC, USCA, or USCS. . If you have
only the USC, USCA, or USCS citation, consult the Legislative
History information following the section number to obtain a
date and Public Law number. For example, the Historical
and Statutory Notes for 29 USCA Sec. 2601 indicate that this
statutory section is taken from the Family and Medical Leave
Act of 1993, P.L. 103-3, February 5, 1993, 107 Stat 6.
2. Print Sources - Compiled Legislative Histories.
A. Consult Johnson, Nancy P., Sources
of Compiled Legislative Histories, Ref. KF 42.2, located
behind the Reference Desk for a list of legislative history
titles relative to your Public Law number. If a legislative
history has not been compiled for your law, proceed to compile
your own.
B. Consult our online catalog to
determine if we have whatever titles you may have found in
Johnson. Also do a subject search as we may have some
compiled legislative histories not identified in Johnson.
3. Print Sources - Post 1970. Consult
the Congressional Information Service (CIS) Index and
Abstracts volumes located behind the Reference Desk. (covers
1970-2005) Ref. KF 49.C62.
A. For laws enacted beginning in
1984 (98th Congress) consult the Legislative Histories of
U.S. Public Laws volumes using the Public Law number
or the U.S. Statutes at Large citation.
B. For laws enacted between 1970
and 1984, consult the Public Laws section in the rear of the
Abstract volume for the appropriate year.
You may obtain the full text of the cited documents as follows:
A. Note the year and copy the CIS
number (H420, S250, etc.) and proceed to room 233 where the
CIS microfiche collection (1970-2002) is housed and print
copies from the microfiche.
B. Major House and Senate reports
accompanying a bill that becomes enacted into law are reprinted
in the United States Code Congressional and Administrative
News (USCCAN) located on the second floor adjacent
to the USCA. These volumes are organized by year.
C. The Hatfield Library has the
Congressional Serial Set from 1967 which reprints U.S.
Government publications. Ask a librarian for assistance
in finding your document(s).
4. Print Sources - 1943 to 1970:
A. In the absence of a compiled legislative
history consult USCCAN for the appropriate year using
the Congressional Comments Section for years 1943 through
1947 and the “Legislative History” volumes thereafter to look
up your Public Law number. Usually you will find that
the principal Senate or House report will be reprinted in
full.
B. The Oregon State Library
on the Capitol Mall has a substantial collection of federal
documents, including hearings, shelved by the U.S. Superintendent
of Documents number (su docs #). Ask a librarian for
assistance.
C. For legislative history information
prior to 1943, consult with a librarian.
5. Online Access: Use of the following
databases is restricted to Willamette law faculty and students:
A. Congressional Universe (Lexis-Nexis):
The electronic version of CIS for Congressional documents
since 1970. On the law library homepage, click on the
U.S. Federal Law buttton and then click on General Federal
Law sites.
B. HeinOnline: Click
on U.S. Federal Legislative History Library.
C. Lexis: Click
on Federal Legal - U.S. and then click on Legislative Histories
and Materials. Lexis uses legislative histories prepared
by CIS. Therefore, you will find information from 1970
forward.
D. Westlaw: A
limited number of legislative histories have been prepared
by the Washington D.C. law firm of Arnold and Porter.
From the database directory, click on "U.S. Federal materials";
and then click on" Arnold & Porter". Also click on
"Legislative History."
6. Web Access: Selected documents consisting
of Public Laws, Senate and House reports and hearings for each
Congressional session from the 104th Congress (1995-96) forward
can be found at the GPO access site: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/databases.html.
