Key Federal Education Policymakers, 1985-1988, Reagan Administration

1985 - 1988 Reagan Administration

President:

Ronald Reagan (R) 1985 - 1988

Secretary of Education:

William J. Bennett
Lauro F. Cavazos (1988)

Major education actions:

1985 - Health Research Extension Act (P.L. 99-158)
1985 - Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act (P.L. 99-425) [Note 6]
1986 - Education of the Deaf Act (P.L. 99-371) [Note 5]
1986 - Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-457)
1986 - Sections 51 & 52 of Internal Revenue Code (Work Opportunity Credit) [Note 4]
1986 - Handicapped Children's Protection Act (P.L. 99-372) [Note 2]
1986 - Higher Education Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-498) [Note 3]
1986 - Anti-Drug Abuse Act (Title IV, Subtitle C, Indian Education Programs; P.L. 99-570) [Note 2]
1987 - McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77) [Note 2]
1987 - Hawkins-Stafford School Improvements (P.L. 100-297)
1988 - Tribally Controlled Schools Act (in P.L. 100-297) [Note 2]
1988 - Section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act [Note 4]
1988 - Education and Training for a Competitive America Act (P.L. 100-418)
1988 - Educational Partnerships Act (P.L. 100-418)
1988 - Bilingual Education Act amended
1988 - Section 5051 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (National Commission on Drug-Free Schools; P.L. 100-690) [Note 5]

99th Congress (1985-1986)

SENATE: 53-Rep, 47-Dem.
- Vice-President: George H. W. Bush (R)
- Majority Leader: Robert Dole (R-KS)
- Minority Leader: Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
- Committee: Labor and Human Resources
  - Chair: Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
  - Ranking Minority Member: Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)

HOUSE: 253-Dem, 182-Rep.
- Speaker: Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. (D-MA)
- Majority Leader: James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX)
- Minority Leader: Robert H. Michel (R-IL)
- Committee: Committee on Education and Labor
  - Chair: Augustus F. Hawkins (D-CA)
  - Ranking Minority Member: James M. Jeffords (R-VT)

100th Congress (1987-1988)

SENATE: 55-Dem, 45-Rep.
- Vice-President: George H. W. Bush (R)
- Majority Leader: Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
- Minority Leader: Robert Dole (R-KS)
- Committee: Labor and Human Resources
  - Chair: Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
  - Ranking Minority Member: Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

HOUSE: 258-Dem, 177-Rep.
- Speaker: James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX)
- Majority Leader: Thomas S. Foley (D-WA)
- Minority Leader: Robert H. Michel (R-IL)
- Committee: Committee on Education and Labor
  - Chair: Augustus F. Hawkins (D-CA)
  - Ranking Minority Member: James M. Jeffords (R-VT)