H.R. 1996: Government Litigation Savings Act

112th Congress · introduced 2011-05-25 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 429.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2011-05-25 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY-At Large] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 429. 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

Government Litigation Savings Act

Plain summary

Government Litigation Savings Act - (Sec. 2) Revises provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) and the federal judicial code relating to the fees and other expenses of parties in agency proceedings and court cases against the federal government. Restricts awards of fees and other expenses under EAJA to prevailing parties with a direct and personal interest in an adjudication, including because of medical costs, property damage, denial of benefits, an unpaid disbursement, and other expenses of adjudication, or because of a policy interest. Requires (currently, authorizes) the reduction or denial of an award if the party during the course of the proceedings engaged in conduct which unduly or unreasonably (currently, unduly and unreasonably) protracted the final resolution of the matter in controversy. Increases to $200 per hour the cap on attorney fees awarded under EAJA and eliminates the cost-of-living and special factor considerations for allowing an increase in the hourly rate for such fees. Eliminates the net worth exemption for determining eligibility for fees and expenses under EAJA for tax-exempt organizations and cooperative associations under the Agricultural Marketing Act. Expands the reporting requirements of the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States to require the Chairman to report on fees and expenses awarded pursuant to a settlement agreement and to create and maintain online a searchable database containing detailed information with respect to each award of fees and other expenses under EAJA. (Sec. 3) Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to: (1) audit the implementation of EAJA for the years 1995 through the end of the calendar year in which this Act is enacted, (2) complete such audit not later that one year after the end of the calendar year in which this Act is enacted, and (3) report to Congress on the results of such audit.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s)), 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

Government Litigation Savings Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY-At Large] · 66 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Michael K. Simpson (R-ID), Marlin A. Stutzman (R-IN), Jim Costa (D-CA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (R-AR), Tom McClintock (R-CA) and 6 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY-At Large] reported raising $1.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112hr1996.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/hr>

Record fed-us-cong112-hr1996 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112