# What is the last significant accomplishment by Congress? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 29, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201 "2016-09-29T14:04:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/1 "2016-09-29T14:04:45Z")
Seems like most (all?) of the news about Congress for some time has seen them either doing nothing or doing - um - silly or arguably harmful things. Not trying to be partisan, just interested in opinions as to some recent instances in which Congress really did something important and correct. And, then, maybe we could debate the suggestions and/or reasons. For example, IMO ACA was a huge accomplishment, because it was a nod to the direction healthcare needs to go. But it is really a crappy law. So I’m loathe to put it in the same category as - say - the Civil Rights Act of 64… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/2 "2016-09-29T14:59:43Z")
I think you can argue that the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act enacted just this week is a significant accomplishment, although it remains to be seen whether or not it’s a good idea. At the very least, it’s an example of the two parties working together. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/3 "2016-09-29T18:10:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think you can argue that the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act enacted just this week is a significant accomplishment, although it remains to be seen whether or not it’s a good idea. At the very least, it’s an example of the two parties working together. I wish this was less disturbingly accurate than it is. Yes, it was significant, but perhaps it was “significant” in the way that shooting yourself in the foot is “significant”. And the parties are working together to achieve something counter-productive. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/4 "2016-09-29T18:16:44Z")
Well, the Patriot Act was pretty darned significant. Pretty darned significantly horrible, IMO, but huge, longlasting impact. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/5 "2016-09-29T18:24:57Z")
All I can really think of is the USA Freedom Act, which made some pretty significant adjustments to how the government collects information about phone calls relating to terrorism investigations. That was last summer. But of course that falls way short of the standard of ACA, of course. The next most significant thing that comes to my mind is the Budget Control Act of 2011, which set spending caps that triggered sequestration, contributed towards a government shutdown, and generally has done nothing useful at all. ---
**Author:** ![quimper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7c8e57/32.png) [@quimper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quimper)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/6 "2016-09-29T18:31:32Z")
Didn’t they avoid a shutdown today, a whole 30ish hours before the deadline? That’s not nothing. But yeah, otherwise they’ve basically been stepping on their own dicks (JASTA and the veto override) the whole session. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/7 "2016-09-29T19:05:02Z")
Passing the PBOR2 (Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/8 "2016-09-29T19:36:18Z")
National Cauliflower Day? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/9 "2016-09-29T20:19:01Z")
Going on recess until mid-November. “First, Do No Harm.” ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/10 "2016-09-29T21:24:01Z")
[The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act](https://www.transportation.gov/fastact) is something of a major step forward, sort of. Although it could be argued this is just a long term continuation of existing policies, it’s still better than a mess of short term extensions. > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Going on recess until mid-November. > > “First, Do No Harm.” HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW … that’s rich … ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/11 "2016-09-29T21:56:54Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW … that’s rich … It’s not funny. Congress can do no harm until mid-November at the earliest. Likewise for the recess they had in July and August. This is a very good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/12 "2016-09-29T23:08:17Z")
Affordable care act of 2010 ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/13 "2016-09-30T01:43:26Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It’s not funny. Congress can do no harm until mid-November at the earliest. Likewise for the recess they had in July and August. > > This is a very good thing. This is along my lines of thinking. Just about the last thing I want is a Congress with a “significant accomplishment”. I much prefer my Congresses to do nothing. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/14 "2016-09-30T15:50:26Z")
The sequester was good, but they undid a lot of it from what I hear. Congress has reasserted itself -somewhat- after 2010. People call this obstruction and get really upset about it. I like it. The money is still flowing at insane levels, but I think it would be a lot worse. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/15 "2016-09-30T16:52:31Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It’s not funny. Congress can do no harm until mid-November at the earliest. Likewise for the recess they had in July and August. > > This is a very good thing. I always find this an odd position. Sherman Antitrust Act, Pure Food and Drug Act, Federal Reserve Act, Social Security Act, Wagner Act, Federal Highway Act, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act to name a few. Not to mention countless actions crucial to the function of our country, and vital to a separation of powers. You’re right - Congress has never done a damn thing that wasn’t harmful.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/16 "2016-10-01T01:26:15Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > You’re right - Congress has never done a damn thing that wasn’t harmful.:rolleyes: I never said that. Thanks for misrepresenting my position in Great Debates. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/17 "2016-10-01T02:55:31Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I never said that. Thanks for misrepresenting my position in Great Debates. > > :rolleyes: OK - I guess I conflated your post with the not terribly different one quoting you. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/18 "2016-10-01T03:28:31Z")
This is something: > **[Official: One-third of calls to VA suicide hotline roll over](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-third-of-va-suicide-hotline-calls-unanswered-ex-director-says/)** > > Front-line staff at VA’s Veterans Crisis Line work little and leave early, hotline's former director says; House passes bill to expand service Plus they are passing budgets now, which is a very good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/19 "2016-10-01T05:26:26Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Plus they are passing budgets now, which is a very good thing. Congress hasn’t passed a budget fully prior to the fiscal year in question in years. This week, they passed a continuing resolution (again!) to fund the government through December 9. It will be up to a Lame Duck Congress to pass another CR before December 9 and require the new Congress to do the same after they are sworn in. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201/20 "2016-10-01T05:40:08Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > This is along my lines of thinking. Just about the last thing I want is a Congress with a “significant accomplishment”. I much prefer my Congresses to do nothing. But pass a budget. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-last-significant-accomplishment-by-congress/767201.md?page=2)