79th United States Congress

The 79th 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, 1945, to January 3, 1947, during the last months of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, and the first two years of Harry Truman's presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1940 [United States census].
Both chambers had a Democratic majority. With the reelection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a record fourth term, the Democrats maintained an overall federal government trifecta.

Major events

January 20, 1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt began his fourth term.
April 12, 1945: President Roosevelt died, Vice President Harry S. Truman became President of the United States.
September 2, 1945: World War II ended.
September 11, 1945 – June 20, 1946: Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack conducted its investigation and issued a report.
November 6, 1946: 1946 United States Senate elections, 1946 United States House of Representatives elections: Republicans gained control of both houses.
January 3, 1947: Proceedings of the U.S. Congress were televised for the first time.

Major legislation

March 9, 1945: McCarran-Ferguson Act
July 31, 1945: Bretton Woods Agreements Act,
July 31, 1945: Export-Import Bank Act of 1945
December 20, 1945: United Nations Participation Act,
December 28, 1945: War Brides Act
February 18, 1946: Rescission Act of 1946,
February 20, 1946: Employment Act,, ch. 33,
May 13, 1946: Federal Airport Act of 1946,
June 4, 1946: Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, ch. 281,
June 11, 1946: Administrative Procedure Act, ch. 324,,
July 2, 1946: Luce–Celler Act of 1946,
July 3, 1946: Hobbs Anti-Racketeering Act, ch. 537,,
July 5, 1946: Lanham Trademark Act of 1946,
August 1, 1946: United States Atomic Energy Act of 1946, ch. 724,,
August 2, 1946: Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946,, including Title III: Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946, Title IV: Federal Tort Claims Act, and Title V: General Bridge Act
August 13, 1946: Foreign Service Act, ch. 957, titles I–X,
August 13, 1946: Hospital Survey and Construction Act,, ch. 958,

Treaties ratified

July 28, 1945: Senate ratified the Charter of the United Nations by a vote of 892.
July 4, 1946: Senate ratified the Treaty of Manila, which gave independence to the Philippines.

Leadership

Senate

President:
* Henry A. Wallace, until January 20, 1945
* Harry S. Truman, January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945; thereafter vacant
President Pro Tempore: Kenneth McKellar
Majority leader: Alben W. Barkley
Minority leader: Wallace H. White Jr.
Majority whip: J. Lister Hill
Minority whip: Kenneth S. Wherry, elected 1944

House of Representatives

Members

Senate

Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election, In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1946; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1948; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1950.

Florida">List of United States senators from Florida">Florida

Louisiana">List of United States senators from Louisiana">Louisiana

Montana">List of United States senators from Montana">Montana

North Dakota">List of United States senators from North Dakota">North Dakota

Tennessee">List of United States senators from Tennessee">Tennessee

House of Representatives

The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

Florida">List of United States representatives from Florida">Florida

Louisiana">List of United States representatives from Louisiana">Louisiana

Montana">List of United States representatives from Montana">Montana

North Dakota">List of United States representatives from North Dakota">North Dakota

Tennessee">List of United States representatives from Tennessee">Tennessee

Wyoming">List of United States representatives from Wyoming">Wyoming

Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of this Congress.

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Caucuses

Employees

Legislative branch agency">List of federal agencies in the United States#United States Congress">Legislative branch agency directors

Architect of the Capitol: David Lynn
Attending Physician of the United States Congress: George Calver
Comptroller General of the United States: Lindsay C. Warren
Librarian of Congress: Luther H. Evans
Public Printer of the United States: Augustus E. Giegengack

Senate

Chaplain: Frederick Brown Harris
Parliamentarian: Charles Watkins
Secretary: Edwin A. Halsey, until January 29, 1945
* Leslie Biffle, from February 8, 1945
Librarian: Ruskin McArdle
Secretary for the Majority: Leslie Biffle, until February 8, 1945
* Felton McLellan Johnston, from October 1945
Secretary for the Minority: Carl A. Loeffler
Sergeant at Arms: Wall Doxey

House of Representatives

Chaplain: James Shera Montgomery
Clerk: South Trimble, until November 23, 1946
* Harry Newlin Megill, from November 23, 1946
Doorkeeper: Ralph R. Roberts
Parliamentarian: Lewis Deschler
Postmaster: Finis E. Scott
Reading Clerks: George J. Maurer and Alney E. Chaffee
Sergeant at Arms: Kenneth Romney