United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation by the Congress of the March 11, 1978, attack on Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the expressed intention of the PLO to continue such attacks and to disrupt the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Requests the President to make the disapproval of the Congress known to governments approving the PLO attack. Expresses Congressional approval of the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Urges other Middle East countries to join such efforts. Declares negotiation to be the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Agricultural Credit Act - Title I: Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a low-income farm ownership loan program for owners or operators of small or family farms, and to extend eligibility for farm ownership, equipment and operating loans to farm cooperatives. Provides loans for agricultural, animal, or poultry waste pollution abatement and control facilities. Increases the maximum allowable total principal indebtedness for real estate loans which may be outstanding by any one borrower to $200,000, or $300,000 in the case of a guaranteed loan. Removes the $500,000 ceiling from the aggregate principal of loans made using the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Raises the ceiling on the annual aggregate amount of water and waste facility grants from $300,000 to $400,000, and increases from 50 percent to 75 percent the percentage of the development cost of such facilities which a grant may cover. Increases the amount of indebtedness which may be outstanding for operating loans for an individual from $50,000 to $100,000, or in the case of a guaranteed loan, $200,000. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase the guaranteed portion of any rural development loan using funds from the Rural Development Insurance Fund and the guaranteed portion of all other loans with funds from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Replaces the current provision for an up to five-year renewal of an operating loan with a provision for the consolidation or rescheduling of outstanding loans for payment over a period not to exceed seven years from the date of such consolidation or rescheduling. Authorizes the Secretary to make loans and grants, and approve transfers and assumptions under such Act in connection with property securing a loan made, insured, or held by the Secretary notwithstanding the fact an area ceases to be eligible for assistance under the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a procedure for appeal and review of determinations by a county committee that a loan applicant is able to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance his actual needs at reasonable rates and terms. Increases from $15,000 to $25,000 the amount of a claim that can be compromised without approval of the Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration. Authorizes the Secretary to grant a moratorium upon the payment by an individual of interest and principal on a loan, if there is a showing of temporary inability to continue making payments which is beyond the individual's control. Title II: Emergency Agricultural Credit Adjustment Act - Authorizes the Secretary to insure or guarantee loans for the purpose of making payment of principal and interest installments or refinancing, in whole or in part, equipment or operating loans, giving preference to owners of small or family farms. Permits the Secretary to guarantee up to 90 percent of such loans. Limits the total principal balance outstanding on insured or guaranteed loans to $400,000. Allows the total outstanding principal indebtedness of any borrower to reach $150,000 without approval of the senior State official of the Farmers Home Administration. Limits the total principal amount of all outstanding loans under this title during 1978 to $2,000,000,000 and during 1979 to $4,000,000,000. Terminates such program on December 31, 1979. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Extends the Emergency Livestock Credit Act through September 30, 1979. Renames the Farmers Home Administration the Farm and Rural Development Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Small Town Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to small public water systems for the purpose of enabling such systems to meet national primary drinking water regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) remove the adjusted gross income limitation on the credit for the elderly; (2) increase the amount of the credit; and (3) provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Amends the Export Trade Act to redefine certain terms under such Act, including "association" and "export trade". Defines "antitrust laws" for purposes of such Act. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to promote the formation of export trade associations which are consistent with such Act and the antitrust laws. Requires the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General (1) to meet periodically to avoid conflicting oversight of such associations, and (2) to meet periodically with members of the private sector to review export trade policy.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Rehabilitation Cost Assistance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide grants to States: (1) to make a study of the costs involved in removing architectural, communications, and attitudinal barriers against handicapped persons in federally assisted programs; and (2) to pay the costs involved in assisting in such removal.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1978
Reserve Survivors' Benefits Act - Title I: Annuities Under Survivor Benefit Plan - Grants annuities to the survivors of individuals who would have been eligible for retired military pay for non-regular service but who died before reaching the age of 60. Establishes formulae for computing such benefits. Title II: Medical and Dental Care - Entitles such survivors to specified medical and dental benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to initiate a Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program to study technical problems regarding the viability of the solar power satellite concept. Requires the Secretary to cooperate with the Administrator in the submission to Congress, by September 30, 1978, of a comprehensive plan to implement the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Amends the Act concerning the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore by suspending the Secretary of Interior's authority to acquire by condemnation improved property within the park that is subject to a valid zoning ordinance approved by the Secretary. Allows the Secretary to purchase improved property where it is offered by the owner. Requires the Secretary to expedite the formulation of standards for the approval of zoning ordinances. Requires the Secretary to report to specified Congressional committees within one year of the enactment of this Act concerning lands which have previously been acquired and the annual acquisition program recommended for the ensuing five fiscal years. Expresses the intent of Congress that the Secretary substantially complete the land program contemplated by this Act within six years of its enactment. Requires the Secretary to consult with the Department of Transportation and the Indiana Highway Department in the development of a report concerning among other things various modes of public access to the lakeshore. Requires that such report be presented to Congress no later than October 1, 1979. Requires among other things that the report consider alternatives to automobile access to the lakeshore and other factors including the environmental impact of the modes of transportation considered.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Social Security Refinancing Act - Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to finance the payment of disability insurance benefits and hospital insurance benefits through general tax revenues, rather than through employment and self-employment tax revenues. Reduces employment and self-employment tax rates below the rates established by the Social Security Financing Amendments of 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Expresses Congressional disapproval of the Presidents denial of import relief to the metal fasteners manufacturing industry transmitted to Congress on February 10, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1978
Federal Regulatory Expediting and Efficiency Act - Requires any Federal agency receiving a petition to issue, amend, or repeal any rule administered by the agency, to grant or deny such petition within 120 days. Permits any person to enforce this Act by civil suit in any United States court of appeals. Requires agencies to promulgate timetables for general classes of proceedings begun by petition which shall be subject to a one-house veto in Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1978
Federal Disclosure and Accountability Act - Prohibits any Federal employee from coercing any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right of such individual to disclose any illegal or otherwise improper Government action to the Review Board on Improper Government Actions, established by this Act and from taking any adverse personnel action against such individual who is a Federal employee in retaliation for such disclosure. Requires the Board to investigate any such disclosure and, in the event further investigation or action is warranted, to notify the person, the head of the agency in which such person is employed, and, if appropriate, the Attorney General and/or the Comptroller General.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1978
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment under the supplementary medical insurance program for foot care involving the cutting and removal of corns, warts, and calluses and the trimming of club nails.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Amends rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the inclusion in any appropriation bill or amendment thereto of a provision which changes existing law or imposes any limitation not contained in existing law.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Expresses the insistence of the House of Representatives that the Government of the Republic of Korea cooperate with a certain investigation of the House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Declares that failure of the Government to cooperate with such investigation will have a negative impact on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, including assistance for the latter country.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the carryover basis provisions enacted by the Tax Reform Act which provide that beneficiaries receiving property from a decedent's estate will retain the decedent's basis in the property. Restores prior law which "stepped up" or "stepped down" the property's basis to its market value at the time of death without imposing tax consequences on the appreciation or depreciation the property underwent while held by the decedent.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1978
Amends Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal payments for abortions under such Title except when necessary to prevent the death of the mother.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Agricultural Trade Act - Title I: Establishment of United States Agricultural Trade Offices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish abroad not less than six nor more than 25 United States Agricultural Trade Offices, for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities. Title II: Intermediate Commercial Credit - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to require the Corporation to finance, under its export credit sales program, export sales of agricultural commodities out of its own private stocks on credit terms in excess of three years, but not more than ten years. Title III: Reorganization - Establishes in the Department of Agriculture: (1) an Assistant Secretary for Commodity Programs, to perform duties related to agricultural stabilization and conservation; and (2) an Under Secretary for International Affairs to perform duties related to foreign agriculture. Title IV: Agricultural Counselors - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to change the title of Agricultural Attaches to Agricultural Counselors, and to require each Counselor to submit to the Secretary an annual report detailing the social, political and economic factors affecting agriculture and agricultural trade in the country or area to which such Counselor is assigned. Title V: General Provisions - Requires the Secretary to transmit to Congress annual reports on the activities and accomplishments of the Department, especially those of the United States Agricultural Trade Offices, in developing, maintaining, and expanding foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction of up to $1,500 for household expenses to any taxpayer who maintains a household in which a dependent aged 65 or over resides.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Juvenile Delinquency in the Schools Act - Establishes within the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention a Safe School Center to assist State and local educational agencies in preventing delinquency and vandalism in schools. Establishes a Safe School Advisory Panel. Authorizes a program of Federal grants for State and local school delinquency prevention programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Veterans' Educational Equity Act - Provides for payment of a supplemental tuition allowance to each qualified veteran upon application to the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs. Extends the delimiting period for completing a veteran's education program for up to two years if at the close of the ordinary ten-year delimiting period the veteran is enrolled in a program.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile, apparel, or fiber products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 1977
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Requires Amtrak, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, and Conrail to purchase only steel and steel products which have been mined, produced, or manufactured in a State or territory of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to require that steel materials acquired during the next five years using financial assistance provided by such Act be produced in the United States unless the Secretary of Transportation determines that such acquisition would be inconsistent with the public interest or the cost of such acquisition would be unreasonable. Establishes standards for determining whether the price for domestically produced steel is unreasonable.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to require that steel material acquired during the next five years by the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Con Rail) be produced in the United States unless the chief executive officer of the Corporation determines that such acquisition would be inconsistent with the public interest or the cost of such acquisition would be unreasonable. Establishes standards for determining whether the price for domestically produced steel is unreasonable.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to require that steel materials or products which are acquired during the next five years using financial assistance provided under such Act be produced in the United States unless the Secretary of Transportation deems that the acquisition of such domestically produced materials would be inconsistent with the public interest or the cost of such acquisition would be unreasonable. Establishes standards for determining whether the price for domestically produced steel is unreasonable.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to require that steel materials acquired during the next five years by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation be produced in the United States unless the president of the Corporation determines that such acquisition would be inconsistent with the public interest or the cost of such acquisition would be unreasonable. Establishes standards for determining whether the price of domestically produced steel is unreasonable.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Federal Emergency Assistance and Preparedness Act - Establishes the Federal Emergency Assistance and Preparedness Administration headed by a Director who shall be a permanent member of the National Security Council. Requires the Director to establish within the Administration the Offices of Disaster Assistance, Emergency Preparedness, and Program Evaluation, and an Emergency Information Center. Requires the Administration to implement and coordinate all Federal disaster assistance and emergency preparedness programs; develop policies with respect to industrial mobilization and economic readiness for emergencies relating to the national defense, undertake research and development to improve programs under its cognizance six; and to gather data on natural, economic, and other phenomena for predicting and planning for industrial and economic mobilization and emergencies and disasters. Directs the Director to make such collected data available to the public and to provide such data to States and localities on a regular basis. Requires the heads of Federal agencies with jurisdiction over any program relating to emergency preparedness or disaster assistance to report annually to the Director on the status of such program. Requires the Director to coordinate such programs with States and localities participating in or applying for such assistance. Transfers to the Administration the functions and authorities of specified agencies respecting programs within the Administration's jurisdiction. Requires the Administration to report annually to Congress. Extends until September 30, 1980, the termination dates of specified provisions of the Federal Civil Defense Act, including those which empower the President to declare a civil defense emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Declares that Federal agencies should make greater efforts to obtain steel and steel products only of domestic origin and should require State and local governments conducting any program more than half of the funds of which derive from Federal sources to limit their acquisitions of steel and steel products to those of domestic origin.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Directs the President to instruct the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations to initiate negotiations with Japan and the European Economic Community to achieve orderly marketing agreements resulting in a reduction in steel imports.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Requires Amtrak, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, and Conrail to purchase only steel and steel products which have been mined, produced, or manufactured in a State or territory of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives for existing laws restricting unfair or subsidized competition from imports. Urges the President to direct Federal agencies to enforce existing laws to prevent dumping, trade discrimination, and unfair competition which have an adverse impact on the American steel industry.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the proposed toll increases for the St. Lawrence Seaway should not be adopted, and that toll negotiations should be reopened.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Directs the Secretary of Defense to place a plaque and a permanent display of medals, ribbons, and tributes of the Vietnam era on the crypt at the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia, reserved for an unknown American serviceman who lost his life in Southeast Asia. Directs the Secretary to perform the duties required by this Act even though the remains of such serviceman have not yet been placed in the crypt.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1977
Alcohol Fuel Encouragement Act - Requires all gasoline stations, within three years of the passage of this Act, to sell a mixture of gasoline and alcohol in the same manner as they sell gasoline. Imposes a civil penalty for violations of such requirement. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow rapid amortization of facilities producing alcohol for use as a fuel in motor vehicles. Amends the Clean Air Act with respect to the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the use of alcohol as a fuel additive.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1977
Requires Amtrak, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, and Conrail to purchase only steel and steel products which have been mined, produced, or manufactured in a State or territory of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1977
Alcohol Fuel Initiative Act - Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to permit any person participating in one of its acreage set-aside programs to use such set-aside acreage to produce any agricultural or forestry product which is to be used or sold by such person for primary use in the manufacture of a tax-exempt gasoline blend (gasohol).
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1977
Tuition Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals alternative, limited income tax credits or deductions for the tuition paid for the primary, secondary or higher education of the taxpayer, his spouse, or his dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1977
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to revise temporarily the customs duties on the importation of iron or steel products, and to impose a temporary import quota on such products. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit revenues under this Act into the Adjustment Assistance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1977
Buy American Act Amendments - Amends the Buy American Act to require Federal agencies to prescribe regulations to require Federal purchases of American goods under the Act if the price of such goods does not exceed the price of like foreign goods by more than 15 to 50 percent. Makes States subject to the Act with respect to any repair or construction of public buildings or public works at least half the cost of which is financed with Federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Declares that the President should establish a Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition which should: (1) collect and generate information and resources on food, hunger, malnutrition and related concerns; (2) assess current programs affecting domestic and international hunger and malnutrition; (3) analyze and report its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the public; and (4) assist the President and the Congress in implementing its recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1977
Young Farmers' Homestead Act - Establishes as an agency within the Department of Agriculture the Federal Farm Assistance Corporation. Authorizes the Corporation to purchase farm land in value of up to $250,000 per unit. Provides that the Corporation shall make such farms available for lease and subsequently for sale. Directs that the farms may be leased to an eligible applicant for a period of not less than two years not more than ten years with specified restrictions upon the use of such land. Provides that the lessee may at any time within six months prior to the expiration of his lease make application to the Board of Directors for purchase of such unit upon the expiration of such lease. States that the Board shall approve such application if it determines that the lessee can successfully manage and operate such farm unit. Specifies a formula to be used in determining the selling price of each farm. Provides that a buyer may obtain financing through any available source, but if private financing is not available, the Farmers Home Administration shall furnish the financing at a specified rate. Requires the Corporation to file annually with the Secretary of Agriculture a complete report as to the business of the Corporation. Provides that the financial transactions of the Corporation shall be audited at least once each year by the General Accounting Office. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint an advisory council to advise the Board regarding the administration of this Act. Provides that the Council's advice shall include recommendations on what the eligibility requirements should be for leasing farm units and what experience should be required for leasing a farm. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. Specifies criminal provisions applicable to the Federal Farm Assistance Corporation. (Amends 18 U.S.C. 657, 658, 1006, and 1014)
![Official portrait of Rep. Fithian, Floyd J. [D-IN-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000161_200.jpg)