John E. Moss
Encyclopedia
John Emerson Moss was an American
politician
of the Democratic party
, noted for his championing of the federal Freedom of Information Act
through multiple sessions of the United States House of Representatives
where he served from 1953 to 1978.
Moss was born in Hiawatha
, Carbon County
, Utah
, in 1915, and moved with his family to Sacramento, California
in 1923 where he attended public school and Sacramento Junior College
. He held various sales, credit executive, and retail jobs from 1938 and 1943. In 1938 he joined the California Democratic State Central committee where he remained until 1980. He died in San Francisco
, California
in 1997.
Moss served in the United States Navy
during World War II
and was elected to the California State Legislature
in 1949, where he served as the Democratic floor leader until 1952. Moss served in the US House of Representatives for California's 3rd congressional district
for 13 terms from 1953 until he retired in 1978. He was nominated by both the Democratic and Republican parties in 1958 and ran unopposed in 1960. Moss earned the distinction of never being defeated in an election for public office.
Moss held the chair for the following subcommittees in the House of Representatives:
He also served on the following committees:
His legislative record includes:
Moss also played an active role in furthering legislative oversight, chairing hearings related to the World Uranium Cartel, FBI foreign security surveillance during the Vietnam War
, abuse in federal contracting, GAAP
, defensive medicine
, pricing and supply of natural gas
, passive restraint systems for passenger cars, regulation of pesticides, and amendments to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
. Congressman Moss is considered the father of modern legislative oversight.
On May 1, 1973 Moss was also the first to call for the House to set up procedures for a bill of impeachment during the Watergate scandal
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Democratic party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, noted for his championing of the federal Freedom of Information Act
Freedom of Information Act (United States)
The Freedom of Information Act is a federal freedom of information law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government. The Act defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure...
through multiple sessions of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
where he served from 1953 to 1978.
Moss was born in Hiawatha
Hiawatha, Utah
Hiawatha is a ghost town, formerly a coal mining town in Carbon County, Utah, United States. The town is located at the base of Gentry Mountain, some 12 miles southwest of Price. It used to be a vibrant mining town, with a population of above 1,500 in the 1940s...
, Carbon County
Carbon County, Utah
Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for the major coal deposits in the area, the county seat and largest city, is Price. Carbon County is the second largest natural gas producer in Utah , with 94 billion cubic feet produced in 2008. As of 2010 the population was...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, in 1915, and moved with his family to Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
in 1923 where he attended public school and Sacramento Junior College
Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College is a two-year community college located in Sacramento, California. SCC is part of the Los Rios Community College District and had an enrollment of 25,307 in 2009. Sacramento City College is officially accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges , offering...
. He held various sales, credit executive, and retail jobs from 1938 and 1943. In 1938 he joined the California Democratic State Central committee where he remained until 1980. He died in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1997.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was elected to the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
in 1949, where he served as the Democratic floor leader until 1952. Moss served in the US House of Representatives for California's 3rd congressional district
California's 3rd congressional district
California's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. It covers most of Sacramento County and part of Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties...
for 13 terms from 1953 until he retired in 1978. He was nominated by both the Democratic and Republican parties in 1958 and ran unopposed in 1960. Moss earned the distinction of never being defeated in an election for public office.
Moss held the chair for the following subcommittees in the House of Representatives:
- Special Subcommittee on Government Information
- Foreign Operations and Government Information Subcommittee of the House Government Operations Committee
- Commerce and Finance and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittees of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce
- Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce
He also served on the following committees:
- Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Power
- Subcommittee on Government Information and Individual Rights
- Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security
- Committees on Post Office and Civil Service and House Administration
- Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
His legislative record includes:
- Freedom of Information Act, which he authored and sponsored through several iterations
- Consumer Product Safety ActConsumer Product Safety ActThe Consumer Product Safety Act was enacted in 1972 by the United States Congress. It established the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission as an independent agency of the United States federal government and defined its basic authority...
, which he authored and advocated - Federal Trade Commission Improvements Act, also known as the Magnuson-Moss Act
- Deregulatory legislation to establish NASDAQNASDAQThe NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
- Consumer protection legislation, including protection against hazards related to automobiles, toys, and toxins
Moss also played an active role in furthering legislative oversight, chairing hearings related to the World Uranium Cartel, FBI foreign security surveillance during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, abuse in federal contracting, GAAP
Gaap
In demonology, Gaap is a mighty Prince and Great President of Hell, commanding sixty-six legions of demons. He is, according to The Lesser Key of Solomon, the king and prince of the southern region of Hell and Earth, and according to the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum the king of the western region and...
, defensive medicine
Defensive Medicine
Defensive medicine is the practice of diagnostic or therapeutic measures conducted primarily not to ensure the health of the patient, but as a safeguard against possible malpractice liability. Fear of litigation has been cited as the driving force behind defensive medicine...
, pricing and supply of natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
, passive restraint systems for passenger cars, regulation of pesticides, and amendments to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 is a United States federal law known primarily for two of its main provisions, one that addresses accounting transparency requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and another concerning bribery of foreign officials.- Provisions and scope...
. Congressman Moss is considered the father of modern legislative oversight.
On May 1, 1973 Moss was also the first to call for the House to set up procedures for a bill of impeachment during the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
.