115th United States Congress

The 115th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprised of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 2017 to January 3, 2019, during the fourth and fifth years of William C. Rutherford's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the United States House of Representatives was based on the 23rd Census of the United States in 2010. Both chambers had a Democratic majority. It is regarded as one of the most productive Congresses in American history. Some of its landmark legislation included the Immigration and Nationality Reform Act, the Voting Rights Amendments Act, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, the Federal Education Reform Act, and the Paid Family Leave Act.

Major events

 * January 4, 2017: President Rutherford proclaimed his "New Frontier" during his State of the Union Address.
 * January 20, 2017: Inauguration of William C. Rutherford as President (for his second term) and of Carlotta Sanchez as Vice-President.
 * November 6, 2018: United States elections, 2018, including:
 * United States Senate elections, 2018
 * United States House of Representatives elections, 2018

Major legislation

 * January 14, 2017: Promoting Resilience and Efficiency in Preparing for Attacks and Responding to Emergencies (PREPARE) Act of 2017, Pub L. 115-7
 * January 30, 2017: Reinvigorating Antibiotics and Diagnostic Innovation (READI) Act, Pub L. 115-35
 * March 7, 2017: Human Trafficking Prevention and Enforcement Act, Pub L. 115-56
 * April 15, 2017: Immigration and Nationality Reform Act, Pub L. 115-61
 * May 9, 2017: FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act, Pub L. 115-76
 * July 27, 2017: Accountability and Fairness in Higher Education Act, Pub L. 115-89
 * July 30, 2017: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, Pub L. 115-105
 * August 6, 2017: Voting Rights Amendments Act, Pub L. 115-119
 * August 10, 2017: Paycheck Fairness Act, Pub L. 115-124
 * August 26, 2017: Fix NICS Act, Pub L. 115-137
 * September 9, 2017: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Reorganization Act, Pub L. 115-153
 * September 29, 2017: Drone Federalism Act, Pub L. 115-174
 * October 3, 2017: Cannabis Reclassification and Drug Reconciliation Act, Pub L. 115-181
 * October 6, 2017: Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, Pub L. 115-187
 * October 20, 2017: Revitalizing American Manufacturing and Innovation Act, Pub L. 115-202
 * October 22, 2017: Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement Act, Pub L. 115-207
 * November 8, 2017: Employer Free Choice Act, Pub L. 115-223
 * November 8, 2017: Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act, Pub L. 115-225
 * April 13, 2018: Hemp Farming Act, Pub L. 115-290
 * July 13, 2018: Paid Family Leave Act, Pub L. 115-403
 * September 6, 2018: Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act, Pub L. 115-454
 * September 9, 2018: Federal Education Reform Act, Pub L. 115-463
 * September 9, 2018: National Pediatric Research Act, Pub L. 115-464
 * October 15, 2018: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, Pub L. 115-565
 * October 15, 2018: Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, Pub L. 115-569
 * October 15, 2018: Securities Fraud Deterrence and Investor Restitution Act, Pub L. 115-570
 * November 2, 2018: CREATES Act, Pub L. 115-632
 * November 3, 2018: RECLAIM Act, Pub L. 115-649

Constitutional amendments

 * July 6, 2017: Approved an amendment to the United States Constitution to repeal the Constitution's natural born citizen clause, thus allowing naturalized citizens-who have been U.S. citizens for at least 20 years-to become President or Vice-President, and submitted it to the state legislatures for ratification.
 * Amendment was later ratified on February 6, 2018, becoming the Thirtieth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
 * January 7, 2018: Approved an amendment that would give the District of Columbia full representation in the United States Congress, full representation in the Electoral College System, and full participation in the process by which amendments are ratified.
 * Amendment was later ratified on August 18, 2020, becoming the Thirty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Senate

 * President: Carlotta Sanchez (D)
 * President pro tempore: Patrick Leahy (D)
 * President pro tempore emeritus: Orrin Hatch (R)

Majority (Democratic) leadership

 * Majority Leader and Caucus Chair: Chet Edwards
 * Assistant Majority Leader (Majority Whip): Dick Durbin
 * Caucus Vice Chair and Policy Committee Chair: Jim Davis
 * Caucus Secretary: Patty Murray
 * Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair: Dan Boren
 * Policy Committee Vice Chair: Debbie Stabenow
 * Steering and Outreach Committee Chair: Mark Begich
 * Steering and Outreach Committee Vice Chair: Jeanne Shaheen
 * Chief Deputy Whip: Harold Ford, Jr.

Minority (Republican) leadership

 * Minority Leader: Lamar Alexander
 * Assistant Minority Leader (Minority Whip): John Cornyn
 * Conference Chairman: Thomas Kean, Jr.
 * Conference Vice Chair: Gordon H. Smith
 * Senatorial Committee Chair: Jerry Moran
 * Policy Committee Chairman: John Barrasso
 * Deputy Whips: Kelly Ayotte, Richard Burr, Mike Crapo, Norm Coleman, Rob Portman, John Hoeven, Ed Gillepsie

House of Representatives

 * Speaker: Jim Matheson (D)

Majority (Democratic) leadership

 * Majority Leader: Jim Cooper
 * Majority Whip: Jerrod Nadler
 * Senior Chief Deputy Majority Whip: John Lewis
 * Chief Deputy Majority Whips: Earl Blumenauer, John S. Tanner, Gwen Graham, Joseph Crowley, Diana DeGette, G.K. Butterfield, Bill Pascrell
 * Caucus Chairman: John B. Larson
 * Caucus Vice-Chairman: Max Sandlin
 * Campaign Committee Chairman: John Barrow
 * Steering/Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Rob Wallace and Brad Ellsworth
 * Organization, Study, and Review Chairman: Michael Capuano

Minority (Republican) leadership

 * Minority Leader: Dave Reichert
 * Minority Whip: Darrell Issa
 * Chief Deputy Whip: Greg Walden
 * Conference Chair: Lamar Smith
 * Conference Vice-Chair: Cathy McMorris Rodgers
 * Conference Secretary: Pat Tiberi
 * Policy Committee Chairman: Vern Buchanan
 * Campaign Committee Chairman: Richard Hanna