There are also files related to staff organization, numerous committee reports, and speeches on such issues as energy, economy, taxes, welfare, health care and other topics. These files include numerous drafts with extensive revisions and additions in the senator's handwriting. Other papers concern Senator Tower's 1972 bid for the chair, nominations and impeachment procedures. Preliminary information for each set of minutes notes the date, duration and place of meeting, senators absent and present, and others in attendance. The text of the minutes includes a review of the Senate schedule for the upcoming week, the status of current legislation, a report of the House schedule, and reports, comments and announcements from members.
Senators frequently exhort colleagues to vote for or against particular legislation.
Other matters relate to elections and campaigns, nominations and appointments, budget, Senate ethics, dealings with the administration, and other issues of the day. The detail to which speakers' comments are related varies from fairly detailed accounts to quite abbreviated reports. Occasionally the minutes are supplemented with staff reports, figures, charts and graphs.