Legislative History Research

The "legislative history" of a particular law consists of all the documents created by the legislature during the process of the law’s passage.

Finding a law to research:

Chronological Lists of United States Federal Legislation

List of United States federal legislation, 1901–2001

List of United States federal legislation, 2001–present

Child Welfare Information Gateway: Major Federal Legislation Index and Search

The acts listed provide a framework for understanding the Federal legislation that has shaped the delivery of child welfare services. Click on the P.L. number to access the summary of a specific act, including its major provisions.

National Center for Homeless Education

Legislation addressing homeless and education, but the legislation also covers others areas concerning homeless children, runaways and families.

https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/laws-regulations

Laws and regulations pertaining to substance abuse and mental health services, SAMHSA programs, and related topics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:United_States_federal_veterans%27_affairs_legislation

Legislation addressing veterans' issues.

To begin the process, it is helpful to locate as much as possible of the following information for each law:

1. Public Law number, Pub. L.  107–110

2. U.S. Statutes at Large, 115 Stat. 1425

3. Date of enactment

4. Number of the House or Senate bill that was enacted,  H.R. 1