United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1975
Stipulates that no regulation, or modification of a regulation, concerning intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded promulgated by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare pursuant to the Medicaid provisions of the Social Security Act after January 1, 1974 shall be effective prior to July 1, 1976 unless such regulation has been approved by the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, to require reasonable bonds from market agencies, dealers, and packers to secure the performance of their obligations with respect to transactions involving livestock or poultry. Authorizes the Secretary to summarily order, without a hearing, any person subject to the provisions of such Act to pay a seller of livestock or poultry by certified check or to establish a custodial account if the Secretary has reason to believe that such action is necessary to protect vendees. Empowers the Secretary to request the Attorney General of the United States Livestock to apply to the United States district court for a temporary injunction or restraining order whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that any person subject to this Act (1) is unable to pay for livestock products, (2) has operated while insolvent, or (3) does not have the required bond. Provides that debts of a bankrupt that are owing for the purchase of livestock or poultry shall have priority if, at the time such debts were incurred, the bankrupt was a packer, market agency, or dealer subject to such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1975
Increases under title II of the Social Security Act (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) to $5,000 the amount of outside earnings which (subject to further increases under the automatic adjustment provisions) is permitted an individual each year without any deductions from benefits thereunder.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act to foster and promote, through appropriate means and on an economically sustainable basis, the development and expansion of both traditional and innovative approaches to direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers. States that for purposes of this Act, the term "direct marketing from farmers to consumers" means the marketing of agricultural commodities at any marketplace (including, but not limited to, roadside stands, city markets, and vehicles used for house-to-house marketing of agricultural commodities) established and maintained for the purpose of enabling farmers to sell their agricultural commodities directly to individual consumers, or organizations representing consumers. Directs the Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture to conduct and facilitate activities designed to foster traditional methods of direct marketing from farmers to consumers, including: (1) the designation of a specialist in each State responsible for a direct marketing program; (2) the sponsorship of conferences designed to facilitate the sharing of information on direct marketing programs; and (3) the providing of technical assistance to groups establishing direct marketing programs. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Requires, under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, a permit from the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, for the discharge of dredged or fill material into channels of navigable waters at sewage disposal sites.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Exempts from the estate tax imposed under the Internal Revenue Code the lesser of: (1) $200,000 and (2) the value of the decedent's interest in a family farming operation operated continually by the decedent for at least five years prior to his death and which passes to a relative on his death. Provides for revocation of such exemption in the event that the successor transfers his interest or stops residing on the farm within five years of the death of his transferor. Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, that farmland, woodland, or open land which comprises part of an estate may be valued, for estate tax purposes, as such 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 · 22 May 1975
Requires under the Social Security Act the continued application of the 8 1/2 percent nursing salary cost differential which is presently allowed in determining the reasonable cost of inpatient nursing care for purposes of reimbursement to providers under the medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Creates a select committee in the House of Representatives with authority to conduct a full and complete investigation of the problem of United States servicemen missing in action or known to be dead whose bodies have not been recovered, as a result of military operations in North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Provides that such investigation shall include an examination of the need for additional international inspection teams to determine whether there are servicemen still held as prisoner of war. Authorizes the Committee to hold hearings, issue subpenas, and maintain a staff as necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this resolution. Directs the committee to report to the House the results of its investigation no later than one year after adoption of this resolution. Provides that the committee's authority shall expire 30 days after the filing of such report. Directs that the expenses of the select committee shall be paid from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives upon vouchers signed by the Chairman.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make a loan of $100,000,000 to the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Company. Establishes conditions which shall be required by the Secretary before granting such loan. Empowers the Secretary to approve any modifications of any provision of the loan made under this Act. Directs the Secretary to issue such rules and regulations as are appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act. Grants the Secretary powers necessary to enforce the provisions and conditions of this Act. Requires the Secretary to report to the President and to the Congress with respect to his activities pursuant to this Act and to make recommendations for additional legislative action. Declares that the Comptroller General of the United States shall have access to such information, books, records, and documents as he determines necessary to audit operations carried out in the administration of this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act in addition to the amount to be loaned.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1975
Increases from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 the amount of interest on industrial development bonds which may be excluded from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1975
Provides that no debt owned to the United States by any foreign country may be settled in an amount less than full value of such debt unless the Congress by concurrent resolution approves of such settlement.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1975
New Homestead Act - Provides that in the case of any farm purchase loan to any person who is (1) a nonowner-operator of a farm or (2) an owner-operator of a farm who is not reliant on such farm for his principal source of income, the Secretary of Agriculture may make or insure any such loan up to $100,000 or 90 percent of the value of the farm being purchased, whichever is greater. States that the repayment of any farm purchase loan by any person who was at the time of such loan a nonowner-operator of a farm or an owner-operator of a farm, but not reliant on such farm for his principal source of income, shall, upon the request of such person at the time the loan is made or insured, be made as follows: (1) during the first twelve-month period beginning on the first day of the first month after the loan is made and during each of the next fourteen twelve-month periods, one-eightieth of the total amount to be financed including interest; and (2) (A) during each of the next twenty-five twelve-month periods, one twenty-fifth of an amount equal to the total amount to be financed including interest minus the amount paid pursuant to paragraph (1); or (B) at the close of the fifteenth twelve-month period, the balance of the principal plus an amount of interest which would have been due and payable during the first fifteen twelve-month periods had the forty-year loan been paid in four hundred and eighty equal installments; except that the balance of the loan shall become due and payable if such farm or any interest therin is transferred without the approval of the Secretary to any person ineligible for a loan. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1975
Public Disclosure of Lobbying Act-Defines "lobbying" and other terms used in this Act. Requires each lobbyist, within 15 days of becoming a lobbyist, to file a notice of representation with the Federal Edection Commission. Sets forth minimum elements to be contained in such notice. Enumerates those persons required to maintain records of lobbying activities. Sets forth the required form and content of reports to be made to the commission containing such records. Requires GS-15 and above employees of the executive branch to maintain records of communucations received from outside parties expressing opinions or containing information with respect to the policy making process. Directs each executive agency to make such records available for public inspection. Enumerates the powers of the Commission, including the powers: (1) to require any person to submit in writing such reports and answers to question as the Commission may prescribe: and (2) to initiate, prosecute, defend, or appeal any civil or criminal action in the name of the Commission for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act through its General Counsel. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Commission to perform specified tasks, including; (1) to develop and furnish to lobbyists forms required to be filed under this Act: (2) to develop forms for the filing of records of outside contacts by executive branch employees; and (3) to prepare a manual setting forth recommended uniform methods of bookkeeping and reporting, filing coding, and cross-indexing. Sets forth criminal penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1975
Financial Disclosure Act - Requires candidates for Federal office, Members of the Congress, each officer and employee of the Federal Government who is compensated at a rate in excess of $25,000 per year, Federal employees performing the duties of a GS-16 or higher, members of the Uniformed Services in the grade 0-6 or higher, the President, and the Vice President to file annually with the Comptroller General, a report containing a full and complete statement of: (1) the amount and source of each item of income, each gift or aggregate of gifts from one source (other than gifts received from his spouse or any member of his immediate family) received by him, by and his spouse jointly, by his spouse, or by his dependents, during the preceding calendar year which exceeds $100 in amount or value, including any fee or other honorarium received by him for or in connection with the preparation or delivery of any speech or address, attendance at any convention or other assembly of individuals, or the preparation of any article or other compensation for publication, and the monetary value of subsistence, entertainment, travel, and other facilities received by him in kind; (2) the identity of each asset held by him, by him and his spouse jointly, by his spouse, or by his dependents, which has a value in excess of $1,000, and the amount of each liability owed by him or by him and his spouse jointl, together with the amount of each liability which is owned with respect to any financial interest which is under his constructive control, which is in excess of $1,000 as of the close of the preceding calendar year; (3) any transactions in securities of any business entity by him or by him and his spouse jointly, or by any person acting on his behalf or pursuant to his direction during the preceding calendar year if the aggregate amount involved in transactions in the securities of such business entity exceeds $1,000 during such year; (4) all transactions in commodities by him, or by him and his spouse jointly, or by any person acting on his behalf or pursuant to his direction during the preceding calendar year if the aggregate amount involved in such transactions exceeds $1,000; and (5) any purchase or sale of real property or any interest therein by him, or by him and his spouse jointly, or by any person acting on his behalf or pursuant to his direction, during the preceding calendar year if the value of property involved in such purchase or sale exceeds $1,000. Defines the terms used in this Act. Sets forth penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1975
Directs the House Commission on Information and Facilities to provide for radio and television coverage of the proceedings in the House Chamber. Calls upon the Commission to provide for monitors to receive the television coverage to be located in such offices of the Capitol and the House and Senate office buildings as the Commission, after consultation with the Speaker of the House, considers desirable. States that the Commission shall initially provide for transmission of the audio portion of the coverage to offices of Members and officers of the House and Senate. Directs the Commission to provide a daily written summary of the proceedings of the House and other information pertaining to legislative activity. Requires that the Commission make available to the public and commercial broadcasting stations radio and television coverage of the proceedings in the House Chamber, videotapes of such coverage, and recordings of the audio portion of such coverage subject to requirements specifies under this Act. Specifies that such requirements do not include limitations or restrictions on the selection of materials for broadcast use. Authorizes the Commission to employ such persons and enter into such contracts as shall be necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution. Provides that expenses of the Commission shall be paid from the contingent fund of the House. Directs the Commission, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the first session of the Ninety-fourth Congress, to report to the House on activities carried out under this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1975
Provides that specified rural hospitals shall be exempt for a period of 18 months from the requirements and provisions of Title XI of the Social Security Act relating to the establishment of professional standards review organizations and from the provisions of such Act and the regulations governing utilization review and utilization control procedures under the medicare, medicaid, and maternal and child health programs. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to investigate alternative methods of utilization review and control for rural hospitals. Defines "rural hospitals" for purposes of this Act as meaning a hospital which is located in a community having a population of less than 50,000, but only if: (1) there is no other is no other community which has a population of fifty thousand or more within a ten-mile radius of such hospital; (2) the combined average patient load for all hospitals within such ten-mile radius is less than forty per day; and (3) the number of practicing physicians on the regular staff of such hospital does not exceed seven.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1975
Revises the Emergency Livestock Credit Act to include the Federal Financing Bank in the term "legally organized lending agency" only to the extent that such Bank may hold the guaranteed portion of such loans. Allows a contract that guarantees such loan to require the Secretary of Agriculture to participate in up to 90 percent of any loss. Extends to seven years the period of time loans guaranteed under such Act may be repaid. Restricts the total principal balance outstanding at any one time to $250,000 on loans guaranteed under this act for any one loan applicant. Terminates the authority to make loans under this Act on December 31, 1976. Allows the lender to accept collateral for such guaranteed loans which has depreciated in value due to temporary economic conditions, but which remains adequate security for the loan.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make a loan of $100,000,000 to the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Company. Establishes conditions which shall be required by the Secretary before granting such loan. Empowers the Secretary to approve any modifications of any provision of the loan made under this Act. Directs the Secretary to issue such rules and regulations as are appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act. Grants the Secretary powers necessary to enforce the provisions and conditions of this Act. Requires the Secretary to report to the President and to the Congress with respect to his activities pursuant to this Act and to make recommendations for additional legislative action. Declares that the Comptroller General of the United States shall have access to such information, books, records, and documents as he determines necessary to audit operations carried out in the administration of this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act in addition to the amount to be loaned.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1975
Provides additional financial assistance, under the Emergency Livestock Credit Act, to owners of livestock who have suffered severe financial losses as a result of factors over which such owners had no control. Extends the repayment period for such financial assistance from a maximum of three years to a maximum of twenty years. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide such financial assistance without regard to the amount of indebtedness or lack of security of the borrower as long as there is a reasonable probability of repayment of the loan.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1975
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that, on or before the fifteenth day after the beginning of each regular session of the Congress, the President shall transmit to the Congress a budget which shall set forth separately: (1) his estimate of the receipts of the Government, other than trust funds, during the ensuing fiscal year under the laws then existing; (2) his recommendations with respect to outlays to be made from funds other than trust funds during such ensuing fiscal year; and (3) if such recommendations exceed such estimate, a surtax rate which the President determines to be necessary to be applied with respect to the income tax of taxpayers to those portions of taxable years of taxpayers occurring during such fiscal year, so that such receipts will equal such outlays. Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the first quarter of each fiscal year, and during the third quarter of each fiscal year to: (1) estimate the receipts of the Government, other than trust funds, during such fiscal year; (2) estimate outlays to be made from funds other than trust funds during such fiscal year; and (3) (A) if such estimate of outlays exceeds such estimate of receipts, determine a surtax rate which the Speaker considers necessary to be applied, with respect to the income tax of taxpayers, to those portions of taxable years of taxpayers remaining in such fiscal year, so that such receipts will equal such outlays; or (B) if such estimate of outlays equals such estimate of receipts, determine that no surtax rate is necessary to be applied. Directs the President during the last month of each fiscal year to review whether the receipts of the Government, other than trust funds, for such year will be less than the outlays other than trust funds for that fiscal year. Provides that if he finds that such receipts are going to be less than such outlays, he shall determine a surtax rate which he considers necessary to be applied with respect to the income tax of taxpayers, so that taxes received by the Government from such surtax, when added to other receipts of the Government, will equal such outlays. Authorizes the suspension of the provisions of this Article in the case of a grave national emergency declared by Congress (including a state of war formally declared by Congress) by a concurrent resolution, agreed to by a rollcall vote of three-fourths of all the Members of each House of Congress, with each such resolution providing the period of time (not exceeding one year) during which those provisions are to be suspended.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1975
Authorizes the President to invite the States of the Union and foreign nations to participate in the International Petroleum Exposition to be held at Tulsa, Oklahoma, from May 16, 1976, through May 22, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1975
Repeals the provisions of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 which makes flood insurance coverage and community participation in the national flood insurance program prerequisites for approval of any financial assistance in a flood hazard area.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1975
Provides for an adjustment of the target prices, loan and purchase levels on the 1975 crops of upland cotton, corn, wheat, and soybeans. Establishes the price support for milk at 85 percent of parity with quarterly adjustments for the period ending March 31, 1976. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust the support price quarterly to reflect changes in the prices paid by farmers for production items, interest, taxes, and wage rates.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1975
Prescribes the method of distributing funds previously appropriated to pay specified Indian Claims Commission judgments to the Sac and Fox Tribe of Oklahoma, the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, and the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1975
Directs the Secretary of Defense to continue the operation and maintenance of each of the commissary stores of the agencies of the Department of Defense in operation on January 1, 1975. States that the Secretary shall request appropriations for their direct costs.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1975
Increases the surtax exemption allowed to corporations under the Internal Revenue Code from $25,000 to $50,000 for taxable year 1976, and then in increments of $10,000 per taxable year to $100,000 for taxable year 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1975
Provides price support for milk, under the Agricultural Act of 1949, at not less than 85 percent of the parity price therefor, beginning on the date of enactment and ending on March 31, 1976. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust the parity price at the beginning of each quarter to reflect the changes in the prices paid by farmers for production items, interest, taxes and wages in the preceeding quarter. States that it is the sense of the Congress that the President shall take appropriate action to limit the quantity of meat imports to an amount equal to the adjusted base quantity estimate for the current calendar year. States that it is further the sense of Congress that the President issue a proclamation stating that import quotas on butter, butter oil, cheddar cheese, and nonfat dry milk not be increased above the levels prevailing as of June 1, 1971.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1975
Provides that specified rural hospitals shall be exempt for a period of 18 months from the requirements and provisions of Title XI of the Social Security Act relating to the establishment of professional standards review organizations and from the provisions of such Act and the regulations governing utilization review and utilization control procedures under the medicare, medicaid, and maternal and child health programs. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to investigate alternative methods of utilization review and control for rural hospitals. Defines "rural hospitals" for purposes of this Act as meaning a hospital which is located in a community having a population of less than 50,000, but only if: (1) there is no other is no other community which has a population of fifty thousand or more within a ten-mile radius of such hospital; (2) the combined average patient load for all hospitals within such ten-mile radius is less than forty per day; and (3) the number of practicing physicians on the regular staff of such hospital does not exceed seven.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1975
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Commodity Credit Corporation, during calendar year 1975, to expend an additional $1,000,000,000 to $2,000,000,000 for (1) the purchase of cows, calves, hogs, sheep, or other food animals and products, processing and packaging, or (2) the purchase of animal products already processed for contribution to domestic and foreign food programs for the relief of starvation and malnutrition. Directs that the containers of such products bear labels indicating the contents are donated by the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 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 · 5 February 1975
Prohibits the importation of any cattle, fresh, chilled or frozen beef, preserved beef or veal, milk, cream, butter, oleomargarine and butter substitutes, cheeses, or any beef or dairy products described or specified in any of the items of the Tariff schedules of the United States relating to such products until the Secretary of Agriculture certifies to the Agricultural Committees of Congress, that such imports do not pose a danger to the economic well-being of the Nation's meat and dairy producers, and the Nation's quality and health standards for foods for domestic consumption. Stipulates that no such certification shall be issued until one year from the date of enactment of this Act.