United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1975
States that the Airlines Mutual Aid Agreement approved by the Civil Aeronautics Board is adverse to the public interest and is hereby terminated. States that the effective date of this Act is February 1, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Authorizes all unmarried individuals to use the same tax tables when computing their tax as are presently applicable to married individuals filing joint returns and to surviving spouses. Authorizes married individuals filing separately to use such table so long as such individual reports all income earned by him or her on the return.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1975
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, for reductions in Social Security taxes relating to the rate of tax on self-employment income for purposes of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance. States that such reductions shall apply in the case of taxes imposed with respect to self-employment income for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1975, and with respect to wages paid or received during calendar years after 1975. Provides for Federal participation in the costs of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program under title II of the Social Security Act. Increases the earnings counted for benefit and tax purposes under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Provides that the charge to a household for its food stamp allotment under the Food Stamp Act of 1964 shall not exceed the lesser of (1) the level established as of January 1, 1975, or (2) 25 percent of the household's income. Provides that, effective July 1, 1975, households in which all members receive supplemental security income benefits under the Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled program of the Social Security Act, or households in which all members are included in a federally aided public assistance or general assistance grant shall be certified for participation in the food stamp program under this Act. States that certification of all other households shall be based on the uniform national standards for eligibility required to be established under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act - Title I: Statement of Findings and policy - Declares that most of the nation's coal reserve can only be mined by underground methods. States the purposes of this Act, including to establish a nationwide program to prevent the adverse effects to society and the environment from surface coal mining. Title II: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement - Establishes in the Interior Department the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement with a director appointed by the President. States that such office shall administer the programs required by this Act and assist the States in development of State programs for surface coal mining and reclamation. Title III: State Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute - Authorizes appropriation to the Secretary of the Interior of sums adequate to provide for each participating State $200,000 for fiscal year 1975, $300,000 for fiscal year 1976, and $400,000 for each fiscal year thereafter for 5 years, to assist the States in carrying on the work or a competent and qualified mining and mineral resources research institute or center agency at the school of mines of one public college or university of the State. Requires such monies to be matched dollar for dollar by the States. Authorizes appropriation of $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, such sum to be increased by $2,000,000 each fiscal year for 6 years thereafter, for specific projects in mining and mineral research in research institutes. Directs the Secretary to establish a center for cataloging current and projectd scientific research in mining and mineral resources. Directs the Secretary to establish a center for cataloging current and projected scientific research in mining and mineral resources. Requires the Secretary to appoint an Advisory Committee on Mining and Mineral Research to advise him on all matters concerning mining and mineral resources research. Title IV: Abandoned Mine Reclamation - Creates the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund in the Treasury. Requires operators of coal mines to pay into the fund quarterly fees of $.35 per ton of coal produced by surface mining and $.25 per ton of coal produced by underground mining, or 10 percent of the value of the coal in the mine, whichever is less. Authorizes use of money in the Fund for acquisition and reclamation of abandoned and unreclaimed mined lands and for acquisitions and fillings of voids and sealing of tunnels and entryways in abandoned mines. Permits the Secretary to acquire land by condemnation for reclamation. Encourages States to acquire abandoned and unreclaimed land, and to transfer to the Secretary for reclamation, and authorizes matching grants for such purpose, up to 90 percent of land price. Allows resale of reclaimed land by public bidding, and allows local public participation in determining the use of reclaimed land. Title V: Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to implement within 135 days of enactment, a Federal program of enforcement of specified standards to remain in effect until State programs are approved. Directs publication within 180 days of enactment of regulations covering surface coal mining and reclamation, setting standards for State programs. States that such regulations must meet approval of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. Requires States, within 18 months of enactment, to submit programs for carrying out this Act, such programs to include a State regulatory authority capable of regulating surface coal mining, State laws providing for sanctions for violations of regulations, and a permit system for surface coal mining regulation. Demands that such State programs meet the approval of the EPA Administrator. Subjects State programs to approval of Secretary of Interior within 6 months. Requires implementation of a Federal program of surface coal mining regulation where States fail in such implementation. Permits State laws and regulations that are more stringent than this Act. Requires, 30 months after enactment, that no surface coal mining shall take place except where a permit, good for 5 years, has been issued. States that permits application must demonstrate ability and intent to comply with this Act and assurance that reclamation can be achieved. Requires permit applications to describe the method of mining and equipment proposed to be used, to describe by maps the land to be affected, and to contain a statement of results of test borings or core samplings of the affected land. States that permits must be accompanied by a mining and reclamation plan which shall include a description of present uses of the land, steps to be taken to prevent environmental damage, and a description of the reclamation activities. Requires the posting of performance bonds and possession of liability insurance by applicants for permits. Sets general performance standards for environmental protection in surface coal mining which permittees under this Act must meet. Imposes additional standards for steep-slope surface mining. Directs the Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations directed at the surface effects of underground mining, including specified requirements. Directs and authorizes inspection of surface coal mining and reclamation to determine compliance with this Act and regulations. Provides for requirement of record keeping and submittal and monitoring by mine operators. Requires surprise inspections by regulatory agencies not less than once a month. Requires civil penalties for violation of this Act or regulations under it. Provides that when an operator completes the backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of a bonded area, he may request a release of 60 percent of the bond. Provides that the remaining amount may be returned upon completion of all reclamation. Allows persons with a legal interest to file objections to release of bond, and for public hearings to follow. Permits any person to bring a civil suit against any person, including the United States, alleged to be in violation of this Act. Allows the court to award costs of litigation to parties in suits brought under this Act. Permits the Secretary to intervene in actions under this Act. Allows, where State regulatory authorities do not exist or fail to act, for Federal enforcement of this Act and of permit conditions. Permits issuance of an order to cease mining and reclamation. Provides for the Attorney General to institute civil suit for a restraining order or injunction to enforce this Act or regulations under it. Directs States to designate as unsuitable for surface coal mining those areas where reclamation is impossible or where land is fragile or of historical value. Prohibits existing mining operations from being declared unsuitable. Requires implementation of a Federal lands program applicable to all surface mining and reclamation operations on Federal land. Requires such program to, at least, adopt all requirements of this Act. Demands separate regulations for programs for special bituminous coal surface mines that meet speicified criteria, and for anthracite coal surface mines which are regulated by environmental protection standards of the States. Title VI: Designation of Lands Unsuitable for Noncoal Mining - Allows the Secretary to designate Federal lands unsuitable for mining materials other than coal, if they are predominantly urban or suburban in character or if such mining operations would have an adverse impact on lands used primarily for residential and related purposes. Title VII: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Defines the terms used in this Act. Prohibits discrimination against employees for filing suit under this Act and for testifying in a proceeding under this Act. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. Directs the President to minimize the adverse impact upon employment of any actions taken pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants to the States to provide cash benefits to individuals who have lost their jobs as a direct result of this Act and who are not eligible for unemployment assistance or who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering for a study of surface coal mining conditions in Alaska in order to determine which, if any, of the provisions of this Act should be modified with respect to such operations in Alaska. Directs the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to contract with the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering and other groups for a study of the technology for surface and open-pit mining and reclamation for minerals other than coal designed to assist in the development of regulation for such operations. Directs the Secretary to consult with Indian tribes in studying the regulation of surface mining on Indian lands. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act, as follows: (1) $10,000,000 for various contract authority immediately and for the next two fiscal years; (2) for administrative and other purposes, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, $20,000,000 for fiscal years 1976 and 1977, and $30,000,000 for fiscal years thereafter; (3) for research and demonstration projects, $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1976 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $250,000 for the Alaskan surface coal mine study; and (4) $500,000 for the study of surface mining of other minerals. Requires the written consent of the owner of the surface rights before the Secretary shall lease Federally-owned mineral rights, and requires compensation to be paid by the lessee to the surface owner.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Specifies that the provisions of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stocks Piling Act regarding the acquisition and development of strategic raw materials shall not apply to regulations or prohibitions pertaining to economic relations and/or communications with foreign nations or foreign nationals which are established under the authority of the United Nations Participation Act in response to sanctions imposed by the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1975
Provides for the printing of 60,000 copies of the Constitution of the United States in Spanish, for use by members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the House Judiciary Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds by the Central Intelligence Agency for the purpose of undermining or destabilizing the government of any foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Directs the President to provide to the House the information contained in the report of William E. Colby delivered to the President on or about December 26, 1974, relating to activities of the Central Intelligence Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Directs the President to provide to the House Committee on the Judiciary all the information in the possession of the White House and the Central Intelligence Agency relating to any of the following activities since January 1, 1960, engaged in by any person in the United States for the Central Intelligence Agency: (1) each instance of surreptitious entry, breaking and entering or burglary; (2) each instance of intercepting and opening of mail; (3) each instance of wiretapping or electronic surveillance, not pursuant to court order; (4) each instance of collecting information and maintaining files on a citizen of, or person residing in, the United States or on an association or group within the United States; and (5) each instance of a plan or attempt to do any of the acts enumerated above whether or not such plan or attempt was successfully carried out. Specifies the information required for each activity referred to.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Civil Rights Amendments - Defines the term "affectional or sexual perference" to mean for purposes of the Civil Rights Act having or manifesting an emotional or physical attachment to another consenting person or persons of either gender, or having or manifesting a perference for such attachment. Prohibits discrimination based upon such affectional or sexual preference in the following areas: (1) public accomodations; (2) public education; (3) equal employment opportunities; (4) the sale, rental and financing of housing; and (5) education programs which receive Federal financial assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Directs the President to provide to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives all information relating to any of the following activities since January 1, 1960, engaged in by any person in the United States for the Central Intelligence Agency: (1) each instance of surreptitious entry, breaking and entering, or burglary; (2) each instance of intercepting and opening of mail; (3) each instance of wiretapping or electronic surveillance, not pursuant to court order; (4) each instance of collecting information and maintaining files on a citizen of, or person residing in, the United States (other than an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency), or on an association or group within the United States; and (5) each instance of a plan or attempt to do any of the enumerated acts, whether or not such plan or attempt was successfully carried out.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1974
Provides, under the Controlled Substances Act, that it shall not be unlawful for any person to publicly or privately possess, distribute, transfer, or sell marihuana under enumerated circumstances. States that marihuana in the lawful possession of any person shall not be considered contraband and shall not be subject to seizure by or forfeiture to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1974
Declares that the present controlled price of $5.25 per barrel of oil is sufficient to encourage secondary recovery methods; and the proposed decontrol of the price of oil produced domestically by secondary recovery methods is opposed by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that such proposal should be withdrawn forthwith.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1974
Requires the President to provide for public access to all Watergate-related facts produced by any investigation conducted by any Federal executive office and to all Watergate-related documents which were produced from January 20, 1969, through August 9, 1974, and which were in the custody of the United States on August 9, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1974
Education for Exceptional Children Act - Defines "exceptional children" as handicapped children, children with specific learning disabilities, and particularly gifted children. Directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a National Clearinghouse on Exceptional Children which shall obtain and disseminate to the public information pertaining to the education of exceptional children. Authorizes the appropriation of $500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974 and for each of the four succeeding years for the establishment and operation of the clearinghouse. Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to make grants pursuant to this Act for the purpose of assisting the States in providing free appropriate public education for exceptional children at the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. Sets forth the basis on which funds will be allocated to the States. Provides that in order to receive funds under this Act a State must submit to the Commissioner of Education a State plan is required detailing the State program for free appropriate education for exceptional children. Provides that the State plan must contain such information as the Commissioner deems necessary. Sets forth the criteria needed to be met by a State in order to obtain approval of its plan. Authorizes the Commissioner to withhold payments under this Act from any State when it is found that there has been a failure to comply substantially with any provision of this Act. Provides a method for judicial review of the Commissioner's decision. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to State educational agencies to provide training for personnel engaged or preparing to engage in educating exceptional children. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to institutions of higher learning to provide training for leadership personnel for the education of exceptional children. Authorizes the Commissioner to conduct research relating to the education of exceptional children and to make grants to States, educational agencies, institutions of higher learning and other public or private nonprofit education or research agencies for such research. Directs the Commissioner to establish standards and procedures to determine which children are "exceptional children" within the meaning of this Act, such standards and procedures to be applied uniformly by all States submitting plans pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for carrying out the purpose of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1974
Expresses the sense of Congress that the pardon of Richard M. Nixon was wrongful and premature, and that no further Watergate related pardons should be granted prior to indictment, prosecution, and conviction, and then only on an individual basis where warranted by special circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Special Prosecutor of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force: (1) should proceed with whatever criminal investigation and legal action he considers to be appropriate with respect to the conduct of Richard Nixon from January 20, 1969, through August 9, 1974, including proceeding to any indictment or indictments which may be justified by evidence presented to the grand jury; and (2) should, at such time and in such manner as he deems to be proper and appropriate, release and make part of the public record whatever evidence he may have in his possession with respect to the conduct of Richard M. Nixon from January 20, 1969, through August 9, 1974. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the fundamental principle of equal justice under law will be damaged, not served, by the granting of Presidential pardons at this time to other individuals charged with or convicted of offenses against the United States with respect to the Watergate matter.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1974
Extends for two years (until December 31, 1976) the authorization for the striking of medals in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the cable car in San Francisco.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1974
Requests the President of the United States to furnish the House, within 10 days, with information concerning his specific knowledge of any formal criminal charges pending against Richard M. Nixon prior to issuance of the pardon. Lists other congressional questions relating to the Presidential pardon of former President Richard M. Nixon.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1974
Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Act - Directs the President, with the assistance of the Council of Economic Advisors, to transmit annually a full employment and production program to the Congress. Sets forth a summary of the content to be contained in such annual report. Provides for annual Labor Reports of the President. Requires the Labor Reports to provide detailed attention on a continuing and progressively analytical basis to the changing volume and composition of the American labor supply. Renames the United States Employment Service as the United States Full Employment Service. Creates a Job Guarantee Office in the United States Full Employment Office headed by a Job Guarantee Officer whose responsibility is to provide useful and rewarding employment for any American, able and willing to work but not yet working, unable otherwise to obtain work, and applying to such office for assistance. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to carry out responsibilities under this Act upon the recommendation and approval of the local planning councils. Requires that each Job Guarantee Office in carrying out its responsibilities shall insure that among projects planned that adequate consideration be given to such individuals and groups as may face special obstacles in finding and holding useful and rewarding employment and shall provide or have provided through the coordination of existing programs special assistance including but not limited to counseling, training, and, where necessary, transportation and migration assistance. Provides that such individuals and groups shall include (1) those suffering from past or present discrimination or bias on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin; (2) older workers and retirees; (3) the physically or mentally handicapped; (4) youths to age 21; (5) potentially employable recipients of public assistance; (6) the inhabitants of depressed areas, urban and rural; (7) veterans of the Armed Forces; (8) people unemployed because of the relocation, closing, or reduced operations in industrial or military facilities; and (9) such other groups as the President or the Congress may designate from time to time. Directs that each Job Guarantee Office may, subject to the limitations specified in this Act, enter into agreements with public agencies and private organizations operating on a profit, nonprofit, or limited-profit basis. Requires such agreements to contain assurances that the agency or organization will: (1) provide an annual independent audit to the Job Guarantee Office; and (2) not discriminate on the grounds of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin in the administration of any program encompassed within the agreement. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to: (1) refer jobseekers to the private sector and general public sector employment placement facilities of the Full Employment Service (other than as supplemented by this Act); and (2) directly refer jobseekers for placement in positions on projects drawn from the reservoir of public service and private employment projects. Provides that any who presents himself or herself in person at the full Employment Office shall be considered prima facie "willing and able" to work. Provides that this stipulation specifically shall include persons with impairments of sight, hearing, movement, coordination, mental retardation, or other handicaps. Directs that this stipulation be implemented by the Job Guarantee Officer, prusuant to regulations issued by the Secretary. Establishes a Standby Job Corps which shall consist of jobseekers registered pursuant to this Act. Provides that such Corps shall be available for public service work upon projects and activities that are approved as a part of community public service work reservoirs established by community boards pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary, by regulation, to provide for: (1) a requirement that jobseekers registered in the Standby Job Corps maintain a status of good standing, which status shall include attendance and performance standards; and (2) a system of compensation for Corps members. Provides that no Standby Job Corps members shall be paid less than the minimum wage in effect in the area. Directs the Joint Economic Committee to: (1) annually review the activities of the executive branch under all sections of this Act; (2) regularly conduct on its own behalf, or in cooperation with or through the facilities of the appropriate legislative committees or subcommittees of the Senate and the House, public hearings in as many labor market areas as feasible; and (3) annually report upon, with its own conclusions and recommendations, the development and administration of the policies and programs mandated by this Act. Establishes a National Institute for Full Employment within the Department of Labor, under a director to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor, and to operate in continuing consultation with a National Commission for Full Employment Policy Studies. Authorizes and directs the Institute to make, or have made through grants to or contracts with individual researchers and private or public research organizations, universities, and other Government agencies, studies that shall include, but need not be limited to, such subjects as: (1) the policies and programs needed to reduce whatever inflationary pressures may result from full employment to manage any such inflationary pressures through appropriate fiscal policies and indirect and direct controls, and to protect the weaker groups in society from whatever inflationary trends cannot be avoided or controlled; (2) the identification of human potentialities that are hidden, undeveloped, or underdeveloped because of the lack of suitable job opportunities, encouragement, education, or training and of various ways of releasing such potentialities; (3) the forms of education and training needed to help provide people with the skills, knowledge, and values required by existing employment opportunities and technologies and needed to assist in developing such new types of goods, services, technologies, and employment opportunities as may better meet human needs; and (4) the policies and programs needed to substantially eliminate substandard employment, wages, and working conditions and the techniques for establishing standards for employment, wages, and working conditions in accordance with changing levels of national output and resources, and regional variations in output. Authorizes the appropriation for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1977, and for each succeeding fiscal year of such sums as may be needed to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) all military, economic, or other assistance, all sales of defense articles and services, all sales of agricultural commodities and services, and all licenses with respect to the transportation of arms, ammunitions, and implements of war (including technical data relating thereto) to the Government of Turkey should be suspended on the date of adoption of this resolution; and (2) the provisions of this resolution should cease to apply when the President reports to the Congress that the Government of Turkey has withdrawn all of its armed forces from Cyprus.