PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.2657 / 107th Congress

District of Columbia Family Court Act of 2001

Became Public Law No: 107-114.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 26, 2001

District of Columbia Family Court Act of 2001 - Amends the District of Columbia Code to rename the Family Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as the Family Court of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.Grants the Family Court exclusive jurisdiction over currently mandated actions, applications, determinations, adjudications, and proceedings, except that those actions within the jurisdiction of the Domestic Violence Unit (a section of the Civil Division, Criminal Division, and the Family Court) shall remain in that Unit.Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) special rules regarding the assignment and service of Family Court judges, including "One Family, One Judge;" (2) the administration of cases and proceedings in the Family Court, including alternative dispute resolution procedures; (3) on-site coordination of social services and other related services; (4) treatment of hearing commissioners as magistrate judges; and (5) special rules for Family Court magistrate judges.Requires the Family Court presiding judge to carry out an ongoing training program in family law and related matters for Family Court and other Superior Court judges, and appropriate nonjudicial personnel. Requires the Executive Officer of the D.C. courts to establish an electronic tracking and management system for Family Court cases and proceedings, with all records and materials stored and maintained in an accessible electronic format.Expresses the sense of Congress that Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia should promptly enter into a border agreement to facilitate the timely and safe placement of children in the District's welfare system in foster and kinship homes and other Maryland and Virginia facilities.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. DeLay, Tom [R-TX-22] · R–TX

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Became Public Law No: 107-114.

  2. Became Public Law No: 107-114.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 418 - 1 (Roll no. 502). (text: CR H10366-10370)

    House roll call 502 · Individual votes
  9. Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 418 - 1 (Roll no. 502).(text: CR H10366-10370)

    House roll call 502 · Individual votes
  10. At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Norton objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

  11. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2657.

  12. Mrs. Morella moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10366-10373, H10427-10428)

  13. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  14. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR H10366-10370)

  15. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR H10366-10370)

  16. The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

  17. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S13312-13317; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S13312-13316)

  18. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.

  19. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-108.

  20. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-108.

  21. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  22. Committee on Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia.

  23. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

  24. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  25. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 0 (Roll no. 343). (text: CR H5740-5744)

    House roll call 343 · Individual votes
  26. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 0 (Roll no. 343).(text: CR H5740-5744)

    House roll call 343 · Individual votes
  27. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  28. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty hours of debate on H.R. 2657.

  29. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5740-5750, H5764)

  30. Mrs. Morella moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  31. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held by the Subcommittee on District of Columbia; Forwarded by the Subcommittee to the Full Committee Prior to Introduction and Referral (July 27, 2001).

  32. Referred to the Subcommittee on District of Columbia.

  33. Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.

  34. Introduced in House

  35. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2657 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2657 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2657 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2657 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources