United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1975
Emergency Homeowners' Relief Act - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to prevent widespread mortgage defaults and the distress-sale of homes as a result of adverse economic conditions. Authorizes and directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make repayable emergency mortgage relief payments on behalf of distressed homeowners when he determines that such action is necessary and that there is a reasonable prospect that the homeowner will be able to make necessary adjustments for the full resumption of mortgage payments. Defines "distressed homeower" as one or more persons who own and occupy a dwelling as a principal residence and whose income has declined by more than 20 percent as the result of unemployment or other adverse economic conditions. Limits relief payments to a period not exceeding two years. Provides that payments be repaid on such terms as the Secretary prescribes. Empowers the Secretary to delegate any of his functions under this Act to other Federal agencies or private entities. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a revolving fund for mortgage relief payments and other specified purposes, including payment of obligations issued to the Secretary of the Treasury to enable the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out his functions under this Act. Provides for a payment expiration date of July 1, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1975
Provides, under the Act to Incorporate the American University, that all property of the corporation shall be held, in perpetuity for educational purposes, and if not so held all right, title and interest shall vest in the Board of Education of the United Methodist Church. Provides that no amendment to such Act shall be proposed by the board of trustees unless first approved by not less than two-thirds of the total duly elected membership of such board.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1975
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives to enter into agreements with the State of Maryland, the State of Virginia, and the Commissioner of the District of Columbia, at the request for any such agreement from the proper official, which shall provide that in the case of any Member of Congress or any congressional employee who is subject to Virginia, Maryland, or the District of Columbia income tax and who voluntarily agrees to the withholding from his pay with respect to such tax and the appropriate disbursing officer shall comply with the State or District of Columbia withholding statute.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Handgun Control Act - Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to: (1) import, manufacture, sell, buy, transfer, receive, or transport any handgun or handgun ammunition; (2) to own or possess any handgun or handgun ammunition; and (3) to sell or otherwise transfer any handgun or handgun ammunition which is exempted from the provisions of this Act to any person other than a person who is a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, without presentation by such person of such written verification as the Secretary of the Treasury may by regulation prescribe that the receipt or purchase of such handgun or handgun ammunition is being made by or on behalf of a person or governmental entity eligible to obtain and possess handguns, or a licensed pistol club. Requires every manufacturer, importer, or dealer who sells or otherwise transfers handguns or handgun ammunition to maintain such records of any sale or transfer to handguns and handgun ammunition as the Secretary may by regulation require. Stipulates that every licensed pistol club should maintain records of the receipt, sale, or other disposition of any of its handguns or the handguns of its members. States that pistol clubs may be licensed if they file an application with the Secretary and meet specific criteria, including the following: (1) no member of such pistol club is a person whose membership or participation in the club is in violation of any applicable State law; (2) no member os such pistol club is prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving firearms or ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce under the provisions of this Act; and (3) no member of such pistol club has willfully violated any of the provisions of this Act or any regulations issued thereunder. Grants the Secretary authority to revoke any license issued to a pistol club under this Act if the holder of such license has violated any provision of this act or any rule or regulation issued thereunder by the Secretary. Requires pistol clubs to: (1) maintain possession and control of all handguns used or owned by its members; (2) permit such handguns to be used only by its members; (3) have procedures and facilities for storing such handguns in a secure place; (4) maintain records of the date, time, and place of every use of each handgun in its possession and control; and (5) establish such procedures as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe for monitoring the use of all handguns in its possession or control. Sets forth penalties for violation of the provisions of this Act. Exempts governmental entities and professional security guard services from the provisions of this Act. Provides that a person may at any time voluntarily deliver to any Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency designed by the Secretary a handgun owned or possessed by such person. States that such individual may claim an income tax credit equal to the fair market value of the handgun or $25, whichever is greater.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Specifies that the provisions of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stocks Piling Act regarding the acquisition and development of strategic raw materials shall not apply to regulations or prohibitions pertaining to economic relations and/or communications with foreign nations or foreign nationals which are established under the authority of the United Nations Participation Act in response to sanctions imposed by the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Reduces the rate of tax imposed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 on the self-employed, employees, and employers for the payment of the cost of the old-age, survivors and disability insurance and the hospital insurance programs of the Social Security Act. Increases the contribution and benefit base for tax determination purposes under the old-age, suriviors and disability insurance program. Increases by 50 percent the annual Federal contribution to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should not impose any tariff or other import restriction on petroleum or petroleum products before April 1, 1975, so as to give the Congress a reasonable period of time in which to act legislatively on such matter if it determines such action is necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1975
Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Act - Directs the President, with the assistance of the Council of Economic Advisors, to transmit annually a full employment and production program to the Congress. Sets forth a summary of the content to be contained in such annual report. Provides for annual Labor Reports of the President. Requires the Labor Reports to provide detailed attention on a continuing and progressively analytical basis to the changing volume and composition of the American labor supply. Renames the United States Employment Service as the United States Full Employment Service. Creates a Job Guarantee Office in the United States Full Employment Office headed by a Job Guarantee Officer whose responsibility is to provide useful and rewarding employment for any American, able and willing to work but not yet working, unable otherwise to obtain work, and applying to such office for assistance. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to carry out responsibilities under this Act upon the recommendation and approval of the local planning councils. Requires that each Job Guarantee Office in carrying out its responsibilities shall insure that among projects planned that adequate consideration be given to such individuals and groups as may face special obstacles in finding and holding useful and rewarding employment and shall provide or have provided through the coordination of existing programs special assistance including but not limited to counseling, training, and, where necessary, transportation and migration assistance. Provides that such individuals and groups shall include (1) those suffering from past or present discrimination or bias on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin; (2) older workers and retirees; (3) the physically or mentally handicapped; (4) youths to age 21; (5) potentially employable recipients of public assistance; (6) the inhabitants of depressed areas, urban and rural; (7) veterans of the Armed Forces; (8) people unemployed because of the relocation, closing, or reduced operations in industrial or military facilities; and (9) such other groups as the President or the Congress may designate from time to time. Directs that each Job Guarantee Office may, subject to the limitations specified in this Act, enter into agreements with public agencies and private organizations operating on a profit, nonprofit, or limited-profit basis. Requires such agreements to contain assurances that the agency or organization will: (1) provide an annual independent audit to the Job Guarantee Office; and (2) not discriminate on the grounds of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin in the administration of any program encompassed within the agreement. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to: (1) refer jobseekers to the private sector and general public sector employment placement facilities of the Full Employment Service (other than as supplemented by this Act); and (2) directly refer jobseekers for placement in positions on projects drawn from the reservoir of public service and private employment projects. Provides that anyone who presents himself or herself in person at the full Employment Office shall be considered prima facie "willing and able" to work. Provides that this stipulation specifically shall include persons with impairments of sight, hearing, movement, coordination, mental retardation, or other handicaps. Directs that this stipulation be implemented by the Job Guarantee Officer, prusuant to regulations issued by the Secretary. Establishes a Standby Job Corps which shall consist of jobseekers registered pursuant to this Act. Provides that such Corps shall be available for public service work upon projects and activities that are approved as a part of community public service work reservoirs established by community boards pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary, by regulation, to provide for: (1) a requirement that jobseekers registered in the Standby Job Corps maintain a status of good standing, which status shall include attendance and performance standards; and (2) a system of compensation for Corps members. Provides that no Standby Job Corps members shall be paid less than the minimum wage in effect in the area. Directs the Joint Economic Committee to: (1) annually review the activities of the executive branch under all sections of this Act; (2) regularly conduct on its own behalf, or in cooperation with or through the facilities of the appropriate legislative committees or subcommittees of the Senate and the House, public hearings in as many labor market areas as feasible; and (3) annually report upon, with its own conclusions and recommendations, the development and administration of the policies and programs mandated by this Act. Establishes a National Institute for Full Employment within the Department of Labor, under a director to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor, and to operate in continuing consultation with a National Commission for Full Employment Policy Studies. Authorizes and directs the Institute to make, or have made through grants to or contracts with individual researchers and private or public research organizations, universities, and other Government agencies, studies that shall include, but need not be limited to, such subjects as: (1) the policies and programs needed to reduce whatever inflationary pressures may result from full employment to manage any such inflationary pressures through appropriate fiscal policies and indirect and direct controls, and to protect the weaker groups in society from whatever inflationary trends cannot be avoided or controlled; (2) the identification of human potentialities that are hidden, undeveloped, or underdeveloped because of the lack of suitable job opportunities, encouragement, education, or training and of various ways of releasing such potentialities; (3) the forms of education and training needed to help provide people with the skills, knowledge, and values required by existing employment opportunities and technologies and needed to assist in developing such new types of goods, services, technologies, and employment opportunities as may better meet human needs; and (4) the policies and programs needed to substantially eliminate substandard employment, wages, and working conditions and the techniques for establishing standards for employment, wages, and working conditions in accordance with changing levels of national output and resources, and regional variations in output. Authorizes the appropriation for fiscal year 1976, and for each succeeding fiscal year of such sums as may be needed to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1975
Provides for the printing of 60,000 copies of the Constitution of the United States in Spanish, for use by members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the House Judiciary Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Excludes from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code amounts received as interest from deposits in savings and loan institutions up to $500 per year ($1000 in the case of a married couple filing a joint return).
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Health Security Act - Title I: Health Security Benefits - Provides that every resident of the U.S. (and every non-resident citizen when in the U.S.) will be eligible for covered services. Permits reciprocal and "buy-in" agreements for groups or non-resident aliens, and in some cases benefits to U.S. residents when visiting in other countries. Entitles every eligible person to have payments made by the Health Security Board for covered services provided within the United States by a participating provider. Provides that all necessary professional services of physicians, wherever furnished are covered, including preventive care, with two restrictions: (1) specialist services are covered only when performed by a qualified specialist except in emergency situations, and generally only on referral from a primary physician; and (2) psychiatric services to an ambulatory patient are covered only for active preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic or rehabilitative service with respect to mental illness. Provides that comprehensive dental services (exclusive of most orthodontic services) are covered for children under age 15, with the covered age group increasing by two years each year until all those under age 25 are covered. Provides that: (1) inpatient and outpatient hospital services and services of a home health agency are covered without arbitrary limitation; and (2) pathology and radiology services are specifically included as parts of institutional services. Limits payment for skilled nursing home care to 120 days per spell of illness, except that this limit may be increased when the nursing home is owned or managed by a hospital and payment for care is made through the hospital budget. Limits the psychiatric hospital benefit to 45 consecutive days of active treatment during a spell of illness. Provides coverage for two categories of drug use: prescribed medicines administered to inpatients or outpatients within participating hospitals; or to enrollees of comprehensive health service organizations, and drugs necessary for the treatment of specified chronic illnesses or conditions requiring long or expensive therapy. Requires the Board and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish two lists of approved drugs, taking into account the safety, efficacy and cost of each drug. Provides a broad list of approved medicines available for use in institutions and by comprehensive health service organizations and a more restricted list which is available for use outside such organized settings. Provides that the appliances benefit is similar in concept and operation to the drug benefit, subject to a limitation on aggregate cost. Asserts that the professional services of optometrists and podiatrists are covered, subject to regulations, as are diagnostic or therapeutic services furnished by independent pathology laboratories and radiology services. States that health services furnished or paid for under a workmen's compensation law are not covered. Provides that the services of a professional practitioner are not covered if they are furnished in a hospital which is not a participating provider. Requires that participating providers meet standards established in this title or by the Board. Requires that such providers must agree to provide services without discrimination, to make no unauthorized charge to the patient for any covered service, and to furnish data necessary for utilization review by professional peers, statistical studies by the Board, and verification of information for payments. Makes professional practitioners licensed when the program begins eligible to practice in the State where they are licensed and requires that all newly licensed applicants for participation meet national standards established by the Board in addition to those required by his State. Establishes conditions of participation for general hospitals similar to those required by Medicare. States that the two requirements not found in the Medicare program are: (1) that the hospital must not discriminate in granting staff privileges on any grounds unrelated to professional qualifications, and (2) that it establish a pharmacy and drug therapeutics committee for supervision of hospital drug therapy. Provides that psychiatric hospitals will be eligible to participate only if the Board finds that the hospital (or a distinct part of the hospital) is engaged in furnishing active diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services to mentally ill patients. Establishes conditions of participation for skilled nursing homes similar to those established for extended care facilities under Medicare. Makes provisions for the participation of home health service agencies. Describes as eligible a health maintenance organization which undertakes to provide an enrolled population either with complete health care or, at least, with complete health security services (other than institutional services, mental health or dental services) for the maintenance of health and the care of ambulatory patients. Permits a foundation sponsored by a county or other local medical society to participate as a provider of services. Permits the participation of community health centers or the like which, though furnishing services as comprehensive as are required by this Act, do not serve an enrolled or otherwise predetermined population and may not meet other requirements of this Act. Authorizes the Board to deal separately with the primary care portion of a system of comprehensive health care where it is necessary to rely on arrangements with other providers. Permits the Board to contract directly with public or other nonprofit mental health centers and mental health day care services. Specifies the conditions under which independent pathology laboratories, independent radiological services, and providers of drugs, devices, appliances, equipment, or ambulance services may qualify as providers under Health Security. Requires that a participating skilled nursing home have in effect an agreement with at least one participating hospital for the transfer of patients and medical and other information as medically appropriate. Prohibits in malpractice judgments any damages to be awarded to the injured party for the cost of remedial services which he is entitled to receive under this Act. Excludes the institutions of the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration, and institutions of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare serving merchant seamen or Indians or Alaskan natives, from serving as participating providers, as well as any employee of these institutions when he is acting as an employee. Provides reimbursement for any services furnished by these institutions or agencies to eligible persons who are not a part of their normal clientele. Permits a physician, dentist, optometrist, or podiatrist, licensed in one State and meeting the national standards, to furnish Health Security benefits in any other State, the scope of his permissible practice being governed by the law of the State in which he is practicing. Grants a similar authority to other health professional and nonprofessional personnel. Establishes the Health Security Trust Fund, to receive the net assets of existing (Medicare) funds taken over by the Health Security program, the yield of the Health Security taxes, and the Government's contribution from general revenues amounting to 100 percent of the yield from these taxes. Provides that three separate accounts shall be established in the Health Security Trust Fund: a Health Service Account, a Health Resources Development Account, and an Administration Account. Provides that in each of the first two years of program operation, 2 percent of the Trust Fund shall be set aside for the Health Resources Development Fund; and the allocation shall increase by 1 percent at two-year intervals to 5 percent within the next 6 years. Provides for allocation of the Health Services account among the regions of the country. Provides that the allocation to each region shall be based on the aggregate sum expended during the most recent 12-month period for covered services (with appropriate modification for estimated changes in the consumer price index, the expected number of eligible beneficiaries, and estimated changes in the number of participating providers). Provides that the Board shall divide the allocation to each region into funds available to pay: institutional services; physician services; dental services; furnishing of drugs; furnishing of devices, appliances, equipment; and miscellaneous services. Provides that payments for covered services provided to eligible persons by participating providers will be made from the Health Service Account in the Trust Fund. Describes the method to be used in applying, as between practitioners electing the various methods of payment (fee-for-service and capitation), the monies available in each health service area for payment to each category of professional providers. Authorizes the Board to experiment with other methods of reimbursement so long as the experimental method does not increase the cost of service or lead to overutilization or underutilization of services. Provides that skilled nursing homes and home health agencies will be paid in the same manner as a general hospital (on an approved annual budget basis). Provides that a health organization will be paid for covered services, on the basis of a fixed capitation rate multiplied by the number of eligible enrollees. Contains a series of provisions for developing a continuous process of health service planning and for assisting in the recruitment, education, and training of health personnel. Authorizes special improvement grants: (1) to any public or other nonprofit health agency or institution to establish improved coordination and linkages with other providers of services, and (2) to organizations providing comprehensive ambulatory care, to improve their utilization review, budget, statistical, or records and information retrieval systems, to acquire equipment needed for those purposes, or to acquire equipment useful for mass screening or for other diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Sets forth the responsibilities and duties of the Secretary of HEW and the Board with regard to this title. Creates an administrative structure within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare with exclusive responsibility for the administration of the Health Security program. Establishes a five-member, full-time Health Security Board serving under the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Provides that the members shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, for five-year overlapping terms. Creates the position of an Executive Director, appointed by the Board with the approval of the Secretary. Provides that the Executive Director will serve as secretary to the Board and shall perform such duties in the administration of the program as the Board may assign. Provides that the program will be administered through the regional offices of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Requires the establishment of sub-regional (service area) offices. Establishes a National Health Security Advisory Council, with the Chairman of the Board serving as the Council's Chairman and 20 additional members not in the employ of the Federal Government. Authorizes the Advisory Council to appoint professional or technical committees to assist in its functions. Provides that the Advisory Council will advise the Board on matters of general policy in the administration of the program, the formulation of regulations and the allocation of funds for services. Charges the Board with responsibility for informing the public and providers about the administration and operation of the Health Security program. Requires the Board to make a continuing study and evaluation of the program, including adequacy, quality and costs of services. Authorizes the Board directly or by contract to make detailed statistical and other studies on a national, regional, or local basis of any aspect of the title; to develop and test incentive systems for improving quality of care, methods of peer review of drug utilization and of other service performances; to develop and test systems of information retrieval, budget programs, instrumentation for multiphasic screening or patient services, and reimbursement systems for drugs; and to make such other other studies which it considers would improve the quality of services of the administration of the program. Grants authority to the Board, in accordance with regulations, to make determinations of who are participating providers of services, determinations of eligibility, of whether services are covered, and the amount to be paid to providers. Allows a provider of services who is dissatisfied with a final Board determination to obtain a hearing before a Board panel, and judicial review of a final decision. Authorizes the Board, with the advice and assistance of the Commission on the Quality of Health Care, to issue and review regulations assuring the quality of care furnished under this Act. Requires continuing professional education by physicians, dentists, optometrists, and podiatrists. Provides for the appointment of a Deputy Secretary of HEW and an Under Secretary for Health and Science. States that no provision of this Act shall alter any contractual obligation of an employer to provide health services to his employees and their dependents. Title II: Health Security Taxes - Converts the existing Medicare hospital insurance payroll taxes into Health Security taxes, and raises the rates to 1 percent on employees and 3.5 percent on employers. Raises the wage base for the employee tax from the present $7,800 to $15,000; or, if higher, 125 percent of the contribution and benefit base. Broadens the definitions of covered employment to include foreign agricultural workers, employees of the U.S. and its instrumentalities (other than members of the armed forces and the President, Vice-President, and Members of Congress), employees of charitable and similar organizations, railroad employees, and (for the employee tax only) employees of States and their political subdivisions and instrumentalities. Excludes from the gross income of employees, for income tax purposes, payment by their employers of part or all of the Health Security taxes on the employees. Spells out the precise effective dates of the new payroll tax provisions. Converts the existing Medicare self-employment tax into a Health Security self-employment tax, raising the rate to 2.5 percent, and raises the maximum taxable self-employment income from $7,800 to $15,000. Adds a new 1 percent Health Security tax on unearned income (unless such income is less than $400 a year), subject to the same maximum on taxable income as is applicable to the employee and self-employment taxes. Title III: Commission on the Quality of Health Care - Establishes in the Department of HEW a Commission on the Quality of Health Care, with the primary responsibility of: (1) initiating and continuing development of methods of assessing the quality of health care furnished under the Health Security Act, and (2) submitting to the Secretary and the Health Security Board its findings and recommendations. Stipulates that in carrying out its duties the Commissioner shall emphasize, and give first consideration to, care furnished for those illnesses and conditions which have relatively high incidence in the population and which are relatively amenable to medical or other care. Title IV: Repeal or Amendment of Other Acts - Requires that after the effective date of benefits, no State shall be required to furnish any service covered under Health Security as a part of its State plan for participation under Medicaid. Title V: Studies Related to Health Security - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury to study the coverage of health services for U.S. residents in other countries. Directs the Secretary of HEW to study the feasibility and desirability of coordinating the Federal health benefit programs for merchant seamen and Indians and Alaskan natives and also veterans and members of the Armed Forces, with the Health Security Benefit Program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Expresses the sense of the House that the United States Government should seek agreement with other members of the United Nations on the prohibition of weather modification activity as a weapon of war.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1974
Economic Stabilization Act Amendments - Establishes an Economic Stablilzation Board, to be composed of three members, representing labor, business and the consuming public to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Freezes all prices, wages, rents, and interest rates at levels no higher than those prevailing on December 1, 1974. Allows the Board to make ajustments in such levels in order to correct gross inequities. Directs the Board, within 60 days of enactment of this Act, to roll back prices, rents and interest rates to levels lower than those necessary to eliminate windfall profits or to carry out the purposes of this Act. Allows the Board, on petition of interested parties, to eliminate inequities which may have developed in the wage-price relationship by allowing upward adjustments in wages. Specifies that such increases not exceed the difference between the rate of price increases as measured by the Consumer Price Index between August 15, 1971 and the date of enactment, and the average wage increases in the firm or industry during the same period. Exempts from the wage freeze all workers whose earnings are substandard or who are members of the working poor. Specifies that this Act shall not preclude any increase in wages required by the Fair Labor Standards Act or other preexisting wage determinations. Establishes in the legislative branch the Office of Consumer Counsel, to be headed by the Counsel, appointed for one year by the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals. Authorizes the Consumer Counsel: (1) to investigate any complaints concerning actions of the Board; (2) to issue subpenas for the testimony of witnesses and the production of records; (3) to intervene as a party in rulemaking and other decisions by the Board which the Counsel believes may be contrary to law or to the public interest; and (4) to apply to the appropriate court for relief if the Board makes a decision notwithstanding the objections of the Consumer Counsel. Directs the Office of the Consumer Counsel to advise consumers of information necessary to make intelligent decisions on the purchase of goods and services. Requires the Board to transmit quarterly reports to the Committee on Banking and Currency of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate, describing the actions taken and assessing the progress attained in achieving the purpose of this Act. Makes technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1974
Requires the Commissioner of the District of Columbia, by and with the advice and consent of the District of Columbia Council, to appoint a People's Counsel in the Public Service Commission to represent the people of the District of Columbia in all proceedings related to the rates or service furnished by public utilities under the jurisdiction of the Commission. Stipulates that the expenses of any proceeding shall be borne by the public utility being investigated as a special franchise tax in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1974
Prohibits any increase in the price of consumer commodities by any retailer once a price is placed on any such commodity by such retailer. Imposes civil penalties under the Federal Trade Commission Act for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1974
Allows an income tax exclusion under the Internal Revenue Code for interest on deposits in banks, savings institutions, and credit unions. Limits such tax exclusion to $500 ($1000 if a joint return is filed).
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1974
Requires the Mayor of the District of Columbia, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, to appoint a People's Counsel in the Public Service Commission to represent the people of the District of Columbia in all proceedings related to the rates or services furnished by public utilities under the jurisdiction of the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1974
Expresses the sense of Congress that the pardon of Richard M. Nixon was wrongful and premature, and that no further Watergate related pardons should be granted prior to indictment, prosecution, and conviction, and then only on an individual basis where warranted by special circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1974
Requires the Watergate Special Prosecution Force to make available to the public a report on all information it has concerning Richard M. Nixon on offenses against the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1974
Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Act - Directs the President, with the assistance of the Council of Economic Advisors, to transmit annually a full employment and production program to the Congress. Sets forth a summary of the content to be contained in such annual report. Provides for annual Labor Reports of the President. Requires the Labor Reports to provide detailed attention on a continuing and progressively analytical basis to the changing volume and composition of the American labor supply. Renames the United States Employment Service as the United States Full Employment Service. Creates a Job Guarantee Office in the United States Full Employment Office headed by a Job Guarantee Officer whose responsibility is to provide useful and rewarding employment for any American, able and willing to work but not yet working, unable otherwise to obtain work, and applying to such office for assistance. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to carry out responsibilities under this Act upon the recommendation and approval of the local planning councils. Requires that each Job Guarantee Office in carrying out its responsibilities shall insure that among projects planned that adequate consideration be given to such individuals and groups as may face special obstacles in finding and holding useful and rewarding employment and shall provide or have provided through the coordination of existing programs special assistance including but not limited to counseling, training, and, where necessary, transportation and migration assistance. Provides that such individuals and groups shall include (1) those suffering from past or present discrimination or bias on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin; (2) older workers and retirees; (3) the physically or mentally handicapped; (4) youths to age 21; (5) potentially employable recipients of public assistance; (6) the inhabitants of depressed areas, urban and rural; (7) veterans of the Armed Forces; (8) people unemployed because of the relocation, closing, or reduced operations in industrial or military facilities; and (9) such other groups as the President or the Congress may designate from time to time. Directs that each Job Guarantee Office may, subject to the limitations specified in this Act, enter into agreements with public agencies and private organizations operating on a profit, nonprofit, or limited-profit basis. Requires such agreements to contain assurances that the agency or organization will: (1) provide an annual independent audit to the Job Guarantee Office; and (2) not discriminate on the grounds of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin in the administration of any program encompassed within the agreement. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to: (1) refer jobseekers to the private sector and general public sector employment placement facilities of the Full Employment Service (other than as supplemented by this Act); and (2) directly refer jobseekers for placement in positions on projects drawn from the reservoir of public service and private employment projects. Provides that any who presents himself or herself in person at the full Employment Office shall be considered prima facie "willing and able" to work. Provides that this stipulation specifically shall include persons with impairments of sight, hearing, movement, coordination, mental retardation, or other handicaps. Directs that this stipulation be implemented by the Job Guarantee Officer, prusuant to regulations issued by the Secretary. Establishes a Standby Job Corps which shall consist of jobseekers registered pursuant to this Act. Provides that such Corps shall be available for public service work upon projects and activities that are approved as a part of community public service work reservoirs established by community boards pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary, by regulation, to provide for: (1) a requirement that jobseekers registered in the Standby Job Corps maintain a status of good standing, which status shall include attendance and performance standards; and (2) a system of compensation for Corps members. Provides that no Standby Job Corps members shall be paid less than the minimum wage in effect in the area. Directs the Joint Economic Committee to: (1) annually review the activities of the executive branch under all sections of this Act; (2) regularly conduct on its own behalf, or in cooperation with or through the facilities of the appropriate legislative committees or subcommittees of the Senate and the House, public hearings in as many labor market areas as feasible; and (3) annually report upon, with its own conclusions and recommendations, the development and administration of the policies and programs mandated by this Act. Establishes a National Institute for Full Employment within the Department of Labor, under a director to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor, and to operate in continuing consultation with a National Commission for Full Employment Policy Studies. Authorizes and directs the Institute to make, or have made through grants to or contracts with individual researchers and private or public research organizations, universities, and other Government agencies, studies that shall include, but need not be limited to, such subjects as: (1) the policies and programs needed to reduce whatever inflationary pressures may result from full employment to manage any such inflationary pressures through appropriate fiscal policies and indirect and direct controls, and to protect the weaker groups in society from whatever inflationary trends cannot be avoided or controlled; (2) the identification of human potentialities that are hidden, undeveloped, or underdeveloped because of the lack of suitable job opportunities, encouragement, education, or training and of various ways of releasing such potentialities; (3) the forms of education and training needed to help provide people with the skills, knowledge, and values required by existing employment opportunities and technologies and needed to assist in developing such new types of goods, services, technologies, and employment opportunities as may better meet human needs; and (4) the policies and programs needed to substantially eliminate substandard employment, wages, and working conditions and the techniques for establishing standards for employment, wages, and working conditions in accordance with changing levels of national output and resources, and regional variations in output. Authorizes the appropriation for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1977, and for each succeeding fiscal year of such sums as may be needed to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) all military, economic, or other assistance, all sales of defense articles and services, all sales of agricultural commodities and services, and all licenses with respect to the transportation of arms, ammunitions, and implements of war (including technical data relating thereto) to the Government of Turkey should be suspended on the date of adoption of this resolution; and (2) the provisions of this resolution should cease to apply when the President reports to the Congress that the Government of Turkey has withdrawn all of its armed forces from Cyprus.
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1974
Establishes a fuel stamp program which will provide up to twenty-five dollars worth of fuel stamps per month to low-income elderly households to help meet fuel costs incurred by such households. Requires each State desiring to participate in such a program to submit for approval a plan indicating the method of operation of the program in such State.
United States · United States Congress · 13 August 1974
National Commission on Epilepsy and Its Consequences Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to appoint a National Commission to determine the most effective means of finding the cause and cures and treatments for epilepsy. Directs that such Commission shall develop a national plan for the control of epilepsy and its consequences. Provides for the membership of such Commission. Sets forth the duties of such Commission. Requires that it shall be a duty of the Commission to develop a comprehensive national plan for the control of epilepsy and its consequences based on the most thorough, complete, and accurate data available on the disorder. Requires the Commission to make recommendations concerning the proper roles of the Federal and State governments, and the national and local public and private agencies in research, prevention, identification and rehabilitation of persons with epilepsy. Requires the transmittal to the President and to the Congress of a final report under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 August 1974
Provides that the President should take immediate action to control inflation and allocate credit pursuant to the Credit Control Act by authorizing the Federal Reserve Board to channel extensions of credit toward essential and productive capital investment, low-and middle-income housing, State and local governments, and small business, and away from loans for speculation in real estate and commodities, to finance anticompetitive acquisitions, and for other inflationary purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 8 August 1974
Provides for the printing of 60,000 copies of the Constitution of the United States in Spanish, for use by members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the House Judiciary Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1974
Provides for television and radio coverage of proceedings in the Chamber of the House of Representatives on any resolution to impeach the President of the United States. Authorizes the Speaker to appoint a committee of five members to provide such arrangements as may be necessary in connection with such a broadcast.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1974
Public Service Employment Act - Declares that one of the purposes of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 is to provide employment opportunities to assure that no area in the United States has an unemployment rate in excess of seven percent. Defines "area of severe unemployment". Establishes in the Treasury the Public Service Employment Fund. Sets forth the amounts in such fund during each fiscal year and authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides that eligible applicants shall be entitled to allotments from the fund in accordance with the excess number of unemployed persons residing in areas of severe unemployment. Makes technical and conforming amendments to specified Federal Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1974
Expresses the sense of the House that the United States Government should seek agreement with other members of the United Nations on the prohibition of weather modification activity as a weapon of war.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1974
Declares it to be the sense of the House that: (1) the contribution by the United States to the growing economic and human crisis in the developing world should be primarily in the form of food and the means and technology to produce it; (2) the President, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Agriculture and their advisors should give the highest priority to the immediate expansion of American food assistance and (b) take such additional steps as might be necessary to expedite the transfer of American food commodities on concessional and donation terms to those nations most severely affected; (3) the United States should increase its matching pledge to the World Food Program for 1975-1976 and encourage other nations to do so; (4) the President and the Secretary of State should (a) negotiate with other major food exporting nations to seek to obtain their participation in this emergency effort proportionate to their share of world food exports and, (b) strongly encourage oil exporting nations to contribute a fair share to these efforts to assist the most severely affected nations; (5) the United States should announce its desire to work with the oil exporting and other nations in a major effort to increase world fertilizer production with the possibility of including the offer of American technology and capital; and (6) the President should encouarge the American people to reduce the non-critical, non-food-producing uses of fertilizer which now total nearly three million tons of nutrient a year, to make available increased fertilizer supplies for raising food production at home and in the developing world. Declares the sense of the House that the President of the United States and the Secretaries of State and Agriculture should, and are hereby urged and requested to: (1) maintain regular and full consultation with the appropriate committees of the Congress; and (2) report to the Congress and the Nation at regular intervals on the progress toward formulating an American response in a cooperative framework to the world food crisis and the needs of the most severly affected developing countries.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1974
District of Columbia Community Development and Finance Corporation Act - Title I: General Provisions - Expresses the findings of Congress and the purposes of this Act. Defines the terms used in this Act. Creates the District of Columbia Community Development and Finance Corporation, an instrumentality of the D.C. government, and establishes a board of directors for such Corporation. Title II: Powers of the Corporation - Enumerates twenty-seven powers of the Corporation, including to invest funds, engage consultants, provide loans to the D.C. government, acquire property, and manage projects. Directs the Corporation to prepare an annual program of activities, projects and budgets to achieve comprehensive planning and community objectives adopted by the D.C. government. Details the procedures for the approval of such program by the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia. Provides for the compliance, in the execution of all projects, with local zoning and building laws and regulations. Empowers the Corporation to sell, transfer or lease a project, or portion of, by resolution of an absolute majority of the board of directors whenever it finds such sale, transfer, or lease furthers the pruposes of this Act. States that the Corporation may not commence activities pursuant to any approved project plan unless and until adequate provision is made for the relocation in decent, safe, and sanitary housing of all persons who will be displaced by the implementation of a proposed project. Sets forth the terms for the award of contracts. Title III: Finances of the Corporation - Provides that the Corporation shall have the power to meet any project cost through: (1) the expenditure of funds appropriated by the Congress; (2) through the expenditure of the proceeds of any government loan; (3) through the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness for that purpose; and (4) from any other funds, public or private, which may be available to the Corporation. Authorizes the Corporation to issue bonds and notes in an aggregate amount of not to exceed $75,000,000, excluding bonds and notes issued to refund outstanding bonds and notes. Sets forth the form and procedures for the sale of bonds and for the refunding of bonds. States that the District of Columbia and the United States pledge to and agree with the holders of any bonds issued under this Act, that the District of Columbia government and the United States Government will not limit the rights vested in the Corporation to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the bondholders, or in any way impair the rights and remedies of such bondholders until such bonds, together with the interest, are fully met and discharged. Authorizes to be appropriated out of money in the Treasury of the United States credited to the District of Columbia the sum of $5,000,000, which sum shall be placed to the credit of a special trust fund to be established for the aforementioned purposes of this Act. States that the special trust fund may be used by the Corporation to enable it to commence operations and shall be repaid to the Treasury of the United States within five years after the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 July 1974
Repeals the provision of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act which states that when an employee in the competitive service of the United States is transferred to the government of the District, and vacates the position to which he was transferred, such position shall no longer be a position in such competitive service.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1974
Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Act - Expresses the findings of Congress and declares that it is especially appropriate to honor former President Harry S. Truman through the creation of a perpetual educational scholarship program to develop increased opportunities for young Americans to prepare and pursue careers in public service. Establishes as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the United States Government, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, to be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees. Authorizes the Foundation to award fifty-one scholarships in any fiscal year beginning after June 30, 1973, for undergraduate study for persons who plan to pursue a career in public service. States that each recipient shall be knows as a Truman scholar. Sets forth provisions governing: (1) the scholarship requirements; (2) the procedures for selection of Truman scholars; (3) stipends and institutional allowances; and (4) the scholarship conditions. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund. Prescribes the procedures for expenditures from the fund. Directs that there shall be an Executive Secretary of the Foundation, appointed by the Board, who shall be the chief executive officer and shall carry out the functions of the Foundation subject to the supervision and direction of the Board. Authorizes to be appropriated $30,000,000 to the fund. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for administrative expenses incident to carrying out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1974
Comprehensive Right to Privacy Act - Requires that any organization of Federal, State, or local government maintaining an information system that includes personal information shall: (1) collect, maintain, use, and disseminate only personal information necessary to accomplish a proper purpose of the organization; (2) collect information to the greatest extent possible from the data subject directly; (3) maintain information in the system with accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and pertinence as necessary to assure fairness in determinations relating to a data subject; (4) make no dissemination to another system or any individual other than the data subject without specifying requirements for security and the use of information exclusively for the purpose set forth in the notice required under this Act; (5) maintain a complete and accurate record, including identity purpose, and date, of every access to any personal information in a system by persons or organizations not having regular access authority; and (6) collect no personal information concerning the political or religious beliefs, affiliations, and activities of data subjects maintained by any government agency unless expressly authorized by statute. Prohibits any Federal agency from requiring individuals to disclose for statistical purposes any personal information unless such disclosure is required by a constitutional provision or Act of Congress, and the individual is so informed. Requires any organization maintaining or proposing to establish an information system for personal information to: (1) give notice of the existence and character of each existing system once a year to the Federal Privacy Board; (2) give public notice of the existence and character of each existing system each year; and (3) assure that such public notice specifies the categories of data maintained, and the categories of all information sources, a description of types of use made of information, and the procedures whereby an individual can gain access to such information and contest its accuracy and the necessity for its retention. Requires any organization maintaining personal information to inform an individual asked to supply personal information whether he is legally required, or may refuse, to supply the information requested, and also of any specific consequences, which are known to the organization, of providing or not providing such information. Permits data subjects who dispute information about themselves to have such disputed information noted as being disputed when such information about him is disseminated. Requires, upon request, corrections in information to be sent to past recipients of information. Directs organizations maintaining information to inform, within two years and each year thereafter, individuals on whom data is stored of its content and where a copy of such data may be obtained. Allows the head of a Federal agency maintaining such information to exempt his agency from requirements of this Act in the interest of national defense. Makes it unlawful for any organization to require an individual to disclose or furnish his social security account number, for any purpose in connection with any business transaction unless the disclosure or furnishing of such number is specifically required by Federal law. Establishes the Federal Privacy Board whose five members shall be appointed by the President. Directs the Board to: (1) publish an annual Data Base Directory of the United States containing the name and characteristics of each personal information system covered by this Act; (2) make rules to assure compliance with this Act; (3) upon the determination of a violation of a provision of this Act or regulation promulgated under the Act, and after opportunity for a hearing, order the organization violating such provision to cease and desist such violation; and (4) conduct open, public hearings on all petitions for exceptions or exemptions from provisions, application, or jurisdiction of this Act. States that any individual or organization or responsible officer of an organization who willfully: (1) keeps an information system without having notified the Federal Privacy Board; or (2) issues personal information in violation of this Act; or (3) solicits, uses, or otherwise acquires information in violation of this Act shall be fined not more than $10,000 in each instance or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. Provides that any person, system, or agency which violates the provisions of the Act, or any rule, regulation, or order issued thereunder, shall be liable to any person aggrieved thereby.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1974
District of Columbia Community Development Corporation Act - Title I: General Provisions - Defines the terms used in this Act. Creates a body corporate of perpetual succession to be known as the District of Columbia Community Development Corporation, to be managed by a Board of Directors. Specifies the composition of Board membership, including the Mayor of the District of Columbia and not more than three employees of the District of Columbia government. Enumerates the administrative powers of the Board. Sets limitations on the personal liability of officers, directors and employees of the corporation, stating however that any director who willfully misrepresents or fails to disclose a conflict of interest shall be subject to personal liability for any damage to the corporation. Title II: Powers of the Corporation - Enumerates the general powers of the corporation. Details the financing authorities of the corporation. Directs the corporation to prepare an annual program describing the activities it proposes to carry out during the subsequent year. Prescribes the procedures to be followed in the making of such program from approval by the Mayor to public hearings and approval by the Council. Provides for, in the execution of all projects, compliance with local zoning laws, building laws and regulations and with local urban renewal plans. Provides for exemptions from such compliance in specified instances. Sets forth provisions governing: (1) the sale of projects by the corporation; (2) the acquisition of real property; (3) relocation requirements; and (4) the awarding of contracts. Title III: Finances of the Corporation - Empowers the corporation to: (1) meet project costs through the expenditure of funds; (2) issue negotiable bonds; (3) contract with agencies to guarantee bonds; and (4) create special capital reserve funds. Outlines the extent of the exercise of each such enumerated authority to finance the corporation. Specifies the form and sale-of-bond procedures, and the remedies of bondholders in the event of default by the corporation. Provides for the refunding of bonds. Requires the filing of an annual report by the corporation. Provides for public access to corporation records. Authorizes to be appropriated to the credit of the special trust fund established in this Act $5,000,000 to be used by the corporation to commence its operations. States that such sum shall be repaid to the Treasury of the United States within five years.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1974
Provides, under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to scholarship and fellowship grants, that no amount shall be included in gross income by reason of the discharge of the indebtedness of an individual under a student loan if such discharge was pursuant to a provision of the loan under which the indebtedness would be discharged if the individual worked for a certain period of time in certain professions or certain geographical areas or for certain classes of employers. Defines "student loan" for purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1974
Authorizes to be appropriated without fiscal year limitation four annual installments of $375,000,000 each for payment by the Secretary of the Treasury to the International Development Association.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1974
Provides an exclusion from income taxation under the Internal Revenue Code for cooperative housing corporations and condominium housing associations if membership in such organizations is limited to owners of units within such cooperative or condominium.
United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1974
District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform Act - Title I: Short Title, Definitions - Defines the terms used in the Act. Title II: Financial Disclosures - Requires every political committee to have a chairman and treasurer, each of whom may authorize expenditures on behalf of the political committees in the District of Columbia. States that every person who receives a contribution of $10 or more for or on behalf of a political committee shall, on demand of the treasurer, and in any event within five days after receipt of such contribution, submit to the treasurer of such committee a detailed account thereof, including the amount, the name and address (including the occupation and the principal place of business, if any) of the person making such contribution, and the date on which such contribution was received. Requires the treasurer of a political committee, and each candidate, to keep a detailed and exact account of contributions and expenditures made by such committee or candidate. States that each candidate for office in the District of Columbia shall designate in writing one political committee as his principal campaign committee. Requires the treasurer of each such committee to file reports and statements of candidates designating such committee as his principal committee with the Director of Campaign Finance of the District of Columbia Board of Elections. Requires each political committee, and each candidate accepting contributions or making expenditures, to designate one national bank located in the District of Columbia as the campaign depository of that political committee or candidate. Permits the maintenance of a petty cash fund by political committees and candidates. Requires each political committee to file a statement of organization with the Director within ten days of organization and specifies the items to be included in such statement of organization. Requires individual candidates to file a registration statement with the Director. Specifies the times at which political candidates and committees shall file reports with the Director, and the disclosures to be contained in such reports. Requires contributors who contribute more than $50 within a year to a political committee or candidate to file with the Director a statement containing specified information. States that any candidate who anticipates spending or spends less than $250 in any one election, and who has not designated a principal campaign committee, shall be exempt from the provisions of this Act. Title III: Director of Campaign Finance - Establishes within the Board of Elections a Director of Campaign Finance. Enumerates the duties of the Director consonant with the purposes of and requirements established by this Act. Title IV: Finance Limitations - Enumerates maximum amounts which may be contributed and received in one year with respect to candidates running for specified offices in the District of Columbia. Enumerates maximum amounts which may be expended by any principal campaign committee for a candidate seeking a specified office. Title V: Lobbying - Requires detailed accounts of all contributions, donors, expenditures and the keeping of receipted bills for funds exceeding $10 in amount. Requires that contributions of $200 or more be reported to the organization or person for whom such contribution was received. Requires that the name and address of each person who has made a contribution of $200 or more be filed with the Director, as well as the total cumulative of contributions and expenditures during the calendar year. Requires the Director to make statements available to the public for two years from the date of filing. Enumerates those persons to whom the provisions of this Act apply. Requires the registration of information by a lobbyist under oath including the person by whom he is employed, and in whose interest he appears and information concerning duration of employment, salary and expenditures. Requires each registrant to file an annual, detailed report of all money received and expended; to whom paid; for what purposes; the names of any articles or publications; and the proposed legislation he is employed to support. Provides that any person who violates these provisions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $5000 or imprisonment of twelve months, or both. Provides that any person convicted is prohibited from lobbying for a three year period. States that a violation of this provision is a felony punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both. Title VI: Penalties and Enforcement Tax Credits, Use of Surplus Campaign Funds, Voters' Information Pamphlets, Study of 1974 and Report by Council, Effective Dates, Amendments to District of Columbia Election Act, and Authorization - Provides that any person or political committee in the District of Columbia who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned up to six months or both. Provides for a tax credit of 50 percent of any contribution made to any candidate seeking any office referred to in this Act, provided such credit shall not exceed $12.50. States that, not sooner than thirty-five days nor later than twenty days prior to each election (except a run-off election), the Board shall mail to each registered qualified elector a voters' information pamphlet containing campaign statements and photographs of candidates in that election who submit information, as provided in this Act. Provides for a study of the operation and necessity for modification of this Act and the District of Columbia Election Act during 1975. Authorizes to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury to the credit of the District of Columbia, such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) it most strongly condemns all acts of terrorism in the Middle East; (2) the President and the Secretary of State should and are hereby urged and requested to (a) call upon all governments to condemn this inhuman act of violence against innocent victims; and (b) strongly urge the governments who harbor these groups and individuals to take appropriate action to rid their countries of those who subvert the peace through terrorism and senseless violence; and (3) the President should request the American Ambassador to the United Nations to take appropriate action before that body in order to have introduced a Security Council resolution condemning this brutal act of violence.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1974
Equal Credit Opportunity Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act to require that financial institutions and other firms engaged in the extension of credit make that credit equally available to all creditworthy customers without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or marital status. Makes it unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or marital status. Defines the terms used in the Act. Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act. Makes changes in specified Acts of Congress in order to make those Acts comply with the purposes of this Act. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the requirements of this Act to the extent that they will not be enforced by another Government agency after enactment of this Act. Provides for the assessment by a United States District Court of actual and punitive damages in any action brought against a violator of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1974
Grants the consent of Congress for the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia to amend the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact to permit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to provide for the execution and authentication of bonds by the manual, lithographed, or printed facsimile signature of members of the board, and by additional authentication by a trustee or fiscal agent appointed by the board, except that one of such signatures shall be manual.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1974
Requires the Secretary of Defense to take such action as is necessary to insure that any member of the Armed Forces who is discharged shall receive a discharge certificate which shall indicate that such member was so discharged and which shall not bear any indication of the conditions under which such separation occured. States that the reason why such member was so separated (other than by reason of discharged dismissal pursuant to a sentence of a general or special court-martial) and all other records or documents pertaining to such reason or reasons shall be treated as confidential and shall not be made known to or otherwise released to any private person or any public agency (whether Federal, State, or local) without the prior written consent of the member concerned. Sets forth the conditions under which an enlisted member of the Armed Forces may be discharged under other than honorable conditions. Establishes procedures for military review panels in considering the dishonorable discharge of enlisted personnel. Requires military review panels to conduct hearings which afford the enlisted member concerned an opportunity to: (1) appear before the panel and present evidence in his own behalf; (2) be represented by counsel; (3) confront the witnesses against him; and (4) examine documentary and real evidence against him. States that the recommendation of a review panel appointed under the provisions of this Act for separation under other than honorable conditions may be appealed to an appeal board established by the Judge Advocate General concerned, or the General Counsel of the Department of Transportation, as appropriate. Authorizes the Secretaries concerned to prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. Requires the Secretaries concerned, after consultation with the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, to establish a number (but not less than ten) of regional boards of review throughout the United States. States that the function of the regional boards shall be to review the discharge or dismissal (other than a discharge or dismissal by a general or special court-martial) of any former member of an Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the military department concerned. Provides that if a request for the review of a discharge or dismissal of any person who was discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces within the fifteen-year period immediately preceding the effective date of this Act was filed before such effective date and such review resulted in no change to the discharge or dismissal, or no new discharge was issued, another request for review of that discharge or dismissal pursuant to this Act may be filed and such review shall be acted upon without prejudice, if such request for review is filed with the appropriate regional board of review within the one-year period immediately following such effective date.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1974
District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform Act - Title I: Short Title, Definition - Defines the terms used in the Act. Title II: Financial Disclosures - Requires every political committee to have a chairman and treasurer, each of whom may authorize expenditures on behalf of political committees, in the District of Columbia. States that every person who receives a contribution of $10 or more for or on behalf of a political committee shall, on demand of the treasurer, and in any event within five days after receipt of such contribution, submit to the treasurer of such committee a detailed account thereof, including the amount, the name and address (including the occupation and the principal place of business, if any) of the person making such contribution, and the date on which such contribution was received. Requires the treasurer of a political committee, and each candidate, to keep a detailed and exact account of contributions and expenditures made to or by such committee or candidate. States that each candidate for office in the District of Columbia shall designate in writing one political committee as his principal campaign committee. Requires the treasurer of each such committee to file reports and statements of candidates designating such committee as his principal committee with the Division of Campaign Finance of the District of Columbia Board of Elections. Requires each political committee, and each candidate accepting contributions or making expenditures, to designate one national bank located in the District of Columbia as the campaign depository of that political committee or candidate. Permits the maintenance of a petty cash fund by political committees and candidates. Requires each political committee to file a statement of organization with the Division within ten days of organization, and specifies the items to be included in such statement of organization. Requires individual candidates to file a registration statement with the Division. Specifies the times at which political candidates and committees shall file reports with the Division, and the disclosures to be contained in such report. Requires contributors who contribute more than $50 within a year to a political committee or candidate to file with the Division a statement containing specified information. States that any candidate who anticipates spending or spends less than $250 in any one election, and who has not designated a principal campaign committee, shall be exempt from the provisions of this Act. Title III: Division of Campaign Finance - Establishes within the Board of Elections a Division of Campaign Finance, and specifies the composition and powers of the Division. Enumerates duties of the Division consonant with the purposes of and requirements established by this Act. Title IV: Finance Limitations - Enumerates maximum amounts which may be contributed and received in one year with respect to candidates running for specified offices in the District of Columbia. Enumerates maximum amounts which may be expended by any principal campaign committee for a candidate seeking a specified office. Title V: Penalties and Enforcement Tax Credits, Use of Surplus Campaign Funds, Voters' Information Pamphlets, Study of 1974 and Report by Council, Effective Dates, Amendments to District of Columbia Election Act, and Authorization - Provides that any person or political committee in the District of Columbia who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall be fined not more that $5,000, or imprisoned up to six months, or both. Provides for a tax credit of 50 percent of any contribution made to any candidate seeking any office referred to in this Act, provided, such credit shall not exceed $12.50. States that, not sooner than thirty-five days or later than twenty days prior to each election (except a runoff election), the Board shall mail to each registered qualified elector a voters' information pamphlet containing campaign statements and photographs of candidates in that election who submit such information, as provided in this Act. Provides for a study of the operation and necessity for modification of this Act and the District of Columbia Election Act during 1975 including hearings and investigations to consider, but not be limited to, specified items. Authorizes to be appropriated, out of any money in the treasury to the credit of the District of Columbia, such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.