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.
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 [1986 United States United States House of Representatives|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
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,

Leadership

Senate

Majority (Republican) leadership

Minority (Democratic) leadership

House of Representatives

Speaker: Tip O'Neill

Majority (Democratic) leadership

Minority (Republican) leadership

Caucuses

Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Automotive Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressional Pediatric & Adult Hydrocephalus Caucus
Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus
Congresswomen's Caucus
House Democratic Caucus
Senate Democratic Caucus

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

Aging (Special)
[United States Senate Committee on United States House Committee on Agriculture|Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry]
Appropriations
* Agriculture and Related Agencies
* Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary
* Defense
* District of Columbia
* Energy and Water Development
* Foreign Operations
* HUD-Independent Agencies
* Interior
* Labor-Health, Education and Welfare
* Legislative Branch
* Military Construction
* Transportation
* Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
Armed Services
* Military Construction
* Strategic and Theater Nuclear Forces
* Preparedness
* Sea Power and Force Projection
* Manpower and Personnel
* Defense Acquisition Policy
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
* Housing and Urban Affairs
* International Finance and Monetary Policy
* Financial Institutions and Consumer Affairs
* Securities
* [United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Joint Economic Committee|Economic Policy|Economic Policy]
Budget
Commerce, Science and Transportation
* Aviation
* Business, Trade and Tourism
* Communications
* Consumer
* Merchant Marine
* Science, Technology and Space
* Surface Transportation
* National Ocean Policy Study
Energy and Natural Resources
* Energy Regulation and Conservation
* Natural Resources Development and Production
* Energy Research and Development
* Water and Power
* Public Lands, Reserved Water and Resource Conservation
Environment and Public Works
* Environmental Pollution
* Nuclear Regulation
* Water Resources
* Transportation
* Regional and Community Development
* Toxic Substances and Environmental Oversight
Ethics (Select)
Finance
* Taxation and Debt Management
* International Trade
* Savings, Pensions and Investment Policy
* Energy and Agricultural Taxation
* Health
* Social Security and Income Maintenance Programs
* Estate and Gift Taxation
* Oversight of the Internal Revenue Service
Foreign Relations
* Western Hemisphere Affairs
* International Economic Policy, Oceans and Environment
* African Affairs
* Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
* European Affairs
* East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Governmental Affairs
* Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
* Governmental Efficiency and the District of Columbia
* Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Federal Services
* Intergovernmental Relations
* Civil Service, Post Office and General Services
* Oversight of Government Management
Impeachment of Harry E. Claiborne (Select)
Indian Affairs (Select)
Judiciary
* Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks
* Criminal Law
* Constitution
* Immigration and Refugee Policy
* Courts
* Administration Practice and Procedure
* Security and Terrorism
* Juvenile Justice
Intelligence (Select)
Labor and Human Resources
* Labor
* Education, Arts and Humanities
* Employment and Productivity
* Handicapped
* Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism
* Aging
Nutrition and Human Needs (Select)
[United States Senate Committee on United States House Committee on Rules|Rules and Administration|Rules and Administration]
Security and Cooperation in Europe (Special)
Small Business
* Urban and Rural Economic Development
* Government Procurement
* Productivity and Competition
* Innovation and Technology
* Export Promotion and Market Development
* Small Business Family Farm
* Entrepreneurship and Special Problems Facing Small Business
Veterans' Affairs
Whole

House of Representatives

Aging (Select)
Agriculture
* Cotton, Rice and Sugar
* Livestock, Dairy and Poultry
* Tobacco and Peanuts
* Wheat, Soybeans and Feed Grains
* Conservation Credit and Rural Development
* Department Operations Research and Foreign Agriculture
* Domestic Marketing, Consumer Relations and Nutrition
* Forests, Family Farms and Energy
Appropriations
* Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies
* Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary
* Defense
* District of Columbia
* Energy and Water Development
* Foreign Operations
* HUD-Independent Agencies
* Interior
* Labor-Health and Human Services
* Legislative
* Military Construction
* Transportation
* Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
Armed Services
* Military Personnel and Compensation
* Research and Development
* Seapower, Strategic and Critical Materials
* Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems
* Investigations
* Readiness
* Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Panel
* Military Installations and Facilities
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs
* Financial Institutions Supervision, Regulation and Insurance
* Housing and Community Development
* Consumer Affairs and Coinage
* Domestic Monetary Policy
* International Finance, Trade and Monetary Policy
* General Oversight and Renegotiation
* Economic Stabilization
* International Development Institutions and Finance
Budget
* Defense and International Affairs
* Economic Policy
* Budget Process
* State and Local Government
* Human Resources
* Community and Natural Resources
* Health
* Income Security
Children, Youth and Families (Select)
District of Columbia
* Fiscal Affairs and Health
* Government Operations and Metropolitan Affairs
* Judiciary and Education
Education and Labor
* Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education
* Postsecondary Education
* Health and Safety
* Labor-Management Relations
* Labor Standards
* Human Resources
* Select Education
* Employment Opportunities
Energy and Commerce
* Oversight and Investigations
* Health and the Environment
* Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance
* Fossil and Synthetic Fuels
* Commerce, Transportation and Tourism
* Energy Conservation and Power
Foreign Affairs
* Arms Control, International Security and Science
* Europe and the Middle East
* Human Rights and International Organizations
* International Economic Policy and Trade
* Asian and Pacific Affairs
* International Operations
* Western Hemisphere Affairs
* Africa
Government Operations
* Legislation and National Security
* Government Activities and Transportation
* Government Information and Individual Rights
* Ingovernmental Relations and Human Resources
* Environment, Energy and Natural Resources
* Commerce, Consumer and Monetary Affairs
* Employment and Housing
House Administration
* Accounts
* Services
* Office Systems
* Personnel and Police
* Elections
* Procurement and Printing
Hunger (Select)
Interior and Insular Affairs
* Energy and the Environment
* Public Lands
* General Oversight, Northwest Power and Forest Management
* Water and Power Resources
* Mining and Natural Resources
* National Parks and Recreation
Judiciary
* Immigration, Refugees 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
* Oceangraphy
* Panama Canal and Outer Continental Stuff
* Coast Guard and Navigation
* Oversight and Investigations
Narcotics Abuse and Control (Select)
Post Office and Civil Service
* Civil Service
* Census and Population
* Postal Operations and Services
* Compensation and Employee Benefits
* Human Resources
* Investigations
* Postal Personnel and Modernization
Public Works and Transportation
* Aviation
* Economic Development
* Investigations and Oversight
* Public Buildings and Grounds
* Surface Transportation
* Water Resources
Rules
* The Legislative Process
* Rules of the House
Science and Technology
* Energy Development and Applications
* Natural Resources, Agriculture Research and Environment
* Energy Research and Production
* Science, Research and Technology
* Transportation, Aviation and Materials
* Investigations and Oversight
* Space Science and Applications
Small Business
* SBA and SBIC Authority, Minority Enterprise and General Small Business Problems
* General Oversight and the Economy
* Antitrust and Restraint of Trade Activities affecting Small Business
* Energy, Environment and Safety Issues affecting Small Business
* Tax, Access to Equity Capital and Business Opportunities
* Export Opportunities and Special Small Business Problems
Standards of Official Conduct
Veterans' Affairs
* Oversight and Investigations
* Hospitals and Health Care
* Education, Training and Employment
* Compensation, Pension and Insurance
* Housing and Memorial Affairs
Ways and Means
* Trade
* Oversight
* Select Revenue Measures
* Health
* Social Security
* Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation
Whole

Joint committees

Employees

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