99th United States Congress

The 99th 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, 1985, to January 3, 1987, during the fifth and sixth years of Ronald Reagan's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1980 United States census.
The Republicans maintained control of the Senate, while the Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives – albeit with both majorities slightly reduced from the 98th Congress.
This is the most recent Congress to feature a Republican senator from Maryland, Charles Mathias, who retired at the end of the Congress.
This is also the most recent Congress in which no Democratic women Senators served and the most recent Congress in which more Republican women Senators served than Democratic women Senators.
This was the most recent session of Congress prior to the 116th to feature a Republican Senate/Democratic House split and had a third-party House member.

Major events

January 20, 1985: Ronald Reagan was privately sworn in for a second term as President of [the United States|president].
January 28, 1986: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster: Destruction of the shuttle and death of the crew shortly after lift-off.
April 15, 1986: Operation El Dorado Canyon: At least 15 people die after United States planes bomb targets in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and the Benghazi region.
June 2, 1986: First regular television broadcast of Senate proceedings on C-SPAN2.
October 21, 1986: The Marshall Islands achieved independence from U.S.-administered UN Trusteeship and became an associated state under the Compact of Free Association.
November 3, 1986: The Federated States of Micronesia achieved independence from U.S.-administered UN Trusteeship and became an associated state under the Compact of Free Association.
November 3, 1986: Iran–Contra affair: The Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa reported that the United States has been selling weapons to Iran in secret to secure the release of American hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.
November 4, 1986: 1986 United States elections; Congressional Democrats regained (+8) their Senate majority (55-45), and House of Representatives elections|slightly increased (+5) their House majority (258-177)].

Major legislation

December 12, 1985: Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985
December 17, 1985: Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985,
April 7, 1986: Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985">United States Senate Committee on the Budget">Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
May 19, 1986: Firearm Owners Protection Act,
August 28, 1986: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act,,
October 1, 1986: Goldwater–Nichols Act,
October 2, 1986: Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act,
October 17, 1986: Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act,
October 21, 1986: Electronic Communications Privacy Act,
October 21, 1986: Stored Communications Act,,
October 22, 1986: Tax Reform Act of 1986,
October 27, 1986: Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986,
October 27, 1986: Money Laundering Control Act,,
October 31, 1986: Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1986,
November 6, 1986: Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986,,
November 10, 1986: Emergency Wetlands Resources Act,,
November 14, 1986: National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act,
November 17, 1986: Water Resources Development Act of 1986,

Party summary

House of Representatives

[Image:99 us house membership.png|thumb|320px|
]

Leadership

Senate

Majority (Republican) leadership

Minority (Democratic) leadership

House of Representatives

Speaker: Tip O'Neill

Majority (Democratic) leadership

Minority (Republican) leadership

Caucuses

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives are listed by district.

Senate

Senators are popularly elected statewide every six years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress, In this Congress, Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1986; Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1988; and Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1990.

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

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

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

New York">List of United States senators from New York">New York

South Carolina">List of United States senators from South Carolina">South Carolina

West Virginia">List of United States senators from West Virginia">West Virginia

House of Representatives

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

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

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

New York">List of United States representatives from New York">New York

South Carolina">List of United States representatives from South Carolina">South Carolina

West Virginia">List of United States representatives from West Virginia">West Virginia

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

Employees

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

Architect of the Capitol: George Malcolm White
Attending Physician of the United States Congress: Freeman H. Cary, until 1986
* William Narva, from 1986
Comptroller General of the United States: Charles A. Bowsher
Director of the Congressional Budget Office: Rudolph G. Penner
Librarian of Congress: Daniel J. Boorstin
Public Printer of the United States: Ralph E. Kennickell Jr.

Senate

Chaplain: Richard C. Halverson
Curator: James R. Ketchum
Historian: Richard A. Baker
Parliamentarian: Bob Dove
Secretary: Jo-Anne L. Coe
Librarian: Roger K. Haley
Secretary for the Majority: Howard O. Greene Jr.
Secretary for the Minority: David Pratt
Sergeant at Arms: Larry E. Smith, until June 3, 1985
* Ernest E. Garcia, from June 3, 1985

House of Representatives