Congress Timeline

1777 Jun 14 The Continental Congress Approved The Design Of A National Flag
Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, Americans have commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes...
1783 Apr 15 Congress Ratifies Peace With Great Britain
On this day in 1783, the Continental Congress of the United States officially ratifies the preliminary peace treaty with Great Britain that was signed in November 1782. The congressional ...
1789 Sep 29 The United States Congress Passes An Act Officially Creating The Military Of The United States
On September 29, 1789, the final day of its very first session, the United States Congress passed "An act to recognize and adapt to the Constitution of the United States, the establishmen...
1845 Feb 26 Congress Passes The Joint Resolution To Annex Texas
James K. Polk, a Democrat and a strong supporter of territorial expansion, was elected president in November 1844 with a mandate to acquire both the Republic of Texas and Oregon Country. ...
1848 Jan 4 John C. Calhoun Makes A Speech To Congress
This was a controversial proposition for two reasons. First, idealistic advocates of Manifest Destiny like John L. O'Sullivan had always maintained that the laws of the United States shou...
1848 Aug 14 Congress Creates The Oregon Territory
On August 14, 1848, Congress created the Oregon Territory, an area encompassing present-day Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and parts of western Montana and Wyoming. Peter Burnett, a Missouri ...
1952 Jan 3 Robert Byrd Elected as a Member of the United States House of Representatives for West Virginia's 6th Congressional District
Prior to his time in the Senate, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1952-1958, and also served in the West Virginia legislature as both State Senator and D...
1958 Robert Byrd Elected to Senate
Serving first in the House of Representatives before his election to the Senate in 1958, he is the only person ever elected to nine full Senate terms.
1967 Senator Robert Byrd is Elected Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference
In 1967 he was elected secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference, the No. 3 leadership position. He made the job important by spending almost all day on the Senate floor, scheduling v...
1971 Jan 3 Senator Robert Byrd is Elected Majority Whip
He became majority whip, or the second highest-ranking Democrat, for six years beginning in 1971.
1977 Jan 3 Senator Robert Byrd Elected Majority Leader
From 1977 to 1989 Byrd was the leader of the Senate Democrats, serving as majority leader from 1977 to 1981 and 1987 to 1989
1987 Congress Expands Women's History Week to a Month
Women's History Month is an annual declared month in the United States that highlights Women's history contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. March has been...
1989 Jan 3 Senator Robert Byrd Becomes Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee
Byrd was the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee when the Democrats were in power from 1989 to January 6, 2009, when he stepped down because of concerns about his age and was ...
2006 Jun 12 Senator Robert Byrd Becomes Longest Serving Senator in History
On June 12, 2006, Byrd became the longest-serving member ever in the U.S. Senate - serving 47 years, five months and nine days.
2008 Nov 7 Senator Robert Byrd Steps Down as Appropriations Committee Chairman
U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd announced today that he will step down as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee as of Jan. 6. First elected to the Senate in 1958, Byrd is the longes...
2009 Jun 30 Senator Robert Byrd Released From Hospital
Sen. Robert Byrd was released from the hospital Tuesday, after a six week stay that kept the 91-year-old West Virginia Democrat away from Capitol Hill. A statement from Byrd's office s...
2009 Nov 8 Senator Robert Byrd Becomes Longest Serving Member in Congress in History
In West Virginia, the late Sen. Robert Byrd is already memorialized in more than 1,000 miles of highways and in the projects and jobs, worth billions of dollars, that he delivered over ha...
2010 Jun 27 Senator Robert Byrd Admitted to Hospital for Heat Stroke and Dehydration
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, who holds the record as the longest-serving member of Congress, is seriously ill in a Washington-area hospital. The West Virginia Democrat's office says the 92-yea...
2010 Jun 28
3:00AM
 Senator Robert Byrd Dies at Age 92
Robert C. Byrd, the longest-serving senator in U.S. history and an ardent defender of the chamber's traditions, died Monday. He was 92. Byrd was best known for his ardent defense of th...
2010 Jul 2 Senator Robert Byrd's Memorial Service
Both President Obama and Vice President Biden will travel to West Virginia on Friday to attend the funeral of Sen. Robert Byrd. The Memorial Service and Celebration of Life for the 92-...