United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Makes additional immigrant visas available for immigrants from any foreign State which had less than three-fourths of the average annual number of visas under the quota system during the ten-fiscal-year period beginning July 1, 1955. Directs that the additional number of visas be equal to the difference between the number of visas made to them and three-fourths of the average made to other immigrants under the quota system, but limits the total number of visas to any foreign State to 7500 in any fiscal year. Directs the allocation of the additional visas.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Makes it a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act for any retailer to increase the price of consumer commodities once he marks the price on any such consumer commodity, and permits the Federal Trade Commission to order any such retailer to refund any amounts of money obtained by increasing the price of such consumer commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Civil Rights Amendments - Defines the term "affectional or sexual perference" to mean for purposes of the Civil Rights Act having or manifesting an emotional or physical attachment to another consenting person or persons of either gender, or having or manifesting a perference for such attachment. Prohibits discrimination based upon such affectional or sexual preference in the following areas: (1) public accomodations; (2) public education; (3) equal employment opportunities; (4) the sale, rental and financing of housing; and (5) education programs which receive Federal financial assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Provides, under title XVI of the Social Security Act (relating to Aid for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled), for emergency assistance grants to recipients of supplemental security income benefits. Authorizes cost-of-living increases in such benefits and in State supplementary payments. Prevents reductions in such benefits because of social security benefit increases. Provides reimbursements to States for home relief payments to disabled applicants prior to determination of their disability. Permits payment of such benefits directly to drug addicts and alcoholics (without a third-party payee). Continues on a permanent basis the provision making supplemental security income recipients eligible for food stamps.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Establishes the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Rape. Directs the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, acting through the Center, to conduct a continuing study of rape, including: (1) the adequacy of existing Federal, State and local laws dealing with rape; (2) the relationship, if any, between traditional legal and social attitudes toward sexual roles and toward rape, and laws dealing with rape; (3) the treatment of rape victims by law enforcement agencies, hospitals and other medical institutions, prosecutors and the courts; (4) the causes of rape; (5) rape in correctional institutions; and (6) the actual incidence of rape as compared to the reported cases, and the reasons for any disparity in such numbers. States that it shall be the duty of the Center to: (1) develop and transmit to Congress annually recommendations for legislation dealing with the prevention, control and treatment of rape; (2) develop model legislation for the reform of existing rape laws, with the goal of encouraging uniformity in State and local laws; (3) maintain an information clearinghouse with regard to the prevention of rape, the counseling of victims, and the rehabilitation of offenders; and (4) publish training materials for those engaged in rape control and treatment programs. Provides that the Administration, acting through the Center, shall make grants to private nonprofit organizations and public agencies for model projects designed to prevent rape or treat its victims. Prohibits the disclosure of records containing personally identifiable information by a project funded under the Act without the consent of the individual to whom the record pertains. Defines "rape" as any intentional, nonconsensual, criminal sexual assault.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Authorizes, under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, the donation of surplus Federal property to child care centers. Defines the term "child care center" for purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Allows an income tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code to a claimant who is domiciled in the United States and 62 years of age for a taxable year for the property taxes accrued or 25 percent of the gross rent actually paid by a household solely for its right of occupancy for such taxable year, or both. Sets forth a table of claims allowed under the provisions of this Act, based on household income and taxes paid. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to make available suitable forms with instructions for claimants, including a form which may be included with or a part of the individual income tax form. Allows any person aggrieved by the denial in whole or in part of relief to appeal such denial to the Tax Court by filing a petition with such court within 90 days after such denial. (Adds 26 U.S.C. 1601-1605).
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Makes it unlawful to limit the availability or scope of the insurance coverage normally written with respect to a risk of loss because of the insured's sex or marital status. Makes exceptions to such provision for rates based on relevant actuarial data.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Allows a business tax deduction under the Internal Revenue Code for expenses incurred for the care of one or more dependents if such care is for the purpose of enabling the taxpayer to carry on a trade or business, including the performance of services by the taxpayer as an employee.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Medical Assistance Amendments - Eliminates the deductibles, coinsurance, and time limitations presently applicable to benefits under the Medicare program of the Social Security Act. Eliminates medicare taxes as the method of financing hospital insurance benefits and eliminates premium payments as the method of financing supplementary medical insurance benefits. Provides payment for eye care, dental care, hearing aids, prescription drugs, prosthetics, and other specified items under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Equality Act - Prohibits, under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination on account of sex or marital status in places of public accommodation, and under color of State law. Provides for civil actions by the Attorney General where there is discrimination on account of sex or marital status in public facilities or in public education. Prohibits discrimination on account of sex or marital status in federally assisted programs, and in housing sales, rentals, financing, and brokerage services. Provides for equal pay for women in executive, administrative, and professional positions. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to pay up to 60 percent of the cost of State commissions established to study discriminatory measures against women within the States, and to study necessary remedies. Authorizes $2,000,000 for this purpose. Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make studies and recommendations in specified areas of the Social Security Act and Internal Revenue Code concerning women. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as may be necessary to carry out these purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Provides for the establishment in the District of Columbia of the Sewall-Belmont House National Historic Site. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Reduces, under title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance), from 20 to 5 years the length of time a divorced woman's marriage to an insured individual must have lasted in order for her to qualify for wife's or widow's benefits on his wage record.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Comprehensive Child Development Act - States the finding of Congress that: (1) millions of children are suffering from lack of child development services; (2) comprehensive child development programs should be available to all children; (3) priority be given to preschool children with the greatest economic and social needs; (4) no mother may be forced to work in order for children to receive services; and (5) such programs should be undertaken as a partnership of parents, community, and local government. States it to be the purpose of this Act to establish and expand comprehensive child development programs, building on the Headstart experience, with emphasis on economically disadvantaged individuals and including children of working mothers and single parents, involving parents and community groups in the decision-making process, and establishing the legislative framework for eventual universally available child development programs. Title I: Comprehensive Child Development Programs; Direction to Establish Program - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to direct programs under this title. Lists activities for which funds can be provided, including: planning and development of programs; establishing, maintaining, and operating comprehensive programs with a broad range of activities; design, acquisition, construction, alteration, renovation or remodeling of facilities including mobile facilities; training programs for professionals, paraprofessionals, parents, older family members and prospective parents; public information activities; child advocate staff; and administrative expenses. Authorizes any State, city, county, combination of units of local government, or federally recognized Indian reservation to serve as prime sponsors. Permits the Secretary to designate such prime sponsor upon receipt of an application which: (1) establishes a Child Development Council (CDC) to plan, conduct, coordinate, and monitor programs; (2) establishes Local Policy Councils (LPC's) elected by parents of eligible children to serve appropriate subdivisions within the prime sponsorship area; and (3) delegates administrative responsibility to an appropriate local agency. Authorizes a public or private non-profit agency or organization to become a prime sponsor if the appropriate unit of local government has not submitted an application or is out of compliance, or if the Secretary determines such prime sponsor is necessary to meet the needs of economically disadvantaged children. Provides an opportunity for a State to comment on all applications for designation, notice and hearing before the Secretary makes any adverse decision on any designation. Requires submission by a prime sponsor and the Secretary's approval of a Comprehensive Child Development Plan before a governmental prime sponsor may receive financial assistance under this title. Requires that each such plan must: (1) identify needs and goals and describe purposes for which funds will be used; (2) meet the needs of children in the area including infant care and before and after school programs including 24-hour child care services; (3) give priority to economically disadvantaged children by reserving funds equal to the highest level of funds expended in the prime sponsorship area under Headstart in fiscal years 1973-1974 and then reserving the following percentages; 65 percent for fiscal year 1975, 60 percent for fiscal year 1976, and 55 percent for fiscal year 1977; (4) give priority thereafter to children of single parents and working mothers; (5-6) provide free services for economically disadvantaged children and fees on a sliding scale for others; (7) require cooperative arrangements of State and local agencies serving the handicapped; (8) provide jobs and training in so far as possible for residents of the community; (9) provide in so far as possible for socioeconomic mixture in centers; (10-11) provide for special needs of minority, bilingual migrant and Indian children in the area; (12) assure benefits for children in nonpublic preschool and school programs; (13) coordinate programs so family members relate to each other during the day; (14) provide for parental participating in plans and programs; (15) provide for paraprofessional volunteers, including parents, senior citizens, students, other children, and those preparing for child development careers; (16) provide for dissemination of program information in language of parents; (17) eliminate barriers pertaining to State teacher certification standards; (18-20) assure coordination with schools and other child development programs in the community; and (21) provide that emphasis will be given to continued funding of on-going projects. Requires such a plan to assure payment of the non-Federal share, to provide for fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, to provide for continuing evaluation and analysis of needs and reports to the Secretary to emphasize on-going programs, and to provide adequate staff and administrative expenses of LPCs. Provides the opportunity for comment by a Governor, Mayor or community action agency, Headstart agency or educational agency; and provides for notice and hearing before an adverse decision is made on a plan by the Secretary. Authorizes funding by a prime sponsor of a qualified public or private agency which submits an application to run a child development program, which provides comprehensive services for children served, assures adequate personnel, and meets the appropriate provisions of the Comprehensive Child Development Plan. Authorizes funding by the Secretary of a non-governmental prime sponsor which submits a project application. Allows construction only of facilities essential to provide child development services, where use of existing facilities is shown to be not practicable. Provides for 20-year use of facilities for child development programs or for return of a proportionate value of the facility to the Federal Government. Authorizes the Secretary to establish interests rates for construction loans, with a 3 percent minimum rate. Provides grants and loans for construction limited to 50 percent of the total cost except for private nonprofit groups, and limits construction to 15 percent of total allotment to a prime sponsor and limits grants for construction to 7 1/2 percent of the total. Provides for the Federal Government to share 80 percent (with allowance for Secretary to pay up to 100 percent if necessary to provide services) of the costs to prime sponsors of programs for economically disadvantaged children; 50 percent Federal share of cost to prime sponsors of programs for children not economically disadvantaged; and 100 percent Federal share of migrant and Indian programs. Provides that the non-Federal share may be in cash or kind including fees paid by parents. Reserves for the Secretary funds for migrant and Indian programs at a ratio equal to the ratio of such children to the total number of economically disadvantaged children in the nation; 5 percent for the Secretary's discretionary use, with the remainder apportioned among the States as follows: (1) 50 percent according to the ratio of economically disadvantaged children in the States; (2) 25 percent according to the ratio of children through age 5; and (3) 25 percent according to the ratio of children of working mothers and single parents. Allots State's apportionments among prime sponsors according to the same formula. Provides for reallotment of unused funds among prime sponsors and among States. Prohibits any State or local government from reducing its expenditures for child development or day care. Establishes an Office of Child Development (OCD) to be the principal agency to administer this Act. Provides for the promulgation of Federal Standards of Child Development Services, applicable to all programs receiving assistance under this Act. Provides for the promulgation of a Minimum Uniform Code for Facilities, which shall replace State and local standards for all facilities which receive assistance under this Act or in which programs which receive assistance under this Act are operated. Provides for maximum utilization of existing Federal, State, and local public facilities, including school buildings, for child development programs. Repeals, consolidates, and coordinates existing child development programs, effective October 1, 1977. Authorizes to be appropriated $2,000,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $3,000,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1977, and $4,000,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1978 to carry out the provisions of this title. Title II: Facilities for Child Development Programs - Authorizes a program of mortgage insurance for child development facilities, administered by the Secretary of HEW, to provide a source of funds in addition to the direct grants and loans authorized in Title I for the construction of such facilities. Title III: Training of Child Development Personnel - Authorizes $20,000,000 for programs to train professional child development personnel and for programs to train paraprofessionals child development personnel under the Higher Education Act. Authorizes National Defense Education Act loans for the training of full-time teachers in child development programs. Authorizes training grants to individuals and child development programs. Authorizes a $5,000,000 annual appropriation for such grants. Title IV: Federal Government Child Development Programs - Authorizes direct grants to establish and operate programs for children of Federal employees. Authorizes $5,000,000 in fiscal year 1974 and for each fiscal year thereafter to operate such program. Title V: Evaluation and Technical Assistance - Authorizes the Office of Child Development to evaluate Federal involvement in child development and to provide technical assistance to prime sponsors and project applicants. Authorizes such funds as necessary to carry out such activities. Title VI: National Center for Child Development and Education - Establishes a National Center for Child Development and Education within the Office of Child Development to conduct, coordinate, and disseminate research on child development. Authorizes such appropriations as may be necessary to operate the Center. Title VII: General Provisions - Provides for advance appropriations and advance funding of programs. Assures public information, without charge. Prohibits Federal control of programs under this Act. Defines the terms used in this Act. Prohibits sex discrimination in the administration of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Consumer Food Labeling Act - Title I: Truth in Food Labeling Act - Truth in Food Labeling Act - Requires, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, that the labels on all foods disclose each of their ingredients in order of predominance and the amounts of the ingredients in the food. Title II: Nutritional Labeling Act - Nutritional Labeling Act - Requires any packaged consumer food product to be labeled by the processor in conformity with specified information, including: with respect to processed food products, an analysis of nutritional contents including fat content, vitamin and protein value, fats and fatty acids, calories, and any other nutritional information deemed appropriate. Requires such lable to contain a statement of the nutritional value of the food commodity, and to appear in conspicuous and easily legible type on the package. Provides that the label of any packaged consumer product which has been packaged in a container of any given net content (by weight or volume) and which afterwards is packaged in a container of a different net content, shall conspicuously set forth the amount of difference. States that the appropriate Federal agencies shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides for injunctions in Federal courts to assure compliance with this Act. Prescribes a civil penalty of not to exceed $1,000 for any willful violation of this Act; such sum to be assessed by the appropriate agency and enforced in a Federal court in the name of the United States. Title III: Open Dating of Perishable Food Act - Open Dating of Perishable Food Act - Provides, under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, that no person who manufactures or packages a perishable or semiperishable food in the form in which it is sold by retail distributors to consumers may distribute for purposes of sale a perishable or semiperishable food packaged by him in such form unless he has labeled such packaged to show the pull date for such food and the optimum temperature and humidity conditions for its storage by the ultimate consumer. Provides, with certain exceptions, that no retail distributor may sell, offer to sell, or display for sale any food whose pull date has expired. States that no person may place packages on foods in shipping containers or wrappings unless such containers or wrappings are labeled by him to show the pull date. Provides that no person may change, alter, deface or remove before sale to the ultimate consumer any pull date. States that any person who violates any provision of this Act shall be imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than $5,000, or both. Provides that the United States district courts shall have jurisdiction to restrain violations of this Act. Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to submit an annual report to the Congress concerning activities and enforcement of this Act. Title IV: Marketing Practices Disclosure Act - Marketing Practices Disclosure Act - Requires that labels on packaged foods contain the names and places of business of the manufacturer, packer and distributor, rather than just one of the three. Title V: Consumer Food Grading Act - Consumer Food Grading Act - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, after consultation with representatives of consumers, producers, and processors, to develop and promulgate a system of retail qualify grade designations for consumer food products expressed in a uniform nomenclature. Authorizes the Secretary to determine the manner in which the system of consumer food grade designations shall be displayed and disseminated to the public. Provides that in developing and updating quality grade standards, consideration shall be given to the nutritional quality and wholesomeness of food products, as well as the acceptability of the products. Requires that any food products sold more than nine months after the promulgation of applicable quality standards in accordance with this Act shall either be conspicuously labeled in accordance with such standards or shall be conspicuously labeled "not quality graded by the United States Department of Agriculture". Title VI: Unit Pricing Act - Unit Pricing Act - Provides that no person engaged in business in the sale at retail of any packaged consumer commodity which has been distributed in commerce, or the distribution of which affect commerce, shall sell, offer for sale, or display for sale any such commodity unless: (1) the total selling price of such commodity is plainly marked by a stamp, tag, or label affixed to a principal display panel of the package or by a label or sign at the point of display of such package; and (2) the retail unit price of such commodity is plainly marked by: (a) stamp, tag, or label affixed to a principal display panel of the package, or (b) a label or sign in close proximity to the point of display of such package, which label or sign shall also contain the name and quantity of contents of such commodity. Exempts from the requirement of marking the unit price of commodities: (1) any individual retail outlet which sells or offers for sale packaged consumer commodities and whose total gross sales do not exceed $250,000 per annum, unless such an outlet is one of a number of outlets owned substantially or whose inventory is supplied substantially, by a single person, partnership, or corporation whose total gross sales exceed $500,000 perannum; (2) any retail outlet in any State or any political subdivision thereof which has enacted mandatory unit pricing laws and whose laws, in the judgment of the Federal promulgating authority, are in scope and comprehensiveness superior to the requirements of this Act; except that retailers (including chainstores and affiliated stores) who operate outlets in any such geographical area shall be subject to the unit pricing requirement of this Act if they also operate outlets in one or more other States or political subdivisions. Title VII: New Ingredient Notification Act - New Ingredient Notification Act - Requires a food to carry a label setting forth in a conspicuous manner any change in its ingredients for six months after such change. Title VIII: Misleading Brand Names Act - Misleading Brand Names Act - Expands the meaning of "unfair or deceptive act or practice" under the Federal Trade Commission Act to inlcude advertising a brand name of a product which inherently misleads the public as to the product's value, quantity, quality of contents, or performance.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Youth Camp Safety Act - Makes it the purpose of this Act to protect and safeguard the health and well-being of youth attending day camps, resident camps, and travel camps by providing for the establishment of Federal standards for the safe operation of youth camps. Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare an Office of Youth Camp Safety to be headed by a Director of Youth Camp Safety. Confers upon the Director the primary responsibility for the promulgation and enforcement of Federal and State youth camp safety regulations. Requires any State which desires to assume responsibility for the development and modification of youth camp safety standards to submit a State plan to the Director for his approval. Allows a State whose plan has been rejected to obtain review of the decision in the United States Court of Appeals. Authorizes the Director to make grants to States which have in effect approved State plans, such grants not to exceed eighty percent of the cost of carrying out the State plan. Authorizes to be appropriated $7,500,000 for fiscal year 1975, and for each succeeding fiscal year, to make the grants provided for in this Act. Authorizes the Director to enter and inspect youth camps and their records. Directs the Director to establish within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare an Advisory Council on Youth Camp Safety and to submit to Congress at least once a year a comprehensive and detailed report on his administration under this Act. Prescribes penalties for each violation by youth camp operators of the standards promulgated pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Director to request directly from any department or agency of the Federal Government information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics needed to carry out his functions under this Act; and such department or agency is authorized to furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Director.
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
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act - Title I: Statement of Findings and policy - Declares that most of the nation's coal reserve can only be mined by underground methods. States the purposes of this Act, including to establish a nationwide program to prevent the adverse effects to society and the environment from surface coal mining. Title II: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement - Establishes in the Interior Department the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement with a director appointed by the President. States that such office shall administer the programs required by this Act and assist the States in development of State programs for surface coal mining and reclamation. Title III: State Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute - Authorizes appropriation to the Secretary of the Interior of sums adequate to provide for each participating State $200,000 for fiscal year 1975, $300,000 for fiscal year 1976, and $400,000 for each fiscal year thereafter for 5 years, to assist the States in carrying on the work or a competent and qualified mining and mineral resources research institute or center agency at the school of mines of one public college or university of the State. Requires such monies to be matched dollar for dollar by the States. Authorizes appropriation of $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, such sum to be increased by $2,000,000 each fiscal year for 6 years thereafter, for specific projects in mining and mineral research in research institutes. Directs the Secretary to establish a center for cataloging current and projectd scientific research in mining and mineral resources. Directs the Secretary to establish a center for cataloging current and projected scientific research in mining and mineral resources. Requires the Secretary to appoint an Advisory Committee on Mining and Mineral Research to advise him on all matters concerning mining and mineral resources research. Title IV: Abandoned Mine Reclamation - Creates the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund in the Treasury. Requires operators of coal mines to pay into the fund quarterly fees of $.35 per ton of coal produced by surface mining and $.25 per ton of coal produced by underground mining, or 10 percent of the value of the coal in the mine, whichever is less. Authorizes use of money in the Fund for acquisition and reclamation of abandoned and unreclaimed mined lands and for acquisitions and fillings of voids and sealing of tunnels and entryways in abandoned mines. Permits the Secretary to acquire land by condemnation for reclamation. Encourages States to acquire abandoned and unreclaimed land, and to transfer to the Secretary for reclamation, and authorizes matching grants for such purpose, up to 90 percent of land price. Allows resale of reclaimed land by public bidding, and allows local public participation in determining the use of reclaimed land. Title V: Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to implement within 135 days of enactment, a Federal program of enforcement of specified standards to remain in effect until State programs are approved. Directs publication within 180 days of enactment of regulations covering surface coal mining and reclamation, setting standards for State programs. States that such regulations must meet approval of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. Requires States, within 18 months of enactment, to submit programs for carrying out this Act, such programs to include a State regulatory authority capable of regulating surface coal mining, State laws providing for sanctions for violations of regulations, and a permit system for surface coal mining regulation. Demands that such State programs meet the approval of the EPA Administrator. Subjects State programs to approval of Secretary of Interior within 6 months. Requires implementation of a Federal program of surface coal mining regulation where States fail in such implementation. Permits State laws and regulations that are more stringent than this Act. Requires, 30 months after enactment, that no surface coal mining shall take place except where a permit, good for 5 years, has been issued. States that permits application must demonstrate ability and intent to comply with this Act and assurance that reclamation can be achieved. Requires permit applications to describe the method of mining and equipment proposed to be used, to describe by maps the land to be affected, and to contain a statement of results of test borings or core samplings of the affected land. States that permits must be accompanied by a mining and reclamation plan which shall include a description of present uses of the land, steps to be taken to prevent environmental damage, and a description of the reclamation activities. Requires the posting of performance bonds and possession of liability insurance by applicants for permits. Sets general performance standards for environmental protection in surface coal mining which permittees under this Act must meet. Imposes additional standards for steep-slope surface mining. Directs the Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations directed at the surface effects of underground mining, including specified requirements. Directs and authorizes inspection of surface coal mining and reclamation to determine compliance with this Act and regulations. Provides for requirement of record keeping and submittal and monitoring by mine operators. Requires surprise inspections by regulatory agencies not less than once a month. Requires civil penalties for violation of this Act or regulations under it. Provides that when an operator completes the backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of a bonded area, he may request a release of 60 percent of the bond. Provides that the remaining amount may be returned upon completion of all reclamation. Allows persons with a legal interest to file objections to release of bond, and for public hearings to follow. Permits any person to bring a civil suit against any person, including the United States, alleged to be in violation of this Act. Allows the court to award costs of litigation to parties in suits brought under this Act. Permits the Secretary to intervene in actions under this Act. Allows, where State regulatory authorities do not exist or fail to act, for Federal enforcement of this Act and of permit conditions. Permits issuance of an order to cease mining and reclamation. Provides for the Attorney General to institute civil suit for a restraining order or injunction to enforce this Act or regulations under it. Directs States to designate as unsuitable for surface coal mining those areas where reclamation is impossible or where land is fragile or of historical value. Prohibits existing mining operations from being declared unsuitable. Requires implementation of a Federal lands program applicable to all surface mining and reclamation operations on Federal land. Requires such program to, at least, adopt all requirements of this Act. Demands separate regulations for programs for special bituminous coal surface mines that meet speicified criteria, and for anthracite coal surface mines which are regulated by environmental protection standards of the States. Title VI: Designation of Lands Unsuitable for Noncoal Mining - Allows the Secretary to designate Federal lands unsuitable for mining materials other than coal, if they are predominantly urban or suburban in character or if such mining operations would have an adverse impact on lands used primarily for residential and related purposes. Title VII: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Defines the terms used in this Act. Prohibits discrimination against employees for filing suit under this Act and for testifying in a proceeding under this Act. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. Directs the President to minimize the adverse impact upon employment of any actions taken pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants to the States to provide cash benefits to individuals who have lost their jobs as a direct result of this Act and who are not eligible for unemployment assistance or who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering for a study of surface coal mining conditions in Alaska in order to determine which, if any, of the provisions of this Act should be modified with respect to such operations in Alaska. Directs the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to contract with the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering and other groups for a study of the technology for surface and open-pit mining and reclamation for minerals other than coal designed to assist in the development of regulation for such operations. Directs the Secretary to consult with Indian tribes in studying the regulation of surface mining on Indian lands. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act, as follows: (1) $10,000,000 for various contract authority immediately and for the next two fiscal years; (2) for administrative and other purposes, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, $20,000,000 for fiscal years 1976 and 1977, and $30,000,000 for fiscal years thereafter; (3) for research and demonstration projects, $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1976 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $250,000 for the Alaskan surface coal mine study; and (4) $500,000 for the study of surface mining of other minerals. Requires the written consent of the owner of the surface rights before the Secretary shall lease Federally-owned mineral rights, and requires compensation to be paid by the lessee to the surface owner.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
States that the House of Representatives disapproves the deferral of budget authority relating to comprehensive planning grants under the Housing Act of 1954 (deferral numbered D 75-107) which is proposed by the President in his special message of November 26, 1974 transmitted pursuant to the Impoundment Control Act.
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 · 14 January 1975
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) immediately take the necessary steps to initiate active negotiations seeking agreement with the Soviet Union on a comprehensive ban on all nuclear test explosions; (2) take the necessary steps to work toward extension of a prohibition against nuclear testing to the other nuclear powers and those nations preparing for nuclear capability; and (3) immediately declare an indefinite moratorium on all nuclear test explosions.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
States that the House of Representatives of the United States expresses its firm belief that the Vladivostok agreement in principle must lead to immediate actual reductions of nuclear stockpiles and that both the United States and the Soviet Union should make every effort to halt the continuing competition in strategic arms by refraining from the development or deployment of additional nuclear weapons systems beyond current levels. Expresses the sense of the House that the President should make every possible effort to include these reduction measures as part of the final accord carrying out the Vladivostok agreement, including but not limited to, the following: (1) the negotiation of overall levels lower than those contained in the Vladivostok agreement and not to exceed present levels, both in numbers of delivery vehicles and in numbers of missiles capable of carrying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles; (2) the negotiation of restraints on the pace of deployment by the United States and the Soviet Union of new strategic delivery systems, with the mutually agreed upon lower numerical levels referred to in paragraph (1) of this resolution; (3) the negotiation of limitations on the number of strategic ballistic missile flight tests which may be conducted annually by the United States and the Soviet Union; and (4) an agreement to continue negotiations on a timely and sustained basis to achieve further mutual limitations with regard to nuclear weapons systems not presently limited as part of the 1972 arms control agreements and the Vladivostok agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Declares it the sense of Congress that the President (1) initiate active negotiations with the Soviet Union on a ban on all nuclear test explosions, (2) encourage other nations to refrain from nuclear testing, and (3) declare a moratorium on nuclear test explosions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1974
Provides that, beginning fifteen months after the date of the enactment of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture or import chlorofluoromethane, except under a license issued pursuant to this Act. States that any person who manufactures or imports chlorofluoromethane in violation of this Act shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, for each day of violation. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to apply to any United States District Court to obtain a temporary restraining order, an injunction, and other appropriate equitable relief from any such violation. States that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall have the power, after public hearing and consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and scientific entities, and after considering the report made by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration pursuant to this Act, to make rules prescribing the maximum steady-state ozone reduction due to chlorofluoromethane which is consistent with the protection of the public health, and to issue licenses to manufacture or import a quantity of chlorofluoromethane equivalent to the control level thereby established.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1974
Prohibits the President, under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, from increasing the price of crude oil produced in the United States from the price of such oil in effect on December 1, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1974
Provides, under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, for the payment of emergency financial assistance grants and special allowances for incidental expenses to recipients of supplemental security income benefits. Authorizes cost-of-living increases in such benefits and in State supplementary payments. Prevents reductions in such benefits because of social security benefit increases. Provides reimbursement to States for home relief payments to disabled applicants prior to determination of their disability. Permits the payment of such benefits directly to drug addicts and alcoholics (without a third party payee) upon certification of the chief medical officer of the therapeutic institution that the funds would not be misused. Entitles recipients of such benefits to participate in the food stamp and surplus commodities programs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 1974
Establishes a select committee in the House of Representatives to be composed of nine members of the House. Authorizes the committee to conduct a full and complete investigation and study of food prices in the United States. Sets forth the powers and duties of the committee. Directs the committee to report to the House as soon as practicable during the present Congress the results of its investigation and study, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1974
Imposes, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, a tax on every new automobile, except commercial and farm vehicles, manufactured, produced, or imported between July 1, 1975 and June 30, 1980, based on their fuel consumption rates. Provides that such tax shall be paid by the manufacturer, producer or importer. Requires the public disclosure of the fuel consumption rate of every new automobile. Directs the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to submit to Congress, not later than July 1, 1979, a report recommending legislation which would provide for taxation of all new automobiles after June 30, 1981, based upon a universally applicable standard of fuel consumption to be developed by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to conduct a program to develop more efficient automobile engines, using funds received from the tax imposed by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1974
Provides, under the Controlled Substances Act, that it shall not be unlawful for any person to publicly or privately possess, distribute, transfer, or sell marihuana under enumerated circumstances. States that marihuana in the lawful possession of any person shall not be considered contraband and shall not be subject to seizure by or forfeiture to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1974
Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, after consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, to: (1) establish standards for a grading system by which retail purchases may determine the relative nutritional value of food distributed in interstate commerce; and (2) prescribe the manner in which packaged foods will be labeled in accordance with such system. Provides criminal penalties for any person who distributes or sells food not displayed in the manner prescribed by such regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1974
Directs the President to appoint a Commission on Fertilizer Availability: (1) to review and recommend specific conservation steps and other measures which would be taken to increase the short-term availability of fertilizer for food production; and (2) to encourage increased production of fertilizer to meet the medium and long-term fertilizer needs such as investment incentives and machinery to increase production capacity. Limits the amounts of chemical fertilizer used by any department or agency of the Federal Government during 1975 for ornamental or decorative growing purposes. Provides that such prohibition shall not apply to decorative growing aimed at preventing soil erosion.
United States · United States Congress · 25 November 1974
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Commodity Credit Corporation, during calendar year 1975, to expend an additional $1,000,000,000 to $2,000,000,000 for (1) the purchase of cows, calves, hogs, sheep, or other food animals and products, processing and packaging, or (2) the purchase of animal products already processed for contribution to domestic and foreign food programs for the relief of starvation and malnutrition. Directs that the containers of such products bear labels indicating the contents are donated by the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 November 1974
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants under the Public Health Service Act for research in fertility and sterility in humans and the human reproductive process, and for training and fellowship grants to allow persons to undertake such research. Empowers the Secretary to establish in the National Institutes of Health and in the various geographical regions of the United States not more than five specialized treatment centers to (1) provide assistance to individuals seeking medical services to enable them to bear children, and (2) undertake clinical research and training in, and demonstration of, advanced diagnostic and treatment methods relating to problems of human reproduction. Provides that the Secretary may enter into cooperative arrangements with public and private nonprofit agencies and institutions to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, and providing basic operating support for such specialized treatment centers. Allows Federal spending for (1) construction, (2) staffing and other basic operating costs, (3) training, and (4) demonstration projects. Authorizes to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975 and for each of the next four fiscal years such sums as may be necessary to make payments as provided in this Act. Provides that family planning projects and services assisted under the Public Health Service Act shall include counseling for individuals who have been unable to bear children and who seek medical assistance in bearing children, and referral of such individuals to specialized regional treatment centers established under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 November 1974
Drug Safety, Consumer Information, and Medical Records Act - Title I: National Center for Clinical Pharmacology - Establishes, under the Public Health Service Act and within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the National Center for Clinical Pharmacology to provide support in the nature of grants for the study of clinical pharmacology. Enumerates the nature and general provisions of such grants. Provides for the collection of data regarding drug experiences and adverse drug reactions. Calls for a study to be conducted on the inappropriate prescribing of drugs and on whether controls are needed for such inappropriate prescribing. Requires all organizations receiving assistance under this Act to review the prescribing and administering of all drugs in the course of delivery of health care. Calls for the establishment of procedures to insure the confidentiality of medical records pertaining to the experiences of a specific individual in taking drugs. Provides for Congressional inspection of medical data. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1976 to carry out the purposes and projects of this title. Title II: Promotional Practices - Prohibits, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the giving by any person engaged in the manufacture, propagation, processing, or distribution of any drug of any gift or other free promotional item having a retail value of more than $5.00 to any practitioner, pharmacist, student, or any other person engaged in the delivery of health care. Prohibits the transfer of samples and free drugs to practitioners unless each such practitioner has filed a written request for such drug. Places additional restrictions on the transfer of any sample or other free drug. Places a prohibition on prescription surveys. Provides for: (1) price information in drug advertising; (2) restrictions on remainder labeling and advertising and false and misleading advertising; and (3) certification of training programs for manufacturers' representatives. Title III: Drug Quality - Provides, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, for the establishment of regulations governing the requirements for proof of therapeutic equivalences of drugs. Defines the terms used in this Act. Provides procedures for certification of batches of specified kinds of drugs (other than insulin and antibiotics). Sets forth recordkeeping and reporting requirements for drugs by persons subject to registration under this Act, specifying the procedures under which any such reports shall be made available to the committees of Congress. Title IV: National Drug Compendium: - Calls for the preparation of a drug compendium listing by established name drugs lawfully available in the United States, to provide adequate and reliable prescribing information. Sets forth the method for compilation and publication of such compendium, including: (1) the appointment of a committee to advise the Secretary on compendium matters; and (2) the requirements governing advertising of information contained in the compendium. Title V: Consumer Drug Information - Requires that specified prescription drug information be included on all drug labels in such terms so that it is likely to be understood by the ordinary individual. Directs the establishment of a uniform system of coding of drugs consisting of symbols representing: (1) the identity of the manufacturer of the drug, and the final packager; (2) the dosage form and strength of the drug; and (3) the number of drug units in the immediate container. Requires that pharmacies post prescription drug prices. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to identify methods for informing consumers of the costs associated with the manufacture and distribution of retail drugs. Empowers the Secretary to make grants to consumer groups for informing the public with price comparison data of drugs. Authorizes $1,000,000 to be appropriated for such grants for fiscal year 1975. Title VI: Recall Authority; Increased Criminal Penalty - Vests the Secretary with authority to recall an article of food, drug device or cosmetic which is liable to be proceeded against on libel of information and condemnation. Increases from $1,000 to $5,000 the criminal penalty for violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1974
Bill of Rights Procedures Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act to prohibit any interception of communication, other than electronic surveillance, surreptitious entry, mail opening, or the inspection of and procuring of the records of telephone, bank, credit, medical, or other business or private transactions, of any individual without a court order issued upon probable cause that a crime has been or is about to be committed, supported by oath or affirmation and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. Provides that whoever, being an officer, agent, or employee of the United States or any department or agency thereof willfully: (1) searches any private dwelling used and occupied as a dwelling without a warrant directing such search or maliciously and without reasonable cause searches any other building or property without a search warrant; (2) procures or inspects the records of telephone calls, bank, credit, medical, or other business or private transactions of any individual without a search warrant or the consent of the individual; (3) opens any foreign or domestic mail not directed to him without a search warrant directing such opening or without the consent of the sender or addressee of such mail; or (4) intercepts, endeavors to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept any wire or oral communication except as authorized by law; shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Requires that within 30 days after the date of an order authorizing or approving the interception of a wire or oral communication (or each extension thereof) entered under authority of law, or the denial of an order approving an interception, the person seeking such order shall report to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives: (1) the fact that an order or extension was applied for; (2) the kind of order or extension applied for; (3) the fact that the order or extension was granted as applied for, was modified, or was denied; (4) the period of interceptions authorized by the order, and the number and duration of any extensions of the order; (5) the names of all parties to the intercepted communications; (6) the offense specified in the order or application; (7) the identity of the investigative or law enforcement officer and agency making the application and the person authorizing the application to be made; (8) a copy of the court order authorizing, approving, or denying such interception; and (9) the nature of the facilities from which or the place where communications were intercepted. Specifies that reports be made within 90 days after the date of an order approving the interception of a wire or oral communication on the disposition of all records of any such interception and the identity of and action taken by all individuals who had access to any such interception. Sets forth reporting requirements in the case of warrants issued authorizing the opening of mail.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1974
Declares that the present controlled price of $5.25 per barrel of oil is sufficient to encourage secondary recovery methods; and the proposed decontrol of the price of oil produced domestically by secondary recovery methods is opposed by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that such proposal should be withdrawn forthwith.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1974
Authorizes the use of Federal funds to reimburse local governments for their expenditures for the protection of foreign diplomatic missions. Increases the size of the Executive Protective Service. Establishes an additional ten positions in the United States Secret Service.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1974
Flexible Hours Employment Act - States that it is the policy of the United States Government that, unless adjudged impossible by the Secretary of Labor, at least 10 percent, over a five year period, of the positions at each and all levels in all executive agencies shall be available on a flexible hours employment basis for persons who cannot work or do not desire to work full time. Requires each executive agency to adopt and maintain procedures, continuously conduct activities and projects, and undertake such other efforts as may be appropriate to carry out the policy of this Act. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on the procedures, activities, projects, and other efforts undertaken to carry out the policy of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1974
Public Records Act - Defines the terms used in this Act, including "public record". States that every public record is the property of the United States. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, the President or Vice President may destroy or cause to be destroyed any public record in his custody within thirty days after he prepares or receives it, if such record was received, held, prepared, or originated by or for him. States that after an individual ceases to hold the office of President or Vice President, the Administrator of General Services shall take custody of the existing public records received, held, prepared, or originated during the period when such individual held office, except that the successor to the office held by the individual shall retain temporary custody of such records as the successor certifies to be necessary in the performance of his duties. Provides for the preservation of public records by the Administrator in the National Archives. States that the President or Vice President or the executor or administrator of his estate may impose restrictions on public access to any public record obtained from him by the Administrator under this Act for a period of not more than five years from the date on which the President or Vice President, as the case may be, ceases to hold such office. States that any such restriction shall not be effective to deny access to any public record pursuant to any legally authorized demand or order of any court or any duly constituted body of Congress. States that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or any agreement entered into by the United States, the Administrator of General Services shall obtain or retain, as the case may be, custody of all existing public records received, held, prepared, or originated during the period beginning January 20, 1969, and ending on August 9, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the President does not have authority to exempt any crude oil from price controls under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 (except as provided in section 4(e) (2) and 4(g) (1) (B) of such Act); and (2) the regulation under section 4 of that Act should not be amended in a manner which results in an increase in the price of crude oil produced in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Special Prosecutor of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force: (1) should, notwithstanding the Presidential pardon issued to Richard M. Nixon, proceed to institute all appropriate legal actions with respect to the conduct of Richard M. Nixon from January 20, 1969, through August 9, 1974, including but not limited to, the issuance of any indictment or indictments which may be justified; and (2) should, not later than sixty days after the conclusion of all criminal proceedings within the jurisdiction of the Watergate Special Prosecutor's Office, issue to the public a complete report concerning all the matters investigated, including the conduct of Richard M. Nixon from January 20, 1969, through August 9, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1974
States that the House of Representatives disapproves proposed deferral of budget authority numbered D75-9, relating to construction of waste treatment plants, as transmitted to the Congress in the President's message of September 23, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 1974
Makes it a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act for any retailer to increase the price of consumer commodities once he marks the price on any such consumer commodity, and permits the Federal Trade Commission to order any such retailer to refund any amounts of money obtained by increasing the price of such consumer commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1974
Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, after consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, to: (1) establish standards for a grading system by which retail purchases may determine the relative nutritional value of food distributed in interstate commerce; and (2) prescribe the manner in which packaged foods will be labeled in accordance with such system. Provides criminal penalties for any person who distributes or sells food not displayed in the manner prescribed by such regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1974
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to purchase lands for the establishment of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in the State of Georgia.
![Official portrait of Rep. Abzug, Bella S. [D-NY-20]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/a000018_200.jpg)