The Ninety-eighth 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, 1983 to January 3, 1985, during the third and fourth years of Ronald Reagan's Presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Twentieth Census of the United States in 1980. The Republicans controlled the Senate, while the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives.
February 24, 1983: A special commission of the Congress released a report critical of the practice of Japanese internment during World War II.
March 23, 1983: President Ronald Reagan made his Strategic Defense Initiative proposal.
April 18, 1983: U.S. Embassy bombed in Beirut, killing 63 people.
October 23, 1983: Simultaneous suicide truck-bombings destroyed both the French and the United States Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. servicemen, 58 French paratroopers and 6 Lebanese civilians.
October 25, 1983: United States troops invaded Grenada
November 6, 1984:
United States presidential election, 1984: Re-election of Ronald Reagan
United States Senate elections, 1984: Republicans retained Senate, but lost 2 seats
United States House of Representatives elections, 1984: Democrats retained House, but lost 16 seats
April 20, 1983: Social Security Amendments of 1983, Pub.L. 98–21
November 2, 1983: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day law, Pub.L. 98–399
July 17, 1984: Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984, Pub.L. 98–365
July 17, 1984: National Minimum Drinking Age Act, Pub.L. 98–363
September 28, 1984: Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, Pub.L. 98–435
October 12, 1984: Comprehensive Crime Control Act, Pub.L. 98–473, title II
October 19, 1984: National Archives and Records Administration Act, Pub.L. 98–497
October 19, 1984: Aviation Drug-Trafficking Control Act of 1984, Pub.L. 98–499
October 30, 1984: Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, Pub.L. 98–575
President: George Bush (R)
President pro tempore: Strom Thurmond (R)
Majority Leader: Howard Baker
Majority Whip: Ted Stevens
Republican Conference Chairman: James A. McClure
Republican Conference Secretary: Jake Garn
National Senatorial Committee Chair: Richard Lugar
Policy Committee Chairman: John Tower
Minority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman: Robert C. Byrd
Minority Whip: Alan Cranston
Caucus Secretary: Daniel Inouye
Campaign Committee Chairman: Lloyd Bentsen
Speaker: Tip O'Neill (D)
Majority Leader: Jim Wright
Majority Whip: Tom Foley
Chief Deputy Majority Whip: William Vollie Alexander Jr.
Democratic Caucus Chairman: Gillis William Long
Caucus Secretary: Geraldine Ferraro
Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Tony Coelho
Minority Leader: Robert H. Michel
Minority Whip: Trent Lott
Chief Deputy Whip: Tom Loeffler
Republican Conference Chairman: Jack Kemp
Conference Vice-Chair: Jack Edwards
Conference Secretary: Clair Burgener
Policy Committee Chairman: Dick Cheney
Campaign Committee Chairman: Guy Vander Jagt
Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus
Congressional Pediatric & Adult Hydrocephalus Caucus
Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus
Congresswomen's Caucus
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 approximately one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress.
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
Aging (Special) (Chair: H. John Heinz III)
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry (Chair: Jesse Helms)
Soil and Water Conservation, Forestry and Environment
Agricultural Credit and Rural Electrification
Agricultural Production, Marketing and Stabilization of Prices
Agricultural Research and General Legislation
Rural Development, Oversight and Investigations
Foreign Agricultural Policy
Nutrition
Appropriations (Chair: Mark Hatfield)
Agriculture and Related Agencies
Defense
District of Columbia
Energy and Water Development
Foreign Operations
HUD-Independent Agencies
Interior
Labor-Health, Education and Welfare
Legislative Branch
Military Construction
Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary
Transportation
Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
Armed Services (Chair: John Tower)
Military Construction
Tactical Warfare
Strategic and Theater Nuclear Forces
Preparedness
Sea Power and Force Projection
Manpower and Personnel
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (Chair: Jake Garn)
Housing and Urban Affairs
Financial Institutions
International Finance and Monetary Policy
Securities
Economic Policy
Consumer Affairs
Rural Housing and Development
Insurance
Federal Credit Programs
Budget (Chair: Pete Domenici)
Commerce, Science and Transportation (Chair: Bob Packwood)
Aviation
Business, Trade and Tourism
Communications
Consumer
Merchant Marine
Science, Technology and Space
Surface Transportation
National Ocean Policy Study
Energy and Natural Resources (Chair: James A. McClure)
Energy Conservation and Supply
Energy and Mineral Resources
Energy Regulation
Energy Research and Development
Public Lands and Reserved Water
Water and Power
Environment and Public Works (Chair: Robert Stafford)
Environmental Pollution
Nuclear Regulation
Water Resources
Transportation
Toxic Substances and Environmental Oversight
Regional and Community Development
Ethics (Select) (Chair: Ted Stevens)
Finance (Chair: Bob Dole)
Taxation and Debt Management
International Trade
Savings, Pensions and Investment Policy
Economic Growth, Employment and Revenue
Energy and Agricultural Taxation
Health
Social Security and Income Maintenance Programs
Estate and Gift Taxation
Oversight of the Internal Revenue Service
Foreign Relations (Chair: Charles H. Percy)
International Economic Policy
African Affairs
East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Western Hemisphere Affairs
Arms Control, Oceans, International Operations and Environment
Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
European Affairs
Governmental Affairs (Chair: William V. Roth Jr.)
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Governmental Efficiency and the District of Columbia
Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Federal Services
Information Management and Regulatory Affairs
Intergovernmental Relations
Civil Service, Post Office and General Services
Oversight of Government Management
Indian Affairs (Select) (Chair: Mark Andrews)
Judiciary (Chair: Strom Thurmond)
Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks
Criminal Law
Constitution
Courts
Immigration and Refugee Policy
Separation of Powers
Administration Practice and Procedure
Security and Terrorism
Juvenile Justice
Intelligence (Select) (Chair: Barry Goldwater)
Labor and Human Resources (Chair: Orrin Hatch)
Labor
Education, Arts and Humanities
Employment and Productivity
Handicapped
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Aging
Family and Human Services
Nutrition and Human Needs (Select)
Rules and Administration (Chair: Charles Mathias)
Senate Committee System (Special)
Small Business (Chair: Lowell P. Weicker Jr.)
Capital Formation and Detention
Government Regulation and Paperwork
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 (Chair: Alan K. Simpson)
Whole
Aging (Select) (Chair: Edward R. Roybal)
Agriculture (Chair: Kika de la Garza)
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 (Chair: Jamie L. Whitten)
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 (Chair: Charles Melvin Price)
Research and Development
Seapower, Strategic and Critical Materials
Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems
Investigations
Readiness
Military Personnel and Compensation
Military Installations and Facilities
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs (Chair: Fernand St. Germain)
Financial Institutions Supervision, Regulation and Insurance
Housing and Community Development
General Oversight and Renegotiation
Consumer Affairs and Coinage
International Development Institutions and Finance
Domestic Monetary Policy
International Trade, Investment and Monetary Policy
Economic Stabilization
Budget (Chair: James Robert Jones)
Capital Resources and Development
Energy and Technology
Budget Process
Education and Employment
Federalism/State-Local Relations
Economic Policy and Growth
Tax Policy
Entitlements, Uncontrollables and Indexing
International Finance and Trade
Children, Youth and Families (Select) (Chair: George Miller)
District of Columbia (Chair: Ron Dellums)
Fiscal Affairs and Health
Government Operations and Metropolitan Affairs
Judiciary and Education
Education and Labor (Chair: Carl D. Perkins, then Augustus F. Hawkins)
Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education
Employment Opportunities
Labor-Management Relations
Health and Safety
Human Resources
Postsecondary Education
Labor Standards
Select Education
Energy and Commerce (Chair: John Dingell)
Oversight and Investigations
Energy Conservation and Power
Health and the Environment
Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance
Fossil and Synthetic Fuels
Commerce, Transportation and Tourism
Foreign Affairs (Chair: Clement J. Zablocki, then Dante Fascell)
International Security and Scientific Affairs
International Operations
Europe and the Middle East
Human Rights and International Organizations
Asian and Pacific Affairs
International Economic Policy and Trade
Western Hemisphere Affairs
Africa
Government Operations (Chair: Jack Brooks)
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
Manpower and Housing
House Administration (Chair: Augustus F. Hawkins, then Frank Annunzio)
Accounts
Contracts and Printing
Services
Office Systems
Personnel and Police
Insular Affairs (Chair: Mo Udall)
Energy and the Environment
Water and Power Resources
Public Lands and National Lands
Insular Affairs
Mining, Forest Management and Bonneville Power Administration
Oversight and Investigations
Judiciary (Chair: Peter W. Rodino)
Immigration
Courts
Monopolies
Administrative Law
Civil and Constitutional Rights
Crime
Criminal Justice
Merchant Marine and Fisheries (Chair: Walter B. Jones Sr.)
Merchant Marine
Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation and the Environment
Coast Guard and Navigation
Panama Canal and Outer Continental Stuff
Oceangraphy
Narcotics Abuse and Control (Select)
Post Office and Civil Service
Investigations
Postal Operations and Services
Civil Service
Census and Population
Postal Personnel and Modernization
Compensation and Employee Benefits
Human Resources
Public Works and Transportation (Chair: James J. Howard)
Aviation
Economic Development
Investigations and Oversight
Public Buildings and Grounds
Surface Transportation
Water Resources
Rules (Chair: Claude Pepper)
The Legislative Process
Rules of the House
Science and Technology (Chair: Don Fuqua)
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 (Chair: Parren Mitchell)
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 (Chair: Louis Stokes)
Veterans' Affairs (Chair: Gillespie V. Montgomery)
Oversight and Investigations
Medical Facilities and Benefits
Education, Training and Employment
Compensation, Pension and Insurance
Housing and Memorial Affairs
Ways and Means (Chair: Dan Rostenkowski)
Trade
Social Security
Oversight
Select Revenue Measures
Health
Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation
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: Charles A. Bowsher
Director of the Congressional Budget Office: Alice M. Rivlin (until August 31, 1983), Rudolph G. Penner (starting September 1)
Librarian of Congress: Daniel J. Boorstin
Public Printer of the United States: Danford L. Sawyer, Jr. (until 1984), Ralph E. Kennickell, Jr. (starting 1984)
Chaplain: Richard C. Halverson
Historian: Richard A. Baker
Parliamentarian: Bob Dove
Secretary: W.F. Hildenbrand
Secretary for the Majority: Howard O. Greene, Jr.
Secretary for the Minority: Patrick J. Griffin
Sergeant at Arms: Howard S. Liebengood (until September 13, 1983) Larry E. Smith (starting September 13, 1983)
Chaplain: James David Ford
Clerk: Benjamin J. Guthrie
Doorkeeper: James T. Molloy
Historian: Ray Smock
Parliamentarian: William H. Brown
Postmaster: Robert V. Rota
Sergeant at Arms: Jack Russ
