United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to remove the 25-member limit to the number of sponsors of any House of Representatives bill. Permits the addition or deletion of any Member's name as the sponsor of any legislation by a request made by a Member to the Speaker on behalf of such Member.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1977
Establishes as the boundaries of the Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia, the boundaries depicted on the map entitled "Boundary Map, Manassas National Battlefield Park" dated January 1977. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation, purchase, or exchange, lands and interests located within these boundaries, except that property owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia may only be acquired by donation. Sets forth the rights of owners of improved property within such boundaries.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1977
Congressional Pay Raise Deferral Act - Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 and the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to provide that any adjustment in the rate of pay for Members of Congress proposed during any Congress shall not take effect earlier than the beginning of the next Congress. States that any such pay adjustment proposed in an even-numbered year of any Congress after the congressional elections and before the beginning of the following Congress, shall be considered as occurring during the first session of the following Congress for the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1977
Makes it unlawful for any individual or entity to solicit to enroll or enroll any member of the armed forces in any labor organization, or for any member of the armed forces to join, or encourage other members to join, any labor union. Prescribes a penalty of not more than five years imprisonment for any individual violating this Act, and a fine of not less than $25,000 nor more than $50,000 for any labor organization in violation of this Act. (Adds 10 U.S.C. 975)
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1977
Life Support Centers Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize and direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to make grants to the health agencies of States, or political subdivisions thereof, or to any qualified nonprofit agency for programs of: (1) prenatal health care to adolescents; (2) health care to infants of adolescent mothers; (3) family planning services; (4) social services for adolescent mothers; and (5) funds to purchase adoption services for adolescent mothers. Stipulates that the Federal share of assistance to programs under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of a program. Sets forth procedures by which application may be made for grants. Authorizes the appropriation of $30,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act for fiscal year 1978 and for each of the two succeeding fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for optometric and medical vision care under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Government Economy and Spending Reform Act - Title I: Authorization of New Budget Authority - Terminates all budget authority for Federal programs on specified dates according to the functional or subfunctional category of each program as set forth in the fiscal year 1977 budget. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress by April 1, 1977, on specified programs with respect to the laws under which such program is carried on, the amount of new budget authority received by such program during the four fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977, and to identify programs for which no outlays have been made during the last two fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977. Prohibits providing new budget authority after the applicable review date set forth in this Act unless the provision of such budget authority is specifically authorized by law or the standing rules of either House of Congress. Title II: Zero-Base Program Review - Sets forth a timetable for Congressional zero-base review of new budget authority. Defines "zero-base review" as an evaluation of a given program to determine the merits of its continuation at a level less than, equal to, or more than its existing level. Requires each congressional committee conducting a zero-based program review to adopt tentative and final review plans, receive reports from the Comptroller General and Federal agencies on the program being reviewed, and report to their respective House the results of such zero-base review of the program. Sets forth minimum objectives of inquiry for such reviews. Requires that any committee reporting pursuant to this Act recommend the extent to which any program reviewed should be continued or eliminated. Title III: Continuing Review - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 to require, whenever the Comptroller General issues a report which discloses any substantial deficiency in the achievement of the objectives of any Federal program, the agency conducting such program to report to specified congressional committees 60 days after such report and every six months thereafter to delineate the actions taken with respect to such deficiency. Requires that such agency continue to issue such reports until such time as the Comptroller General determines that no purpose is served by their submission. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, to require the inclusion in the Budget of a statement of the specific objectives of each Government program, and a comparison, in each subsequent Budget, of the achievement of such objectives for the last completed fiscal year with the planned objectives of such year. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Requires the Director of Management and Budget to study the feasibility of zero-base budgeting for Federal agencies. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to study the feasibility of personnel ceilings on employees of the United States and their relationships to alternative methods of carrying out the activities of such employees. Requires that such reports be submitted to Congress. Requires Federal agency heads to report requests for new budget authority to Congress. Requires specified committees to study the effectiveness of the zero-base review procedures required by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Requires that whoever uses or carries a firearm during the commission of a Federal felony, or whoever is convicted by a State court of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year and used or carried a firearm transported in, or affecting, interstate or foreign commerce during the commission of such crime shall, in addition to the punishment provided for the commission of such crime, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years. Requires in the case of a second or subsequent conviction the imposition of a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years, or to life imprisonment. Stipulates that the execution or imposition of any term of imprisonment under this Act (1) may not be suspended, (2) may not run concurrently; and (3) may not include probation.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1977
Directs the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a bronze bust or statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. and to place it in a suitable location in the Capitol.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 1977
Directs the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission to pay a certain individual at a different rate under the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals an income tax credit for five percent of the rent paid for their principal residence. Limits the credit to $75 in the case of a joint return, $37.50 for married individuals filing separately, and $50 for other taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 1977
Amends the Tax Reform Act to provide an unlimited exclusion from gross income of disability payments received by persons who retired on or before October 1, 1976, and either retired on disability, or were entitled to retire on disability.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 1977
Creates, effective January 3, 1977, a House Select Committee on Professional Sports to conduct an inquiry into the need for legislation with respect to the professional sports industry and to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the impact of current antitrust law and policy on all professional sports. Requires the select committee to annually report the results of all activities and investigations conducted by the committee.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1977
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to require proof of automobile property and personal liability insurance on automobiles imported for the personal use of nonresidents and foreign government personnel, in an amount equal to the minimum insurance requirements in those States in which the vehicle will be operated. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to forward identifying information on such vehicles to the Secretary of Transportation who shall forward such information to the appropriate State agency responsible for motor vehicle registration. Excludes from such requirements automobiles which will be in the United States for not more than 30 days. Requires importers of automobiles so excluded to forward the required information to the nearest customs officer in the event the vehicle remains in the country for 40 days. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose a fine of $5,000 upon violators of this Act who had no notice of such requirements. Sets forth penalties of $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for knowingly failing to furnish information required under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1977
Requires full and just compensation by the United States for any person or property injured by any ambassador, public minister, or servant of such minister who has diplomatic immunity. Establishes an Assistant Secretary for Claims Against Foreign Ministers and Diplomats within the Department of State who shall award such compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1977
Makes the United States liable for the damages levied by any court against persons with diplomatic immunity if such judgment is deemed void by virtue of such immunity.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1977
Diplomatic Immunities Act - Deems void any suit or judicial or administrative process against a person or the property of a person entitled to immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Makes Presidential determinations of entitlement to immunity binding upon governmental authorities. Requires the President to publish a list of missions and personnel entitled to such immunity. Repeals the criminal penalties for wrongful suit against an immune person. Repeals exceptions to suits against servants in the service of personnel of a foreign mission. Repeals the present criteria for determining eligibility for immunity.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act - Prohibits the sale of carbonated beverages in beverage containers by retailers and distributors unless such containers carry a refund value of not less than five cents. Requires that retailers and distributors pay the amount of the affixed refund value of brands of beverages bought and sold by such retailers or distributors. Prohibits States from imposing any tax on the collection or return of refund values established by this Act. Prohibits distributors and retailers from selling beverages in metal beverage containers with detachable openings. Imposes penalties of up to $1,000 and/or 60 days imprisonment for violation of the provisions of this Act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to monitor the rate of reuse and recycling as a result of this Act. Stipulates that the labeling of refund values shall be required within three years of the date of enactment of this Act. Stipulates that the prohibition on detachable metal openings shall take effect one year after the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to make the provisions, formerly applicable to persons between 40 and 65 years of age, applicable to anyone 40 years of age or older.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Directs the District of Columbia to enter into an agreement with the Federal Government regarding rates for water delivered to the District through the Washington Aqueduct.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Amends the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated under such Act to $6,000,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Creates a Select House Committee on Population to conduct an investigation and study of: (1) the major adverse effects of current population growth throughout the world; (2) approaches which have been shown to be effective in coping with excessive population growth; and (3) means to encourage countries with excessive population growth rates to adopt methods proven to be successful in reducing population growth rates.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Authorizes the Clerk of the House of Representatives to withhold charitable contributions from the pay of House employees for transmittal to the Combined Federal Campaign, if the employee requests the Clerk to do so.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Creates a House Select Committee on Professional Sports to conduct an inquiry into the need for legislation with respect to the professional sports industry and to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the impact of current antitrust law and policy on all professional sports. Requires the select committee to annually report the results of all activities and investigations conducted by the committee.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1976
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1976 to provide an exclusion for all disability pension payments (including veterans pensions) received by persons who retired before October 1, 1976, and who retired on disability or were entitled to retire on disability.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1976
Diplomatic Relations Act - Authorizes the President to regulate the privileges and immunities of foreign diplomatic missions and their personnel in a manner consistent with international agreements. Defines "foreign diplomatic mission and personnel thereof" for purposes of this Act. Requires the President to periodically publish a list of permanent foreign diplomatic missions and the personnel thereof. Declares void any judicial writ or process against a person or the property of any person entitled to immunity from suit or process under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1976
Makes appropriation of $2,812,732 to the District of Columbia for use by its fire department to keep all of the fire department facilities open on a full-time basis during fiscal year 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1976
Diplomatic Relations Act - Authorizes the President to regulate the privileges and immunities of foreign diplomatic missions and their personnel in a manner consistent with international agreements. Defines "foreign diplomatic mission and personnel thereof" for purposes of this Act. Requires the President to periodically publish a list of permanent foreign diplomatic missions and the personnel thereof. Declares void any judicial writ or process against a person or the property of any person entitled to immunity from suit or process under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1976
Diplomatic Relations Act - Authorizes the President to regulate the privileges and immunities of foreign diplomatic missions and their personnel in a manner consistent with international agreements. Defines "foreign diplomatic mission and personnel thereof" for purposes of this Act. Requires the President to periodically publish a list of permanent foreign diplomatic missions and the personnel thereof. Declares void any judicial writ or process against a person or the property of any person entitled to immunity from suit or process under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1976
Condemns the murders of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Karpen Moffitt and the serious injury of Michael Moffitt. Urges a complete and thorough investigation by federal authorities of the circumstances surrounding the bombing.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1976
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the use of protective components in audio and visual electronic equipment which are capable of reducing interference from radio frequency energy.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1976
Life Support Centers Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, under the Public Health Service Act, to make grants to the health agencies of States, or political subdivisions thereof, or to any qualified nonprofit agency for programs of: (1) prenatal health care to adolescents; (2) health care to infants of adolescent mothers; (3) family planning services; (4) social services for adolescent mothers; and (5) funds to purchase adoption services for adolescent mothers. Stipulates that the Federal share of assistance to programs under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of a program. Sets forth procedures by which application may be made for grants. Authorizes the appropriation of $30,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act for fiscal year 1977 and for each of the two succeeding fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1976
Makes the killing, assaulting, or intimidating of any officer or employee of the Federal Communications Commission performing investigative, inspection, or law enforcement functions a Federal criminal offense.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1976
Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance Act - Entitles physicians employed by the Federal Government to a professional allowance in addition to basic pay. Authorizes Federal agencies to enter into service agreements with prospective government physicians whereby the physician is paid a bonus of up to $5,800 per annum in return for agreeing to work a specified number of years in such agency.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1976
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to make the provisions, fomerly applicable to persons between 40 and 60 years of age, applicable to anyone 40 years of age or older.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1976
Restates the charter of the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. in its entirety. Sets forth the purposes and powers of the university. Prohibits any individual (except the president of the university) from serving as a member of the board of trustees during the period in which the individual is an officer, professor or other employee of the university. Stipulates the powers of the board of trustees of the university. Authorizes the board to merge the university with any other nonprofit organization by a two-thirds vote.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1976
Requests the Administrator of General Services of the United States to conduct a study of the impact that the presence of any real property owned by the Federal Government has on units of general local government within whose jurisdiction such real property is situated. Suggests the study should include the effect such property has on local revenues and local goods and services. Exempts certain types of public lands from the study, including real property located within the National Park System, the National Wilderness System, or the National Forest System, lands administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management, and lands dedicated to the use of water resource development projects of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 2 September 1976
Directs the Mayor of the District of Columbia to enter into an agreement with appropriate Federal officials setting the rates to be paid by the District of Columbia Government and other units of government for the delivery of water from the Potomac River through the Washington Aqueduct. Authorizes the inclusion in such agreement of terms and conditions which encourage equitable water conservation.
United States · United States Congress · 31 August 1976
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to require proof of automobile property and personal liability insurance on automobiles imported for the personal use of nonresidents and foreign government personnel, in an amount equal to the minimum insurance requirements in those States in which the vehicle will be operated. Requires the importer of such automobile to verify that such insurance, under determinations made by the Secretary of Treasury, assures that the insurer is subject to direct suit and liable for payment without regard to the diplomatic status of the insured. Requires the importer to maintain such insurance while the automobile is in the United States. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to forward identifying information on such vehicles to the Secretary of Transportation who shall forward such information to the appropriate State agency responsible for motor vehicle registration. Excludes from such requirements automobiles which will be in the United States for not more than 30 days. Requires importers of automobiles so excluded to forward the required information to the nearest customs officer in the event the vehicle remains in the country for 40 days. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose a fine of $5,000 upon violators of this Act who had no notice of such requirements. Sets forth penalties of $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for knowingly failing to furnish information required under this Act. Requires the Secretary of State: (1) to determine if action to enforce compliance with these requirements should be taken against a violator of this Act who is not subject to suit in the United States because of diplomatic immunity; (2) to report such determination to Congress; and (3) to notify Congress of the progress of such compliance action when the action is taken.
United States · United States Congress · 26 August 1976
Authorizes the President to issue a proclamation designating the week beginning October 3, 1976, and ending October 9, 1976, as "National Volunteer Firemen Week."
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1976
Amends rule XXXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to allow specified present and former employees and Members of the House to enter the Hall of the House and rooms leading thereto. Provides that such persons shall not be admitted if they have any direct personal or pecuniary interest in any legislative measure coming up for consideration in the House.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1976
Historic Preservation Tax Act - Title I: Short Title - Sets forth the popular name for this Act. Title II: Rehabilitation of Historic Structures - Provides under the Internal Revenue Code for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures by allowing a tax deduction with respect to the amortization of the amortizable basis of any certified historic structure based on a period of 60 months. Specifies that no deduction shall be allowed for any expense or loss incurred as a result of the destruction of a certified historic structure. Limits deductions on structures erected upon a site which was occupied by a certified historic structure which was demolished or substantially altered. Title III: Rehabilitation of Historic Property - Allows a taxpayer to compute the depreciation deduction attributable to substantially rehabilitated historic property as though the original use of such property commenced with him. Title IV: Charitable Transfers for Conservation Purposes - Allows income, estate and gift tax deductions for transfer of remainder or partial interests in property for conservation purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1976
Diplomatic Relations Act - Authorizes the President to regulate the privileges and immunities of foreign diplomatic missions and their personnel in a manner consistent with international agreements. Defines "foreign diplomatic mission and personnel thereof" for purposes of this Act. Requires the President to periodically publish a list of permanent foreign diplomatic missions and the personnel thereof. Declares void any judicial writ or process against a person or the property of any person entitled to immunity from suit or process under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1976
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to require proof of automobile property and personal liability insurance on automobiles imported for the personal use of nonresidents and foreign government personnel, in an amount equal to the minimum insurance requirements in those States in which the vehicle will be operated. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to forward identifying information on such vehicles to the Secretary of Transportation who shall forward such information to the appropriate State agency responsible for motor vehicle registration. Excludes from such requirements automobiles which will be in the United States for not more than 30 days. Requires importers of automobiles so excluded to forward the required information to the nearest customs officer in the event the vehicle remains in the country for 40 days. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose a fine of $5,000 upon violators of this Act who had no notice of such requirements. Sets forth penalties of $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for knowingly failing to furnish information required under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1976
Establishes in the House of Representatives a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. Provides that the select committee shall conduct a continuing comprehensive study and review of the problems of narcotics abuse and control and shall review any recommendations made by the President, or by any department or agency of the executive branch of the Federal Government, relating to programs or policies affecting narcotics abuse or control. Authorizes the select committee to conduct field investigations or inspections. Requires the select committee to submit an annual report to the House which shall include a summary of the activities of the select committee during the calendar year to which such report applies.
![Official portrait of Rep. Fisher, Joesph L. [D-VA-10]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000151_200.jpg)