The Ninety-sixth 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, 1979 to January 3, 1981, during the last two years of the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1970 Census. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
March 28, 1979: Partial nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island
July 11, 1979: Skylab began its return to earth
November 4, 1979: Iran hostage crisis began
1979 energy crisis
February 2, 1980: Abscam became public
May 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens erupted
1980 United States heat wave
November 4, 1980: United States elections: Reagan/Bush defeated Carter/Mondale. Republicans gain control of the Senate; the first time Republicans gain control of any chamber since 1954.
September 9, 1979: Panama Canal Act of 1979, Pub.L. 96–70, 93 Stat. 452
April 10, 1979: Taiwan Relations Act, Pub.L. 96–8
October 17, 1979: Department of Education Organization Act, Pub.L. 96–88, 93 Stat. 668
March 17, 1980: Refugee Act, Pub.L. 96–212, 94 Stat. 102
September 19, 1980: Regulatory Flexibility Act, Pub.L. 96–354, 94 Stat. 1164
September 29, 1980: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–366, 94 Stat. 1322
October 14, 1980: Staggers Rail Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–448, 94 Stat. 1895
October 15, 1980: Classified Information Procedures Act, Pub.L. 96–456, 94 Stat. 2025
December 2, 1980: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Pub.L. 96–487, 94 Stat. 2371
December 11, 1980: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), Pub.L. 96–510, 94 Stat. 2767
December 11, 1980: Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–511, 94 Stat. 2812
December 12, 1980: Defense Officer Personnel Management Act, Pub.L. 96–513
December 12, 1980: Bayh–Dole Act, Pub.L. 96–517, 94 Stat. 3018
December 22, 1980: Nuclear Safety, Research, Demonstration, and Development Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96–567, 94 Stat. 3329
Democratic: 58
Republican: 42
Total members: 100
Democratic: 277
Republican: 158
Total members: 435
President of the Senate: Walter Mondale (D)
President pro tempore: Warren Magnuson (D)
Milton Young (R), for just for one day: December 5, 1980
Majority Leader: Robert Byrd
Majority Whip: Alan Cranston
Caucus Secretary: Daniel Inouye
Campaign Committee Chairman: Wendell H. Ford
Minority Leader: Howard Baker
Minority Whip: Ted Stevens
Republican Conference Chairman: Bob Packwood
Republican Conference Secretary: Jake Garn
National Senatorial Committee Chair: H. John Heinz III
Policy Committee Chairman: John Tower
Speaker: Tip O'Neill (D)
Majority Leader: Jim Wright
Majority Whip: John Brademas
Chief Deputy Majority Whip: Dan Rostenkowski
Democratic Caucus Chairman: Tom Foley
Caucus Secretary: Shirley Chisholm
Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: James C. Corman
Minority Leader: John Jacob Rhodes
Minority Whip: Robert H. Michel
Conference Chair: Samuel L. Devine
Conference Vice-Chair: Jack Edwards
Conference Secretary: Clair Burgener
Policy Committee Chairman: Bud Shuster
Campaign Committee Chairman: Guy Vander Jagt
Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
House Democratic Caucus
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.
Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress.
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
replacements: 4
Democratic: 3 seat net loss
Republican: 3 seat net gain
deaths:
resignations: 4
vacancy:
Total seats with changes: 4
replacements: 7
Democratic: 0 seat net loss
Republican: 0 seat net gain
deaths: 1
resignations: 4
expulsion: 1
contested election:
Total seats with changes: 10
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
Aging (Special) (Chair: Lawton Chiles)
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry (Chair: Herman Talmadge)
Agricultural Research and General Legislation
Rural Development
Foreign Agricultural Policy
Nutrition
Environment, Soil Conservation and Forestry
Agricultural Credit and Rural Electrification
Agricultural Production, Marketing and Stabilization of Prices
Appropriations (Chair: Warren Magnuson)
Agriculture and Related Agencies
Defense
District of Columbia
Foreign Operations
HUD-Independent Agencies
Interior
Labor-Health, Education and Welfare
Legislative
Military Construction
Energy and Water Development
State, Justice, Commerce and Judiciary
Transportation
Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
Armed Services (Chair: John C. Stennis)
Arms Control
General Procurement
Manpower and Personnel
Research and Investigations
Military Construction and Stockfiles
Procurement Policy and Reprogramming
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (Chair: William Proxmire)
Housing and Urban Affairs
Financial Institutions
International Finance
Rural Housing and Development
Economic Stabilization
Securities
Insurance
Consumer Affairs
Budget (Chair: Edmund Muskie, then Ernest Hollings)
Commerce, Science and Transportation (Chair: Howard Cannon)
Aviation
Communications
Consumer
Merchant Marine and Tourism
Science, Technology and Space
Surface Transportation
Energy and Natural Resources (Chair: Henry M. Jackson)
Energy R&D
Energy Regulation
Energy Conservation and Supply
Energy Resources and Materials Production
Parks, Recreations and Renewable Resources
Environment and Public Works (Chair: Jennings Randolph)
Environmental Pollution
Water Resources
Transportation
Regional and Community Development
Resource Protection
Nuclear Regulation
Ethics (Select) (Chair: Adlai Stevenson III, then Howell Heflin)
Finance (Chair: Russell B. Long)
Health
International Trade
Taxation and Debt Management Generally
Social Security
Energy and Foundations
Private Pension Plans and Employee Fringe Benefits
Tourism and Sugar
Public Assistance
Oversight of the Internal Revenue Service
Unemployment and Related Programs
Revenue Sharing, Ingovernmental Revenue Impact and Economic Problems
Foreign Relations (Chair: Frank Church)
International Economic Policy
Arms Control, Oceans, International Operations and Environment
African Affairs
European Affairs
East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
Western Hemisphere Affairs
Governmental Affairs (Chair: Abraham A. Ribicoff)
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Intergovernmental Relations
Governmental Efficiency and the District of Columbia
Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Federal Services
Civil Service and General Services
Oversight of Government Management
Indian Affairs (Select) (Chair: John Melcher)
Judiciary (Chair: Ted Kennedy)
The Constitution
Antitrust, Monopoly and Business Rights
Improvements in Judicial Machinery
Criminal Justice
Administrative Practice and Procedure
Limitations of Contracted and Delegated Authority
Jurisprudence and Governmental Relations
Intelligence (Select) (Chair: Birch Bayh)
Labor and Human Resources (Chair: Harrison A. Williams)
Handicapped
Education, Arts and the Humanities
Health and Scientific Research
Employment, Poverty and Migratory Labor
Aging
Child and Human Development
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Nutrition and Human Needs (Select)
Rules and Administration (Chair: Claiborne Pell)
Small Business (Select) (Chair: Gaylord Nelson)
Veterans' Affairs (Chair: Alan Cranston)
Whole
Aging (Select) (Chair: Claude Pepper)
Agriculture (Chair: Tom Foley)
Cotton
Dairy and Poultry
Forests
Livestock and Grains
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 (Chair: Jamie L. Whitten)
Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies
Defense
District of Columbia
Energy and Water Development
Foreign Operations
HUD-Independent Agencies
Interior
Labor-Health, Education and Welfare
Legislative
Military Construction
State, Justice, Commerce and Judiciary
Transportation
Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
Armed Services (ChaiR: Charles Melvin Price)
Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems
Seapower, Strategic and Critical Materials
Research and Development
Military Personnel
Investigations
Military Installations and Facilities
Military Compensation
Nato Standardization, Interoperability and Readiness
Assassinations (Select)
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs (Chair: Henry S. Reuss)
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 (Chair: Robert Giaimo)
Task Forces
Economic Policy, Projections and Productivity
State and Local Governments
Regulations and Spending Limitations
Inflation
Budget Process
Defense and International Affairs
Tax Expenditures and Tax Policy
Legislative Savings
Committees (Select)
Congressional Operations (Select)
Crime (Select)
District of Columbia (Chair: Ron Dellums)
Fiscal Affairs and Health
Governmental Affairs and Budget
Judiciary, Manpower and Education
Metropolitan Affairs
Education and Labor (Chair: Carl D. Perkins)
Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education
Labor-Management Relations
Employment Opportunites
Postsecondary Education
Health and Safety
Human Resources
Select Education
Labor Standards
Ethics (Select)
Foreign Affairs (Chair: Clement J. Zablocki)
International Security and Scientific Affairs
International Operations
Europe and the Middle East
Asian and Pacific Affairs
International Economic Policy and Trade
Inter-American Affairs
Africa
International Organizations
Government Operations (Chair: Jack Brooks)
Legislation and National Security
Ingovernmental Relations and Human Resources
Commerce, Consumer and Monetary Affairs
Manpower and Housing
Government Activities and Transportation
Government Information and Individual Rights
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources
House Administration (Chair: Frank Thompson, then Lucien N. Nedzi)
Accounts
Libraries and Memorials
Printing
Personnel and Police
Contracts
Services
Office Systems
House Beauty Shop (Select)
Intelligence (Select) (Chair: Edward Boland)
Insular Affairs (Chair: Mo Udall)
Energy and the Environment
Water Resources
Public Lands
National Parks and Insular Affairs
Mines and Mining
Oversight/Special Investigations
Pacific Affairs
Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Chair: Harley Orrin Staggers)
Energy and Power
Communications
Oversight and Investigations
Consumer Protection and Finance
Health and the Environment
Transportation and Commerce
Judiciary (Chair: Peter W. Rodino)
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 (Chair: John M. Murphy, then Thomas W. L. Ashley)
Merchant Marine
Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation and the Environment
Coast Guard and Navigation
Oceangraphy
Panama Canal
Modernization of House Gallery Facilities (Special)
Narcotics Abuse and Control (Select)
Outer Continental Shelf (Ad Hoc/Select)
Post Office and Civil Service
Investigations
Postal Operations and Services
Postal Personnel and Modernization
Civil Service
Compensations and Employee Benefits
Census and Population
Human Resources
Public Works and Transportation (Chair: Harold T. Johnson)
Aviation
Economic Development
Oversight and Review
Public Buildings and Grounds
Surface Transportation
Water Resources
Rules (Chair: Richard Walker Bolling)
The Legislative Process
Rules of the House
Science and Technology (Chair: Don Fuqua)
Space Science and Applications
Energy Research and Development
Science, Research and Technology
Energy Development and Applications
Transportation, Aviation and Communication
Investigations and Oversight
Natural Resources and Environment
Small Business (Chair: Neal Edward Smith)
SBA and SBIC Authority and General Small Business
General Oversight and Minority Enterprise
Impact of Energy Programs, Environment, Safety Requirements and Government Research on Small Business
Access to Equity Capital and Business Opportunities
Capital Investment and Business Opportunities
Special Small Business Problems
Standards of Official Conduct (Chair: Charles Edward Bennett)
Veterans' Affairs (Chair: Ray Roberts)
Medical Facilities and Benefits
Compensation, Pension and Insurance
Housing
Education, Training and Employment
Special Investigations
Ways and Means (Chair: Al Ullman)
Social Security
Health
Trade
Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation
Oversight
Social Security
Health
Whole
Economic
Taxation
Library
Printing
Architect of the Capitol: George M. 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: John J. Boyle (until 1980)
Chaplain: Edward L.R. Elson
Historian: Richard A. Baker
Parliamentarian: Robert Dove
Secretary: J. Stanley Kimmitt
Sergeant at Arms: Frank Hoffmann
Secretary for the Majority: Howard O. Greene, Jr.
Secretary for the Minority: Walter J. Stewart
Chaplain: James D. Ford
Clerk: Edmund L. Henshaw, Jr.
Doorkeeper: James T. Malloy
Parliamentarian: William Holmes Brown
Postmaster: Robert V. Rota
Sergeant at Arms: Benjamin J. Guthrie
