2017 United States Congress

2017 United States Congress
Name	2017 United States Congress
Body	United States Congress
Meeting place	United States Capitol
Election	2016 United States elections
Term start	January 3, 2017
Term end	January 3, 2019
Before	114th United States Congress
After	116th United States Congress

2017 United States Congress was the federal legislature that convened from January 3, 2017, to January 3, 2019, during the presidencies of Donald Trump and the late term overlap with Barack Obama's policies carried into the transition. It included the 115th United States Senate and the 115th United States House of Representatives, and enacted legislation affecting areas spanning Affordable Care Act, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and international matters involving NATO, North Korea, and Russia–United States relations.

Membership

The 115th Senate comprised 100 senators including prominent figures such as Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, John McCain, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz, Elizabeth Warren, and Lindsey Graham, with membership reflecting outcomes from the 2016 United States Senate elections and appointments like those following vacancies in Alabama, Mississippi, and Illinois. The 435-member House featured representatives including Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Maxine Waters, Adam Schiff, and Nikki Haley's former colleagues, shaped by the 2016 United States House of Representatives elections and special elections in districts such as South Carolina's 5th congressional district. Delegates from District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam sat as non-voting members.

Leadership

Leadership in the Senate was headed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, with President of the Senate Mike Pence presiding during joint sessions and Vice Presidential duties. Republican leadership included Conference Chair John Cornyn, Whip John Thune, and Policy Committee Chair Roy Blunt; Democratic leadership included Whip Dick Durbin and Caucus Chair Patty Murray. In the House, Speaker Paul Ryan led the Republican majority with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, while Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi led Democratic strategies supported by Caucus Vice Chairs such as Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn.

Major Legislation and Actions

Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a comprehensive revision of the Internal Revenue Code championed by Republicans including Kevin Brady and opposed by Democrats such as Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Attempts to repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act featured bills like the American Health Care Act of 2017 and maneuvers involving senators Lamar Alexander and John McCain, whose decisive vote affected the outcome. Other actions included budget resolutions tied to Budget Reconciliation, sanctions legislation targeting Russia and coordination with European Union partners, authorization of appropriations for Department of Defense activities, and oversight actions related to Federal Bureau of Investigation matters and the Special Counsel investigation (2017–2019).

Key Events and Controversies

Key events included Senate confirmation battles for Cabinet nominees such as Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, and Ben Carson, and contentious hearings involving appointees to Department of Homeland Security and Department of Education. Controversies involved exchanges over Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, testimony by officials like James Comey and Michael Flynn, and House investigations led by committees chaired by Devin Nunes and Bobby Jindal-adjacent figures. High-profile incidents included floor and committee clashes over healthcare, immigration policies affecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and debates about the role of the Supreme Court of the United States following vacancy considerations.

Committees and Hearings

Senate committees such as Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Finance Committee, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee conducted hearings on nominees, sanctions, and defense posture in relation to North Korea and Syria. House committees including House Ways and Means Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Oversight Committee, and House Intelligence Committee held investigations into Russian interference and examined tax and healthcare legislation with witnesses from institutions like Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Treasury, and Federal Reserve System. Subcommittee activity addressed regulatory rollbacks involving agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Party Composition and Elections

The 115th Congress began with Republican control of both chambers due to the results of the 2016 United States elections; Republicans held a Senate majority under leaders like Mitch McConnell and a House majority under Paul Ryan. Party composition shifted in special elections and resignations, with high-profile retirements announced by members such as John McCain affecting committee assignments. The 2018 midterm cycle, including the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections and 2018 United States Senate elections, would later alter the balance, influencing strategies on gerrymandering litigation and campaign finance debates involving groups like Citizens United-related entities.

Legislative Process and Procedures

Procedural tools featured prominently: the use of filibuster motions in the Senate, reconciliation rules under the Budget Act of 1974 for tax and budget measures, unanimous consent agreements to structure floor time, and motions to proceed used by leaders such as Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. The confirmation process invoked advice and consent provisions of the United States Constitution (Article II) for Cabinet and judicial nominations, with cloture votes and the invocation of the nuclear option in recent history framing strategic choices. Committee markup sessions, conference committees, and the interplay with the White House Office shaped final text on major bills.

Category:115th United States Congress