Check out the Library of Congress. Part I in a never-ending series...
For a new story on the House approving a $3 million California dam study, I needed a quote. No one was around. I made do, pulling a comment from previous congressional testimony posted in the 'hearings' section of the House Natural Resources Committee's web site. 'Twas a reminder that congressional committee Web sites are now very useful in posting prepared testimony. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/michael_doyle/story/52553.html
But go ahead, get offline! Bound transcripts of old congressional hearings are held in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. Volumes for the years 1950 or so to the present are stored near the reference desk of the spectacular main reading room. Older volumes are back in the open stacks. Field Trip: Get a LoC reader card at the library's Madison Building, use the library's congressional hearing database (available only onsite, I believe), punch in a topic or individual of interest, and then troll the transcripts. Result: Story Gold!