Analyzing the congressional record

There is a new research project that employs computers to examine the 70 million words in the Congressional Record.

...researchers found, for instance, that "judicial nominations" have consumed steadily more Congressional attention between 1997 and 2004. In fact, the topic produced the most number of words published in a single "day" of the Congressional Record: 230,000 on November 12, 2003.' It looks like automated topic analysis has truly arrived."

Thanks to Jeff Koch for sending me this link.