United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Judicial Tenure Act - Establishes in the judicial branch a seven-member Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure to: (1) investigate, upon formal or informal request of any person, any Federal judge or the physical or mental condition of any judge (except a justice of the Supreme Court); and (2) determine whether (A) the conduct of such judge is consistent with the good behavior required by article III of the Constitution, or (B) such condition renders such judge unable to discharge the duties of judicial office. Directs the Commission to consider (but not be bound by) the following factors in making such a determination with respect to the good behavior standard: (1) Canons of Judicial Ethics of the American Bar Association and the Judicial Conference of the United States; (2) resolutions of the Judicial Conference; and (3) Acts of Congress relating to judicial conduct. Stipulates that willful and persistent failure to perform duties of office or habitual intemperance may be deemed to be inconsistent with the good behavior requirement. Requires the Commission to certify a judge whose physical or mental condition renders him or her unable to properly discharge the duties of office to the President for involuntary retirement. Stipulates that habitual intemperance may be deemed to be such a condition. Sets forth procedures for determinations by the Commission. Provides for a hearing upon the Commission's determination that there is probable cause for further investigation. Grants to the judge affected certain due process rights at such hearing. Requires the Commission to make findings of fact and a determination as to the judge's conduct or condition within 60 days of such hearing. Requires the concurrence of five members of the Commission that a preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that a judge be removed, censured, or involuntarily retired. Subjects such a determination to Supreme Court review.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to permit local distribution companies to provide natural gas service to residential customers for use in outdoor lighting fixtures installed before the enactment of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Defense Production Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to authorize the President to allow the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority to guarantee loans for the purpose of expediting deliveries or services with respect to national defense contracts. Increases the maximum loan which any Federal agency may guarantee under such Act without the approval of Congress from $20,000,000 to $38,000,000. Requires notification to specified Congressional committees of any proposed obligation above such limit. Authorizes the agency involved to guarantee such a loan if neither House of Congress disapproves of such action within a specified time. Authorizes the President to provide loans to private business enterprises for the production of energy. Increases the ceiling for loans made to private enterprises pursuant to such Act from $25,000,000 to 48,000,000. Extends the President's power under such Act to purchase raw materials for the national defense through fiscal year 1995. Directs the President to attempt to achieve a national production goal of at least 500,000 barrels per day crude oil equivalent of synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks within five years. Authorizes and directs the President to require fuel and chemical feedstock suppliers to provide synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks in any case where the President deems it practicable and necessary to meet national defense needs. Authorizes the President, in carrying out these objectives, to: (1) contract for purchases or commitments to purchase synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks which may be for Government use or resale; and (2) encourage the development and production of such synthetic fuels and feedstocks for national defense preparedness. Terminates the President's authority to enter into such contracts at the end of fiscal year 1995. Sets forth procedures for the awarding and performance of such contracts. Authorizes the President to organize corporations to meet the production goal for synthetic fuels and feedstocks as set forth in this Act. Sets forth Congressional oversight measures with respect to the formation of such corporations. Authorizes appropriations of $2,000,000,000 for synthetic fuel and feedstock contracts as authorized pursuant to this Act. Extends specified provisions of such Act through fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Department of Commerce and International Trade Organization Act - Title I: Findings and Purposes - Enumerates the following functions of the Department of Commerce: (1) the promotion of U.S. exports; (2) the analysis of information on commercial trends; (3) the provision of trade opportunities for U.S. businesses; (4) the coordination of Government programs having impact on international trade; (5) the administration of export controls; (6) the dissemination of information on imports; and (7) the assurance of adequate supplies of materials critical to national security or the nations economy. Vests in the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations the functions of directing trade negotiations, coordinating U.S. trade law and policy, implementing trade agreements, and monitoring international energy negotiations. Title II: Reorganization of International Trade Functions - Redesignates the Department of Commerce as the Department of Commerce and International Trade. Provides for the appointment within such Department of an Under Secretary for International Trade and an Under Secretary for Domestic Commerce. Redesignates the Secretary of Commerce as the Secretary of Commerce and International Trade. Directs the Secretary to: (1) oversee the collection and dissemination of information concerning domestic and international trade; (2) conduct a joint study with specified Federal agencies regarding international trade; and (3) consult and cooperate with State and local governments. Transfers to the Secretary specified functions of: (1) the Department of State; (2) the Department of the Treasury; (3) the Office of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations; (4) the International Trade Commission; (5) the Secretary of Labor; and (6) the Secretary of the Interior. Transfers to and establishes within the Department: (1) the Export-Import Bank; (2) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and (3) the International Trade Commission. Transfers specified State Department functions to the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth administrative provisions concerning the appointment and transfer of personnel and the reorganization of the Department. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to do that which is necessary to carry out this Act. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the President for submission to Congress concerning the Department's activities. Authorizes appropriations as necessary to carry the functions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1979
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exclude from its coverage any individual certified by a private nonprofit institution of higher education to be a full-time student at that institution and employed by that institution as a resident assistant or counselor living in a resident hall or dormitory of such an institution.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that certain restrictions on the issuance of nonimmigrant visas to alien doctors will not apply to doctors coming to practice at public hospitals or clinics in the Virgin Islands.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1979
Veterans' Obligated Period of Service Completion Act - Redefines "veteran" for veterans' benefits purposes to mean an individual who served in, and was not dishonorably discharged from, the active armed services before the period ending 90 days after enactment of this Act, or who entered the active armed services on or after such 90-day period and: (1) served the entire term of duty and was other than dishonorably discharged; (2) was discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability; or (3) before the completion of such term of duty was discharged other-than dishonorably for a satisfactory reason (including joining a reserve unit or enrolling in an educational program). Redefines "eligible veteran" for post-Vietnam era educational assistance to mean an individual who initially entered the armed services on or after January 1, 1977, and: (1) if active service was before such 90-day period under this Act, served more than 180 consecutive days and was discharged other than dishonorably or for a service-connected disability; and (2) if active service was on or after such 90-day period, served more than 180 consecutive days.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1979
Requires the President to insure the satisfactory resolution of the certified claims of United States nationals against the Cuban Government before considering normalizing relations with Cuba. Requires the provision of tax credits to United States certified claimants should the President enter into any agreement involving counterclaims made by the Cuban Government. Directs the President to urge the Cuban Government to establish a fund for the payment of claims of U.S. nationals to be administered by the International Monetary Fund or some similar international agency.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Replacement Motor Fuels Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to promote the development and use of replacement fuels in the United States to replace gasoline used as a motor fuel with replacement motor fuel containing the maximum percentage of alcohol, or other liquid produced from coal, oil, shale, or other substances as is economically and technically feasible. Directs the Secretary to determine with respect to replacement fuels: the most suitable raw materials for their production, the nature of the distribution systems and production processes of such fuels, the technical and economic feasibility of including liquids extracted from oil shale and coal in such program, and the technical and economic feasibility of reaching goal of replacing 20 percent of the gasoline used as a motor fuel with replacement fuels by the year 1992. Directs the Secretary to set production goals for replacement fuels for each of calendar years through 1981 through 1987. Sets forth the manner of determining the percentage of replacement fuel by volume to be contained in the total quantity of gasoline and replacement fuel sold annually in commerce in the United States in calendar years 1981 through 1990, and directs the Secretary to issue a rule setting the minimum percentage replacement fuel to be sold for year 1981 through 1986 by any refiner. by any refiner. Sets forth provisions for the enforcement of such requirements. Authorizes the appropriation of up to $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1980 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada should meet to discuss energy issues and establish a common economic bond of energy cooperation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1979
Amends the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act to authorize customs officers to stop and search without a search warrant any vehicle or person, if there is reasonable cause to suspect that monetary instruments are being transported for which reports are required.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1979
Amends the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act to include anyone attempting to transport or have transported monetary instruments across the borders of the United States among the persons required to file a report under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1979
Amends the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay informants who report violations of the reporting requirements applicable to exports and imports of monetary instruments.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1979
Changes the name of the National Historical Publications Commission to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1980 and 1981 to the General Services Administration for such Commission and for providing funds to Federal, State, and local agencies and to nonprofit organizations for the collecting, preserving, and publishing of historically significant documents.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1979
Open House Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to: (1) direct each standing committee to establish a subcommittee on oversight; (2) direct standing committees to develop an oversight agenda and timetable; (3) direct representatives of the membership of the Committee on Government Operations to meet with majority and minority Members of each House committee to coordinate all of the oversight activities of the House; (4) require the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to file a written report containing its findings and recommendations for action on each investigation it undertakes; (5) allow the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to undertake investigations by direction of the House on adoption of a resolution; (6) limit the number of subcommittees that may be established by standing committees to at least four but no more than six (excluding the Committee on Appropriations); (7) require the maintenance of complete public records of all committee action; (8) prohibit proxy votes in committees and subcommittees; (9) provide for open committee meetings unless such meetings are closed by a rollcall vote of a majority of committee Members; (10) permit any committee Member to demand a rollcall vote on any question in committee; (11) require an affirmative rollcall vote of a majority of committee Members to report a measure or recommendation to the House; and (12) require the maintenance of complete public records of all conference committee actions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1979
Amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to set a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment for anyone violating the provisions of such Act by importing or exporting at least 100 pounds of marijuana. Stipulates that the execution or imposition of such term of imprisonment: (1) may not be suspended; (2) may not include probation or parole; and (3) is not subject to the Federal Youth Corrections Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act of 1979 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act to require the Congressional Budget Office, for every bill or resolution reported in the House or Senate, to prepare and submit (along with its regular estimate of the Federal cost involved) an estimate of the costs which would be incurred by State and local governments in carrying out or complying with such bill or resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Amends the Occupational; Safety and Health Act of 1970 to direct the Secretary of Labor to prepare an economic impact analysis in connection with the promulgation of occupational safety and health standards.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Prohibits the Federal Trade Commission from applying for the cancellation of a registered trademark under the Lanham Act solely on the ground that such trademark has become the common descriptive name of an article or substance.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Soft Drink Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that exclusive territorial arrangements made as a part of a licensing agreement for the manufacture, distribution, or sale of a trademarked soft drink product are lawful under the antitrust laws provided such product is in substantial and effective competition with other products of the same general class. Prohibits recovery in private actions under the Clayton Act based on territorial provisions in a trademark licensing agreement prior to a final determination that such provisions are unlawful.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1979
Prohibits the use of Federal funds for the expenses of foreign travel by any Senator, Representative, or any officer or employee of the Congress unless such travel is authorized by a recorded three-fourths vote of the House involved.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1979
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation or the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from issuing any rule, regulation, or order relating to specified aspects of the control of navigable airspace.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow certain aliens applying as immigrants to be given preference visas as children of United States citizens provided such an alien: (1) requests such treatment; (2) was born after 1950 in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, or Thailand; (3) was fathered by an American serviceman; and (4) provides a guarantee of financial support. Stipulates that such guarantee must: (1) be signed by a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident who is at least 21 years old; and (2) provide that such signing sponsor will provide necessary financial support for five years. Allows the Attorney General to enforce such guarantee against the sponsor in a civil suit unless such sponsor dies or is adjudicated bankrupt.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1979
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to add a new Rule XLIX to require that remarks made by Members on the floor must be related to governmental matters to be printed in the Congressional Record. Exempts remarks on the death of a present or former Federal official from such standard.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1979
Independent Contractor Tax Status Clarification Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify standards for determining whether certain individuals qualify as independent contractors for purposes of social security taxation. Treats an individual as an independent contractor if such individual: (1) controls the total number of his work hours; (2) does not maintain a principal place of business, or if he does, such place of business is not provided, or provided rent-free, by the person for whom such individual performs services; (3) has substantial investment in his business and earns income based upon sales or output rather than upon number of hours worked; and (4) performs services pursuant to a written contract and is provided written notice of his responsibility with respect to income and self-employment taxes. Amends Title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for service performed by an individual who qualifies as an independent contractor under the standards established by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1979
Limits the amount of outside earned income which may be received by any Member of Congress in any calendar year to 15 percent of his or her annual aggregate salary. Prohibits any Member of Congress from accepting any honorarium in excess of $1,000 in value for an appearance or speech made or article written by such Member while serving in Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to permit States to require any individual to work if such individual's needs are taken into account in determining eligibility for AFDC benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject nonresident aliens and foreign corporations to a tax on the gain from the sale or exchange of farm or rural lands situated in the United States. Requires foreign corporations which hold United States farm lands comprising 20 percent of their assets to make reports on such holdings as the Secretary of the Treasury may require.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include displaced homemakers as a targeted group for whom the new employee credit is available. Defines "displaced homemaker" as an individual who: (1) has not worked in the labor force for a substantial number of years but has provided unpaid services in the home for family members; (2) has been dependent on public assistance or the income of another family member but is no longer supported by that income; and (3) is unemployed or underemployed and has encountered difficulty in obtaining suitable employment.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1979
Allows initial pleadings in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico to be filed in either the Spanish or English language. Requires further pleadings and proceedings to be in English, unless the court allows the use of Spanish, upon the request of a criminal defendant, the agreement of all parties in a civil case, or upon the court's own motion. Provides that each written order and decision shall be in the language used in the trial or proceeding, except that on appeal all records and documents shall be in English. Prohibits the disqualification of persons on a grand or petit jury in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico solely because of a person's inability to speak, read, write and understand English if such person is able to speak, read, write, and understand the language in which the trial or proceeding is being conducted.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1979
Declares that Zimbabwe Rhodesia has (1) demonstrated its willingness to negotiate in good faith at an all parties conference and (2) approved a constitution transferring power to a black majority government. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President (1) should determine that Zimbabwe Rhodesia is in substantial compliance with the International Security Assistance Act of 1978 and (2) should not enforce sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1979
Amends the Revenue Act of 1978 to provide that the credit or refund permitted with respect to the investment tax credit for single purpose agricultural or horticultural structures shall be allowed without regard to the statute of limitations or any rule of law (including res judicata) which may apply to taxable years to which the credit applies.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1979
Senior Citizens Health Insurance Reform Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to institute a program of voluntary certification for health insurance policies sold in supplementation of medicare. Sets forth minimum standards for such certification with respect to liability, cancellation, reasonableness of premium charge, and economic benefit to the insured. Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) misrepresentations in connection with such certification; (2) the sale of specified types of duplicate insurance; and (3) certain activities in connection with the sale of insurance policies in States which have not approved such policies.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1979
Amends the program of medical and dental care for members and certain former members of the uniformed services and for their dependents to include former spouses of members of the uniformed services. Establishes length of marriage and other requirements of eligibility.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1979
Establishes a Joint Select Committee on Defense Readiness and Mobilization Capability to investigate and report on defense readiness and mobilization capability, including an analysis of: (1) the kind and extent of threats to the national defense; and (2) the quality and quantity of manpower, material, transportation, budgetary, and programmatic resources needed at present, and able to be mobilized in the future. Sets forth the requirements for appointment to the joint select committee.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Abolishes diversity of citizenship as a basis of jurisdiction of Federal district courts, but retains as a basis of jurisdiction "alienage," involving foreign states or citizens of foreign states. Increases the amount in controversy requirement in such cases from $10,000 to $25,000. Abolishes the amount in controversy requirement in Federal question cases. Retains as a basis for Federal jurisdiction statutory interpleader, which includes actions between citizens of different States. Permits venue for a Federal civil action in any judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or in which a substantial part of property that is the subject of the action is situated. Requires, in suits for damages brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act, that the matter in controversy exceed the sum or value of $10,000. Exempts from such requirement actions brought against the United States, Federal agencies or employees of such agencies.
![Official portrait of Rep. Butler, M. Caldwell [R-VA-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001182_200.jpg)