but the 111th congress rewrote the rules for wall street in the most comprehensive way since the great depression .
on wednesday , president obama added however history judges the 535 men and women in the u.s. house of representatives and senate the past two years , one thing is certain : the 111th congress made more law affecting more americans since the “ great society ” legislation of the 1960s .
for the first time since president theodore roosevelt began the quest for a national health - care system more than 100 years ago , the democrat - led house and senate took the biggest step toward achieving that goal by giving 32 million americans access to insurance .
the list grew longer during this month 's frenetic lame - duck session : tax cuts , a nuclear arms treaty and a repeal of the " do n't ask , do n't tell " policy on gays in the military .
all were using radically different strategies .
the senate approved it on a voice vote , the house by a vote of 206 - 60 .
before adjournment today , congress approved legislation to help rescuers and clean - up crews suffering from illnesses linked to the wreckage caused by the sept. 11 terrorist attacks in new york city .
congress approved an $ 814 billion economic stimulus , a massive health - care overhaul , and new regulations on wall street trading and consumer credit cards .
it spent more than $ 1.67 trillion to revive an economy on the verge of a depression , including tax cuts for most americans , jobs for more than 3 million , construction of roads and bridges and investment in alternative energy ; ended an almost two - year term that holds the odd distinction of being both historically busy and epically unpopular .