POSITIVE LAW CODIFICATION
TITLE 41, UNITED STATES CODE

Public Contracts

LINKS TO PROJECT FILES

BACKGROUND

In January 2011, Public Law 111-350 enacted a restatement of existing law relating to public contracts as a new positive law title of the United States Code. As with all positive law codification measures, the enactment of title 41, United States Code, did not create new law or change the meaning or effect of existing law. Rather, the organizational structure of the existing law was improved, and ambiguities, contradictions, and other imperfections in the law were removed. Detailed information about Public Law 111-350 is available in the accompanying House Report 111-42.

A follow-up bill has been prepared to make improvements in the enactment of title 41, United States Code, into a positive law title and to improve the Code. The bill makes revisions in title 41, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current and make technical corrections and improvements. The bill was prepared by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel as part of its responsibility under section 205(c) of House Resolution No. 988, 93d Congress, as enacted into law by Public Law 93-554 (2 U.S.C. 285b), to prepare and submit periodically to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives proposed bills to maintain titles of the United States Code that have been enacted into positive law. For more information about the process of positive law codification generally, see the brochure Positive Law Codification in the United States Code.

HISTORY OF ACTIVITY INCLUDING PREDECESSOR BILLS

July 7, 2012.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an initial draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 112th Congress.
July 9, 2012.—The Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary introduced the bill as H.R. 6080 (112th Congress).
July 10, 2012.—H.R. 6080 (112th Congress) ordered to be reported. See House Report 112-662.
September 11, 2012.—H.R. 6080 (112th Congress) passed in the House of Representatives.
September 12, 2012.—H.R. 6080 (112th Congress) received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
August 21, 2013.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 113th Congress.
June 23, 2015.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 114th Congress.
April 8, 2016.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 114th Congress.
January 6, 2017.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 115th Congress.
April 26, 2017.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 115th Congress.
September 10, 2018.—H.R. 6762 (115th Congress) introduced and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
March 6, 2019.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 116th Congress.
May 6, 2021.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 117th Congress.
May 13, 2021.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated explanation of the draft bill to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 14, 2021.—H.R. 3239 (117th Congress) introduced by Rep. Fitzgerald and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 18, 2021.—H.R. 3239 (117th Congress) ordered to be reported. See House Report 117-67.
May 22, 2021.—H.R. 3239 (117th Congress) reported by the Committee on the Judiciary. Placed on the House Calendar. Considered under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings postponed.
May 23, 2021.—H.R. 3239 (117th Congress) passed under suspension of the rules.
May 24, 2021.—H.R. 3239 (117th Congress) received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
March 20, 2023.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 118th Congress.
February 7, 2024.—The Office of the Law Revision Counsel submitted an updated draft bill (and accompanying explanation) to the House Committee on the Judiciary for introduction in the 118th Congress.
February 13, 2024.—H. R. 7324 (118th Congress) introduced by Rep. Balint and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
February 15, 2024.—H. R. 7324 (118th Congress) ordered to be reported.

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS

Questions and comments about the project may be directed to:

     Ken Paretzky
     Senior Counsel
     Office of the Law Revision Counsel
     U.S. House of Representatives
     Washington, D.C. 20515

     Email: ken.paretzky@mail.house.gov
     Telephone: (202) 226-9061

POSITIVE LAW CODIFICATION TITLE 41, UNITED STATES CODE