United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Commissioner of Education to make grants to State and certain local educational agencies to assist them in developing and carrying out an educational proficiency plan approved by the Commissioner. Provides guidelines and requirements for such grant applications. Establishes the National Commission on Basic Education within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and directs it to (1) provide technical assistance in developing such educational proficiency plans; and (2) monitor State and local materials and procedures related to educational proficiency standards.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Declares it the sense of Congress that the President and the Secretary of the Treasury be inspired to apply countervailing duties and special dumping duties to imported steel.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1978
Amends the Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 to prohibit assistance to Radio Free Europe or Radio Liberty if any Communist country is permitted to use such broadcast facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1978
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit payment for eye care, eyeglasses, hearing aids and related examinations, dental care and dentures under the supplementary medical insurance program. Increases the government contribution to the Federal Supplementary Insurance Trust Fund by twice the amount of premiums that are presently paid into the Fund each month, while decreasing the portion of the Fund comprised fo premiums from one-half to one-third. Excludes from the coverage of the supplementary medical insurance program expenses relating to referrals of individuals by a doctor of optometry for the diagnosis or detection of eye diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1978
Urges the Secretary of Defense not to include within the competitive rate program (under which services are procured for the movement of the household goods of Department of Defense employees) the movement of household goods of Department personnel who are being transferred between the continental United States and Alaska or Hawaii.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Directs the Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp in observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Small Business Tax Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the corporate income tax rates with a graduated, five-tier rate schedule, imposing the uppermost (48 percent) marginal rate upon income in excess of $100,000.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Constitutional Amendment -- Provides for popular enactment and repeal of laws, except those with respect to declaring war and similar matters. Requires a petition signed by a number of persons equalling at least three percent of the total number of persons voting in the last Presidential election both in each of at least ten States and nationwide to place such an issue on the ballot and a nationwide majority of votes cast to pass it.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Repeals the requirement, under the Social Security Amendments of 1977, that the amount of monthly benefits payable to a spouse or surviving spouse under Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act be reduced by the amount such spouse or surviving spouse receives monthly payments from a Federal or State pension fund.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1978
Flexible Parity Act - Title I: Wheat - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 crop of wheat a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from $3.00 per bushel for a 20 percent set-aside up to $5.04 per bushel for a 50 percent set-aside. Title II: Feed Grains - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 crop of feed grains a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from $2.10 for a ten percent set-aside up to $3.45 for a 50 percent set-aside. Title III: Upland Cotton - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 crop of upland cotton a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 54 cents per pound for a 20 percent set-aside up to 84 cents per pound for a 50 percent set-aside. Title IV: Grain Release Prices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949: (1) to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from providing for the redemption of stored wheat and feed grains loans unless the market price for such commodities is not less than parity; (2) to prohibit the Secretary from calling such loans until the market price for wheat and feed grains is at least 105 percent of parity; and (3) to prohibit the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling its stocks of wheat and feed grains for less than the parity price of such commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1978
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner on Aging to establish a special grant program to enable States to establish community long-term care initiatives designed to assess the needs of chronically ill or disabled older persons for services and to assist in the efficient operation of a comprehensive and coordinated system for the delivery of services to older persons. Authorizes the Commissioner to permit certain agencies to apply for, and if qualified, reserve grants to develop such community long-term care initiatives. Authorizes grants made under this Act to cover up to 90 percent of the cost of a program established pursuant to this Act. Permits adversely affected grant applicants to obtain judicial review. Establishes guidelines for each agency to follow in establishing programs. Requires each administering agency to submit an annual report to the Commissioner.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require States applying for assistance under such Act to establish and implement standards of educational proficiency applicable to public school students. Establishes the National Commission on Basic Education and directs it to: (1) establish proficiency standards; and (2) review and approve or disapprove State plans implementing such standards. Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to financially assist States in preparing educational standards plans. Directs the Commissioner to make proficiency examinations directly available to public school students in districts where State proficiency plans are not in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates below the level established by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 on employment income for both employers and employees and on self-employment income. Increases Federal contributions to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act by 50 percent. Increases the ceiling on the amount of income that is subject to social security taxation to $100,000 in 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Directs the House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional power to impeach Griffin B. Bell, Attorney General of the United States.
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 · 6 February 1978
Amends the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968 to establish a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in Social and Political Thought at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian Institution. Establishes the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Trust Fund in the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Amends the Administrative Procedure Act to require Federal agencies to prepare and publish in the Federal Register an economic impact analysis of all proposed and final rules subject to the provisions of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to deduct all current expenditures for plants and facilities which are otherwise chargeable to capital account and which are certified as required by Federal law and as not significantly increasing the plant's or facility's value or productivity.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Product Liability Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify trusts established for the payment of product liability claims as tax exempt organizations. Allows taxpayers a business income tax deduction for contributions to such trusts only to the extent they do not exceed the reasonable costs of product liability insurance for the taxpayer. Imposes excise taxes on self-dealing and excess contribution by persons who contribute, control, own, or have beneficial interests in the trusts. Includes distribution from these trusts in the taxpayers' gross income when made for an unqualified purpose, and imposes a ten percent tax on the trusts for such expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1978
Confers jurisdiction upon Federal district courts to enforce a State child custody order against a parent who, in violation of such order, took the child to another State.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for an amount, not to exceed $250, equal to 50 percent of the expenses paid or incurred by a speech- or hearing-impaired individual for the use of toll telephone services by means of teletypewriters.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1978
Calls upon the President to direct the Attorney General to retain David W. Marston as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania until all investigations of corruption involving public officials presently being conducted in such district are concluded.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Agricultural Trade Expansion Act - Amends the Food for Peace Act of 1966 to permit the Commodity Credit Corporation to finance export sales of agricultural commodities on credit terms in excess of three years, but not more than ten years. Exempts such sales from the requirement that exports be transported on privately owned United States - flag commercial vessels.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Crimes in Labor Disputes Act - Makes any violence, threat of violence, or conspiracy to such an end in connection with a labor dispute a Federal crime.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Welfare Improvement and Cost Reduction Act - Title I: Child Support - Amends Title IV, part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of the Social Security Act to prohibit payment to any State for child support unless such State submits to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare within a prescribed time period a complete report on the amount of child support collected and disbursed by such State. Requires the Secretary to reduce payments to the States by the amount which the States are required to reimburse the Federal Government from child support collections. Extends indefinitely the period in which States may receive payments for child support collection and paternity determination services. Authorizes compensation to court personnel who perform services directly related to the Child Support and Establishment of Paternity program. Authorizes payment to States for the planning, design, development, or installation of an automatic data processing and information retrieval system to assist in the administration of the Child Support and Establishment of Paternity program. Title II: Program Administration Improvements - Authorizes payment to States for the planning, design, development, installation, and operation of statewide mechanized claims processing and information systems to assist in the administration of the program of Aid to Families with Dependent Children of Title IV of the Social Security Act. Sets forth requirements for the operation of such information systems. Requires the Secretary to provide States with technical assistance in developing and operating such information systems. Permits States to obtain access, with appropriate safeguards, to wage information contained in social security records for purposes of determining eligibility for benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program and for enforcing the child support obligations of absent parents under the Child Support and Establishment of Paternity program. Authorizes the States to require AFDC recipients, as a condition of eligibility, to obtain a detailed identification card specifying the programs for which they are eligible. Authorizes the Secretary to pay directly to States up to 75 percent of the costs of investigating and prosecuting complaints of fraud under the AFDC program. Requires States to pay to their political subdivisions an amount equal to 75 percent of the costs incurred by such subdivisions in administering the AFDC program. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to compile data concerning cases of fraud under the AFDC program and the Supplementary Security Income Program of Title XVI of the Social Security Act. Reduces payments made under the AFDC program in the case of a dependent child who lives in a home in which a relative who is either not legally responsible for the support of such child or is no longer eligible for aid under such program is also residing. Establishes a monthly retrospective accounting period whereby the income and other elements of a household's circumstances for the preceding 30 days are reviewed for purposes of determining eligibility under the AFDC program and Medicaid. Designates an alien who receives assistance under certain titles of the Social Security Act as a public charge for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Expands the definition of "dependent child" to include a child who has been deprived of parental care due to desertion, abandonment, divorce, legal separation, institutionalization, or incarceration for more than 30 days. Requires States to establish a quality control system to monitor payments made under the AFDC program and sets forth requirements which such a system must meet for approval by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to utilize the services of the Inspector General in reviewing the operation of such quality control systems. Directs the Secretary to review cases erroneously excluded from a State's quality control investigation and to provide technical assistance to the States in developing quality control systems. Title III: Child Care Improvements - Increases the limit on Federal funding for social services under Title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act. Extends the termination date of provisions providing for funding of child day care services. Title IV: Work Related Provisions - Revises the formula for determining the amount of earned income of a dependent child, who does not qualify as a full or part-time student, or a relative, or an individual living in the household of the recipient, which a State must disregard in assessing need under the AFDC program. Requires recipients of aid under the AFDC program to register for manpower services, training, employment, and other employment related activities with the Secretary. Authorizes States to establish work demonstration projects and community work and training programs under the AFDC program. Title V: Fiscal Relief for State and Local Welfare Costs - Increases payments to States for services under the AFDC program according to a specified formula.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Omnibus Anti-Terrorism Act - Title I: Aircraft Piracy - Authorizes civil penalties for carrying an accessible weapon aboard an aircraft and for imparting or conveying information known to be false regarding one of specified crimes aboard an aircraft. Specified criminal penalties for threatening to commit air piracy or any other of certain crimes aboard an aircraft. Title II: Findings and Purposes - States Congressional findings relative to the purpose of this Act and defines specified terms used therein. Title III: Reorganization of Executive Office of the President - Establishes a Council to Combat Terrorism in the Executive Office of the President. Includes among the council's functions: (1) assisting the President to implement this Act; (2) assisting in the preparation of lists of countries aiding terrorist enterprises and of dangerous foreign airports, and (3) coordinating Federal efforts to combat terrorism. Directs the President to: (1) report to Congress on each act of terrorism which involves or affects United States citizens; and (2) impose sanctions against countries on the list of countries aiding terrorists and against airports on the list of dangerous foreign airports. Title IV: Reorganization of the Department of State - Establishes a Bureau for Combating International Terrorism in the Department of State. Urges the President to seek international agreements which assure cooperation in combating terrorism. Lists provisions which should be given priority in negotiating such agreements. Requires the President to: (1) develop programs to insure full implementation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation; (2) approve all defense article sales and credit made to any individual or group; and (3) include the names of all types of explosives on the United States Munitions List. Title V: Reorganization of the Department of Justice - Establishes an office for Combating Terrorism in the Department of Justice. Directs the President to extend existing safety and security requirements to supplemental means of air transportation. Requires all explosives to contain identification and detection taggants. Title VI: Aircraft Sabotage and Piracy - Amends provisions of title 18 of the U.S. Code that specify prohibited acts regarding the destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities to, among other revisions, set forth penalties for committing violence against a passenger which is likely to endanger an aircraft in service, and for communicating false information which result in endangering the safety of an aircraft in flight. Sets forth penalties for a person found in the United States who has committed against or aboard a foreign aircraft an offense in violation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Requests the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to hasten the assembly of data and expedite the reviews and consideration precedent to the introduction of sodium valproate for the treatment of epilepsy in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1977
Antiterrorism Act - Title I: Reorganization of Executive Office of the President - Establishes the Council to Combat Terrorism within the Executive Office of the President under the direction of the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Requires the Council to consider the best effective means by which to combat terrorism anywhere in the world, to coordinate Federal activities for the prevention of terrorism, including the collection of worldwide intelligence, and the protection of United States personnel and facilities abroad, and assist the President in duties under this Act. Requires the President to report to Congress every act of terrorism which affects citizens of the United States and to identify the terrorists and any country which aids or gives refuge to such terrorists. Requires the President to establish a List of Countries Aiding Terrorist Enterprises (LOCATE). Requires the President to impose sanctions against countries on the LOCATE. Directs the President to establish a List of Dangerous Foreign Airports, naming each airport, by country, which does not meet the minimum United States safety standards. Permits the President to impose sanctions against such airports. Title II: Policy on International Agreements - Recommends that the President seek international agreements to more effectively combat international terrorism. Requires presidential approval of sales of defense articles to individuals or groups. Title III: Extension of Existing Safety and Security Measures - Directs the President to extend existing air safety and security measures to supplemental means of air transportation and specified airports within the United States not presently covered by such measures. Requires all explosives imported into, exported from, or manufactured in the United States to contain taggants identifying the source and time of manufacture and permitting the detection of concealed explosives. Title IV: Aircraft Sabotage and Piracy - Prohibits and establishes penalties for acts of sabotage, violence, and other specified crimes committed aboard or against any aircraft or against specified air facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 1977
Truth in Lending Simplification Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to exempt transactions involving extensions of credit for agricultural purposes. Defines the finance charge as the sum of all charges imposed upon and payable by the consumer for the extension of credit. Requires the itemizing of finance charges except in the case of the sale of a dwelling or a consumer loan secured by a first lien. Amends the Truth in Lending Act by requiring from both consumer and creditor, statements indicating a security interest is taken and general descriptions of any other property which is the subject of or is in connection with extension of credit not under an open end credit plan. Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to provide readily understandable model forms and clauses to facilitate compliance with disclosure requirements. States that no civil or criminal liability applies for failure to make disclosure if the creditor utilized these model forms or clauses in good faith. Redefines the disclosure requirements to comply with the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 1977
Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act - Title I: Amendments to Pension Program for Non-service-connected Disability or Death - Revises the list of specified catagories of payments excluded from the determination of annual income for benefit payment purposes. Requires persons applying for a non-service-connected disability pension to report the income and estate of each spouse and child on account of whom added pension is applied for or received. Sets increased flat pension and aid-and-attendance allowance rates, reduced by the amount of a veteran's annual income, and in specified instances, by the amount of a spouse's or child's income which is reasonably available to or for such veteran. Sets increased flat benefit rates, with similar reductions, for the surviving spouses and children of such veterans. Requires annual adjustments in such pension and benefit rates in conjunction with cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions and Effective Dates - Sets the effective dates for provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen Protection Act - Requires that the Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen and other relics of Hungarian royalty to be kept in the United States, unless Congress specifically provides otherwise.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Anwar el Sadat and Menachem Begin be commended for the steps they have taken towards peace in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare should not include in the National Guidelines for Health Planning any guidelines which would directly or indirectly cause the closing of any small, rural hospital which is the only hospital providing primary care services to a local community.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba be predicated upon resolution of issues regarding violations of persons and property by the Cuban Government in 1959, use of Cuban military personnel beyond its borders, and human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the sovereign rights of the United States in the Panama Canal Zone shall not be transferred, and that no Federal funds shall be made available for negotiation or implementation of any treaty or other agreement which may impair the sovereign rights of the United States in the Canal Zone.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1977
Amends the Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1977, to repeal the prohibition of expenditure of funds for claims for nonemergency inpatient hospital care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) when such care was available at a facility of the uniformed services within a 40-mile radius of the patient's residence.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1977
Grants a Federal Charter to the Gold Star Wives of America. Stipulates that the purpose of such organization is to honor the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1977
Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to revise the standard for inclusion of religious practices and observances within the ban against employment discrimination based on religion from those practices and observances which can be reasonably accommodated without undue hardship to those which are possible to accommodate without severe material loss.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba be predicated upon resolution of issues regarding violations of persons and property by the Cuban Government in 1959, use of Cuban military personnel beyond its borders, and human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Psychotropic Substances Act - Amends the Controlled Substances Act, the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Public Health Service Act to meet obligations under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Establishes within the House of Representatives a Select Committee on the Committee System to study the establishment, jurisdiction, and operation of House committees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1977
Prohibits commerce in contraband cigarettes. Defines "contraband cigarettes" as a quantity of more than 20, with respect to which the applicable State cigarette taxes which have not been paid and which are in the possession of any person other than: (1) a person licensed by the State where the cigarettes are found or by the Internal Revenue Service; (2) a common or contract carrier; or (3) a government agent in the performance of duties. Subjects dealers in cigarettes to such reporting requirements as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.
![Official portrait of Rep. Guyer, Tennyson [R-OH-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000537_200.jpg)