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Civil War Sesquicentennial
The Great Uprising of the North--An Anniversary Picture--April 12, 1862.
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, a continuing series of online features explores the Senate's wartime experience.
This Week in Senate History
Cartoon, Harper's Weekly, 1860
January 31, 1873

The Senate passed an act abolishing its free mailing privileges on this date. The tradition of legislators sending mail by using their signature—a "frank"—dates back to the 17th-century British House of Commons. The first Congress wrote that practice into law in 1789.

 

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2012 Session Schedule
Scheduled Hearings
Active Legislation
Votes
Floor Schedule

Monday, Feb 06, 2012

2:00 p.m.: Convene and begin a period of morning business.

Thereafter, begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.658, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.


Previous Meeting

Thursday, Feb 02, 2012

The Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:46 p.m. 11 record votes were taken.


Daily Digest(latest issue)


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Executive Calendar(latest issue, PDF format)


Floor Activity
View the previous legislative day's Floor Activity.
Celebrating Black History Month

We honor the many African Americans who have enriched the history of the Senate. In 1870 Hiram Revels of Mississippi became the first African American senator. Five years later Blanche K. Bruce of Mississippi took the oath of office, and became the first African American to preside over the Senate in 1879. It would be nearly another century before Edward Brooke of Massachusetts followed in their historic footsteps in 1967.


Hiram Revels Edward Brooke Carol Moseley Braun

In 1993 Carol Moseley Braun broke another barrier, becoming the first African American female senator. In January of 2005, Barack Obama of Illinois brought the number to five. When Senator Obama resigned from office to become the 44th President of the United States in 2009, the Illinois governor appointed Roland Burris to fill the vacant seat.


These distinguished individuals have enriched the history of the Senate, but the role of African Americans in Senate history is not limited to those who served in elected office.
More on Black History Month


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