H.R. 2728: William Orton Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act

111th Congress · introduced 2009-06-04 · Congress · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2009-06-04 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 678 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2728 (2009-07-30), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

William Orton Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act

Plain summary

William Orton Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act - Authorizes appropriations to the Library of Congress for the maintenance and administration of the operations of the Law Library of the Library of Congress, including the cataloguing of the collections of the Law Library. Directs the Law Library to electronically catalog and archive material in its collections in a nonproprietary and nondiscriminatory format. Requires the separation of the salaries and expenses of the Law Library from other salaries and expenses of the Library of Congress in the preparation of the annual budget for the Library of Congress. Establishes the William Orton Law Library Support Program to provide enhanced or special services and programs for the Law Library and otherwise support the mission of the Law Library. Allows the Librarian of Congress (the Librarian) to carry out the Program through agreements and partnerships with other government and private entities, including the American Association of Law Libraries and the American Bar Association (ABA). Permits the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board and the Librarian to accept private donations in support of the Program. Makes any accepted donations subject to disbursement by the Librarian only upon the recommendation of the Law Librarian, with an exception. Establishes in the Treasury a separate account for the Program. Limits the use of account funds only to the Law Librarian to carry out such Program. Authorizes annual appropriations to the Library of Congress for the deposit into such account of an amount equal to 40% of the amount of donations accepted by the Board in support of such Program, in addition to any other amounts authorized for the Law Library. Designates the Law Library as the "National Law Library."

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

William Orton Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2728, William Orton Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act (2009-06-18); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2728, William Orton Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act (2009-06-18)

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16] reported raising $2.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 678 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2728 (2009-07-30): Passed

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111hr2728.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/hr>

Record fed-us-cong111-hr2728 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111