United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1974
Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to establish within the General Accounting Office a unit to review tax forms, instructions, and other such use documents prepared by the Internal Revenue Service and to make recommendations with respect to the simplification, scope, and use of such forms. Sets forth procedures for the revision of Federal tax forms. Makes various technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1974
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 · 1 May 1974
Requires that new forms and reports, and revisions of existing forms, resulting from legislation be contained in reports of Congressional committees reporting the legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1974
States that the House of Representatives salutes Henry Aaron as an "All-American Good Guy" and extends to him the congratulations, esteem, and affection of the House.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1974
Creates a select committee to be composed of eleven members of the House of Representatives to conduct a full and complete study of 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. States that for the purpose of carrying out this resolution the committee, or any subcommittee thereof authorized by the committee to hold hearings, is authorized to sit and act during the present Congress at such times and places within the United States, including any Commonwealth or possession thereof, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or had adjourned, to hold such hearings, and to require, by subpena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents, as it deems necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1974
Revises the Tariff Schedules of the United States by revising the rates of duty for the import of goods from Bulgaria, Cznechoslovakia, Hungary, and Rumania.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1974
Extends the period for which reduced rates with respect to specified classes of mail shall be effective. Requires the budget program of the Postal Service to include separate statements with respect to public service cost claimed as reimbursements and sums determined by the Postal Service to be the costs incurred as the result of reductions in postal rates to specified classes of persons.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1974
Soviet Energy Investment Prohibition Act - Provides that no department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government may directly or indirectly provide assistance to finance or otherwise promote the export of any commodity, product, or service from the United States if the intended use of such commodity, product, or service involves energy research and development or energy exploration in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1974
Provides, under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, that whenever the President deems it to be in the national interest, he shall endeavor to insure that, to the maximum extent practicable, such assistance shall be furnished only pursuant to agreements which provide for the exchange of necessary strategic or critical raw materials for such assistance. Defines the term "necessary strategic or critical raw materials" to include petroleum, fossil fuels, metals, minerals, or other substances which: (1) are in short supply in the United States or (2) the United States requirements of which are not produced in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1974
Medicare Long-Term Care Act - Establishes, under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare), a voluntary program to provide long-term care benefits for aged and disabled individuals who elect to enroll under such program, financed from premium payments by enrollees together with contributions from funds appropriated by the Federal Government and contributions by the States. Lists criteria for eligibility for long-term care service benefits. Provides that the benefits provided to an individual by this Act shall consist of (1) home health services, (2) homemaker services, (3) nutrition services, (4) long-term institutional care services, (5) day care and foster home services, and (6) community mental health center outpatient services. Enumerates the requirements for a State long-term care agency. Provides for the payment of premiums for benefits received under this Act. Establishes on the books of the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the Federal Long-Term Care Trust Fund. Creates a body to be known as the Board of Trustees, composed of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, all ex officio. States that the Secretary of the Treasury shall be the Managing Trustee of the Board of Trustees and that the Commissioner of Social Security shall serve as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Provides that the Board of Trustees shall meet not less frequently than once each calendar year. Enumerates the duties of the Board of Trustees. Declares that a community long-term care center shall: (1) provide the items and services listed in this Act to each individual (i) who is eligible for benefits under this part, (ii) who resides in the area served by such center and (iii) who is certified as requiring such services; (2) evaluate and certify the long-term care needs of an individual for whom such care may be required in order to maintain such individual in an independent living arrangement which is reasonable given such individual's state of health and other circumstances (but not including such individual's economic circumstances); (3) maintain a continuous relationship with (and periodically evaluate not less than annually) each individual who is receiving any of the items and services listed in this Act; (4) provide full opportunity for such individual and his family to participate in the determinations and functions under this Act; (5) provide an organized system for making its existence and location known to all individuals in its service area who are eligible for benefits under this part, and for making known to such individuals the method or methods by which they may most efficiently obtain and use the services which it makes available; and (6) performs such other functions as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may by regulation prescribe in order to have such center most effectively carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides a formula for payments to States for the reimbursement of community long-term care centers. Directs the Secretary, after consultation with organizations representing the chief executives of the various States, and other interested parties, to develop and make available to community long-term care centers one or more methods of obtaining payment for the benefits covered under this Act on a prospective basis. States that once a community long-term care center elects a particular prospective method, it may not alter its election without the prior approval of the Secretary. Provides that whenever the Secretary finds that the number of community long-term care centers electing a particular prospective payment method promulgated in accordance with this Act is not sufficient to provide an adequate basis for either the operation or evaluation of that method, the Secretary shall withdraw that method and allow the community long-term care centers which have elected such method to select another method withn 30 days of notice of such withdrawal. Permits a Governor of a State to certify to the Secretary a method of prospective payment other than those promulgated under this Act. States that the determination of whether an individual is entitled to benefits under this Act shall be made by the Secretary in accordance with regulations prescribed by him. Provides for increases in supplemental security income benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1974
Provides for television and radio coverage of proceedings in the Chamber of the House of Representatives on any resolution to impeach the President of the United States. Authorizes the Speaker to appoint a committee of five members to provide such arrangements as may be necessary in connection with such a broadcast.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1974
Expresses the sense of Congress that since the American Baseball League permitted the franchise of the Washington Senators baseball team to be moved from the District of Columbia, the league should compensate the District of Columbia Armory Board for any loss of revenues it sustains from the moving of such franchise.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1974
Occupational Safety and Health Amendments - States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall not propose any rule promulgating a new occupational health or safety standard before he: (1) has, as part of each such proposal, reviewed and published in the Federal Register the financial impact of such proposed standard; and (2) has determined with due regard for that impact that the benefit to be derived from such standard justifies such proposal. Provides that no standard adopted or promulgated shall require any employer to phase out, change, or replace existing equipment or facilities before the normal useful life of that equipment or facility has expired unless failure to so phase out, change, or replace that equipment or facility prematurely would result in a serious violation. Directs the Secretary to prescribe, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, as part of each existing standard adopted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: (1) the estimated average and maximum cost per unit to the average employer who is subject to that standard for compliance with the conditions, practices, means, methods, operation, or process used or proposed to be used by that employer under that standard; and (2) the period within which it is, in fact, possible for such employers to meet such standard including, but not limited to, availability of required devices, and possibility of performance of required procedures. Sets forth requirements with respect to notifying an employer of violations of the requirements prescribed pursuant to this Act. States that any employer who has been found to be not in compliance with any rule or standard adopted or promulgated under this Act shall not receive a notice for such violation if he is able to show: (1) that implementing such rule or standard would not materially affect the safety or health of his employees in the facility inspected; (2) that he has employed alternative procedures to protect his employees from the hazards contemplated by the rule or standard which are as effective in protecting the safety and health of his employees; or (3) that he has furnished adequate notice and exerted all reasonable efforts, pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, to obtain the compliance of his employees, that such violation was attributable to such employees, and that he could not otherwise have reasonably prevented such violation. Sets forth procedures for enforcement of these regulations. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into compliance agreements with an employer believed to be in violation of an occupational safety and health standard promulgated pursuant to this Act under which enforcement and penalty provisions are waived or deferred upon condition that the employer will voluntarily comply with the applicable standard upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate under the circumstances. States that failure of an employer to abide by such an agreement may be taken into account in resulting enforcement and penalty procedures. Directs the Secretary to provide technical advice, assistance, and consultation to employers with less than one hundred employees whenever it is necessary to assist them in complying with applicable standards.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1974
Congressional Advisory Legislative Line - Establishes an office within the Congress with a toll-free telephone number, to be known as the Congressional Advisory Legislative Line (CALL), to provide the American people with free and open access to information, on an immediate basis, relating to the status of legislative proposals pending before the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1974
Establishes a standing Committee on the Environment in the House of Representatives, to consist of twenty-five members. States that all proposed legislation and other matters pertaining to the quality of the physical environment of the United States and its possessions shall be referred to the Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1974
Empowers the Atomic Energy Commission to enter into an agreement with any State agency or regional agency under which such State or regional agency shall conduct an environmental review of and shall issue or deny an application for a site certificate for any proposed nuclear power reactor site in the State or region with respect to which such agency has jurisdiction. States that any such agreement shall expire five years from its effective date and the parties may agree to enter into subsequent five-year agreements. Directs the Atomic Energy Commission to, in consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality, formulate any requirements to be imposed in any such agreement. Provides that such an agreement shall provide that a State or regional agency may issue a site certificate for a proposed nuclear power reactor only if such agency finds, after having considered and balanced the environmental and economic costs and benefits of the nuclear power reactor if constructed on the site proposed, the need for electric power, and other relevant factors, that the construction and operation of the nuclear power reactor on the proposed site is in the public interest. States that any such agreement shall provide that in making site certification decisions the State or regional agency which is a party to the agreement shall, on its own motion or on application of any person proposing to construct a nuclear power reactor: (1) hold public hearings and offer to consider comments from any affected Federal, State, or local agency; and (2) prepare a detailed environmental impact statement on the proposed site. Requires such an agency to issue, within one year after submission of an application for a site certificate by a person proposing to construct one or more nuclear power reactors, a final decision granting or denying a site certificate to the applicant. States that in any proceeding under this Act concerning a license or construction permit, or application to transfer control, and in any proceeding dealing with the activities of licenses, or for the payment of compensation, the Commission shall grant a hearing upon the request of any person whose interest may be affected by the proceeding. Provides that, unless a State or regional agency is party to such an agreement at the time site approval is sought for one or more nuclear power reactors, the Commission is authorized to consider and grant or deny by order an application by any person for approval of a site for one of more nuclear power reactors, except that such construction permit or operating license or amendment to a construction permit or operating license for a nuclear power reactor shall not be issued unless all site-related restrictions in the site approval are complied with. Authorizes the Commission to consider and grant or deny petitions for the issuance of a rule or on its own initiative issue a rule approving the preliminary or final design of part of a nuclear power reactor. States that Congress finds that it is in the national interest to minimize the environmental impact of nuclear powerplants by locating and designating sites for nuclear power parks in each region of the Nation. States that such parks may be the site for locating several nuclear powerplants serving the region in which they are located, and may include nuclear fuel fabricating and reprocessing facilities, and all other facilities required for a complete fuel cycle. Directs the Atomic Energy Commission to make or cause to be made a national survey to locate and designate a nuclear power park site in each of the existing nine electric reliability regions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1974
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 has been a citizen 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 · 12 March 1974
Directs the Secretary of State to keep the appropriate committees of Congress fully and currently imformed of the ongoing status of any negotiations with any foreign government, regarding the cancellation, renegotiation, rescheduling, or settlement of any debt owed to the United States Government by such foreign governments under any program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1974
Expresses the sense of the House that the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 should not be extended beyond the present expiration date of April 30, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1974
Increases, under title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors', and Disability Insurance), the amount of outside earnings which (subject to further increases under the automatic adjustment provisions) is permitted each year without any deductions from benefits. Revises the method for determining such amount.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1974
Directs the Secretary of State to keep the appropriate committees of Congress fully and currently imformed of the ongoing status of any negotiations with any foreign government, regarding the cancellation, renegotiation, rescheduling, or settlement of any debt owed to the United States Government by such foreign governments under any program.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1974
Establishes as the penalty for kidnapping a term of imprisonment not less than ten years without opportunity for suspension of sentence, probation, or parole. Requires the death penalty where the victim is not returned physically unharmed. Provides that the unexplained disappearance of any person for more than 24 hours, if there is any evidence of a kidnap, shall create a rebuttable presumption that such person has been transported in interstate or foreign commerce. (Amends 18 U.S.C. 1201)
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1974
Provides, under the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that it shall be an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against individuals who are physically disabled because of such disability.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1974
Prohibits the exportation of fertilizer from the United States until the Secretary of Agriculture determines that an adequate domestic supply of fertilizer exists.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1974
Directs the Secretary of State to keep the appropriate committees of Congress fully and currently imformed of the ongoing status of any negotiations with any foreign government, regarding the cancellation, renegotiation, rescheduling, or settlement of any debt owed to the United States Government by such foreign governments under any program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1974
Directs the Secretary of State to keep the appropriate committees of Congress fully and currently imformed of the ongoing status of any negotiations with any foreign government, regarding the cancellation, renegotiation, rescheduling, or settlement of any debt owed to the United States Government by such foreign governments under any program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1974
Provides, under title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance), that increases in monthly insurance benefits (whether occurring by reason of increases in the cost of living or enacted by law) shall not be considered as annual income for purposes of the following benefit programs: dependency and indemnity compensation to parents of a deceased veteran, pension for non-service-connected disability or death or for service, and the Veterans' Pension Act of 1959.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1974
Internal Revenue Commission Act - Establishes an independent commission to be known as the Internal Revenue Commission, the principal office of which shall be in the District of Columbia. Provides that all the functions with respect to the administration and enforcement of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 which, immediately prior to the date that this Act takes effect, were performed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, or any other officer or employee of the Department of the Treasury are transferred to the Internal Revenue Commission. Provides that the transfer of functions under this Act shall not affect any act done or any right accruing or accrued before such transfer. States that so much of the positions, personnel, assets, liabilities, contracts, property, and records of the Department of the Treasury which, as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, were employed, held, used, or available or to be made available in connection with the functions transferred by this Act shall be transferred to the Internal Revenue Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that any money appropriated for the purpose of celebrating the Bicentennial should only be spent to honor and celebrate the History of this Nation and the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1974
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 · 30 January 1974
Provides, under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, that no air carrier shall discontinue service, in whole or in part, unless such discontinuance is found to be in the public interest by the Civil Aeronautics Board after public hearings.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1974
States that all returns made with respect to taxes imposed under the Internal Revenue Code are confidential and private records; but they may be opened to inspection by the following persons at such times and in such manner as the Commissioner of Internal Revenue by regulation may prescribe: (1) the taxpayer for whom the return was made or his attorney in fact; (2) officers and employees of the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Justice for tax administration and economic stabilization purposes; (3) shareholders of record owning 1 percent or more of the outstanding stock of any corporation; (4) tax officials of the States; (5) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Finance Committee of the Senate, and the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue and Taxation; (6) the Attorney General, Assistant Attorneys General, and United States attorneys; and (7) officers and employees of executive departments and other establishments of the Federal Government upon written request of the head of such department or establishment naming the taxpayer whose return is to be inspected and provided that the inspection is necessary in the enforcement of Federal statutes. States that whenever a return is open to the inspection of any person, a certified copy thereof shall, upon request, be furnished to such person under regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue who may prescribe a reasonable fee for furnishing such copy. Provides that all regulations issued by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue pursuant to this Act must have written approval of the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation. States that this Act shall be effective upon enactment. Allows the Commissioner of Internal Revenue a period of ninety days after enactment to issue the regulations required herein.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1974
Makes it the sense of the House that, during the period pending consideration and action by the Senate upon the bill H.R. 10710, as introduced in the first session of the Congress, cited as the "Trade Reform Act of 1973" and as amended and passed by the House, no loan, guarantee, insurance, or credit shall be extended by the Export-Import Bank of the United States to any nonmarket economy country (other than any such country whose products are eligible for column 1 tariff treatment on the date of the enactment of this resolution), and no such country shall participate in any program of the Government of the United States which extends credits or credit guarantees or investment guarantees, directly or indirectly.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1974
Creates a select committee to be composed of nine Members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker, one of whom he shall designate as chairman. Directs the committee to conduct a full investigation of the role of the oil and gas industry in contributing to the current energy crisis. Provides that the committee shall report to the House as soon as practicable during the present Congress the results of its investigation and study, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1974
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, 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 · 21 January 1974
Federal Paperwork Burden Relief Act - Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the reporting requirements of Federal regulatory programs to determine the extent to which these requirements may be revised to lessen the burden upon small and independent business establishments. Requires the Comptroller General to report the results of such study to the Congress one year from the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 1973
Makes it an unlawful employment practice, under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to discriminate against individuals who are physically handicapped because of such handicap. (Amends 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2)
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1973
Provides that the tax on the amounts paid for communication services shall not apply to the amount of the State and local taxes paid for such services under the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1973
Expresses the sense of the Congress that individuals and industries holding patents which, if utilized, could result in energy savings, should forward copies of such patents to the House Interior Committee for study and evaluation, and that once the evaluation is completed, if the patent is put into use, the holder of that patent should be reimbursed for it in full.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1973
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, an individual tax credit for disaster evacuation expenses. Defines such expenses. States that in general the amount allowed for such a credit shall not exceed $200 for each natural disaster requiring evacuation.
![Official portrait of Rep. Derwinski, Edward J. [R-IL-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000269_200.jpg)