General Accounting Office reports GAO is the investigative arm of Congress and independently audits Government agencies. GAO reports cover a variety of subjects including energy, land management, health, and other areas involving the disbursement of public funds. Congressional Publications You can find most Congressional publications on specific subjects by searching the government publications index on CARL or the CD ROM index. References to bills and resolutions are not available on these indexes. Use the Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report to locate a bill by number.
Congressional publications are usually available on microfiche.
Bills Bills are the most common form by which legislation is introduced into the U.S. Congress. Hearings Congressional committees hold hearings to investigate a bill and the written testimony from these hearings will include information about the subject of the legislation. Committee Prints Committee prints are written by Congressional committees and also provide background information on legislation. Reports House and Senate reports provide committee recommendations relating to a piece of legislation. Slip laws give the text of a law, references to other statutes amended by the law, and a brief history of the bill's passage into law.