Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act

Bill: 113-hr-2919
Sponsor: Rep. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY-At Large]
Introduced: 2013-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government liability
Legal fees and court costs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: 
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 that such reports: (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, with respect to court cases, the Attorney General [DOJ] and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts) to provide the Chairman all information requested to produce such reports.

action_date: 2014-05-06
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
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 that such reports: (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, with respect to court cases, the Attorney General [DOJ] and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts) to provide the Chairman all information requested to produce such reports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-05-07
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3430-3431)
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3430-3431)
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2919.
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3430-3433)
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: Mr. Chabot moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 322.
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 113-434.
action_date: 2014-05-06
text: Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 113-434.
action_date: 2014-02-05
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2014-02-05
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-02-04
text: Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.
action_date: 2013-10-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Introduced in House