101st United States Congress

101st United States Congress
SPC Kevin Thomas · Public domain · source
Congress	101st
Session year	1989
Session num	1st
Start	January 3, 1989
End	January 3, 1991
President	George H.W. Bush
Vice-president	Dan Quayle
House-speaker	Jim Wright (until June 6, 1989), Tom Foley
House-majority	Dick Gephardt
Senate-presidentpro	George Mitchell (as President pro tempore of the United States Senate)
Senate-majority	George Mitchell

101st United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1989, to January 3, 1991, during the final months of the presidency of Ronald Reagan and the first two years of the presidency of George H.W. Bush. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1980 United States Census and the membership of the Senate was based on the 1988 United States Senate elections and the 1986 United States Senate elections, with Ted Kennedy, Bob Dole, and Alan Simpson playing key roles. The Congress also saw the rise of prominent figures such as Newt Gingrich, Dick Cheney, and Al Gore.

● Major Events

The 101st Congress witnessed several significant events, including the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, and the Savings and loan crisis. The Congress also dealt with the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Loma Prieta earthquake, with EPA Administrator William K. Reilly and FEMA Director Julius W. Becton Jr. playing important roles. Additionally, the Congress saw the introduction of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, which were championed by Senator Max Baucus and Representative John Dingell. The Congress also addressed the issue of AIDS research and the Ryan White CARE Act, with Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Kramer advocating for increased funding.

● Party Summary

The party summary of the 101st Congress was as follows: the Democratic Party held a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with Jim Wright and Tom Foley serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and George Mitchell serving as President pro tempore of the United States Senate. The Republican Party was the minority party, with Bob Michel and Alan Simpson serving as the minority leaders in the House and Senate, respectively. Notable members of the Democratic Party included Ted Kennedy, Daniel Inouye, and Barbara Mikulski, while notable members of the Republican Party included Bob Dole, Strom Thurmond, and Orrin Hatch.

● Major Legislation

The 101st Congress passed several significant pieces of legislation, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The Congress also passed the Ryan White CARE Act, which provided funding for AIDS research and treatment, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which was championed by Senator Tom Harkin and Representative Tony Coelho. Additionally, the Congress passed the National and Community Service Act of 1990, which established the Corporation for National and Community Service and was supported by Senator Thad Cochran and Representative Steve Gunderson. The Congress also addressed the issue of gun control and passed the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, which was sponsored by Senator Herb Kohl and Representative Carroll Hubbard.

● Leadership

The leadership of the 101st Congress included Jim Wright and Tom Foley as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, George Mitchell as President pro tempore of the United States Senate, and Bob Michel and Alan Simpson as the minority leaders in the House and Senate, respectively. Other notable leaders included Dick Gephardt as the House Majority Leader and Trent Lott as the Senate Majority Whip. The Congress also saw the rise of prominent leaders such as Newt Gingrich, who would later become the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Al Gore, who would later become the Vice President of the United States.

● Membership

The membership of the 101st Congress included several notable figures, such as Ted Kennedy, Bob Dole, and Alan Simpson in the Senate, and Jim Wright, Tom Foley, and Newt Gingrich in the House of Representatives. The Congress also included several prominent women, such as Barbara Mikulski, Nancy Pelosi, and Patricia Schroeder. Additionally, the Congress saw the election of several notable African American members, including John Lewis, Charles Rangel, and Maxine Waters. The Congress also included several notable Hispanic members, such as Bill Richardson and Henry B. González.

● Elections

The elections for the 101st Congress were held on November 8, 1988, with the Democratic Party gaining several seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Notable elections included the 1988 United States Senate elections in California, where Dianne Feinstein was elected, and in Texas, where Lloyd Bentsen was re-elected. The Congress also saw the election of several notable members, including Paul Wellstone in Minnesota and Harris Wofford in Pennsylvania. The elections were also marked by the rise of several prominent conservative candidates, including Dan Quayle and Phil Gramm.