730, August 9, 1955: Reserve Forces Act, , August 11, 1955: National Housing Act ("Capehart Act"), , August 12, 1955: Poliomyelitis Vaccination Assistance Act, , ch. 863, April 11, 1956: Colorado River Storage Project Act, June 29, 1956: Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, (National Interstate and Defense Highways Act), July 30, 1956: Health Research Facilities Act, , ch. 779, August 8, 1956: Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, ch. 1036, , Party summary The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section. Senate House of Representatives Leadership Senate President: Richard Nixon (R) President pro tempore: Walter F. George (D) Majority (Democratic) leadership Majority Leader and Democratic Conference chairman: Lyndon B. Johnson Majority Whip: Earle Clements Democratic Caucus Secretary: Thomas C. Hennings Jr. Minority (Republican) leadership Minority Leader: William Knowland Minority Whip: Leverett Saltonstall Republican Conference chairman: Eugene Millikin Republican Conference Secretary: Milton Young National Senatorial Committee Chair: Barry Goldwater Policy Committee Chairman: Styles Bridges House of Representatives Speaker: Sam Rayburn (D) Majority (Democratic) leadership Majority Leader: John W. McCormack Majority Whip: Carl Albert Democratic Caucus chairman: John J. Rooney Democratic Caucus Secretary: Edna F. Kelly Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Michael J. Kirwan Minority (Republican) leadership Minority Leader: Joseph W. Martin Jr. Minority Whip: Leslie C. Arends Republican Conference chairman: Clifford R. Hope Policy Committee Chairman: Joseph W. Martin Jr. Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Richard M. Simpson Caucuses House Democratic Caucus Senate Democratic Caucus Members This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senate Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1958; Class 2 meant their term began with this Congress, facing re-election in 1960; and Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1956. Alabama 2. John Sparkman (D) 3. J. Lister Hill (D) Arizona 1. Barry Goldwater (R) 3. Carl Hayden (D) Arkansas 2. John L. McClellan (D) 3. J. William Fulbright (D) California 1. William Knowland (R) 3. Thomas Kuchel (R) Colorado 2. Gordon