How do I cite a Senate Bill in text and in the reference list?
Answer
Since you did not indicate what citation style you are using in your question, I am going to assume it is APA, since 90% of citation questions are about APA. I am also going to assume you are trying to cite a federal bill, and not a state bill. So, this, from p. 222 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,6th edition.
15. Sample references to unenacted federal bills
Equitable Health Care for Severe Mental Illness Act of 1993, H.R. 1563, 103d Cong. (1993).
Equitable Health Care for Severe Mental Illness Act of 1993, S. 671, 103d Cong. (1993).
Explanation: The first example is to a bill created in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 103 Congress; it was assigned the bill number 1563. The second example is the Senate's version of the same bill.
The above excerpt from APA does not give an in-text example. I assume it would be treated like a title entry.
Example:
Mental illness is a national health issue (Equitable Health Care for Severe Mental Illness Act of 1993, 1993).
Subsequent in-text references could use a shortened version.
As the bill's author wrote, "this is an important issue" (Equitable Health Care for Severe Mental Illness Act, 1993, p. 89).