Congress · Laws

Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1994

Public Law 103-270 · S. 24 · 103rd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jun 30, 1994 · Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor: Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI)

Cosponsors (2): Sen. William Cohen, Sen. Dennis DeConcini

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 317 yea, 105 nay317–105
SenateVoice vote

Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal judicial code to reauthorize the independent counsel law for an additional five years.

Requires an independent counsel to: (1) conduct all activities with due regard for expense, authorize only reasonable and lawful expenditures, and (promptly upon taking office) assign to a specific employee the duty of certifying that counsel expenditures are reasonable and made in accordance with law; and (2) comply with the established policies of the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding expenditures of funds, except to the extent that compliance would be inconsistent with the purposes of the Act.

Directs: (1) the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to provide administrative support and guidance to each independent counsel; and (2) the Administrator of General Services to provide office space as well.

Sets forth provisions on counsel: (1) per diem expenses; (2) employee pay comparability; (3) compliance with DOJ policies; (4) reports; and (5) reappointment.

Provides for audits by the Comptroller General.

Confers responsibility on DOJ and the Office of Government Ethics for enforcing standards of conduct applicable to independent counsels.

Gives the Attorney General (AG) up to 30 days to determine whether a preliminary investigation is warranted under the law.

Revises recusal, disclosure, and attorney's fees requirements.

Allows DOJ personnel to be detailed to the staff of the independent counsel upon request.

Modifies provisions governing the AG's authority to use the independent counsel process in criminal cases involving Members of Congress and in cases where the subject matter raises conflict of interest concerns.

Narrows mandatory postemployment coverage under the law for certain individuals.

Amends the physical or mental disability grounds for removal of an independent counsel to allow such grounds only if not prohibited by law protecting disabled persons from discrimination on the basis of such disability.

Requires the President to submit a report to the Congress on White House Office personnel.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 103rd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 317 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

317 yea105 nay12 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(240)

Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-9
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Barbara-Rose CollinsD-MI-15
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-11
Rep. Michael KopetskiD-OR-5
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-16
Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-11
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-30
Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Jolene UnsoeldD-WA-3
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Daniel HamburgD-CA-1
Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-33
Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
Rep. Lucien BlackwellD-PA-2
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
Rep. William FordD-MI-13
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. Floyd FlakeD-NY-6
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-29
Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Cleo FieldsD-LA-4
Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-32
Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
Rep. Mel ReynoldsD-IL-2
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26
Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-26
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Kweisi MfumeD-MD-7
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
Rep. Walter TuckerD-CA-37
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Elizabeth FurseD-OR-1
Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-24
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
Rep. Thomas AndrewsD-ME-1
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-5
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Harry JohnstonD-FL-19
Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. David SkaggsD-CO-2
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Jack ReedD-RI-2
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-9
Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. George HochbruecknerD-NY-1
Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-11
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-31
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-2
Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
Rep. Thomas BarlowD-KY-1
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Karan EnglishD-AZ-6
Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
Rep. Mike KreidlerD-WA-9
Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. Herbert KleinD-NJ-8
Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
Rep. Frank TejedaD-TX-28
Rep. Pete PetersonD-FL-2
Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Leslie ByrneD-VA-11
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Lynn SchenkD-CA-49
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. James BacchusD-FL-15
Rep. Larry LaRoccoD-ID-1
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Maria CantwellD-WA-1
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. George SangmeisterD-IL-11
Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Karen ShepherdD-UT-2
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. Samuel CoppersmithD-AZ-1
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Jill Long ThompsonD-IN-4
Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
Rep. Marjorie Margolies-MezvinskyD-PA-13
Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. David MannD-OH-1
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-4
Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Tim JohnsonD-SD
Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Peter HoaglandD-NE-2
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
Rep. Eric FingerhutD-OH-19
Rep. James BilbrayD-NV-1
Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-19
Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. Blanche LincolnD-AR-1
Rep. John BrowderD-AL-3
Rep. Peter BarcaD-WI-1
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6
Rep. Don JohnsonD-GA-10
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Gregory LaughlinD-TX-14
Rep. Lewis PayneD-VA-5
Rep. Richard SwettD-NH-2
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11
Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
Rep. Martin LancasterD-NC-3
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
Rep. William BrewsterD-OK-3
Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
Rep. William SarpaliusD-TX-13
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Glenn PoshardD-IL-19
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-10
Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. Pete GerenD-TX-12
Rep. Nathan DealD-GA-9
Rep. Mike ParkerD-MS-4
Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
Rep. Timothy PennyD-MN-1
Rep. William OrtonD-UT-3
Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5

Republicans who voted yea(77)

Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-19
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
Rep. Dean GalloR-NJ-11
Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Peter TorkildsenR-MA-6
Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
Rep. William ClingerR-PA-5
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Peter BluteR-MA-3
Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. Thomas RidgeR-PA-21
Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. Gary FranksR-CT-5
Rep. Steven SchiffR-NM-1
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
Rep. Rick SantorumR-PA-18
Rep. Frederick GrandyR-IA-5
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-13
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40
Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-5
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Richard ZimmerR-NJ-12
Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Michael HuffingtonR-CA-22
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43
Rep. David LevyR-NY-4
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. James LightfootR-IA-3
Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23
Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2
Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
Rep. Alfred McCandlessR-CA-44
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11
Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-46
Rep. Wayne AllardR-CO-4

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 852 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Judiciary Committee · House · bills of interest - exchange of letters
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee · Senate · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 35 actions.

Jun 30, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-270.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Jun 24, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
Jun 21, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 317 - 105 (Roll no. 258).House roll call 258
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 317 - 105 (Roll no. 258).House roll call 258
Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Brooks brought up conference report H. Rept. 103-511 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 439.
FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 439 passed House.
May 25, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in Senate.
May 24, 1994FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 439 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to S. 24. Waiving all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration.
May 19, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 103-511 filed.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 103-511 filed.
May 18, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
May 17, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Feb 24, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. Glenn; Levin; Pryor; Cohen; Stevens.
FloorFloor · Senate disagreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Feb 10, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed conferees: Brooks, Bryant, Glickman, Frank (MA), Fish, Hyde, and Gekas.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Brooks moved that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference.
FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill and House requests a conference.
FloorFloor · A similar measure H.R. 811 was laid on the table without objection.
FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
FloorFloor · The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 811. Agreed to without objection.
Nov 18, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 76-21. Record Vote No: 383.Senate roll call 383
Nov 17, 1993FloorFloor · The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.