Farewell Thomas, Hello Congress.gov

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Janet Clarke

In 2015, government researchers will say goodbye to Thomas.gov, the congressional research website of the Library of Congress that was launched back in 1995. Its successor, Congress.gov, currently available in beta format, will be the new official website for U.S. federal legislative information. Like Thomas before it, Congress.gov will offer historical congressional data, including bill records from 1973 forward, bill texts starting in 1993, and Congressional Record from 1995. Current data updates will take place the morning after a session has adjourned.

Enhancements accompanying the change from Thomas to Congress.gov include single search capability across all collections and all dates, meaningful and persistent URLs, and faceted search results. Congress.gov will also offer greater compatibility with mobile devices and a user-friendly presentation.

For help with research on Congress or other government entities, the Stony Brook University Libraries offer a subject guide on Government Documents and Information that details the library holdings and resources. Included are links to proprietary databases such as ProQuest Congressional Collection and CQ Weekly which provide additional breadth and depth of coverage for congressional research.