95th Congress (1977 - 1979)
House of Representatives
House Majority: Democrat
House Majority Seats: 292 out of 435
House Speaker: Rep. Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill (D-MA)
Senate
Senate Majority: Democrat
Senate Majority Seats: 61 out of 100
Senate Majority Leader: Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Executive
President: Jimmy Carter (D-GA)
Vice President: Walter Mondale (D-MN)
Member Spotlight
Featured: Sen. Ernest 'Fritz' Hollings (D-SC) was a prominent and long-serving senator known for his wit, intellect, and deep commitment to public service. Serving South Carolina from 1966 to 2005, Hollings held influential positions on the Senate Commerce Committee and played a key role in shaping legislation on trade, transportation, and communications. Reflecting his evolving perspective on the importance of transparency and accountability, he once remarked, “Old Thomas Jefferson said as between a free press and a free government he would choose the former. I never could understand it, but as I serve longer in public office, I do.” Hollings’ career combined pragmatic policymaking with a respect for democratic principles, earning him widespread respect across the political spectrum.
Enactments
- Tax Reduction and Simplification Act of 1977
- Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
- Department of Energy Established
- Hyde Amendment of 1977
- Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977
- Food and Agriculture Act of 1977
- Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
- Fair Labor Standards Amendments
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977
- Social Security Financing Amendments
- Clean Water Act of 1977
- International Emergency Economic Powers Act
- Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 1978
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act Amendments of 1978
- International Banking Act of 1978
- Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 1978
- Agriculture Appropriations Act of 1978
- Inspector General Act of 1978
- Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
- Federal District and Circuit Judges Act of 1978
- Airline Deregulation Act of 1978
- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
- Ethics in Government Act of 1978
- Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978
- Pregnancy, Sex Discrimination, Prohibition Act of 1978
- Delegate to the House of Representatives from American Samoa
- Presidential Record Act of 1978
- Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978
- Revenue Act of 1978
- Energy Tax Act of 1978
- National Energy Conservation Policy Act
- Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978
- National Gas Policy Act of 1978
- Proposed Constitutional Amendment Giving DC Full Voting in Congress
- National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978