When a bill is referred out of a Congressional committee for consideration by the entire chamber, the committee will submit a report of their findings and recommendations. These reports, especially those of conference committees reconciling language from House and Senate versions of bills, are considered the most persuasive form of legislative intent. Committee Reports can contain discussions of legislative intent, a short history of a bill, and comparisons of current and proposed law text.
Reports are assigned separate sequential numbers within each Chamber (e.g., H. Rpt. 99-1, S. Rpt. 99-1). Since 1969 (91st Congress) the assigned number has included the Congress number as an intrinsic part of the report number.
Congressional committees also issue documents. Congressional documents may include reports of executive departments and independent organizations, reports of special investigations made for Congress, and annual reports of non-governmental organizations.
Below is a collection of links to more resources on legislative history, legislative process, and legislative research.
