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Bill114th CongressFiled Jul 29, 2015Law
H.R. 3279

Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Nov 30, 2015)

Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Equal Access to Justice Act and the federal judicial code to require the Administrative Conference of the United States to report to Congress annually for a specified period on the amount of fees and other expenses awarded to prevailing parties other than the United States in certain administrative proceedings and civil action court cases (excluding tort cases) to which the United States is a party, including settlement agreements. The reports must: (1) describe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant information that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope and impact of such awards; and (2) be made available to the public online.

The Administrative Conference must create and maintain online searchable databases containing specified information with respect to each award, including the name of the agency involved, the name of each party to whom the award was made, the amount of the award, and the basis for finding that the position of the agency concerned was not substantially justified.

Agencies, including the Department of Justice, must provide the Administrative Conference all information requested to comply with such requirements.

What just happenedDec 1, 2015

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9](R-GA)Sponsor
7 cosponsors3 D4 R
Read on Congress.gov
7cosponsors2committees17actions3related bills5subjects
  1. Dec 1, 2015IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Nov 30, 2015FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Nov 30, 2015FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8423)

  4. Nov 30, 2015Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8423)

  5. Nov 30, 2015FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3279.

  6. Nov 30, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8423-8426)

  7. Nov 30, 2015FloorH30300

    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Nov 30, 2015CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.

  9. Nov 30, 2015CommitteeH12200

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-351.

    Judiciary Committee
  10. Nov 30, 2015Committee5000

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-351.

    Judiciary Committee
  11. Oct 27, 2015Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Judiciary Committee
  12. Oct 27, 2015Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  13. Oct 22, 2015Committee

    Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  14. Sep 8, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

    Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
  15. Jul 29, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  16. Jul 29, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  17. Jul 29, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedNov 30, 201536

Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Equal Access to Justice Act and the federal judicial code to require the Administrative Conference of the United States to report to Congress annually for a specified period on the amount of fees and other expenses awarded to prevailing parties other than the United States in certain administrative proceedings and civil action court cases (excluding tort cases) to which the United States is a party, including settlement agreements. The reports must: (1) describe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant information that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope and impact of such awards; and (2) be made available to the public online.

The Administrative Conference must create and maintain online searchable databases containing specified information with respect to each award, including the name of the agency involved, the name of each party to whom the award was made, the amount of the award, and the basis for finding that the position of the agency concerned was not substantially justified.

Agencies, including the Department of Justice, must provide the Administrative Conference all information requested to comply with such requirements.

Introduced in HouseJul 29, 2015

Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act

Amends the Equal Access to Justice Act and the federal judicial code to require the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States to report to Congress annually on the amount of fees and other expenses awarded to prevailing parties other than the United States in certain administrative proceedings and civil action court cases (excluding tort cases) to which the United States is a party, including settlement agreements. Requires such reports to: (1) describe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant information that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope and impact of such awards; and (2) be made available to the public online.

Directs the Chairman to create and maintain online a searchable database containing specified information with respect to each award, including the name of the agency involved, the name of each party to whom the award was made, the amount of the award, and the basis for finding that the position of the agency concerned was not substantially justified.

Directs the head of each agency, including the Attorney General, to provide the Chairman all information requested to comply with such requirements.

Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act — Informed