95th United States Congress
The 95th 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, 1977, to January 3, 1979, during the final weeks of Gerald Ford's presidency and the first two years of Jimmy Carter's presidency.
The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1970 United States census. Both chambers maintained a Democratic supermajority, and with Jimmy Carter being sworn in as president on January 20, 1977, this gave the Democrats an overall federal government trifecta for the first time since the 90th Congress ending in 1969.
, this was the most recent Congress to List of proposed amendments to [the United States Constitution|approve] an amendment to the Constitution. This is the last time the Democratic Party or any political party held a 2/3 supermajority in the House.
This is the last congress to at any point have no female senators on January 25, 1978; and again from the departure of both Humphrey and Maryon Allen on November 7, 1978, to the early swearing-in of Nancy Kassebaum.
Major events
- 1977 was the last year to have men serving as all 100 U.S senators
- January 20, 1977: Inauguration of President Jimmy Carter
- July 13, 1977: New York City blackout of 1977
- January 1, 1978: The Northern Mariana Islands left the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to become a Commonwealth of the United States, making it unincorporated and organized.
- February 8, 1978: Senate proceedings are broadcast on radio for the first time.
- August 7, 1978: Love Canal Disaster
- September 17, 1978: Camp David Accords
- November 18, 1978: Representative Leo Ryan is shot and killed by members of the Peoples Temple in Guyana, shortly before the Jonestown massacre.
Hearings
Major legislation
- August 3, 1977: Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977,,
- August 4, 1977: Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977,,
- October 7, 1977: Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977,,
- October 12, 1977: Community Reinvestment Act,, title VIII,
- November 23, 1977: Saccharin Study and Labeling Act of 1977,,
- December 27, 1977: Clean Water Act,,
- December 28, 1977: International Emergency Economic Powers Act,, title II,
- March 10, 1978: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978,,
- October 10, 1978: Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin Act of 1979,,
- October 12, 1978: Inspector General Act of 1978,,
- October 13, 1978: Civil Service Reform Act,,
- October 24, 1978: Airline Deregulation Act,,
- October 25, 1978: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,,
- October 26, 1978: Ethics in Government Act,,
- October 27, 1978: Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act,,
- October 31, 1978: Pregnancy Discrimination Act,,
- November 1, 1978: Contract Disputes Act,,
- November 4, 1978: Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978,,
- November 6, 1978: Bankruptcy Act of 1978,,
- November 8, 1978: Indian Child Welfare Act,,
- November 8, 1978: Amateur Sports Act of 1978,
- November 9, 1978: National Energy Conservation Policy Act,,
Constitutional amendments
- August 22, 1978: Approved an amendment to the United States Constitution granting the District of Columbia full representation in the United States Congress, full representation in the Electoral College system, and full participation in the process by which the Constitution is amended, and submitted it to the state legislatures for ratification
- * This amendment, commonly known as the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment, was later rendered inoperative, as it was not ratified within the seven–year time frame set by Congress.
Treaties ratified
- March 16, 1978: First of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties treaty: "The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal", commonly known as the "Neutrality Treaty"
- April 19, 1978: Second of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties treaty, commonly known as "The Panama Canal Treaty"
Leadership
Senate
- President: Nelson Rockefeller, until January 20, 1977
- * Walter Mondale, from January 20, 1977
- President pro tempore: James Eastland
- Permanent Acting President pro tempore: Lee Metcalf, until January 12, 1978
- Deputy President pro tempore: Hubert Humphrey, until January 13, 1978
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader: Robert Byrd
- Majority Whip: Alan Cranston
- Democratic Caucus Secretary: Daniel Inouye
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Wendell Ford
Minority (Republican) leadership
- Minority Leader: Howard Baker
- Minority Whip: Ted Stevens
- Republican Conference Chairman: Carl Curtis
- Republican Conference Secretary: Clifford Hansen
- National Senatorial Committee Chair: Bob Packwood
- Policy Committee Chairman: John Tower
House of Representatives
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader: Jim Wright
- Majority Whip: John Brademas
- Chief Deputy Majority Whip: Dan Rostenkowski
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: Tom Foley
- Democratic Caucus Secretary: Shirley Chisholm
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: James C. Corman
Minority (Republican) leadership
- Minority Leader: John Jacob Rhodes
- Minority Whip: Robert H. Michel
- Republican Conference Chairman: John B. Anderson
- Republican Conference Vice-Chairman: Samuel L. Devine
- Republican Conference Secretary: Jack Edwards
- Policy Committee Chairman: Del M. Clawson
- Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Guy Vander Jagt
Caucuses
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
- Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
- House Democratic Caucus
- Senate Democratic Caucus
Members
Senate
In this Congress, Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1978; Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1980; and Class 1 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1982.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
Representatives elected statewide at-large, are preceded by "At-large", and the names of those elected from districts, are preceded by their district numbers.Many of the congressional district numbers are linked to articles describing the district itself. Since the boundaries of the districts have changed often and substantially, the linked article may only describe the district as it exists today, and not as it was at the time of this Congress.
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
Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.Senate
- Replacements: 11
- * Democratic: 3 seat net loss
- * Republican: 3 seat net gain
- Deaths: 4
- Resignations: 5
- Vacancy: 0
- '''Total seats with changes: 9'''
House of Representatives
- Replacements: 6
- * Democratic: 4 seat net loss
- * Republican: 4 seat net gain
- Deaths: 6
- Resignations: 21
- Contested election: 0
- '''Total seats with changes: 25'''
Committees
Senate
- Aging (Special)
- Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- * Environment, Soil Conservation and Forestry
- * Agricultural Credit and Rural Electrification
- * Agricultural Production, Marketing and Stabilization of Prices
- * Agricultural Research and General Legislation
- * Rural Development
- * Foreign Agricultural Policy
- * Nutrition
- Appropriations
- * Agriculture and Related Agencies
- * Defense
- * District of Columbia
- * Foreign Operations
- * HUD-Independent Agencies
- * Interior
- * Labor, Health, Education and Welfare
- * Legislative
- * Military Construction
- * Public Works
- * State, Justice, Commerce and the Judiciary
- * Transportation
- * Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
- Armed Services
- * Intelligence
- * General Procurement
- * Military Construction and Stockfiles
- * Arms Control
- * Tactical Aircraft
- * Research and Development
- * General Legislation
- * Manpower and Personnel
- Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
- * Federal Credit Programs
- * Housing and Urban Affairs
- * Financial Institutions
- * Securities
- * International Finance
- * Production and Stabilization
- * Consumer Affairs
- * Rural Housing
- Budget
- Commerce, Science and Transportation
- * Aviation
- * Communications
- * Consumer
- * Merchant Marine and Tourism
- * Science, Technology and Space
- * Surface Transportation
- Energy and Natural Resources
- * Public Lands and Resources
- * Parks and Recreation
- * Energy Production and Supply
- * Energy Conservation and Regulation
- * Energy R&D
- Environment and Public Works
- * Environmental Pollution
- * Water Resources
- * Transportation
- * Regional and Community Development
- * Nuclear Regulation
- Ethics (Select)
- Finance
- * Health
- * International Trade
- * Taxation and Debt Management Generally
- * Social Security
- * Energy and Foundations
- * Private Pension Plans and Employee Fringe Benefits
- * Unemployment Compensation, Revenue Sharing and Economic Problems
- * Administration of the Internal Revenue Code
- * Tourism and Sugar
- * Public Assistance
- Foreign Relations
- * European Affairs
- * East Asian and Pacific Affairs
- * International Operations
- * Foreign Economic Policy
- * Arms Control, Oceans and International Environment
- * Western Hemisphere Affairs
- * Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
- * Foreign Assistance
- * African Affairs
- Governmental Affairs
- * Investigations
- * Intergovernmental Relations
- * Reports, Accounting and Management
- * Governmental Efficiency and the District of Columbia
- * Federal Spending Practices and Open Government
- * Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Federal Services
- * Civil Service and General Services
- Human Resources
- * Labor
- * Handicapped
- * Education, Arts and Humanities
- * Employment, Poverty and Migratory Labor
- * Health and Scientific Research
- * Aging
- * Child and Human Development
- * Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
- Indian Affairs (Select)
- Judiciary
- Intelligence (Select)
- Nutrition and Human Needs (Select)
- Rules and Administration
- Senate Committee System
- Small Business (Select)
- Veterans' Affairs
- * Compensation and Pensions
- * Health and Readjustment
- * Housing, Insurance and Cemeteries
- Whole
House of Representatives
- Aging (Select)
- Agriculture
- * Livestock and Grains
- * Cotton
- * Dairy and Poultry
- * Family Farms and Rural Development
- * Oilseeds and Rice
- * Tobacco
- * Conservation and Credit
- * Department, Investigations, Oversight and Research
- * Domestic Marketing, Consumer Relations and Nutrition
- * Family Farms, Rural Development and Special Studies
- Appropriations
- * Agriculture and Related Agencies
- * Defense
- * District of Columbia
- * Foreign Operations
- * HUD-Independent Agencies
- * Interior
- * Labor-Health, Education and Welfare
- * Legislative
- * Military Construction
- * Public Works
- * State, Justice, Commerce and Judiciary
- * Transportation
- * Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
- Armed Services
- * Intelligence and Military Application of Nuclear Energy
- * Research and Development
- * Seapower, Strategic and Critical Materials
- * Investigations
- * Military Installations and Facilities
- * Military Personnel
- * Military Compensation
- Assassinations (Select)
- Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs
- * The City
- * Housing and Community and Development
- * Economic Stabilization
- * Financial Institutions Supervision, Regulation and Insurance
- * International Development Institutions and Finance
- * General Oversight and Renegotiation
- * Consumer Affairs
- * Domestic Monetary Policy
- * Historic Preservation and Coinage
- * International Trade, Investment and Monetary Policy
- Budget
- * Budget Process
- * Economic Policy
- * Tax Expenditures, Government Organization and Regulation
- * Distributive Impacts of Budget and Economic Policies
- * National Security
- * Human Resources
- * Community and Physical Resources
- * State and Local Government
- Crime (Select)
- District of Columbia
- * Fiscal and Government Affairs
- * Judiciary
- * Economic Development
- Education and Labor
- * Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education
- * Labor-Management Relations
- * Labor Standards
- * Select Education
- * Employment Opportunities
- * Postsecondary Education
- * Compensation, Health and Safety
- * Economic Opportunity
- Ethics (Select)
- Government Operations
- * Legislation and National Security
- * Intergovernmental Relations and Human Resources
- * Commerce, Consumer and Monetary Affairs
- * Environment, Energy and Natural Resources
- * Manpower and Housing
- * Government Activities and Transportation
- * Government Information and Individual Rights )
- House Administration
- * Accounts
- * Libraries and Memorials
- * Printing
- * Personnel and Police
- * Contracts
- * Services
- * Office Systems
- House Beauty Shop (Select)
- Intelligence (Select)
- Insular Affairs
- * Energy and the Environment
- * General Oversight and Alaska Lands
- * Mines and Mining ; Ranking Member: Philip Ruppe
- * National Parks and Insular Affairs
- * Indian Affairs and Public Lands
- * Special Investigations
- * Water and Power Resources
- International Relations
- * International Security and Scientific Affairs
- * International Operations
- * Africa
- * International Organizations
- * Europe and the Middle East
- * Asian and Pacific Affairs
- * International Economic Policy and Trade
- * International Development
- Interstate and Foreign Commerce
- * Oversight and Investigations
- * Energy and Power
- * Health and the Environment
- * Communications
- * Transportation and Commerce
- * Consumer Protection and Finance
- Judiciary
- * Immigration, Citizenship and International Law
- * Administrative Law and Governmental Relations
- * Courts, Civil Liberties and the Administration of Justice
- * Civil and Constitutional Rights
- * Monopolies and Commercial Law
- * Crime
- * Criminal Justice
- Merchant Marine and Fisheries
- * Merchant Marine
- * Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation and the Environment
- * Coast Guard and Navigation
- * Oceangraphy
- * Panama Canal
- * Maritime Education and Training (Ad Hoc)
- Modernization of House Gallery Facilities (Special)
- Narcotics Abuse and Control (Select)
- Outer Continental Shelf (Ad Hoc/Select)
- Population (Select)
- Post Office and Civil Service
- * Employee Ethics and Utilization
- * Civil Service
- * Investigations
- * Compensations and Employee Benefits
- * Postal Operations and Services
- * Census and Population
- * Postal Personnel and Modernization
- Public Works and Transportation
- * Aviation
- * Economic Development
- * Investigations and Review
- * Public Buildings and Grounds
- * Surface Transportation
- * Water Resources
- Rules
- Science and Technology
- * Space Science and Applications
- * Fossil and Energy Research, Development and Demonstration
- * Advanced Energy Technologies, Energy Conservation, Development and Demonstration
- * Environment and the Atmosphere
- * Transportation, Aviation and Weather
- * Science, Research and Technology
- * Domestic and International Scientific Planning, Analysis and Cooperation
- Small Business
- * SBA and SBIC Authority and General Small Business
- * Minority Enterprise and General Oversight
- * Antitrust and Restraint of Trade Activities Affecting Small Business
- * Energy, Environment, Safety and Research
- * Capital Investment and Business Opportunities
- * Special Small Business Problems
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Veterans' Affairs
- * Compensation, Pension and Insurance
- * Education and Training
- * Medical Facilities and Benefits
- * Housing
- * Cemeteries and Burial Benefits
- Ways and Means
- * Social Security
- * Health
- * Trade
- * Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation
- * Oversight
- * Miscellaneous Revenue Measures
- Whole
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
- Comptroller General of the United States: Elmer B. Staats
- Director of the Congressional Budget Office: Alice M. Rivlin
- Librarian of Congress: Daniel J. Boorstin
- Public Printer of the United States: Thomas F. McCormick, until 1977
- * John J. Boyle, from 1977
Senate
- Chaplain: Edward L.R. Elson
- Curator: James R. Ketchum
- Historian: Richard A. Baker
- Parliamentarian: Murray Zweben
- Secretary: Francis R. Valeo, until March 31, 1977
- * J. Stanley Kimmitt, from March 31, 1977
- Librarian: Roger K. Haley
- Sergeant at Arms: Frank "Nordy" Hoffman
- Secretary for the Majority: J. Stanley Kimmitt, until March 31, 1977
- * James H. Duffy, from March 31, 1977
- Secretary for the Minority: William Hildenbrand