1974, February - Elected to Congress. (pictured below with then House Majority Leader "Tip" O'Neill)

1975, February - President Ford asks Murtha to be part of the first Congressional fact-finding mission to Vietnam after U.S. forces had been withdrawn.

1976, January - Appointed to the House Appropriations Committee.

1977 - During the devastating Johnstown Flood of 1977, Murtha convinces Congress to pass legislation giving the federal government the authority to rebuild damaged public facilities and to provide grants and loans to property owners for repairs and construction. (pictured below with President Carter and Senator Daniel Inouye)

1978 - Returns to Vietnam to discuss with the Vietnamese the issue of Americans still listed as missing in action and to bring back the remains of Americans that had been found in recent years.

1979 - Congressman Murtha co-founded the Congressional Steel Caucus to preserve what remained of Americaís steel industry by fighting subsidized steel imports.

1982, November - At the request of Speaker "Tip" O'Neill, Murtha leads a Congressional delegation to Lebanon and Egypt to assess President Reagan's decision to deploy U.S. Marines to Lebanon in the midst of civil unrest. He returned and warned that our troops were in a vulnerable position and that the force was inadequate to attain the mission outlined by the State Department. He argued for the withdrawal of the Marines from Beirut. (pictured below with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Cong. Nick Rahall and Cong. Bob Livingston)

1984, May - Murtha, representing the House of Representatives, President Reagan, and Senator Strom Thurmond, representing the Senate, preside at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda honoring the Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War before the remains were carried to the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. (pictured below with President Reagan and Senator Strom Thurmond)

1986 - President Reagan names Murtha and Senator Dick Lugar co-chairman of a presidential delegation to monitor the Philippine Elections of 1986. (pictured below with Speaker "Tip" O'Neill and Philippine President "Cory" Aquino)

1987 - Becomes Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

1988, August - Accompanies Secretary of State George Shultz to Pakistan for the state funeral of President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq. After the funeral, Murtha and Congressman Charlie Wilson meet with the Afghan resistance fighters on their battle against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

1989, May - President George H.W. Bush names Murtha Chairman of the U.S. delegation to monitor the elections in Panama. (pictured below with Panama President Guillermo Endara)

1990 - Retires from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel following a distinguished 37-year career. (pictured below)

1990 - Leads Congressional delegation to the Middle East following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The delegation met with President Mubarak of Egypt, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf. (pictured below)

1991 - Helps establish the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) with a mission of providing hope by promoting innovative research, recognizing untapped opportunities, creating partnerships, and guarding the public trust. Since that time, Congress provides over $2.2 billion for breast cancer research, over $850 million for prostate cancer research, and millions of dollars for other diseases.

1992 - Championed the passage of the Coal Act in the House of Representatives and worked with Senator Rockefeller to win Senate passage. Its purpose was to ensure 120,000 retired miners and their spouses would receive lifetime health benefits by creating dedicated federal funds.

1993 - Receives the distinguished Harry S. Truman Award of the National Guard Association of the United States, for advocating the National Guard's role in national defense.

1996, September - President Clinton names Murtha co-chairman of a U.S. delegation to oversee the first post-war election in Bosnia.

1998 - Congress passes the Murtha-McDade Amendment, which codified that federal prosecutors are bound by the ethics rules of the jurisdictions in which they are practicing.

2002, September - President Bush signs into law a bill authored by Murtha and Senator Arlen Specter to authorize and establish a national memorial to honor and commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 93 at the crash site in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. (pictured below with President Bush, Senator Rick Santorum and Senator Arlen Specter)

2003 - Learns through the Air Force Surgeon General that 144,000 Air Force personnel and members of their families have diabetes. Determined to reverse the diabetes epidemic in the military as well as throughout Western Pennsylvania, he begins directing federal funds for diabetes research, education and outreach. Since this time, over $125 million has been directed towards these efforts.

2005, November 17 - Publicly calls for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. (pictured below)

2006, May 22 - Receives the prestigious 2006 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. (pictured below with Caroline Kennedy and Alberto Mora)