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26 unusual facts about 109th United States Congress


Brett Tolman

Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Tolman worked as counsel in the Senate Judiciary Committee for committee chairs Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and then Arlen Specter (R-PA) during the 109th United States Congress.

Byrd Amendment

Eventually, after growing pressure on multiple fronts, the 109th United States Congress in December 2005 and January 2006 repealed the amendment.

Cruise ship pollution in the United States

Legislation to regulate cruise ship discharges of sewage, graywater, and bilge water nationally was introduced in the 109th Congress, but there was no further congressional action.

Dennis Cardoza

During the 109th Congress, Cardoza was a co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate to conservative House Democrats of which Condit was a founding member.

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

In July 2005, Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator for Region 9 of the EPA, initially proposed the idea of a Diesel Emissions Reduction in the 109th Congress, 1st session.

Efforts to impeach George W. Bush

His resolution gained 38 co-sponsors before it expired at the end of the 109th Congress.

Family Entertainment and Copyright Act

The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act was introduced into the United States Senate (of the 109th United States Congress) on January 25, 2005 by Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah), and was signed into law by President George W. Bush on April 27, 2005.

Family Entertainment Protection Act

This bill did not become law; it was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and expired at the end of the 109th session of Congress without further action.

Fuel Economy Reform Act

The Fuel Economy Reform Act was a bill (S. 3694 in the 109th United States Congress and S. 767 and S. 768 in the 110th United States Congress) sponsored by seven Democrats and four Republicans including Barack Obama and Richard Lugar.

Iran and Libya Sanctions Act

In the 109th Congress, a bill, the Iran Freedom Support Act was introduced in both houses to extend the provisions of ILSA indefinitely and to impose a time limit for the administration to determine whether an investment violates ILSA.

Lane Evans

Evans announced that he would not seek reelection in November 2006 and retired at the end of the 109th Congress due to the increasingly debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease.

Lynn Westmoreland

During his first term in the 109th United States Congress, Westmoreland was appointed to the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, U.S. House Committee on Government Reform, and the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Martin P. Paone

Mr. Paone also previously served as Secretary for the Minority for the 108th and 109th Congresses.

N. Randy Smith

However, after opposition from California's U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, who argued that Smith, an Idahoan, had been nominated to a "California seat", his nomination stalled in the 109th Congress.

National Health Insurance Act of 2005

This bill was referred to the United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, where it died at the end of the 109th U.S. Congress.

New Jersey's 11th congressional district

For the 109th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2000 Census), the district contains all or portions of four counties and 54 municipalities.

Ocean Champions

Ocean Champions has supported over 50 Congressmen/women since the 109th United States Congress election in 2004.

Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005

The Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005 (S. 1313) is a United States bill "to protect homes, small businesses, and other private property rights, by limiting the power of eminent domain." The bill was introduced on June 27, 2005, to the first session of the 109th Congress.

Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act

The Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act was a bipartisan piece of legislation introduced July 11, 2005 during the 109th United States Congress.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police

Legislation has been proposed several times to change this (H.R. 1002), but the last effort failed to make it out of committee in the 109th Congress.

United States House Committee on Homeland Security

The committee was made permanent when it was elevated to standing status by vote of the House of Representatives on January 4, 2005 on the opening day of the 109th Congress, again with Rep. Chris Cox as its first permanent Chairman.

United States House of Representatives election in the District of Columbia, 2004

The winner of the race was incumbent Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who is now serving in the 109th Congress from January 4, 2005, until her term of office expires on January 3, 2007.

United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2004

Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected were served in the 109th Congress from January 3, 2005 until January 3, 2007.

United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 2004

Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 109th Congress from January 2005 until January 2007.

United States Secretary of Homeland Security

In the 109th Congress, legislation was introduced to place the Secretary of Homeland Security into the line of succession after the Attorney General but that bill expired at the end of the 109th Congress and was not been re-introduced.

Wright Amendment

After extensive negotiations with the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, the compromise bill passed both Houses of Congress on Friday, September 29, 2006, just before the 109th Congress adjourned for the November elections.