To authorize acquisition of certain real property for the Library of Congress, and for other purposes.
Public Law 105-144 · H.R. 2979 · 105th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Dec 15, 1997 · Arts, Culture, Religion
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA-21)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to acquire specified real property and improvements thereto in Culpeper County, Virginia, to be made available to the Librarian of Congress for use as a national audiovisual conservation center.
Establishes a fund in the Treasury for gift or trust funds transferred to the Architect for structural and mechanical work and refurbishment of such property. Makes such funds available subject to appropriation and prior approval of the House Oversight Committee and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 9 actions.
- Dec 15, 1997Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-144.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 5, 1997PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 13, 1997FloorFloor · Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Nov 12, 1997FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Thomas moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Nov 9, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Committee on House Administration
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.