United States Congress

"S.H.I.E.L.D. implodes and everyone wants answers. The CIA, NSA, NRO, them I can handle, but Congress, Congress is like kindergarten."

- Maria Hill

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Howard Stark's Congressional Hearing
"May I ask a question?" "Not until you answer the question already before this committee." "It's been so long, I don't even remember what it was."

- Howard Stark and Senator Webster

Three days of Congressional hearings were held when inventions of Howard Stark were stolen from his mansion in New York City in 1946. Stark was viewed as a traitor by the general public because his testimony was less than convincing to Senator Webster. Stark did not attend the third day of hearings and became a fugitive, bringing him to the attention of the Strategic Scientific Reserve.

False Credits
"You play your cards right, son, you could get a Congressional honor out of the situation."

- Walt Cooper

Senator Walt Cooper went to the New York Bell Company Office to congratulate Jack Thompson for quelling Johann Fennhoff's Campaign; he told the Strategic Scientific Reserve leader that he could get a Congressional medal for his work. Thompson took the credit though it was Peggy Carter who actually did most of the work.

California Senate Race
"Here's the youngest member of the Arena Club, running for Senate unopposed. Who could have seen this coming?"

- Vernon Masters

In 1947, California Representative Anderson was in a Senate race against the businessman Calvin Chadwick, head of Isodyne Energy.

Days later, Anderson was forced by the Council of Nine to allow Chadwick to run unopposed.

Tony Stark's Congressional Hearing
"My priority is to get the Iron Man weapon turned over to the people of the United States of America."

- Senator Stern

Justin Hammer, James Rhodes, and Tony Stark were in a Congressional hearing as Senator Stern wanted the Iron Man Armors to become property of the United States Armed Forces. Stark contended that the armors were his and private property; he spoke to the audience watching the hearing, saying that he was a one-man deterrent against war and should be thanked for his effort. Stark then showed film clips that proved that other countries were not advanced enough to duplicate his technology to use as a viable weapon. He even displayed footage that Hammer Industries was not as advanced as it claimed, causing Hammer to lose his government contracts.

Ivan Vanko watched these events since they were televised.

HYDRA Uprising
"So if you want to arrest me, arrest me. You'll know where to find me."

- Natasha Romanoff

The United States Congress interviewed Maria Hill and other agents after the implosion of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Natasha Romanoff was in a Congressional hearing when Congressman Wenham told her that she should be imprisoned for leaking information as she did during the devastating Battle at the Triskelion. When Hill was leaving a Senate hearing and discussing her feeling about it to Pepper Potts, Hill described how she would rather deal with the NRO to the annoying Congress.

Sokovia Accords
"The Sokovia Accords are the law of the land now."

- Glenn Talbot

Though the House of Representatives found the document too encompassing, in an extremely rare act of bipartisanship, the United States Senate voted 98 to 1 approving the passage of the Sokovia Accords.

The Tour in the Playground
"Well, luckily, the United States Congress is used to waiting around. Right, guys?"

- Jeffrey Mace

A group of Congressmen toured the Playground base with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new Director Jeffrey Mace and Agent Phil Coulson. With the tour Mace wanted to impress the to get more funds for S.H.I.E.L.D. from the US Government and the United Nations. At the end of the tour, Agent Coulson took a picture of Mace with the group.

Trivia

 * In a deleted scene, Phil Coulson was present at the Congressional hearing of Tony Stark.
 * Though never referred to as such in the MCU, Harry S. Truman was a former U.S. Senator.