The 109th 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, from January 3, 2005, to January 3, 2007, during the fifth and sixth years of George W. Bush's presidency. House members were elected in the 2004 elections on November 2, 2004. Senators were elected in three classes in the 2000 elections on November 7, 2000, 2002 elections on November 5, 2002, or 2004 elections on November 2, 2004. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 2000 United States census.

This is the most recent Congress to feature a Republican senator from Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee, who lost re-election in 2006.

The Republicans maintained control of both the House and the Senate (slightly increasing their majority in both chambers), and with the reelection of President Bush, the Republicans maintained an overall federal government trifecta.

Major events

January 6, 2005: A joint session to count the presidential Electoral College votes of the 2004 presidential election. January 20, 2005 — President George W. Bush began his second term. November 7, 2006 — California Representative Nancy Pelosi and Nevada Senator Harry Reid led the Democratic Party in taking control of both the House and the Senate in the 2006 congressional elections, the first time in 12 years the Democrats secure control of both houses of Congress simultaneously. Prominent events included the filibuster "nuclear option" scare, the failure of the federal government to promptly respond to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief, the Tom DeLay corruption investigation, Plamegate, the rising unpopularity of the Iraq War, the 2006 immigration reform protests and government involvement in the Terri Schiavo case. In addition to the DeLay indictment, this Congress also had a number of scandals: Bob Ney, Randy "Duke" Cunningham, William J. Jefferson, Mark Foley scandal, and the Jack Abramoff scandals. This Congress met for 242 days, the fewest since World War II and 12 days fewer than the 80th Congress. As the Congress neared its conclusion, some media commentators labeled this the "Do Nothing Congress", a pejorative originally given to the 80th United States Congress by President Harry Truman, although the number of bills passed by Congress is no measure of its success. The President vetoed only one bill, his first veto, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005.

Major legislation

Enacted

February 17, 2005: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, March 21, 2005: Theresa Marie Schiavo's law, April 20, 2005: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, April 27, 2005: Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, May 11, 2005: Real ID Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-13 July 9, 2005: Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-21 July 29, 2005: Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-41 August 2, 2005: Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (CAFTA Implementation Act), August 8, 2005: Energy Policy Act of 2005, August 10, 2005: Transportation Equity Act of 2005, October 26, 2005: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, December 1, 2005: Caribbean National Forest Act of 2005, December 20, 2005: Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-129 December 22, 2005: Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, December 30, 2005: Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, January 11, 2006: United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, Pub.L. 109-169 February 8, 2006: Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, February 15, 2006: Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act, Pub.L. 109-173 March 8, 2006: USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2006, May 17, 2006: Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005, May 29, 2006: Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, June 15, 2006: Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-235 July 24, 2006: Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-243 July 27, 2006: Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, Pub.L. 109-246 July 27, 2006: Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, August 17, 2006: Pension Protection Act of 2006, Pub.L. 109-280 September 26, 2006: Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, September 26, 2006: United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, Pub.L. 109-283 September 29, 2006: Credit Rating Agency Reform Act, Pub.L. 109-291 September 30, 2006: Iran Freedom and Support Act, Pub.L. 109-293 October 4, 2006: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007, Pub.L. 109-295 October 6, 2006: Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2006, Pub.L. 109-308 October 6, 2006: Trademark Dilution Revision Act, Pub.L. 109-312 October 13, 2006: Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, Pub.L. 109-344 October 13, 2006: Safe Port Act, , including title VIII, Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 October 17, 2006: John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, Pub.L. 109-364 October 17, 2006: Military Commissions Act of 2006, October 26, 2006: Secure Fence Act of 2006, November 27, 2006: Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, Pub.L. 109-374 December 14, 2006: Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006, Pub.L. 109-394 December 19, 2006: Combating Autism Act of 2006, Pub.L. 109-416 December 19, 2006: Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act, Pub.L. 109-417 December 20, 2006: Tax Relief and Health Act of 2006, December 20, 2006: Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, December 20, 2006: Stolen Valor Act of 2005, January 12, 2007: Johanna's Law, Pub.L. 109-475 January 12, 2007: Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006, Pub.L. 109-476

Proposed, but not enacted — Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act — Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (Vetoed) — Jessica Lunsford Act — Border Protection, Anti-terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 — Digital Transition Content Security Act — Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (Akaka Bill) — Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006

More information: Complete index of Public and Private Laws for 109th Congress at U.S. Government Printing Office

Hearings

Congressional response to the NSA warrantless surveillance program (Senate Judiciary; House Intelligence; Democrats of the House Judiciary)

Party summary Senate

The party summary for the Senate remained the same during the entire 109th Congress. On January 16, 2006, Democrat Jon Corzine resigned, but Democrat Bob Menendez was appointed and took Corzine's seat the next day.

House of Representatives Due to resignations and special elections, Republicans lost a net of three seats; Democrats gained one seat; three seats were left vacant; and one seat which was vacant at the beginning of the Congress was filled. All seats were filled though special elections. (See Changes in membership, below.)

Affiliation Party Total Democratic Independent Republican Vacant End of previous Congress 204 1 227 432 3 Begin 201 1 232 434 1 March 10, 2005 202 435 0 April 29, 2005 231 434 1 August 2, 2005 230 433 2 September 6, 2005 231 434 1 December 1, 2005 230 433 2 December 7, 2005 231 434 1 January 16, 2006 201 433 2 June 9, 2006 230 432 3 June 13, 2006 231 433 2 September 29, 2006 230 432 3 November 3, 2006 229 431 4 November 13, 2006 202 230 433 2 December 31, 2006 229 432 3 Final voting share 47.0% 53.0% Non-voting members 4 1 0 5 0 Beginning of next Congress 233 0 202 435 0

Leadership

Senate

President: Dick Cheney (R) President pro tempore: Ted Stevens (R)

Majority (Republican) leadership Majority Leader: Bill Frist Majority Whip: Mitch McConnell Republican Conference Chairman: Rick Santorum Policy Committee Chairman: Jon Kyl Republican Conference Secretary: Kay Bailey Hutchison Republican Campaign Committee Chairwoman: Elizabeth Dole Chief Deputy Whip: Bob Bennett

Minority (Democratic) leadership Minority Leader: Harry Reid Minority Whip: Richard Durbin Democratic Conference Chairman: Harry Reid Policy Committee Chairman: Byron Dorgan Democratic Conference Secretary: Debbie Stabenow Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Chuck Schumer Steering and Outreach Committee Chair: Hillary Clinton Chief Deputy Whip: Barbara Boxer

House of Representatives

Speaker: Dennis Hastert

Majority (Republican) leadership Majority Leader: Tom DeLay, until September 28, 2005 Roy Blunt, September 28, 2005 – February 2, 2006 ("Interim Leader") John Boehner, from February 2, 2006 Majority Whip: Roy Blunt Senior Chief Deputy Whip: Eric Cantor Deputy Whip Team: Kevin Brady Assistant Deputy Whip Team: Doc Hastings House Rules Committee Chairman: David Dreier Republican Conference Chairwoman: Deborah Pryce Republican Conference Vice-Chairman: Jack Kingston Republican Conference Secretary: John T. Doolittle Policy Committee Chairman: John Shadegg, until February 2, 2006 Adam Putnam, from February 2, 2006 Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Tom Reynolds

Minority (Democratic) leadership Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer Senior Chief Deputy Whip: John Lewis Minority Deputy Whip Team: Joe Crowley, Diana DeGette, Ron Kind, Ed Pastor, Jan Schakowsky, John Tanner & Maxine Waters Democratic Caucus Chairman: Bob Menendez, until January 16, 2006 Jim Clyburn, from January 16, 2006 Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman: Jim Clyburn, until January 16, 2006 John Larson, from January 16, 2006 Assistant to the House Minority Leader: John Spratt Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Rahm Emanuel Steering Committee Co-Chairs: Rosa DeLauro, George Miller

Members Senate

In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 2006; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 2008; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 2010.

Alabama 2. Jeff Sessions (R) 3. Richard Shelby (R)

Alaska 2. Ted Stevens (R) 3. Lisa Murkowski (R)

Arizona 1. Jon Kyl (R) 3. John McCain (R)

Arkansas 2. Mark Pryor (D) 3. Blanche Lincoln (D)

California 1. Dianne Feinstein (D) 3. Barbara Boxer (D)

Colorado 2. Wayne Allard (R) 3. Ken Salazar (D)

Connecticut 1. Joseph Lieberman (D) 3. Christopher Dodd (D)

Delaware 1. Tom Carper (D) 2. Joe Biden (D)

Florida 1. Bill Nelson (D) 3. Mel Martinez (R)

Georgia 2. Saxby Chambliss (R) 3. Johnny Isakson (R)

Hawaii 1. Daniel Akaka (D) 3. Daniel Inouye (D)

Idaho 2. Larry Craig (R) 3. Mike Crapo (R)

Illinois 2. Dick Durbin (D) 3. Barack Obama (D)

Indiana 1. Richard Lugar (R) 3. Evan Bayh (D)

Iowa 2. Tom Harkin (D) 3. Chuck Grassley (R)

Kansas 2. Pat Roberts (R) 3. Sam Brownback (R)

Kentucky 2. Mitch McConnell (R) 3. Jim Bunning (R)

Louisiana 2. Mary Landrieu (D) 3. David Vitter (R)

Maine 1. Olympia Snowe (R) 2. Susan Collins (R)

Maryland 1. Paul Sarbanes (D) 3. Barbara Mikulski (D)

Massachusetts 1. Ted Kennedy (D) 2. John Kerry (D)

Michigan 1. Debbie Stabenow (D) 2. Carl Levin (D)

Minnesota 1. Mark Dayton (DFL)The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) is affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. 2. Norm Coleman (R)

Mississippi 1. Trent Lott (R) 2. Thad Cochran (R)

Missouri 1. James Talent (R) 3. Kit Bond (R)

Montana 1. Conrad Burns (R) 2. Max Baucus (D)

Nebraska 1. Ben Nelson (D) 2. Chuck Hagel (R)

Nevada 1. John Ensign (R) 3. Harry Reid (D)

New Hampshire 2. John E. Sununu (R) 3. Judd Gregg (R)

New Jersey 1. Jon Corzine (D), until January 17, 2006 Bob Menendez (D), from January 18, 2006