United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1980
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the seven-day period beginning October 5, 1980, as "National Port Week." Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report annually to Congress on the conditions of U.S. public ports.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1980
Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) no Federal educational assistance should be used to aid an alien student from a nation with which the United States has broken diplomatic relations, unless such student has been admitted to the United States seeking political asylum; (2) each State should take appropriate action to terminate such assistance; and (3) the President, the Secretary of Education, and other Federal officers and employees should take appropriate action in carrying out such policy.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1980
Veterans' Administration Health-Care Personnel Act of 1980 - Title I: Physicians and Dentists Pay Comparability - Exempts physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health-care professionals employed by the Veterans' Administration (VA) Department of Medicine and Surgery from the Senior Executive Service. Sets forth increased special pay schedules for physicians, dentists, and nurses. Title II: Veterans' Administration Health Professional Scholarship Program - Establishes the Veterans' Administration Health Professional Scholarship Program. Sets forth eligibility, contract, obligated service, and application provisions. Exempts such scholarship payments from taxation. Provides, with regard to Veterans' Administration physician's or dentist's primary and special incentive pay, that such scholarship recipients shall not be eligible for such pay during the first three years of obligated service, and thereafter shall only be eligible for half of such pay. Title III: Miscellaneous Amendments - Sets forth standards for: (1) a presumption of inability to defray the expenses of medical care provided by the Veterans' Administration; (2) the supervision of real property transactions by the Congressional Committees on Veterans' Affairs; (3) the number of beds per thousand veterans population required to provide adequate nursing home care in State home facilities. Extends the time for submission of reports on hospital care and medical services furnished in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands. Repeals the requirement that recipients of health-care personnel training grants must increase the number of individuals receiving training.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1980
Supports the President's actions towards Iran to secure the release of the hostages. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that it is necessary to obtain international cooperation in imposing sanctions on Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. foreign policy should reflect a national strategy of peace through strength with specified principles and goals.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1980
Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to review and revise the existing national airport system plan to provide for the development of public-use airports in the United States. Directs that such plan shall include the type and estimated cost of eligible airport development considered by the Secretary to be necessary to provide a safe and efficient system of public-use airports to anticipate and meet the needs of civil aeronautics, to meet requirements in support of the national defense, and to meet the needs of the postal service. Directs the Department of Defense to make military airports and airport facilities available for civil use to the extent feasible. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for airport development and planning in the form of project grants. Sets forth the aggregate funding level for such grants for fiscal years 1981 through 1985. Directs that no obligation shall be incurred by the Secretary for airport development at a privately owned public-use airport unless the Secretary receives assurances that such airport will continue to function as a public- use airport during the economic life (no less than ten years) of any facility at such airport that was developed with Federal financial assistance under this Act. Authorizes appropriations out of such fund for fiscal years 1981 through 1985 for: (1) the establishment of air navigation facilities; (2) airport research engineering and development, and demonstration projects; (3) training State and local government employees to carry out the purposes of this Act; (4) costs of services provided under international agreements relating to the joint financing of air navigation services; and (5) costs incurred in operating and maintaining air navigation facilities in a safe and efficient condition. Directs that the costs of site preparation work associated with the establishment or improvement of air navigation facilities by the Secretary pursuant to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 shall be charged to appropriated funds available to the Secretary for that purpose. Directs that the Secretary shall provide in a grant or other agreement with an airport owner or sponsor, for the performance of such site preparation work in connection with airport development, subject to payment or reimbursement for such work by the Secretary from such appropriated funds. Prohibits appropriations from the Trust Fund to carry out programs or activities under such Act. Directs that amounts authorized shall remain available in the Trust Fund until appropriated for the purposes described. Directs that amounts transferred to the Trust Fund by the Airport and Airway Revenue Act of 1970 may not be appropriated for administrative expenses of the Department of Transportation. Grants the Secretary the authority to obligate to an airport by grant agreement the unobligated balance of amounts that were apportioned in prior fiscal years and that remain available for approved airport development projects, in addition to amounts authorized for that fiscal year by this Act. Sets forth the method for apportioning the funds made available under this Act. Sets forth conditions which determine eligibility for funding under this Act. Sets forth procedures for the submission of project grant airport development applications and requirements which must be satisfied to approve such applications. Requires a sponsor of an airport project to hold public hearings where the project-grant application involves the location of an airport, an airport runway, or a major runway extension. Directs that such a grant shall not be made unless the Governor of the State in which the project is to be located certifies in writing to the Secretary that there is a reasonable assurance that the project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated so as to comply with applicable air and water quality implementation plans. Authorizes the Secretary to approve standards (other than standards for safety of approaches) established by a State for airport development at public-use airports which are not primary airports. Authorizes the Secretary, in connection with any project the sponsor will comply with this Act, to require the project sponsor to certify that all of the statutory and administrative requirements imposed by this Act. Directs that the United States' share of allowable project costs for a project approved under this Act shall not exceed 90 percent of its cost. Establishes lower percentages for such projects under specified circumstances. Imposes upon the Secretary, as a condition precedent to approval of an airport development project contained in a project grant application submitted under this Act, the duty to receive written assurances that: (1) such airport will be available for public use on fair, reasonable, equitable and nondiscriminatory terms; (2) generally, no person providing aeronautical services to the public will have an exclusive right to use such airport; (3) such airport and related facilities will be suitably operated and maintained, with due regard to climatic and flood conditions; (4) the aerial approaches to such airport will be adequately cleared, protected, and hazard-free; (5) land in the immediate vicinity of such airport will be used for purposes compatible with airport operations; (6) such airport's facilities will be available for use by United States Government aircraft; (7) the airport operator or owner will furnish certain land, water, or estate therein to the Federal Government for use in connection with air traffic control, navigation, weather reporting, or communications activities related to air traffic control; (8) all project records will be kept in accordance with a standard accounting system; (9) the airport operator or owner will maintain a fee and rental structure for the facilities and services being provided to airport users which will make the airport as self-sustaining as possible; (10) such operator or owner will submit reports as requested by the Secretary; (11) the airport and all airport records will be available for the Secretary's inspection; and, (12) such operator or owner who receives a grant for the purchase of land for noise compatibility purposes which is conditioned on the disposal of the acquired land at the earliest practicable time will use its best efforts to so dispose of such land. Authorizes the Secretary to relieve a project sponsor from contractual obligations entered into under this Act, the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970, or the Federal Airport Act, to provide free space in airport buildings to the Federal Government. Directs the Secretary first to determine that the cost of an airport development or planning project is allowable before the United States pays from amounts appropriated to carry out the provisions of this Act. Sets forth conditions to determine whether costs are allowable. Authorizes the Secretary to approve, as allowable costs of an airport development project, terminal development costs in nonrevenue producing public-use areas which are directly related to the movement of passengers and baggage. Directs that construction work on projects funded under this Act shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Secretary and shall be in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Directs that contracts in excess of $2,000 for such construction projects shall include provisions establishing minimum rates of wages to be predetermined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act. Requires that construction contracts for airport development projects grant employment preferences to Vietnam and disabled veterans. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in the event that a public airport project will require the use of Federal lands, to request the head of the Federal agency or department controlling such lands to transfer the necessary property interests to the public agency sponsoring the project or which owns or controls the airport involved. Requires the head of such an agency or department to notify the Secretary within four months of its decision with respect to such a request. Exempts from such requests lands under the administration of the National Park Service, units of the National Wildlife Refuge System or similar areas under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or within any national forest or Indian reservation. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to annually report to the Congress describing operations under this Act during the preceding fiscal year. Sets forth criminal penalties for fraudulent acts committed with respect to projects under this Act. Sets forth recordkeeping and auditing requirements with respect to projects under this Act. Directs the Secretary to take affirmative action to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, or sex, be excluded from participating in any activity conducted with funds received from any grant made under this Act. Repeals the provisions of the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970. Amends the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 by authorizing the Secretary to incur obligations to make grants for airport noise compatibility planning. Amends such Act by stating that all of the provisions of this Act applicable to grants made herein shall be applicable to grants made under such Act. Amends the Airport and Airway Development Act Amendments of 1976 by authorizing $19,750,000 to be appropriated out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund before the date which is 180 days after the date of enactment of the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1980
Amends the National Visitor Center Facilities Act of 1968 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to sublet a portion of the Union Station Concourse to the Secretary of Transportation for operation as a rail passenger terminal. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to construct a parking structure for buses and 1400 cars. Allows the Secretary to vary the number of spaces for visitors' automobiles if it is determined to be necessary in order to carry out the purpose of this Act. Directs the Washington Terminal Company to cease construction of the new railroad passenger facility beneath the parking structure and to assign to the Secretary of Transportation all rights and obligations concerning such terminal. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use funds (to be deposited into a special account for the National Park Service) received from operating the National Visitor Center to pay the costs of such Center. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation: (1) to use funds received through operation of the sublet space to pay the costs of such space; and (2) to spend appropriated funds for rail passenger operations without regard to the matching funds requirement of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976. Requires every contract for the facility must be bid competitively on a fixed-price basis. Authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of the Interior to furnish steam from the Capitol Powerplant to Union Station. Authorizes the Secretary to construct connections to such Powerplant. Increases the authorization of appropriations for adequate visitor facilities. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for the construction or alteration of any facility authorized by the National Visitor Center Facilities Act of 1968, until final plans for such construction or alteration have been submitted to Congress, and Congress does not disapprove such plans within a 30 day period after their submission.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1980
Research Revitalization Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer engaged in a trade or business an income tax credit equal to 25 percent of the cash contributions made by such taxpayer to a reserve fund established to finance research or experimentation related to the taxpayer's business. Limits the total amount of such credit to five percent of the taxable business income of the taxpayer for the taxable year. Exempts such reserve fund from income taxation. Allows an income tax deduction for research expenses paid out of the reserve fund during the taxable year. Specifies that research financed pursuant to this Act shall be performed by an institution of higher education. Prescribes tax penalties for the use of funds from the research reserve for purposes other than research and experimentation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1980
Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation extending best wishes and expressing appreciation to Carl Vinson for his devotion to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the International Olympic Committee should allow Taiwan to participate in the 1980 winter Olympic games under its own name, flag, and national anthem.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1980
Surface Transportation Act of 1980 - Title I - Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1980 - Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the Interstate System for fiscal year 1983; (2) highways for fiscal years 1981 and 1982; (3) the bridge program for fiscal year 1982; and (4) Interstate System resurfacing for fiscal years 1982 and 1983, subject to conditions placed upon the apportionment of funds. Makes the Federal share of the costs of completing a disapproved route of the Interstate System within an urbanized area available for bus-related and fixed rail facilities which are eligible for grants under the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964. Sets forth the costs the Secretary of Transportation must include in making the revised estimate of the cost of completing the then designated Interstate System. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any project whose costs are not eligible for inclusion in such revised estimate. Mandates that each State receive not less than one-half of one percent of the total apportionment for resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating the Interstate System in any fiscal year after 1982. Alters the percent of the ratio of lane miles used and vehicle miles traveled for apportionment purposes after fiscal year 1982. Eliminates the requirement that a State obligate all funds apportioned to it for any of specified Federal-aid systems before applying to the Secretary for the Federal share of such costs when additional funds have been apportioned to such State. Permits the Secretary to approve projects for reconstruction of lanes in use for more than five years on the Interstate System. Permits the Secretary to approve projects for resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating lanes in use for more than five years which are on toll roads and are subject to a Secretarial agreement after fiscal year 1982. Eliminates the five year use restriction for nontoll roads after fiscal year 1980. Increases the percent of the Federal share payable to the States for Interstate System resurfacing to at least 90 percent of the costs. Authorizes appropriations for the repair or reconstruction of highways and roads damaged as a result of disaster or catastrophe. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for energy conservation projects on nontoll public roads to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate traffic flow on a Federal-aid system. Makes the Federal share of the cost of such projects 90 percent. Sets forth the formula for apportionment. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981 through 1985 for such projects. Requires a State to maintain any project constructed under the Federal-aid Highway Act even after such project no longer constitutes a part of a Federal-aid system. Directs the Secretary to make apportionments for the replacement or rehabilitation of unsafe bridges in each State based upon the Federal share of the estimated cost as determined by the Secretary for fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants: (1) to reconstruct, resurface, restore, and rehabilitate nontoll public roads which have incurred a substantial increase in use as a result of transportation activities to meet the national energy requirements; and (2) for transportation projects which will alleviate the environmental, social, and economic impact of increased train traffic to meet such requirements in communities located along specified rail corridors. Makes the Federal share of the costs of any such project 80 percent. Directs the Secretary to establish a formula for apportionment of such funds. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981 through 1985. Requires each State in fiscal year 1982 to utilize at least 30 percent of the apportioned funds for projects for the construction of routes on the Interstate System which are not open to traffic. Permits exemptions as specified. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for safer off-system roads for fiscal years 1981 and 1982. Sets aside specified amounts of the sums authorized in fiscal years 1979, 1980, and 1981 for obligation by the Secretary for projects of unusually high cost or long duration. Requires that specified apportionments received by the States in fiscal year 1983 not be less than the amount received in the previous fiscal year. Establishes limits of the total of all obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs for fiscal years 1980 through 1982. Title II - Federal Public Transportation Act of 1980 - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to authorize appropriations for discretionary grants or loans for fiscal years 1981 through 1985. Establishes a ceiling on the amount of such authorizations which may be made available for grants and loans for new rail transportation systems, rail extensions, and automated fixed guideways. Requires that not less than five percent of such funds be obligated for projects in areas having populations of less than 200,000 after fiscal year 1980. Authorizes appropriations: (1) for grants for research and training in urban transportation problems for fiscal years 1982 through 1985; (2) for formula grant programs for fiscal years 1982 through 1985; (3) for administrative and other expenses for fiscal years 1982 through 1985; (4) for urban mass transit grants for fiscal years 1981 through 1985; (5) for terminal development for fiscal years 1982 through 1985; and (6) for intercity bus service for fiscal years 1982 through 1985. Makes any person presenting a medicare card entitled to receive special rates established for the elderly or handicapped when paying mass transit fares. Requires the Secretary to notify the appropriate committees of Congress at least 30 days in advance of issuing a letter of intent to fund a project. Requires the Secretary to provide financial assistance through grants to the States and local bodies for the continuation through fiscal year 1983 of specified rail passenger service. Sets forth the Federal share of the operating costs of such rail passenger service. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981 through 1983. Directs the Secretary to carry out a demonstration project using high-speed waterborne transportation equipment and facilities and operating in and in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon. Directs the Secretary to report the results of such projects to Congress by the end of fiscal year 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1980
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design to Ambassador Kenneth Taylor in recognition of his efforts to secure the return of six American Embassy officials in Tehran. Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cause to be struck such gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1980
Requires that flammability standards prescribed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission which apply to children's sleepwear items shall apply also to children's underwear items.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Transportation Systems Efficiency Act of 1979 - Title I: - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to stipulate that the authorization of funds for public mass transportation projects under such Act shall remain available for obligation for the three fiscal years after the fiscal year for which the authorization was made. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants for energy conservation projects on nontoll public roads to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate traffic flow on a Federal-aid system highway. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall be 90 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981 through 1990 out of the Public Transportation Trust Fund (as established by title III of this Act) for projects under the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 and for public mass transportation projects substituted for Interstate Highway System projects. Title II: - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to apportion funds for the repair of public roads which have incurred a substantial increase in use as a result of transportation activities to meet national energy requirements and which will continue to incur such use. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall be 80 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1980 through 1990 for such purpose out of the Highway Trust Fund and out of the Energy Trust Fund (as established by H.R. 3919 of the 96th Congress or its equivalent). Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to separate rail highway crossings where there is a substantial increase in the use of rail facilities in transporting coal to meet national energy requirements and where the continued use of such facilities will result in substantial delays of highway travel. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall be 80 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose for fiscal years 1980 through 1990 out of the Highway Trust Fund and the Energy Trust Fund. Title III: Public Transportation Trust Fund - Establishes within the Treasury of the United States the Public Transportation Trust Fund. Appropriates to such Fund 25 percent of the amounts received by the Treasury pursuant to the windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil. Stipulates that the proceeds of such Fund shall be used for making capital expenditures for public transportation projects or transportation systems projects under the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 or under title 23 (Highways) of the United States Code.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 1979
Directs the Secretary of Labor to pay a benefit of $50,000 to the survivors of any Federal law enforcement officer or fire fighter, as such terms are defined in this Act, who is killed in the line of duty. Sets forth the order of precedence as to the beneficiaries of such payment. Authorizes the Secretary to make an interim payment not to exceed $3,000 to a survivor who, in the Secretary's determination, probably will receive such a benefit. Declares that no such benefit shall be subject to execution or attachment. Prohibits payment of such benefit: (1) if death was caused by the intentional misconduct, suicide, or intoxication of the officer or fire fighter; and (2) to any beneficiary whose actions contributed the death of the officer or fire fighter.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Attorney General: (1) to annually review the status of foreign students in the United States; and (2) to determine whether any such foreign student convicted of a crime in the United States should be deported. Includes within the categories of deportable aliens foreign students convicted of any crime in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Sunset Review Act of 1979 - Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to jointly develop and maintain an inventory of all Federal programs and tax expenditures. Requires such inventory to classify all such programs and expenditures according to the jurisdiction of the various legislative committees of the two Houses. Requires the General Accounting Office, before the beginning of the 97th Congress, after consultation with the appropriate legislative committees, to submit a draft inventory to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Requires such Committees to notify each legislative committee of the programs and tax expenditures which are classified within its jurisdiction. Allows any legislative committee to propose revisions of such inventory within 30 days after notification. Requires, after a determination that all programs and tax expenditures are accurately classified, that such inventory be published in a single document. Requires that an update be made of such inventory at the beginning of every Congress. Directs the General Accounting Office to maintain and publish a supplement to the inventory. Requires each legislative committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate, on or before March 1 in the first session of each Congress beginning with the 98th Congress, to develop, adopt, and submit to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committees on Rules and Administration an agenda for the sunset review of selected Federal programs within its jurisdiction or in the case of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance, of selected tax expenditures. Requires the committees of each House to develop their sunset review agenda in consultation with any other committee which has concurrent jurisdiction over any programs or tax expenditures involved. Prohibits either the House or the Senate from considering a primary expense resolution for any legislative committee in any Congress until that committee has developed and submitted its sunset review agenda. Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to incorporate such agendas into a consolidated sunset review agenda and to report such consolidated agenda to its House in the form of a concurrent resolution, within seven legislative days after all committee sunset review agendas have been submitted. Requires the consolidated sunset review agenda to be adopted in the House and in the Senate no later than March 30 in the first session of each Congress. Sets forth the procedures for adoption. Requires each committee of the House or the Senate, not later than May 15 in the second session of each Congress, to report a bill or bills modifying, continuing, or terminating each program or tax expenditure which it has been directed to review under the consolidated sunset review agenda adopted during the first session. Requires such bill to be accompanied by a report setting forth the committee's findings, recommendations, and justifications. Requires each department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch of the Government which is responsible for the administration of a Federal program or tax expenditure selected for sunset review to give assistance to the appropriate Congressional committees. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall affect the authority of any legislative committee to review programs or tax expenditures within its jurisdiction and to report legislation modifying, continuing, or terminating such programs or expenditures at such times and in such manner as it deems appropriate. Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to include the consolidated sunset review agendas and the congressional inventory of Federal programs as part of the House Committee on Rules' functions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the categories of deportable aliens foreign students who knowingly participated in a political demonstration resulting in, or intending to result in, injury or damage to another's person or property. Permits the Attorney General to suspend deportation of such foreign students.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union should release Ida Nudel and allow her to emigrate to Israel. Urges the President to: (1) express U.S. opposition to the exile of Ida Nudel to Siberia; and (2) inform the Soviet Union that the United States will take into account the extent to which countries honor their commitments under international law, particularly concerning human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1979
Local Government Energy Conservation Act - Establishes a grant program to assist local governmental units in undertaking energy conservation activities, including: (1) establishment of mechanisms for coordinating all energy-related activities of a local governmental unit; (2) establishment of local energy conservation targets; (3) development of programs of energy conservation in local governmental operations; (4) development of programs to decrease private sector energy consumption; (5) establishment of an energy conservation information clearinghouse; and (6) development of regional plans with other local governmental units. Prohibits grant recipients from using grant funds to make grants or loans to other persons or entities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1979
Rural Cooperative Business Income Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received by a mutual or cooperative telephone or electric company for services to customers or rural telephone or electric companies, and income received from the rental or sale of communications or power facilities, shall not be subject to the tax on unrelated business income.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1979
Veterans' Rehabilitation and Education Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Revision of Vocational Rehabilitation Program - Revises veterans' vocational rehabilitation provisions to declare the purpose of this Act to be to provide all services necessary to enable veterans with service- connected disabilities to attain maximum independence, to become employable, and to obtain and maintain suitable employment. Redefines "vocational rehabilitation" to include the provision of all services required to achieve the purpose of this Act, including discharge, medical, social, psychological, economic, and vocational services (presently defined in terms of educational and vocational training to restore employability). Defines "employment handicap" as a disability impairing a veteran's ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment consistent with his or her abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Revises entitlement provisions to: (1) make eligibility run as of September 16, 1940, (rather than World II as at present); (2) require a handicap to be an employment handicap as defined by this Act; and (3) provide for follow up vocational services to a rehabilitated veteran in order for such veteran to enter new employment more suitable to his or her current capacity or condition. Eliminates the language extending eligibility for specified veterans to October 15, 1971. Sets forth the scope of services, including: (1) evaluation of rehabilitation potential; (2) educational, vocational, and personal counseling; (3) a vocational rehabilitation plan; (4) vocational and related services including tutorial services, tuition, books, and other training materials; (5) treatment for mental and emotional disorders; (6) medical care; (7) prosthetic and other corrective devices; (8) placement and postplacement services; (9) services to a veteran's family; (10) special rehabilitation services, including services for the blind and the deaf; (11) subsistence allowances; (12) essential employment equipment and supplies for severely disabled veterans requiring homebound training and or self-employment; (13) transportation costs, including pre- and post-training services; and (14) work study allowance, loans, and other incidental goods and services. Revises duration of services provisions to: (1) provide basic vocational rehabilitation services for 48 months; (2) remove the nine year (from discharge) eligibility limitation; and (3) provide a 12 month rehabilitation evaluation period. Revises subsistence allowances provisions to: (1) provide for payments during the evaluation of vocational rehabilitation period; (2) provide payments for unpaid on-job training or work experience in a Federal agency or during such evaluation period; (3) pay room and board expenses for individuals pursuing a program on a residential basis in a specialized rehabilitation facility; (4) provide that vocational payments be paid on a full-time basis for two months following a determination of employability; (5) set forth the rate of payment for individuals in unpaid Federal training or work experience; (6) prohibit payments to incarcerated individuals; and (7) provide for advance payment of subsistence allowances. Authorizes personal adjustment counseling and counseling during the evaluation of rehabilitation feasibility period. Sets forth basic requirements of a vocational rehabilitation program, which shall include: (1) participation by the veteran in formulation of a written plan; and (2) a statement of objectives and goals, services and a time schedule for providing such services, and a projected completion date. Revises leave of absence provisions to remove the 30 day per year limitation on such leave. Revises the regulation of conduct provisions to remove the three-month forfeiture of subsistence allowance penalty for unsatisfactory conduct and to replace the permanent disqualification for further vocational rehabilitation penalty with a provision allowing the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to reinstate such benefits upon satisfactory conduct. Increases the maximum amount of loans available to a veteran from $200 to $400. Authorizes vocational rehabilitation to veterans hospitalized (not pending final discharge) in VA or non-VA medical facilities. Authorizes vocational training outside the United States (presently prohibited for post-World War II veterans who were not citizens at the time of their United States military service). Provides that any Federal agency's facilities may be used to provide unpaid training or work experience as part of a veteran's vocational rehabilitation program. States that such a veteran shall be deemed a Federal employee for workmens' compensation purposes but not for the purposes of laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to use the facilities, staff, and other resources of any Federal agency to provide services under this Act. Directs the Administrator to assist in the development of employment and on-job training opportunities, including payments to employers for providing on-job training to certain veterans. Directs the Veterans Administration (VA) to: (1) provide employment assistance, including direct employment placement, utilization of Federal, State, and nonprofit private employment services and securing loans and paying business license fees; (2) provide vocational rehabilitation staff training and development; and (3) carry out an ongoing program of rehabilitation research and special projects, including grants and contracts with public and nonprofit agencies. Directs the Administrator to appoint a Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation. Revises provisions concerning the limitation on periods of assistance under two or more veterans' educational assistance programs to include post-Vietnam era benefits within such limitation, and to provide a 48 month aggregate eligibility period for vocational rehabilitation and other educational assistance. Title II: GI Bill Educational Assistance Program Amendments: Part A - Educational Assistance for Veterans - Authorizes the Administrator to disapprove a veteran's or serviceperson's application for educational assistance if enrollment would be prohibited by any of the appropriate administrative provisions. Eliminates the 50 percent employment reporting requirement for courses if: (1) veteran and eligible dependent or survivor enrollment does not exceed 35 percent of total enrollment (for the two-year reporting period); and (2) the course had met the employment requirements for two consecutive reporting periods. Eliminates the requirement that a major portion of an open circuit television course must require conventional classroom or laboratory attendance in order to be approved by the Administrator for assistance. Eliminates computing persons receiving Federal educational assistance from the "85-15" enrollment eligibility requirement. Eliminates the course completion time provision as a requirement for satisfactory educational progress with regard to discontinuance of educational assistance. Revises foreign study provisions to authorize such study if: (1) the course is part of a standard college degree program (or its equivalent) at an institution of higher learning so recognized by the foreign country; and (2) the Administrator approves. Provides that an incarcerated veteran pursuing a program of education shall be paid at the same rate as half-time and active duty recipients. Authorizes assistance for continuing education or training required by Federal, State, or local law for professional or vocational relicensure or continued employment. Provides that such continuing education shall be paid at the same rate as refresher training. Stipulates that educational assistance for a veteran pursuing an eligible (as revised by this Act) open circuit television course shall be paid in the same manner as an independent study program. Part B - Educational Assistance for Dependents and Survivors of Veterans - Authorizes the Administrator to disapprove an eligible survivor's or dependent's application for educational assistance if enrollment would be prohibited by any of the appropriate administrative provisions. Prohibits such individuals from enrolling in an educational institution not located in a State or in the Republic of the Philippines unless: (1) the course is part of a standard college degree (or its equivalent) at an institution of higher learning so recognized by the foreign country; and (2) the Administrator approves. Revises provisions concerning advance educational assistance payments to such individuals to: (1) authorize direct payments to an eligible individual (presently payments must be made to a parent or guardian); (2) eliminate certain certification requirements; (3) provide that payments for an eligible (as revised by this Act) open circuit television course shall be paid in the same manner as an independent study program; and (4) provide that an incarcerated individual pursuing a program of education shall be paid at the same rate as half-time and active duty recipients. Part C - Amendments Relating to Administration of Educational Benefits - Revises provisions concerning the period for which educational or subsistence allowances will be paid for eligible veterans or persons to provide that: (1) the individual must be pursuing a course of study (presently required to be enrolled); (2) the Administrator shall determine regulations regarding eligibility; and (3) payment shall be for the stated period of enrollment, or the actual period of enrollment, whichever is shorter. Requires veterans and other individuals to report any changes in their educational status to the Administrator. Requires educational institutions to report any facts that they know or should have known concerning their compliance with, or eligibility for, such educational assistance. Revises overpayment provisions to: (1) make individual recipients liable (presently only the educational institution is liable); and (2) provide that a waiver of individual liability shall not release such institution from liability. Includes "residence" in the definition of a full-time undergraduate course. Defines "in residence on a standard quarter- or semester-hour basis" to require pursuit of regularly scheduled weekly class instruction on campus at the rate of one standard class session per week throughout the semester for one semester hour of credit. Provides for payments to veterans and eligible persons attending non-degree courses during periods between terms which do not exceed 15 calendar days and periods when the school is not in session because of teacher conferences or teacher training sessions (not to exceed five days in any 12-month period). Terminates the (veterans') education advisory committee as of December 31, 1989. Includes post-Vietnam era veterans' educational assistance, and deletes vocational rehabilitation, within such committee's responsibility. Title III: Repeal of Authority to Pursue Predischarge Education Training (PREP) Under Chapter 32 - Repeals specified provisions authorizing servicepersons to participate in the predischarge education training program (PREP). Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Administrator to release information to a consumer credit agency concerning veterans' benefits debts to: (1) obtain current addresses of debtors; (2) obtain credit reports in order to assess a debtor's ability to repay; and (3) give notice of the outstanding obligation. Prohibits the VA from making such disclosure until 30 days have elapsed after reasonable efforts have been made to notify the individual of the VA's intention to disclose debt information. Prohibits disclosure of such information by the VA in a case of a disputed claim until the accuracy of the information is determined or until the Administrator reviews such claim. Provides that records disclosed to a consumer reporting agency may be used only for the purpose provided for by this Act, and that the Privacy Act does not apply to such disclosure. Authorizes the disclosure by the Administrator of names and addresses from use in a collection proceeding for debts owed for any Veterans' Administration benefits program. Includes required drills and field exercises within the category of National Guard activities which are considered active duty for training for purposes of veterans' reemployment rights. Defines "person" for purposes of veterans' survivors and dependents special restorative training to mean children of veterans. Title V: Effective Date - Provides that the provisions of this Act shall take effect on the first day of the second month after the date of enactment of this Act.
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
Sales Representatives Protection Act - Title I: Contracts Between Sales Representatives and Principals - Requires a principal to furnish specified information to a sales representative concerning orders placed through the representative's account and a monthly accounting of commissions due such representative. Enumerates items which must be set forth in any contract between a sales representative and a principal. Title II: Indemnification - Exempts principals conforming with such information requirements from the indemnification provisions set forth in this Act. Requires a principal who, without good cause, terminates a contract between such principal and a sales representative, or reduces the rate of commission for orders solicited on behalf of such principal, to indemnify the representative according to this Act. Requires a principal who reduces the size of the geographic territory assigned to a representative for a specified account, which results in a specified reduction in commissions, to indemnify such representative. Sets forth formulae for the indemnification of such representatives. Title III: Miscellaneous - Allows a plaintiff to bring an action to enforce any rights or liabilities created by this Act in a United States district court. Stipulates the procedure for such action.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1979
Consumer Checking Account Equity Act of 1979 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize member banks in the Federal Reserve System and federally insured nonmember banks to make automatic funds transfers from a savings deposit to a demand deposit pursuant to the written authorization of the depositor to make such transfers in connection with checks or drafts drawn upon the bank. Authorizes federally insured banks and savings and loan associations, State banks and savings and loan associations, savings banks, and mutual savings banks to offer interest-bearing deposits or accounts upon which the depositor may make withdrawals by negotiable instrument for the purpose of making transfers to third parties (NOW accounts). Stipulates that such deposits or accounts may only be held by individuals or nonprofit organizations. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933 to permit Federal savings and loan associations and Federal mutual savings banks to establish remote service units pursuant to regulations of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Authorizes such associations to extend loans directly related to negotiable order of withdrawal accounts. Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to require any institution which has subscribed for the stock of a Federal Home Loan Bank to maintain reserves against its negotiable order of withdrawal accounts pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Board after consultation with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Prescribes the required form of such balances. Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to permit insured credit unions to offer share draft deposits to individuals and nonprofit organizations in accordance with regulations prescribed by the National Credit Union Administration Board. Requires each Federal credit union to maintain reserves against such deposits in amounts and forms prescribed by the Board after consultation with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
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 · 10 July 1979
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Postmaster General and the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee should give favorable consideration to the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Americans of Italian descent and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Philip Mazzei on December 25, 1980, or as soon as possible thereafter. States that the Postmaster General and the Committee should honor other foreign-born contributors to the revolutionary cause, from countries which have not yet been commemorated, prior to the conclusion of the American Bicentennial celebration in 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require the Secretary of Transportation to appoint Type Certification Boards comprised of individuals knowledgeable in the fields of aeronautics and aviation safety to participate in the aircraft type certification process.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1979
Talking Book Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a program of grants for assisting public and private nonprofit organizations in producing talking books through the use of volunteer readers and to establish and implement procedures for distributing talking books so produced to talking book centers. Requires the Secretary to consult with the Library of Congress concerning: (1) the titles that have been produced as talking books under the Federal law which provides specially adapted reading services for the blind and the physically handicapped; and (2) the system for distributing such books to the talking book centers.
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 · 14 June 1979
Directs the Postmaster General to issue a special postage stamp in honor of Filippo Mazzei, and in tribute to the millions of Americans of Italian descent who have played an important role in American history.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the major oil companies should continue to provide supplies and other services to independent oil dealers so that such dealers may continue their summer fill-up programs of home heating oil.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1979
Veteran Senior Citizen Health Care Act of 1979 - States the purposes of this Act to be: (1) to provide for the increasing demand for geriatric and extended health care and medical services being placed on the Veterans' Administration (VA) hospital system; and (2) to make the VA hospital system foremost in the area of geriatric health care and the repository of gerontology medical knowledge. Directs that within the Office of the Chief Medical Director of the VA one Assistant Chief Medical Director shall be doctor of geriatrics, and shall be responsible for the VA's geriatric services. Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to designate 15 VA hospitals as demonstration centers of geriatric research, education, and clinical operations. Stipulates that such centers shall operate until September 30, 1983. Directs the Administrator to provide that: (1) each hospital operating as a geriatric center on the date of enactment of this Act be designated as the location for a demonstration center; (2) the desirability of designating hospitals which are affiliated with an accredited medical school having an organized geriatrics program; and (3) such designated hospitals be geographically dispersed across the United States. Directs the Administrator to establish a Geriatrics and Extended Care Task Force within the VA's Special Medical Advisory Group. Stipulates that such Task Force shall assess: (1) the VA's capability to provide geriatric services on a sustained and growing basis to eligible veterans; and (2) the current and projected needs for geriatric and extended health services among eligible veterans. Requires such Task Force to submit a report to the Administrator and the Special Medical Advisory Group within 18 months after the effective date of this Act. Directs the Administrator to transmit such report (within 90 days of receipt), along with any comments, to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. Requires a final report to be submitted by such Task Force within four years after the effective date of this Act. Authorizes appropriations of: (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1980; (2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1981; (3) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1982; and (4) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1979
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to establish within the National Cemetery System a national cemetery in Russell County, Alabama, to be known as the Fort Mitchell Regional Veterans' Cemetery. Stipulates that such proposed cemetery is to be established on a site donated to the United States by the Russell County Commission, Russell County, Alabama, and that such cemetery may not be established unless such Commission conveys to the United States, without consideration, all right and title to real property consisting of approximately 450 acres in the area of Fort Mitchell in Russell County, Alabama. Authorizes appropriations of $3,385,000 for fiscal year 1980 for the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1979
Aviation Safety and Noise Reduction Act - Title I: Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a single system of measuring noise and the impact of noise on individuals to be used to measure noise at airports and their surrounding areas and to establish land uses for such areas which are compatible with such noise levels. Allows airport operators to submit noise impact maps to the Secretary setting forth the noncompatible uses in each area of the map, a description of the projected aircraft operations during 1985, and the ways in which such operations will affect such map. Requires the revision of such maps when changes in airport operations would create any new noncompatible use in areas surrounding an airport. Amends the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 to authorize the Secretary to make grants to qualified airports for noise compatibility planning. Defines "noise compatibility planning" as the preparation of noise impact maps and noise compatibility programs under this Act. Sets forth limitations regarding the amounts which may be obligated through such grant program. Authorizes appropriations of $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1980 and thereafter to carry out such grant program. Stipulates that noise compatibility programs be filed with the Secretary. Sets forth factors under which the Secretary may approve or disapprove noise compatibility programs. Stipulates that the Federal share of an approved program shall be 80 percent of its cost. Authorizes the Secretary to obligate up to $100,000,000 out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for fiscal year 1980 to carry out approved noise compatibility programs. Requires the Secretary to prepare noise impact maps and noise compatibility programs for specified airports near the District of Columbia. Limits suits for damages resulting from airport noise by individuals acquiring property in an area surrounding an airport for which a noise impact map has been submitted. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the effectiveness of airport noise compatibility planning and programs which were funded pursuant to this Act. Title II : Amends the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 to stipulate that the Federal share for airport system planning or for airport master planning projects shall be 100 percent of the costs of such a project if: (1) the area involved is a coastal island having a population between 1,500 and 25,000; (2) the island is separated from the coast by approximately 20 miles; and (3) the island is located within a standard consolidated statistical area which has a population of 5,000,000 or more and which has one or more major hub airports within such area. Increases specified appropriations authorized under such Act for fiscal year 1980. Increases the Federal share for specified airport development projects. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any project involving the construction or extension of any runway at a general aviation airport which is located astride a line separating two counties within a single State if, before the submission of such project to the Secretary, the project has not been approved by the governing body of any incorporated village located within five miles of such airport. Directs the Secretary to construct an airport control tower at a specified location. Title III : Directs the Secretary by May 1, 1980, to require all aircraft to comply with specified noise standards if, by January 1, 1980, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) does not adopt specified noise standards. Stipulates that if the ICAO does not adopt such standards, the Secretary shall issue a rule requiring all aircraft which do not meet such standards to do so at a phased rate of compliance. Prohibits the issuance of original airworthy certificates for civil subsonic turbojet aircraft above a specified takeoff weight unless such aircraft meet specified noise standards. Authorizes the Secretary to exempt from such noise standards two-engined aircraft exclusively servicing points within the State of Hawaii. Title IV : Directs the Secretary to submit annual reports to the Congress on the implementation of collision avoidance systems in the national air traffic control system.
![Official portrait of Rep. Boner, William H. [D-TN-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000615_200.jpg)