United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Title I: Amendments to the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to change the limitation on the amount of securities which the Small Business Administration (SBA) may purchase from various classes of small business investment companies. Authorizes small business investment companies to invest funds in certificates of deposit or savings accounts in institutions whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. Repeals certain requirements with respect to interest rates on debentures purchased by the SBA. Title II: Amendments to the Small Business Act - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the SBA to let subcontracts or to arrange for the performance of its own government contracts to socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns for construction work, services, and the manufacture, supply or assembly of articles. Defines socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns for purposes of this Act. Exempts small businesses receiving such subcontracts from performance bond requirements under specified circumstances. Requires each public contract to be performed in the United States which exceeds $10,000 in amount to include a clause requiring that small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals be given the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in such contracts. Requires each offering company to submit a summary subcontracting plan with its offer. Conditions the award of a contract to an apparently successful offering company upon a determinination by the procurement authority that the final subcontracting plan affords maximum practicable opportunity for participation by small businesses owned and controlled by disadvantaged individuals. Authorizes the SBA to appeal for modification of such a plan to the head of the procuring agency if determined that such standard is not met. Conditions the granting of Federal funds to be used for the procurement of articles, equipment, or construction work upon the applicant agreeing to utilize small business concerns for such procurement to the maximum extent practicable.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Expresses the sense of the Congress that any right to, title to, or interest in the property of the United States Government agencies in the Panama Canal Zone or any real property and improvements thereon located in the zone should not be conveyed, relinquished, or otherwise disposed of to any foreign government without specific authorization of such conveyance, relinquishment, or other disposition by any Act of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Agricultural Land Retention Act - Title I: Objectives - Declares that it is in the public interest to retain, protect and improve agricultural land, to reduce its conversion to nonagricultural uses, and to limit the encroachment of industrial activities. Title II: Research Program - Establishes an Agricultural Land Review Commission to study: (1) agricultural land in the United States; (2) the effects of industrial development, climate and other factors on the productivity of such land; (3) the acquisition of such land by persons not engaged in agricultural activities; and (4) methods of protecting and improving such land, and of reducing the amount of it being converted to nonagricultural uses. Authorizes the Commission to make grants to public or private groups or organizations or individuals to do research pursuant to its study. Requires the Commission to report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress. Title III: Demonstration Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to pay up to 75 percent of the cost and to provide technical assistance to any State pilot project undertaken to demonstrate and test methods of reducing the amount of agricultural land being converted to nonagricultural uses. Requires all such projects to be completed within five years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report his findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress. Title IV: General Provisions - Authorizes for Title II programs the appropriation of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979 through 1982. Authorizes for Title III programs the appropriation of $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979 through 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Requires the separate enactment of legislation, in the Senate or the House of Representatives, which appropriates funds for any agency for employee salaries.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide graduted income tax rates for corporations with a maximum rate of 45 percent on income in excess of $150,000 and a minimum rate of 18 percent on income not in excess of $25,000.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for optometric and medical vision care under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1977
Federal Election Campaign Reform Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to (1) permit designated committees to make expenditures for Presidential candidates, (2) exempt from a candidate's contribution limits payments for certain media advertisements by other candidates which advocate election of such candidate, and (3) direct the Federal Election Commission to establish uniform recordkeeping and reporting procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1977
Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to establish within the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration an Office of Fire Prevention, which shall conduct investigations and studies of State and local fires and fire prevention administration and report its findings and recommendations periodically to the Congress and to Federal, State, local and appropriate private agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Federal Disclosure and Accountability Act - Prohibits any Federal employee from coercing any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right of such individual to disclose any illegal or otherwise improper Government action to the Review Board on Improper Government Actions, established by this Act and from taking any adverse personnel action against such individual who is a Federal employee in retaliation for such disclosure. Requires the Board to investigate any such disclosure and, in the event further investigation or action is warranted, to notify the person, the head of the agency in which such person is employed, and, if appropriate, the Attorney General and/or the Comptroller General.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Directs the printing as a House document, "The Balance(s) of Power Series; Part 1 - Strategic and Conventional Forces. A Compilation of Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks, March 17, 1976, through November 4, 1977."
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile, apparel, or fiber products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1977
Pledges Congressional support to the President in efforts to advance the cause of human rights. Urges the President to inform other nations that the United States will take cognizance of the extent to which such nations protect human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1977
Social Security Rights Act - Requires that procedures be established for the expedited replacement of undelivered benefit checks under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Requires that decisions (and reconsiderations) on initial benefit claims be made within 90 days. Requires that payment of benefits on approved claims begin no later than the day regularly fixed for delivery of benefit checks in the second month following the month in which the claim was approved.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Declares that the President should establish a Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition which should: (1) collect and generate information and resources on food, hunger, malnutrition and related concerns; (2) assess current programs affecting domestic and international hunger and malnutrition; (3) analyze and report its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the public; and (4) assist the President and the Congress in implementing its recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1977
Hospital Cost Containment Act - Title I: Transitional Hospital Cost Constraint Provisions - States that it is the purpose of the program established by this title to constrain the rate of increases in total acute care hospital inpatient costs. Excludes from the limitations established by this Act any State which keeps its cost increases below the national average. States that the increase in total revenue which a hospital may receive in any accounting year in the form of: (1) reimbursement paid under the Medicare and Medicaid programs and by cost payers for inpatient services; and (2) charges imposed upon other persons for inpatient services may not, on a per admission basis, exceed the average inpatient reimbursement due or inpatient charges imposed per inpatient admission in the base period by more than the percentage allowed under this Act. Sets forth formulas by which the limits of the increase in total revenue may be computed. Bases the inpatient hospital revenue increase limit on increase in the gross national product deflator. Excepts from such limits hospitals which are experiencing substantially higher costs as a result of extraordinary changes in patient loads or major changes in facilities and services. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to promulgate inpatient hospital revenue increase limits annually. Directs the Secretary to promulgate a formula for adjusting such revenue increase limits based on the number of admissions during a 12-month accounting period. Authorizes the Secretary to grant exceptions to the revenue increase limit during periods in which the excepted hospitals meet specified criteria. Permits any hospital which is dissatisfied with a determination of the Secretary to obtain a hearing before the Provider Reimbursement Review Board, if the amount in controversy is $25,000 or more. Directs the Secretary to appoint five additional members more, grant an exception, to obtain a hearing before the Provider Reimbursement Review Board to such Board for the purposes of reviewing appeals under this title. Prohibits, under the Social Security Act, the payment of hospital costs in excess of the limits established pursuant to this Act. Prohibits the receipt of sums by any hospital, or payment of sums by any cost payer for inpatient hospital services on a cost basis in excess of applicable limits. Subjects hospitals or cost payers in violation of these prohibitions to: (1) a Federal excise tax established by this Act; and (2) exclusion from participation in any of the programs established under the Medicaid, Medicare, or Maternal and Child Health Services programs of the Social Security Act. Allows the Secretary to exclude from cost containment provisions: (1) hospitals meeting specified criteria located in State at the request of the Governor of such State: and (2) hospitals engaged in certain experiments on demonstrations authorized by the Social Security Act. Requires every hospital to submit semiannually to the appropriate health system agency its average semiprivate room rate and the charges for the ten other representative services most important for purposes of comparing hospitals. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to impose an excise tax on payments received for inpatient hospital services in excess of the inpatient hospital revenue increase limit. Title II: Limitation on Hospital Capital Expenditures - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to promulgate: (1) an annual hospital capital expenditure limit; (2) a national ceiling for the supply of hospital beds; and (3) a national standard for the rate of occupancy of hospital beds. Sets forth the criteria to be considered by State health planning agencies when considering applications for certificates of need submitted by health facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1977
Small Business Impact Statement Act - Directs the head of each Federal agency to prepare a small business impact statement in connection with each rule made by such agency unless the agency head, with the approval of the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration determines that such rule will not have a substantial effect on a significant number of small business. Sets forth information which must be present in each small business impact statement. Prescribes steps which each agency head must follow in preparing any small business impact statement including publication of the statement in the Federal Register.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1977
Citizens' Postal Rate Relief Act - Sets the postal rate for personal mail of individuals sealed against inspection and mailed in the United States at 13 cents for the first ounce for each piece and 11 cents for each additional ounce for each piece. Permits the Postal Service to adjust such rate annually in the proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index since the previous rate adjustment but not to an amount exceeding the current rate for first class mail. (Adds 39 U.S.C. 3629; Amends 39 U.S.C. 2401)
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1977
Authorizes the President to call a White House Conference on Families in 1979. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish an advisory committee to such Conference.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction to any taxpayer engaged in the manufacture, importation, distribution, lease, or sale of any product for contributions to his product liability loss reserve account.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1977
Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to prohibit increases in rates of pay for Members of the House of Representatives from taking effect before the Congress following the Congress in which such increases were recommended.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1977
National Agricultural Land Policy Act -- Title I: Objectives -- Declares the policy of the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and local governments, to use all practicable methods to retain, protect and improve agricultural land, to reduce its conversion to nonagricultural uses, and to limit the encroachment of industrial activities. Title II: Research Program -- Establishes a three-year Agricultural Land Review Commission to study: (1) agricultural land in the United States; (2) the effects of industrial development climate and other factors on the productivity of such land; (3) the acquisition of such land by persons not engaged in agricultural activities; and (4) methods of protecting and improving such land, and of reducing the amount of it being converted to nonagricultural uses. Authorizes the Commission to make grants to public and private organizations to do research pursuant to its study. Requires the Commission to report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress. Title III: Demonstration Programs -- Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to pay up to 75 percent of the cost and to provide technical assistance to any State pilot project undertaken to demonstrate and test methods of reducing the amount of agricultural land being converted to nonagricultural uses. Requires all such projects to be completed within five years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report his findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress. Title IV: Funding -- Authorizes for Title II programs the appropriation of $15,000,000. Authorizes for Title III programs the appropriation of $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1978 through 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1977
Anti- Foreign Compulsion Act - Prohibits as a defense in any proceeding against any person for violation of any law of the United States a claim that such person was under compulsion by a foreign state to act, or fail to act, in violation of such law.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1977
Congressional Legal Counsel Act - Establishes, as a Congressional office, the Office of Congressional Legal Counsel to be headed by a Congressional Legal Counsel to defend Congress, a House of Congress, committee, subcommittee, Member, officer, or employee of Congress or an agency of Congress in civil actions in which the validity of any official proceeding or action taken by such person or entity is placed in issue or in cases involving subpoenas. Requires that specified representational activities undertaken by the Counsel be authorized by the Joint Leadership Group, House, Senate, or concurrent resolutions, or committee affirmation according to the proposed action. Requires the Counsel, upon direction, to bring a civil action to enforce any subpena issued by a House of Congress, committee or subcommittee authorized to issue such subpena. Gives the District Court for the District of Columbia original jurisdiction over any civil action brought by a House of Congress or any authorized committee or subcommittee concerning the enforcement or validity of subpoenas. Requires the Counsel to intervene or appear as amicus curiae in the name of Congress, a House of Congress, or an officer, office, agency, committee, subcommittee or chairman thereof of a House of Congress or of Congress in any legal action in any Federal or State court in which the powers and responsibilities of Congress, under the Constitution, are placed in issue. Directs the Counsel to notify the Joint Leadership Group of any legal action in which the Counsel is of the opinion that intervention is in the interest of Congress. Stipulates that the Counsel shall represent a House of Congress or committee or subcommittee in immunity proceedings. Requires the Counsel to notify the Joint Leadership Group and any affected party of any conflict between the representation of such party and the carrying out of this Act, or compliance with professional standards. Sets forth the procedure for resolving such conflict. Relieves the Attorney General of any responsibility with respect to representational service encompassed by this Act upon written notice that the Counsel has undertaken such service. Authorizes appropriations to the Office through fiscal year 1982 to carry out its duties under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1977
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the services and contributions of school volunteers be recognized, and requests the President of the United States to issue a proclamation in recognition of this fact.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1977
National Home Health Care Act - Broadens the coverage of home health services under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and removes the 100-visit limitation presently applicable to the home health service program. Extends the coverage of posthospital home health services to include payment for items and services which the individual could otherwise obtain in a skilled nursing facility. Amends Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require the inclusion of home health services in a State's Medicaid program and permit the payment of rent under such program for elderly and handicapped persons who would otherwise require nursing home care. Provides expanded Federal funding for congregate housing for the displaced and the elderly by increasing the amount available for such housing under the low-income housing program. Establishes, in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a Home Health Patient Ombudsman, who shall be appointed and provided with adequate staff and facilities by the Secretary. Makes it the duty and responsibility of the ombudsman to monitor specified programs under the Social Security and the various medical assistance programs under the State plans approved pursuant to such Act, and to maintain such oversight of those programs and their operation and administration as may be necessary to: (1) assure that home health patients under such programs are receiving the care to which they are entitled: (2) provide safeguards against over-charging for home health services; (3) identify abuses against home health patients; (4) receive, handle, and expedite complaints by home health patients; (5) recommend to the Secretary any changes in the regulations affecting home health services which may appear necessary or desirable; and (6) take appropriate action (including the transmission of findings to the Attorney General) with respect to abuses and violations of law affecting the provision or receipt of home health services under such programs. Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to conduct a study and report to the Congress on the feasibility of extending to the Medicare program the prospective cost-related method of computing payments to nursing homes and home health agencies which is currently provided under the Medicaid program.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to compute the amount of the deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Prohibits denial of employment (except by an employer with no more than ten employees) of any person because of any obligation as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1977
Denies veterans' retroactively to any individual whose entitlement is based on an upgraded discharge under specified revised standards not made applicable to all persons administratively discharged or released from active military service under less than honorable conditions. Requires the board of review to make a separate determination whether an upgraded individual would have been awarded an upgraded discharge under discharge review standards made applicable to all persons administratively discharged under less than honorable conditions. Entitles to veterans' benefits any individual whose upgraded discharge would have been awarded under previous unrevised review standards. Denies, as of the date of enactment, benefits for any disability incurred or aggravated during a period of service from which a veteran was discharged by reason of a bad conduct discharge. States that the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs should not promulgate any new or revised regulations providing any unique or special advantage to veterans who have received upgraded discharges under revised standards, or otherwise make any special distinction between such veterans and other veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1977
Food Stamp Act - Repeals the Food Stamp Act of 1964. Replaces the existing program with a new program substantially similar, but: (1) changes the purpose of the program from the provision of an opportunity to obtain a "nutritionally adequate diet" to provision of an opportunity to obtain a "more nutritious diet"; (2) drops the eligibility requirement that household members be related; (3) permits tribal councils to be designated "State agencies" with respect to Indian communities; (4) establishes the income guidelines for the nonfarm United States, prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget, adjusted annually, as the income standards of eligibility for the program; (5) specifies in the computation of household income: (a) a standard deduction of $60 a month for each household (allowing variable deductions for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), adjusted semiannually; (b) a tax and work expense deduction equal to 20 percent of all earned income; (c) an excess shelter deduction, not to exceed $75 in the 48 contiguous States (or variable amounts in the remaining States and territories), where the shelter costs exceed 50 percent of household income; and (d) a dependent care deduction, not to exceed $75 a month per household, for actual costs of necessary care of a dependent when such care enables a household member to accept employment or training or education preparatory to employment; (6) requires the calculation of household income to take into account, with specified exceptions, the income reasonably anticipated to be received by the household in the period for which eligibility is being determined; (7) allows a household to own liquid and nonliquid assets of up to $1500; or $2,250, if the household is two or more persons; or $3,000, if the household is two or more persons, one of whom is age 60 or over; (8) specifies inclusions in financial resources (e.g. boats, snowmobiles, recreational airplanes, vacation homes, mobile homes, licensed vehicles valued more than $4500); (9) denies eligibility, for a three-month period, to anyone found by a State agency to have fraudulently trafficked in coupons or authorization cards, or for six to 24 months to anyone found by a court to have fraudulently trafficked in such coupons or cards; (10) denies eligibility to any household which refuses to provide to the State agency information necessary for determining or reviewing its eligibility; (11) denies eligibility to: (a) any individual between ages 18 and 60 who refuses to register for work, to fulfill inquiry-about-employment requirements, to accept a job at a specified pay level, or who is a head of household and voluntarily quits work without good cause; (b) any individual age 18 or over, enrolled at least half-time in an institute of higher learning, who is properly claimed or could be claimed as a dependent child for Federal income tax purposes, or who during the regular school year is not employed at least 20 hours per week, does not earn a specified weekly minimum, is not registered for work amounting to at least 20 hours per week, is not a head of household providing half the support of the other members, nor is covered by any work exemption; (c) any illegal aliens, or legal alien visitors, tourists, diplomats, or students temporarily in the United States with no intention of abandoning home country residence; (12) exempts from ordinary eligibility requirements any person: (a) currently complying with specified work registration requirements; (b) who is employed a minimum of 30 hours per week or receiving weekly earnings at a specified rate; (13) requires monthly reports on each coupon issuer's operations containing an oath or affirmation certifying the information as true and correct to the best of the issuer's knowledge and belief; (14) imposes: (a) a $1,000 fine or one-year imprisonment upon any coupon issuer convicted of failing to file such a report; and (b) a $10,000 fine or five-year imprisonment upon any coupon issuer convicted of knowingly providing false information in such reports; (15) eliminates charges for coupon allotments and sets the value of an allotment at an amount equal to the cost to a household of the thrifty food plan reduced by an amount equal to 30 percent of the household's income; (16) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress six months after the implementation of charges, and annually thereafter, on the effect on participation and cost of such elimination; (17) prohibits the authorization of any firm as a retail food store and as a wholesale food concern at the same time; (18) requires that private nonprofit cooperative food purchasing ventures be authorized to redeem their members' food coupons prior to receipt by the members of the food so purchased; and prohibits redemption of coupons through banks by private nonprofit organizations serving meals in drug addiction and alcoholic treatment programs; (19) prohibits discrimination by reason of sex in the certification of applicant households; (20) provides for the administration of the food stamp program on all or part of an Indian reservation or community by an Indian tribal organization; (21) requires each State agency to submit a plan of operation that must provide: (a) for action to inform low-income households of the program, including bilingual personnel and printed material; (b) that each household requesting food stamp assistance be permitted to file for assistance on the day of the request on a simplified uniform national application form; (c) that the determination of eligibility be made within 30 days; (d) that notices of expiration of certification be sent immediately prior to or at the start of the last month of a certification period, and that, assuming continuing eligibility, reapplication within 15 days of expiration ensure receipt of new allotment no later than one month after receipt of the last allotment under the prior certification; (e) that a nonmember of a household, if an adult conversant with its financial resources and circumstances, and if designated in writing, may represent such household in the certification process; (f) that applications for food stamps be contained in public or general assistance applications forms, and that certification be based, where appropriate, on information in the public or general assistance case file; (g) that households with income below the standard deduction level receive coupons on an expedited basis; and (h) that households wrongfully denied any allotment or terminated have such allotments promptly restored; (22) directs the Extension Service to include food stamp recipients within its expanded food and nutrition education program; (23) requires the Secretary to promptly inform any State agency of any failure to comply with any provisions of this Act (currently, notification required only for substantial failure to comply); and allows the Secretary to refer cases of noncomplying State agencies to the Attorney General for suit for injunctive relief; (24) requires a State to indemnify the United States Treasury for mere negligence in the certification of households (currently, the standard is gross negligence); (25) authorizes the Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to issue regulations allowing recipients of social security benefits or of supplemental security income to apply for food stamps at social security offices; (26) requires post offices to issue food stamps upon request by a State agency; (27) permits the payment of a "nutritional supplement", equal to the value of a coupon allotment, in lieu of an allotment to an eligible household of which every member is either over 65, or is eligible: (a) for a supplemental security income under title XV of the Social Security Act or (b) for grants to the blind or disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; (28) permits the Secretary to collect a civil money penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation any approved retail food store or wholesale food concern is found to have made, if outright disqualification of such store or concern would cause hardship to food stamp households; (29) reduces the fine for misdemeanor violations of this Act from $5,000 to $1,000; (30) authorizes the Secretary to pay up to 75 percent of all costs of State program investigations, prosecutions, and other activities related to recovering losses; (31) authorizes the Secretary, effective fiscal year 1979, to adjust the federal share of a State agency's administrative costs: (a) to 60 percent if the agency's cumulative allotment error rate is between five and ten percent; and (b) to 65 percent, if the rate is less than five; (32) requires each State not receiving an increased Federal share to submit a quality control plan specifying proposed actions to reduce the incidence of errors and of invalid decisions in certifying or denying eligibility; (33) directs the Secretary to make contracts or grants for research that will help improve the administration and effectiveness of the food stamp program; (34) authorizes pilot or experimental projects to test program changes (e.g. the use of countersignature of coupons or similar identification mechanisms); (35) directs the Secretary: (a) to implement a pilot project jointly with the Secretary of Labor involving the performance of work in return for food stamp benefits; (b) to study and develop alternative poverty line definitions at different levels; (c) to conduct a feasibility study, through the use of Federal income tax data of a program to recover food stamp benefits from members of eligible households (on a voluntary basis only) in which the adjusted gross income of members of such households for a calendar year may exceed twice the established income poverty guidelines; (36) directs the Secretary to develop and implement measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the food stamp program in achieving its stated objectives; (37) directs the Secretary to purchase sufficient agricultural commodities to maintain the traditional level of assistance for food distribution programs; and (38) authorizes such appropriations as Congress may pass for fiscal years 1978 through 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1977
Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1974, to increase to three the number of Lyndon Baines Johnson congressional interns which may be hired by each Member of the House of Representatives. Authorizes the payment of additional compensation to such interns from the clerk-hire allowance.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1977
Allows, for retirement purposes, credit to certain individuals for specified periods during which they were licensees of the Agricultural Marketing Service in the United States Department of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1977
Small Business Development Center Act - Authorizes the Small Business Administration to make grants to universities to assist them in developing centers to provide small businesses with a broad range of advice, information, and assistance. Limits the amount of such grant to no more than 75 percent of the cost of eligible activities in the operation or development of the center, except for grants to regional centers assisting State centers in research or other high cost activities. Establishes a Small Business Management and Technical Assistance Division within the Small Business Development Center program through a Deputy Associate Administrator. Establishes a Small Business Development Center Advisory Board composed of 14 members to advise and confer with the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management and Technical Assistance. Authorizes the Administration to make grants to universities, organizations, and business concerns to support research to solve problems which affect small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1977
Agricultural Act - Title I: Payment Limitation for Wheat, Feed Grains and Upland Cotton - Sets increasing amounts of payment limitations for each crop year from 1978 through 1981 for persons entitled to receive payments for wheat, feed grains or upland cotton under the annual programs established by the Agricultural Acts of 1949 and 1970. Title II: Dairy and Beekeeper Programs - Extends the effectiveness of Class I dairy base plans through 1984 and of other dairy base plans through 1981. Extends through 1981 the authority for making dairy products available to veterans' hospitals and to the Armed Forces, and for making indemnity payments to dairy farmers who sustain losses as a result of pesticides or, new with this Act, as a result of nuclear radiation of fallout. Sets the price support of milk at not less than 80 percent of parity, adjusted at the beginning of each semiannual period after the beginning of the marketing year and at the beginning of each remaining quarter. Extends through fiscal year 1981 the provisions of the beekeeper indemnity program. Title III: Wool and Mohair - Extends through 1981 the price support provisions of the National Wool Act of 1954. Excepts 1977 from the current price support of 80.2 cents per pound, grease basis; sets such support, for the years 1977 through 1981, at 85 percent of the amount calculated according to a specified formula. Excepts 1977 from the current price support for mohair; but makes no provision for such support for the years 1977 through 1981. Title IV: Wheat - Extends specified provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, through 1981. Raises the loan level for wheat to not less than $2.25 per bushel for the 1977 crops and to $2.35 per bushel for the 1978 through 1981 crops. Replaces the current established price with a target price and establishes such target price at $2.65 per bushel for the 1977 crop, at $3.00 per bushel for 1978, and for the 1979 through 1981 crops at an amount calculated according to a specified formula. Sets formulae for disaster payments and for prevented planting payments to compensate producers prevented from planting acreage intended for wheat because of drought, flood or other natural disaster. Suspends, for producers, processors and handlers, the marketing certificate program for the 1974 through 1981 wheat crops. Extends the set-aside program and current yield calculations through 1981. Substitutes, for the existing specified formulae for the determination of wheat acreage allotments, a single general formula based on an allocation factor found by dividing the announced national wheat acreage allotment by the number of harvested acres. Multiplies the allocation factor by the acreage of wheat harvested on the farm in the current crop year to determine each farm's allotment. Title V: Feed Grains - Extends specified provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, through the 1981 crops. Raises the loan level for corn to $1.75 per bushel for the 1977 crop and to $2.00 per bushel for each of the 1978 through 1981 crops. Replaces the established price of feed grains with a target price and sets such target price of corn at $1.85 per bushel for the 1977 crop, at $2.10 per bushel for 1978, and the 1979 through 1981 crops at the previous year's target price, adjusted to reflect changes in the average adjusted cost of production over the previous two to four years. Substitutes, for the existing specified formulae for the determination of feed grain acreage allotments, a single general formula based on an allocation factor found by dividing the announced national feed grain acreage allotment by the number of harvested acres. Multiplies the allocation factor by the acreage of feed grain harvested on the farm in the current crop year to determine each farm's allotment. Title VI: Cotton - Extends the national cotton production goal and national base acreage allotment provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. Suspends through 1981 other provisions, including: (1) the proclamation of national marketing quotas; (2) the referendum of cotton farmers on the marketing quota proclamation; (3) the existing basis for apportioning national acreage allotments and (4) the program for preserving unused acreage allotments. Revises the formula basis of the level for nonrecourse loans for the 1978 through 1981 crops. Directs the President to proclaim a special limited global import quota, subject to specified conditions, whenever the average price of Strict Low Middling one and one-sixteenth inch cotton exceeds a specified maximum. Sets the established price per pound of cotton at 110 percent of the loan level. Title VII: Rice - Extends through 1981 specified provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended by the Rice Production Act of 1975. States that for the 1978 through 1981 crops: (1) the established price shall be the established price for the previous year's crop adjusted to reflect any change in specified costs; and (2) the loan level shall bear the same ratio to the loan rate for the preceding year's crop as the established price for each year bears to the established price for the preceding year's crop. Requires that payments to cooperators planting not less than 90 percent of their allotment shall be based on the entire amount of such allotments. Requires that, beginning with the 1978 crop the $55,000 limitation on the total amount of payments to any eligible person shall be reduced 5 percent for each crop year from the limitation in effect for the previous crop year, never, though, below the limitation in effect for wheat, feed grains and cotton. Title VIII: Peanuts - Peanut Production Act - Suspends, for the 1978 through 1981 crops, provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 relating to national marketing quotas and county acreage allotments. Establishes an annual national acreage allotment for peanuts, not less than 1,610,000 acres. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to announce a minimum national poundage quota each year. Requires, for each farm, a farm yield determined according to a specified formula, a farm base production poundage and a farm poundage quota. Requires the Secretary to permit the sale, lease and transfer of acreage allotments, and prescribes the basis of such transfers. Increases the penalty for the marketing of peanuts in excess of a farm's quota from 75 percent to 120 percent of the support price for quota peanuts. Establishes similar penalties for handlers marketing peanuts larger in quantity or higher in quality than the quota peanuts they should be acquiring. Allows the Commodity Credit Corporation to make available for domestic edible use peanuts owned or controlled by it, under specified pricing conditions. Subjects all farmers engaged in peanut production to existing record and report requirements. Establishes the price support of peanuts at not less than $420 per ton. Permits the Secretary to make warehouse storage loans available to designated area marketing associations of peanut producers. Title IX: Miscellaneous Commodity Provisions - Establishes, for the 1977 through 1981 crops of wheat, feed grains and cotton, a minimum diversion of 55 percent of cropland acreage on summer fallow farms for summer fallow use. Directs the Secretary to permit loan borrowers to extend repayment periods for additional twelve month terms under specified conditions. Prohibits the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling wheat or feed grain owned or controlled by it for less than 150 percent of the current loan level, with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Secretary to administer a special program whereunder portions of wheat, feed grains or upland cotton farm acreage allotments shall be planted to wheat and used for grazing purposes or hay. Directs the Secretary to set the loan level for any commodity at 100 percent of parity on any day the President of the United States or any other member of the executive branch, initiates a suspension of export sales of such commodity to any country or area with which the United States continues commercial trade. Requires the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, to make available loans not in excess of $50,000 for the construction or remodeling of farm storage facilities. Directs the Secretary to make available to producers loans and purchases on each crop of soybeans at such level as he finds appropriate. Requires that export sales of 100,000 metric tons or more of a commodity be reported to the Secretary by 3 P.M., eastern time, on the business day following the day of sale. Restricts the importation of filbert nuts, whenever the Secretary issues a marketing order, to those filbert nuts that comply with the grade, size, quality and maturity provisions of the order. Directs the Secretary to collect and analyze information and to report his conclusions and recommendations to the appropriate Congressional committees regarding the use of bushels of wheat and feed grains and pounds of rice as the basis for assigning allotments to producers of such commodities. Title X: Rural Development and Conservation - Extends the multi-year set aside provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1970, as amended, through 1981. Exempts major disaster areas from the prohibition of livestock grazing; but only if the Secretary finds there is a need for grazing as a result of such disaster. Raises from $250,000 to $500,000 the maximum amount of the estimated Federal contribution to a project which must be exceeded, under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, and the maximum amount of a loan for a resource conservation and development project under the Bankhead-Jones Tenant Act, before special Congressional and Executive Branch approval requirements must be met. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with owners and operators of land in the Great Plains area for the purpose of devoting up to 50 percent of a farm acreage to the planting of soil conserving cover crops. Specifies the terms of such agreements and provides for an annual adjustment payment to such owners or operators not in excess of $30 per acre. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the appropriate Congressional committees on rural water programs. Authorizes the appropriation of $7,000,000 for rural community fire protection for each of fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 1980. Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to describe generally the content of small farm research and extension programs. Authorizes the appropriation for such programs of $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1978 and 1979; and specifies how such funds will be distributed. Requires the Secretary to file an annual report to Congress on such programs. Title XI: Public Law 480 - Requires that purchases of commodities shall be financed under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 only on the basis of an invitation for bids publicly advertised in the United States. Requires the reporting to the Secretary of any fees paid by commodity suppliers or ocean transportation financed by the Commodity Credit Corporation to any representatives of the importer or the importing country. States that assistance programs shall not be undertaken during any calendar year which call for an appropriation of more than $750,000,000 (currently, $600,000,000) to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for all costs incurred in connection with such programs. Allows disposition under the program of a commodity, which would reduce the domestic supply below that needed for domestic requirements, if the Secretary determines that some part of the supply should be used to carry out urgent humanitarian purposes. Requires that in determining the reimbursement due the Commodity Credit Corporation for all costs incurred in connection with such programs, commodities acquired under a domestic price support program shall be valued at the export market price as of the time they were made available under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. Title XII: Food Stamps - Permits the Secretary: (1) to make contracts or grants to public or private organizations to undertake research that will help improve the administration and effectiveness of the food stamp program; (2) to conduct pilot projects involving the use of identification mechanism that do not invade a household's privacy, the use of voucher-type forms in place of food coupons, and other experiments. Directs the Secretary to develop and implement measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the food stamp program in achieving its stated objectives. Authorizes for such programs a total appropriation not to exceed one-fourth of one percent of the previous year's appropriation. Directs the Secretary for fiscal years 1978 through 1981, to continue to purchase sufficient commodities to maintain the traditional level of assistance for domestic food assistance programs. Title XIII: National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act - Designates the Department of Agriculture as the lead Federal agency for agricultural research, extension and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences. Establish within the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering and Technology a Subcommittee on Food and Renewable Resources to review Federal research and development programs relevant to world food and fiber production and distribution, to promote planning and coordination of this research in the Federal Government and to recommend policies and measures concerning food and agricultural science for the consideration of the Council. Establishes a Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences to foster coordination of the research, extension and teaching activities of the Federal Government, the States, colleges and universities and other public and private institutions and persons involved in the food and agricultural sciences. Requires the Secretary to submit to the President and the Congress an annual report containing an annually updated five-year national agricultural research plan and a review of specified categories of research, extension and teaching activities of the Department and their relationship to the related activities of other Federal, State and private agencies. Establishes within the Department an Agricultural, Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Advisory Board. States that the Board's responsibilities shall include: (1) reviewing programs, policies, plans and goals of food and agricultural research agencies; (2) providing a forum for research-sponsoring agencies to exchange information on programs relating to food and agriculture; (3) reviewing and consulting on national policies, priorities and strategies for food and agricultural research, extension and teaching; and (4) assessing the overall adequacy of and making recommendations to the Secretary regarding the distribution of resources. Directs the Secretary to establish a program of competitive grants for agricultural research to be made to individual scientists for research in specified categories. Requires the Secretary to give priority to research in those fields of basic and applied science promising advances and breakthroughs. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for up to five year's duration for such research to land-grant colleges, and universities, and to State agricultural experiment stations and to all colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity in agricultural research. Directs the Secretary to make grants for research related to the production and marketing of industrial hydrocarbons derived from agricultural commodities and forest products. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of four pilot projects for the production and marketing of such hydrocarbons by guaranteeing loans not to exceed $15,000,000 per project to public, private or cooperative organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint a Committee on Agricultural Research Facilities to assist the Secretary in the compilation of a report to the President and the Congress on the status and future needs of specified agricultural research materials and facilities. Directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible institutions for the construction or improvement of agricultural research facilities. Authorizes specified appropriations for such grants for fiscal years 1978 through 1982. Authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with and assist the States in carrying out programs of animal disease research at eligible institutions. Directs that funds appropriated for such purposes be apportioned according to a specified formula. Directs the Secretary to conduct a program of grants to States for the purpose of meeting the costs of construction, employing faculty, and acquiring equipment to establish schools of veterinary medicine. Directs the Secretary to conduct a program of competitive grants and fellowships for merit to strengthen undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral research in the food and agricultural sciences. Establishes a National Agricultural Research Award, consisting of a grant not to exceed $50,000 per year for a period of not more than three years to support research or study by: (1) a scientist in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advance of agricultural science; and (2) a graduate student or post-doctoral research worker in recognition of demonstrated capability and promise. Authorizes appropriations to support agricultural research and continuing agricultural and forestry extension at 1890 land grant colleges and universities and Tuskegee Institute. Directs the cooperative extension services to give increasing attention to education programs for the preservation of the family farm system, human nutrition, energy conservation, forestry and natural resources, and animal disease and health care. Requires the Secretary to evaluate for the Congress the economic and social consequences of the programs of the Extension Service and the cooperative extension services. Permits the Department to expand its operational coordination with agricultural research and education activities around the world, in both developing countries. Directs the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive study of the effects of changing climate and weather on crop and livestock productivity. Establishes with the National Agricultural Library a Food and Nutrition Information and Education Resources Center which shall be responsible for collecting and maintaining food and nutrition education materials. Repeals the existing requirement that at least 20 percent of grant funds distributed to the States be used by State agricultural experiment stations for marketing research. Transfers the administration of additional appropriations for agricultural colleges from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to the Department of Agriculture. Authorizes the appropriation of specified sums for specified existing and new programs under this Title, for fiscal years 1978 through 1982. Title XIV; Agricultural Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Amends the Bankhead-Jones Act of 1935 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct and to stimulate research and development relating to uses of solar energy with respect to farm buildings, farm homes and farm machinery. Authorizes the appropriation of $25,000,000 each fiscal year to carry out such research and development. Includes the agricultural uses of solar energy in the agricultural extension programs. Directs that loans, under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, be made for the purchase of farm equipment which utilizes solar energy and for the acquisition and installation of any qualified solar energy thermal conversion system in any residential structure located on a family farm. Establishes within the Department of Agriculture an Advisory Committee which shall be responsible for compiling a list of solar energy research projects and for meeting with regional representatives of the State departments of agriculture to determine which projects will be useful and beneficial to the several States. Requires each State department of agriculture to establish one large model farm and after two years to establish not less than ten demonstrations of solar energy research projects using the most efficient or practicable research projects demonstrated on such model farm. Stipulates the terms of any agreement entered into between selected farmowners and the State departments of agriculture for the establishment of such demonstration projects. Authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 for the purposes of this Title, of which 80 percent is to be used by State departments of agriculture for the model farm and demonstration projects Title XV: Wheat and Wheat Foods Research and Nutrition Education Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue orders: (1) for establishing projects for research and nutrition education for wheat and wheat products; (2) for establishing and carrying on research or studies with respect to the sale, distribution, marketing, and utilization of wheat and wheat products and the creation of new products; and (3) requiring that processors, distributors of processed wheat, and end product manufacturers maintain and make available for inspection such books and records as may be required by any order issued pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary to issue orders providing for the establishment of a Wheat Industry Council to: (1) administer and make rules and regulations to effectuate orders issued pursuant to this title; (2) receive, investigate and report to the Secretary complaints of violations of such orders; and (3) recommend to the Secretary amendments to such orders. Requires each end product manufacturer to pay to such Council an assessment, not to exceed five cents per hundredweight, based on the total number of hundredweights of processed wheat purchased by or transferred to such manufacturer to be used for expenditures and expenses incurred by the Council or Secretary under this title. Requires the Secretary to conduct a referendum among end product manufacturers to determine whether the issuance of an order under this title is favored by such manufacturers. Allows end product manufacturers who have reserved the right to seek refunds and who disfavor the programs under this title to receive from the Council the assessment paid to such Council. Sets forth the procedures for the administrative and judicial review of orders of obligations imposed under this title. States that any person who willfully violates any order issued under this title or who fails to remit any required assessment or fee shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation. Requires the Secretary to conduct a referendum on request by ten percent or more of the end product manufacturers to determine whether such manufacturers favor the suspension or termination of any order. Authorizes the Secretary to make investigations for the effective carrying out of his or her responsibilities under this Act or to determine whether any person has or is about to violate any of the provisions of this title. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1977
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Statistical Reporting Service, to take an annual enumeration of horses in the United States, by the "sampling" method if preferred beginning in 1978. Authorizes the appropriation of $1,250,000 for fiscal year 1978 and $1,250,000 for each following fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to designate lands in Hyde Park, New York, as the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site and to acquire such lands. Directs the Secretary to manage the site and to arrange studies, lectures, and seminars to be conducted at the site through agreements with qualified public or private entities. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1977
Food Additive Safety Amendments - States that a food additive shall be deemed safe if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1) makes a finding, based on recommendations of an advisory committee, that the public benefit from permitting the use of such additive would exceed the public risk which might result from such use; (2) gives notice in the Federal Register of such a finding and invites public comment thereon; and (3) issues a final order not earlier than 120 days of such publication in the Federal Register of such findings. Specifies factors the Secretary must take into consideration when evaluating a food additive. Deems saccharin a safe food additive unless the Secretary declares it unsafe under the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Small Business Development Center Act - Authorizes the Small Business Administration to make grants to universities to assist them in developing centers to provide small businesses with a broad range of advice, information, and assistance. Limits the amount of such grant to no more than 75 percent of the cost of eligible activities in the operation or development of the center, except for grants to regional centers assisting State centers in research or other high cost activities. Establishes a Small Business Management and Technical Assistance Division within the Small Business Development Center program through a Deputy Associate Administrator. Establishes a Small Business Development Center Advisory Board composed of 14 members to advise and confer with the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management and Technical Assistance. Authorizes the Administration to make grants to universities, organizations, and business concerns to support research to solve problems which affect small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Provides that the lake referred to as "Laurel River Lake" on the Laurel River, Kentucky, shall hereafter be known as the "John Sherman Cooper Lake," and that the dam forming such lake shall hereafter be referred to as the "John Sherman Cooper Dam."
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Drug Pushers Elimination Act - Increases maximum penalties for distribution, possession with intent to distribute, or domestic or certain foreign manufacture of coca leaves or certain of its derivatives, specified opiates or stimulants, or counterfeits thereof. Imposes mandatory minimum sentences for such violations. Excepts addicted persons from the applicable minimum term of imprisonment specified in this Act. Stipulates that one conspiring or attempting to manufacture, distribute, import, or export certain controlled substances shall be punished the same as one who commits the offense which was the object of the conspiracy or attempt. Directs a judicial officer to consider whether a person charged with an offense under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 poses a danger to himself, the persons or property of others, or the community in setting conditions of release pending trial. Denies release prior to trial to a person charged with an offense for which penalties are increased in this Act, upon a judicial officer making any one of specified findings in a special hearing to be conducted at the time of arraignment. Prohibits persons convicted of certain narcotics crimes, with certain exceptions for addicts, from being released while awaiting sentence or after having filed an appeal or a petition for a writ of certiorari. Permits an addict charged with unlawfully importing, selling, or conspiring to import or sell a narcotic drug to be eligible for civil commitment and rehabilitation in lieu of criminal prosecution if the court determines that such alleged violation was for the primary purpose of enabling the offender to obtain a narcotic drug required for personal use because of the addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1977
Energy Conservation Tax Incentives Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow limited, nonrefundable income tax credits for individuals who: (1) install qualified insulation in their residences; (2) install qualified solar heating and cooling equipment in dwelling units used by them, or leased to others as residences; (3) replace the heating system in any dwelling with a reversible, compressible refrigerant system (i.e., a heat pump system); or (4) purchase personal or family electric highway vehicles between 1976 and 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt nonprofit volunteer firefighting or rescue organizations from the excise tax on sales of special fuels, automotive parts, petroleum products, and communication services.