United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1978
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Attorney General should parole into the United States the 15,000 Cambodian refugees, half to come in fiscal year 1979, and half in fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 1978
Nuclear Incident Liability Reform Act - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require that licensees for nuclear facilities obtain the maximum amount of liability insurance available from private sources. Requires that such licensees participate in an industry retrospective rating plan in addition to maintaining such insurance. Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish rules specifying the rates for deferred premiums charged to licensees under such plan in the event of any nuclear incident resulting in public liability which exceeds or appears likely to exceed the level of a licensee's primary financial protection and the amount otherwise available from such licensee for the satisfaction of such liability. Authorizes the Commission to loan to a licensee, at prescribed interest rates, the amount by which an assessment of deferred premiums exceeds the amount which the licensee is able to pay within a reasonable time following any nuclear incident without impairing its ability to provide electric utility service. Repeals the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 relating to indemnification of licensees from liability which is in excess of the level of financial protection required of the licensee. Eliminates the $500,000,000 ceiling on indemnification of contractors of the Commission against claims for liability, arising out of contractual activities, which are above the amount of financial protection required of contractors. Repeals provisions of such Act relating to: (1) the $560,000,000 maximum aggregate liability for a single nuclear incident; (2) the collection of fees for indemnification agreements, and (3) compensation to private insurance organizations for services connected with handling indemnifications. Eliminates the exemption from the requirements of financial protection of nonprofit educational, institution licensees. Repeals the Commission's authority to indemnify persons engaged in activities relating to the Nuclear Ship Savannah from liability for nuclear incidents. Terminates the Commission's authority to enter agreements with other indemnitors with respect to emergency assistance payments. Makes technical and conforming amendments to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 1978
Tuition Advance Fund Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Commissioner of Education to establish a system of undergraduate tuition advances to be repaid as an income tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Establishes a trust fund in the United States Treasury for such tuition advance program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 1978
Radioactive Waste Management Act - Requires the Secretary of Energy, before investigating any site for construction of a radioactive waste storage facility, to notify each chamber of the concerned State legislature and publish notice of such investigation in the Federal Register. Requires notice to State legislatures of decisions and contracts for the construction of such facilities. Allows a 120-day period for disapproval of construction by the affected State's legislature or by statewide referendum.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 1978
Declares that the Federal Government should adopt an explicit national population policy and encourage and assist other countries to achieve their population goals. Directs all agencies of the Federal Government: (1) to give appropriate consideration to population dynamics in decisionmaking; and (2) to review their present statutory authority, regulations, and policies to achieve compliance with the purposes of this Act. Requires the President to annually transmit to Congress a Population Growth and Distribution Report. Requires the Secretary of State and the Director of the Agency for International Development to submit for inclusion in such report specified data concerning each nation of the world. Establishes in the Executive Office of the President an Office of Population Policy: (1) to develop and recommend policies to meet the environmental, social, economic, health, and other needs of the Nation; (2) to study population growth; (3) to report annually to the President; and (4) to coordinate with the Secretary of State and the Director of the Agency for International Development with respect to international policies affecting population growth.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1978
International Emergency Wheat Reserve Act - Directs the President, through the Commodity Credit Corporation, to establish a reserve stock of wheat of up to 3,000,000 metric tons, to be used to provide on a donation or sale basis emergency food assistance to developing countries.
United States · United States Congress · 8 August 1978
Amends the charter of the Boy Scouts of America to stipulate that the annual report of the Boy Scouts shall be printed each year as a separate House document.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1978
Amateur Sports Act - Title I: Declaration of Policy - Makes findings and states that the policy of Congress is to promote amateur athletics and protect the right of amateur athletes to participate in athletic competition. Title II: Olympic Committee Reorganization - Amends the corporate charter of the Olympic Committee to (1) provide for a principal place of business of the United States Olympic Committee (Corporation); (2) set forth the objectives and purposes of the Corporation; (3) set forth the powers of the Corporation; (4) provide reasonable representation for specified individuals and organizations in establishing and maintaining provisions for the governance and conduct of its affairs; and (5) subject to civil liability any person who uses an Olympic designation without authority to promote a private financial interest. Permits contributors or suppliers of goods or services to use the name of the United States Olympic Committee or its designation to advertise that such goods or services have been furnished to, approved, or selected by the Corporation. Requires the Corporation to establish in its constitution and bylaws provisions for the resolution of disputes involving the opportunity of an amateur athlete or other specified individuals to participate in sanctioned athletic competitions. Authorizes the Corporation to recognize as a national governing body any amateur sports organization (but only one for each sport) which submits an application for recognition and complies with eligibility requirements. Sets forth such eligibility requirements. Sets forth the duties and powers of a national governing body and the requirements which an amateur sports organization must meet to hold an athletic competition or sponsor athletes in competition and be sanctioned by a national governing body. Grants to the Corporation the power of review over the actions of any national governing body and invests a United States district court with jurisdiction to enjoin any action of a national governing body inconsistent with the terms of the Corporate charter. Sets forth procedures for the Corporation in (1) processing a complaint against a national governing body by an individual athlete or an amateur sports organization; (2) revoking recognition of a national governing body; and (3) replacing an incumbent national governing body. Provides for arbitration of a determination of the Corporation. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to lend financial assistance to the Corporation in developing amateur athletics in the United States. Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the work of the national governing bodies. Directs the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study to determine the most appropriate means of providing funding to the Corporation for the construction and operation of training centers and sports medicine research facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt taxpayers from the payment of interest or a penalty on tax deficiencies attributable to erroneous advice obtained in writing from an Internal Revenue Service Officer or employee acting in an official capacity.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1978
Directs the Secretary of Defense, in computing incentive pay for medical officers of the uniformed services, to prescribe a system through which variable incentive pay may be reduced or adjusted to reflect amounts the Federal Government has paid to, or benefits received by, medical officers prior to the commencement of their active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1978
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to request the National Academy of Science to conduct a study regarding the desirability of developing a Federal policy for the determination of the potential carcinogenicity in man of chemicals tested primarily in nonhuman test systems through the standardization of certain tests.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 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 · 13 July 1978
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to compile and publish a report, to be revised every three years, containing specific recommendations for a railroad transportation system adequate to meet the essential needs of the agricultural industry of the United States. Requires annual reports to Congress regarding the capability of the Nation's transportation system (all forms of transportation) to meet such needs. Directs the Secretary to participate in all proceedings of any Federal agencies likely to make an impact on the agricultural industry of the United States or on rural development in order to foster the cause of an efficient and economical transportation system serving such interests.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1978
Prohibits the distribution in commerce of any ionization smoke detector unless such device bears a label which: (1) includes a recognized symbol indicating the presence of radioactive material; and (2) bears the following statement: "This device contains radioactive material which may be hazardous to your health if ingested or improperly disposed."
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1978
Military Health Care System Reform Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to appoint regional civilian military health care administrators to coordinate budgeting, planning, and the allocation of health care resources. Provides for the enrollment of active duty personnel, former members of the military, and military dependents in the military health care system for the provision of medical and dental care. States that enrolled persons shall not be denied or limited in the care provided by reason of the capability of the medical or dental staffs of major military helath care facilities. Provides for the supply of identification cards to enrolled persons. Requires major military health care facilities to establish programs to provide services to enrolled persons. Establishes budgeting requirements for such programs. Directs the Secretary of Defense to take steps to maximize training and use of physician assistance, nurse practitioners, and similar practioners at military health care facilities. Authorizes private physicians to provide medical and dental care at such facilities. Prescribes procedures for processing contract claims for services by private physicians. Entitles military medical personnel to a special performance incentive payment if fiscal year facility expenses are below budgeted expenditures. Prescribes performance standards to be used in determining the amount of such special pay. Requires the Secretary to provide for recovery of payments from health care insurers, employers, or other entities contractually or legally obligated to make payment for the provision of such care to enrolled individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1978
Requests the President to convene a White House Conference on Foreign Trade to provide a forum for representatives of industries and labor organizations in the United States, scholars and experts in the field of foreign trade, representatives of Federal, State, and local government, and other interested persons to (1) examine and recommend methods to increase trade, (2) evaluate the recommendations made by the President's Task Force on Export Policy, and (3) assess the impact on the United States of the anticipated trade agreement of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1978
Peace Corps Reform Act - Amends the Peace Corps Act to re-declare the purpose of such Act to be to assist least advantaged people and countries in meeting basic living needs, strengthening development programs, and furthering a spirit of voluntary action. Creates the Peace Corps as a government corporation, with authority for operations vested in a Presidentially appointed Board of Directors. Establishes in the Peace Corps an Advisory Council to evaluate Corps policies and programs. Directs the Peace Corps to request host governments to establish advisory councils to advise Peace Corps Country Directors and host country government officials on Corps operating procedures. Requires the Board (formerly the President) to appoint the Director of the Peace Corps. Directs the Corps to coordinate programs with other volunteer and development organizations. Repeals specified provisions of the Peace Corps Act which empower the President and Secretary of State to carry out such Act. Increases from $125 to$150 the readjustment allowance for Peace Corps volunteers. Prohibts the assignment of volunteers to the clerical staffs of Peace Corps representatives abroad. Prohibits volunteers from serving more than five years in any ten-year period without personal approval from the Director. Requires the Corps, in encouraging volunteers to continue their contributions to good will development, to assist in the readjustment of, and utilization of skills developed by, former volunteers. Includes spouses living with volunteers as eligible to receive living and other allowances, health care, language training, and other benefits. Eliminates the position of "volunteer leaders" from the Peace Corps and makes conforming amendments to the Internal Revenue Code. Amends the Domestic Volunteers Service Act of 1973 to eliminate one of the two Associate Directors of ACTION.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1978
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the President undertake discussions with the other industrialized countries with a view toward establishing, in cooperation with the member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) which are in current account surplus, a major capital pool for productive investment in the developing countries.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1978
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) the President recognize the severity of the international monetary crisis; (2) the President undertake discussion with the other industrialized countries to develop a common approach to this crisis; and (3) the approach should focus on a long-term solution to the crisis caused by exclusive reliance on the dollar as the key international monetary reserve asset.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1978
Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act - Requires a report to the Secretary of Agriculture, containing legal name, address, citizenship, type of interest, and legal description of the land involved, and other specified information, from any foreign person (including individuals, organizations, governments, or any combination thereof) who holds, acquires, or transfers any interest, other than a security interest, in agricultural land. Establishes a civil penalty for violation of any provision of this Act in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the fair market value of the land interest involved on the date of the penalty assessment. Requires the Secretary to report to the President and to Congress an analysis of the information obtained by him pursuant to this Act, and a determination of the effects of foreign holdings, acquisitions, and transfers on family farms and rural communities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1978
Medicare Home Health Amendments - Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to remove the 100 visit limitation presently applicable to home health care services under such Title. Eliminates prior hospitalization as a condition of eligibility for home health care services under part A (Hospital Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of such Title. Eliminates confinement to home as a requirement for receiving home health care services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of such Title. Includes "periodic chore services" within those home health services for which payment may be made under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1978
Congressional Budget Act Amendments - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the authorization of new budget or spending authority or new tax expenditures for more than five fiscal years. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to prepare a statement to accompany each public bill or resolution reported out of a congressional committee estimating the costs such legislation would impose on State or local governments during the five-year life of such law. Prohibits the enactment of such bill or resolution without also authorizing budget authority for payment by the United States to such State and local governments for costs so imposed. Requires the Comptroller General to prepare for all reported legislation a statement identifying State or local programs designed to accomplish the same purposes as such reported legislation and recommending ways to avoid the duplication of such programs. Requires Federal agencies to publish a similar five-year State and local cost statement in the Federal Register for program-implementing regulations promulgated by such agencies. Requires such agencies to submit to Congress an annual review of each such program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1978
Press Protection Act - Prohibits any person acting under color of law, without a prior adversary court proceeding, from searching any place or seizing any things in the possession, custody, or control of any person engaged in the gathering or dissemination of news for the print or broadcast media, unless with a warrant issued by a court upon probable cause that such person has committed or is committing a criminal offense. Establishes a criminal fine of not more than $10,000 for violation of this Act, and creates a civil cause of action for any person aggrieved by a violation. Allows punitive damages of up to $10,000, and reasonable attorneys fees.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1978
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, in carrying out his duties under the Trade Act, should seek the adoption and application of trade agreements which include environmental and safety and health standards among the international fair labor standards to be adopted.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1978
Directs the Secretary of Defense, in computing incentive pay for medical officers of the uniformed services, to prescribe a system through which variable incentive pay may be reduced or adjusted to reflect amounts the Federal Government has paid to, or benefits received by, medical officers prior to the commencement of their active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1978
Agricultural Foreign Investment Recording Act - Requires annual reporting to the Secretary of Agriculture by foreign persons and agents of purchases of agricultural lands with a cumulative acreage in excess of 25 acres or a cumulative purchase price in excess of $25,000. Specifies reporting requirements and provides for imposition of civil penalties for reporting violations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1978
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare benefits for individuals who require total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1978
Requires that Congress be notified of proposed actions of the President affecting the importation of certain meats and certain agricultural commodities into the United States. Stipulates that under specified conditions if both Houses of Congress adopt a concurrent resolution opposing such Presidential actions, such actions shall not become effective.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1978
Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin Act - Amends the Coinage Act of 1965 to change the size and weight of the one-dollar coin and to require that the obverse side of such coin bear the likeness of Susan B. Anthony.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1978
World Peace Tax Fund Act - Establishes within the Treasury of the United States a special trust fund to be known as the World Peace Tax Fund. Provides that any taxpayer who has qualified as a conscientious objector, or who declares that he or she is conscientiously opposed to participation in war, within the meaning of the Military Selective Service Act, shall qualify to designate the payment of his or her income taxes to the fund. Makes provisions for the designation of income, estate, or gift tax payments for transfer to the World Peace Tax Fund. Provides for the computation and publication of the percentage of annual expenditures for military purposes. Provides that this portion of monies in the Fund shall remain in the Fund to accrue interest, and that the remaining portion shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury of the United States, not to be appropriated for any military purposes. Establishes a Board of Trustees of eleven members to authorize expenditures out of the Fund for research into peaceful solutions to international conflict, and for improvement of international health, education, and welfare. Requires the Board to submit its budget to the Congress, report to the President and Congress annually, and provide a complete accounting of all funds received and disbursed according to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1978
Authorizes the President of the United States to designate the week beginning on the Sunday preceding the fourth Thursday in November of each year as "National Family Week".
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1978
Peace Corps Reform Act - Amends the Peace Corps Act to set forth the purposes of the Peace Corps. Creates the Peace Corps Foundation as a government corporation to carry out the purposes of the Peace Corps Act, to terminate on September 30, 1987. Establishes an Advisory Council within the Foundation to evaluate the policies of such Foundation and to advise its Board of Directors. Directs the Foundation to establish procedures to coordinate the programs of other volunteer and development organizations, public, private, and international. Increases the compensation of Peace Corps volunteers. Prohibits assignment of such volunteers to the clerical staffs of Peace Corps representatives abroad. Limits the period of service of a volunteer. Directs the Foundation to establish an organization for former volunteers to assist in the readjustment of volunteers returning to the United States. Permits the spouses of volunteers to receive subsistence benefits. Eliminates the position of "volunteer leader" from the Peace Corps. Exempts certain Peace Corps personnel from civil service requirements. Permits the President to assign Foreign Service and other government personnel to the Peace Corps only upon request of the Foundation. Repeals the President's authority to prescribe performance standards for personnel of the Peace Corps. Amends the Peace Corps Act with respect to volunteer training, participation of foreign nationals, assignment of volunteers to international organizations, compensation of experts and consultants, utilization of funds, foreign language proficiency, and encouragement and final support of voluntary service programs. Prohibits investigation of any employee of the Foundation to insure that employment or assignment of such person is in the national interest, except at the request of the volunteer. Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to eliminate one of the two Associate Directors of ACTION. Transfers the assets and liabilities of the Peace Corp to the Foundation. Authorizes the appropriation of $300,000,000 for fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 1980 collectively.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1978
Amends Title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require the financing of disability insurance benefits from general revenues, rather than through the imposition of employment and self-employment taxes. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce employment and self- employment tax rates below the level established by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 for purposes of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance program and the Hospital Insurance program. Requires deductions from disability benefits based on family income on the same basis that such deductions are made from old-age and survivors benefits. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish within the Social Security Administration an Office of Training to provide specialized training for State and Federal officials required to make determinations of disability. Requires that such officials be certified by the Secretary as having successfully completed such training before engaging in making disability determinations. Entitles an individual whose disability claim has been rejected or partially disallowed to a personal interview with the examiner making the determination. Directs the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register regulations defining physical and mental impairments which would qualify an individual for disability benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1978
Small Business Regulatory Relief Act - Amends the Small Business Act to direct each Federal department, agency, and instrumentality engaged in rulemaking to prepare a written analysis of whether it is legal, feasible, and desirable to exempt small businesses (or classes thereof) from a rule or whether the agency should promulgate a rule with lesser compliance standards for businesses. Sets forth information which must be present in such analysis.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1978
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to prohibit the export to South Africa of aircraft and aircraft parts, helicopters and helicopter parts and nonmilitary arms. Establishes a procedure for Congressional veto of Presidential authorization of exports to South Africa under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1978
African Development Foundation Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish as a nonprofit corporation the African Development Foundation. Authorizes the Foundation to make grants, loans, and loan guarantees to any African private or public group, association, or other entity for: (1) the support of self-initiated community development efforts; (2) development research by Africans and the transfer of development resources, expertise, and knowledge within Africa; (3) procurement from other sources of such technical or other assistance in cases and manners deemed appropriate by African recipient entities; and (4) such other projects as the Foundation considers appropriate. Vests the management of the Foundation in a Board of Directors composed of seven members appointed by the President. Directs the establishment of a Council composed of individuals selected by the Board and including representatives from African grant recipients and other foreign nationals who are knowledgeable about development activities in Africa. Authorizes the appropriation of $25,000,000 to carry out this Act for the period covered by fiscal years 1978-80.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1978
Requires that, until further Congressional action is taken, the determination of whether an individual is an employee for purposes of social security taxation, unemployment taxation, and income tax withholding shall be made in accordance with audit practices and regulations in effect December 31, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1978
Congressional Award Program Act - Establishes the Congressional Award Program in the United States and its territories to recognize and promote youth leadership and excellence in the areas of expedition fitness, personal creative development, and public service. Creates a Congressional Award Board with a Director to supervise such program. Authorizes the appointment of State award directors under this Act. Creates three Congressional Award Medals to be awarded under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1978
Postpones until January 1, 1979, the effective date of the provision of the Social Security Amendments of 1977 which eliminates the monthly retirement earnings exemption under which an individual who earns less than a specified exempt amount in any month may receive full social security benefits under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program for that month regardless of the amount of such individual's total earnings for the year.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1978
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the television broadcasting of programs portraying nudity, obscenity, or explicit sexual activity. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe regulations prohibiting broadcasting of such portrayals.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1978
Solar Energy Transition Act - Directs each Federal agency to use and encourage the use of solar energy technologies. Requires each agency to review the programs, projects, and policies it is administering and assess the feasibility of alternative approaches utilizing solar energy technologies. Directs the Secretary of Energy to develop guidelines and otherwise assist the Federal agencies in the review required by this Act. Establishes the National Solar Energy Advisory Council to advise the Secretary in the performance of his duties under this Act. Directs the Secretary to report to the President and Congress annually starting April 20, 1980 on the progress of the Federal Government and the nation in converting to solar energy.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1978
Community Schools and Comprehensive Community Education Act - Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to make grants to State and local educational agencies to pay the Federal share of establishing community education programs. Defines "community education program" as a program operated by a local educational agency providing educational, recreational, health care, cultural, and other related services for the community. Establishes a Community Education Advisory Council to advise the National Institute of Education concerning community education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1978
Denies pension and survivor's annuity benefits to any Federal employee who is convicted of any felony committed in connection with his or her Federal employment or who has fled the United States to avoid prosecution for any such felony.