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Legislative History

Floor Proceedings (Congressional Record)

The Congressional Record is a verbatim record of the daily actions taken on the Congressional floor.  Each chamber produces a Journal of their respective activities, but the Congressional Record is considered the “fullest” record of legislative proceedings and activities.  It is published daily (often overnight) for every day either chamber of congress is in session.  Additionally, each day’s record includes a Daily Digest which summarizes each chamber’s activities for the day (number of bills introduced, floor actions taken, meetings held, upcoming meetings scheduled, etc.).

The Congressional Record contains four distinct sections:

  1. Senate (floor proceedings),
  2. House (floor proceedings),
  3. Extensions of Remarks (additional remarks from House Members), and
  4. Daily Digest (summary of floor and committee proceedings).

For more information on the structure and history of the Congressional Record, see Congress.gov’s About the Congressional Record.

Where to find the Congressional Record:

Congressional Record In Print (1st Floor)

  • Congressional Globe, Dec 7, 1835 – March 3, 1873
  • Congressional Record Index only, 1875 – 1965
  • Congressional Record, 1966 – present (including indexes)
  • Additional dates may be available in microfiche

Congressional Record Online:

  • Freely Available Sources:
  • WestlawNext:
  • HeinOnline:
    • Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774 – 1789
    • Annals of the Congress of the United States, 1789 – 1824
    • Register of Debates in Congress, 1825 – 1837
    • American State Papers, 1789 – 1838
    • Congressional Globe, 1833 – 1873
    • Congressional Record, 1873 – 2010
    • Congressional Record Daily, 1980 – present
       
  • ProQuest Congressional:
    • Congressional Record, 1985 – present
    • Congressional Record Bound Edition and Predecessors, 1789 – 1997

House of Representatives Floor Proceedings

Where to find Floor Proceedings for the House of Representatives

H of R Floor Proceedings In Print (1st Floor):

  • House Journal, 1966 – 2011
  • U.S. Congressional Serial Set, selected volumes (#1502 – #15375), 1871 – 2010

H of R Floor Proceedings Online:

Senate Floor Proceedings

Where to find Floor Proceedings for the Senate

Senate Floor Proceedings In Print (1st Floor)

  • Senate Journal, 1954 – 2012
  • U.S. Congressional Serial Set, selected volumes (#1502 – #15375), 1871 – 2010

Senate Floor Proceedings Online:

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