Legislative Branch Data Map, version 0.1 We want feedback on this list! Please create an issue to suggest additions or edits.
This data map is a product of the Congressional Data Task Force that was directed by H. Rept. 118-555 (Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, FY2025) to create a “Legislative Branch Data Map and Management Plan.” This first rough list was compiled jointly by staff from different Legislative Branch agencies. We hope others can review and contribute to this effort by creating issue .
Official - Legislative Branch
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
House.gov House homepage. Best for: Members, legislation, events.
Web
Daily
House
Maintained by CAO
General / Portal
Senate.gov Senate homepage. Best for: Members, legislation, events.
Web
Daily
Senate
General / Portal
Congress.gov Bill tracker. Best for: Legislative activity.
XML, JSON, USLM
Near real-time
LOC
Maintained by LOC
Legislation / Tracking
House Live Video Streaming video. Best for: House floor & events.
Streaming
Real-time
House
Media / Video
Clerk.House.gov House Clerk. Best for: Members, Member photos, votes, floor, disclosures.
Web/XML
Daily
House
Primary House data feeds
General / Portal
LOC.gov Library of Congress. Best for: Research & collections.
Web
Daily
LOC
Includes CRS & Law Library
General / Portal
CRS.gov CRS portal. Best for: Policy analysis.
PDF
As published
LOC (CRS)
No public access
Research / Policy
Law Library of Congress Law Library of Congress. Best for: Policy analysis.
Many kinds
As published
LOC (Law)
Public access
Research / Policy
Copyright Office U.S. Copyright Office Best for: Copyright policy.
Many kinds
As published
LOC (Copyright)
Public access
Policy
GPO.gov GPO portal. Best for: Publications & services.
PDF, XML
Daily
GPO
Entry to govinfo.gov
General / Portal
GovInfo.gov Primary docs. Best for: Bills, laws, reports.
XML, TXT, USLM
Daily
GPO
Bulk & API access available
Legislation / Docs
CBO.gov CBO portal. Best for: Cost estimates & reports.
PDF, XLSX
As published
CBO
Legislation / Fiscal Analysis
GAO.gov GAO portal. Best for: Audits & evaluations.
PDF, XLSX
As published
GAO
Oversight / GAO
U.S. Capitol Police U.S. Capitol Police. Best for: Crime statistics and IG Reports.
PDF, text
As published
USCP
Legislative Branch Security
Office of Congressional Workplace Rights OCWR. Best for: Workplace safety data.
PDF, text
As published
OCWR
Legislative Branch Operations
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
Member Info House members. Best for: Member roster.
XML
Daily
House
Based on Clerk and CAO data; updated after memberData.xml is updated
Members / IDs
Clerk MemberData XML House members. Best for: Member list.
XML
Daily
House
Published by House Clerk
Members / IDs
Clerk Financial Disclosure Reports House members. Best for: Member financial disclosure reports.
PDF
Daily
House
Published by House Clerk
Members / Ethics
House Clerk Foreign Travel Reports House members. Best for: Foreign travel reports.
PDF and Text
Daily
House
Published by House Clerk
Members / Travel
House Clerk Gift Travel Filings House members. Best for: Gift travel filings.
ZIP
Annual
House
Published by House Clerk
Members / Travel
House Clerk Unsolicited Mass Communications House members. Best for: Mass communications.
PDF
Daily
House
Published by House Clerk
Members / Communications
House Post-Employment Notifications House members. Best for: Post Employment Communications.
ZIP
House
Published by House Clerk
Members / Ethics
House Lobbying Disclosure Lobbyists. Best for: Lobbying filings and campaign contributions.
XML
House
Published by House Clerk
Members / Ethics
Bioguide Member directory. Best for: Unique IDs & photos.
XML, JSON
As updated
LOC
Maintained by LOC & historians
Members / IDs
Senate contact info XML Senator contacts. Best for: Official info.
XML
As updated
Senate
Members / Contacts
Senate LIS Member Data LIS data feed. Best for: Senate members.
XML
Daily
Senate
IDs differ from Bioguide
Members / IDs
Senate Financial Disclosure Database Senate electronic Financial Disclosures. Best for: reviewing financial disclosures from 2012-present for members and candidates.
PDF
Daily
Senate
Members / candidates
Senate Private Sponsor Travel Database Senate travel gift rule disclosures. Best for: reviewing outside payments for travel.
PDF and download in bulk
Daily
Senate
Members / candidates
Senate Lobbying Disclosure Senate lobbying disclosure act reports: registrations, quarterly activity, and contribution reports. Best for: lobbying disclosures.
Database and API
Daily
Senate
Ethics
Lobbyists
Senate Post Employment Lobbying Disclosure Senate post employment lobbying restrictions. Best for: identifying former staff lobbying black-out period.
HTMML
Annual
Senate
Ethics
Former staff
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
Docs.House.gov Committee Committee repository. Best for: Hearings & docs.
XML
Daily
House
Covers ~15 years
Committees / Hearings
Senate Hearings XML Hearing schedule. Best for: Senate committees.
XML
Daily
Senate
Committees / Hearings
House Committee Reports by Congress Monthly reports on expenditures by committee. Best for: House committee spending.
PDF
Monthly
House
Stays in PDF
Admin / Finance
Unique IDs for committees and subcommittees Committees and subcommittees have unique IDs. Control+F for appropriations to get a list of all the IDs. Best for: unqiue identifiers for committees.
XML
House
Committees
Senate committee memberships Committee rosters. Best for: Membership by committee.
Web/XML
As updated
Senate
Committees / Membership
Reports due to Congress from agencies Mandated agency reports to congress. Best for: oversight.
API, PDF
As updated
House + Senate
Reports
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
Senate Floor Video Streaming video. Best for: Senate floor.
Streaming
Real-time
Senate
Media / Video
House Floor Summary Floor summary. Best for: House floor actions.
Various
Real-time
House
Download formats available
Legislation / Floor
Senate Schedule XML Senate schedule. Best for: Floor calendar.
XML
Daily
Senate
Legislation / Floor
Senate LIS Floor Activity Floor activity. Best for: Senate floor actions.
XML
Real-time
Senate
Legislation / Floor
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
Appropriations Status Tables (CRS) Appropriations status overview. Best for: Bills, reports, JES.
HTML/PDF
In-session
LOC (CRS)
No line-item breakout
Legislation / Appropriations
House Clerk Roll Call Votes Floor votes. Best for: Member positions (House).
XML
Near real-time
House
IDs = Bioguide
Legislation / Votes
Senate Roll Call Votes Floor votes. Best for: Member positions (Senate).
XML
Near real-time
Senate
IDs = LIS
Legislation / Votes
House Activity Report (End of Congress) Committee roll-up. Best for: Hearings, markups, votes.
PDF
End of Congress
House
Summarizes all committee work
Committees / Reporting
Congress.gov API API of most datasets on Congress.gov.
XML, JSON, USLM
Near real-time
LOC
Legislation / API
GPO GovInfo Bulk Primary legislative docs. Best for: Bill text in bulk.
USLM, XML, TXT
Daily
GPO
Authoritative text
Legislation / Docs
Docs.House.gov Floor Floor schedule/docs. Best for: Bills set for House floor.
XML
Real-time
House
Weekly schedule feed
Legislation / Floor
House Rules Committee Rules & amendments. Best for: Floor process docs.
XML, PDF
Per meeting
House
Includes all offered amendments
Legislation / Floor
GovInfo API Document API. Best for: Legislation & other docs.
API
Real-time
GPO
Legislation / API
US Code (OLRC) US Code. Best for: Statutory text.
XML, XHTML
As updated
Office of Law Revision Counsel (OLRC)
Maintained by House OLRC
Legislation / Law
Docs.House.gov Floor Floor schedule/docs. Best for: Bills on floor.
XML
Real-time
House
Legislation / Floor
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
CRS Reports CRS portal. Best for: Policy reports.
PDF
Weekly
LOC (CRS)
Limited set
Research / Policy
Law Library Legal Reports Law Library of Congress Legal Reports. Best for: Foreign law policy analysis.
PDF
As published
LOC (Law Library)
Public access
Research / Policy
GAO restricted reports List of non-public GAO reports. Best for: Audits & evaluations.
TXT
As published
GAO
Oversight / GAO
GAO appropriations decisions GAO's Office of General Counsel issues decisions and opinions on appropriations law
PDF
As published
GAO
Appropriations / GAO
GAO bid protest decisions and docket GAO forum for resolving bid protests
PDF
As published
GAO
Procurement / GAO
GAO legal opinions Various legal GAO opinions, including on application of CRA and impoundment.
PDF
As published
GAO
Various / GAO
House History Historical resources. Best for: House history.
Web
As needed
House
History
XML.House.gov Data standards. Best for: XML/USLM schemas.
Web
As needed
House
Technical reference
Tools / Standards
OCE House Office of Congressional Ethics. Best for: Ethics oversight.
Web
As needed
House
Ethics
AOC.gov Architect of Capitol. Best for: Facilities info.
Web
As needed
AOC
Admin / Facilities
VisitTheCapitol.gov Visitor portal. Best for: Tours & info.
Web
As needed
AOC
Public / Visitor
Senate XML Resources Senate XML. Best for: Data resources.
XML
Various
Senate
Tools / Standards
DomeWatch House Dem floor info. Best for: Floor schedule & updates.
Web
Daily
Civil Society
Leadership tool
Legislation / Floor
Law Library of Congress Legal reports. Best for: Foreign/comparative law.
PDF/HTML
Rolling
LOC
Specialized foreign law topics
Research / Law
Bioguide Member directory. Best for: Unique IDs & photos.
XML, JSON
As updated
LOC
Crosswalk with Senate LIS needed
Members / IDs
House Telephone Directory House staff telephone directory. Best for: Staff contacts.
XML, JSON
Daily
House
Exportable contact info
Members / Staff
Congressional Data Task Force Innovation Hub Standards hub. Best for: USLM/XML resources.
Web
Ongoing
GPO
Links to XML WG
Tools / Standards
House Statement of Disbursements Office expenditures. Best for: House-level spending.
CSV, PDF
Quarterly
House
Recent years are spreadsheets
Admin / Finance
Senate Statement of Official and Personnel Expense Accounts SOPOEA Office expenditures. Best for: Senate-level spending.
PDF
Quarterly
Senate
Stays in PDF
Admin / Finance
Congressional district maps as shapefiles Maps of congressional district as shapefiles.
KML
House
Districts
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
CFR Bulk Code of Fed Regs. Best for: Regulatory text.
XML
Annual
GPO
Regulations / CFR
eCFR Bulk eCFR. Best for: Daily regulatory updates.
XML
Daily
GPO
Regulations / eCFR
Federal Register Bulk Federal Register. Best for: Rules, notices.
XML
Daily
GPO
Regulations / FR
Government Manual Government Manual. Best for: Agency profiles.
XML
As updated
GPO
Reference / Agencies
House Manual House Manual. Best for: Rules & precedents.
XML
Biennial
GPO
Reference / House Rules
Privacy Act Issuances Privacy Act notices. Best for: System notices.
XML
As updated
GPO
Reference / Privacy Act
Public Papers of Presidents Presidential papers. Best for: Speeches & statements.
XML
As published
GPO
Reference / Presidency
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
Civilian pending in committee Nominations feed. Best for: Civilian pending in committee.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Privileged nominations Nominations feed. Best for: Privileged nominations.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Civilian confirmed Nominations feed. Best for: Civilian confirmed.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Civilian pending on calendar Nominations feed. Best for: Civilian pending on calendar.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Military pending in committee Nominations feed. Best for: Military pending in committee.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Military confirmed Nominations feed. Best for: Military confirmed.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Military pending on calendar Nominations feed. Best for: Military pending on calendar.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Withdrawn nominations Nominations feed. Best for: Withdrawn nominations.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Failed/returned nominations Nominations feed. Best for: Failed/returned nominations.
XML
Daily
Senate
Nominations / Senate
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
Webster Senate intranet. Best for: Staff operations.
Senate (Internal)
Internal / Staff
Housenet House intranet. Best for: Staff operations.
House (Internal)
Internal / Staff
MemRec Member/staff photos. Best for: Official portraits.
Daily
House (Internal)
Clerk-managed
Members / Staff
HouseCal House central calendar including floor and committees. Best for: Scheduling.
JSON
Real-time
House (Internal)
Central calendar feed
Legislation / Calendar
LegiDex House official online staff directory. Best for: staff roles and issue responsibilities, building email lists.
Daily
House (Internal)
CAO-managed
Members / Staff
Official - Executive & Agencies
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
OMB Budget & Appendix Admin budget proposal. Best for: Proposed bill-like text & toplines.
PDF, data
Annual
OMB
Appendix has detailed tables
Spending / Budget
Congressional Justifications (CBJs) Budget justifications. Best for: Program-level requests.
PDF, data
Annual
Agencies
FY24+ Transparency Act requires posting
Spending / Budget
USAspending.gov Award implementation. Best for: Grants & contracts data.
API, data
Rolling
Treasury
Shows execution of enacted spending
Spending / Execution
Oversight.gov IG reports hub. Best for: Audits & inspections.
PDF
Rolling
CIGIE
Coverage gaps; older reports missing
Oversight / IG Reports
CISA DotGov data DotGov domains. Best for: Federal IT/security.
CSV
Rolling
CISA
Managed by DHS
Tech / Security
GAO Innovation Lab GAO Innovations. Best for: GAO projects.
Web
As needed
GAO
Oversight / GAO
Periodicially Listing Updates to Management (PLUM) Reporting List of senior positions in the executive branch. Best for: tracking filled and empty executive branch positions.
TXT, CSV
Annually
OPM
Nominations
Congressional District Shapefiles Shapefiles from the Census Bureau
TIGER/Line Shapefiles
Census
District Maps
Unofficial / Civil Society
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
GovTrack.us Bill tracker. Best for: Legislative activity.
Web
Rolling
Civic Tech
Analytics + visualizations
Legislation / Tracking
Senate Video Links (The Foundation for Amrerican Innovation) Senate video links. Best for: Committee footage archive.
Links
Static
Civil Society
~20 years of coverage
Media / Video
Source / Tool
Description
Data
Update
Origin
Notes
Tags
Brookings Vital Stats Staff stats. Best for: Long-term staffing trends.
Tables
Periodic
Think Tank
Commonly cited; caveats
Staff / Research
CongressionalData.org Guide Meta guide. Best for: Orientation to data sources.
Web
Periodic
Civic Tech
Curated overview
Meta / Guide
EveryCRSReport.com CRS mirror + data. Best for: Better search & archive.
PDF + data
Rolling
Civic Tech
More coverage; data extracts
Research / Policy
UnitedStates Project Data/tools hub. Best for: IDs, scrapers, metadata.
GitHub
Ongoing
Civic Tech
Maintained by volunteers
Tools / IDs
Statements of Disbursements: 1970-2008 Document repository. Best for: historic House statements of disbursements.
Boston Public Library
Ongoing
Maintained by BPL
Tools / IDs
Statements of Disbursements Parser Tool for transforming Statement of Disbursements into data. Best for: transforming House statements of disbursements.
Github
Ongoing
Built by ProPublica
Tools / IDs
DC Inbox Member enewsletters. Best for: Member email messages.
Web
Rolling
ProPublica
Useful for messaging analysis
Comms / Messaging