Record of the 82nd Congress (First Session)

Report Outline
Major Legislation at 1951 Session
Taxation, Appropriations, Fiscal Policy
Bases of American Foreign Policy
Foreign Aid; World Trade; Immigration
National Security and Civilian Defense
Economic Controls; Regulatory Legislation
Social Welfare and Public Improvements
Government Machinery and Investigations
Special Focus

Major Legislation at 1951 Session

Because open war with Russia at times seemed close at hand, Congress gave principal attention at its 1951 session to measures to strengthen military defenses of the United States and other countries of the free world. Money was appropriated on a wartime scale for the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. The Selective Service Act was continued in force and foundations were laid for a permanent system of universal military training. Economic aid under the Marshall Plan was tapered off, but military aid to the North Atlantic allies and other friendly nations was largely expanded, and approval was given to the assignment of American ground forces to Western Europe on a semi-permanent basis.

While committing vast sums for military preparation, Congress withheld most of the funds asked by the administration for a comprehensive program of civil defense, and it greatly weakened the powers to combat inflation which had been so readily granted in 1950, after American intervention in Korea.

Price control authority under the Defense Production Act was watered down by amendments and substantial increases in rents were directly authorized. Curbs on real estate and installment credit were relaxed and administration requests for new or expanded authority to control bank lending and commodity speculation were denied.