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Learn hub · how Congress works

How Congress works: follow a real bill

The best way to see how a bill becomes law is to follow one. Below is a real bill, step by step, taken from the official record.

Sources: Congress.gov, House Clerk, Senate.gov

Explore real bills in the app →

Most bills never become law

The 119th Congress so far
19,775Bills and resolutions introduced119th Congress (2025-2026)
1,765Approved by a committeeor went further
1,644Passed at least one chamberincludes 664 simple and concurrent resolutions
138Became law0.7% of those introduced

Each box counts bills that reached that step or went further. Counts are from PORKER’s bill records as of Oct 24, 2026. See every law →

Follow one bill from start to finish

A real example

One real example: H.R. 5345, Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act, sponsored by David Kustoff. It became Public Law 119-119.

Sep 15, 2025IntroducedOfficial record: Introduced in House
Sep 17, 2025Committee voteOfficial record: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 1.
Dec 1, 2025First chamber passes itOfficial record: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4938)
Sep 17, 2026Second chamber passes itOfficial record: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 29, 2026Sent to the PresidentOfficial record: Presented to President.
Oct 7, 2026Became lawOfficial record: Became Public Law No: 119-119.

Dates and action text are copied from the official Congress.gov record of this bill. Open the full bill page →

Plain-English guides

In preparation
Coming soon. The plain-English guides are in preparation and none are published yet.

Guides planned first:

What is an earmark?What is cloture?What is a filibuster?What is reconciliation?What is a continuing resolution?What are appropriations?What is suspension of the rules?What is unanimous consent?What is a committee markup?What is a roll-call vote?What is a cosponsor?

Read next

How PORKER works

What the site shows and where it comes from.

How we calculate

The rules behind every number.

Trust and editorial standards

How we handle facts, sources and corrections.

Same rule for every member. Explainers will describe the process, not the politics. How we calculate →