Legislative Record of the Seventieth Congress (First Session)

Report Outline
Taxation and Appropriations
Flood Control and Farm Legislation
Public Utility and Power Legislation
Merchant Marine. Transportation and Communication
National Defense and Aviation
Foreign Relations
Elections and Campaign Contributions
Miscellaneous Legislation

The first session of the Seventieth Congress, which convened December 5, 1927, came to a close May 29, 1928, after nearly a thousand new public laws had been placed upon the statute book. While the legislative output exceeded that of any recent session, the grist of important legislation was comparatively small. New legislation was enacted for control of Mississippi River floods and a new tax reduction bill was passed by both houses and signed by the President. Final action was taken upon several pieces of major legislation left over from previous Congresses, but other legislative projects inherited by the present Congress - dealing with railroad consolidation, coal strike emergencies, final revision of the quota system, departmental reorganization made little progress during its first session. At the close of the session the problem of farm relief was no nearer a solution than it was when the session met.

Important legislation approved by the House and Senate during the first session and signed by the President included the following:

Renewal of federal-aid road appropriations for two additional years. Increased appropriations for agricultural extension work and reforestation in coöperation with the states