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Order Code 98-266 GOV
Updated October 27, 2006
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Congressional Record: Its Production,
Distribution, and Accessibility
Mildred Amer
Specialist in American Government
Government and Finance Division
The Congressional Record is the most widely recognized published account of the
debates and activities in Congress. The Record often reflects the intent of Congress in
enacting legislation. This fact sheet is one of a series on the legislative process. Please
see [http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml] for more information on the
legislative process.
The Constitution mandates that each house shall keep and publish a journal of its
proceedings. Accordingly, the House and Senate Journals, which are summaries of floor
proceedings, are the official accounts of congressional proceedings, but the Record is
better known and the most useful.
The Record is published daily by the Government Printing Office (GPO) when either
house of Congress is in session. It is brought by GPO to the congressional post offices
for early morning delivery to congressional offices as well as to both chambers.
Each day's Record contains an account of the previous day's congressional activity.
However, if a session extends past midnight, the Record is usually published in two parts
with the first part printed the following day, and action after midnight included in the next
day's edition. Copies of the Record are also available for Representatives inside the
House chamber and for Senators on their desks in the Senate chamber. Extra copies may
be obtained from the House Document Room (B18, Ford House Office), the Senate
Library (B 15, Russell Senate Office Building), and the Senate Document Room (B04,
Hart Senate Office Building).
The Record, which averages about 200 pages a day, consists of four sections: the
proceedings of the House; the proceedings of the Senate; the Extensions of Remarks,
containing matter not part of the spoken debates and proceedings; and the Daily Digest
of activity in Congress. It does not contain any text of committee proceedings.
Located at the back of the Record, the Daily Digest of activity in Congress is a key
to using a daily Record. Separately for the House and Senate, it contains summary
information on chamber action the preceding day, including measures introduced,
reported, debated, and passed, and appointments made. It also summarizes committee
activities, provides the time and location of committee and subcommittee meetings
Congressional Research Service +. The Library of Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/crsuntaakfq0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)