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United States · Official source
1,337 records where Rep. Corcoran, Tom [R-IL-14] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1979
Designates December 7, 1979, as "National Unity Day."
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
Designates December 7, 1979, as "National Unity Day."
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1979
Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to permit the inclusion of a manufacturer's imported automobiles for model years 1980 through 1986 for purposes of determining such manufacturer's compliance with the average fuel economy standards required under this Act where the average fuel economy standard is dependent upon reasonably selected technology which is not within the ability of such manufacturer to develop.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should terminate all military training of Iranian personnel pursuant to sales under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Repeals the Federal requirement of incremental pricing under the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Sunset Review Act of 1979 - Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to jointly develop and maintain an inventory of all Federal programs and tax expenditures. Requires such inventory to classify all such programs and expenditures according to the jurisdiction of the various legislative committees of the two Houses. Requires the General Accounting Office, before the beginning of the 97th Congress, after consultation with the appropriate legislative committees, to submit a draft inventory to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Requires such Committees to notify each legislative committee of the programs and tax expenditures which are classified within its jurisdiction. Allows any legislative committee to propose revisions of such inventory within 30 days after notification. Requires, after a determination that all programs and tax expenditures are accurately classified, that such inventory be published in a single document. Requires that an update be made of such inventory at the beginning of every Congress. Directs the General Accounting Office to maintain and publish a supplement to the inventory. Requires each legislative committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate, on or before March 1 in the first session of each Congress beginning with the 98th Congress, to develop, adopt, and submit to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committees on Rules and Administration an agenda for the sunset review of selected Federal programs within its jurisdiction or in the case of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance, of selected tax expenditures. Requires the committees of each House to develop their sunset review agenda in consultation with any other committee which has concurrent jurisdiction over any programs or tax expenditures involved. Prohibits either the House or the Senate from considering a primary expense resolution for any legislative committee in any Congress until that committee has developed and submitted its sunset review agenda. Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to incorporate such agendas into a consolidated sunset review agenda and to report such consolidated agenda to its House in the form of a concurrent resolution, within seven legislative days after all committee sunset review agendas have been submitted. Requires the consolidated sunset review agenda to be adopted in the House and in the Senate no later than March 30 in the first session of each Congress. Sets forth the procedures for adoption. Requires each committee of the House or the Senate, not later than May 15 in the second session of each Congress, to report a bill or bills modifying, continuing, or terminating each program or tax expenditure which it has been directed to review under the consolidated sunset review agenda adopted during the first session. Requires such bill to be accompanied by a report setting forth the committee's findings, recommendations, and justifications. Requires each department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch of the Government which is responsible for the administration of a Federal program or tax expenditure selected for sunset review to give assistance to the appropriate Congressional committees. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall affect the authority of any legislative committee to review programs or tax expenditures within its jurisdiction and to report legislation modifying, continuing, or terminating such programs or expenditures at such times and in such manner as it deems appropriate. Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to include the consolidated sunset review agendas and the congressional inventory of Federal programs as part of the House Committee on Rules' functions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Designates the week beginning June 22, 1980, as "National Athletic Boosters Week."
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week beginning on November 23, 1980, as "National Family Week."
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1979
Authorizes States to enter into agreements or compacts with other States for the establishment of a system of regional disposal sites to be used for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated within such region. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to issue rules concerning the ownership of low-level radioactive waste.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1979
Trade Clarification Act of 1979 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise the method for determining the foreign market value of merchandise from nonmarket economies (current terminology is "State-controlled"). Stipulates that such value be based on the costs, expenses, and profits of free-market producers of such merchandise most comparable to the nonmarket economy producers. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the International Trade Commission to investigate, and the President to request an investigation into, whether the domestic market is disrupted due to imports from or artificial pricing by nonmarket economy countries (currently Communist countries). Revises the relief available as a result of such disruption caused by artificial pricing to: (1) require the President to take the action recommended by the Commission, unless Congress approves different action by the President; and (2) exempt such relief from specified restrictions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate November 16, 1979, as "American Enterprise Day."
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1979
Amends the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Incorporated, to erect a memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia in honor and recognition of the men and women of the armed forces who served in the Vietnam war.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1979
Amends the National Trails Systems Act to authorize a study to be conducted by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, the appropriate States, and the Cherokee people, to determine the feasibility of designating the Trail of Tears as a National Historic Trail. Includes the Trail of Tears as a route to be studied for designation as a national scenic trail.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1979
Hospital Cost Containment and Reporting Act of 1979 - Establishes a 15-member National Commission on Hospital Costs, to be appointed by the President, to report annually to Congress and the President on: (1) its activities and the implementation of this Act; (2) the rate of increases in hospital expenses; and (3) the success of the voluntary efforts of hospitals to meet the voluntary goals for hospital cost containment established by this Act. Directs the Commission to submit to Congress and the President, within one year of the appointment of a majority of its members, a report on measures that can be taken to control costs in the health care industry. Directs the Commission to study and make recommendations to Congress and the President within two years of the appointment of a majority of its members with respect to: (1) the effect of policies and procedures (including use of deductibles, coinsurance, cost- or risk-sharing, tax deductions and exclusions, and repaid health plans) on the strengthening of competitive forces in the health services industry; (2) the desirability of increasing the use of such methods in federally funded and other health insurance programs; (3) underutilized capacity in the health care system and means to reduce such capacity; (4) the costs and benefits of State certificate of need programs and programs of review of capital expenditures under the Social Security Act (section 1122); (5) the impact of increased hospital capital expenditures on operating expenses; (6) the impact of increases in the number of professional health personnel; (7) the impact of wage increases and increased utility expenses on hospital costs; (8) alternative systems of financing health care services; (9) the costs to hospitals of Federal and State regulations; (10) the costs to hospitals of serving the medically needed; and (11) other matters affecting hospital expenses or revenues. Directs the Commission to consult with appropriate professional organizations in the conduct of its activities. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide financial assistance for up to 50 percent of the expenses involved with the planning, establishment, or operation of State voluntary or mandatory hospital cost containment programs which meet specified conditions, including that any such program: (1) excludes any institution (A) having an average stay of 30 days or more during the preceding three years, (B) deriving 75 percent or more of its inpatient care revenues from one or more health maintenance organizations; (C) located in a rural area and having an average annual admissions of 4,000 or less during the preceding 12 months; (D) which does not accept payments for services; (E) is a psychiatric hospital; or (F) is a Federal institution; (2) sets as voluntary goals the reduction of the rate of increase in total hospital expenses for 1979 ( and each subsequent year) to four percent less than the rate of increase for 1977 (subject to an inflation adjustment); (3) conforms with specified administrative and review requirements; and (4) does not treat as hospital revenues amounts attributable to specified types of grants, gifts, endowments, and other funds. Directs the Secretary to monitor the performance of such State programs and make recommendations with respect to: (1) containing aggregate levels of hospital utilization; (2) shifting utilization from inpatient to outpatient services; (3) reducing excess hospital capacity through mergers, conversions, and terminations; and (4) promoting alternative methods of providing health care, such as through health maintenance organizations. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for such State programs. Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (General Provisions) to provide that gifts, grants, and endowments shall not be deducted from any operating costs of nonprofit hospitals for purposes of determining under the Maternal and Child Health, Medicare, and Medicaid programs the reasonable costs of services furnished by such hospitals. Prohibits any Federal law providing for the containment or control of hospital costs from treating as hospital revenues amounts attributable to specified types of grants, gifts, endowments, and other funds. Adds as new requirements of the State plans under the Maternal and Child Health and Medicaid programs of the Social Security Act that: (1) entities providing services reimbursable on a cost-related basis be audited as the Secretary determines is necessary to insure proper payments; and (2) for any such audit involving an entity which is also reimbursed on a cost-related basis under Medicare, the audit under the Maternal and Child Health or Medicaid program be coordinated and conducted jointly with an audit under Medicare. Directs the Secretary to condition payment to a State for the administrative costs of auditing any such entity on such coordinated audit procedures. Amends the Medicare program to permit any hospital (other than a hospital which has in effect a waiver of the 24-hour nursing service requirement) which: (1) has an agreement under such program; and (2) has been granted a certificate of need for the provision of long-term care services for the State health planning and development agency (designated under title XV of the Public Health Service Act), to enter into an agreement with the Secretary under which its inpatient hospital facilities may be used for the furnishing of the type of services which, if furnished by a skilled nursing facility, would constitute posthospital extended care services. Provides that payment to any hospital for such services shall be based upon the reasonable cost of the services, consisting of the reasonable cost of routine and ancillary services as defined by this Act. Stipulates that a hospital furnishing such services shall be required to meet all the requirements that a skilled nursing facility would be required to meet and that the provision of such services shall be subject to the same requirements as those furnished by a skilled nursing facility, except for those requirements which the Secretary determines are inappropriate with respect to a hospital. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress within three years of enactment on such extended care service program. Amends the Medicaid program to permit payment to be made under approved State plans for nursing facility services and intermediate care facility services furnished by a hospital which has in effect an agreement under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1979
Rural Cooperative Business Income Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received by a mutual or cooperative telephone or electric company for services to customers or rural telephone or electric companies, and income received from the rental or sale of communications or power facilities, shall not be subject to the tax on unrelated business income.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1979
National Product Liability Act - Permits product liability actions, with specified exceptions, only during the period during which the defendant expressly warranted such product or whichever of the following periods first expires: (1) the earlier of any ten-year period beginning on the date of the first sale, lease, or delivery of possession of any product unit alleged to have harmed the plaintiff by any seller to any buyer or to any initial user or consumer; or (2) the period of limitation prescribed by State law. Specifies that a product liability action shall not be barred or limited by this Act if the action is: (1) for personal injury, death, or property damage claimed to have resulted from the defendant having either (a) breached an express contractual, statutory duty to take action for safety reasons regarding the product unit or (b) modified the product unit subsequent to the date of first sale, lease, or delivery of possession which introduced a hazard not previously existing; (2) brought against a seller who (a) owes any such duty or (b) makes, authorizes, or furnishes materials for the accomplishment of any such modification or (c) furnishes inadequate specifications, instructions, or warnings for the accomplishment of any such modification; and (3) commenced within which ever of the following first expires (a) the ten-year period beginning on the date such duty arose or such modification was made or (b) the period of limitation prescribed by State law. Sets forth standards for determining liability for product formula or design. Requires the plaintiff to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that such formula or design was the immediate, physical, and producing cause of the damage or injury and that an alternative formula or design, meeting specified requirements, was available at the time of manufacture and would have avoided or reduced the injury or damage. Declares that a defendant shall not be liable for that portion of the personal injury, death, or property damage which could have been reduced or avoided by additional safety or protective devices or substances, if the defendant proves specified conditions by a preponderance of the evidence. Declares that the defendant shall not be liable if the defendant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the product formula or design complied with mandatory Federal standards or regulations applicable at the time of manufacture and directly pertained to the alleged hazard. Specifies that such standards shall not apply to product liability actions based upon breaches of express warranty, express contract, or implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Sets forth standards of product liability for failure to specify, instruct, or warn of hazards. Requires the plaintiff to prove specified conditions by a preponderance of the evidence in such actions which vary depending on whether the defendant is a seller, a manufacturer or a party other than the manufacturer. Declares not liable a defendant who proves by a preponderance of the evidence that injury, death, or damage: (1) resulted from a modification made in the product by someone other than the defendant and other than in accordance with the defendant's express specifications or express consent; or (2) caused by specified forms of misuse of the product by any person other than the defendant. Sets forth conditions for strict liability of nonmanufacturing sellers. Requires the plaintiff to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a nonmanufacturing seller: (1) exercised significant control over the product's characteristics, function, design, specifications, instructions, or warnings; or (2) had actual knowledge of the particular defect which caused the alleged injury or damage. Allows defendants to notify third persons answerable in product liability actions. Makes binding any such notice which states that third persons must come in and defend or be bound by determinations of fact in that suit in actions against them by the notifier. Permits nonmanufacturing sellers to joint as a third party defendant the manufacturer of the product claimed to have caused the injury who is or may be liable with or to the nonmanufacturing seller. Declares that this Act shall be construed as an Act of limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the payment of benefits to any individual for any month in which such individual is confined in a penal institution. Stipulates that benefits withheld from such individuals shall be treated as having been paid to such individuals for purposes of determining the benefits to which other persons are entitled on the basis of the same wages and self-employment income.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1979
Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1979 - Title I: Risk Retention Groups - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate standards for the approval of risk retention groups. Defines such groups as entities formed to assume or spread the liability of two or more persons arising from products liability claims or defective construction claims. Enumerates standards which the Secretary may consider in approving any such group including the amount and liquidity of its assets, soundness of its reserves, adequacy of its insurance coverage, and its overall plan of operations. Sets forth factors to be included in a group's application for approval. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct audits of the applicant. Sets forth limitations on the risk coverage afforded to any one person in the group. Authorizes the Secretary to make approval conditional as necessary. Requires any refusal of approval to specify the factual conclusions and legal authority upon which it is based. Authorizes the Secretary to require a group to set a maximum amount of risk which it will accept. Requires such a group's participants to obtain insurance for losses in excess of such maximum limitations. Establishes requirements for the terms of such insurance coverage. Prohibits a group from assuming liability for any person other than its members or its members' affiliates. Permits a group to assume liability which arises from an agreement of hold harmless or indemnity between a member and its supplier, purchaser, or consignee. Requires all or a portion of an individual's product liability or completed operations risk exposure to be assumed by the group. Sets forth requirements concerning the return of a withdrawing member's capital contribution. Prohibits such groups from acquiring reinsurance from its members or affiliates. Prohibits a group from making non-pro-rata assessments or retroactive adjustments based on the loss experience of a member. Directs the Secretary to require each group to maintain reserves which it shall hold as a fiduciary for the benefit of claimants against its members. Prohibits a group from having any interest in the securities or debts of its members or their affiliates. Requires each group to submit annual reports to the Secretary. Declares that this Act shall preempt any State law relating to the formation, operation, or provision of insurance-services to risk retention groups. Stipulates that this Act shall not effect the authority of a State to tax risk retention groups. Applies Federal antitrust laws to such groups. Exempts the ownership interests of such groups from the securities laws. Limits the use of information obtained pursuant to this Act. Permits the Secretary to require data concerning the product liability claims experience of such groups. Authorizes the Secretary to audit each group and to require each group to engage an independent accountant to examine its books, records, and financial statements. Requires each group to pay an application fee and annual fees to cover supervisory expenses of the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to revoke the certificate of approval of a risk retention group. Enumerates the circumstances in which such authority may be exercised. Requires that all hearings to revoke a group's certificate of approval be held in the District of Columbia. Exempts such hearings from requirements of law relating to agency adjudications. Empowers the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to hear appeals from orders of the Secretary issued pursuant to this Act. Requires the proceeds from a group's reinsurance policies to be paid to the group's receiver or other appropriate judicial officer if the group is adjudged insolvent. Title II: Group Purchase of Product Liability and Completed Operations Insurance - Exempts any group seeking to purchase liability insurance, its members, or any person who provides such insurance from any State law which restricts group insurance or would prohibit or discriminate against the application of this Act. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Declares that this Act shall not be deemed to affect State tort law. Directs the Secretary to issue rules and regulations and to take all other actions necessary or appropriate to implement this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1979
Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to repeal provisions of such Act which empower the Commission: (1) to collect information on the organization, operation, and business relationships of any entity, with specified exceptions, engaged in or whose business affects commerce; and (2) to issue orders requiring such an entity to furnish such information to the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1979
Designates the month of July, 1980, as "National Porcelain Art Month."
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1979
Amends the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to determine the feasibility and desirability of designating the Illinois Trail as a national scenic trail and designating any lands encompassing the Illinois Trail as a national historical park.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate May 1, 1980, as "National Bicycling Day."
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1979
Exempts nonprofit veterans' organizations and nonprofit fraternal organizations from the requirement that certain musical performance royalties be paid to copyright holders.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1979
Prohibits any Federal court (excluding the Supreme Court) from issuing injunctive relief in any case arising out of Federal, State, or local law that prohibits, limits, or regulates abortion or the provision of public assistance for the performance of abortions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard mileage rate used in computing the charitable deduction for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle shall be the same as the standard mileage rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury for the business related deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the method of valuing farms for estate tax purposes to provide that if there is no comparable land from which the average annual gross rental may be determined but there is comparable land from which the average net share rental may be determined, then the existing valuation formula shall be applied by substituting "average net share rental" for "average gross cash rental. Defines net share rental as the excess of: (1) the value of the produce received by the lessor under a lease of the land on which such produce is grown, over (2) the cash operating expenses of growing such produce which, under the lease, are paid by the lessor.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1979
Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 to the legation of Lithuania in the United States. Authorizes the Charge d'Affaires of such legation to administer such funds for the operation of the legation and compensation of personnel. Stipulates that the diplomatic corps of such legation must be of Lithuanian parentage and may not be U.S. citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1979
Directs the Secretary of the Army to convey without monetary compensation, specified land to the State of Illinois for National Guard purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1979
Welcomes Pope John Paul II to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1979
Congressional Pay Raise Deferral Act - Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 and the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to provide that any adjustment in the rate of pay for Members of Congress proposed during any Congress shall not take effect earlier than the beginning of the next Congress. States that any such pay adjustment proposed in an even-numbered year of any Congress after the congressional elections and before the beginning of the following Congress, shall be considered as occurring during the first session of the following Congress for the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that interest earned on a nonnegotiable time deposit certificate which has a maturity of one year or less will not be treated as received or accrued until the earlier of its maturity date or the date on which it is redeemed. Excludes such certificates from classification as a discount instrument of indebtedness.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1979
Domestic Energy Policy Act of 1979 - Establishes energy supply and demand targets in quadrillion Btu's per year for the United States for the years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000, for specific forms of domestic energy production, including crude oil and other liquefied fuels, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy sources. Directs the President to submit an annual energy report to the Congress reviewing energy targets approved or revised by Congress in the previous year and proposing recommendations to the Congress for further revision of such targets. Specifies other components of such energy report. Requires the Congress to consider such targets in detail to arrive at a consensus set of figures representing the Nation's energy future, and to formalize such consensus by joint resolution. States that no legislative action authorizing new budget authority in any year for energy programs would be in order in any House until such joint resolution has been agreed to by such House. Requires the President to prepare an energy impact report on any public bill or resolution reported out of any committee of the House or Senate. Stipulates that the preparation of energy targets shall not be construed to comprise a "major Federal action significantly affecting the environment" for the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1979
Amends rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit specified House committees and subcommittees from holding regular or additional meetings on days when the House is in session, other than for the purpose of taking testimony or receiving evidence, on Thursdays or on Wednesday afternoons, and other specified committees on Tuesdays or Wednesday mornings. Prohibits any subcommittee from meeting in the District of Columbia, except for the purpose of taking testimony or receiving evidence, unless the chairman of the committee has specifically authorized in writing the subcommittee meeting. Requires the Committee on House Administration, through the House Information Systems, to provide a scheduling service which shall be used by all the committees and subcommittees of the House to eliminate any meeting and scheduling conflicts. Requires any announcement made by a House committee concerning the date, place, and subject of any committee hearing to be promptly entered into the committee scheduling service of the House Information Systems.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1979
Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to limit the primary term for a noncompetitive lease of oil and gas lands to five years with an extension of two additional years under specified circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Limits the increase of total budget outlays of the United States Government during any fiscal year to a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the gross national product during the previous calendar year. Stipulates that if the inflation rate exceeds three percent annually the increase in total outlays shall be reduced by one-fourth the difference between the inflation rate and three percent. Requires any surplus in total revenues received by the Government to be used to reduce the public debt. Allows the limit on total outlays to be changed by a three-quarters vote of both Houses of Congress, or to meet an emergency declared by the President. Continues Federal aid programs to States and local governments for a period of six years. Prohibits Congress authorizing any United States agency from requiring that a State or local government engage in additional or expanded activities without compensation equal to the additional costs.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should communicate U.S. insistence that the Soviet Union should remove its combat troops from Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1979
Federal Firearms Law Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to Gun Control Act - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine: (1) "manufacturer" to mean any person engaged in the "business of manufacturing" (instead of "manufacture" of) firearms or ammunition; and (2) "dealer" to exclude dealers in ammunition and persons engaged in the business of repairing firearms. Adds a new definition, "engaged in the business", with respect to manufacturers, dealers, and importers. Includes as a manufacturer of ammunition a person whose gross sales of his own ammunition exceed $1,000 in any calendar year. Includes as a dealer in firearms a person who deals in firearms as a regular course of business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. Replaces the current term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" with a new definition of "disabling crime." Eliminates certain activities regarding ammunition from the coverage of the current prohibitions. Revises current provisions respecting the interstate sale or transfer of firearms. Revises the current prohibition against selling a firearm or ammunition to certain persons (such as persons under indictment for a felony or addicted to drugs) to apply such prohibition only to persons convicted of a disabling crime. Revises the current prohibition against certain persons transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce to: (1) extend such prohibition to possession or receipt in commerce or affecting commerce of any firearm or ammunition; (2) conform such prohibition to the new "disabling crime" provision; and (3) include as additional categories illegal aliens, persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and persons who have renounced their United States citizenship. Makes the same changes to the current prohibition against certain persons who receive a firearm or ammunition which has been transported in interstate commerce, but applies such prohibition to persons who are employed by specified individuals. Excludes ammunition dealers from the current licensing requirements. Stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury may revoke a license only where the holder of such license has "knowingly" violated a provision of the Act or regulation. Bars the Secretary from denying or revoking a license on the basis of violations under this Act which are alleged in criminal proceedings instituted against a licensee, but for which such individual has not been convicted. Imposes as a condition for the inspection or examination of records, documents, and any firearm or ammunition kept by an importer, manufacturer, or dealer pursuant to this Act that the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred and that evidence may be found on the premises of such persons. Restricts the firearm information obtained from licensees which the Secretary may make available to State or local governments. Establishes a limited recordkeeping requirement for firearms collectors. Stipulates that the general penalty under this Act shall apply to whoever "willfully" violates any provision. Prohibits, with respect to a person's second or subsequent conviction for illegally using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, the granting of parole before completion of the minimum sentence. Amends the forfeiture provision to subject to seizure any firearm or ammunition "involved in or used" in any violation of the Act (instead of "involved in or used or intended to be used"). Requires a court to award attorney's fees to the prevailing party (other than the United States) in an action or proceeding for the return of seized firearms or ammunition. Allows the court to award such fees in any other action upon a finding that the action was initiated in bad faith. Amends the rulemaking authority of the Secretary to provide that no regulation may require (1) the transfer of records required under this Act to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or (2) the establishment of any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions. Requires a 90-day public comment period for proposed regulations (no period is currently specified). Allows one House of Congress to disapprove by resolution any firearms regulation within 90 days of continuous session of the promulgation of such rule. Set forth procedures for such resolutions. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any rules identical to regulations disapproved by Congress without the enactment of additional legislation respecting his authority. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing regulations which require purchasers of black powder to complete affidavits or forms attesting to their exemption from certain provisions of the Federal criminal code. Makes any law or regulation promulgated by any State prohibiting the transfer of an unloaded and not readily accessible firearm or ammunition null and void. Title II: Amendments to title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Repeals title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (relating to the receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms by felons, veterans dishonorably discharged, mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and persons renouncing their United States citizenship).
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1979
United States Olympic Development Fund Checkoff Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers to designate on their income tax returns that either $1 of any tax refund or $1 of any contribution which the taxpayer forwards with his tax return shall be payable to the United States Olympic Development Fund. Establishes the United States Olympic Development Fund under the auspices of the Secretary of the Treasury for the receipt of tax contributions and payments to the United States Olympic Development Fund. Directs the United States Olympic Committee to use such funds for a program to expand and improve amateur athletics in the United States. Requires reports on the expenditure of such funds to be submitted by the United States Olympic Committee and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate Friday, October 19, 1979, as "American Enterprise Day."
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1979
Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to require that aged, blind, or disabled aliens, as defined in title XVI, must have resided in the United States during the three years immediately preceding such aliens' application for benefits under title XVI. Exempts from the three-year requirement those aliens: (1) who are political refugees or parolees into this country; (2) with respect to whom the support agreement under the Immigration and Nationality Act is excused; and (3) certain blind or disabled individuals. Stipulates that such three-year requirement shall apply only to aliens applying for supplemental security income benefits under title XVI. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to stipulate that no immigrant shall be admitted into the United States unless: (1) at the time of application for admission, a support agreement exists which states that the immigration sponsor shall provide such financial support as is necessary to maintain the immigrants' income at a dollar amount equal to the dollar amount such immigrant would receive under title XVI of the Social Security Act, if such immigrant is aged, blind, or disabled as defined in title XVI, during the three-year period beginning on the date of admission of the immigrant; or (2) such immigrant presents evidence of other means to provide the required support; or (3) such immigrant is designated as a parolee or political refugee without available means of private support. Authorizes the Attorney General, the immigrant, or any State which is making payments to such immigrant under any program based on need, to enforce such agreements in a civil action. Declares a support agreement excused and unenforceable if: (1) the sponsor dies or is adjudicated as bankrupt; (2) the alien becomes blind or disabled from causes arising after admission to the U.S.; (3) the sponsor can affirmatively demonstrate that his or her financial resources have diminished beyond the sponsor's control and that the sponsor is financially incapable of supporting the alien; or (4) judgment cannot be obtained in court because of circumstances unforeseeable to the alien at the time of admission.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of December 3 through December 9, 1979, as the "Boy Scouts Calendar Distribution Week."
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1979
Authorizes and directs the President to designate the month of September, 1980, as "National Rehabilitation Month."
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should communicate U.S. insistence that the Soviet Union remove its troops from Cuba. Stipulates that ratification of the SALT II Treaty be suspended until such troops are removed.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to stipulate that an automobile manufacturer's failure to comply with any average fuel economy standard shall not be deemed "unlawful conduct" under such Act unless the Secretary of Transportation has determined that: (1) any credits which the manufacturer may have received for exceeding such standards in any model year do not fully offset any penalty for failure to achieve such standards; and (2) the time for which such credits could be earned to offset such a penalty has expired. Allows such a credit to be used to offset any penalty which may have been assessed against the manufacturer in the three consecutive years prior to the model year in which the manufacturer exceeds such a standard.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
United States - Mexico Good Neighbor Employment Act of 1979 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Attorney General to establish a program for the non-immigrant admission of Mexican nationals as temporary workers in the United States. Provides that: (1) the Attorney General shall establish annual and monthly quotas for temporary worker visas based on the chronological order of application; (2) such temporary services or labor shall not exceed 180 days per year; (3) such visas shall not limit the geographic area or employment within which an alien may work unless specific restrictions are requested by the Secretary of Labor in order to protect domestic workers; (4) an alien who violates the 180-day visa limitation or any imposed geographic restriction shall be ineligible for another temporary visa for five years; and (5) an alien who enters the United States illegally shall be ineligible for obtaining a temporary work visa for ten years. Excludes such temporary Mexican workers from the definition of "immigrant" for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Includes such workers within the category of aliens whose non-immigrant status may not be adjusted to that of an immigrant. Prohibits the Attorney General from consenting to the reapplication for admission of any such workers whose 180-day limitation has been exhausted. Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish and expand United States Consulates in Mexico in order to implement such temporary worker program. Directs the Secretary of Labor to make the nature of such program known to Mexican nationals residing in the United States. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should establish with Mexico an advisory commission to advise the Attorney General with regard to such temporary worker program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Food Additive Safety Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem any food additive safe if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare: (1) makes a finding, based on recommendations of an advisory committee, that the public benefit from permitting the use of such additive would exceed the public risk which might result from such use; (2) gives notice in the Federal Register of such a finding and invites public comment thereon; and (3) issues a final order not earlier than 120 days after such publication in the Federal Register of such findings. Specifies factors the Secretary must take into consideration when evaluating a food additive or its proposed use. Authorize the Secretary to include in any food additive regulation a labelling requirement to identify the additive and its degree of risk. Prohibits the Secretary from denying a petition for a food additive regulation solely on the basis of evidence of tumors developed in test animals where the dosage levels used on such animals exceeds one hundred times the reasonably expected maximum human consumption of such additive. Amends the Saccharin Study and Labeling Act to extend from 18 to 36 months the period following enactment during which restrictions may not be imposed on the sale or distribution of saccharin, or any food, drug, or cosmetic containing it.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Directs the Office of Technology Assessment to initiate and complete a study of patented, copyrighted, or other consumer energy conservation devices which have not been developed as marketable products. Requires the Director of the Office to report the results of such study to Congress. Requires such report to include: (1) recommendations for legislative and executive action necessary to promote the development of such devices as marketable products; and (2) a list of consumer energy conservation devices which are technically feasible and have potential for significant energy savings and commercial success.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Tax Relief Act of 1979 - Title I: Individual Income Tax Reductions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce individual and estate and trust income tax rates for 1979 and to make permanent reductions for succeeding years. Provides for cost-of-living adjustments to individual income tax brackets and to the amount of the personal exemption. Provides that the amount of the personal exemption and the zero bracket amount applicable to a taxpayer shall determine whether such taxpayer is required to file an income tax return. Title II: Capital Cost Recovery - Revises 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 a 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. Title III: Reduction of Payroll Taxes and Long-Range Financial Strengthening of the Social Security System - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to repeal the special increases in the contribution and benefit base, for purposes of determining amount of tax liability, for 1979 through 1981. Limits contribution and benefit bases to a maximum $22,900 in 1979 and 1980. Makes reductions in the social security tax rate and sets forth the tax rate through year 2010. Provides for the partial funding of title XVIII (Medicare), part A (Hospital Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of the Social Security Act from general revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1979
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should promptly enact the President's April 5, 1979, proposal providing for solar energy tax credits and that such enactment should take effect retroactively to such date.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1979
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should express disapproval to the Soviet Union concerning the nondelivery of mail to persons in the Soviet Union; (2) the State Department should bring such violations to the attention of member countries of the Universal Postal Union; and (3) the U.S. delegation to the Congress of the Universal Postal Union should ask members to take measures that would encourage improved postal performance by the Soviet Union.