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United States · Bill · S

S. 265 (96th)

Equal Access to Justice Act

passedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

31 January 1979

Last action

30 September 1980 · Passed

Status

See S. 3186 as passed Senate for similar provisions.

Sponsors

Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Nelson, Gaylord [D-WI], Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ], Sen. Tower, John G. [R-TX], Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC], Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Sen. Goldwater, Barry [R-AZ], Sen. Johnston, J. Bennett [D-LA], Sen. Wallop, Malcolm [R-WY], Sen. Melcher, John [D-MT], Sen. Randolph, Jennings [D-WV], Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC], Sen. Schmitt, Harrison H. [R-NM], Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY], Sen. Boren, David L. [D-OK], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Sen. Stafford, Robert T. [R-VT], Sen. Humphrey, Gordon J. [R-NH], Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT], Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY], Sen. Hayakawa, Samuel Ichiye [R-CA], Sen. Warner, John [R-VA], Sen. Gravel, Mike [D-AK], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Equal Access to Justice Act - Entitles a prevailing party (other than the United States) to be awarded fees and other expenses, including attorney fees, which were incurred by such party in: (1) an administrative adjudication, or (2) in any civil action (other than a tort or tax action) brought by or against the United States, unless the agency conducting such adjudication, or the court having jurisdiction of such action, finds that the position of the agency or the United States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. Authorizes a party dissatisfied with such award in an administrative adjudication to petition for leave to appeal the decision in an appropriate Federal court. Authorizes a court to award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in any civil action brought by or against the United States, where the court may award such fees in such suits involving private parties (thus applying to Government litigation the common law exceptions to the "American rule" regarding attorney fee awards). Directs the Administrative Conference of the United States and the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to report annually on the amount of fees and expenses awarded during the preceding fiscal year in such agency adjudications and civil actions.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 31 January 1979

    Introduced

    Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 31 January 1979

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 20 July 1979

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, S. Rept. 96-253.

    Source: Committee

  4. 20 July 1979

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, S. Rept. 96-253.

    Source: Committee

  5. 31 July 1979

    Floor

    Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.

    Source: Floor

  6. 31 July 1979

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #238 (94-3).

    Source: Floor

  7. 1 August 1979

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  8. 26 September 1980

    Passed

    See H. R. 5612 as passed Senate for similar provisions.

    Source: Floor

  9. 26 September 1980

    Reported

    Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, H. Rept. 96-1418.

    Source: Committee

  10. 26 September 1980

    Reported

    Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, H. Rept. 96-1418.

    Source: Committee

  11. 30 September 1980

    Passed

    See S. 3186 as passed Senate for similar provisions.

    Source: Floor

Votes

· Official source

Yes 0 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0

    Versions

    No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

    Documents

    4 official files

    Leesvertaling

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    • Reported to House with amendment(s)

      summary · EN · 26 September 1980

      Open at official source

    • Passed Senate amended

      summary · EN · 31 July 1979

      Open at official source

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    • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

      summary · EN · 20 July 1979

      Open at official source

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    • Introduced in Senate

      summary · EN · 31 January 1979

      Open at official source

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    Sponsors

    Related records

    Sources

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