110th United States Congress

110th United States Congress
Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain · source
Congress	110th
Session year	2007
Session num	1st
Start	January 4, 2007
End	January 3, 2009
House seats	435
Senate seats	100
House majORITY	Democratic
Senate majORITY	Democratic

110th 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 4, 2007, to January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the presidency of George W. Bush. The Democratic Party controlled both the House and the Senate, with Nancy Pelosi serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Harry Reid as Majority Leader of the Senate, while Mitch McConnell served as Minority Leader and John Boehner as Minority Leader of the House.

● Composition and Elections

The 110th Congress was composed of 435 members of the United States House of Representatives and 100 members of the United States Senate. The Democratic Party gained control of both chambers in the 2006 United States elections, with Nancy Pelosi becoming the first female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Harry Reid serving as Majority Leader of the Senate. The elections saw the defeat of several high-profile Republican incumbents, including George Allen and Rick Santorum. The new Congress included notable members such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Joe Biden, who would all go on to play significant roles in the 2008 United States presidential election.

● Major Events

The 110th Congress faced several significant challenges, including the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Subprime mortgage crisis. In response to these challenges, the Congress passed several major pieces of legislation, including the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 and the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. The Congress also held several high-profile hearings, including those on the Hurricane Katrina response and the Valerie Plame affair. Notable figures who testified before Congress during this period included General David Petraeus, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. The Congress also played a key role in the 2008 presidential election, with several members, including Barack Obama and John McCain, running for the presidency.

● Major Legislation

The 110th Congress passed several significant pieces of legislation, including the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Congress also passed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which provided tax rebates and other economic stimulus measures in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Other notable legislation included the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The Congress also reauthorized several important programs, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Notable lawmakers who played key roles in shaping this legislation included Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, and Chuck Schumer.

● Party Summary

The 110th Congress was composed of 233 Democrats and 202 Republicans in the United States House of Representatives, and 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and 2 Independents in the United States Senate. The Democratic Party controlled both chambers, with Nancy Pelosi serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Harry Reid as Majority Leader of the Senate. Notable party leaders included Steny Hoyer, Jim Clyburn, John Boehner, and Eric Cantor. The Congress also included several notable Independents, including Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders.

● Leadership

The leadership of the 110th Congress included Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Harry Reid as Majority Leader of the Senate, and Mitch McConnell as Minority Leader of the Senate. Other notable leaders included Steny Hoyer as Majority Leader of the House, John Boehner as Minority Leader of the House, and Dick Durbin as Majority Whip of the Senate. The Congress also included several notable committee chairs, including Henry Waxman, John Conyers, and Patrick Leahy. Notable lawmakers who played key roles in shaping the Congress's agenda included Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Joe Biden.