National Education Association : United States Congress Cards
United States Congress trading cards were published from 1989–1993 by the
National Education Association (NEA) political action committee. Each series
features a black-and-white congressional portrait for every member of the
House of Representatives and Senate.
101st United States Congress cards were released in 1989. The 540-card series imitates the grey and white design of 1989 Fleer Baseball trading cards.
Democrat cards contain a blue photo border and Republican cards have a red photo border. The 1989 series is copyrighted by NEA-PAC. The 101st Congress set includes Utah Senator Jake Garn, Florida
Representative Bill Nelson, and Ohio Senator John Glenn.
Jake Garn served as a Utah Senator from December 21, 1974 – January 3, 1993. Senator Garn was a payload specialist on Space
Shuttle Discovery mission STS-51-D from April 12–19, 1985.
Jake Garn is the first sitting member of Congress to travel into space.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson served in the House of Representatives from
1972–1991, and as Florida Senator from 2001–2019. Nelson is the second
sitting member of Congress to travel into space. Nelson was a payload
specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-61-C from
January 12–18, 1986. Bill Nelson was sworn in as the 14th NASA Administrator
on May 3, 2021.
Mercury astronaut John Glenn served as Ohio Senator in the 94th–105th
Congress from December 24, 1974 – January 3, 1999. Glenn is the first
American to orbit the Earth, completing three orbits in the Friendship 7 spacecraft on February 20, 1962. Senator Glenn was a payload
specialist on Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-95 from October 29 –
November 7, 1998. John Glenn is the third and last sitting member of
Congress to travel into space.
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102nd United States Congress cards were released in 1991. The series features
blue cards for both political parties. The 102nd Congress set includes
Jake Garn and John Glenn.
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103rd United States Congress cards were released in 1993. The series imitates the border and banner design of 1991 Topps Baseball trading cards. The 103rd Congress set includes Senator Glenn.