Approving regulations to implement the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 with respect to employing offices and covered employees of the House of Representatives.

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

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 15, 1996

Approves regulations, issued by the Office of Compliance on January 22, 1996, insofar as they apply to employing offices and covered employees of the House of Representatives regarding: (1) rights and protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988, and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; and (2) use of lie detector tests by the Capitol Police.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-21] · R–CA

Committees

Committee on House Administration

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Apr 15, 1996
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 15, 1996
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
Apr 15, 1996
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
Apr 15, 1996
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Apr 15, 1996
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3339-3341)
Apr 15, 1996
Mr. Thomas moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
Apr 15, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on House Oversight.
Apr 15, 1996
Introduced in House
Apr 15, 1996
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Engrossed in House · Apr 16, 1996 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House · Apr 15, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

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

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Res.400 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

Discuss H.Res.400, 104th Congress: Approving regulations to implement the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 with respect to employing offices and covered employees of the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-resolution/400

Text version to examine: Engrossed in House · 1996-04-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hres400/BILLS-104hres400eh.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:07Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Res.400 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Res.400 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

Discuss H.Res.400, 104th Congress: Approving regulations to implement the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 with respect to employing offices and covered employees of the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-resolution/400

Text version to examine: Engrossed in House · 1996-04-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hres400/BILLS-104hres400eh.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:07Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.400 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Res.400 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

Discuss H.Res.400, 104th Congress: Approving regulations to implement the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 with respect to employing offices and covered employees of the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-resolution/400

Text version to examine: Engrossed in House · 1996-04-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hres400/BILLS-104hres400eh.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:07Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.400 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Res.400 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

Discuss H.Res.400, 104th Congress: Approving regulations to implement the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 with respect to employing offices and covered employees of the House of Representatives.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-resolution/400

Text version to examine: Engrossed in House · 1996-04-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hres400/BILLS-104hres400eh.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:07Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.400 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.