A bill to make technical amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and to related provisions of titles 18 and 28 of the United States Code.
Public Law 94-149 · H.R. 9915 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Dec 12, 1975 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Rep. William Hungate (D-MO-9)
Cosponsors (3): Rep. Ray Thornton, Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Makes specified technical changes in the table of contents of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Renumbers provisions of such Rules. Makes spelling corrections and changes references under specified provisions. Revises the Rules of Criminal Procedure in order to provide that the authentication of foreign documents be done in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence. Makes specified changes in the discovery procedure provided under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
States that, except as otherwise provided, evidence of a plea of guilty, later withdrawn, or a plea of guilty, later withdrawn, or a plea of nolo contendere, or of an offer to plead guilty or nolo contendere to the crime charged or any other crime, or of statements made in connection with, and relevant to, any of the foregoing pleas or offers, is not admissible in any civil or criminal proceeding against the person who made the plea or offer. Provides that evidence of a statement made in connection with, and relevant to, a plea of guilty, later withdrawn, a plea of nolo contendere, or an offer to plead guilty or nolo contendere to the crime charged or any other crime, is admissible in a criminal proceeding for perjury or false statement if the statement was made by the defendant under oath, on the record, and in the presence of counsel.
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. 12 actions.
- Dec 12, 1975Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-149.
- Dec 4, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Dec 3, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 1, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Nov 13, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Nov 3, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #660 (360-0).House roll call 660
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Oct 30, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Sep 30, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- 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.