chaired a special subcommittee on migrant labor, 1971–1972, and the Special Subcommittee on Higher Education, 1973–1976. As chair of the latter subcommittee, O'Hara received national attention for his work on revisions to student financial assistance programs and the control of college tuition costs. O'Hara also served on the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, from 1967 to 1974, and on the Joint Committee on Congressional Operations, from 1973 to 1974. In 1973 O'Hara was appointed to the special "Hansen Committee" on a proposed reorganization of the House. Among its other recommendations, the Hansen Committee called for the creation of a House Budget Committee and the establishment of the Congressional Budget Office. In the 94th Congress O'Hara gave up his seat on the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee to accept a position on the new Budget Committee. During his second term in Congress, O'Hara was elected to serve as regional Democratic whip for Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. He held that position throughout his career and came to be recognized as one of the Democrat's most skilled floor leaders and legislative strategists. O'Hara was one of the leaders of the group of younger, generally liberal congressmen who led the fight to revive and reform the House Democratic caucus and to challenge the absolute authority of committee chairmen under the seniority system. In 1971 O'Hara waged an unsuccessful campaign for majority leader of the House. A founding member of the Democratic Study Group in 1959, O'Hara served as vice chairman of the liberal reform group in 1965–1966 and as chairman in 1967–1968. O'Hara also participated in the Conference of Great Lakes Congressmen and was elected to succeed John Blatnik as chairman of the group in the 94th Congress. O'Hara served on a number of national Democratic Party committees and commissions. He was frequently a delegate to the party's national convention and served on the credentials committee of the 1968 convention. After the disruptions of the 1968 convention, O'Hara was appointed by the Democratic National Committee to head a Commission on Party Rules. The Commission, which held hearings and meetings from 1969 to 1972, was charged with making recommendations for the rules and procedures for the 1972 Democratic convention. O'Hara was chairman of the 1972 Convention Rules Committee and also acted as parliamentarian for the convention. Following the 1972 convention, O'Hara was appointed to the Democratic Party Charter Commission headed by Terry Sanford. He