113th United States Congress
The 113th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2015, during the fifth and sixth years of Barack Obama's presidency. It was composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives based on the results of the 2012 Senate elections and the 2012 House elections. The seats in the House were apportioned based on the 2010 United States census. It first met in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 2013, and it ended on January 3, 2015. Senators elected to regular terms in 2008 were in the last two years of those terms during this Congress.
The Senate had a Democratic majority, while the House had a Republican majority; such a split would not be repeated until the 118th Congress. This was the last time Democrats held control of the Senate until the 117th Congress in 2021.
Major events
- January 4, 2013: Joint session to count the Electoral College votes for the 2012 presidential election.
- January 20–21, 2013: Second inauguration of President Barack Obama. The term began January 20, but because that was a Sunday, the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies scheduled the inauguration ceremony for the next day.
- February 1, 2013: Senator Mo Cowan began his term after being appointed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Serving alongside Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, this marked the first time that two African Americans served concurrently in the Senate.
- February 12, 2013: Joint session to hear the 2013 State of the Union Address.
- March 6–7, 2013: Senator Rand Paul led a filibuster of the nomination of John O. Brennan for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency with a 12-hour, 52-minute speech.
- June 5, 2013: The first media reports of Edward Snowden's surveillance disclosures surfaced in the media.
- June 25, 2013: The Supreme Court struck down section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Shelby County v. Holder, ending the need for some counties and states to receive "preclearance" from the Justice Department before changing election laws.
- June 26, 2013: The Supreme Court struck down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in United States v. Windsor, forcing the federal government to acknowledge same-sex marriages granted under the laws of states.
- July 16, 2013: The Senate reached a deal to allow some presidential nominations to come to a vote, avoiding the "Nuclear option" for filibuster reform.
- September 24–25, 2013: Senator Ted Cruz delivered a 21-hour, 19-minute speech, one of the longest in Senate history, in opposition to the Affordable Care Act. Cruz's speech was not a filibuster, as it delayed no vote.
- October 1–17, 2013: The United States federal government was shut down as most routine operations were curtailed after Congress failed to enact legislation appropriating funds for fiscal year 2014, or a continuing resolution for the interim authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 2014.
- October 3, 2013: The shooting of Miriam Carey occurs.
- November 21, 2013: In a 52–48 vote, the Senate ended the use of the filibuster on all executive branch nominees, as well as on most judicial nominees. The filibuster remained in place for Supreme Court nominees and for legislation.
- November 4, 2014: United States elections, 2014, including United States Senate elections, 2014 and United States House of Representatives elections, 2014.
Major legislation
Enacted
- March 7, 2013: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013,
- March 13, 2013: Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013,
- March 26, 2013: 2013 United States federal budget,
- June 3, 2013: Stolen Valor Act of 2013,
- June 3, 2013: Freedom to Fish Act,
- June 9, 2013: Sandia Pueblo Settlement Technical Amendment Act,
- June 13, 2013: Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act,
- July 18, 2013: South Utah Valley Electric Conveyance Act,
- July 18, 2013: Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act,
- August 9, 2013: Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013,
- August 9, 2013: FOR VETS Act of 2013,
- August 9, 2013: Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013,
- September 18, 2013: Powell Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act,
- September 30, 2013: Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2013,
- September 30, 2013: Pay Our Military Act,
- October 2, 2013: Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013,
- October 4, 2013: Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of 2013,
- October 17, 2013: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014,
- October 31, 2013: United States Parole Commission Extension Act of 2013,
- November 21, 2013: Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act,
- November 21, 2013: HIV Organ Policy Equity Act,
- November 27, 2013: Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013,
- November 27, 2013: Drug Quality and Security Act,
- November 27, 2013: PREEMIE Reauthorization Act,
- December 20, 2013: Community Fire Safety Act of 2013,
- December 26, 2013: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014,
- December 26, 2013: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013,
- December 26, 2013: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act,
- January 17, 2014: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014,
- February 7, 2014: Agricultural Act of 2014,
- February 12, 2014: Support for United States-Republic of Korea Civil Nuclear Cooperation Act,
- March 6, 2014: National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2013,
- March 13, 2014: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act, Pub.L. 113-87
- March 21, 2014: Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014,
- March 21, 2014: Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act,
- March 25, 2014: Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act,
- April 3, 2014: Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act,
- April 3, 2014: Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014,
- April 3, 2014: United States International Programming to Ukraine and Neighboring Regions Act,
- April 7, 2014: Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act,
- April 7, 2014: Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013,
- May 9, 2014: Digital Accountability and Transparency Act,
- May 20, 2014: Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act,
- June 9, 2014: North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014,
- June 10, 2014: Water Resources Reform and Development Act,
- June 30, 2014: Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act,
- June 30, 2014: Reliable Home Heating Act,
- July 7, 2014: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014,
- July 23, 2014: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act,
- July 25, 2014: Black Hills Cemetery Act,
- July 25, 2014: Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act,
- July 25, 2014: Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act,
- July 25, 2014: Lake Hills Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act,
- July 25, 2014: Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act,
- August 1, 2014: Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act,
- August 1, 2014: Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act,
- August 7, 2014: Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014,
- August 8, 2014: Improving Trauma Care Act,
- August 8, 2014: Money Remittances Improvement Act,
- August 8, 2014: Autism CARES Act of 2014,
- August 8, 2014: Emergency Afghan Allies Extension Act of 2014,
- August 8, 2014: Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2013,
- September 19, 2014: Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015,
- September 26, 2014: Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments of 2013,
- September 26, 2014: All Circuit Review Extension Act,
- September 26, 2014: Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act,
- September 26, 2014: Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2014,
- September 29, 2014: Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act,
- October 6, 2014: IMPACT Act of 2014,
- November 26, 2014: Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014,
- November 26, 2014: Government Reports Elimination Act of 2014,
- November 26, 2014: Sunscreen Innovation Act,
- December 4, 2014: STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014,
- December 16, 2014: Honor Flight Act,
- December 18, 2014: Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013,
- December 18, 2014: Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013,
- December 18, 2014: Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act,
- December 18, 2014: American Savings Promotion Act,
- December 18, 2014: Credit Union Share Insurance Fund Parity Act,
- December 18, 2014: Smart Savings Act,
- December 18, 2014: Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014,
- December 18, 2014: EPS Service Parts Act of 2014
- December 18, 2014: Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014,
- December 18, 2014: Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act,
- December 18, 2014: Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014,
- December 18, 2014: Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014,
- December 18, 2014: Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014,
- December 18, 2014: Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014,
- December 19, 2014: Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015,
- December 19, 2014: United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014,
Proposed
- 2014 United States federal budget:,
- Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 - Introduced after Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
- Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013:,
- Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013: - Also known as the "Internet Sales Tax"
- Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 - Also known as the immigration bill