United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1975
Prohibits the sale of "Saturday Night Special" handguns in the United States as defined in this Act. Makes it unlawful for a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer to manufacture, assemble, or import, for the purpose of sale in the United States, any handgun, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the basic structural components thereof are made: (1) of any material having a melting point (liquidus) of less than 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, or (2) of any material having an ultimate tensile strength of less than 55,000 pounds per square inch, or (3) of any powered metal having a density of less than 7.5 grams per cubic centimeter.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1975
Constitutional Amendment - States that with respect to the right to life, the word 'person' as used in this article and in the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United States, applies to all human beings, irrespective dependency including their unborn offspring at every stage of their biological development. Provides that no person shall be deprived of life by any person. Provides that this article shall not prohibit a law permitting only those medical procedures required to prevent the death of the mother.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1975
Prohibits, except as provided in this Act, the inspection of tax returns and the disclosure of information contained in such returns. Authorizes the inspection of returns by or disclosure to (1) the taxpayer or his representative; (2) employees of the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Justice solely for purposes of enforcement of the tax laws; (3) State agencies charged with administration of the tax laws only for that purpose; (4) the President of the United States in the performance of his official duties; and (5) the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation for statistical purposes only. Increases the criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure or receipt of information under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1975
Extends from 1 year to 2 years the maximum period which may elapse between the sale of a residence and the purchase of another in order that the gain from such sale will not be recognized under the Internal Revenue Code for Federal income tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1975
Transfers all functions of the Secretary of Agriculture under the Food Stamp Act of 1964 to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Requires such transfer to be implemented in accordance with such procedures and regulations as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall prescribe.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1975
Authorizes the President to designate April 24, 1975, as "National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man" for remembrance of all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in Turkey in 1915.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1975
Coal Research Laboratory and Energy Research Fellowship Act - Title I: University Coal Research Laboratories - Authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation, after consultation with the National Academy of Engineering, to designate five institutions of higher education at which university coal research laboratories will be established and operated. States that, in making designations under this Act, the Director shall consider the following criteria: (1) the institution of higher education shall be located in a State with abundant coal reserves; (2) the institution of higher education shall have experience in coal research, expertise in several areas of coal research, and currently active, outstanding programs in coal research; and (3) the institution of higher education has the capacity to establish and operate the coal laboratories to be assisted under this title. Provides that not more than one coal laboratory established pursuant to this title shall be located in a single State. Specifies information to be included in applications by institutions of higher education desiring to be designated under this title. Authorizes the Director to make grants to any designated institution of higher education to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing and maintaining a coal laboratory. States that no institution of higher education may receive more than $4,000,000 for the construction of its coal research laboratory, including initially installed fixed equipment, nor may it receive more than $1,500,000 for initially installed movable equipment, nor may it receive more than $500,000 for new program startup expenses. Provides that no institution of higher education may receive more than $1,500,000 per year from the Federal Government for operating expenses. Establishes an Advisory Council on Coal Research. Stipulates that the Advisory Council shall advise the Director with respect to the general administration of this title, and furnish such additional advice as he may request. Authorizes appropriations of not to exceed $30,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976 (including the cost of construction, equipment, and startup expenses) and $7,500,000 beginning with the fiscal year 1976 and for each fiscal year thereafter through the fiscal year ending October 31, 1976, to carry out the provisions of this title. Title II: Energy Resource Graduate Fellowships - Authorizes the Director to award under the provisions of this title not to exceed one thousand five hundred fellowships for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1976, and each of the five succeeding fiscal years. States that fellowships shall be awarded under the provisions of this title for graduate study and research in those areas of applied science and engineering that are related to the production, conservation, and utilization of fuels and energy. Provides that fellowships shall be awarded to students in programs leading to master's degrees. States that such fellowships may be awarded for graduate study and research at any institution of higher education, library, archive, or any other research center approved by the Director after consultation with the Commissoner of Education. Provides that recipients of fellowships under this title shall be: (1) persons who have been accepted by an institution of higher education for graduate study leading to an advanced degree or for a professional degree; and (2) persons who plan a career in the field of energy resources, production, or utilization. States that each person awarded a fellowship under this title shall receive a stipend of $4,000 for each academic year of study, and an additional amount of $500 for each such calendar year of study shall be paid to such person on account of each of his dependents. Authorizes appropriations of $11,000,000 for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1976, and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1975
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, that real property which is farmland, woodland, or open land and forms part of an estate may be valued, for estate tax purposes, at its value as farmland, woodland, or open land (rather than at its fair market value). Provides that real property which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places may be valued, for estate tax purposes, at its value for its existing use. Provides for the revocation of such lower evaluation and recapture of unpaid taxes with interest upon the conversion, rezoning, or removal of such land from the National Register of Historic Places.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1975
Constitutional Amendment - States that the U.S. Constitution shall not bar any State or territory or the District of Columbia from allowing, regulating, or prohibiting the practice of abortion.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1975
Interim Fisheries Zone Extension and Management Act - Extends the jurisdiction of the United States over specified ocean areas and fish for purposes of protecting the domestic fishing industry. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to conduct research in order to promote the conservation of fish originating in the United States territorial sea and contiguous fisheries zone. Authorizes the appropriation of up to $1,000,000 in any fiscal year to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1975
Increases from five hundred acres to one thousand acres the size of a tract which may be affected by the forestry incentive program of the Agricultural Act of 1970.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1975
Provides that any individual who is eighteen years of age or older and who is receiving half of his income from any member of another household which, because of its income and other financial resources, is not eligible to receive food stamps shall not be considered as a member of household for purposes of the Food Stamp Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1975
Expresses the sense of Congress that the American Baseball League should compensate the District of Columbia Armory Board for any loss in revenues sustained as a result of the moving of the Washington Senator's baseball franchise.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1975
Removes the limitation upon the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving benefits under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1975
Constitutional Amendment - Revises the procedure to be followed in the event that no Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes. Stipulates that if no person voted for as President has such a majority, then from the persons having the three highest numbers of votes for President, the Senate and House of Representatives together, each member having one vote, shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. Defines a quorum for such purpose as three-fourths of the whole number of the Senators and Representatives, and requires that a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. States that if an additional ballot is necessary, the choice on the second ballot shall be between the two persons having the highest numbers of votes on the first ballot. Provides that if no person voted for as Vice President has such a majority, the Vice President shall be chosen from the persons having the three highest numbers of votes for Vice President in the same manner as herein provided for choosing the President. Empowers the Congress to determine questions concerning breach of faith by electors in the casting of electoral votes, and to provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate and the House of Representatives may choose a President or a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1975
Authorizes appropriations for the Interstate Commerce Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Power Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Communications Commission, Civil Aeronautics Board, and the Food and Drug Administration for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1975
Designates the Federal office building to be located in Carbondale, Illinois, as the Kenneth S. Gray Federal Building. Provides that the Administrator of General Services is not permitted to change the designated name of such building.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Coal Slurry Pipeline Act - Declares the findings of Congress that the increased use of domestic coal would promote the national interest by conserving oil and natural gas resources and that the development of coal pipelines may be substantially impeded by difficulties in obaining necessary rights-of-way across private lands unless such pipelines are granted the right of eminent domain. Provides that a carrier may acquire the power of eminent domain in U.S. district courts for the construction of any proposed coal pipelines when such carrier cannot acquire by negotation the right-of-way requires for such construction. States that the power of eminent domain shall not be exercised to acquire: (1) lands owned by the United States or by any State; (2) lands held in trust by the United States for an Indian or Indian tribe; or (3) any right to use or develop water. Provides that the power of eminent domain granted pursuant to this Act may be exercised only by a carrier holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Department of the Interior. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue such a certificate if he finds that the project is in the national interest. Sets forth the factors that the Secretary shall consider in making such a decision. Provides that no carrier granted eminent domain power under this Act shall transport any coal mined by it or under its authority or which it may own in whole or in part, or in which it may direct or indirect interest. States the procedure for the application and issuance of a public convenience and necessity certificate. Requires public notice and public hearings prior to the authorization of a certificate. Declares that the Department of the Interior shall not issue any certificate unless it has received the advice of the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission that such action would not adversely affect competition, restrain trade, further monpolization, or otherwise create or maintain a situation in contravention of the antitrust laws. Authorizes the Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary of the Interior, to institute a civil action in U.S. district court for a restraining order or injunction to enforce any provision of this Act or any regulation issued under the authority of this Act, shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more that $5,000 for each day of the continuance of such failure. States that any person who violates any provision of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Provides that petitions for judicial review shall be filed in the court of appeals of the United States for the circuit in which the proposed project originates. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate such rules and regulations as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. States that all coal coal piplines subject to this Act shall be buried underground if practicable.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Provides for certification by the State water pollution control agency of treatment projects within such State where the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency determines that such projects will be carried out in accordance with State laws and standards at least equivalent to those established by Federal law.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring, under the Clean Air Act, an indirect source emission review as a part of any applicable implementation plan. States that any rules or regulations with respect to the requirement of such review as a part of any such plan previously promulgated by the Administrator shall be void on the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
States that it is the purpose of this Act to provide for the immediate and future protection and administration of public lands in the California desert within the framework of a program of multiple use, sustained yield, and maintenance of environmental quality. Establishes the California Desert Advisory Commission which shall consist of Federal and State representatives, representatives of the academic community, representatives of residents of the desert, and representatives of groups which make use of the desert and its resources for recreational, study, or business purposes. States that it shall be the function of the Commission to advise the Secretary of the Interior with respect to the program for the desert under this Act. Establishes the National Conservation Area of the California Desert to carry out the purposes of the Act. Gives the Secretary of the Interior responsibility for the preparation of a long-range program for the management, development, and use of the California Desert. Provides that such program shall include a plan, to be completed and reported to Congress within seven years from the date of enactment of this Act. Requires consultation with the Advisory Commission and with State organizations concerning such plan. Provides for an interim program to manage and protect the desert resources now in danger of destruction, and to provide for the public use of the desert. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire such lands or interests therein as he deems necessary to provide access to the facilities of the desert, and to facilitate efficient and beneficial management of the desert. Empowers the Secretary to issue such regulations as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Provides that all mining carried out within the conservation area shall be subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may prescribe to carry out the purposes of this Act. States that such regulations shall provide for such measures as may be reasonable to protect the scenic, scientific, and environmental values of the California Desert against undue impairment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Establishes weight restrictions for vehicles on the Interstate System. Provides that no funds authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year under the Federal-Aid Highway Act shall be apportioned to any State within the boundaries of which the Interstate System may lawfully be used by vehicles in excess of the established weight limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Authorizes the President to take such steps as he deems necessary to reduce the amount of bureaucratic red tape which currently exists in the executive branch of the Federal Government, with the goal of cutting in half the amount of paper used.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1975
Provides for the printing of 60,000 copies of the Constitution of the United States in Spanish, for use by members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the House Judiciary Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Provides hospital and medical care to members of the armed forces of Poland or Czechoslovakia who participated in armed conflict with an enemy of the United States during World War I or World War II, and who have been citizens of the United States for not less than 10 years. Provides that such hospital and medical care shall be available to the same extent as if such service had been performed in the Armed Forces of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish national parks of at least 500 acres in those States which presently do not have a national park. Provides that each park established under this Act shall contain picnic and playground areas, an outdoor stage, sports facilities, bicycle paths and nature walks. Stipulates that such parks shall be administered by the Secretary through the National Park Service. Directs each park established by this Act to be opened in time for the bicentennial celebration, July 4, 1976. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Constitutional Amendment - Stipulates that appropriations made by the United States shall not exceed its revenues, except in time of war or national emergency. Provides for the systematic paying back of the national debt over the one-hundred year period beginning with the ratification of this amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States delegation to the European Security Conference should not agree to the recognition by the European Security Conference of the Soviet Union's annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and it should remain the policy of the United States not to recognize in any way the annexation of the Baltic nations by the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1974
Authorizes the construction and maintenance of the General Draza Mihailovich Monument in Washington, District of Columbia, in recognition of the role he played in saving the lives of approximately five hundred United States airmen in Yugoslavia during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1974
Authorizes the construction and maintenance of the General Draza Mihailovich Monument in Washington, District of Columbia, in recognition of the role he played in saving the lives of approximately five hundred United States airmen in Yugoslavia during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1974
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to purchase lands for the establishment of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in the State of Georgia.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1974
Prohibits the interstate shipment of dogs trained for or intended to be used in dogfights for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment. Specifies punishments for persons involved in such commerce and for promoters of and participants in activities which include such dogfights if any one of the dogs involved had been moved in such commerce. (Adds 18 U.S.C. 48)
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1974
Allows an income tax exclusion, under the Internal Revenue Code, of up to $500 ($1000 if a joint return if filed) for interest on deposits in banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and other savings institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1974
United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in the Middle East Authorization Act - Authorizes to be appropriated for fiscal year 1975 funds for payment by the United States of its share of the expenses for: (1) the U.N. Disengagement Observor Force and the Emergency Force in the Middle East; and (2) the U.N. Force in Cyprus.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1974
Prohibits the interstate shipment of dogs trained for or intended to be used in dog fights for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment. Specifies punishments for persons involved in such commerce and for promoters of and participants in activities which include such dog fights if at least one of the dogs involved had been moved in such commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1974
Requires each report of a committee of the House of Representatives on each bill or joint resolution of a public character reported by such committee to contain a detailed analytical statement as to whether the enactment of such bill or joint resolution into law may have an inflationary impact on prices and costs in the operation of the national economy.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1974
Authorizes the President to take such steps as he deems appropriate to reduce, to the maximum extent possible, the volume of regulations, orders, decisions, studies, memorandums, and other forms of paperwork generated by the executive branch of the Federal Government, with the goal of ultimately cutting in half the amount of paper used by the Federal bureaucracy.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1974
Provides that no new previously unfunded spending programs, except in the instance of a national emergency, will be authorized during a period of one hundred and twenty days from the date of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1974
States that Congress urges President Ford to utilize every appropriate means for the transmission of a request to the Government of the Soviet Union that it release from prison Valentyn Moroz and Leonid Plyuskck, and that it permit them and their immediate families to emigrate from the Soviet Union to the country of their choice.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1974
National Voluntary Medical and Hospital Services Act - Creates the National Voluntary Medical and Hospital Services Insurance Agency to operate a National Voluntary Medical and Hospital Services Insurance Plan with funds supplied by voluntary subscriptions and matching United States Treasury funds, to pay all reasonable costs of all medically necessary and appropriate medical and hospital services for all voluntary enrollees. Provides that this Act shall become operative within two years of its enactment, and that Congress shall appropriate $50,000,000 for the first calendar year after this Act becomes effective. Provides that payment shall be made by the plan to or on behalf of every enrollee for all legal, appropriate, and professionally recognized and medically necessary service provided as a personal professional service by or under the direct supervision of a licensed medical doctor, whenever performed. Specifies services excluded from benefits of the plan. Provides for premium payments in the amount of fifteen dollars per month for each adult and one-half of the amount for each child. Provides that subscribers with a total earned and unearned family income of less than $9,969 per year shall be entitled to have their premiums calculated at 1.8 percent of such income for each adult enrollee, and at half that amount for each child enrollee. Provides that not more than 3 percent of all premiums received shall be used for the payment of costs of the plan other than benefits. States that the Agency shall affix a fee to every professionally recognized diagnostic and therapeutic medical service procedure or treatment and laboratory pathological test and procedure that is proportionate to the customary and reasonable fee for such service in each general area of the United States. Enumerates, with respect to claims for the benefits of this plan, the form of, items of information to be contained in, and procedures for auditing, assessment, and payment of, such claims. States that the Agency shall have the right to temporarily or permanently exclude any enrollee or provider of services found to have made any false claim for payment for services. Provides for the arbitration of claims for damages resulting from the alleged malpractice in the provision of any service that is a benefit of the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1974
Records Management Act - Requires the establishment of standards and procedures to assure efficient and effective government records management. States that such standards and procedures shall seek to effectuate the following goals: (1) accurate and complete documentation of the policies and transactions of the Federal Government; (2) control of the quantity and quality of records produced by the Federal Government; (3) simplification of the processes through which records are created, stored, retrieved, and used; (4) the judicious preservation and disposal of records; (5) the establishment and maintenance of a system which focuses continuous attention upon records from their initial creation to their final disposition; (6) the establishment and maintenance of mechanisms of control with respect to records creation, in order to assure the prevention of unnecessary records; and (7) the establishment and maintenance of such other systems or techniques as the Administrator considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides that the Administrator shall provide guidance and assistance to Federal agencies with respect to records creation, records maintenance and use, and records disposition. Directs the Administrator of General Services to: (1) conduct inspections or paperwork studies, at regular intervals as determined to be necessary by the Administrator, of the records and records management practices and programs of every Federal agency; (2) require the head of every Federal agency to transmit a report to the Administrator with respect to the records and records management practices and programs of each such Federal agency during each period of two calendar years; (3) prescribe rules with respect to records management; and (4) order, to the extent he considers necessary, the head of any Federal agency to take specific action with respect to the records or records management practices of his agency. Establishes in the executive branch a Records Review Board to review any order issued by the Administrator under the provisions of this Act upon appeal by any Federal agency. Directs the head of each Federal agency to make and preserve records containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions of the Federal agency and designed to furnish the information necessary to protect the legal and financial rights of the Federal Government and of persons directly affected by the activities of the Federal agency. Requires each agency head to establish safeguards against the removal or loss of records he determines to be necessary and required by the rules of the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 1974
Establishes a Commission on Medical Malpractice Awards for the purpose of studying and making recommendations concerning the feasibility of establishing maximum limits on the amount of damages that may be granted in any medical malpractice suit brought against any physician, dentist, or practitioner of the healing arts. Specifies the membership composition of such commission and its administrative powers.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) all military, economic, or other assistance, all sales of defense articles and services, all sales of agricultural commodities and services, and all licenses with respect to the transportation of arms, ammunitions, and implements of war (including technical data relating thereto) to the Government of Turkey should be suspended on the date of adoption of this resolution; and (2) the provisions of this resolution should cease to apply when the President reports to the Congress that the Government of Turkey has withdrawn all of its armed forces from Cyprus.
United States · United States Congress · 21 August 1974
Expresses the sense of the House that the prevention of widespread famine requires immediate and substantial public investments in agricultural research and technology for the express purpose of increasing food production which would: (1) insure a ready supply of food at reasonable consumer food costs; (2) aid in the maintenance of a favorable United States trade balance; and (3) reduce the risk of food shortages in years of adverse weather.
![Official portrait of Rep. Derwinski, Edward J. [R-IL-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000269_200.jpg)