This volume contains most of the general legislation enacted by Congress of particular concern to the Committee on Government Operations, U.S. House of Representatives. With the exception of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and its amendments, all statutes herein fall within the committee's legislative jurisdiction as established by law, or by rule or precedent of the House.
The compilation is intended to serve as a convenient reference tool, especially in connection with consideration of future amendments to the laws it contains and in connection with the committee's duty to exercise continuous watchfulness of the execution of all laws whose subject matter is within the committee's jurisdiction.
The format used is to print each basic or initial act and immediately thereafter acts amendatory thereof or otherwise related thereto. Appearing before the text of each act are references and citations leading to a quick identification of the chief legislative history materials: debates, reports, and hearings.
Purposely omitted from the compilation is the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. The reason is that the General Services Administration regularly publishes an adequate compilation of this act. Also omitted are reorganization plans submitted by the President pursuant to the various reorganization acts. Because of their special significance, there are included the two acts of the 89th Congress establishing the new Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation, both considered by this committee.
The committee was assisted in the preparation of the compilation by the American Law Division of the Legislative Reference Service. It is expected that it will be revised and reissued from time to time as later legislation and amendments are enacted.