United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of January 21 through January 27, 1979, as "Junior Achievement Week" in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of Junior Achievement, an organization dedicated to the American enterprise system and service to youth.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1979
Department of Energy Reorganization Act of 1979 - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to establish in the Department of Energy the position of Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy Resources in order to consolidate all energy conservation, solar energy, and energy research, development, demonstration, and commercialization activities currently under the jurisdiction of different Assistant Secretaries of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Small Business Judicial Access Act of 1979 - Title I: Revision of Class Damage Procedures - Repeals Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 (b)(3) (class actions where common questions of law or fact predominate) and creates two new types of civil actions against persons whose conduct gives rise to private actions for damages under statutes of the United States: (1) a public action vesting a single claim in the United States where (a) at least 200 persons have each sustained injury of less than $300, and (b) the combined damages exceed $60,000; and (2) a class compensatory action where at least 40 persons have each sustained injury greater than $300. Requires in both actions that the injuries or liability arise out of the same transaction or occurrence and that a substantial common question of law or fact exist. Authorizes the court, in a public action against the United States, to make orders limiting the involvement of the Attorney General. Allows a public action to be brought by the United States or private person in the name of the United States. Authorizes the Attorney General, in actions by a private person, to: (1) assume control of the action; (2) permit prosecution by the private person; (3) refer the action to a State attorney general in specified circumstances; or (4) recommend to the court that the action be dismissed. Requires, in a public action brought by a private person where the United States prevails, the defendant to pay the relator taxable costs, reasonable expenses (including attorney fees where allowed by law), and an incentive fee. Specifies calculation of such fee, to a maximum of $10,000, and precludes payment to the relator's attorney. Establishes guidelines for the calculation of attorney fee awards in both actions. Defines, in a public action where liability has been found, the bases of recovery. Allows the court to include in the judgment injunctive or declaratory relief. Establishes in the Administrative Office of the United States Courts a Public Recovery Fund. Specifies procedures for the administration of such fund for allocation of the fund to injured persons who make claims. Requires, in a class compensatory action, that: (1) damages be proven by any legal method; (2) liability and damages be separately determined; and (3) a defendant found liable identify and serve notice upon persons likely to have been injured. Prescribes procedures for judicial management of public and class compensatory actions relating to: (1) discovery; (2) preliminary hearings; (3) notice to other members of the class; (4) transfer and consolidation of actions; (5) the effect of a judgment on other members of the class; (6) settlement; and (7) the examination of requests for attorney's fees. Title II: Appeal of Small Civil Penalties Against Small Business Concerns - Permits any small business concern to appeal a civil penalty levied against it by a Federal agency directly to a United States district court provided such penalty does not exceed $2,500 and is not within the jurisdiction of the United States Tax Court, Customs Court, Court of Military Appeals, or Court of Claims. Directs the district court to refer such appeals to a United States magistrate who may dismiss an appeal for want of jurisdiction, or affirm, rescind, or modify the civil penalty involved. Declares that any determination on the merits of such an appeal by a magistrate shall be a final nonreviewable order. Title III: Office of Advocacy - Directs the Office of Advocacy within the Small Business Administration to assist the Attorney General, a Federal agency, or a State in performing its duties in advancing public actions in order to facilitate collective relief to small business concerns for violations of Federal statutes. Requires the Chief Counsel for Advocacy to submit specified reports to the President and the Congress on the procedures established by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Fuel Savings Truck Weight Act of 1979 - Establishes national uniform gross weight and length limits for vehicles using the Interstate Highway System during fuel emergencies. Authorizes the President to declare such a condition when he finds that a shortage of fuel is seriously disrupting the interstate trucking industry. Stipulates that such standards shall apply for 90 days. Authorizes the President to extend such time period under specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for the hiring of unemployed individuals in a redevelopment area (designated as such under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965).
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Declares eventual population stabilization to be a national goal. States that it is the continuing policy of Government to use all practicable means to stabilize the nation's population voluntarily at a level consistent with a high standard of living relative to available resources at the earliest possible time. Creates in the Executive Office of the President an Office of Population Policy (Office) to: (1) submit to the President and Congress studies on the current conditions and trends in changes affecting population; (2) review legislation and Government regulations to determine the extent to which they contribute to the population policy set forth in this Act; (3) recommend national policies to plan for population changes and to promote population stabilization; and (4) document, define, and analyze changes in the nation's population. Sets forth the powers of the Director of the Office who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act. Requires the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States to be interpreted and administered in accordance with the policies set forth in this Act. Directs each Federal agency to: (1) develop methods to ensure that population changes and the goal of population stabilization are considered in decisionmaking; (2) make available information which is useful to population planning; (3) assist the Office; (4) review its statutory authority; regulations, and current policies and procedures to determine whether they comply with the policies of this Act; and (5) propose to Congress and the President such measures as may be necessary to bring the agency into compliance. Requires the President to transmit to Congress annually a National Population Change and Planning Report. Specifies that such report set forth: (1) the status and trends of population changes; (2) the adequacy of available natural resources for fulfilling national requirements considering current and foreseeable population change; (3) a review of all legislation, regulations, programs, and activities affecting planning for population change and stabilization; and (4) a program for remedying the deficiencies of such legislation, regulations, programs, and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1979
Campaign Contribution Reform Act of 1979 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit any multicandidate political committee (other than a multicandidate committee of a political party) from making contributions to a candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress and his or her authorized committees which in any calendar year exceeds: (1) $5,000 with respect to any general or special election and a primary election relating to such election; or (2) $7,500 (but not more than $5,000 for one election) with respect to a general or special election and both a primary and runoff election relating to such election. Prohibits a candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress or any authorized political committee from accepting contributions from political committees, other than committees of a political party, aggregating more than $50,000 in any calendar year, except in the case of a candidate who is a candidate in a general election and a special election, such candidate may accept such contributions aggregating: (1) $50,000 with respect to such general and any primary election relating to such general election; and (2) $50,000 with respect to such special election and any primary election relating to such special election. Specifies that any contribution made in a year, other than the calendar year in which the election is held, is considered to be made in the calendar year in which such election is held, and any contribution made after the date of such election shall be considered a contribution with respect to such election only if such contribution is used to pay obligations incurred with respect to such election. Specifies that any extension of credit for goods or services relating to advertising on broadcasting stations, in newspapers or magazines, by direct mail or other similar types of general public political advertising shall be considered a contribution, if such extension of credit is: (1) in an amount of more than $1,000; and (2) for a period of more than 30 days.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1979
Defines "appropriate manager" as a person whose management authority extends to informing Federal agencies and a business entity's personnel about serious dangers associated with a particular product or business practice. Makes it a Federal crime for an appropriate manager to knowingly fail to inform the appropriate Federal agency in writing, and to warn affected employees in writing, within 30 days after discovering in the course of business that a serious danger is associated with a product or business practice.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1979
Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish a standing Committee on Energy to investigate and report on: (1) energy production and conservation policy; (2) energy regulation; (3) energy research and development; (4) natural gas and oil production; (5) coal production, distribution, and utilization; (6) hydroelectric power; (7) solar power systems; (8) nonmilitary development of nuclear energy; (9) naval petroleum reserves; (10) energy- related aspects of deep-water ports; and (11) studies, reviews, and reports relating to energy matters.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1979
World Peace Tax Fund Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit conscientious objectors to designate their income, estate, or gift tax payments for nonmilitary purposes. Establishes within the Treasury of the United States a World Peace Tax Fund to receive such tax payments. Requires tax forms to contain a checkoff for taxpayers who wish to claim conscientious objector status and designate their tax payments for the World Peace Tax Fund. Specifies that an individual may claim conscientious objector status only if such individual has actually qualified as a conscientious objector for selective service or immigration purposes or declares that he or she is conscientiously opposed to participation in war, within the meaning of the Military Selective Service Act. Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to require any individual who claims conscientious objector status to provide such additional information as is necessary to verify such status. Permits the setting aside of criminal or civil penalties imposed upon a taxpayer for nonpayment of tax prior to the enactment of this Act, if the taxpayer pays the tax (with interest) and satisfactorily establishes that nonpayment was due to his conscientious objection to war. Directs the Comptroller General to determine the percentage of actual appropriations made by the United States from the Federal budget during the preceding fiscal year for military purposes. Requires the publication of such information in the Congressional Record. Establishes a World Peace Tax Fund Board of Trustees. Sets forth the membership structure and duties of the Board.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1979
Amends the Walsh-Healey Act to permit government contractors to have their employees work a four-day workweek consisting of four ten-hour days. Amends the Contract Work Hours Standards Act to revise wage and overtime guidelines to accommodate such a workweek.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1979
Limousine Limitation Act of 1979 - Prohibits the purchase, hiring, or operation by the Government of a motor vehicle of a type not generally available on the date of the enactment of this Act in motorpools of the Federal Government. Prohibits the employment of chauffeurs and the use of Government motor vehicles for transporting any Government official between his dwellings and his place of employment. Exempts from the provisions of this Act: (1) medical officers on outpatient medical service; (2) an employee engaged in fieldwork; (3) the President and Vice President; (4) the head of each executive department; (5) the Chief Justice of the United States; (6) specified officers of Congress; and (7) the U.S. Representative of the United Nations. Prohibits the issuance of a Government motor vehicle for the exclusive use of any official or employee not mentioned in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Establishes in the House of Representatives a Select Committee on Energy which shall conduct a full and complete investigation and review of: (1) the development of sources of energy other than oil; (2) proposals for energy conservation; (3) the powers and duties of the proposed Energy Mobilization Board; (4) the powers and duties of the proposed Energy Security Corporation; (5) methods to provide for the energy needs of older Americans and low-income Americans at reasonable prices; (6) the impact of the President's proposals on energy on older and low-income Americans; and (7) any matters referred by the Speaker of the House for review and investigation. Requires the select committee to report to the House, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this resolution, the results of its investigation and review, including such recommendations as it deems advisable.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1979
Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from approving the application for permits for foreign fishing vessels of any nation if it has been determined by the Secretary that the nationals of such nation are conducting fishing operations in a manner that undermines the effectiveness of international fishing conservation programs.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1979
Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish and maintain a data collection program for monitoring the supply and demand levels of middle distillates on a monthly basis in each state. Specifies that such program provide for: (1) the collection of relevant demand and supply data; (2) making such data available to Congress, State agencies and the public; and (3) the review and adjustment of such data and projections.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax exclusion from personal income earned abroad by an individual performing qualified charitable services for a tax-exempt employer created or organized in the United States. Limits such exclusion to an amount not to exceed a figure computed on a daily basis at an annual rate of $20,000. Sets a formula for the maximum amount of exclusion for an individual who performs such charitable services and also performs other services while residing in a camp located in a hardship area.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Directs the Secretary of Energy to construct and operate national demonstration facilities for the conversion of garbage and other solid waste materials into fuels. Sets forth requirements for the siting and operating of such facilities, and specifies that one such facility shall be located in New Jersey.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1979
Authorizes any State or local government election agency to send free of postage: (1) absentee ballots; (2) voting instructions pertaining to such ballots; and (3) envelopes for returning ballots. Permits any person casting an absentee ballot to return it to the agency postage-free. Stipulates that this Act shall not apply to mail transmitted under the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 or the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1979
Amends the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 to increase the labor cost limitations for weatherization materials for which financial assistance may be provided under such Act in areas where the Secretary of Energy determines that there is an insufficient number of volunteers, training participants, and public service workers available to work on weatherization projects. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to waive the requirement relating to assurances that applicants for weatherization assistance will use such funds to supplement, and not supplant, State and local funds where he makes the determination described above. Makes inapplicable the limitation on the amount of weatherization assistance allowed to be used for repair to a dwelling to make such weatherization effective if the State policy advisory council requests the Secretary of Energy to increase such amount.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1979
Anti-Inflation Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Employment Act of 1946 to require the President to include in the annual economic report to Congress, for the purpose of reducing the rate of inflation: (1) a set of price and wage guidelines; and (2) a coordinated set of fiscal, monetary, regulatory, antitrust, investment, productivity, international, and other economic policies. Requires that such guidelines be designed to reduce the amount of price increases or wage settlements by a significant anti-inflation factor. Limits their applicability to businesses and labor organizations of specified size. Specifies the manner in which such guidelines are to be formulated and requires the Council on Wage and Price Stability to assist the Council of Economic Advisors in such formulation. Requires the Joint Economic Committee of Congress to hold special hearings to review the President's proposed guidelines. Establishes procedures for Congressional approval of the guidelines as an effective national standard. Requires businesses to notify the Council on Wage and Price Stability of significant price changes at least 30 days before they become effective. Requires labor organizations to report annually to the Council on the fee structure of its members. Directs the Council to make a report on any price increase, wage settlement, or change in fee structure which exceeds the guidelines. Requires the President to institute and carry out a process of mediation to achieve compliance. Instructs the Council of Economic Advisors and the Council on Wage and Price Stability to jointly report to the appropriate committees of Congress their findings and recommendations on the use of tax incentives and penalties to induce compliance.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1979
Energy Antimonopoly Act of 1979 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any entity, or subsidiary thereof, which produced or had an interest in a total of 35,000,000 barrels of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids in 1976 from acquiring control or a majority of the assets of any other entity whose assets exceed $100,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Declares that the Soviet authorities should: (1) release a copy of the judgment against Anatoly Shcharansky; and (2) free Shcharansky and other Prisoners of Conscience and permit their emigration to Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to establish within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) a program to advance the state of automotive research and technology. Requires such program to achieve one or more of the following goals: (1) preservation and enhancement of personal mobility at reasonable cost; (2) reduction of the Nation's dependence on foreign oil; (3) increased motor vehicle safety; (4) reduction of motor vehicle environmental effects; (5) improvement of motor vehicle reliability; (6) conservation of scarce resources; and (7) enhancement of the international competitive position of the Nation's automotive products. Charges NASA with the overall responsibility for planning and managing activities designed to achieve the goals set forth by this Act. Denies the Administrator of NASA any power to promulgate any regulations concerning the commercial development or use of the automotive products resulting from the research and development programs provided for by this Act. Requires the President to transmit annual reports to Congress setting forth a description of the activities of all Federal agencies in the field of automotive research and technology development and an evaluation of the progress of such agencies in reaching the goals established by this Act. Establishes a Motor Vehicle and Fuels Coordination Committee to advise the Administrator of NASA and the Secretary of Energy on matters relating the conduct of the program of automotive research and technology development and of programs within the Department of Energy to develop alternative fuels for use by motor vehicles. Transfers to the Administrator of NASA: (1) all automotive research and technology development programs currently being conducted by other Federal agencies; (2) all functions, powers, and duties of the Secretaries of Energy and Transportation, and any other officer or employee of the United States which relate to automotive research and technology; and (3) so much of the costs and funding as are allocable to the programs which are transferred to the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to assure that small business concerns will have realistic and adequate opportunities to participate in the automotive research and development programs established by this Act. Requires the Administrator to report to Congress with respect to all activities relating to the research programs established pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Smaller Enterprise Regulatory Improvement Act - Amends the Small Business Act to require each Federal agency to publish semiannually an agenda of those rules which may be proposed during the upcoming six-month period affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and small organizations. Defines "small organizations" to include unincorporated businesses, sheltered workshops, nonprofit enterprises which are not dominant in their fields and such other groups and enterprises as each Federal agency shall establish by rule. Requires each published agenda to be transmitted to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comments. Directs each Federal agency to endeavor to provide notice of each agenda to affected small enterprises by means other than publication in the Federal Register. Directs each Federal agency to publish a written analysis prior to the issuance of any rule affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and organizations which considers: (1) the effect of such rule on small enterprises and competition; (2) whether an exemption could be provided such small enterprises; (3) whether lesser compliance standards could be adopted for small enterprises; and (4) the expected nature of reporting and recordkeeping requirements necessitated by such rule. Requires each Federal agency to issue a rule containing an exemption or differing compliance standards for such small business concerns and organizations if it is lawful, desirable, and feasible to do so. States that such small enterprises shall be given an opportunity to participate in agency rulemaking. Requires each agency to review its existing rules and prepare an analysis for purposes of eliminating those rules which are most burdensome to small businesses and organizations. Permits any agency to perform the analyses required by this Act in conjunction with any other analysis required by law. Declares that such other analysis shall not in itself satisfy the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide for demonstration projects for the provision of preventive health services to the elderly through traveling health care practitioners.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $1,000 of the interest earned on a savings account in a bank, mutual savings bank, or credit union.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Utility Lifeline Act of 1979 - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require State regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities to establish uniform minimum amounts of electric energy and natural gas necessary to supply the essential needs of residential consumers, schools, and hospitals during any billing period. Stipulates that no utility's rate schedule for such amounts shall exceed the lowest rate charged by such utility for any equivalent amount of electric energy or natural gas sold during such period for use by any other customer or class or category of customers. Permits utilities to establish higher rates for that portion of electric energy or natural gas which exceeds the minimum amounts established under this Act. Prohibits electric and natural gas utilities from imposing rates or charges for electric energy or natural gas sold to retail consumers other than those for which minimum amounts of electric energy or natural gas are established which rates or charges exceed by more than 12 percent the charges which would be applicable to such sales if such charges were based on the cost of providing such service, with exceptions. Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue an order establishing the amounts of electric energy or gas specified by this Act for essential needs in the event a utility fails to establish such amounts, and requires such utility to establish rates or charges for such amounts which meet the requirements of this Act. Authorizes judicial review of the Commission's action in setting minimum amounts of electric energy or gas for essential needs, but prohibits courts conducting such reviews from a State regulatory authority's rate determination relating to such amounts, except as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Stipulates that in the case of provisions of this Act applicable to electric utilities, nothing under such provisions shall be construed to prohibit the adoption of time-of-day and seasonal rates to the extent that such rates are consistent with this Act. Makes conforming amends to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should call upon Paraguay to apprehend and extradite Josef Mengele to stand trial in the Federal Republic of Germany.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) former President Richard M. Nixon should pay the United States $66,614.03 for federally-funded improvements to his California estate (known as La Casa Pacifica) which were not made for security purposes; and (2) the President and the Attorney General should attempt to recover such sum.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the Department of Energy should take necessary steps to maximize immediately the production of middle distillate fuels in the Nation. States that the Department should also act under authority granted in the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 to impose reasonable allocation controls on middle distillate supplies in order to provide a reasonable share of such supplies to all end- users. Declares that the Department of Transportation should establish, on an emergency basis, a uniform national minimum truck weight and length standard so long as supplies of middle distillate fuels remain inadequate. Declares that the Interstate Commerce Commission's diesel fuel cost recovery program should be modified to ensure that the owner-operator receives full compensation for rapidly increasing diesel fuel prices. States that such modification should include a review of the figure used to estimate the percent of total trucking revenues used to purchase fuel.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to permit local distribution companies to provide natural gas service to residential customers for use in outdoor lighting fixtures installed before the enactment of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Priority Energy Project Act of 1979 - Title I: Purposes and Definitions - Sets forth the purposes and definitions of terms as used in this Act. Title II: Priority Projects - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to designate a maximum of six proposed energy facilities as priority energy projects during each calendar year. Allows any person planning or proposing an energy facility to apply to the Secretary for an order designating such facility as a priority energy project. Sets forth the procedure and criteria for designating priority energy projects. Excludes such determinations by the Secretary from the definition of major Federal action within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Directs the Secretary to encourage prospective applicants to file applications for any necessary Government actions or approvals with the appropriate agencies as soon as possible. Requires such Federal agencies to submit specified information to the Secretary not later than 30 days after public notice of an order designating a proposed energy facility as a priority energy project. Directs the Secretary to establish a decision deadline schedule. Provides for the extension of such deadlines. Delegates decision authority to the President if a deadline on the decision deadline schedule has elapsed without Federal agency decision or action. Provides for the Presidential extension of such deadlines. Directs the Secretary to grant certification of completed Federal agency review upon the determination that all Federal actions and approvals necessary to the completion of a priority energy project have been granted. Specifies that such certification shall indicate Federal approval expiration dates and shall constitute conclusive evidence in any judicial or executive proceeding that all necessary Federal permits have been granted. Directs the Secretary to notify the Governor of any State within which any portion of a priority energy project would be located and to request the Governor to submit specified information to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to submit all such information to the priority energy project and propose a decision schedule to assist State and local authorities in coordinating their activities with actions by the Federal Government. Title III: Judicial Review and Miscellaneous Provisions - Exempts from judicial review the actions of Federal officers or agencies pursuant to this Act, except as specified in this title. Exempts from judicial review a decision of the Secretary granting or denying an order designating a proposed energy facility as a priority energy project except as required by the Constitution of the United States. Sets forth judicial procedures for claims arising out of actions pursuant to this Act. Grants to the Supreme Court the exclusive authority to review an interlocutory judgment or order of the court of appeals pursuant to this title. Sets forth certiorari and certification procedures. Makes this Act effective 30 days after the date of its enactment. Provides for the expiration of the Secretary's authority to designate priority energy projects seven years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
National Fuel Alcohol and Farm Commodity Production Act of 1979 - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to replace the current program of loan guarantees for pilot project production of industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities with a program under which the Secretary of Agriculture may guarantee payment of 50 percent of loans made by private lenders to persons constructing and maintaining plants for the production of fuel alcohol derived from agricultural commodities. Authorizes the Secretary to sell such commodities to such loan recipients and to acquire and use distilled dried grains plus solubles (DDGS) from them. Specifies conditions for such loan guarantees and sets the maximum cumulative total of outstanding principal and interest during the period from October 1, 1979 through September 30, 1984 at $600,000,000. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the Alcohol Fuel Plant Loan Guarantee Fund, and authorizes the appropriation of $60,000,000 for deposit in such Fund for fiscal year 1980. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set the loan level for corn at $2.10 per bushel, and the established priced for the 1982 crop at $2.75 per bushel. Changes the deadline date for proclamation of a national feed grain program acreage from January 1 of the year in question to November 15 of the immediate preceding year. Devises a new formula for the determination of individual farm acreage in such program. Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to set a ceiling for each person receiving price support payments for wheat and feed grains at $50,000 for each crop after the 1981 crop. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the uses and marketing of the byproducts resulting from the production of alcohol fuel, including, if appropriate, a market promotion program identifying the foreign markets for such byproducts for human consumption.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1979
Establishes uniform national weight and length limitation on the Interstate Highway Systems until the Secretary of Energy has certified to Congress that there are adequate amounts of middle distillate fuel to meet national requirements for home heating, agricultural production, transportation, and industrial uses.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1979
Oil Independence Act of 1979 - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a program for the production and marketing of industrial hydrocarbons and motor fuels derived from agricultural commodities, forest products, coal, coal tars, and solid waste. Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee loans, not to individually exceed $15,000,000, for each of twenty plants to be constructed for such purposes by public, private, or cooperative organization. Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to expand the range of activities for which alcohol and industrial hydrocarbon production and marketing research grants may be made, to include research in solid waste and forest product and research relating to the identification and development of by-products from such production.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1979
Lifelong Learning Act of 1979 - Amends title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965: (1) to repeal provisions of such title dealing with community service and continuing education programs, including the National Advisory Council on Extension and Continuing Education; and (2) to establish a new title I "Lifelong Learning" which is to make education and training opportunities available to all citizens throughout life. Authorizes appropriations for purposes of this Act through fiscal year 1985. Stipulates that 35 percent of such appropriated funds shall be used for comprehensive State planning programs. Provides that individual, eligible States shall receive such funds based on population, with a minimum grant of $50,000. Authorizes a State to request that a part of its allotment be transferred to another State for certain purposes. Requires States receiving less than $100,000 for such planning programs to use not less than 40 percent nor more than 50 percent of such funds for such purpose, and States receiving more than $100,000 to use not less than 30 percent nor more than 40 percent of such funds for such purpose. Authorizes States to use the remainder of such planning funds to implement statewide planning through grants to, or contracts with, appropriate State agencies and institutions. Stipulates that 30 percent of such Federal funds appropriated under this Act shall be used by eligible States for grants to institutions of higher education for post secondary continuing education and related adult education programs and services. Stipulates that 30 percent of such Federal funds appropriated under this Act shall be used for grants to, and contracts with, public and private agencies, institutions, and individuals for special purpose grants. Prohibits such grants from being given without the appropriate State agency having been given an opportunity to comment upon such grant's relevance to the State's comprehensive statewide planning program. Stipulates that five percent of such Federal funds appropriated under this Act shall be used for Federal lifelong learning activities, including the convening of a Lifelong Learning Conference in 1983. Requires States wishing to receive Federal funds for comprehensive planning programs and grants to institutions of higher education to submit an agreement. Sets forth guidelines for such agreement. Transfers responsibility for such programs from the Assistant Secretary to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Directs the President to appoint a National Advisory Council on Lifelong Learning within 90 days of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Congressional Salary Act of 1979 - Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to make any recommendations of the President relating to the salaries of Members of Congress, Delegates to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico purely advisory. Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to require that the annual rate of pay for members of Congress, Delegates to the House of Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and the Senate and House leadership be the rate payable for such positions on the date of enactment of this Act unless otherwise established by law. Prohibits any law increasing such rates of pay from taking effect before the first day of the Congress following the Congress during which such law is enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt from applicable Federal regulations any State having in effect a law, rule, or regulation applicable to underground injection control related to the production or recovery of oil or natural gas unless the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that such law, rule, or regulation fails to protect underground sources of drinking water. Provides that any State for which such finding is made may amend its law, rule, or regulation in order to benefit from such exemption where approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the underground injection well permit requirements any State having in effect such law, rule, or regulation approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the administrative procedure and judicial review requirements of the United States Code any action relating to national interim primary drinking water regulations, revised national primary drinking water regulations, and State underground injection control program regulations, except as expressly provided by this Act. Directs the Administrator to establish a docket for such actions, and sets forth notice and public and agency commenting requirements for any proposed rulemaking. Sets forth procedures and other requirements for promulgating rules concerning drinking water regulations, and establishes procedures for judicial review of such actions. Amends the definition of "primary drinking water regulation". Revises the standard for the promulgation of primary drinking water regulations. Makes technical and conforming amendments to such Act. Requires any State having primary enforcement responsibility to submit notice to the Administrator that its public water system supervision program conforms to any revision or amendment to any national primary drinking water regulation made by the Administrator. States that failure to submit such notice shall be grounds for withdrawal of State primary enforcement responsibility. Amends such Act to authorize a State having such enforcement responsibility to exempt from maximum contaminant level requirements or treatment technique requirements any public water system not having any reasonable alter native source of drinking water available. Revises the dates for compliance by public water systems with contaminant level and treatment technique requirements. Extends the effective date for State underground injection control regulations approved by the Administrator. Authorizes the waiver of the prohibition against State grants being made for any period beginning more than one year after the date of a State's first grant having been made for a period of 18 months after the effective date of any amendment or revision of the national primary drinking water regulations if the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility and is making diligent efforts to comply with such amendment or revision. Prohibits the Administrator from making grants to any State unless the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility within two years after the Administrator promulgates State underground injection control program regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Title I: - Adds a new title to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968. Defines "generally applicable requirements" as requirements which are placed on assistance recipients by Federal legislation or administrative rules and regulations, and which apply to two or more assistance programs. Directs the President to designate Federal agencies to establish standard rules and regulations for, and to report on the implementation of generally applicable requirements in the areas of: (1) labor practices; (2) public employee standards; (3) equal services requirements based on prohibitions of discrimination; (4) access to government information; (5) relocation and real property acquisition; (6) procurement standards; (7) planning; (8) finance and administration; (9) citizen participation; and (10) environmental protection when such requirements are part of a Federal assistance program. Directs Federal departments and agencies to comply with those rules within 120 days after such a rule is issued. Permits a designated agency to submit for review by the President and, subsequently, Congress a legislative proposal to exclude certain Federal assistance programs from all or part of its standard rules. Directs the President to designate the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to oversee the the administration of this title. Title II: Consolidation of Federal Assistance Programs - Directs the President to: (1) examine Federal assistance programs; and (2) prepare and transmit to Congress a plan for consolidating functionally related programs upon determining that such consolidation would improve the administration or efficiency of such programs. Requires that such a plan: (1) designate one agency to administer a consolidated program; (2) expire no later than six years after becoming effective; and (3) be transmitted to Congress before December 31, 1984. States that any such plan shall become effective upon approval by the President of a congressional resolution approving such plan. Sets forth House and Senate procedure for considering such a resolution. Requires the President to report to Congress annually on consolidation plans which are proposed and implemented under this title. Title III: Integrated Grant Development - Rewrites the Joint Funding Simplification Act of 1974 as the Integrated Grant Development Act of 1979. Requires Federal agencies to take specified measures previously authorized by the Joint Funding Simplification Act to provide for joint funding by and management of Federal assistance programs which have common interests. Directs the President to designate the OMB to take specified measures to carry out the provisions of this title. Title IV: Advance Appropriations - Amends the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 and the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to provide for multi-year funding of Federal financial assistance programs. Title V: Miscellaneous - Requires Federal agencies, under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968, to provide the officials of a State or local government receiving Federal assistance with information concerning the amount and purpose of that assistance. Directs the OMB to develop the system of providing such information and to oversee agency compliance with this title. Authorizes Congress to include in Federal assistance legislation a provision which prohibits a State or local government from using Federal assistance to replace funding previously provided by that government. Authorizes the head of an agency to waive such a prohibition upon determining that it would cause extraordinary fiscal hardship.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Makes it unlawful for any vehicle with an overall gross weight of more than 80,000 pounds or an overall length of more than 60 feet to use the Interstate and Defense Highway System until the Secretary of Energy has certified to Congress that there are adequate amounts of middle distillate fuel in reserve and in commerce to meet national requirements for home heating, agricultural production, transportation, and industrial uses.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of Education to enter into agreements with credit bureau organizations providing for the exchange of information concerning defaulting student borrowers. States that such agreements: (1) shall provide for disclosure by the Commissioner to such credit organizations; and (2) may provide for the disclosure, by such credit organizations to the Commissioner, of information concerning the defaulting borrower's address and other relevant information. Directs the Commissioner, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to establish a system for the prompt notification to a defaulting borrower of any disclosure made under this Act. Includes notice of such system of disclosure to credit organizations among the terms of the written agreement evidencing: (1) a federally-guaranteed student loan made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (2) subsidy payments for such loans to State and nonprofit private institutions made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (3) Federal contributions to an institution for direct student loans; and (4) a direct student loan to an eligible student from his or her institution made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for costs incurred for enrollment in or attendance at classes designated primarily to help individuals stop smoking cigarettes.
![Official portrait of Rep. Bedell, Berkley W. [D-IA-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000298_200.jpg)