United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1977
Federal Employees' Political Activities Act - Revises provisions prohibiting Federal employees, Postal Service employees, and District of Columbia employees from engaging in political activities. Continues proscriptions against employees using their official authority or influence to interfere with the result of any election or to coerce the political action of any person. Modifies provisions relating to the solicitation and offering of political contributions by Federal employees. Prohibits employees from: (1) giving or offering to give a political contribution to any individual either to vote or refrain from voting; (2) soliciting or receiving a political contribution to vote or refrain from voting; (3) knowingly giving a political contribution to a superior; (4) knowingly soliciting or receiving a political contribution from another employee with respect to whom such employee is a superior; (5) knowingly soliciting or receiving a political contribution in specified facilities; or (6) knowingly soliciting or receiving a political contribution from or giving a political contribution to an employee, Member of Congress or officer of a uniformed service. Places additional restrictions on specified employees of the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Justice and the Central Intelligence Agency. Prohibits employees, with specified exceptions, from engaging in political activities while on duty, while wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying their position, or in designated areas. Establishes the Board on Political Activities of Federal Employees to decide cases regarding violations of this Act. Directs the Civil Service Commission to investigate reports and allegations of prohibited activity. Requires the Commission to give notice to the Board and the employees involved of apparent violations, except when the conduct of specified officials is involved, in which case the Commission is directed to refer the matter to the Attorney General and to report to Congress and the President. Directs the Board to render a final decision on the apparent violation on the basis of the record after a hearing conducted by a hearing examiner, which record shall include the recommended decision of the hearing examiner and any exception to such decision filed by the employee. Permits an employee upon whom a penalty is imposed by an order of the Board to seek judicial review. Specifies penalties for violation of the prohibitions contained in this Act. Directs the Commission to establish a continuing program to inform all employees of their rights of political participation and to educate employees with respect to those activities which are prohibited. Creates a specific criminal offense for extortion of political contributions from Federal personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1977
Life Support Centers Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize and direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to make grants to the health agencies of States, or political subdivisions thereof, or to any qualified nonprofit agency for programs of: (1) prenatal health care to adolescents; (2) health care to infants of adolescent mothers; (3) family planning services; (4) social services for adolescent mothers; and (5) funds to purchase adoption services for adolescent mothers. Stipulates that the Federal share of assistance to programs under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of a program. Sets forth procedures by which application may be made for grants. Authorizes the appropriation of $30,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act for fiscal year 1978 and for each of the two succeeding fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
States that, for the purposes of naturalization, a certain individual is deemed to have been in the United States at the time of his enlistment in the armed forces.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities which are engaged in the development of new schools of veterinary medicine to assist in such development. Requires applying schools to demonstrate that there is a reasonable indication that non-Federal financial resources for development will be available and that Federal assistance will accelerate the date on which the school will be able to begin its teaching program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities which are engaged in the development of new schools of veterinary medicine to assist in such development. Requires applying schools to demonstrate that there is a reasonable indication that non-Federal financial resources for development will be available and that Federal assistance will accelerate the date on which the school will be able to begin its teaching program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities which are engaged in the development of new schools of veterinary medicine to assist in such development. Requires applying schools to demonstrate that there is a reasonable indication that non-Federal financial resources for development will be available and that Federal assistance will accelerate the date on which the school will be able to begin its teaching program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities which are engaged in the development of new schools of veterinary medicine to assist in such development. Requires applying schools to demonstrate that there is a reasonable indication that non-Federal financial resources for development will be available and that Federal assistance will accelerate the date on which the school will be able to begin its teaching program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Authorizes Representative Parren J. Mitchell to appear as a witness before the Superior Court of Baltimore City, State of Maryland, in response to the summons served to him.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Declares that the House of Representatives does not favor energy action numbered 9, which would exempt motor gasoline from mandatory petroleum price controls.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1977
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act - Title I: National Park System - Designates specified public lands in the state of Alaska to be included as units of the National Park System. Title II: National Wildlife Refuge System - Establishes specified areas in Alaska as units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Title III: National Wild and Scenic Rivers System - Lists rivers in Alaska which shall be wild rivers for purposes of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Title IV: National Forest System - Authorizes the President to add specified lands to the Tongass and Chugach National Forest in Alaska. Title V: National Petroleum Reserve In Alaska - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska in such a manner as to preserve subsistence lands for natives and to promote specified conservation objectives. Title VI: Designation of Wilderness Areas - Designates specified Alaskan lands to be included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Title VII: General Administrative Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to designate subsistence management zones and to establish regulatory subsistence boards to further the preservation of subsistence lands for natives. Makes additional administrative provisions. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1977
Directs the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a bronze bust or statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. and to place it in a suitable location in the Capitol.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 1977
World War I Pension Act - Requires the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay (in addition to any already paid) a monthly pension of $150 to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements, or to the surviving spouse of each such veteran, or when there is no surviving spouse, to the child or children of each such veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 1977
Creates, effective January 3, 1977, a House Select Committee on Professional Sports to conduct an inquiry into the need for legislation with respect to the professional sports industry and to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the impact of current antitrust law and policy on all professional sports. Requires the select committee to annually report the results of all activities and investigations conducted by the committee.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Bill of Rights Procedures Act - Title I: Confidentiality of Financial, Toll, and Credit Records - Prohibits any United States entity or representative from obtaining copies of, or access to, information contained in the financial records, toll records, or credit records of any customer of a financial institution, communication common carrier, credit card issuer, or consumer reporting agency. Lifts such prohibition if: (1) the records are described with sufficient particularity; and (2) the customer has authorized disclosure, the disclosure is obtained in response to an administrative subpoena, search warrant, or judicial subpoena, or disclosure is in compliance with specified provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Sets forth procedures for obtaining customer authorization, administrative subpoenas and summons, search warrants, and judicial subpoenas. Requires financial institutions, communication common carriers, credit card issuers, and consumer reporting agencies to keep records of all examinations of customer records, including the identity of the person examining such records, the governmental agency or department such person represents, and a copy of the authorization. Directs that copies of, or the information contained in, financial, toll, or credit records obtained pursuant to this Act not be used for other than the specific statutory purpose for which the information was originally obtained and that such information or records not be provided to any other Government department or agency or other person except where the transfer of such information is specifically authorized by statute. Stipulates that any action under this title may be brought in any appropriate U.S. district court without regard to the amount in controversy, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, within three years from the date on which the violation occurs or the date of discovery of such violation, whichever is later. Imposes liability on any person or entity who knowingly obtains or discloses information in violation of this title, making such person or entity liable to the customer to whom the disclosed information relates for actual damages, such punitive damages as the court may allow if the violation was willful, and the costs of litigation. Makes injunctive relief available to any person aggrieved by a violation or threatened violation of this Act. Title II: Mail Covers - Defines "mail cover" as the procedures by which a systematic record or inspection is made of any data appearing on the outside cover of any mail matter. Prohibits the initiation of any mail cover without the written authorization of specified postal officials and good cause to believe, on the basis of an affidavit setting forth the specific reasons for the proposed mail cover, that such procedure is necessary to the investigation of the commission or the attempted commission of a felony or is necessary to aid in locating a fugitive. Permits a mail cover to be conducted for 30 days, with extensions to be granted as specified. Requires any mail cover conducted for more than one year to be judicially authorized. Allows the chief postal inspector or a regional chief postal inspector to issue an emergency authorization for a mail cover on the basis of an oral request from specified law enforcement officials, if such request is supported by an affidavit within 45 days and on condition that no data from such mail cover be made available to the requesting authority until authorization according to regular procedures has been granted. Stipulates that the subjects of mail covers shall be given notice of such cover within 90 days of its termination, unless notice is judicially waived due to possible jeopardizing of continuing investigations. Requires that the chief postal inspector submit to Congress an annual report including the number of requests for mail covers, the identity of the law enforcement agencies making such requests, and a list of the offenses for which mail cover requests were received. Specifies civil remedies for violation of this title. Title III: Amendments to Chapter 119, Title 18, United States Code - Sets forth procedures and restrictions governing the interception of wire or oral communications for purposes of supervisory observing or service by communication common carriers and others. Requires each communication common carrier to submit an annual report to the Federal Communications Commission detailing the interceptions made by it for the protection of its service against theft of service, the nature and frequency of communications intercepted, the number of persons whose communications were intercepted, the length of such interceptions, and the number of hours of recording of intercepted communications. Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, possession, and advertising of devices for theft of communication common carrier services. Stipulates that any such device may be seized and forfeited to the United States. Title IV: Penalties - Subjects officers, agents, or employees of the United States who violate any provision of title I or title II of this Act to a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Title V: Congressional Subpoenas - Stipulates that nothing in this Act shall apply to Congressional subpoenas.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Amends the Water Bank Act to increase the maximum amount of aggregate payments which may be made by the Secretary of the Interior to owners or operators of eligible wetland areas in calendar years after 1976 from $10,000,000 to $50,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for 25 percent of the amount of rent paid by the taxpayer which is equal to the taxpayer's proportionate share of the local and State property taxes imposed on the land and building in which his dwelling unit is located.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Requires a Federal permit for the taking of migratory game birds other than migratory waterfowl. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to sell such permits at one dollar each and to use the net receipts for conserving migratory game birds other than migratory waterfowl by: (1) conducting research, studies and other activities in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Act; (2) acquiring land or interests therein in accordance with the Migratory Bird Conservation Act; and (3) conducting law enforcement activities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue obligations in order to acquire waterfowl nesting and breeding grounds (wetlands and pothole areas). Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase any such obligations. States that all obligations issued by the Secretary of the Interior shall be lawful investments, and shall be deemed to be exempt securities. Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of the Treasury to determine the amount of revenues they anticipate will be received from the sale of Federal migratory bird hunting stamps, and to determine whether such revenues will be sufficient, together with other revenues in the migratory bird conservation fund, to pay the principal of and interest on any obligations issued under this Act and the premium, if any, upon redemption.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Amends the National Labor Relations Act to stipulate that it shall not be an unfair Labor practice for a labor organization, which has agreed upon a method for the settlement of grievance disputes arising over the application or interpretation of an existing collective-bargaining agreement, to refuse to provide or defray the cost of an attorney for any nonunion employee involved in any such settlement procedure.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to remove the 25-member limit to the number of sponsors of any House of Representatives bill. Permits the addition or deletion of any Member's name as the sponsor of any legislation by a request made by a Member to the Speaker on behalf of such Member.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1977
Interfuel Competition Act - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any person engaged in the production and refining of petroleum or natural gas, or both: (1) from acquiring any interest in the coal business, oil shale business, uranium business, nuclear reactor business, geothermal steam business, or solar energy business after the enactment of this Act; or (2) from owning or controlling any coal business, oil shale business, uranium business, nuclear reactor business, geothermal steam business, or solar energy business after the expiration of three years after the enactment of this Act. Requires each person who has any interest in, owns or controls any coal business, oil shale business, uranium business, nuclear reactor business, geothermal steam business, or solar energy business, within 120 days after the enactment of this Act, to file with the Attorney General such reports concerning each such business as the Attorney General may by regulation require. Directs the Attorney General to take appropriate enforcement action in the United States district courts. Imposes criminal penalties of up to $100,000 in fines and/or imprisonment of up to ten years for knowing violations of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove the requirements that contributions terminate, and distributions commence, from individual retirement accounts and retirement plans for the self-employed when the covered individual attains the age of 70 1/2 years.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1977
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 to require that a statement accompany every public bill or joint resolution reported by a congressional committee containing a copy of the probable matter and format of each new form or report or revision of any existing form or report that is required by or is likely to result from the enactment of such bill or resolution and which is to be completed by someone other than an officer or employee of the Federal Government or any State government.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1977
State Technical Services Amendments - Amends the State Technical Services Act of 1965 to make municipal governments eligible for technical services, and extends the Act through fiscal year 1979 by authorizing appropriations of $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, and $60,000,000 for fiscal year 1979. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish a nationwide information system to provide data concerning each State technical services program and the establishment of regional offices to facilitate communications between States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1977
Directs the House Committee on International Relations to conduct hearings to determine the nature and extent of any United States involvement in the hostilities in Northern Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Title I: Authorizations and Limitations - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the appropriation for surety bond guarantees from $56,500,000 to $71,000,000. Increases from $6,000,000,000 to $8,000,000,000 the amount appropriated for the business loan and investment fund of the Small Business Administration. Increases from $450,000,000 to $525,000,000 the amount appropriated for economic opportunity loans. Increases the funds for small business investment companies from $725,000,000 to $1,100,000,000. Authorizes appropriations and sets program levels for various programs under the Small Business Act for fiscal years 1978 and 1979. Title II: Miscellaneous, Conforming and Technical Amendments - Requires that reports to the President and Congress concerning minority small businesses include: the proportion of loans and other assistance under this Act; the goals of the Administration for the next fiscal year with respect to such concerns: and recommendations for improving assistance. Title III: Amendments to Small Business Administration Loan Authority - Amends the Small Business Act to allow loans to be used for the financing of residential or commercial construction or rehabilitation for sale. States that no payments will be required of the small business while payments are being made by the Small Business Administration pursuant to the assumption of such business's obligation or while the Administration has suspended payment on its own loan. Limits the period of such assumption or suspension to five years. Sets the prerequisites for receiving the loan and the conditions for repayment of such loan. Title IV: Amendments to Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Authority - Expands the coverage of disaster loans to situations which the Small Business Administration determines to be disasters and where no disaster has been declared upon the certification by the Governor of a State to the Small Business Administration that small business concerns have suffered economic injury as a result of such disaster and that financial assistance is not available on reasonable terms in the disaster-stricken area. Title V: Certificate of Competency - Amends the elements to be considered in certification of any small business for the receipt or performance of a specific Government contract. Requires that final disposition of contract awards be made by the Administration. Describes the role of Government procurement officers and officers engaged in the sale and disposal of Federal property. Title VI: Small Business Set-Asides - Provides that any contracting agency, under the Small Business Act, shall place contracts to allow more than one small business concern to perform work, if the amount of a proposed small business set-aside contract exceeds the maximum amount of a contract for which a surety may be guaranteed against loss under the Small Business Administration's surety bond guarantee program.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends Titles XVIII (Medicare) and II (Old Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that eligible drugs, requiring a physician's prescription or certification, shall be included among the items and services covered under the hospital insurance program for the aged at a specified amount of payment. States that the reasonable allowance for eligible drugs furnished an individual pursuant to any one prescription and purchased by such individual at any one time shall be reduced by an amount equal to the applicable prescription copayment obligation which shall be $1. Establishes, within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a Medicare Formulary Committee to compile and publish a Formulary listing the drugs deemed qualified for benefits under this Act, together with maximum allowable costs and additional information concerning such drugs. Makes provisions for selecting drugs for the Formulary.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments - Title I: Purposes, Definitions, and National Policy for Managing the Resources of the Outer Continental Shelf - States that the purposes of this Act are to: (1) establish policies and procedures for managing the oil and natural gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf in order to achieve national economic goals; (2) preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf; (3) encourage development of new and improved technology for energy resource production that will increase human safety and eliminate or reduce risk of environmental damage; and (4) assure that coastal States which are directly impacted by oil and natural gas exploration and development are provided with an opportunity to take part in policy and planning decisions. Title II: Amendments to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act - Revises bidding and lease administration under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Stipulates that no geological and geophysical exploration shall take place in the Outer Continental Shelf without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior. Directs the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive exploratory program designed to obtain sufficient data to evaluate the extent, location, and potential for developing the oil and gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf. Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for determining the areas to be considered for exploratory drilling and potential leasing. Authorizes the appropriation of $200,000,000 during fiscal years 1976 and 1977 for such purposes. Requires the Secretary to transmit a leasing and development plan to Congress at least 90 calendar days prior to announcing the invitation to bid on each tract in which oil or gas is found in commercial quantities. Designates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the "lead agency" for purpose of complying with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act as such Act pertains to the implementation of this Act. Requires that environmental impact statements include such information as: (1) the probable impact of the proposed exploration or development on the marine and coastal environments; and (2) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the proposed exploration or development. Requires the development, promulgation, and enforcement of safety regulations for operations in the Outer Continental Shelf. Requires that the Coast Guard make regular inspections and strictly enforce the safety regulations. Imposes penalties for violation of this Act. Allows citizen suits by persons having an interest which is, or may be, adversely affected. Permits civil actions against any person, including the United States, and against the Secretary of the Interior where there is alleged a failure of the Secretary to perform any act or duty under this Act which is not discretionary. Subjects any person in charge of any oil and gas operations in the Outer Continental Shelf to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for failure to immediately notify an appropriate agency of the U.S. Government of a discharge or spillage of oil. Authorizes, for the purpose of removing a discharge or spilling, the withdrawal of money available in the Offshore Oil Pollution Settlements Fund established pursuant to this Act. Imposes on each barrel of oil produced pursuant to any lease issued or maintained under this Act a fee of two and a half cents per barrel to pay costs of administration of this Act. Stipulates that collection of amounts for the fund shall cease when $100,000,000 has been accumulated, but shall be renewed when the accumulation in the fund falls below $85,000,000. Stipulates that immediately upon the date of enactment of this Act, there shall cease any additional leasing of tracts for the purpose of developing oil and gas under the authority of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in all regions and areas where there has been no previous development of oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf or other areas where geological or environmental conditions make such development hazardous. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish a report with recommendations for achieving an equitable system of lease sales while maximizing production and revenues from the leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands. Directs the Secretary to study the most appropriate means of developing a National Strategic Energy Reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Marine Resources Conservation and Development Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to authorize distribution of revenues collected from Federal leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. Stipulates that 40 percent of such revenues shall be paid into a newly-created Marine Resources Conservation and Development Fund for use by the Secretary of the Interior for marine resources programs. Stipulates that the remainder of such revenues shall be made available to the States in accordance with a prescribed formula. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish an Advisory Board to assist in implementing marine resources conservation and development programs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends the Small Business Act to encourage the Small Business Administration to make loans to enable small business concerns to obtain contracts and permits to operate concessions within any area of the National Park System. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish policies to insure that small business concerns are given a reasonable opportunity to compete for the operation of such concessions. Requires the Secretary to make an annual report to the President and Congress summarizing contracts, permits, renewals and extensions issued during the preceding year and setting forth the actions taken by the Secretary to implement this Act. Amends the Concessions Policy Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary to review franchise and other fees paid by concessions at least every three years. Provides for arbitration when a concessioner disagrees with the revision of franchise fees. Makes provisions to insure full and open competition for operation of concessions. Requires the Secretary to publish his intent to enter into such concession contracts and to describe the manner in which the facilities conform with any master plan developed by the Secretary. Provides that construction of structures, fixtures, or land improvements on lands of the United States be authorized only after public review. Requires amortization, over the estimated life of the structure, of the actual cost of the investment made by the concession. States that title to any structure, fixture, or improvement on land owned by the United States and administered by the National Park Service shall be vested in the United States. Limits the term of any contract or permit entered into pursuant to this Act to ten years. Provides for compensation of a valid possessory interest in any structure, fixture or improvement upon land of the United States of a concessioner operating under a contract executed prior to the enactment of this Act. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the National Park Service Concession Fund into which all fees and other payments by concessioners shall be deposited. Makes such funds available for the purchase of any concessioner's possessory interest upon termination of the contract or permit and the payment of un-amortized costs of any structure, fixture, or improvement constructed pursuant to any contract executed after the enactment of this Act. Requires specified officers and employees of the Department of the Interior to file a statement with the Secretary on an annual basis concerning all financial interests in any concession or any applicant for a concession contract or permit. Requires the Secretary to submit any contract or permit to Congress before its execution which has a duration of more than five years or which involves an expected gross income exceeding $50,000 annually and to wait a 60-day period for any written notification of objection.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to reduce the requirements for eligibility for disability benefits for blind persons. Requires that a blind individual have at least six quarters of coverage to be eligible for disability benefits. Sets forth a method of computing the average monthly wage of a blind individual for the purpose of determining such individual's primary insurance amount. Provides that in no case shall such amount be less than the amount which would be determined without regard to an individual's blindness. States that no reductions will be made from the benefits to which a person is entitled because of such person's refusal to accept State-approved rehabilitative services under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. Continues the payment of such benefits as long as blindness lasts, the amount of an individual's earnings notwithstanding.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Allows an individual who has attained the age of 65 before the close of the taxable year to exclude up to $5,000 of the interest received on savings from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code. Reduces the $5,000 limitation by so much of the adjusted gross income as tax exceeds $10,000. Requires married taxpayers to file a joint return to be eligible for the tax exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Small Business Growth and Job Creation Act - Title I: Small Business Independence and Continuation - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish graduated corporate income tax rates. Establishes a new alternative tax on capital gains. Establishes an estate tax exemption of $180,000. Establishes a new rate schedule for the estate tax. Provides a gift tax exclusion of $9,000, and a gift tax exemption of $90,000. Provides that a distribution of property by a corporation in redemption of stock to pay death taxes shall be treated as a distribution in full payment in exchange for the stock if all of the stock of such corporation which is included in determining the value of the decedent's gross estate is either, (1) more than 20 percent of the value of the gross estate of such decedent, or (2) more than 40 percent of the taxable estate of such decedent. Provides that if stock in a corporation is sold by a shareholder owning stock representing more than 30 percent of the fair market value of all outstanding stock of the corporation whose stock is being sold, the gain from such sale shall be recognized only to the extent that the taxpayer's sale price exceeds the cost of replacement property purchased by the taxpayer within two years. Defines "replacement property" as property which is held for the production of income or which is held for investment. Allows the executor of an estate involving an interest in a closely held business to elect to include in the value of the gross estate the decedent's basis in such business rather than the fair market value of such interest. States that the basis of property acquired from a decedent as to which such an election was made shall be the decedent's basis in such property rather than the fair market value of such interest. Allows the marital deduction of the estate tax to exceed 50 percent of the value of the adjusted gross estate when an interest in a specially defined small business is included in the estate. Title II: Small Business Growth Incentives - Allows a taxpayer to choose the cash method of accounting in any case where inventory is an income determining factor and the ending inventory for the taxable year does not exceed $200,000. Provides a deferred tax credit against taxable income for unincorporated businesses. Establishes a graduated investment tax credit. Amends the definition of a small business corporation to allow domestic corporations with up to 20 shareholders to qualify for subchapter S treatment. Allows a small business to make a subchapter S election at any time during the taxable year. Allows to a business a credit equal to 50 percent of the wages paid during the taxable year to new employees, up to two employees and $20,000 for the taxable year. Allows a similar credit for new disadvantaged employees up to a maximum of $60,000 per taxable year. Allows the practical cost recovery method to be used in computing depreciation. Title III: Small Business Tax Simplification - Allows a corporation to file an application for refund of overpayment of estimated income tax at any time during the taxable year. Provides a special rule for treatment of net operating loss adjustments in the case of new corporations. Increases the minimum credit on accumulated earnings from $150,000 to $500,000. Redefines "section 1244 stock" to mean common stock in a corporation if: (1) such corporation during its preceding taxable year derived more than 50 percent of its aggregate gross receipts from sources other than royalties, rents, dividends, interest, annuities, and sales or exchanges of stock or securities; and (2) the equity capital of such corporation does not exceed $1,000,000. Increases the losses on section 1244 stock which may be treated as ordinary losses (rather than capital losses) from $25,000 to $50,000.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Sets forth the amount of reimbursement which the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall pay to the States for furnishing domiciliary, hospital, or nursing home care to eligible veterans who receive such care in State facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) and Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include as "medical and other health services" for which coverage will be provided under Medicare, and as "medical assistance" for which coverage will be provided under Medicaid, that medical or other remedial care furnished by licensed (registered) nurses within the scope of their practices as defined by State law.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Alaskan Oil Distribution, Transportation, and Export Plan Amendments - Amends the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to direct the President to develop a plan for an equitable system of transportation, allocation, and distribution of Alaskan petroleum resources to all areas of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Comprehensive Right to Privacy Act - Sets forth administrative restrictions for any organization maintaining a data system that includes personal information. Imposes additional restrictions upon statistical reporting and research information systems. Establishes public and personal notice requirements relating to the existence and purpose of such systems. Requires organizations maintaining personal information (1) to inform the data subject of legal obligations to supply data, (2) to request consent of the data subject to the transfer of data to another organization, (3) to permit the data subject to inspect to inspect personal information, its sources, and uses, (4) to makes specified disclosures, (5) to notify the data subject prior to the release of information pursuant to legal process, (6) to take certain actions with respect to the challenge, correction, or explanation of the information by the data subject, and (7) to notify the data subject of the nature of the information maintained and the place where subject may inspect such information. Exempts from requirements of this Act (1) active criminal investigatory files of law enforcement agencies, (2) files of press and news media, and (3) certain mailing lists. Prohibits requirements for disclosure of a social security number or other universal identifier unless required by Federal law. Establishes the Federal Privacy Board to implement this Act and to publish a Data Base Directory of the United States. Prohibits disclosure of personal information or business secrets except as required by this Act. Declares disclosures under this Act confidential information. Establishes criminal penalties and civil remedies for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that any individual who would have been fully insured at age 62 may qualify for disability insurance benefits if such individual has 20 quarters of coverage, regardless of when such quarters were earned. States that such coverage requirement is an alternative to the requirement that an individual have 20 quarters of coverage during the 40-quarter period immediately preceding his disability.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to entitle widows and widowers who are under a disability to receive unreduced widow's and widower's benefits without regard to age.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Increases from three to five years the term for which a license to operate a radio broadcasting station may be issued, and for which such licenses may be renewed under the Communications Act of 1934. Sets standards against which the Federal Communications Commission shall weigh an application for renewal of a license.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Authorizes a taxpayer, under the Internal Revenue Code, to elect to treat qualified architectural and transportational barrier removal expenses which are paid or incurred during the taxable year as expenses which are not chargeable to capital account. Deems such expenses so treated as allowable tax deductible expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Taxpayer Audit Disclosure Act - Requires the establishment of formal procedures and criteria for the selection of individual income tax returns for audit. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to provide any individual selected for auditing with a written notice which clearly specifies the reasons for and manner in which the return of such individual was selected for audit. Provides that the Secretary or his delegate shall furnish to such individual a written explanation which describes the audit procedure, the rights which a taxpayer may exercise during such procedure, the right of the taxpayer to make an administrative or judicial appeal from an adverse decision at the end of such procedure, and the right of the taxpayer to claim a refund. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to submit to the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation before September 30 of each year a report setting forth: (1) the number of individuals whose returns were selected for audit during the previous 12-month period; (2) a classification of individuals whose returns were audited during the previous 12-month period by, among other factors, income levels, geographic distribution, and profession; (3) the number of individuals audited during the previous 12-month period who were found to have made underpayments or overpayments of tax, together with summary statistics reflecting the percentage of such number, by income category, who made underpayments or overpayments of certain ranges of amounts (to be determined by the Secretary or his delegate); and (4) such other information as may be requested by the joint committee in accordance with the purposes of this Act.
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