United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1977
Amends the National Labor Relations Act to stipulate that, subject to specified provisions, it shall not be an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents to engage in, or induce any individual employed by any person to engage in, a strike, refusal to perform services, or threat thereof (1) at the site of the construction, alteration, painting, or repair of a building or other structure; and (2) directed at any of several persons in the construction industry who are either joint venturers or in the relationship of contractor and subcontractor in the performance of such construction, alteration, painting or repair. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit a strike, refusal to work, or threat thereof (1) in violation of an existing collective bargaining contract; (2) in furtherance of a labor dispute concerning only working conditions of individuals employed at other common construction sites; (3) directed at a person who is not engaged primarily in the construction industry and who, through its employees, is installing or servicing its own products or is doing construction work at one of its prior facilities; or (4) which presently otherwise constitutes an unfair labor practice. Prohibits common construction site picketing or threats thereof for specified purposes, including (1) to remove or exclude from such site any individual on the ground of sex, race, creed, color, or national origin; (2) to cause or attempt to cause discrimination on the basis of labor union membership; or (3) to force, require, or persuade any person to refrain or cease from dealing in products or systems of another processor or manufacturer. Requires a labor organization, before engaging in an activity permitted by this Act, to give prior notice to certain persons and receive written authorization from the national or international labor organization with which it is affiliated. Sets forth separate prerequisites in the case of activities to be conducted with respect to sites located at military installations or at Federal facilities or installations a major purpose of which is, or will be, the development, production, testing, or firing of munitions, weapons, missles, or space vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow homeowners and renters who pay their gas bills an income tax credit for up to $25 of the expenses incurred in the conversion of pilot lights on gas cooking stoves, ranges and ovens to a system of manual ignition. Allows a $25 income tax deduction to other individuals and corporations for the same expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1977
Amends rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the use of Committee funds for travel unless the official nature of the travel is established by a resolution approved in a public session by majority vote of the committee involved. Requires the resolution to set forth: (1)the proposed itinerary in detail; (2)the purpose of each destination; (3)the names of all persons who propose to take the trip at private or committee expense; (4)reimbursement provisions; (5)the anticipated benefit to the taxpayers; and (6)the estimated total expense. Requires a complete travel report to be filed with the respective committee within ten working days of the completion of travel.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Motor Vehicle Tax Repeal Act - Repeals the excise tax on trucks, buses, and tractors and parts and accessories for such vehicles. Provides for the refund or credit of such taxes paid by the manufacturer, producer, or importer on items sold after January 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Amends the Social Security Act to provide that, if the delivery day for benefit checks under titles II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income Program) falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal public holiday, benefit checks for such month shall be mailed for delivery on the first day preceding such designated day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal public holiday, without regard to whether the delivery of such checks is made in the same calendar month for which such benefit checks are issued.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Requires States receiving financial assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 which are operating a program designed to insure reading readiness for educationally deprived preschool children or children in grades 1, 2, or 3 to continue such programs at their present level. Prohibits the exclusion of children enrolled in such program from further participation on the ground that such child has achieved a reading aptitude equal to or greater than the normal reading aptitude for the grade in which the child is enrolled.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Title I: Financial Disclosure - Amends rule XLIV of the Rules of the House of Representatives to: (1) require Members, officers, principal assistants to Members and officers, and professional staff members of committees to file a financial report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives by April 30, 1978, and by April 30 of each year thereafter; (2) require the Clerk to send copies of such reports to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, and to the secretary of state of the State represented by the Member; (3) direct the Clerk to compile the reports and have them printed as a House document to be made available to the public; and (4) require the Committee to maintain and make such reports available for public inspection. Details the required content of such reports. Permits Members who announce before April 30, 1978, that they will not seek election to the 96th Congress to file the report as required by rule XLIV prior to the amendments made by this title in lieu of the report required under such rule as amended by this title. Requires that sealed reports filed by persons under part B of rule XLIV prior to July 1, 1977, be returned to such persons by the Committee when such persons are no longer required to file such reports. Title II: Amendment of the Code of Official Conduct - Amends clause 4 of rule XLIII to: (1) prohibit any Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives from accepting gifts with a value of $100 or more in any calendar year from a foreign national; and (2) include among persons deemed to have a direct interest in legislation before the Congress, any person registered under the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946, and certain other persons retained by such registered persons. Amends clause 7 of rule XLIII to require Members to treat all proceeds from fund raising events as campaign contributions, regardless of any notice given by the sponsors to the participants. Title III: Unofficial Office Accounts; Official Expense Allowances - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to add rule XLV prohibiting any Member from maintaining an unofficial office account. Entitles each Member to reimbursement for official expenses incurred in the United States under the Legislative Appropriation Act, 1977 or the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1972. Authorizes the Clerk of the House to make disbursements from such funds. Limits the entitlement of each Member under such reimbursement program to $7,000 annually. Title IV: Limitations on the Use of the Frank - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to add rule XLVI, limiting the use of the frank by Members. Title V: Foreign Travel - Amends clause 2(n) of rule XI to set certain limits on expenses of Members and employees of committees traveling in foreign countries. Limits the availability of local currencies owned by the United States for use outside of the United States by Members who have not been reelected. Amends clause 5 of rule XI by prohibiting the expense resolutions of committees from authorizing the payment of travel expenses of Members who have not been reelected. Amends clause 8 of rule I to prohibit the payment of travel expenses from the contingent fund for Members who have not been reelected. Title VI: Outside Earned Income - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to add rule XLVII, limiting to 15 percent of the aggregate annual salary of a Member, the amount of outside income which may be earned by a Member in any calendar year. Title VII: Select Committee on Ethics - Establishes in the House a 13-member Select Committee on Ethics to consider and report to the House on bills involving financial disclosure, the Code of Official Conduct, unofficial office accounts, the use of the frank, and outside earned income.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, for cash management purposes, to invest any portion of the Treasury's operating cash for periods of up to 90 days in (1) obligations of depositories maintaining Treasury tax and loan accounts secured by a pledge of collateral acceptable to the Secretary as security for tax and loan accounts, and (2) obligations of the United States and of agencies of the United States. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit public money in any federal savings and loan association or member of a federal home loan bank. Amends the National Housing Act to make institutions insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation depositories of public money. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to define qualified savings and loan associations which may receive tax payments.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1977
Urban Forestry Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to cities to pay up to 100 percent of the cost of trees and shrubs planted under the cities' and park districts' forestry programs, including programs of cities or park districts which provide for the planting of trees on privately owned land. Authorizes to be appropriated $2,000,000 for the fiscal year 1978 for grants under this section. States that the Secretary may make grants to cities with populations exceeding ten thousand and park districts to pay 75 percent of the annual salaries of urban foresters. Authorizes to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the fiscal year 1978 for grants under this section. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to cities and park districts to assist such cities in planning, developing, and administering forestry programs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 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 · 23 February 1977
Petroleum Marketing Practices Act - Title I: Franchise Protection - Prohibits a franchisor from terminating or failing to renew a franchise unless specified conditions exist. Enumerates the basis upon which a franchisor may terminate or fail to renew a franchise. Exempts trial franchises from the requirements of this Act. Requires that 90 days advance notice of termination or nonrenewal be made in writing and delivered to the franchisee. Directs the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration to publish in the Federal Register a summary of this Act. Authorizes civil actions in a United States district court against any franchisor who violates any requirement of this Act. Provides for the preemption of State laws unless such law is the same as the applicable provisions of this Act. Title II: Octane Disclosure - Requires the Federal Trade Commission to: (1) establish testing procedures for the determination of the octane rating of automotive gasoline; (2) establish requirements applicable to refiners with respect to the testing of automotive gasoline; (3) establish a certification procedure applicable to the distribution of automotive gasoline; and (4) establish requirements applicable to retailers of gasoline with respect to display of the octane rating of automotive gasoline at the point of sale. Prohibits any person who distributes automotive gasoline from making representations respecting the octane rating of gasoline unless the gasoline has been tested in accordance with the procedures established by the Federal Trade Commission. Grants to the Commission the procedural, investigative, and enforcement powers necessary to make effective the rules required to be prescribed. Makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice in or affecting commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act to violate the rules prescribed by this Act. Authorizes judicial review of the rules prescribed under this Act. Title III: Prohibition on Certain Unfair Practices in the Marketing of Automotive Gasoline - Prohibits dual distribution marketers of automotive gasoline (defined in this Act as a person who markets automotive gasoline at both wholesale and retail) in or affecting commerce from establishing or maintaining retail prices which do not recover the cost of gasoline transferred to, or purchased by, retail outlets controlled by such marketer plus the cost of operating such retail outlets. Defines terms for purposes of this Title. Disallows any person engaged in the marketing or distribution of automotive gasoline in or affecting commerce from selling at retail as a loss leader unless such person operates as a franchisee through a single retail outlet. Requires gasoline marketers to maintain books and records, consistent with sound accounting principles, prescribed by the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration. Sets fines for violations of this Title and authorizes injunctions of illegal acts under specified circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1977
Requires Federal agencies to publicly report to Congress all expenditures made for or on the behalf of a Member of Congress or a congressional employee with respect to the travel of such person and requires the committee of Congress which approved such travel to reimburse such agency for such expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1977
Redesignates the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Superior National Forest, Minnesota, as the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area. Specifies restrictions relating to timber harvesting, mining, and use of recreational vehicles within such area. Increases to one and one-quarter percent of the fair appraised value the amount payable to the State of Minnesota with respect to lands within the Superior National Forest.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1977
National Employment Priorities Act - Declares that it is the purpose of this Act: (1) to require prenotification to employees and communities of dislocation of business concerns; (2) to prevent Federal support for unjustified dislocation; and (3) to provide assistance to employees, and affected communities threatened with dislocation. Defines the terms used in this Act. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to establish in the Department of Labor a National Employment Relocation Administration, to be headed by an Administrator and Deputy Administrator appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to perform enumerated functions in order to carry out the purposes of this Act. Establishes a National Employment Relocation Advisory Council. Directs the members of such Council to perform enumerated functions, including to advise the Secretary and Administrator with respect to the activities of the National Employment Relocation Administration and to evaluate the effectiveness of programs carried out under this Act. Requires written notice to be given to the Secretary whenever: (1) a business concern intends to close or transfer all or part of the operations of an establishment of that business concern; and (2) at least 15 percent of the employees who are members of any labor organization or 15 percent of all employees in that establishment will suffer an eligible employment loss as a result of any such closing or transfer. Authorizes the Secretary to investigate a proposed closing or transfer of operations under specified circumstances. Directs the Secretary to establish a program of adjustment assistance for employees who become unemployed or receive a weekly wage of less than 85 percent of their former wage as a result of a closing or transfer of a business concern. Provides that such adjustment assistance shall include: (1) income maintenance payment; (2) maintenance of pension and health benefits; (3) job placement and retraining benefits; (4) relocation allowances; (5) early retirement benefits; (6) emergency mortgage and rent payments; and (7) food stamps and surplus commodities. Directs the Secretary to make every effort to place employees for substantially equivalent full employment in accordance with their capacity and prospective employment opportunities. Provides that a unit of local government is eligible for assistance under this Act upon determination by the Secretary that the closing or transfer of operations of business establishments has contributed substantially to an unemployment rate within such jurisdiction exceeding eight percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to businesses within such areas. Authorizes the Secretary to develop a retraining program for employees who will be required to acquire new or additional skills as a result of the economic adjustment assistance proposal. Makes business concerns ineligible for specified benefits under the Internal Revenue Code if the Secretary makes certain determinations. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1977
Federal Nonsmokers Protection Act - Prohibits smoking in specified areas of Federal facilities and in interstate passenger carrier facilities. Requires the effective separation of smokers from non-smokers in certain areas of such facilities. Requires that nonsmoking employees in Federal facilities be given the opportunity to be assigned to physically distinct offices or workplaces from those who smoke, whenever possible. Makes the executive head or chief administrative officer of each instrumentality responsible for the enforcement of these prohibitions in any Federal facility in which such instrumentality maintains offices. Requires such officers to submit an annual report on the enforcement of these prohibitions to the Administrator of General Services. Establishes civil penalties for individuals who smoke in any area of an interstate passenger carrier facility where smoking is prohibited under this Act. Requires that "No Smoking" signs be posted in specified areas.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1977
Requires the Congressional Record for the House of Representatives to contain an accurate and verbatim account of remarks actually delivered on the floor of the House together with supporting data. Limits revisions of verbatim remarks in the Record to the correction of grammatical and typographical errors which do not change the meaning, content, or substance of those remarks. Entitles Members to insert in the Records remarks not actually delivered on the floor. Stipulates that such insertions always be clearly distinguishable from verbatim remarks.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restrict the amount of the deduction State legislators may take for living expenses while conducting legislative business to the daily dollar limitation to be established by the Secretary of the Treasury for each state legislature.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1977
Investment Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an additional investment tax credit for machinery and equipment placed in service on existing manufacturing plants located in high unemployment areas, or in nearby areas.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers to take the credit for expenses of work incentive programs for wages paid new, full-time handicapped employees over the first cumulative 12 months of their employment.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1977
Elementary and Secondary Career Education Act - Establishes a career education program for elementary and secondary schools to increase the emphasis such institutions place upon career awareness, exploration, decisionmaking, and planning. Authorizes appropriations for carrying out provisions of this Act for the next five fiscal years. Directs the Commissioner of Education to allot to each State an amount which bears the same ratio to the appropriated sums as such State's population, aged five to eighteen, bears to the total population, aged five to eighteen, of all the States. Stipulates that no State shall be allotted from such sums less than $100,000. Directs the Commissioner to allocate for each fiscal year an amount equal to three percent of the sums appropriated for that year to make grants to local educational agencies located in Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Sets forth procedures for applying to the Commissioner for receiving such funds. Requires that an application contain specified assurances, including assurances that: (1) the State educational agency will be the agency responsible for planning the use and administering the expenditure of funds received under this Act; (2) the State educational agency or State Board of Education will adopt a statement of policy that career education is of prime importance in elementary and secondary schooling within the State; and (3) the State legislature and Governor have been notified of the State's application for such funds. Details the use of funds by the States which are permissible, including: (1) conducting inservice institutes for educational personnel; (2) training local career education coordinators; (3) collecting, evaluating, and disseminating career education materials; and (4) coordinating career education activities with other State and private agencies. Designates the Office of Career Education to be the administering agency within the Office of Education for the review of State plans, applications, and reports submitted pursuant to this Act. Provides that the Office of Career Education shall perform a national leadership role in furthering the purposes of career education. Directs the National Institute of Education to continue its complementary efforts in career education and calls for coordination between the Institute and the Office of Career Education in (1) identifying research and development priorities and (2) disseminating the products and findings of research and development undertaken by the Institute.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1977
Motor Vehicle Tax Repeal Act - Repeals the excise tax on trucks, buses, and tractors and parts and accessories for such vehicles. Provides for the refund or credit of such taxes paid by the manufacturer, producer, or importer on items sold after January 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1977
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds or funds made available to a wholly owned Government corporation to pay for any communication to influence any member of any State electorate to favor or oppose, by vote or otherwise, any legislation or legislative issue in the ballot in such State unless expressly authorized by Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1977
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to terminate insurance or reinsurance issued to any investor, upon a Corporation determination that such investor has offered or paid, directly or indirectly, any significant amount of money (or anything of significant value) to a foreign official to influence any decision of a foreign government.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1977
Deems any food containing more than .02 parts per million of polybrominated byphenyl adulterated for purposes of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Prohibits any State from establishing or enforcing a standard less stringent than the standard established by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1977
Amends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 1974 to extend for one year the emergency compensation program thereunder so as to permit benefits to be paid with respect to weeks ending before March 31, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase to $3,000 the amount of outside earnings which is permitted an individual each year without any deduction from benefits under such title.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1977
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend until September 30, 1978, the period of time during which funds allotted to States for the construction of treatment works shall remain available.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase from one-twelfth of one percent to one-twelfth of seven percent the amount by which an individual's social security benefits are to be increased on account of delayed retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a refundable income tax credit for 50 percent of the wages paid new employees during the taxable years for work done in the United States. Limits the credit taken to $80,000. Limits the number of employees for whom credit may be taken to ten new employees, or the maximum number of employees paid by the taxpayer during the calendar quarter ending the previous June 30th, whichever number is less. Directs the Secretary to submit reports to Congress, in 1978 and 1980 assessing the impact of this credit.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1977
Provides that the fees payable to agents or attorneys who represent veterans in allowed claims under the veterans laws shall be paid by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs rather than deducted from amounts awarded under the claims.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1977
Provides that recipients of veterans' pension and compensation will not have the amount of such pension or compensation reduced, or entitlement thereto discontinued, because of increases in monthly social security benefits. Applies these amendments to annual income determinations made for calendar years after 1972. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 415(g), adds 38 U.S.C. 503(d))
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1977
Amends Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income Program) of the Social Security Act to extend benefits to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam on the same basis as the States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that attorneys' fees allowed in administrative or judicial proceedings under that Title (Or under title XVIII (Medicare) of such Act), in cases where the claimants are successful, shall be paid by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare rather than deducted from the amounts awarded claimants.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the application of the Tax Reform Act's elimination of the sick pay exclusion for persons who have not retired on total disability, to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1977
National Employment Priorities Act - Declares that it is the purpose of this Act: (1) to require prenotification to employees and communities of dislocation of business concerns; (2) to prevent Federal support for unjustified dislocation; and (3) to provide assistance to employees, and affected communities threatened with dislocation. Defines the terms used in this Act. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to establish in the Department of Labor a National Employment Relocation Administration, to be headed by an Administrator and Deputy Administrator appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to perform enumerated functions in order to carry out the purposes of this Act. Establishes a National Employment Relocation Advisory Council. Directs the members of such Council to perform enumerated functions, including to advise the Secretary and Administrator with respect to the activities of the National Employment Relocation Administration and to evaluate the effectiveness of programs carried out under this Act. Requires written notice to be given to the Secretary whenever: (1) a business concern intends to close or transfer all or part of the operations of an establishment of that business concern; and (2) at least 15 percent of the employees who are members of any labor organization or 15 percent of all employees in that establishment will suffer an eligible employment loss as a result of any such closing or transfer. Authorizes the Secretary to investigate a proposed closing or transfer of operations under specified circumstances. Directs the Secretary to establish a program of adjustment assistance for employees who become unemployed or receive a weekly wage of less than 85 percent of their former wage as a result of a closing or transfer of a business concern. Provides that such adjustment assistance shall include: (1) income maintenance payment; (2) maintenance of pension and health benefits; (3) job placement and retraining benefits; (4) relocation allowances; (5) early retirement benefits; (6) emergency mortgage and rent payments; and (7) food stamps and surplus commodities. Directs the Secretary to make every effort to place employees for substantially equivalent full employment in accordance with their capacity and prospective employment opportunities. Provides that a unit of local government is eligible for assistance under this Act upon determination by the Secretary that the closing or transfer of operations of business establishments has contributed substantially to an unemployment rate within such jurisdiction exceeding eight percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to businesses within such areas. Authorizes the Secretary to develop a retraining program for employees who will be required to acquire new or additional skills as a result of the economic adjustment assistance proposal. Makes business concerns ineligible for specified benefits under the Internal Revenue Code if the Secretary makes certain determinations. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1977
Title I: Meat and Meat Products - Requires, under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the package or container of any imported meat or meat products capable of use as human food to be labeled in such a way as to inform consumers that such product was imported. Requires that such products meet the same health standards as domestically produced meats. Requires testing of imported meat in the countries from which such meat is being imported. Directs that periodic tests be conducted in the United States by the Department of Agriculture also. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prescribe such assessments and fees as he determines necessary to cover the Departments costs under this Title. Title II: Dairy Products - Prohibits the importation of dairy products into the United States unless the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare certifies the products as wholesome and pure. Requires the Secretary to establish standards for imported products comparable to standards imposed upon domestic dairy products. Directs the Secretary, where and to the extent necessary, to inspect imported dairy products and require such products to be accompanied by a certificate of compliance issued by the Secretary. Requires imported dairy products to comply with United States labeling and packaging requirements. Requires that imported dairy products be labeled in such a way as to inform consumers that such product was imported.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1977
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to make the provisions, formerly applicable to persons between 40 and 65 years of age, applicable to anyone 40 years of age or older.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1977
Extends the coverage for dental services provided under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include any services which may be performed by a doctor of dental surgery or of dental medicine and to authorize payment under the Medicare program for all inpatient hospital services furnished in connection with dental procedures requiring hospitalization.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1977
Medicare-Medicaid Anti-Fraud and Abuse Amendments - Amends Titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require that Medicare and Medicaid payments be made directly to the physician or other person providing the service involved. Allows payment in accordance with an assignment from the person or institution providing care or service if such assignment is made to a governmental agency or entity or is established by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction or to an agent of such person or institution if the agent does so pursuant to an agency agreement under which the compensation to be paid to the agent for his services or in connection with the billing or collection of payments due such person or institution under the plan is unrelated to the amount of such payments or the billings thereof, and is not dependent upon the actual collection of any such payment. States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall by regulation (or by contract provision) provide that any entity (other than a public entity) which is a provider or supplier that furnishes, or arranges for the furnishing of items or services with respect to which is claimed under Title XVIII, Title V (Maternal and Child Welfare), or under Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act or a party to an agreement with the Secretary under such titles shall promptly comply with any request, specifically addressed to that entity by the Secretary or the Comptroller General of the United States, for information concerning ownership, control, or costs of such entities. Increases the maximum penalty for defrauding the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Makes review and certification requirements of the Social Security Act inapplicable to providers, suppliers, and practitioners being reviewed by any Professional Standards Review Organization designated by the Secretary to be competent to perform review responsibilities. Directs the Secretary to give priority to requests by Professional Standards Review Organizations for review responsibility with respect to services furnished in shared health facilities. States that where a Professional Standards Review Organization has been found competent by the Secretary to assume review responsibility with respect to specified types of health services, such reviews shall constitute the conclusive determination on those issues for purposes of payment under the Social Security Act. Requires professional Standards Review Organizations to provide data and information to assist Federal and State agencies having responsibility for identifying and investigating cases or patterns of fraud or abuse, and to assist the Secretary in carrying out appropriate health care planning and related activities. Requires the Secretary to make payment to qualified Professional Standards Review Organizations in an amount equal to the reasonable amount of the expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any suit, action, or proceeding brought against such organization, member, employee, or person related to the performance of any duty or function of such organization. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress an annual report on the administration, impact, and cost of the program during the preceding fiscal year. Authorizes the Comptroller General of the United States to sign and issue supoenas for the purpose of any audit, investigation, examination, analysis, review, evaluation, or other function authorized by law with respect to any program authorized under this Act. Requires the Secretary to suspend any physician or practitioner from participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs whenever such individual is convicted of a criminal offense related to their involvement in such programs. Conditions participation in, or certification or recertification under, the programs established by titles XVIII, XIX, and XX (Grants to States for Services) upon disclosure of the name of any person who: (1) has a direct or indirect ownership or control interest of five percent or more in such provider, institution, organization, or agency, and (2) has been convicted of a criminal offense related to the involvement of such person in any of such programs. Prohibits expenditure under the Medicaid plan to the extent that any agency, organization, or other person (other than a member of the individual's family) would have been obligated by a State law or contract to provide such care or services but for a provision of the State law or contract which limits or excludes such obligation because the individual is eligible for or receives care or services under the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize any taxpayer to elect to have any portion of any overpayment of tax or any contribution in money which the taxpayer forwards with the return for such taxable year be available, as the taxpayer may designate on such return, for the National Endowment for the Arts or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1977
National Meals-on-Wheels Act - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to allow States to distribute Federal Funds for the establishment of: (1) projects to provide home-delivered meals to qualified homebound elderly persons; (2) an information and referral system for homebound individuals receiving such meals; and (3) an operation to seek volunteer personnel for the delivery of such meals and to compensate such personnel for related transportation expenses. Authorizes the appropriation of specified sums in fiscal years 1978 and 1979 for the purpose of providing home-delivered meals under this Act. Limits to five percent the amount of such funds which may be spent upon the administration of such program. Directs the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to conduct a demonstration project involving at least three States to determine the feasibility of using the meals system designed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the elderly as a component of, or substitute for, regular nutrition projects assisted under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1977
Creates a Select House Committee on Population to conduct an investigation and study of: (1) the major adverse effects of current population growth throughout the world; (2) approaches which have been shown to be effective in coping with excessive population growth; and (3) means to encourage countries with excessive population growth rates to adopt methods proven to be successful in reducing population growth rates.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to assist any veteran, who has a permanent and total service-connected disability due to the loss, or loss of use, of one arm and one leg, including but not limited to cases of hemiplegia, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair, in acquiring a suitable housing unit with special fixtures or moveable facilities made necessary by the nature of the veteran's disability, and necessary land therefor.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that the automatic cost-of-living increases in benefits be made on a semiannual basis (rather than on an annual basis as at present).
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Urban Trees Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants, on a matching basis, to the States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam in order to provide financial assistance to urban areas for arboriculture programs. Defines "arboriculture" as the planting, growing, maintenance, and protection of trees and shrubs. Authorizes appropriations of up to $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1978 to carry out such grant program. Requires that grants under this Act be made in accordance with an urban arboriculture plan for the selection, planting, and maintenance of trees agreed upon in advance by the Secretary and the State forester or other appropriate official. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance to urban areas for arboriculture programs under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Comprehensive Youth Employment Act - Title I: Youth Employment and Community Service Programs - Amends the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 to establish a Youth Community Service Program whereby prime sponsors under such Act are to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants for the purpose of providing Youth Community Service employment to youths in jobs required to carry out approved community service projects. Directs each prime sponsor to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants for the establishment of youth opportunity in private enterprise and youth occupational information and career guidance programs. Directs the Secretary of Labor to make payments to prime sponsors in order to make financial assistance available to local education agencies for the purpose of providing youths in secondary schools with job experience. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a National Occupational Information and Career Guidance Service in the Department of Labor to undertake estimates of present and future occupational needs, to compile data on the numbers of people engaged in education and training, to assist States in the preparation of individual State and area projections of occupational outlook, and to serve as the informational and statistical base required for matching career preparation with future career prospects. Authorizes the Secretary to (1) make grants to public agencies, colleges, and nonprofit organizations for the purpose of training and retraining job counseling and placement personnel and (2) carry out a program of demonstration and evaluation projects relative to job counseling, information, and placement programs for youths. Requires each prime sponsor to establish an Education-Work Committee of its planning council. States the duty of such committees to be to make recommendations with respect to the programs established under this title and to institute local career development plans. Title II: National Conservation Corps - National Conservation Corps Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to jointly establish a National Conservation Corps for the purpose of providing employment and training for youths in projects which reduce the inventory of conservation work or provide public benefits in connection with the conservation, protection, reforestation, regeneration, improvement, development, utilization, maintenance, or enjoyment of the natural resources of lands and waters under the ownership or control of the United States, any agency thereof, or of any State or any subdivision thereof. Authorizes the Secretaries to make grants to States and local governments to assist them in employing youths to carry out conservation projects on non-Federal public lands and waters. Title III: Job Corps - Amends the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated annually to the Job Corps.
![Official portrait of Rep. Brodhead, William [D-MI-17]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000862_200.jpg)