Legislative Files, 1996-2009

Legislative files is the largest series currently open for research in the Hagel Archives. It is also the most dense. Legislative files reflect the complex relationship between state and federal governments and individuals. Issues of regional and national importance play out in the interactions among branches of government, within and across party lines in the Senate, and among interest groups and industry leaders. The files document the work of Senator Hagel and his staff in drafting legislation, partnering with senators on legislation, and responding to legislation introduced by other senators.

Hagel served on several committees addressing domestic and international issues, and his legislative files cover almost every issue that arose in legislation or in Nebraska during his service. Significant events and topics from that time include Clinton impeachment proceedings, a contested presidential election between Bush and Gore, September 11, 2001, U.S. involvement in two wars, the economic downtown of 2007-2009, and disaster and drought assistance for Nebraska's rural areas.

The Legislative Records are organized into thirty four topical areas from A-Z, many quite broad, including agriculture, banking, energy and environment, foreign relations, judiciary, and transportation. Anywhere from two to several hundred individual topics are found under each topical area. For example, economic downturn is found under banking, U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is found under foreign relations, and Supreme Court nominations are under judiciary.

Files covering Hagel's work on the Foreign Relations and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committees are found in their own series, also open to research. Hagel served on these committees for his entire twelve years in office. Files consist of copies and duplicates of the official committee files held by the National Archives and Records Administration.

Hagel was also a member of the committees on Labor and Human Resources and Rules and Administration, along with the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Special Committee on Aging (not all concurrently). He also served as the Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the Senate Climate Change Observer Group. Documentation related to Hagel's service on these other committees is integrated into the appropriate topical areas of this series.