United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Authorizes the President of the United States to designate the week beginning on the first Saturday after the first Tuesday in January of every year as "National Ski Week."
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Requires the President to seek a treaty or other arrangement with Canada calling for an immediate moratorium on the killing of the eastern timber wolf.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish national petroleum reserves on designated public lands of the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to develop oil and gas reserves in the contiguous 48 States, subject to Congressional review. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress within one year a plan for development of Alaskan oil and gas, subject to Congressional approval.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Creates 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 · 4 January 1977
Creates a Select House Committee on Population to conduct an investigation and study of: (1) the major adverse effects of current population growth throughout the world; (2) approaches which have been shown to be effective in coping with excessive population growth; and (3) means to encourage countries with excessive population growth rates to adopt methods proven to be successful in reducing population growth rates.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends rule XXXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to entitle ex-Members of the House of Representatives, former Parliamentarians of the House, former elected officers, and former elected minority employees of the House to admission to the Hall of the House only if they do not have any direct personal or pecuniary interest in any legislative measure pending before the House. Allows such ex-Members in the Hall if they meet the conditions specified above and if they are not in the employ of, or do not represent, any party or organization for the purpose of influencing the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative measure pending before, reported by, or under consideration of any committee of the House.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the consideration of any report by any congressional conference committee in the House of Representatives unless the meeting of such conference committee was open to the public and such report so certifies.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Establishes within the House of Representatives a select committee to study the constitutional basis of the January 22, 1973, United States Supreme Court decisions on abortion, the ramifications of such decisions on the power of the several States to enact abortion legislation, and the need for remedial action by Congress on the subject of abortions. Requires the committee to report to the House of Representatives within six months of adoption of this Resolution the results of its study.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Specifies that all meetings of committees and subcommittees of the House of Representatives under the Rules of the House of Representatives shall be open to the public except when the committee or subcommittee votes in open session to close the meeting because disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security or would violate the Rules of the House of Representatives. Excepts from this requirement meetings relating solely to internal budget or personnel matters.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a roll call vote on demand of any committee member on any question before the committee and on every motion to report any bill or resolution of a public character.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives to take immediate action to implement a plan for the audio and video broadcasting of House floor proceedings. Provides that the broadcasts be made available to commercial and public broadcasters. Prohibits the House, the Speaker, or the committee responsible for directing the program from exercising any control over the selection of materials for broadcast use.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the suspension of any rule for the purpose of considering any matter reported from a committee unless a majority of the committee, in open session, with a quorum present, requests that such matter be considered under a suspension of the rules.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Requires the House of Representatives to adopt a resolution to establish or adjust office expenses and office allowances to Members, officers, and standing committees of the House of Representatives. Repeals provisions allowing the Committee on House Administration to fix such allowances.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1976
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a certain portion of the Saint John River in Maine as a potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1976
Makes Presidential Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in 1976, and in every fourth year thereafter, a legal public holiday. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 6103(a))
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1976
Requests the President of the United States to transmit a report about the freedom of citizens of Romania to exercise their rights and cultural freedoms, and especially their right to emigrate, to each House of Congress and to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Requests that such a report be transmitted each time the President makes a request for authority to waive the application of the Trade Act of 1974, or for authority to extend the United States-Romanian Trade Agreement itself. Requests the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to transmit a report with respect to the freedom of the citizens of Romania to emigrate, and on the status of minorities in that country, to both Houses of Congress. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that if Romania restricts fundamental rights of its citizens, it should be denied its current most-favored nation treatment, and the 1975 United States-Romanian Trade Agreement should be ended. Provides an additional $50,000 for the Trade Subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House to assist in carrying out its duties under the Trade Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1976
Directs the House Committee on International Relations to conduct hearings to determine the extent of U.S. Government involvement in the hostilities in Northern Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1976
Directs the House Committee on International Relations to conduct hearings to determine the extent of U.S. Government involvement in the hostilities in Northern Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1976
Expresses the sense of the House that there should be appropriated $10,000,000 to recondition, activate, and operate the United States ship Sanctuary as a permanent active duty hospital ship to provide immediate assistance to the wounded in Lebanon and to other areas of the world.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1976
Condemns the murders of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Karpen Moffitt and the serious injury of Michael Moffitt. Urges a complete and thorough investigation by federal authorities of the circumstances surrounding the bombing.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1976
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should exercise his powers to prohibit assistance to countries which grant sanctuary to international terrorists and suspend air service to countries which grant sanctuary to terrorist organizations which use hijacking of aircraft as an instrument of policy. Calls upon the President to instruct the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to seek the formation of a permanent international commission to conduct an ongoing study of the causes and prevention of terrorism. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should renew efforts to establish an international convention providing aviation sanctions against countries that refuse to punish or extradite persons responsible for unlawful acts against civil aviation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1976
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. Changes the holding period for capital assets from six months to one year. Establishes a new alternative tax on capital gains. Increases the estate tax exemption from $60,000 to $180,000. Establishes a new rate schedule for the estate tax. Increases the gift tax exclusion from $3,000 to $9,000, and the gift tax exemption from $30,000 to $90,000. Replaces the present gift tax schedule with a flat rate of 75 percent of whatever the estate tax on such a sum would be. 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 (generally, 35 percent), of the value of the gross estate of such decedent, or (2) more than 40 percent (generally, 50 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 (presently, ten) 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 · 14 September 1976
Provides, under the National Labor Relations Act, that the duty to bargain collectively includes bargaining with respect to retirement benefits for retired employees.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1976
Infant Feeding Resolution - Directs the Agency for International Development to devise and carry out in partnership with developing nations a multifaceted strategy designed to promote breast feeding within the context of integrated programs of nutrition and health improvement for mothers and children. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States based businesses involved in the manufacturing, marketing, or selling of infant formula have a responsibility to conduct their overseas activities in ways which do not have adverse effects on the nutritional health and well-being of people in developing nations. Requires the President to conduct a detailed study into the nature, scope, and extent of the effects of infant formula use in developing nations. Provides that the results of such study shall be transmitted to the Congress within a year from the date of enactment of this joint resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1976
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 · 8 September 1976
Narcotic Sentencing Act - Title I: Mandatory Minimum Sentences - Amends the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 to impose specified minimum penalties on individuals convicted of enumerated offenses related to the distribution, transportation, and manufacture of opiates. Permits the court to sentence the defendant to a shorter term of parole ineligibility or imprisonment if, at the time of the offense, the offender was: (1) mentally impaired; (2) under unusual and substantial duress; or (3) an accomplice whose participation in the offense was minor. Permits the court to take such action if the defendant, subsequent to arrest, reveals information useful in apprehending other violators of this Act. Eliminates the former requirement that the offender be 18 years of age to be subject to the penalties prescribed for opiate-related offenses. Amends the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require a hearing to determine whether a term of imprisonment and parole ineligibility is mandatory in the case of an individual convicted of an opiate-related offense under this Act. Title II: Conditions of Release - Requires judicial officers setting conditions of release for any person charged with an opiate-related offense under this Act to consider which conditions will assure the safety of the community and of witnesses to the offense and which conditions will reasonably assure the avoidance of future similar offenses by the person charged. Permits judicial officers to deny the release of any such person if that person: (1) has previously been convicted of an offense related to an opiate; (2) at the time of the offense was on parole, probation, or other conditional release; (3) is a nonresident alien; (4) was arrested while in possession of a passport or other documentation necessary for international travel incorrectly identifying such person or belonging to someone else; or (5) has been convicted of having been a fugitive from justice, an escapee, or for willfully failing to appear before a court or judicial officer under Federal or State law. Stipulates that no individual shall be denied release unless the judicial officer holds a hearing and finds that there are no satisfactory conditions of release and that there is a substantial probability that the person committed the charged offense. Title III: Forfeiture of Proceeds of Illegal Drug Transactions - Makes all proceeds of an offense described in this Act subject to forfeiture to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 2 September 1976
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President shall submit a full report to Congress on fundamental human rights and cultural freedoms in Romania with special emphasis on the national minorities, showing concrete measures taken to ameliorate their situation by the Romanian Government. Directs that should no ameliorative measures occur, it is the sense of the House that the 1975 United States-Romanian Trade Agreement and the most-favored-nation treatment of the Socialist Republic of Romania shall not be extended.
United States · United States Congress · 1 September 1976
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 · 1 September 1976
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Georgi Vins should be released from imprisonment and that the Government of the Soviet Union should allow him and all other religious believers within its borders to worship God freely, as the Soviet Union is committed to do by the provisions of its constitution and by the provisions of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
United States · United States Congress · 26 August 1976
Infant Feeding Resolution - Directs the Agency for International Development to devise and carry out in partnership with developing nations a multifaceted strategy designed to promote breast feeding within the context of integrated programs of nutrition and health improvement for mothers and children. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States based businesses involved in the manufacturing, marketing, or selling of infant formula have a responsibility to conduct their overseas activities in ways which do not have adverse effects on the nutritional health and well-being of people in developing nations. Requires the President to conduct a detailed study into the nature, scope, and extent of the effects of infant formula use in developing nations. Provides that the results of such study shall be transmitted to the Congress within a year from the date of enactment of this joint resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1976
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President call a White House Conference on Marriage and the Family in order to establish a national understanding of the role played by marriage and the family in the development of a viable society.
United States · United States Congress · 23 August 1976
Deletes the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act which limit to two the number of petitions for preference status which may be granted to a petitioner on behalf of an alien orphan immigrating to the United States for adoption.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1976
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment under such title for services furnished by physician extenders and clinical staff of community mental health centers. Defines the term "physician extender" to mean a "physicians asssistant," "Medex," and "nurse practitioner" who, having completed an educational program meeting guidelines prescribed by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, is trained and qualified to provide primary health care under the supervision of a physician.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1976
Authorizes and directs the Secretary of Labor, through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to prepare, as part of the Consumer Price Index published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a consumer price index (to be known as the Consumer Price Index for the Aged and Other Social Security Beneficiaries) designed to reflect the relevant price information for individuals, as a group, who are 65 years of age or older or are otherwise entitled to monthly benefits under Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1976
Provides that the automatic cost-of-living increases in benefits which are authorized under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act may be made on a semiannual basis (rather than only on an annual basis as at present).
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1976
States that the Attorney General should parole into the United States those Lebanese aliens not participating in the fighting in the civil war in that country who are in danger of losing their lives as a result of such war.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1976
Requires the inclusion of professional registered nurses in Professional Standards Review Organizations of medical professionals in carrying out the functions of such review organizations under Title XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review) of the Social Security Act. Requires the inclusion of two professional registered nurses on the Statewide Professional Standards Review Councils. Requires the inclusion of three professional registered nurses on the National Professional Standards Review Council. Includes professional registered nurses in that class of health care practitioners which may not be held civilly liable for action taken in compliance with or reliance upon norms of care and treatment applied by a Professional Standards Reveiw Organization.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1976
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 · 30 July 1976
Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation designating the week beginning October 3, 1976, and ending October 9, 1976, as "National Gifted Children Week."
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1976
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Attorney General parole into the United States those South American aliens having fled to Argentina and those Uruguayans within Uruguay who are in danger of losing their lives because of their political beliefs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1976
Amends rule XXXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to allow specified present and former employees and Members of the House to enter the Hall of the House and rooms leading thereto. Provides that such persons shall not be admitted if they have any direct personal or pecuniary interest in any legislative measure coming up for consideration in the House.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1976
Solar Energy Incentive Act - Allows an individual to take a tax credit, under the Internal Revenue Code, in an amount equal to 25 percent of the qualified solar heating and cooling equipment expenditures incurred by the taxpayer with respect to his principal residence to the extent such expenditures do not exceed $8,000, plus that portion of the qualified State or local real property taxes paid or accrued for the taxable year or accrued for the taxable year attributable to such solar heating and cooling expenditures. Authorizes an individual to take a tax deduction for a part of the acquisition costs of any qualified solar heating and cooling equipment for any residence. Limits such deduction to the lesser of ten percent of the acquisition costs or $800 or $400 for the third year of such acquisition.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1976
National Digestive Diseases Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a National Commission on Digestive Diseases. Directs the Commission to develop and recommend a long-range plan for the use of national resources to deal with digestive diseases, such plan to include provisions for: (1) research studies into the biological process related to digestive diseases; (2) investigations into the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of such diseases; (3) development of coordinated health care systems to combat digestive diseases; and (4) education and training of scientists, clinicians, educators, and allied health professionals in fields related to digestive diseases. Directs the Commission to make a final report to Congress within 18 months of its initial meeting, such report to include the projected costs of implementing programs to combat digestive diseases, legislative recommendations, and a long-range plan for dealing with such diseases. Authorizes the appropriation of $1,500,000, without fiscal year limitation, to carry out the purposes of the Commission set forth in this Act. Directs the Secretary to establish a Coordinating Committee for Digestive Diseases to improve coordination among Federal agencies in the research, training, control, and treatment of digestive diseases.