CHECK THE DATES

Documents are in different formats, depending on the date required. Print, microfiche or online documents may be available. Check the time period and format of the item you need in the list on this page.

Debates are recorded in the Congressional Record. This is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress. For every day Congress is in session, an issue of the Congressional Record is printed by the Government Publishing Office. Each issue summarises the day's floor and committee actions and records all remarks delivered in the House and Senate (from GovInfo).

Library holdings and online access

Time Period

Format and Links

Annals of the Congress
(1st Congress, 1776-18th Congress, 1834) in The debates and proceedings in the Congress of the United States

Paper
held offsite

Register of debates in Congress
(18th Congress, 2nd Session, 1834 - 25th Congress, 1st Session, 1837)

Paper
held offsite

Congressional Globe
(23rd Congress, 1833-35 - 42nd Congress, 3rd Session, 1872/73)

Paper
held offsite

Congressional Record Index
(Online - 1983 to date)
(Paper - 1873 to 1986 - imperfect)

Online

Paper

Congressional record (March 1947+)
(80th Congress, 2nd session+)

Microfiche

Congressional Record
1975 - 2010

Microfiche

Congressional Record (1963+)
(88th Congress, 1st session+)

Online

BACKGROUND

Debates of Congress are recorded in the Congressional record, which has been published under that name since the 1st session of the 43rd Congress in 1873. It succeeded

ONLINE ACCESS

Congress.gov has the full text of the Congressional Record from 1983 to the present. Use the drop-down list to find the Congressional Record, and search by keyword.

You can also go directly to the latest record.

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