S. 3187, National Defense Education Act, bill version, February 5, 1958

Senator Lister Hill of Alabama chaired the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, which was responsible for education legislation. He and Representative Carl A. Elliott, also of Alabama, authored the National Defense Education Act and were the driving forces behind its passage. Under this act, Congress greatly increased federal influence on public education.

Records of the U.S. Senate, National Archives and Records Administration