The 96th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1981, during the last two years of Jimmy Carter's presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1970 census. Both chambers retained a Democratic majority (though downgraded from the supermajority status in the previous Congress), and with President Carter, maintained an overall federal government trifecta. This is the most recent Congress to feature a Democratic senator from Idaho, Frank Church, who lost re-election in 1980. Major events March 28, 1979: Partial nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island July 11, 1979: Skylab began its return to earth November 4, 1979: Iran hostage crisis began 1979 energy crisis February 2, 1980: Abscam became public April 7, 1980: End of Iran-United States diplomatic relations May 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens erupted 1980 United States heat wave November 4, 1980: United States elections: Reagan/Bush defeated Carter/Mondale. Republicans gain control of the Senate; the first time Republicans gain control of either chamber since 1954. Major legislation April 10, 1979: Taiwan Relations Act, September 9, 1979: Panama Canal Act of 1979, , October 17, 1979: Department of Education Organization Act, , March 17, 1980: Refugee Act, , September 19, 1980: Regulatory Flexibility Act, , September 29, 1980: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980, , October 14, 1980: Staggers Rail Act of 1980, , October 15, 1980: Classified Information Procedures Act, , December 2, 1980: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, , December 11, 1980: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), , December 11, 1980: Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, , December 12, 1980: Defense Officer Personnel Management Act, December 12, 1980: Bayh–Dole Act, , December 22, 1980: Nuclear Safety, Research, Demonstration, and Development Act of 1980, , Party summary Senate House of Representatives Leadership Senate President: Walter Mondale (D) President pro tempore: Warren Magnuson (D) Milton Young (R), for just for one day: December 5, 1980 Majority (Democratic) leadership Majority Leader: Robert Byrd Majority Whip: Alan Cranston Democratic Caucus Secretary: Daniel Inouye Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Wendell Ford Minority (Republican) leadership Minority Leader: Howard Baker Minority Whip: Ted Stevens Republican Conference Chairman: Bob Packwood Republican Conference Secretary: Jake Garn National Senatorial Committee