Every law begins as a bill, introduced in either the House or Senate. Following any changes in the language of the bill as it progresses through the legislative process my yield some insight into the intent of the law, as passed.
Bills are the most common form of legislation, but proposed legislation may be introduced as Bills, Simple Resolutions, Joint Resolutions or as Concurrent Resolutions. Every introduced legislation has its name, and sometimes its contents in full, published in the Congressional Record on the day it is introduced. Every introduced legislation is then assigned to one of the Standing Committees and that assignment is also printed in the Congressional Record.
The graphic below shows where the language of the bill is published at various stages.
Figure 5. Stages at which Legislative Measures Might be Printed by GPO
Source: CRS graphic based on requirements taken from 44 U.S.C., Sections 706, 709, 711, 713, 728, and 901.
Notes: In addition to the statutory stages of printing, House Rule XII, cl. 7 (b)(4) provides that a measure may
be reprinted at the written request of the sponsor if 20 or more cosponsors are added after the last printing of
the measure.