TOPN: Table of Popular Names


What's in a popular name?

Laws acquire popular names as they make their way through Congress. Sometimes these names say something about the substance of the law (as with the '2002 Winter Olympic Commemorative Coin Act'). Sometimes they are a way of recognizing or honoring the sponsor or creator of a particular law (as with the 'Taft-Hartley Act'). And sometimes they are meant to garner political support for a law by giving it a catchy name (as with the 'USA Patriot Act' or the 'Take Pride in America Act') or by invoking public outrage or sympathy (as with any number of laws named for victims of crimes). History books, newspapers, and other sources use the popular name to refer to these laws. Why can't these popular names easily be found in the US Code?

How the US Code is built.

The United States Code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by Congress. At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topically-organized Titles, and each Title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics. In theory, any law -- or individual provisions within any law -- passed by Congress should be classifiable into one or more slots in the framework of the Code. On the other hand, legislation often contains bundles of topically unrelated provisions that collectively respond to a particular public need or problem. A farm bill, for instance, might contain provisions that affect the tax status of farmers, their management of land or treatment of the environment, a system of price limits or supports, and so on. Each of these individual provisions would, logically, belong in a different place in the Code. (Of course, this isn't always the case; some legislation deals with a fairly narrow range of related concerns.) The process of incorporating a newly-passed piece of legislation into the Code is known as "classification" -- essentially a process of deciding where in the logical organization of the Code the various parts of the particular law belong. Sometimes classification is easy; the law could be written with the Code in mind, and might specifically amend, extend, or repeal particular chunks of the existing Code, making it no great challenge to figure out how to classify its various parts. And as we said before, a particular law might be narrow in focus, making it both simple and sensible to move it wholesale into a particular slot in the Code. But this is not normally the case, and often different provisions of the law will logically belong in different, scattered locations in the Code. As a result, often the law will not be found in one place neatly identified by its popular name. Nor will a full-text search of the Code necessarily reveal where all the pieces have been scattered. Instead, those who classify laws into the Code typically leave a note explaining how a particular law has been classified into the Code. It is usually found in the Note section attached to a relevant section of the Code, usually under a paragraph identified as the "Short Title".

How the LII Table of Popular Names works.

Our Table of Popular Names is organized alphabetically by popular name. You'll find three types of link associated with each popular name (though each law may not have all three types). One, a reference to a Public Law number, is a link to the bill as it was originally passed by Congress, and will take you to the LRC THOMAS legislative system, or GPO FDSYS site. So-called "Short Title" links, and links to particular sections of the Code, will lead you to a textual roadmap (the section notes) describing how the particular law was incorporated into the Code. Finally, acts may be referred to by a different name, or may have been renamed, the links will take you to the appropriate listing in the table.

H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004

Habeas Corpus Act (Civil War)

Haida Land Exchange Act of 1986

Haiti Debt Relief and Earthquake Recovery Act of 2010

Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act

Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010

Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006

Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2008

Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998

HALE Scouts Act

Haleakalā National Park Act

Hall-Mark Act

Halogeton Glomeratus Control Act

Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act

Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018

Handicapped Children&aposs Early Education Assistance Act

Handicapped Children&aposs Protection Act of 1986

Handicapped Programs Technical Amendments Act of 1988

Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2012

Harbor Development and Navigation Improvement Act of 1986

Harbor Maintenance Revenue Act of 1986

Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act

Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2004

Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Harriet Tubman Special Resource Study Act

Harrison Act of 1914

Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Act

Harry S Truman National Historic Site Establishment Act

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017

Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976

Harter Act (Carriage of Goods by Sea)

Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Administrative Systems Act of 1998

Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 2000

Hastings Amendment

Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012

Hatch Act of 1887

Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993

Hatch Political Activity Act

Hatch-Sumners Act (Additional Judgeships)

Hate Crime Statistics Act

HAVANA Act of 2021

HAVEN Act

Hawaii Omnibus Act

Hawaii Prohibition Act

Hawaii Statehood Admissions Act

Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Adjustment Act of 1998

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Adjustment Act of 2000

Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2000

Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2005

Hawaiian Annexation Resolution

Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act

Hawaiian Homelands Homeownership Act of 2000

Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920

Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary Act

Hawaiian Organic Act

Hawes-Cooper Act

Hawley Act (Settlement of Claims against Germany)

Hayden-Cartwright Act

Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects Act

Hazard Mitigation and Relocation Assistance Act of 1993

Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984

Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979

Hazardous Materials Transportation Act

Hazardous Materials Transportation Act Amendments of 1976

Hazardous Materials Transportation Authorization Act of 1994

Hazardous Materials Transportation Control Act of 1970

Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety and Security Reauthorization Act of 2005

Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2012

Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015

Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990

Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980

Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act

HBCU PARTNERS Act

HBCU Propelling Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students Act

Head Start Act

Head Start Act Amendments of 1994

Head Start Amendments of 1998

Head Start Expansion and Quality Improvement Act

Head Start Improvement Act of 1992

Head Start Supplemental Authorization Act of 1989

Head Start Transition Project Act

Headstart, Economic Opportunity, and Community Partnership Act of 1974

Headstart-Follow Through Act

Health Amendments Act of 1956

Health Benefits for Miners Act of 2017

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010

Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986

Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008

Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002

Health Care Safety Net Amendments Technical Corrections Act of 2003

Health Care Services in the Home Act of 1987

Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996

Health Education Act of 1978

Health Extenders, Improving Access to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, and Strengthening Public Health Act of 2022

Health Information, Health Promotion, and Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendments of 1991

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act

Health Insurance for the Aged Act

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973

Health Maintenance Organization Amendments of 1976

Health Maintenance Organization Amendments of 1978

Health Maintenance Organization Amendments of 1981

Health Maintenance Organization Amendments of 1986

Health Maintenance Organization Amendments of 1988

Health Manpower Act of 1968

Health Omnibus Programs Extension of 1988

Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006

Health Planning and Health Services Research and Statistics Extension Act of 1977

Health Planning and Resources Development Amendments of 1979

Health Professions Education Extension Amendments of 1992

Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998

Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1963

Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976

Health Professions Educational Assistance Amendments of 1965

Health Professions Reauthorization Act of 1988

Health Professions Training Assistance Act of 1985

Health Programs Extension Act of 1973

Health Programs Extension Act of 1980

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Amendments of 1984

Health Research and Health Services Amendments of 1976

Health Research Extension Act of 1985

Health Research Facilities Act of 1956

Health Research Facilities Amendments of 1965

Health Services Amendments Act of 1986

Health Services Amendments of 1985

Health Services and Centers Amendments of 1978

Health Services Extension Act of 1977

Health Services Extension Act of 1978

Health Services Research and Evaluation and Health Statistics Act of 1974

Health Services Research, Health Statistics, and Health Care Technology Act of 1978

Health Services Research, Health Statistics, and Medical Libraries Act of 1974

Health Training Improvement Act of 1970

Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

HEALTHY KIDS Act

Healthy Meals for Children Act

Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994

Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2007

Heard Act

Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988

Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke Amendments of 1965

Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, and Kidney Disease Amendments of 1970

HEARTH Act of 2012

Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008

Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act of 2008

Helen Keller National Center Act

Helium Act

Helium Act Amendments of 1960

Helium Gas Act

Helium Privatization Act of 1996

Helium Stewardship Act of 2013

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Act

Help America Vote Act of 2002

HELP Commission Act

Help Find the Missing Act

Help HAITI Act of 2010

Help Haitian Adoptees Immediately to Integrate Act of 2010

HELP Rural Communities Act of 2015

Help to Access Land for the Education of Scouts

Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act of 2021

Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act

Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act of 2015

Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Home Ownership Act of 2012

Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Reform Act of 2016

Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009

Helping Hands for Homeownership Act of 2004

Helping Heroes Fly Act

Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2010

Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2002

Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019

Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006

Hepburn Act (Interstate Commerce)

Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act

Hermit&aposs Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act

HERO Act of 2015

Heroes Earned Retirement Opportunities Act

Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008

HHEATT Act of 2014

Hibben Center Act

Hickenlooper Amendment

Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act

High-Performance Computing Act of 1991

High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration Program Act of 1983

High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act

High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act

High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995

High-Speed Ground Transportation Act

Higher Education Act of 1965

Higher Education Amendments of 1966

Higher Education Amendments of 1968

Higher Education Amendments of 1986

Higher Education Amendments of 1992

Higher Education Amendments of 1998

Higher Education Extension Act of 2004

Higher Education Extension Act of 2005

Higher Education Extension Act of 2006

Higher Education Extension Act of 2008

Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963

Higher Education Facilities Act of 1992

Higher Education Hurricane Relief Act of 2005

Higher Education Opportunity Act

Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005

Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2001

Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003

Higher Education Technical Amendments Act of 1987

Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1979

Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991

Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1993

Higher Education Tribal Grant Authorization Act

Highlands Conservation Act

Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014

Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015

Highway Beautification Act of 1965

Highway Improvement Act of 1982

Highway Investment, Job Creation, and Economic Growth Act of 2012

Highway Post Office Service Act of 1955

Highway Revenue Act of 1956

Highway Revenue Act of 1978

Highway Revenue Act of 1982

Highway Revenue Act of 1987

Highway Safety Act of 1966

Highway Safety Act of 1970

Highway Safety Act of 1973

Highway Safety Act of 1976

Highway Safety Act of 1978

Highway Safety Act of 1982

Highway Safety Act of 1987

Highway Safety Act of 1991

Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act

Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000

Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021

HIRE Vets Act

Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act

Hispanic Cultural Center Act of 1997

Hiss Act (Pensions)

Historic Sites Act of 1935

Historic Sites, Buildings and Antiquities Act

History of the House Awareness and Preservation Act

HITECH Act

HIV Organ Policy Equity Act

Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015

Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2018

Hmong Veterans&apos Naturalization Act of 2000

Hobbs Act (Anti-Racketeering)

Hobbs Bridge Act

Hobby Protection Act

Hoch-Smith Resolution

Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act

Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act of 2024

Holiday Pay Act

Holloman Air Force Base Land Exchange Act

Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016

Holocaust Restitution Tax Fairness Act of 2002

Holocaust Victims Redress Act

Home Energy Assistance Act of 1980

Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act of 1988

Home Health Care and Alzheimer&aposs Disease Amendments of 1990

Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act of 2014

HOME Investment Partnerships Act

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975

Home Mortgage Relief Act

Home Owners&apos Loan Act

Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994

Home Port Act

Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010

Homeland Security Act Amendments of 2003

Homeland Security Act of 2002

Homeland Security Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2004

Homeland Security Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act

Homeland Security for Children Act

Homeland Security Information Sharing Act

Homeless Children&aposs Assistance Act of 1992

Homeless Eligibility Clarification Act

Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009

Homeless Housing Act of 1986

Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001

Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992

Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014

Homeowners Protection Act of 1998

Homeownership and Opportunity Through HOPE Act

Homeownership Opportunities for Native Americans Act of 2004

Homeownership Opportunity Act of 1979

Homestake Mine Conveyance Act of 2001

Homestead Act

Homestead National Monument of America Additions Act

Homesteaders&apos Relief Act

Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003

Homicide Victims&apos Families&apos Rights Act of 2021

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007

Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act

Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act Amendments of 1990

Honeybee Act

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019

Honor Flight Act

Honoring America&aposs Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012

Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need Act of 2019

Honoring Hometown Heroes Act

Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017

Honoring our PACT Act of 2022

Honoring the Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act

Hood Bay Land Exchange Act of 1997

Hoopa Valley Reservation South Boundary Adjustment Act

Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act

Hoover Dam Miscellaneous Sales Act

Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011

Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984

HOPE for Homeowners Act of 2008

HOPE II Act

HOPE VI Program Reauthorization and Small Community Mainstreet Rejuvenation and Housing Act of 2003

Horizontal Property Act of the District of Columbia

Horn of Africa Recovery and Food Security Act

Horse Protection Act

Horse Protection Act Amendments of 1976

Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020

Hospital and Medical Facilities Amendments of 1964

Hospital and Medical Facilities Construction and Modernization Assistance Amendments of 1968

Hospital Mortgage Insurance Act of 2003

Hospital Survey and Construction Act

Hospital Survey and Construction Amendments of 1949

Hospital Treatment for Drug Addicts Act for the District of Columbia

Hospitalization Act

Hostage Relief Act of 1980

Hot Oil Act

Hot Oil Extension Act

Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990

Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Supplementary Claims Settlement Act of 1986

Hours of Service Act (Public Works)

Hours of Service Act (Railroads)

House Employees Position Classification Act

House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act

House Page Board Revision Act of 2007

Household Goods Mover Oversight Enforcement and Reform Act of 2005

Household Goods Transportation Act of 1980

Housing Act

Housing Act of 1948

Housing Act of 1949

Housing Act of 1950

Housing Act of 1952

Housing Act of 1954

Housing Act of 1956

Housing Act of 1957

Housing Act of 1959

Housing Act of 1961

Housing Act of 1964

Housing Affordability Barrier Removal Act of 2000

Housing Amendments of 1953

Housing Amendments of 1955

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

Housing and Community Development Act of 1977

Housing and Community Development Act of 1980

Housing and Community Development Act of 1987

Housing and Community Development Act of 1992

Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978

Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1979

Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1981

Housing and Community Development Reconciliation Amendments of 1985

Housing and Community Development Technical Amendments Act of 1984

Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

Housing and Rent Act of 1947

Housing and Rent Act of 1948

Housing and Rent Act of 1949

Housing and Rent Act of 1950

Housing and Rent Act of 1953

Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965

Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968

Housing and Urban Development Act of 1969

Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970

Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983

Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2008

Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008

Housing Authorization Act of 1976

Housing Deficiency Act

Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995

Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996

Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016

Housing Tax Credit Coordination Act of 2008

Hovering Vessels

Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014

Howard M. Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994

Howard University Endowment Act

Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022

Hubbard Act

Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and the Everett McKinley Dirksen Congressional Leadership Research Center Assistance Act

HUBZone Act of 1997

HUBZones in Native America Act of 2000

HUD Demonstration Act of 1993

Human Exploitation Rescue Operations Act of 2015

Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009

Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996

Human Services Amendments of 1994

Human Services Reauthorization Act

Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1986

Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022

Human Trafficking Survivors Relief and Empowerment Act of 2015

Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958

Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978

Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act of 2019

Humboldt Project Conveyance Act

Hump Law

Humphrey-Durham Drug Prescriptions Act

Humphrey-Thye-Blatnik-Andresen Act

Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act

Hungarian Declaration of War

Hunger Prevention Act of 1988

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria Education Relief Act of 2017

Hyde Amendment (Abortion)

Hydrogen Future Act of 1996

Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2002

Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008

Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998

Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013