Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act

Bill: 114-hr-3279
Sponsor: Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 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: 2015-07-29
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 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.

action_date: 2015-11-30
text: 

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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8423)
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: 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)
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3279.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8423-8426)
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-351.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-351.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.
action_date: 2015-09-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House