United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1973
Makes inapplicable to the aged, blind and disabled the existing provision of the Social Security Act limiting to 10 percent the portion of the total amounts paid to a State as grants for social services which may be paid with respect to individuals who are not actually recipients of or applicants for aid or assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1973
Makes it the sense of Congress that the contingent of United States troops stationed in Europe be substantially reduced and that such reductions be accomplished in stages over the next one and one-half years.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1973
Clean Elections Act - Title I: Federal Elections Commission - Creates a six-member independent Federal Elections Commission: 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2 members appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, and 2 members appointed by the President. Specifies that the Commission shall have full legal powers. Authorizes the Commission to use the personnel and facilities of the General Accounting Office. Requires the Commission to submit its budget directly to Congress along with any recommendations it may have for legislation. Transfers specified functions of the Secretary of the Senate, the GAO and the Clerk of the House to the Commission. Requires each candidate for Federal office to have a central campaign committee through which all reports must pass. Requires the central committee to file its report with the Commission. Specifies that reports contain all contributions in excess of $100 and that cash contributions of $2,500 or more be reported within 24 hours. Requires a financial report to be filed 10 days before an election. Title II: Federal Matching Payment Entitlement Fund - Establishes on the books of the Treasury of the United States the Federal Matching Payment Entitlement Fund to remain available for expenditure without fiscal year limitation. Entitles candidates for Federal office or an official national party committee or an official congressional campaign committee to payments from the fund, during any calendar year, in an amount equal to the cmount of each contribution received by such candidate or committee not in excess of $50. Requires that the candidate or committee submit matching payment entitlement vouchers including the full name of the contributor together with the date, the exact amount of the contribution, and the complete address of the contributor. States that the Secretary of the Treasury shall make a payment from the fund to the candidate or the treasurer of the committee in the amount certified by the Commission. Sets forth the limitations on certification by the Commission. Title III: Limitations on Political Contributions - Declares a limitation on contributions, made by an individual and expenditures of not more than $2,500 in the case of a candidacy for President or Vice President or not more than $1,000 in a congressional campaign. Title IV: Tax Incentives for Contributions to Candidates for Public Office - Allows a maximum credit for a taxable year for contributions to candidates for public office of $50 ($100 for a joint return). Title V: Voter's Time - Provides for a schedule of televised political broadcasts by candidates for Federal office. Requires the television networks to make prime time available to the candidates at roles not exceeding the prevailing unit charge of the station for the same amount of program time in the same time period. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay fully all certified bills for Voter's Time not more than 10 days following receipt from the Registry of Election Finance.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1973
Authorizes the employment of student congressional interns, by Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners of the House of Representatives. Provides that the sum of $1,500 be made available to each member out of the House contingent fund to pay for the salaries of such interns.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1973
Provides that no person engaged in commerce in the business of refining petroleum into gasoline and furnishing gasoline to retail distributors of gasoline for sale to the public shall fail to furnish gasoline to independent retail distributors of gasoline, whether or not franchised by such person, at wholesale prices in reasonable quantities as long as he continues to furnish gasoline to retail distributors of gasoline which are wholly owned by him or operated under a franchise granted by him.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1973
Provides, under the Merchant Marine Act, that the appropriate agencies take steps to assure that at least 20 per cent of the gross tonnage of all petroleum and petroleum products imported into the United States on ocean vessels be transported on privately owned United States flag commercial vessels. Requires that the quantity to be carried in United States-flag commercial vessels be at least 25 per cent after June 30, l975, and at least 30 per cent after June 30, l977. (Amends 46 U.S.C. 1241))
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1973
Forest Conservation and Improvement Act - Sets forth the findings of Congress and defines the terms used in the Act. Provides for the preparation of comprehensive management plans by the Secretary of Agriculture for each national forest and other commercial forest land under his jurisdiction and by the Secretary of the Interior for each unit of the commercial forest lands under his jurisdiction, to be preceded by at least one public hearing in the major population center of the State affected and by the publication of the proposed plan in the Federal Register not less than 60 days before each public hearing. Declares that after consideration of comments at the public hearings, the respective Secretary shall promulgate a comprehensive management plan by publishing the plan in the Federal Register, at which time he shall submit the plan and a map to the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture or Interior and Insular Affairs. Provides for the plan to take effect 120 days after submission unless disapproved by the committees, and requires at least one review of the plan, including public hearings, before December 31, 1986. States that the plan shall be developed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Directs the respective Secretary, with regard to the commercial forest lands, to establish policies to assure that small business concerns obtain a fair proportion of commercial timber and other forest products. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States a Forest Conservation and Improvement Fund to be available to the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, and directs the respective Secretary to submit to the President and the Congress by March 1 an annual report describing the activities supported by the fund. Provides for the establishment of uniform rules and standards with respect to the appraisal, sale and removal of timber and other forest products from commercial forest lands, and for at least one public hearing in each of the five forest regions of the United States and in Alaska. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a complete inventory of all non-Federal forest lands and private forest lands within the United States and to report the results to the Congress within 3 years from the date of enactment. Prohibits the exporting of timber harvested from any commercial forest lands after January 1, 1974, unless the timber has been exempted from domestic processing under provisions of any Federal timber sale contract awarded prior to March 1, 1973. Limits to 1,500,000,000 broad feet of timber the amount harvested from non-Federal or privately owned forest lands to be exported from the United States in any year after January 1, 1974; and provides after January 1, 1975 for the annual licensing, by the Secretary of Commerce, of exporters of timber from these lands, with quotas on the amount to be exported and a requirement to export an amount of furnished wood products, excluding cants, equal in dollar amount to the amount of timber exported. Provides criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate necessary rules and regulations for this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1973
Adult Education Amendments - Provides that not more than l5 percent of funds appropriated under this Act shall be reserved for special projects. Provides that State plans desiring an allotment of Federal funds under this Act shall provide for cooperation with manpower development and training programss and occupational education program and shall provide that the State agency will make available not to exceed 25 percent of the State's allotment for programs of high school equivalency certificates. Permits any State which receives assistance under this Act to establish and maintain a State advisory council which shall be appointed by the Governor. Sets forth the functions of such Council. Authorizes to be appropriated $225,000,000 for each of the next six fiscal years to carry out the purpose of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1973
Authorizes the Librarian of Congress to establish and conduct seminars for freshman members of the Congress in two similar series. Schedules the first one for November 15 until Thanksgiving in each year that a general election for the House of Representative is held. Schedules the second series for between December 1 and December 15. Authorizes the Librarian of Congress acting through the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare a curriculum for the series of seminars under this Act. Allows each person attending seminars expenses for travel, accomodations food. Authorizes necessary appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1973
Prohibits the inspection of income tax records by the Department of Agriculture. Allows limited information from such records concerning farming operations to be furnished to the Department. (Adds 26 U.S.C. 36103(g))
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1973
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants for projects on the development, storage, treatment, purification, or distribution of water in rural areas. Permits the Secretary to make grants for projects involving the collection, treatment, or disposal of waste in such areas. States that the aggregate amount of authorized appropriations for such purposes may not exceed $300,000,000 in any fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1973
Mobile Teachers' Retirement Assistance Act - Expresses the findings of Congress that the transfer of teachers between State schools is impeded by the possibility of forfeiture of retirements, and that the resulting immobility hinders the growth of new communities. Sets forth the terms and definitions of this Act. Specifies the requirements which a State retirement system must meet to receive Federal financial benefits under this Act. Provides that the Federal contribution to each qualified State system for each retiring teacher's out-of-State service shall be 50 percent of the total cost, as determined by the retirement system at such teacher's age on date of retirement. Contributes to the State retirement system an additional 2 percent of the Federal amount under this Act for the costs of administration. Authorizes appropriations for the fiscal year 1974 and succeeding years for the amounts necessary to effectuate this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1973
Provides that Army and Air Force National Guard technicians shall not be required to wear the military uniform while performing their duties in a civilian status. (Amends 32 U.S.C. 709(d))
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1973
Authorizes the Commissioner of Education, under the Education of the Handicapped Act, to make grants to public or private nonprofit institutions which work with profoundly mentally retarded children in order to develop comprehensive education programs and inservice training programs for teachers and parents. States that, in determining whether to make a grant under this subsection, the Commissioner of Education shall give priority to programs aimed at reducing the dependence of profoundly mentally retarded children on custodial care. Provides that such a grant shall be made only if the Commissioner determines that: (1) there are no requirements that participants in the program possess self-help skills; (2) no children would be excluded from the program because such child has in addition to mental retardation, one or more handicapping conditions; (3) that there are no standard accreditation requirements governing selection and training of personnel in the program; (4) the teacher-child ratio is at least one to six; and (5) Federal funds shall be used solely to supplement and not to supplant State, local, and private funds. Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to keep State educational agencies fully informed about the various programs for severely profoundly mentally retarded children. Requires the Commissioner to seek to achieve an equitable distribution of such programs throughout the nation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1973
Provides for crediting service under the Civil Service Retirement Act for service by National Guard technicians on or after the effective date of the National Guard Technicians Act of 1968. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 8332(b))
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1973
Authorizes the President to proclaim June 17, 1973, as a day of commemoration of the opening of the upper Mississippi River by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet in 1673.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1973
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the agencies represented on the advisory committee established under this joint resolution, to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of the relationship of motor vehicle size to the public interest. Provides that such study and investigation shall include consideration of: (1) the relationship between motor vehicle size and (A) pollution of the air and other components of the environment; (B) consumption of the Nation's supply of petroleum, metals, and other renewable resources; (C) the rate and frequency of motor vehicle accidents and the costs, injuries, and fatalities attendant thereto; (D) the shortage of motor vehicle parking spaces in urban and metropolitan areas; (E) the need for additional highway construction; (F) the congestion of urban roadways; (G) the needs of motor vehicle users; (H) the automobile manufacturing industry, motor vehicle insurance costs, and the various industries and businesses which supply services and goods required for the maintenance, operation, and manufacture of motor vehicles; and (I) the feasibility of motor vehicle power-plants other than internal combustion engines; (2) whether a reduction of motor vehicle size would be in the public interest; and (3) the possible means of reducing the size of motor vehicles, such as through the power of Congress to tax or to regulate interstate and foreign commerce or in any other way, and the relative costs and benefits of each such means, monetary or otherwise. Requires the Secretary to submit interim reports from time to time to the Congress and to the President and a final report, not later than twelve months after the date of approval of this joint resolution, containing a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary, and to propose such legislation or other action as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out his recommendations. Requires the President to appoint a Governmental Advisory Committee on the Impact of Motor Vehicle Size consisting of the Secretary who shall be Chairman and one representative each from the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Health, Education, and Welfare, the Federal Trade Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and such other Federal agencies as are designated by the President. Provides that such Advisory Committee shall advise the Secretary on the preparation for and the conduct of the study authorized by this joint resolution. Provides that the authority of the Secretary under this joint resolution shall terminate ninety days after the submission of his final report. Authorizes to be appropriated, without fiscal year limitation, such sums, not to exceed $2,000,000, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1973
Provides that no funds heretofore or hereafter appropriated shall be expended for the conduct by United States forces of bombing missions or other combat operations in or over or from off the shores of Indochina, including Cambodia, Laos, the Republic of Vietnam, and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, without prior, specific authorization by Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1973
Extends insurance coverage under the Federal Crop Insurance Act to all areas of the United States and to all agricultural commodities. Removes the appropriation limit on amounts that may be authorized under the Act. (Amends 7 U.S.C. 1508(a), 1516(a))
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1973
Child Development and Abuse Prevention Act - Provides for the establishment of a National Center on Child Development and Abuse Prevention within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to list accidents involving children under 18, to maintain an information clearing house, and to provide training materials on all programs for prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse. Provides for grants to public and nonprofit private organizations for demonstration programs designed to prevent, identify, and treat child abuse and neglect. Establishes a National Commission on Child Abuse and Neglect to make a study of the effectiveness of existing child abuse and neglect reporting laws and ordinances and to define the proper role of the Federal Government in assisting State and local public and private efforts in the area of child abuse and neglect.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1973
Permits Federal employees to purchase into the civil service retirement system those benefits unduplicated in any other retirement system based on employment in Federal programs operated by State and local governments under Federal funding and supervision.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1973
Budget Control Act - Title I: Ceiling on Fiscal Year 1974 Expenditures - Expenditure Control Act - States that the net lending during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, under the budget of the United States Government shall not exceed $255,300,000,000. Provides that if the estimates or revenues which will be received in the Treasury during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, exceed $255,300,000,000, such limitation shall be increased by an amount equal to such excess. Directs the President to propose reservations from expenditure and net lending of such amounts as may be necessary to keep expenditures and net lending during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, within the limitation specified in this Act. Provides that the President shall propose reservations of expenditures under this Act by one or more special messages to the Congress and that any proposed reservation shall become effective on the date on which a concurrent resolution approving such reservation is agreed to by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Prescribes procedures for the consideration of such concurrent resolution. Title II: Requirement of Congressional Approval of Impoundment - Provides that whenever the President impounds any funds appropriated or otherwise obligated for a specific purpose or project, or approves the impounding of such funds by any officer or employee of the United States, he shall, within ten days thereafter, transmit to the Senate and the House of Representatives a special message announcing the impoundment of such funds. Requires the President to cease the impounding of funds set forth in each special message within sixty days of continuous session after the message is received by the Congress unless the specific impoundment shall have been ratified by the Congress by passage of a resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1973
Child Development and Abuse Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish the National Center on Child Development and Abuse Prevention in order to gather information with respect to the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, public agencies or nonprofit private organizations for demonstration programs designed to prevent, identify, and treat child abuse and neglect. Establishes a National Commission on Child Abuse and Neglect to investigate the effectiveness of existing child abuse and neglect reporting laws and the proper role of the Federal Government in assisting State and local public and private efforts to prevent child abuse. Directs the Commission to transmit to the President and to the Congress not later than one year after the first meeting of the Commission a final report containing a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with recommendations for legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1973
Federal Disaster Insurance Act - Creates a body corporate to be known as the Federal Disaster Insurance Corporation which shall be an independent establishment in the executive branch of the Government. Provides that the management of the Corporation shall be vested in a board of directors, which shall consists of nine members appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Defines the term "natural disaster" as meaning any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire, avalanche, landslide, or other catastrophe in any part of the United States which is determined by the President to be a major disaster for purposes of the Disaster Relief Act of 1970, or which is otherwise determined by the Federal Disaster Insurance Corporation to be actually or potentially of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant coverage under insurance made available pursuant to this Act. Provides that the Corporation shall have a capital stock of $1,000,000,000 which shall be subscribed to by the Secretary of the Treasury on behalf of the United States. Provides that payment upon such subscription shall be subject to call in whole or in part at any time by the board of directors of the Corporation. Authorizes to be appropriated, out of money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $1,000,000,000 which shall be available for payment by the Secretary of the Treasury for capital stock of the Corporation. Directs the Corporation to carry out the purpose of this Act by providing, to any citizen or resident of the United States who makes application therefor and qualifies in accordance with this Act, insurance against damage to or loss of property due to natural disaster. Creates in the Treasury of the United States a National Disaster Insurance Fund which shall be available to the Corporation without fiscal year limitation: (1) for making such payments of insurance as may from time to time be required under this Act; (2) to redeem stock issued under this Act; and (3) to pay the administrative expenses of carrying out the program, including the costs of processing applications and servicing claims.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1973
Establishes the Select Committee on the Cost and Availability of Food, to be composed of twelve Members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker, to conduct a full and complete investigation of all matters affecting, influencing, and pertaining to the cost and availability of food to the American consumer. Requires the committee to report to the House as soon as practicable during the present Congress the results of its investigation and study, together with such findings, conclusions, and recommendations as it deems advisable. Grants the committee various powers to carry out the objectives of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1973
Makes it the sense of the House of Representatives that should United States gold be offered for public sale, the sale of such gold must be restricted to the domestic market and American citizens for a period of 30 days before being offered on the world market.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1973
Surface Transportation Act - Title I: Financial Assistance to Surface Transportation Companies - Revenue Financing and Railroad Equipment Obligation Insurance Fund Act - Creates in the Department of Transportation, under the Interstate Commerce Act, a Revenue Financing Division to aid in financing the transportation industry and commerce and to help in maintaining its economic stability and that of the country by promoting maximum employment and production. Provides for an Assistant Secretary of Transportation to assist the Secretary of Transportation in the execution of his functions under this title. Establishes a Loan Policy Board to establish any necessary general policies which shall govern the granting or denying of applications for financial assistance by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee lenders against loss of principal and interest on loans made to any common carrier in the transportation industry organized or operating under the laws of any State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, or the United States. Provides that, in making such guarantees, the Secretary shall determine that the prospective earning power of the enterprise furnishes reasonable assurance that the enterprise will be able to repay the loan within the time fixed and afford reasonable protection to the United States. Provides that the Secretary may not authorize any such loan guarantee with respect to a common carrier by railroad unless satisfied that the expeditures will improve the utilization and distribution of rolling stock and materially contribute to the efficiency of rail operations. Establishes a Board of Review to review applications for loan guarantees. Provides that no application for a loan guarantee shall be approved by the Secretary without a written determination that the public interest would be served thereby. Provides that information concerning all applications for loan guarantees under this title shall be kept available for public inspection. Provides that loans guaranteed by the Secretary under this title bear interest at such per annum rate as the Secretary deems reasonable. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this title but not to exceed in the aggregate $2,000,000,000. Prescribes criminal penalties for knowing acts of fraud in obtaining loan guarantees under this title. Provides that the authority granted by this title shall terminate at the close of June 30, 1983. Creates a Federal Railroad Equipment Obligation Insurance Fund. Authorizes the Secretary, through the fund, to insure the interest on, and the unpaid principal balance of, any equipment obligation offered to him which he determines is eligible for insurance under this part. Authorizes the Secretary to make commitments to insure any equipment obligation prior to the date of execution or disbursement thereon. Provides that, to be eligible for such insurance, the Secretary must find: (1) the equipment obligation is secured by rolling stock to be financed or refinanced thereby; (2) the financing or refinancing of the rolling stock is justified by the present and future demand for transportation services to be rendered by the railroad for which the rolling stock is procured; and (3) the purchase of the rolling stock will contribute toward a national car supply adequate to meet the needs of shippers and the economy. Provides that, if at any time the money in the fund is not sufficient to pay any amount the Secretary is required to pay under an agreement, the Secretary is authorized to issue to the Secretary of the Treasury notes or other obligations in such forms and determinations, hearing such maturities, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to assist in the design of a national rolling stock information service and to contract with, and provide technical and financial assistance to, individual railroads or a group of railroads working together including the sharing of costs and the funding in part of demonstration projects, to assist in the establishment of a national rolling stock information system of approved design. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Secretary, out of money in the Treasury, the sum of $35,000,000 for the operation of such service. Title II: Provisions Relating to Discriminatory State Tax Practices - Provides that the following actions by any State are hereby declared to constitute an unreasonable and unjust discrimination against and an undue burden upon interstate commerce and are hereby forbidden and declared to be unlawful: (1) the assessment, for purposes of a property tax levied by any taxing district, of transportation property owned or used by any common or contract carrier subject to economic regulation pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act at a value which bears a higher ratio to the true market value of such transportation property than the assessed value of all other industrial and commercial property in the assessment jurisdiction of any State which is included in such taxing district and subject to a property tax levy bears to the true market value of all such other commercial and industrial property; (2) the collection of any tax on the portion of such assessment so declared to be unlawful; or (3) the collection of any ad valorem property tax on such transportation property at a tax rate higher than the tax rate generally applicable to commercial and industrial property in the taxing district. Provides that the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to issue such writs of injunction or other property process as may be necessary to restrain any State, or subdivision or agency thereof, or any person from doing anything or performing any act declared to be unlawful. Title III: Procedures for Abandonment of Nonproductive Rail Facilities - Abandonment of Nonproductive Rail Facilities Act - Provides expeditious administrative procedures for the abandonment of nonproductive facilities under the Interstate Commerce Act. (Amends 49 U.S.C. 1) Title IV: Provision Relating to Competitive Equity - Competitive Equity Act - Provides, under the Interstate Commerce Act, that the Interstate Commerce Commission shall, on a continuing basis, investigate and identify traffics which are moving at rates below the variable costs incurred in handling the traffics to which such rates apply and cause such rates to be promptly brought to at least such variable costs. Provides that the Commission shall promulgate and continually maintain standards and procedures for the determination of revenue levels adequate under honest, economical, and efficient management to cover operating and capital costs, including a fair, reasonable, and economic profit. (Amends 49 U.S.C. 15, 316, 907, 1006) Extends the report filing and rate publication extension provisions of the Act to the water transport of dry bulk commodities. (Amends 49 U.S.C. 903, 904, 906, 913) Provides that the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission shall promulgate and maintain standards, rules, and procedures for the establishment of minimum adequate transportation rate levels for the movement of recycled solid waste materials which will facilitate and encourage the broader utilization of such materials. Title V: Agreements Between Carriers - Rate Bureau Modernization Act - Permits a conference, bureau, committee, or other organization established among carriers for joint operation under the Interstate Commerce Act to approve its own changes in rules, rates, or charges. Provides that such conference, bureau, committee or other organization, may not conduct votes on single line rates established by any railroad carrier, nor appear in any proceeding before the Commission regarding such single line rate. (Amends 49 U.S.C. 5b) Title VI: Repeal of Discriminatory Government Rates - Repeals the provision of the Interstate Commerce Act permitting carriage on behalf of the United States at reduced rates. Enumerates various exceptions to this prohibition governing reduced rates. Title VII: Establishment of Uniform Cost Accounting - Provides that the Commission may in its discretion prescribe a uniform system of accounts applicable to any class of carriers subject to the Interstate Commerce Act, and a period of time within which such class shall have uniform system of accounts, and the manner in which such accounts shall be kept. Requires the Commission to establish and promulgate rules and regulations prescribing uniform cost accounting and uniform revenue accounting methods for the determination of abandonment of nonproductive facilities under title III of this Act, minimum compensatory rates established under title IV of this Act, and the repeal of discriminatory rates under title VI of this Act. Title VIII: Interstate Commerce Commission Budget - Interstate Commerce Commission Budget Submission Act - Provides, under the Budget and Accounting Act, that the President shall submit the estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations necessary for the next fiscal year for the Interstate Commerce Commission in his annual budget report to Congress. (Amends 31 U.S.C. 11) Title IX: Miscellaneous - Provides that the amendments and repeals by this Act shall become effective on the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1973
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, under the Water Bank Act, to enter into agreement with landowners in important migratory waterfowl nesting and breeding areas for the conservation of water on specified farm, ranch, or other wetlands identified in a conservation plan developed in cooperation with the Soil and Water Conservation District in which the lands are located, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. (Amends 16 U.S.C. 1302)
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1973
Small Business Tax Simplification and Reform Act - Title I: Tax Simplification Relating to Small Business - Creates a Committee on Tax Simplification for Small Business for the purpose of devoting continued attention to the simplification of the Internal Revenue Code to small business, and the regulations, instructions, procedures, and other publications relating to small business taxation. Provides that the membership of the Committee would include representatives of the Secretary of the Treasury (for policy matters); Internal Revenue Service (for technical matters); Office of Management and Budget (for coordinating the paperwork aspects of IRS forms, in view of the Federal Reports Act) and the Small Business Administration to express the interests of the small business community. Creates in the Treasury Department an Office of Small Business Analyst, which would be responsible for looking at tax problems primarily from the view of small business and the free enterprise system. Calls upon the Treasury Department for a comprehensive study of depreciation policies with particular attention to: the impact of legislation; the rapid advances in technology to which small business must adapt; and the practices of other industrialized nations. Calls upon the Treasury to study the entire range of pension, retirement, health, medical, and insurance benefits in the larger context of what both corporations (including large corporate enterprise) and other forms of business are providing for their employees and executives. Authorizes a special study of the differential effect of tax law changes on businesses of different sizes. Title II: Adjustment of Corporate Normal Tax - Effects a progressive reform in the entire corporate tax structure by providing for reductions in normal corporate tax rates based on the corporations earning. Provides that as corporate earnings rise above $1 million per year the normal tax would incline upward to a maximum of 24 percent for corporations earning over $1 billion annually. Title III: Special Provisions to Encourage Establishment of New Small Business Enterprises - Permits eligible new small business corporatians on income tax deduction equal to the corporations net operating income so long as that amount does not exceed $2083. Allows an income tax deduction to a partnership for its oragnizational expenses ratably over a period of 60 months. Provides for a bad debt tax deduction for guarantors of obligations of, and lenders, to, small business corporations. Title IV: Provisions to Assist Small Business Growth - Increases the additional first-year depreciation limitation for small business property from $10,000 to $20,000. Extends the period for use of the loss carryover provisions for small businesses by allowing existing corporations to carry these losses over a ten year period. Raises the earning credit in accordance with the costs of doing business to $150,000. Allows the expenses of certain types of small business stock flotations, such as those under Regulation A and section 1244 of the Code, which are not otherwise deductible, to be amortized over a period of 60 months. Allows research and development expenses of small business to be amortized beginning at the time they are made. Permits a limited number of surtax exemptions (up to 5) in the event members of a family are placed in proprietary positions where they have ownership of at least 50 percent of the stock (or other interest) and full time management of a separately incorporated unit of a family business. Title V: Provisions Relating to Partnerships - Allows the closing of the partnership year for a decedent at any of the following times: (1) normal close of the partnership year if there has been no prior sale, exchange, or liquidation of the partnership interest; (2) the date of any of the above described transactions; or (3) the day after the partner's death. Permits a partner to deduct currently his share of partnership losses in excess of the adjusted basis of his partnership interests, in the event that the partner is unconditionally obligated for his share of such partnership losses. Title VI: Provisions Relating to Subchapter S Corporations - Allows enlargment of the Subchapter S "tax-option" small business corporations in the following 3 ways: (1) initial shareholders could number 15, rather than the present 10; (2) shareholders in excess of this ceiling who take their stock by reason of heirship would not disqualify election; and (3) after 5 years, the number of permissible shareholders would increase to 25. Provides that the classes of shareholders would be expanded to include: (1) trusts where stock passes pursuant to a will, and where the trust is used merely to convey the stock to a long term eligible holder within 60 days; (2) trusts where the entire income is taxable to the grantor; and (3) small business investment companies, subject to such income. Provides for nondisqualification of a Subchapter S corporation by reason of exceeding the limit of 20 percent passive income in a single year. Provides that the election privilege could still be lost pursuant to this proposal if the limit is exceeded in any 2 of 4 consecutive years. Provides that if the corporation is able to establish that the termination was, in fact, inadvertent and gain full compliance within 90 days of notification, its Subchapter S status would be preserved for future years. Title VII: Business Development Corporations - Permits State and local development companies to extend long-term financing to non-bankable new enterprises and such companies would be permitted a bad-debt reserve deduction up to 10 percent of outstanding loans. Provides that certain types of business development corporations would be nontaxable upon the condition that the proceeds from such unusual transactions are re-invested the area of service and no part of these proceeds insures to the benefit of any individual or private institution. Title VIII: Preservation of Small Business Independence - Allows recovery of losses in 1 or 2 quarters to the extent the newly estimated tax for the year is less than the amount already paid in. Disallows interest deductions beyond $500,000 on any loan for small business acquistion purposes. Permits valuation comparisons with any similar closely held corporation whether or not it is listed on an exchange. Changes the standard of "undue hardship" (required to qualify for 10-year estate tax installments) to "hardship." Directs the Treasury to conduct a comprehensive examination of the pressures of income taxes, capital gains tax, reorganization rules, and estate and gift taxes which are causing so many small business to sell or merge out of existence rather than continue in independent form.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1973
Authorizes each Member of the House of Representatives (including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and each Delegate to the House) to hire and pay not more than two additional student congressional interns (to serve as such within or outside the District of Columbia).
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1973
Provides, under the Agriculture Act of 1949, that the minimum loan level available to agricultural producers during a crop year shall be increased by at least 35 percent whenever the Secretary of Agriculture announces a wheat adjustment or feed grain adjustment program which will result in an addition to reserve stocks.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Metric Conversion Act - Establishes the international system of units called the "metric system" as the sole system of weights and measures in the United States, effective 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. Authorizes the President to take necessary action to convert all executive departments and agencies of the United States exclusively to the metric system within 10 years of enactment of this Act. Directs the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, to develop and carry out a program of public education to inform the public of such conversion and to assist the public in learning to utilize the Metric System. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to individuals, not exceeding $2,000 to each individual, to defray non-reimbursable expenses incurred for purposes of acquiring tools or instruments which are required as a result of the conversion to the metric system in their trade or business.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Extends the authorizations through fiscal year 1974 for the following programs under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965: (1) grants for public works and development facilities; (2) public works and development facility loans; (3) technical assistance, research and information related to public works and development facilities; (4) financial assistance for projects in economic development districts; and (5) supplemental funds for Federal grants-in-aid programs for economic development regions. Provides that no area designated as a redevelopment area for purposes of the Act shall have such designation terminated or modified before June 1, 1974, unless the qualified local governing body of the county specifically requests the such action.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1973
Family Farm Antitrust Act - Finds that vertical integration of the agricultural industry by corporations engaged in the processing, distributing and retail industries, and other conglomerate corporations, tends to create monopolies in the agricultural industry and produce unfair competition for family farms, contributing to the decline of rural populations and the consequent crowding of metropolitan centers. Declares it to be the national policy to restore competition to the agricultural industry and to provide for the continuance of the family farm. Provides that no person engaged in commerce in a business other than farming, whose nonfarming business assets exceed $3,000,000 shall engage in farming or the production of agricultural products, or participate in farming by any means of acquisition or control of another person who is engaged in farming. Specifies exceptions including charitable, educational, or nonprofit institutions, and farmer owned and controlled cooperatives. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire at fair market value any property or interest of which a person is required to divest himself under the provisions of this Act, if the person is otherwise unable to divest himself of such property. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1973
Abolishes the Committee on Internal Security of the House of Representatives. Enlarges the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives to include those activities involving sabotage and other overt acts affecting internal security.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1973
Upland Game Conservation Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to formulate and carry out a program with farm owners and operators for the purpose of turning their land to nonagricultural uses while promoting the development and conservation of upland game wildlife resources. Provides that farm owners and operators shall agree: (1) to carry out on a specifically designated acreage of land on the farm, not to exceed ten acres, and maintain for the agreement period practices or uses which will establish or protect or conserve open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife or upland game resources in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe; (2) to maintain in conserving crops or uses or to allow to remain idle throughout the agreement period such acreage; (3) not to harvest any crop from or graze the designated acreage during the agreement period; and (4) to such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary determines are desirable to effectuate the purposes of the program, including such measures as the Secretary may deem appropriate to keep the designated acreage free from erosion, insects, weeds and pests. Provides that under such agreements the Secretary shall: (1) bear such part of the average cost (including labor) for the county or area in which the farm is situated of establishing and maintaining authorized practices or uses on the designated acreage as the Secretary determines to be necessary to effectuate the purposes of the program, but not to exceed the average rate for comparable practices or uses under the agricultural conservation program, and (2) make an annual rental payment to the farmowner or operator for the period of the agreement at such rate or rates as the Secretary determines to be fair and reasonable. Provides that annual rental payment shall not exceed 40 percent of the estimated value, as determined by the Secretary, on the basis of prices in effect at the time the agreement is entered into, of the crops or types of crops which otherwise might be grown. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide by appropriate regulations for the preservation of cropland, crop acreage, and allotment history applicable to acreage diverted from the production of crops in order to establish or maintain approved practices for the purpose of any Federal program under which such history is used as a basis for an allotment or other limitation or for participation in such program.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1973
Extends to all unmarried individuals the tax treatment of income splitting now utilized by married individuals filing joint returns under the Internal Revenue Code. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe and publish tables reflecting the amendments made by this Act which shall apply in lieu of the tables set forth in the Internal Revenue Code with respect to wages paid on or after the first day of the first month which begins more than 20 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1973
Authorizes a phased increase, over a specified period of time, in postage rates for second-class publications. States that such increases shall take place in two-year steps. Provides that the rates for the first 250,000 pieces of each issue of a second-class publication shall not exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the applicable rates. Provides that after July 6, 1972, the revenues received from rates for second-class publications shall not exceed fifty percent of the published rate. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to credit to the Postal Service Fund such sums as may be needed to equal the revenues that would have been received if the publishers of second-class publications were to pay one hundred percent of the applicable rate for such postage. (Amends 39 U.S.C. 3626)
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1973
Act for Freedom of Emigration in East-West Trade - States that after October 15, 1972, products from any nonmarket economy country shall not be eligible to receive most-favored-nation treatment, such country shall not participate in any program of the Government of the United States which extends credits or credit guarantees or investment guarantees, directly or indirectly, and the President of the United States shall not conclude any commercial agreement with any such country during the period beginning with the date on which the President determines that such country: (1) denies its citizens the right or opportunity to emigrate; (2) imposes more than a nominal tax on emigration or on the visas or other documents required for emigration, for any purpose or cause whatsoever; or (3) imposes more than a nominal tax, levy, fine, fee, or other charge on any citizen as a consequence of the desire of such citizen to emigrate to the country of his choice. Provides that, before any of the aforementioned commercial agreements are entered into with any foreign country, the President shall submit to the Congress a report indicating that such country is not in violation of any of the requirements of the preceding paragraph.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1973
Sales Promotion Game Act - Declares it to be an unfair method of competition for any manufacturer, producer, distributor, or wholesaler doing business in interstate commerce to require or encourage any retail seller to participate in a game in connection with the sale of any item, or for a retail seller to engage on his own in a game in connection with the sale of any item. Provides that whoever willfully violates the provisions of this Act shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years or both. (Amends 15 U.S.C. 41-58)
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1973
Midwest States Fuel Oil Act - Title I: - Sets forth the Congressional findings that: (1) a major cause of inadequate supplies of home heating oil in the upper Midwest States is the limitation on imports of petroleum and petroleum products established by Presidential Proclamation 3279, as amended (the oil import program); and (2) the special supply and demand problems relating to home heating oil in the Midwest States requires creation of a separate import control system for that area. Defines Midwest States as North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Provides that after the effective date of this Act, no quantitative limitations or other import restrictions shall be imposed on the importation of home heating oil into the Midwest States. Title II: - Makes provisions for the duty-free entry into the United States of specified petroleum products. Title III: - Authorizes the Secretary of State to enter into negotiations with the Government of Canada for establishment of a "northcentral regional oil area" consisting of central Canada and Midwest States, and intended to eliminate all restrictions on trade in petroleum and petroleum products between the United States and Canada so as to provide furnished petroleum products at a reasonable cost, consistent with the national security. Requires an annual report to the Congress on the progress and results of such negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1973
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, under the Water Bank Act, to enter into agreement with landowners in important migratory waterfowl nesting and breeding areas for the conservation of water on specified farm, ranch, or other wetlands identified in a conservation plan developed in cooperation with the Soil and Water Conservation District in which the lands are located, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. (Amends 16 U.S.C. 1302)
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1973
Requires congressional authorization for the reinvolvement of American forces in further hostilities in Indochina. Provides that the provisions of this Act shall take effect sixty days after the agreement is signed in Paris on January 27, 1973, or upon the release of all United States prisioners of war held by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and its allies and an accounting of United States personnel missing in action, or upon the enactment of the Act, whichever is later.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1973
Exempts specified farm vehicles from the highway use tax under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Requires that evidence of payment of such tax be shown on highway motor vehicles subject to the tax by affixing a windshield sticker to such vehicles. (Adds 26 U.S.C. 4483 (d), 4481 (f))
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1973
Provides that on or after June 30, 1973, no import quota or other nontariff trade restriction shall be imposed by or pursuant to law with respect to the importation into the United States of petroleum and petroleum products. (Amends 19 U.S.C. 1862)
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1973
Repeals provisions relating to the interstate transportation of petroleum products, which provisions are for the purpose of protecting interstate commerce from burdens caused by contracts of oil and of encouraging the conservation of crude oil deposits. (Repeals 15 U.S.C. 715-715m)
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1973
Provides, under title XVIII (Medicare) and title II (Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, that qualified drugs requiring a physicians prescription or certification shall be included among the items and services covered under the hospital insurance program for the aged at a specified amount of payment. Establishes, within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a Formulary Committee to compile and publish a Formulary listing the drugs deemed qualified for benefits under this Act, together with maximum allowable costs and additional information concerning such drugs. Makes provisions for selecting drugs for the Formulary.
![Official portrait of Rep. Bergland, Bob [R-MN-7]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000408_200.jpg)