104th United States Congress
The 104th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 1997, during the third and fourth years of Bill Clinton's presidency. Apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1990 United States census.
Both chambers had Republican majorities for the first time since the 83rd Congress in 1953. Major events included passage of elements of the Contract with America and a budget impasse between Congress and the Clinton administration that resulted in the federal government shutdown of 1995 and 1996.
Major events
- January 3, 1995: Republicans gained control of both houses for the first time since 1955.
- January 31, 1995: President Clinton invoked emergency powers to extend a $20 billion loan to help Mexico avert financial collapse.
- April 19, 1995: Oklahoma City bombing
- August 30, 1995: NATO began Operation Deliberate Force against Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- November 14–19, 1995: U.S. government shutdown
- December 16, 1995 – January 6, 1996: U.S. government shutdown
- November 5, 1996: Re-election of President Bill Clinton; Democrats gained 8 seats in House; Republicans gained 2 seats in Senate.
- First session of Congress where 3 sitting members of Congress had given birth, Enid Greene Waldholtz, Susan Molinari, and Blanche Lincoln.
Major legislation
- January 23, 1995: Congressional Accountability Act of 1995,
- March 22, 1995: Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995,
- April 10, 1995: Mexican Debt Disclosure Act of 1995,,
- May 22, 1995: Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
- November 8, 1995: Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995,
- November 28, 1995: National Highway System Designation Act of 1995,,
- December 19, 1995: Lobbying Disclosure Act,,,
- December 22, 1995: Private Securities Litigation Reform Act,,
- December 28, 1995: Housing for Older Persons Act,
- December 29, 1995: ICC Termination Act of 1995,
- January 16, 1996: Federal Trademark Dilution Act,
- February 8, 1996: Telecommunications Act of 1996,,,
- March 12, 1996: Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996,,,
- March 29, 1996: Congressional Review Act
- April 4, 1996: Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996,
- April 9, 1996: Line Item Veto Act,,
- April 24, 1996: Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act,,
- April 26, 1996: District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995
- May 13, 1996: Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act,
- May 17, 1996: Megan's Law,
- July 30, 1996: Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2,,
- August 3, 1996: National Gambling Impact Study Commission Act,,
- August 3, 1996: Food Quality Protection Act of 1996,,,
- August 5, 1996: Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996,
- August 20, 1996: Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996,,
- August 21, 1996: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,,
- August 21, 1996: War Crimes Act of 1996,
- August 22, 1996: Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act,,
- September 21, 1996: Defense of Marriage Act,,
- September 26, 1996; Mental Health Parity Act,
- September 30, 1996: Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997 ,
- September 30, 1996: Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996,,
- September 30, 1996: Library Services and Technology Act
- October 1, 1996: Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act,,
- October 3, 1996: Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996,
- October 9, 1996: Helium Privatization Act of 1996,
- October 9, 1996: Animal Drug Availability Act 1996,
- October 11, 1996: National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996,
- October 11, 1996: Economic Espionage Act of 1996,
- October 12, 1996: Water Resources Development Act of 1996,,
- October 20, 1996: United States Commemorative Coin Act of 1996,
- October 26, 1996: Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996,
- October 26, 1996: National Invasive Species Act,
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Senate
- President: Al Gore
- President pro tempore: Strom Thurmond
Majority (Republican) leadership
- Majority Leader:
- * Bob Dole, until June 11, 1996
- * Trent Lott, starting June 12, 1996
- Majority Whip:
- * Trent Lott, until June 11, 1996
- * Don Nickles, starting June 12, 1996
- Republican Conference Chairman: Thad Cochran
- Republican Conference Secretary: Connie Mack III
- Republican Campaign Committee Chair: Al D'Amato
- Republican Policy Committee Chairman:
- * Don Nickles, until June 12, 1996
- * Larry Craig, starting June 12, 1996
Minority (Democratic) leadership
- Minority Leader: Tom Daschle
- Minority Whip: Wendell Ford
- Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Tom Daschle and Harry Reid
- Democratic Conference Secretary: Barbara Mikulski
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Bob Kerrey
- Chief Deputy Whip: John Breaux
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Newt Gingrich
Majority (Republican) leadership
- Majority Leader: Dick Armey
- Majority Vice of House: Tom DeLay
- Chief Deputy Whip: Dennis Hastert
- Republican Conference Chairman: John Boehner
- Republican Conference Vice-Chairwoman: Susan Molinari
- Republican Conference Secretary: Barbara Vucanovich
- Policy Committee Chairman: Christopher Cox
- Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Bill Paxon
Minority (Democratic) leadership
- Minority Leader: Dick Gephardt
- Minority Whip: David Bonior
- Chief Deputy Minority Whips: Rosa DeLauro, John Lewis, & Bill Richardson
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: Vic Fazio
- Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman: Barbara B. Kennelly
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Martin Frost
Caucuses
- Armenian Caucus
- Biomedical Research Caucus
- Blue Dog Coalition
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Congressional Automotive Caucus
- Congressional Bike Caucus
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans
- Congressional Caucus on Korea
- Congressional Fire Services Caucus
- Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
- Congressional Motorsports Caucus
- Congressional Pediatric & Adult Hydrocephalus Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Congressional Portuguese-American Caucus
- Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus
- Congressional Western Caucus
- Congresswomen's Caucus
- Hong Kong Caucus
- House Democratic Caucus
- Law Enforcement Caucus
- Northern Border Caucus
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
- Senate Democratic Caucus
Members