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110th United States Congress
United States Capitol (2007)
Duration: January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009
President of the Senate:	Dick Cheney (R)
President pro tempore:	Robert Byrd (D)
Speaker of the House:	Nancy Pelosi (D)
Members:	100 Senators 435 Representatives 5 Non-voting members
Senate Majority:	Democratic Party
House Majority:	Democratic Party
Sessions
1st: January 4, 2007 – December 19, 2007 2nd: January 3, 2008 – January 3, 2009[1]
<109th 111th>

The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The apportionment of seats in the House was based on the 2000 U.S. census.

The Democratic Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995. Although the Democrats held fewer than 50 Senate seats, they had an operational majority because the two independent senators caucused with the Democrats for organizational purposes. No Democratic-held seats had fallen to the Republican Party in the 2006 elections.^[2] Democrat Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House.^[3] The House also received the first Muslims^[4][5] and Buddhists^[6] in Congress.

Major events

Members debated initiatives such as the Democrats' 100-Hour Plan and the Iraq War troop surge of 2007.^[7][8][9]

Support for the Iraq War

Following President Bush's 2007 State of the Union Address, Congress debated his proposal to create a troop surge to increase security in Iraq. The House of Representatives passed a non-binding measure opposing the surge and then a $124 billion emergency spending measure to fund the war, which included language that dictated troop levels and withdrawal schedules. President Bush, however, vetoed the bill as promised, making this his second veto while in office. Both houses of Congress subsequently passed a bill funding the war without timelines, but with benchmarks for the Iraqi government and money for other spending projects like disaster relief.

Other events

• August 2, 2007 — The Republican minority disputed the results of a vote to recommit. This led to an investigation by the House Select Committee on Voting Irregularities.^[10]
• December 18, 2007 — The Senate set a record for the most cloture votes.^[11]
• November 4, 2008 — General elections - Democrats increased their congressional majorities and Senator Barack Obama was elected President.

Major legislation

These are partial lists of prominent enacted legislation and pending bills.

See also: 2008 Congressional Record, Vol. 154, Page D845 , Resume of Congressional Activity

Enacted

• February 2, 2007 — House Page Board Revision Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-2, 121 Stat. 4
• May 25, 2007 — U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, Pub.L. 110-28, 121 Stat. 112, including Title VIII: Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, 121 Stat. 188
• June 14, 2007 — Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-34, 121 Stat. 224
• July 26, 2007 — Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-49, 121 Stat. 246
• August 3, 2007 — Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-53, 121 Stat. 266
• August 5, 2007 — Protect America Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-55, 121 Stat. 552
• September 14, 2007 — Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, Pub.L. 110-81, 121 Stat. 735
• November 8, 2007 — Water Resources Development Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-114, 121 Stat. 1041 - Veto Overridden
• December 19, 2007 — Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-140, 121 Stat. 1492
• February 13, 2008 — Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, Pub.L. 110-185, 122 Stat. 613
• May 21, 2008 — Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, Pub.L. 110-233, 122 Stat. 881
• May 22, 2008 — Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 (2007 Farm Bill), Pub.L. 110-234, 122 Stat. 923 - Veto Overridden
• June 30, 2008 — Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, Pub.L. 110-252, 122 Stat. 2323, including Title V: Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 ("G.I. Bill 2008")
• July 10, 2008 — FISA Amendments Act of 2008, Pub.L. 110-261, 122 Stat. 2436
• July 29, 2008 — Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008, Pub.L. 110-286, 122 Stat. 2632
• July 30, 2008 — Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Pub.L. 110-289, 122 Stat. 2654
• October 3, 2008 — Public Law 110-343 (Pub.L. 110-343), 122 Stat. 3765, including:
  • Div. A: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424;
  • Div. B: Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008; and
  • Div. C: Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008
• October 15, 2008 — Pub.L. 110-430: Setting the beginning of the first session of the 111th Congress and the date for counting Electoral College votes, 122 Stat. 4846
• December 19, 2008 — Pub.L. 110-455: A Saxbe fix, reducing the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of State to that which was in effect on January 1, 2007: allowing Hillary Clinton to serve as Secretary of State despite the Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution.

More information: Public Laws for the 110th Congress and Complete index of Public and Private Laws for 110th Congress at GPO

Proposed, but not enacted

in (alphabetical order)

• America's Climate Security Act of 2007
• Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act
• Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007
• Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act
• District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007
• Employee Free Choice Act
• Employment Non-Discrimination Act
• Executive Branch Reform Act
• Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007
• Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007
• Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007
• Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007
• Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007
• Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007
• Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008
• Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007
• State Children's Health Insurance Program

Vetoed

• Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (SCHIP, H.R. 976)
• Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (SCHIP, H.R. 3963)
• Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3043)
• Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 5)
• Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (S. 1943)
• H.R. 1585: an earlier version of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
• H.R. 1591: an earlier version of U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007

Treaties ratified

• 110-1: Land-Based Sources Protocol to Cartagena Convention (September 25, 2008)
• 110-2: Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (December 7, 2007)
• 110-3: Tax Convention with Belgium (December 14, 2007)
• 110-4: International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (September 25, 2008)
• 110-6: Amendment to Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (September 25, 2008)
• 110-8: Protocols of 2005 to the Convention concerning Safety of Maritime Navigation and to the Protocol concerning Safety of Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf (September 25, 2008)
• 110-9: Protocol of Amendments to Convention on International Hydrographic Organization (July 21, 2008)
• 110-11: Extradition Treaty with Romania and Protocol to the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters with Romania (September 23, 2008)
• 110-12: Extradition Treaty with Bulgaria and an Agreement on Certain Aspects of Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters with Bulgaria (September 23, 2008)
• 110-13: International Convention on Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (September 26, 2008)
• 110-14: International Convention Against Doping in Sport (July 21, 2008)
• 110-15: Protocol Amending 1980 Tax Convention with Canada (September 23, 2008)
• 110-16: Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992) (September 25, 2008)
• 110-17: Tax Convention with Iceland (September 23, 2008)
• 110-18: Tax Convention with Bulgaria with Proposed Protocol of Amendment (September 23, 2008)
• 110-20: Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on Accession of Albania and Croatia (September 25, 2008)

Select committees

• Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
• House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
• House Select Committee on the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 2007

Hearings

• Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy hearings - (House and Senate Judiciary Committees)

Party summary

Senate

     Democratic Party: 49 members.     Republican Party: 49 members.     Independents: 2 members.

Senators in the 110th Congress

Membership changed with one death and two resignations.

House of Representatives

Membership at the beginning of the 110th Congress:
     Democratic Party: 233 members.     Republican Party: 202 members.

Membership fluctuated with seven deaths and eight resignations. Democrats achieved a net gain of three seats as a result of their victories in special elections. See Changes in membership, below.

Leadership

Contents: Senate: Majority (D), Minority (R) • House: Majority (D), Minority (R)

Senate

• President of the Senate:^[15] Dick Cheney (R)
• President pro tempore: Robert Byrd (D)
• President pro tempore emeritus: Ted Stevens (R)

Majority (Democratic) leadership

• Majority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman:^[16] Harry Reid
• Assistant Majority Leader (Majority Whip): Richard Durbin
• Democratic Conference Vice Chairman and Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Charles Schumer
• Democratic Conference Secretary: Patty Murray
• Democratic Policy Committee Chairman: Byron Dorgan
• Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Chair: Debbie Stabenow
• Democratic Committee Outreach Chairman: Jeff Bingaman
• Democratic Committee Outreach Vice Chair: Hillary Clinton
• Democratic Rural Outreach Chair: Blanche Lincoln
• Chief Deputy Whip: Barbara Boxer
• Deputy Whips: Thomas Carper, Bill Nelson, Russell D. Feingold

Minority (Republican) leadership

• Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell
• Assistant Minority Leader (Minority Whip):Trent Lott, until December 18, 2007
  • Jon Kyl, starting December 18, 2007
• Counselor to the Minority Leader: Robert Bennett
• Republican Conference Chairman: Jon Kyl, until December 18, 2007
  • Lamar Alexander, starting December 18, 2007
• Republican Policy Committee Chairman: Kay Bailey Hutchison
• Republican Conference Vice Chair: John Cornyn
• National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair: John Ensign

House of Representatives

Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi and incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer meet with President George W. Bush on November 9, 2006

• Speaker: Nancy Pelosi (D)
• Assistant to the Speaker: Xavier Becerra

Majority (Democratic) leadership

• Majority Leader: Steny Hoyer
• Majority Whip: James Clyburn
• Senior Chief Deputy Majority Whip: John Lewis
• Chief Deputy Majority Whips: Debbie Wasserman Schultz, G.K. Butterfield, Joseph Crowley, Diana DeGette, Ed Pastor, Jan Schakowsky, John S. Tanner, and Maxine Waters
• Democratic Caucus Chairman: Rahm Emanuel
• Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman: John Larson
• Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Chris Van Hollen
• Democratic Steering/Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Rosa DeLauro for Steering and George Miller for Policy

Senators' party membership by state at the opening of the 110th Congress in January 2007

Minority (Republican) leadership

• Minority Leader: John Boehner
• Minority Whip: Roy Blunt
• Chief Deputy Minority Whip: Eric Cantor
• Republican Conference Chair: Adam Putnam
• Republican Policy Committee Chairman: Thad McCotter
• Republican Conference Vice-Chair: Kay Granger
• Republican Conference Secretary: John Carter
• Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Tom Cole

Members

• Skip to House of Representatives, below

Senate

House of Representatives

for maps of congressional districts.

Initial percentage of members of the House of Representatives from each party by state at the opening of the 110th Congress in January 2007.

Percentage of members of the House of Representatives (as of May 13, 2008) from each party by state.

Changes in membership

Senate

There were two resignations and one death.

House of Representatives

Employees

• Architect of the Capitol:
  • Alan M. Hantman, until February 2, 2007
  • Stephen T. Ayers (acting), thereafter
• Attending Physician of the United States Congress: John F. Eisold

Senate

• Chaplain: Barry C. Black
• Curator: Diane K. Skvarla
• Historian: Richard A. Baker
• Parliamentarian: Alan Frumin
• Secretary: Nancy Erickson
• Sergeant at Arms: Terrance W. Gainer
• Secretary for the Majority:
  • Martin P. Paone, until January 23, 2008
  • Lula J. Davis, elected January 23, 2008^[24]
• Secretary for the Minority: David J. Schiappa

House of Representatives

• Chaplain: Daniel P. Coughlin
• Chief Administrative Officer: Daniel P. Beard (February 15, 2007–End)^[25]
  • James M. Eagen, III (through February 15, 2007)
• Clerk:
  • Karen L. Haas, until February 15, 2007
  • Lorraine Miller, elected February 15, 2007^[25]
• Historian: Robert V. Remini
• Parliamentarian: John V. Sullivan
• Reading Clerks: Mary Kevin Niland, Susan Cole, Paul Hays (until April 30, 2007)
• Sergeant at Arms: Wilson Livingood
• Inspector General: James J. Cornell

See also: Rules of the House: "Other officers and officials"

See also

Elections

• Special elections to the 110th United States Congress
  • List of special elections to the United States Senate
  • List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
• United States congressional elections, 2006
  • Senate elections for all three classes of Senators:
    • United States Senate elections, 2002 (class 2)
    • United States Senate elections, 2004 (class 3)
    • United States Senate elections, 2006 (class 1)
  • House of Representatives elections for all members: United States House of Representatives elections, 2006
• Elections held during this Congress:
  • United States presidential election, 2008
  • United States Senate elections, 2008
  • United States House of Representatives elections, 2008

Membership lists

• Members of the 110th United States Congress
• List of freshman class members of the 110th United States Congress
• List of current United States Senators by age and generation

References

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• House History from the U.S. House of Representatives
• Statistics & Lists from the U.S. Senate
• Congressional Directory: Main Page, Government Printing Office Online. Detailed listings of many aspects of previous memberships and sessions of Congress.
• Legislative information from THOMAS at the Library of Congress
• Name Pronunciation Guide to the 110th U.S. Congress from inogolo.com