There are many steps to turning a bill into law. The simplest would be to draft a bill. Anyone can draft a bill, but only a member of Congress can introduce the bill into legislation and, by doing so, becomes the sponsor or sponsors of the bill. A cabinet member or the head of a federal agency can also introduce a bill, but only a member of congress can introduce it. After the bill is introduced, it is assigned a number starting with HR for the House of Representatives or S for the Senate. After the bill is introduced, it is sent to the committee. The committee is not obligated to act on a bill, the only way for a member to get the bill out of committee is to use a discharge petition. The committee can discuss the bill. The invoice is reviewed, can be changed, things can be added or removed, or it will be approved as is. If the committee takes no action on the bill or decides that it is not suitable, the decision not to act on it will “kill” the bill. This is where the discharge petition will come in handy to remove the bill from committee. After committee review, the bill would normally go to major. But bills often get sent to a subcommittee for consideration and debate. Subcommittees frequently hold hearings. Anyone can participate in these hearings. The purpose of these hearings is to allow supporters of the bill to testify in support of the bill in person or in writing. After the conclusion of the hearings, the subcommittee may decide to recommend a bill to the full committee for approval. The subcommittee may meet to make changes and amendments to the bill, this process is called mark up. However, if the subcommittee votes not to report a bill to the full committee, the bill dies in “reload.” At...... middle of paper ......ent, the president asked the question about adopting the amendment and voting by voice; the president announced that the yes vote had been cancelled. Mr. Feeney urged a recorded vote, and further proceedings on ratifying the amendment were postponed until later in the legislative day. PROCEEDINGS POSTPONED - At the end of the debate on the Smith (TX) amendment, the President raised the question on the adoption of the amendment amendment and by voice vote the President announced that the yes votes prevailed. Mr. Smith (TX) requested a recorded vote and further proceedings on adopting the amendment were postponed until later in the legislative day. Upon resumption of work, the President declared that the Committee as a whole would pursue the issue of modifying the amendment and revisions. And finally on April 30, 2003, HR 1104 of the 108th Congress finally passed into public law n.: 108-21.