United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
National Home Health Care Act - Broadens the coverage of home health services under the supplementary medical insurance (Medicare) program of of the Social Security Act and removes the 100-visit limitation presently applicable to the home health service program. Extends the coverage of posthospital home health services to include payment for items and services which the indiviudal could otherwise obtain in a skilled nursing facility. Requires the inclusion of home health services in a State's medicaid program under the Social Security Act and permits the payment of rent under such program for elderly persons who would otherwise require nursing home care. Provides expanded Federal funding for congregate housing for the displaced and the elderly by increasing the amount available for such housing under the low income housing program. Establishes, in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a home health patient ombudsman, who shall be appointed and provided with adequate staff and facilities by the Secretary. Makes it the duty and responsibility of the ombudsman to monitor specified programs under the Social Security and the various medical assistance programs under the State plans approved pursuant to such Act, and to maintain such oversight of those programs and their operation and administration as may be necessary to: (1) assure that home health patients under such programs are receiving the care to which they are entitled, (2) provide safeguards against over-charging for home health services, (3) identify abuses against home health patients, (4) receive, handle, and expedite complaints by home health patients, (5) recommend to the Secretary any changes in the regulations affecting home health services which may appear necessary or desirable, and (6) take appropriate action (including the transmission of findings to the Attorney General) with respect to abuses and violations of law affecting the provision or receipt of home health services under such programs. Makes the children over 18 of parents receiving nursing and home health care assistance under the medicaid program liable for a specified portion of the expenses of such assistance, depending upon the income of such child. Permits the waiver of such obligation in any case where the State agency determines, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, that the imposition of such obligation or the making of such collection would impose undue hardship. Provides that any amount collected from or otherwise paid by any person in satisfaction of any obligation imposed by this section shall constitute a medical expense paid or incurred by such person for purposes of deductions under the Internal Revenue Code ot 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires that accurate records of the handling of accounts, personal expense moneys, and valuables of patients receiving benefits under the Medicare program of the Social Security Act be maintained; that a receipt be given and recorded for such items; and that they be kept separate from similar items owned by the facility caring for such patients.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Authorizes medicare or medicaid patients individually or as a class to bring suit under the Social Security Act for specific performance, without regard to the $10,000 jurisdictional amount, in Federal district court against a long-term care facility which is in violation of its provider agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides for the making of direct loans at 4 percent or the current market interest rate, whichever is lower, under the Public Health Service Act, for the construction and rehabilitation of nursing homes owned and operated by churches and other nonprofit organizations. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a rating system for nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs of the Social Security Act as a guide to consumers. States that such ratings shall be based on surveys available to the Secretary under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires that payment forms submitted from nursing homes for reimbursement under the Medicare and Medicaid programs of the Social Security Act contain warnings with regard to penalties imposed for misrepresentation of the amounts due under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide grants for the planning, development, construction, and rehabilitation of nursing homes in black and minority communities under the Public Health Service Act. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides 100 percent Federal funding of financial audits of skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities participating in the medicaid program conducted by State personnel pursuant to the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides criminal penalties under the Social Security Act for the offer or receipt of consideration for the referral of patients, clients, or customers under the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, under title XX of the Social Security Act, to provide for a system of inspections of State inspection and enforcement mechanisms with regard to facilities receiving payments under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides criminal penalties under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act for: (1) the solicitation or acceptance of any gift, money, or consideration over and above the rates established by the States; or (2) the acceptance of any gift, money, or donation, as a precondition of admitting a patient to a long-term care facility.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides for placing responsibility for medical care provided by skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs of the Social Security Act in a medical director who is a physician on call in emergencies and who either (1) spends 10 hours a week in each facility for which he is responsible or (2) spends 2 hours per week in such facility and is assisted by a nurse practitioner (whose functions are defined in the Act) who spends at least 20 hours per week at the facility.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires State plans under the Medicaid program of the Social Security Act to be ratified by both the State's legislative and executive branch before being presented to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for his approval; and requires that such plans be posted and available to the public. Directs the Secretary to annually review a State's compliance with such plan and to publish performance ratings for the States. Creates a cause of action allowing Medicaid recipients individually or as a class to bring suit against a State for specific performance when a State fails to comply with the provisions of its plan.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides educational and performance requirements for long-term care facility personnel compensated with Federal funds who are responsible for determining whether such institutions comply with health and safety standards required under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires States, under the Medicaid program of the Social Security Act, to establish ombudsman programs to investigate nursing home complaints and represent consumer interests.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Allows the States to use supplementary security income payments plus a State supplement of not less than $100 per resident per month to provide care for residents in nonmedical shelter care facilities, if such residents are ambulatory and need only minimum supervision.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires admissions contracts between nursing homes participating in Federal programs and the patients they serve under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides, under the Social Security Act, for the establishment of an Inspector General for health administration. Authorizes the Inspector General to suspend any regulation, practice, or procedure found not to be in compliance with the provisions or purposes of the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Authorizes the Inspector General to make confidential expenditures of up to $50,000 in any fiscal year to make inspections, audit, or reviews in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires, under title XCIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, that nursing homes post their current license, medicare/medicaid certification, a list of owners of the facility, the names of staff, a patient's bill of rights as well as a description of services offered by the facility and the facility's charges therefor.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act that only licensed personnel may set up or distribute medications in skilled nursing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires nursing homes participating in Federal programs pursuant to title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to have in effect procedures to prevent epidemic diseases and accidents and for reporting them immediately to appropriate authority and next of kin of patients involved in any untoward incident affecting health and safety.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires a minimum ratios for nursing home personnel to patients, and for superviosry nurses to total nurses under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides for the modification of the medicare reimbursement formula under title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow small hospitals in rural areas with low occupancy to provide long term care in those areas where there are no appropriate nursing home beds available.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires physician visits to patients in skilled nursing facilities at least once every thirty days under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires under titles XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, that skilled nursing facilities employ at least one registered professional nurse twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Authorizes, under the Medicare program of the Social Security Act, the provision of intermediate care services to persons requiring institutional care, but not the degree of care provided by a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Allows a tax deduction under the Internal Revenue Code for amounts paid during the taxable year by the taxpayer for nursing home expenses for an individual who would be a dependent of such taxpayer if sufficient support were provided.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides an exemption from income taxation under the Internal Revenue Code for cooperative housing corporations and condominium housing organizations if; (1) membership in such owners of units within the project; (2) such owners are entitled to receive distributions from the organization only upon its liquidation; and (3) 80 percent or more of the gross income of the organization represents payments received from owners of units in the project.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Revises the National Housing Act to prohibit Federal Housing Administration insurance of blanket mortgages on condominium projects, and Federal National Mortgage Association purchases of conventional condominium mortgages, where the developer retains or will retain a leasehold interest in the common areas and facilities of the project involved.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Authorizes aliens admitted for permanent residence or residing in the United States under color of law to obtain coverage under the supplemental medical insurance program established under the Medicare program of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President submit to Congress a action plan which would provide a suitable multagency plan for monitoring the State and Federal investigations and actions related to nursing home abuses. Provides that possible linkages between scandals and nursing home problems be reported to local, State, and Federal law enforcement officials. Requests regular reports by th multiagency task force to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1975
Allows a taxpayer under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to amortize, over a 60-month period, solar heating and cooling equipment which is placed in service for nonresidential structures, or in lieu of such amortization, to take an investment tax credit for such equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1975
States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may not regulate the potency or combinations of vitamins or minerals in food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act except under specified provisions of such Act or in the case of children or pregnant or lactating women. Requires prominent disclosure of ingredients which are not vitamins or minerals in foods for special dietary use. Provides that a libel for condemnation of misbranded foods may be instituted against the retailer of such food if he is generally responsible for its advertising.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1975
Federal Mines and Minerals Health and Safety Amendments - Title I: Transfer of Mines and Minerals Health and Safety Functions - Creates, within the Department of Labor, the Mines and Mineral Health and Safety Administration, under the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Provides that the head of this administration be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and specifies his duties and rate of compensation. Transfers specified health and safety functions from the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the Bureau of Mines and the Director of the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration to the Secretary of Labor, to be administered by this Administration. Transfers associated personnel, property, records and funds to the Secretary of Labor. Declares that, in carrying out the transferred functions, the Secretary of Labor and the Administration shall give priority to the health and safety of mining and mineral industry personnel and their families, and specifies particular areas of concern. Abolishes the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration. Prohibits any Federal employee performing any function under any law administered by the Administration or under this Act from having any direct or indirect interest in the mining or minerals industry, with specified exceptions. Title II: Coal Mine Health and Safety - Sets forth procedures governing judicial review of mandatory health or safety standards promulgated under this Act. Requires that all meetings of any committee established under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act be open to the public. Directs the Secretary to take prompt action in assessing and collecting civil penalties for violations of mandatory health and safety standards and provides for personnel to insure such promptness. States that the Secretary shall conduct evaluations of potential losses or shifts of mandatory health and safety standards under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. Permits a miner, who is laid off, threatened with discharge, or discriminated against because of the results of the standards, to request an investigation by the Secretary. Specifies the procedures for the Secretary to follow in conducting such an investigation. Empowers any person injured as a result of a violation of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act to bring suit in an appropriate United States district court, which shall have jurisdiction without regard to the amount in controversy or citizenship of the parties. Provides that any person may commence a civil action against the person allegedly in violation of the mandatory health and safety standards, or against the Secretary for failing to perform a nondiscretionary duty under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. Title III: Metal and Nonmetallic Mine Health and Safety - Provides that all non-mandatory health and safety standards promulgated prior to this Act become mandatory standards within ninety days after enactment of this Act, with exceptions. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, to initiate research for upgrading of all mandatory standards and to publish such proposed and finalized standards. Permits any interested individual to apply for a review of any mandatory health or safety standard to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit in which such person resides. Expands the Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Safety Act to include any mine inspection which reveals: (1) an imminent danger; (2) a violation of mandatory standards which has not created an imminent danger; and (3) a violation of mandatory standards which could contribute substantially to a health or safety hazard. Prescribes the orders for withdrawal or abatement in each category. Provides procedures for review by the Secretary of any orders issued pursuant to the Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Safety Act, and for judicial review of any order, with exceptions, issued by the Secretary under such Act. Requires that each mine maintain a conspicuous bulletin board, on which notices, orders and decisions given to a mine operator, pursuant to the Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Safety Act, must be immediately posted. Empowers the Secretary to institute a civil action for relief, including an injunction, and specifies the civil and criminal penalties for which a mine operator will be liable if in violation of any provision of the Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Safety Act. Provides that if a mine is closed under such Act, all miners working during the closing shift who are idled shall be entitled to full compensation, but not for more than the balance of such shift. Elaborates entitlements of miners to compensation under other specific circumstances of closings. Expands the purposes for which authorized representatives of the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare may enter and investigate mines. Extends to miners' representatives the right to immediate inspection when such representative has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of a mandatory health or safety standard exists or that an imminent danger exists. Specifies circumstances under which actions for damages and citizen suits may be commenced. Provides that all accidents, including unintentional roof falls, shall be investigated by the operator or his agent to determine the cause and the means of preventing a recurrence. Requires that records of all accidents and ensuing investigations shall be kept, and specifies periods for mandatory reporting. Authorizes the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to conduct research related to the development of safety and health standards, and to perform all functions with respect to mines that it performs with respect to employments under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor, in carrying out his functions under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, to include accurate statistics on work injuries and illnesses occurring in the mines.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1975
Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the area of Broward County or Dade County, Florida. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1975
Establishes an Office of Food Administration within the Executive Office of the President. Provides for the Office to be headed by an Administrator appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Directs the Administrator to: (1) ascertain annually the food requirements for domestic and foreign assistance programs, ascertain the availability of food to carry out such programs and ascertain the means available for funding such programs; (2) recommend to the President the minimum level of assistance which should be made available to foreign countries and the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954; (3) formulate and recommend to the President a national nutrition policy for the United States; (4) make periodic reports to the people of the United States and to the Congress on the progress of plans for solving the world hunger problem and on the status of nutrition in the United States; and (5) formulate and recommend to the President programs to improve the agricultural production of the United States and foreign countries and to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency in the developing nations, and recommend minimum funding levels for these programs. Provides that the foreign food assistance policies formulated by the Administrator under this Act shall be directed toward the elimination of world hunger by 1985, as resolved by the World Food Conference. Directs the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the heads of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government concerned with food assistance programs to cooperate fully with the Administrator in carrying out his functions under this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1975
Latin American and Caribbean Foreign Policy Principles Resolution - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the policy of the United States toward Latin American, the Caribbean, and the developing world in general should be guided by principles of self-determination for all nations, the primacy of the right of all people to the basic human rights of life, liberty and personal security, and that the United States and other hemispheric nations have parellel interests in developing and maintaining nonexclusionary, nondiscriminatory foreign economic policies. States that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should unequivocally maintain its adherence to the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man and to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Supports the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States. Reaffirms the United States' commitment to seek structural changes in the institutions and rules guiding would trade practices which will be conducive to increasing world trade potential of the hemisphere. States that recent history has shown that punitive United States policies are not effective in contributing to the resolution of economic disputes. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States policy responses to foreign government actions should be limited to the policy area of the dispute in question. Calls for the repeal of legislation that requires the United States to suspend bilateral assistance or vote against multilateral economic aid to countries expropriating without compensation property owned by a United States company. Calls for efforts to be made to resolve trade disputes through negotations. Criticizes the practice of denying or reducing economic assistance in cases of violations of human rights since such policies would deny aid to people whose needs are greater in conditions adverse to basic human rights. Calls for a repeal of legislative restrictions on the kinds of military equipment sold to Latin America. Encourages the United States to make efforts to develop subregional, regional, and global arms limitations agreements. Provides that arms transfers by the United States to developing countries should be to the greatest extent possible on a nonconcessional basis. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should continue its commitment to aid for development. Calls for the development of loan guarantee mechanisms which would permit access for those countries at the intermediate level of development to the captial markets of the developed countries. Calls for a universal effort to resolve the outstanding differences between the positions of the United States and the Latin American governments. Establishes policies for cooperation in the development of scientific and technological innovations and in a cultural and intellectual exchange between North and Latin America.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1975
Revises clause 6 of rule XXVIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that managers appointed by the House to each conference committee shall transact all business in meetings open to the public except where the House, by majority vote and in open session, shall vote to close such meeting or meetings. Directs that it shall be in order to debate such motion to close for ten minutes before the vote is taken on that motion, one-half of such time to be given to debate by the mover of the motion and one-half to debate in opposition to the motion.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1975
Government in the Sunshine Act - Provides that all meetings of Government agencies at which official action is considered or discussed shall be open to the public. Excludes from this requirement any portion of an agency meeting where the agency determines by vote of a majority of its entire membership that the meeting: (1) will probably disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct of the foreign relations of the United States; (2) will relate solely to individual agency personnel or to internal agency office management and procedures or financial auditing; (3) will tend to charge with crime or misconduct, or to disgrace, any individual, or will represent a clearly unwarranted invasion of the privacy of any individual; (4) will disclose information pertaining to any investigation conducted for law enforcement purposes; (5) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets or financial or commercial information pertaining specifically to a given person; or (6) will relate to the conduct or disposition of a case or adjudication governed by specified sections of the United States Code. Requires each agency to make a public announcement of the date, place, subject matter of each meeting, and whether open or closed to the public, at least one week before each meeting. Requires that a transcript or electronic recording of each such meeting, together with any official minutes of such meeting be made available to the public for inspection. Permits an agency by majority vote to delete from the transcripts or recordings made available to the public specified materials. Directs each agency to promulgate regulations to implement this Act. Grants jurisdiction to the district courts of the United States to enforce the requirements fo this Act. Prohibits ex parte communication between interested persons and members of the agency in question, or an administrative judge, or an employee who is or may be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding. Requires each agency subject to such prohibition to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of this Act. Grants to the district courts of the United States the jurisdiction to enforce such prohibitions by declaratory judgement, injunctive relief, or otherwise. Defines "ex parte communication" as meaning a communication relevant to an on-the-record agency proceeding where such communication is not made openly or on the record.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
Medical Malpractice Claims Settlement Assistance Act - Sets forth the findings of Congress that the achievement of equal access to quality health care at a reasonable cost is jeopardized by the uncertain future availability and cost of medical malpractice insurance. Title I: Federal Authority - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make available to insurance companies and other insurers reinsurance against medical malpractice claims by any of their insureds which exceed $200,000 within a qualified State. Defines "qualified States" as a State which meets requirements set forth in this Act. Permits the Secretary to use existing facilities and services in carrying out his responsibilities under this Act. Entitles the Secretary to recover from any insurer the amount of any unpaid premiums lawfully payable by such insurer to the Secretary. Requires, as a condition to the receipt of reinsurance, that each insurer file specified information with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to conduct comprehensive studies of medical malpractice claims and litigation, in order to determine methods of minimizing the costs of such a system. Title II: State Programs - Requires States to establish a program for the arbitration of medical malpractice claims. Provides that any civil action arising from a claim for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice on the part of any health professional or health care insitution may be instituted in a court of the State only after there has been an arbitration of the claim which forms the basis for such action. Sets forth procedures governing the initiation of arbitration, the appointment of an arbitration panel, hearing procedures, the decision of the arbitration panel, proceedings subsequent to the decision of the arbitration panel, the admissibility of the arbitration panel decision as evidence at trial, and the reporting of arbitration decisions. Requires States to establish and appropriately enforce a schedule of maximum contingent fee rates which may be charged or accepted by attorneys for services performed in connection with claims for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice. Provides that in order for any State to be eligible for Medicaid payments under title XIX of the Social Security, such State must have in effect a patient grievance mechanism applicable to all health care entities within the State. States that in order to qualify for malpractice reinsurance under this Act, such patient grievance mechanism must (1) receive, investigate, and evaluate grievances of patients respecting medical injuries occurring in noninstitutional settings, and (2) assist in the equitable settlement of any claims arising out of such grievances. Requires such mechanism to make quarterly reports to the Secretary on the grievances received by the mechanism, the disposition of such grievances, and the medical malpractice claims arising out of such grievances.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1975
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the people of the District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall elect two Senators and the number of Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State. States that each Senator or Representative so elected shall be an inhabitant of the District and shall possess the same qualifications as to age and citizenship and have the same rights, privileges, and obligations as a Senator or Representative from a State.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1975
Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to assign to the Secretary of Commerce for disposal by sale or transfer to the States, such surplus property, including buildings, fixtures, and equipment situated thereon, as is determined by the Secretary of Commerce to be required to help multistate, State, and local areas meet special needs arising from actual or threatened severe unemployment arising from actions of the Federal Government in closing Federal facilities. Provides that any such sale or transfer shall be made only if the Secretary of Commerce (1) approves the transferee's plan for preparation and utilization of the surplus property for economic development purposes, (2) determines that transfer of the property for economic development purposes, and (3) determines that transfer of the property at fair market value would discourage reuse of the property for economically productive purposes. Stipulates that the sale price shall not be less than 25 percent of the fair market value.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1975
Foreign Oil Contracts Review and Supply Act - Prohibits any person from importing any petroleum product into the United States unless the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration has first reviewed the import contract covering such petroleum or petroleum product and has not disapproved such import contract. Requires that in exercising the authority granted to him under this Act, the Administrator shall consider the following: (1) the degree to which the price of crude oil and refined petroleum products under such contract constitutes a threat to the economic well-being of the United States and of other importing nations; (2) the degree to which a price lower than such price can be obtained on the world market; (3) the duration of the contract; and (4) the degree to which such contract unduly concentrates United States imports of oil on any one producing country or area. Grants the Administrator the power to inspect the books, records, and papers of corporations and other business entities which seek approval of contracts pursuant to this Act, for the purpose of determining whether such contracts should be approved. Provides that to the extent that the Administrator determines that publication of information in any contract or agreement would seriously interfere with the national interest in obtaining secure supplies of crude oil and refined petroleum products at reasonable prices, he may make a determination that such information shall not be made available for public inspection. Provides that any person who imports any petroleum or petroleum product into the United States: (1) without submitting the import contract covering such petroleum and petroleum product for review by the Administrator pursuant to this Act; or (2) after the import contract covering such petroleum or petroleum product is disapproved by the Administrator, shall be fined not more than $250,000 or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both. Directs the Administrator to purchase petroleum and petroleum products for importation into the United States at the lowest prices obtainable on the basis of competitive bidding; except that the Administrator may direct, after taking into account the need for obtaining petroleum and petroleum products from secure foreign sources and such other factors as he deems appropriate to the national interest, that quantities of petroleum and petroleum products be purchased or otherwise acquired by the Administrator through other means.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1975
Provides that recipients of veterans' pension and compensation shall not have the amount of such pension or compensation reduced, or entitlement thereto discontinued, because of increases in monthly social security benefits resulting from the enactment of Public Law 93-66, Public Law 93-233, and subsequent cost-of-living increases under title II of the Social Security Act. Provides that the provisions of this Act shall apply with respect to annual income determinations made for calendar years after 1972.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1975
Provides that it shall be unlawful for any business enterprise or person acting on behalf or in the interest of a business enterprise to coerce, or attempt to coerce, by economic means another person, to fail to do business with, or to otherwise discriminate against any U.S. person, or any foreign person with respect to its activities in the United States, by reason of: (1) the religion, race, national origin, or sex of such U.S. or foreign person; or (2) direct or indirect support for any foreign government when such support is not in violation of U.S. laws. Prescribes a penalty of a fine of not more than $100,000, or imprisonment for not more than three years, or for violation of such provision. Prescribes a fine not to exceed $1,000,000 if the violator is any person other than an individual. Allows any person aggrieved by a violation of the prohibition against economic coercion to bring a suit in an appropriate U.S. district court without regard to the amount in controversy. States that such person may recover threefold actual damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and other litigation costs reasonably incurred. Permits the Attorney General to institute an action in an appropriate district court to collect a civil penalty against any person who practices prohibited economic coercion. States that the penalty shall not exceed $50,000 if imposed upon an individual, or not more than $500,000 if imposed upon any person other than an individual. Makes it unlawful for a person to violate this Act by exercising coercion through a foreign government or a business enterprise not subject to U.S. jurisdiction. States that whoever violates such provision shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $50,000 if an individual, or not to exceed $500,000 if any person other than an individual. Defines terms used in this Act, including "persons", and states that such term shall include a corporation, trust, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, fund, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1975
Government in the Sunshine Act - Provides that all meetings of Government agencies at which official action is considered or discussed shall be open to the public. Excludes from this requirement any portion of an agency meeting where the agency determines by vote of a majority of its entire membership that the meeting: (1) will probably disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct of the foreign relations of the United States; (2) will relate solely to individual agency personnel or to internal agency office management and procedures or financial auditing; (3) will tend to charge with crime or misconduct, or to disgrace, any individual, or will represent a clearly unwarranted invasion of the privacy of any individual; (4) will disclose information pertaining to any investigation conducted for law enforcement purposes; (5) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets or financial or commercial information pertaining specifically to a given person; or (6) will relate to the conduct or disposition of a case or adjudication governed by specified sections of the United States Code. Requires each agency to make a public announcement of the date, place, subject matter of each meeting, and whether open or closed to the public, at least one week before each meeting. Requires that a transcript or electronic recording of each such meeting, together with any official minutes of such meeting be made available to the public for inspection. Permits an agency by majority vote to delete from the transcripts or recordings made available to the public specified materials. Directs each agency to promulgate regulations to implement this Act. Grants jurisdiction to the district courts of the United States to enforce the requirements fo this Act. Prohibits ex parte communication between interested persons and members of the agency in question, or an administrative judge, or an employee who is or may be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding. Requires each agency subject to such prohibition to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of this Act. Grants to the district courts of the United States the jurisdiction to enforce such prohibitions by declaratory judgement, injunctive relief, or otherwise. Defines "ex parte communication" as meaning a communication relevant to an on-the-record agency proceeding where such communication is not made openly or on the record.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1975
Allows a tax exclusion under the Internal Revenue Code for the first $5,000 of retirement income received by a taxpayer under a public retirement system or any other system if the taxpayer is 65 years of age.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1975
Lowers the population requirements from 100,000 to 50,000 for a unit of local government to be eligible to be a prime sponsor under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Fascell, Dante B. [D-FL-19]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000041_200.jpg)