THE RECORD OF THE 83rd

In its first session, the 83rd U.S. Congress:

Appropriated a total of $52.9 billion, $13.3 billion less than Harry Truman proposed and $3.9 billion less than Dwight Eisenhower requested.

Approved, with minor cuts, the President's defense bill, with its controversial reduced goal for the Air Force.

Accepted the Administration's Mutual Security program, after slimming it down to $4.5 billion in new funds.

Adopted the President's tax program, i.e., extended the excess profits tax and made no change in income tax rates.

Extended the reciprocal trade program, and empowered the President to appoint a commission to study the whole foreign trade question.

Continued the presidential power to reorganize Government departments, and approved ten specific reorganization plans, including the new Cabinet department of Health, Education and Welfare and an overhaul of the Mutual Security Organization and the State Department's information program.

Gave title to offshore oil lands to coastal states.

Established a Small Business Administration, paving the way for liquidation of the Reconstruction Finance Corp.

Authorized entry into the U.S. of 214,000 European refugees, in addition to fixed immigration quotas, during the next three years and five months.

Established commissions to study state-federal relationships and to study the efficiency of the Federal Government.

Continued the President's powers to allocate and establish priorities on defense materials, but shunned other controls.

Authorized the sale of Government-owned synthetic rubber plants to private owners.

Earmarked $200 million to begin rehabilitation of Korea.

Gave the President authority to ship limited amounts of surplus crops to friendly needy nations.

Watered down and passed the Administration bill to simplify customs procedures (see BUSINESS).

Postponed action on the St. Lawrence Seaway, changes in postal rates, to statehood for Hawaii, extension of Social Security, revision of the Taft-Hartley law.

Shelved the Bricker amendment to limit the President's treaty-making powers.

Rejected the President's request for an increase in the U.S. debt limit.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.