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United States · Official source
510 records where Rep. Baldus, Alvin J. [D-WI-3] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1978
Authorizes and directs the President to designate May 21, 1978 as "Firefighters' Memorial Sunday."
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1978
Authorizes the President of the United States to designate the week of September 17 through 23, 1978, as "National Lupus Week."
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1978
Regulatory Flexibility Act - Requires any Federal agency, in promulgating any regulation pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, to publish its findings regarding whether such regulation should set lesser standards for compliance for individuals and small businesses and small organizations or whether such small entities or individuals should be exempt from such regulation. Requires such promulgating agency to obtain the comments of the Small Business Administration with respect to the impact of such regulation on such individuals and small entities. Requires that such exemptions or lesser standards be incorporated in the proposed regulation where appropriate. States that no person shall have standing in any court to challenge compliance with this Act save individuals, small organizations and small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1978
Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to: (1) extend the Commodity Futures Trading Commission through fiscal year 1981; (2) exclude from the definition of commodity trading advisor any dealers of cash commodities and products thereof; (3) provide for appointment of the Commission Chairman by the President, to serve at the President's pleasure; and (4) subject the use and expenditure of funds by the Chairman to the budget categories, plans, and priorities established by the Commission. Prohibits any Commissioner or employee of the Commission from making any appearance before, or communication to, the Commission on behalf of any person on any particular matter before the Commission for the period of a year following his or her last day of service. Sets forth the procedure for designating a board of trade as a contract market. Prohibits any person from engaging in commodity option transactions without express permission from the Commission. Subjects all proposed rules and regulations governing options trading to the veto prerogative of either House of Congress. Allows the registration of Commission merchants and floor brokers to extend beyond December 31st and to expire not earlier than one year from the date of issuance. Extends to six months the time during which the Commission must act on the application for registration of any commodity trading advisor or commodity pool operator. Applies the anti-fraud provisions of such Act to all advisors and pool operators regardless of whether they are registered or not. Requires a hearing on the record for: (1) refusal, suspension, or revocation of contract market designations; (2) cease and desist orders; and (3) imposition of civil penalties. Grants subpena power to members of the Commission and any Administrative Law Judge or other officer designated by them. Grants concurrent jurisdiction to State agencies or officials to investigate or prosecute civil violations of such Act committed by any persons or organizations other than a designated contract market or a board of trade licensed by the Commission. Prohibits the Commission from making public disclosure of any data or information which would separately disclose the market positions, business transactions, trade secrets or names of customers not previously disclosed publicly in a judicial or congressional proceeding. Authorizes the Commission to require fingerprinting of applicants for registration as Commission merchants or associates. Increases from $2,500 to $5,000 the amount of damages that may be claimed in complaints that may be adjusted without a hearing.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1978
Federal Biological Control Organisms Act - Prohibits the movement of any biological control organism into, through, or within the United States without the authorization of the Secretary of Agriculture. Grants detention and search authority to inspectors. Establishes criminal penalties for the knowing violation of any regulations promulgated under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary, independently or in cooperation with Federal, State, and local government agencies, and with the governments of all countries of the western hemisphere, to eradicate, suppress, control, or prevent or retard the spread of any biological control organism which has been found to be harmful to agriculture or the production of food and fiber.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1978
Authorizes and requests the President to designate Sunday, September 24, 1978, as "National Good Neighbor Day."
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a surviving spouse to treat as furnished consideration, for estate tax purposes, up to a 50 percent share of any joint farm or small business property which was unpaid for at the time of marriage, determined at the rate of two percent a year if such spouse actually participates in the operation of such farm or small business.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1978
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as "National Grandparents Day."
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1978
Amends Title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require States having agreements for coverage of their employees under the system of insurance established by such Title to make payments and reports on a calendar-quarter basis.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1978
Provides that where two or more Members of the House of Representatives pay the basic pay of an individual from the clerk-hire allowance of each such Member, such individual shall be considered to be on the payroll of only one such Member for purposes of determining the number of individuals employed by such Members under the clerk-hire allowance. Requires such Members to designate who shall be considered the employer for the month involved and to report such designation to the Office of Finance.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1978
Authorizes and requests the President to designate July 1, 1978, as "Free Enterprise Day."
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1978
National Consumer Nutrition Information Act - States the findings of Congress. Title I: Interdepartmental Planning and Coordination and Intradepartmental Coordination - Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a National Nutrition Education Council to plan and coordinate the activities of Federal agencies concerning nutrition education and nutrition education research. Title II: Research and Demonstration Projects on Dissemination of Nutrition Information to Consumers at the Community Level - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct, between April 1, 1979 and September 30, 1981, in standard metropolitan and rural areas, demonstration projects pertaining to dissemination of nutrition information. Requires: (1) consumer participation in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of such projects; (2) the utilization of local resources and services; and (3) at least two projects each through the Department, local government units, and nonprofit organizations. Title III: Demonstration Program on Graphic Labeling - Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and demonstrations of methods of graphically indicating nutritional values of fresh fruit and vegetables in supermarkets and other places where consumers purchase groceries. Title IV: Television Demonstration Projects - Directs the Secretary to solicit and receive proposals for the purpose of producing not more than 15 public service announcements concerning the relationship between diet and health and concerning methods of achieving a healthy diet. Title V: General Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1978
Dairy Head Reduction Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Agricultural Stablilization and Conservation Service and the Commodity Credit Corporation, to make incentive payments to any qualified dairyman of 15 cents per pound with respect to: (1) any dairy cow which such person markets and delivers for slaughter; and (2) any bred dairy heifer or dairy cow exported. Limits the number of animals for which such payments may be made to those in excess of 12 percent but not more than 25 percent of the average number of dairy cows which the dairyman owns during the 90 day period preceding the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1978
Regulatory Flexibility Act - Requires any Federal agency, in promulgating any regulation pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, to publish its findings regarding whether such regulation should set lesser standards for compliance for individuals and small businesses and small organizations or whether such small entities or individuals should be exempt from such regulation. Requires such promulgating agency to obtain the comments of the Small Business Administration with respect to the impact of such regulation on such individuals and small entities. Requires that such exemptions or lesser standards be incorporated in the proposed regulation where appropriate. States that no person shall have standing in any court to challenge compliance with this Act save individuals, small organizations and small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Designates the Blackjack Springs Wilderness Area and the Whisker Lake Wilderness Area, both within the Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin, as wilderness areas. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to administer the areas in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1978
Meat and Livestock Import Amendments - Subjects specified kinds of preserved beef and veal products to the policy of Congress related to the restriction of beef imports. Revises the formula for the determination of beef and veal import quotas. Repeals the authority of the President to suspend a proclamation limiting beef imports. Directs the President to limit beef imports at any one port of entry in order to insure the geographical distribution of such imports. Declares it the policy of Congress that a quota should be imposed upon the importation of cattle. Directs the President to impose such limitation and to limit such imports at any one port of entry.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1978
Authorizes and requests the Presidents to designate the week beginning on November 19, 1978, as "National Family Week."
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Surface Transportation Assistance Act - Title I: Federal Aid Highway Act - Amends the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to revise and extend the authorization for appropriations for the Interstate Highway System through fiscal year 1992. Sets forth a formula for the apportionment of a portion of such funds for fiscal years 1980 through 1983. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to apportion such amounts in a specified manner for fiscal year 1980. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for specified highway programs. Stipulates that the Federal share of railroad-highway crossing demonstration projects under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 shall be 95 percent of the cost of such a project. Establishes a cutoff date for the designation and completion of the Interstate Highway System. Authorizes the Secretary to approve projects for resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating lanes on the Interstate System which have been in use for more than five years. Sets forth the Federal share of the costs of such projects. Increases the Federal share for specified highway programs. Authorizes the Secretary to approve a State's request for the retention of certain outdoor advertising where the sign or display was in existence on May 5, 1976. Authorizes the Secretary to approve Federal participation in State projects for replacing unsafe highway bridges which are not on the Federal-aid system. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States for traffic control signalization projects designed to conserve motor fuel and decrease traffic congestion. Directs the Secretary to allocate funds made available for pavement marking demonstration programs in a manner deemed by the Secretary most appropriate to expedite the completion of pavement markings on all highways. Increases the amount of appropriations authorized for the construction of bridges across Federal dams which may be expended as an emergency fund to meet additional costs. Amends the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 to increase the Federal share for construction projects on the Appalachian development highway system and to increase the authorized mileage for such system. Establishes a ceiling on obligations for Federal- aid highways and highway construction projects for fiscal year 1979. Amends the Energency Highway Emergy Conservation Act to authorize the Secretary to approve carpool projects in urbanized areas. Authorizes the reapportionment of funds not used by a State for the Interstate System to another State which has obligated all of its apportionment. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out access control demonstration projects designed to demonstrate whether preserving the capacity of existing highways to move traffic safely by acquiring and controlling the right of access to such highways is a cost effective alternative to the construction of additional highways. Bikeway Transportation Act - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States and municipalities for the construction of bikeways in urbanized areas. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall be 80 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for fiscal years 1979 through 1982. Stipulates that upon repayment of a specified sum by the State of Indiana to the Treasurer of the United States, Interstate Route 80/90 shall be free of all restrictions with respect to the imposition and collection of tolls. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a demonstration project in a metropolitan area of 500,000 or more population to restrict the access of motor vehicles to the central business district during peak traffic hours in order to determine the practicability of this method in reducing motor vehicle congestion. Directs the Secretary to conduct a demonstration project on the Interstate System to place vending machines in rest and recreation areas located on the rights-of-way of such System. Directs the Secretary to designate a portion of State Highway Numbered 17 in Richmond, California as part of the Interstate System. Exempts the facility owned by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority on the right-of-way of interstate route I-81 in New York State from certain restrictions prohibiting commercial establishments on such a right-of-way. Authorizes the Secretary to approve certain construction projects with respect to interstate route I-90 in New York State. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the construction of spur highways to connect the Great River Road with existing bridges across the Mississippi River. Directs the Secretary to reimburse the Federal share of the cost of constructing a new toll bridge across the Ohio River at Huntington, West Virginia. Prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds to erect or modify road signs solely using the metric system unless specifically authorized by Congress. Requires each State to annually report to the Secretary regarding State enforcement of its vehicle weight limitations on the Federal-aid system. Amends the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 to authorize appropriations to the State of New Hampshire for expenditure on Federal-aid highways (other than Interstate System highways) which serve as alternative routes to the Franconia Notch Parkway. Directs the Secretary to carry out a demonstration project permitting a State to sell State lottery tickets at publicly owned rest and recreation areas on the rights-of-way of the Interstate System in such State. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a demonstration project on the Federal-aid primary system for the construction of a bypass highway around Prairie Creek Redwood State Park in Humbolt County, California. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study on the feasibility of an additional bridge across the Columbia River between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Directs the Secretary to carry out a rural highway public transportation demonstration project in the Sherman, Texas - Denison, Texas area. Title II: Highway Safety Act - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for specified highway safety programs. Amends the Highway Safety Act of 1973 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for projects to eliminate hazards relating to rail-highway crossings. Requires each State to annually certify to the Secretary that it is enforcing the national maximum speed limit. Directs the Secretary to reduce a State's apportionment for Federal-aid highway funds if the percentage of motor vehicles exceeding 55 miles per hour exceeds a specified percentage. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1979 through 1982 to the Secretary of Transportation for the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of highway accident data and for establishing procedures for reporting accidents on a nationwide basis. Abolishes the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee. Authorizes the Secretary to waive State highway safety program standards for projects to identify highway accident causes and to reduce accidents. Directs the Secretary to carry out six pilot projects designed, through the use of television and radio, to develop and evaluate methods to achieve maximum measurable effectiveness in reducing traffic accidents, injuries, and death. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose. Title III: Urban Mass Transportation Act Amendments - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act to repeal the provision which allows States or local public bodies to use Federal urban mass transportation assistance for the payment of operating expenses for mass transportation services. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for specified projects under such Act. Requires that a specified portion of such appropriations be used for grants for intercity bus service. Directs the Secretary to apportion authorizations for the urban mass transit program according to a specified formula for fiscal years 1979 through 1982. Removes specified restrictions regarding the availability of fellowships for public transportation training programs. Authorizes general appropriations to carry out the provisions of the Urban Mass Transportation Act through fiscal year 1982. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress monthly regarding the funding of projects under such Act. Revises the Federal operating assistance program for the provision of rail passenger service under such Act. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for such program. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States and local bodies to acquire, construct, or alter facilities for use in providing intercity bus service and in coordinating such service with other modes of transportation. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall be 80 percent of its net cost. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 to carry out such program. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for the liquidation of obligations incurred for public mass transit projects substituted for routes on the Interstate Highway System. Authorizes the Secretary to convert specified mass transportation equipment and facilities loans to grants under specified conditions. Directs the Secretary to make a full and complete investigation and study of establishing and operating a mass transportation system which would provide basic services with a minimum of amenities at low costs and to report the results of such study to Congress. Directs the Secretary to carry out a demonstration project using high speed jetfoil transportation facilities and operating between the Long Branch, New Jersey area, Sandy Hook State Park, and New York, New York to determine the feasibility of utilizing this technology in providing certain public mass transportation service. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such project. Title IV: Prohibits the awarding of grants of more than $5,000,000 for the acquisition of any steel or rolling stock for fixed rail service unless substantially all the steel to be acquired has been domestically produced. Sets forth exceptions to this requirement. Provides for Congressional review of certain rules and regulations relating to highways or urban mass transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Brucellosis Indemnification Act - Title I: Brucellosis Indemnification Program - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to compensate any farmer or rancher who owns any dairy cow which, under any Federal law, is destroyed in order to control or eradicate brucellosis. Sets a formula for such compensation, requiring the payment of at least $200 per cow. Denies any such compensation with respect to any dairy cow moved or handled by its owner in violation of any law or regulation for the prevention of the dissemination of any communicable disease of livestock for which such cow was destroyed. Title II: Vaccination Program; Research Program - Directs the Secretary to make grants to States for conducting: (1) without charge to farmers or ranchers, a brucellosis vaccination program; and (2) intensive research concerning methods of identifying brucellosis and of improving anti-brucellosis vaccines. Title III: Deferral of Certain Payments on Operating and Emergency Loans Made Under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require the Secretary to make all principal and interest payments coming due on any operating or emergency loan relating to the dairy operation of a farmer or rancher who owns dairy cattle subject to a quarantine imposed in order to control or eradicate brucellosis. Limits the Secretary's payments to the period of the quarantine and for 60 days thereafter. Requires the farmer or rancher to reimburse the Secretary, without interest, for such payments. Title IV: General Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations under this Act, and defines terms used therein.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1978
Designates the square dance as the national folk dance of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1978
Small Business Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small businesses to compute taxable income under the cash method and without regard to inventories. Increases the corporate surtax exemption and reduces the corporate tax rates. Provides for limited recognition of the gain from the sale or exchange of a sole proprietorship prior to the age of 55, and non-recognition after age 55. Allows the amortization over a 36-month period of expenses of a business for property acquired to put the business in compliance with Federal law and which does not have any economic usefulness to the business. Increases the additional first year depreciation allowance for small businesses. Increases the investment tax credit for investments in certain small manufacturing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Title I: Small Business Act Amendments - Empowers the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make loans to assist any small business concern in financing plant construction and equipment acquisition for the production, installation, or maintenance of solar energy equipment or other energy conservation equipment. Permits the Administration to make grants to non-profit organizations for the establishment of training seminars that teach small business concerns methods of design, installation, and maintenance of solar energy equipment and to provide manuals on such subjects.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
National Consumer Nutrition Information Act - States the findings of Congress. Title I: Interdepartmental Planning and Coordination and Interdepartmental Coordination - Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a National Nutrition Education Council to plan and coordinate the activities of Federal agencies concerning nutrition education and nutrition education research. Title II: Research and Demonstration Projects on Dissemination of Nutrition Information to Consumers at the Community Level - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct, between April 1, 1979 and September 30, 1981, in standard metropolitan and rural areas, demonstration projects pertaining to dissemination of nutrition information. Requires: (1) consumer participation in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of such projects; (2) the utilization of local resources and services; and (3) at least two projects each through the Department, local government units, and nonprofit organizations. Title III: Demonstration Program on Graphic Labeling - Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and demonstrations of methods of graphically indicating nutritional values of fresh fruit and vegetables in supermarkets and other places where consumers purchase groceries. Title IV: Television Demonstration Projects - Directs the Secretary to solicit and receive proposals for the purpose of producing not more than 15 public service announcements concerning the relationship between diet and health and concerning methods of achieving a healthy diet. Title V: General Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Brucellosis Relief Act - Title I: Brucellosis Indemnification Program - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to compensate any farmer or rancher who owns any dairy cow which, under any Federal law, is destroyed in order to control or eradicate brucellosis. Sets a formula for such compensation requiring the payment of at least $200 per cow. Denies any such compensation with respect to any dairy cow moved or handled by its owner in violation of any law or regulation for the prevention of the dissemination of any communicable disease of livestock for which such cow was destroyed. Title II: Vaccination Program; Research Program - Directs the Secretary to make grants to States for conducting: (1) without charge to farmers or ranchers, a brucellosis vaccination program; and (2) intensive research concerning methods of identifying brucellosis and of improving anti-brucellosis vaccines. Title III: Deferral of Certain Payments on Operating and Emergency Loans Made Under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require the Secretary to make all principal and interest payments coming due on any operating or emergency loan relating to the dairy operation of a farmer or rancher who owns dairy cattle subject to a quarantine imposed in order to control or eradicate brucellosis. Limits the Secretary's payments to the period of the quarantine and for 60 days thereafter. Requires the farmer or rancher to reimburse the Secretary, without interest, for such payments. Title IV: General Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations under this Act, and defines terms used therein.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1978
Small Business Development Center Act - Authorizes the Small Business Administration to make grants to universities to assist them in developing centers to provide small businesses with a broad range of advice, information, and assistance. Limits the amount of such grant to no more than 75 percent of the cost of eligible activities in the operation or development of the center, except for grants to regional centers assisting State centers in research or other high cost activities. Establishes a Small Business Management and Technical Assistance Division within the Small Business Development Center program through a Deputy Associate Administrator. Establishes a Small Business Development Center Advisory Board composed of 14 members to advise and confer with the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management and Technical Assistance. Authorizes the Administration to make grants to universities, organizations, and business concerns to support research to solve problems which affect small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1978
Small Business Development Center Act - Authorizes the Small Business Administration to make grants to universities to assist them in developing centers to provide small businesses with a broad range of advice, information, and assistance. Limits the amount of such grant to no more than 75 percent of the cost of eligible activities in the operation or development of the center, except for grants to regional centers assisting State centers in research or other high cost activities. Establishes a Small Business Management and Technical Assistance Division within the Small Business Development Center program through a Deputy Associate Administrator. Establishes a Small Business Development Center Advisory Board composed of 14 members to advise and confer with the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management and Technical Assistance. Authorizes the Administration to make grants to universities, organizations, and business concerns to support research to solve problems which affect small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1978
Authorizes and directs the President to designate April 18, 1978, as "Education Day, U.S.A."
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1978
Older Americans Long-Term Care Act - Title I: Long-Term Care for the Elderly and the Disabled - Establishes a program of long-term comprehensive services for the elderly financed by the Federal Government and the States. Establishes within the Department of the Treasury a Federal Long-Term Care Trust Fund for such program. Requires a State to establish a State Long-Term Care Agency in order to receive funds under this Act. Requires such State agency to create within the State a system of Community Long-Term Care Centers. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth the relationship between the program established by this Act and certain programs under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1978
Amends the Education of the Handicapped Act to: (1) change the formula for determining maximum State entitlement for the education of handicapped children under such Act; and (2) provide an alternative procedure for meeting the eligibility requirements for such entitlement in a State whose laws prohibit the general supervision required under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Agricultural Credit Act - Title I: Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a low-income farm ownership loan program for owners or operators of small or family farms, and to extend eligibility for farm ownership, equipment and operating loans to farm cooperatives. Provides loans for agricultural, animal, or poultry waste pollution abatement and control facilities. Increases the maximum allowable total principal indebtedness for real estate loans which may be outstanding by any one borrower to $200,000, or $300,000 in the case of a guaranteed loan. Removes the $500,000 ceiling from the aggregate principal of loans made using the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Raises the ceiling on the annual aggregate amount of water and waste facility grants from $300,000 to $400,000, and increases from 50 percent to 75 percent the percentage of the development cost of such facilities which a grant may cover. Increases the amount of indebtedness which may be outstanding for operating loans for an individual from $50,000 to $100,000, or in the case of a guaranteed loan, $200,000. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase the guaranteed portion of any rural development loan using funds from the Rural Development Insurance Fund and the guaranteed portion of all other loans with funds from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Replaces the current provision for an up to five-year renewal of an operating loan with a provision for the consolidation or rescheduling of outstanding loans for payment over a period not to exceed seven years from the date of such consolidation or rescheduling. Authorizes the Secretary to make loans and grants, and approve transfers and assumptions under such Act in connection with property securing a loan made, insured, or held by the Secretary notwithstanding the fact an area ceases to be eligible for assistance under the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a procedure for appeal and review of determinations by a county committee that a loan applicant is able to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance his actual needs at reasonable rates and terms. Increases from $15,000 to $25,000 the amount of a claim that can be compromised without approval of the Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration. Authorizes the Secretary to grant a moratorium upon the payment by an individual of interest and principal on a loan, if there is a showing of temporary inability to continue making payments which is beyond the individual's control. Title II: Emergency Agricultural Credit Adjustment Act - Authorizes the Secretary to insure or guarantee loans for the purpose of making payment of principal and interest installments or refinancing, in whole or in part, equipment or operating loans, giving preference to owners of small or family farms. Permits the Secretary to guarantee up to 90 percent of such loans. Limits the total principal balance outstanding on insured or guaranteed loans to $400,000. Allows the total outstanding principal indebtedness of any borrower to reach $150,000 without approval of the senior State official of the Farmers Home Administration. Limits the total principal amount of all outstanding loans under this title during 1978 to $2,000,000,000 and during 1979 to $4,000,000,000. Terminates such program on December 31, 1979. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Extends the Emergency Livestock Credit Act through September 30, 1979. Renames the Farmers Home Administration the Farm and Rural Development Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Title I: Small Business Act Amendments - Empowers the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make loans to assist any small business concern in financing plant construction and equipment acquisition for the production, installation, or maintenance of solar energy equipment or other energy conservation equipment. Permits the Administration to make grants to non-profit organizations for the establishment of training seminars that teach small business concerns methods of design, installation, and maintenance of solar energy equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1978
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of April 30, 1978, as "National Small Business Week."
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Title I: Amendments to Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Authority - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration to make physical disaster loans to cover losses during the period beginning July 1, 1976, and ending October 1, 1982, at a five percent rate of interest. Authorizes the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make and issue notes to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of obtaining funds necessary for discharging obligations under the disaster loan revolving fund created by the Small Business Act. Title II: Authorizations and Limitations - Authorizes funds for the small business development center program through fiscal year 1982. Title III: Management and Technical Assistance - Authorizes the Administration to make a grant to any State or local government, development credit corporation, land-grant college, or specified school for small business oriented employment or natural resources development programs including research, counseling, and technical assistance provided that an additional amount equal to the amount of such grant is from a source other than the Federal Government. Title IV: White House Conference on Small Business - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on Small business to be conducted by the National Conference Planning Council on Small Business established by this Act. Title V: Miscellaneous Admendments - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to permit the investment of pollution control revolving fund moneys which are not needed for the payment of claims or current operating expenses. Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration to send to Congress any budget estimate or request, any legislative recommendations or testimony, or comment on legislation which it submits to the President or the Office of Management and Budget.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Regulatory Flexibility Act - Requires Federal agencies: (1) to assess the costs of private information collection and compliance which are or would be imposed by existing or proposed agency rules; (2) to compare such impositions with the importance of the public policy achieved or to be achieved by such rules; and (3) to determine whether such rules should apply to the same extent to individuals and organizations of various sizes and resources. Requires, in the event that it is determined that such proposed rules will have a substantial effect on any significant number of small businesses, that such rules be submitted to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Requires that such Office's comment the impact, of such proposed rules on smaller enterprises. Requires such comments to be made public and available to Federal personnel responsible for reviewing such rules. Directs that proposed rules be issued in two or more parts when the analysis of such rules indicates the desirability of applying varying requirements for performance or reporting depending on the resources of the organization or individual required to comply with such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1978
Title I: Small Business Act Amendments - Empowers the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make loans to assist any small business concern in financing plant construction and equipment acquisition for the production, installation, or maintenance of solar energy equipment or other energy conservation equipment. Permits the Administration to make grants to non-profit organizations for the establishment of training seminars that teach small business concerns methods of design, installation, and maintenance of solar energy equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1978
Declares that the President should direct United States negotiators for the International Wheat Conference and the Multilateral Trade Negotiations, and the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of State, and the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations, to set as their goals the expansion of United States agricultural markets abroad and the increase in prices of United States agricultural exports to levels sufficient to assure, for United States farmers, a return on those exports equal to that which would be available at domestic parity levels.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1978
Reserve Survivors' Benefits Act - Title I: Annuities Under Survivor Benefit Plan - Grants annuities to the survivors of individuals who would have been eligible for retired military pay for non-regular service but who died before reaching the age of 60. Establishes formulae for computing such benefits. Title II: Medical and Dental Care - Entitles such survivors to specified medical and dental benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Amends Title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to increase the ceiling imposed upon payments for services under such Title for the fiscal years 1979, 1980, 1981 and maintains the 1981 level for succeeding years.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1978
Increases from $250 to $400 the burial and funeral expense allowance which may be paid by the Veterans Administration on behalf of certain deceased veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Agricultural Land Retention Act - Title I: Objectives - Declares that it is in the public interest to retain, protect and improve agricultural land, to reduce its conversion to nonagricultural uses, and to limit the encroachment of industrial activities. Title II: Research Program - Establishes an Agricultural Land Review Commission to study: (1) agricultural land in the United States; (2) the effects of industrial development, climate and other factors on the productivity of such land; (3) the acquisition of such land by persons not engaged in agricultural activities; and (4) methods of protecting and improving such land, and of reducing the amount of it being converted to nonagricultural uses. Authorizes the Commission to make grants to public or private groups or organizations or individuals to do research pursuant to its study. Requires the Commission to report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress. Title III: Demonstration Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to pay up to 75 percent of the cost and to provide technical assistance to any State pilot project undertaken to demonstrate and test methods of reducing the amount of agricultural land being converted to nonagricultural uses. Requires all such projects to be completed within five years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report his findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress. Title IV: General Provisions - Authorizes for Title II programs the appropriation of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979 through 1982. Authorizes for Title III programs the appropriation of $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979 through 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Directs the Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp in observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act - Title I: Tribally Controlled Community Colleges - Provides for educational grants by the Secretary of the Interior to tribally controlled Indian community colleges. Provides that schools eligible for such grants shall be: (1) formally controlled, sanctioned or chartered by an Indian tribe or tribes; (2) governed by a board of directors, a majority of whom are Indians; (3) directed by stated goals, philosophy, or plan of action aimed at meeting the needs of Indians; and (4) attended by students, a majority of whom must be Indians if the school has been in operation more than one year. Authorizes technical assistance to the schools. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to contract with the Assistant Secretary of Education of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare for feasibility studies of individual schools. Requires such studies to be conducted by the Secretary of the Interior upon tribal request. Provides for the administration, and funding of these grants, with certain rule-making authority being vested in the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations of stated amounts for three years. Directs the Secretary to make annual reports and recommendations to Congress on the program. Stipulates that assistance under this Act shall not, in itself, prevent any recipient college from receiving other educational assistance. Directs the Secretary to prepare a report, on existing and planned tribally controlled community college facilities, Bureau of Indian Affairs facilities which could reasonably be converted to such use. Excludes the Navajo Tribe from the provisions of this title, as well as any colleges which limit enrollment to specific tribes. Title II: Construction Grants - Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress by November, 1979, a survey and study on the academic facilities required by tribally controlled community colleges. Authorizes the Secretary to make planning and construction grants to the colleges upon proper applications and showings. Excludes the Navajo Tribe, as well as any colleges which limit enrollment to specific tribes, from the provisions of this title. Title III: Navajo Community College - Navajo Community College Assistance Act - Amends the Navajo Community College Act to authorize construction appropriations of $60,000,000 for the College over the three years following this enactment. Appropriates additional operating and maintenance appropriations for the College. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish procedures to control such appropriations and to segregate them from appropriations for Navajo programs historically expended by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Social Security Refinancing Act - Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to finance the payment of disability insurance benefits and hospital insurance benefits through general tax revenues, rather than through employment and self-employment tax revenues. Reduces employment and self-employment tax rates below the rates established by the Social Security Financing Amendments of 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1978
SS Life Act - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer to LIFE International for 15 years the hospital ship U.S.S. Sanctuary (AH-17) to furnish health care to developing nations. Renames such ship the "SS LIFE". Authorizes the appropriation of $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 for modification of such ship and for maintenance and operation $494,000 for fiscal year 1979, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1983, and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1978
Designates February as "Black History Month."
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide graduted income tax rates for corporations with a maximum rate of 45 percent on income in excess of $150,000 and a minimum rate of 18 percent on income not in excess of $25,000.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1978
Authorizes the use of Federal-aid highway funds for the construction or reconstruction of interstate or intrastate access spurs crossing the Mississippi River to scenic, historical, recreational, or archeological features on the other side of the river from the Great River Road. Stipulates that such access spurs shall be the most direct feasible route and shall not include the construction of bridges across the Mississippi River.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from admission into, and provides for the deportation from, the United States of any alien who engaged or assisted in, or incited or directed others to engage in, the persecution of others on the basis of religion, race, or national origin under the direction of the Nazi government of Germany between March 23, 1933, and May 8, 1945.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1978
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Memorial Act - Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to provide financial assistance to assist in the development of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Authorizes up to $5,000,000 to be appropriated for such purpose.