Learn the story of a place through the people that represented it through history
Joseph Rainey (R-SC), born into slavery, was the first African-American elected to the House of Representatives.
As Joe Biden is inaugurated as America's 46th President, browse his votes as a U.S. Senator
In 1949, U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey called for the abolition of the filibuster in order to advance civil rights bills; as Senate Majority Whip, he advanced civil rights bills; as a Senator in 1975, he voted to lower the threshold to break a filibuster from 67 votes to 60.
After almost a decade of ignoring or stigmatizing the victims of HIV/AIDS, Congress agrees to pass the Ryan White CARE Act, which funds the life-saving drug AZT for low-income or uninsured patients. Four senators including Sen. Jesse Helms vote against the act.