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H.R. 3279 114th Congress House

Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act

Official title: To amend titles 5 and 28, United States Code, to require annual reports to Congress on, and the maintenance of databases on, awards of fees and other expenses … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend titles 5 and 28, United States Code, to require annual reports to Congress on, and the maintenance of databases on, awards of fees and other expenses to prevailing parties in certain administrative proceedings and court cases to which the United States is a party, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 29, 2015 See on congress.gov
Law Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightGovernment information and archivesGovernment liabilityLegal fees and court costs
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 1, 2015
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 30, 2015
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 30, 2015
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8423)
Nov 30, 2015
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)
Nov 30, 2015
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3279.
Nov 30, 2015
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8423-8426)
Nov 30, 2015
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 30, 2015
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.
Nov 30, 2015
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-351.
Oct 27, 2015
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 27, 2015
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 22, 2015
Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.
Sep 8, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Jul 29, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 29, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 1, 2015

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • S 556 Sportsmen's Act of 2015
  • S 2012 Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016
  • HR 384 Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 1 Republican 2
Trott, David
· Oct 27, 2015
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Jul 29, 2015
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Jul 29, 2015
 R
Lummis, Cynthia M.
Wyoming · Jul 29, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3279: Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3279/
MLA
"H.R. 3279: Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3279/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3279, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3279/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3279: Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3279/)
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