United States · United States Congress · 1 June 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 · 23 May 1977
Veterans and Survivors Pension Adjustment Act - Title I: Veterans' and Survivors' Pensions - Increases the rates of pensions for war veterans with a non-service-connected disability, their surviving spouses and children, and increases the annual income limitations governing payment of such pensions. Title II: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Parents - Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the parents of veterans who died in active military service. Title III: Miscellaneous and Effective Date Provisions - Increases the monthly rate of death compensation payable to a widow or dependent parent if the payee is a patient in a nursing home or helpless or blind. States that the effective date of this Act shall be January 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1977
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make real estate and operating loans available to private domestic corporations and partnerships controlled by farmers and ranchers engaged primarily in farming or ranching who, individually or as to their principal stockholders and partners, are United States citizens. Excepts ability to obtain credit for guaranteed loans from the eligibility requirement that applicants for real estate or operating loans must be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance their actual needs at reasonable rates and terms. 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. States that special consideration for: (1) water and waste facilities loans may be given rural areas having a population of more than 5,500; and (2) soil and water conservation, pollution control and private business enterprise loans may be given to rural areas having a population of more than 25,000. Revises the maximum interest rate on real estate loans other than guaranteed loans under such Act from five percent to a rate determined by the Secretary not to exceed the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States. Removes the $500,000 ceiling from the aggregate principal of loans made using the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Increases the amount of indebtedness which may be outstanding for operating loans under such Act for an individual from $50,000 to $100,000 or in the case of a guaranteed loan, $200,000. States that the interest rates on such loans which are guaranteed shall be the rate agreed upon by the borrower and lender. Authorizes the Secretary 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. 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 such Act. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a procedure for appeal and review of determinations by a county committee that a loan applicant is not unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance his actual needs at reasonable rates and terms. Provides for congressional authorization of program levels under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1977
Mobile Source Emission Control Amendments - Amends the Clean Air Act to extend through model year 1979 interim standards for hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions from light-duty motor vehicles. Specifies standards applicable in model years 1980 and afterwards for such pollutants. Revises the emission standard for carbon monoxide to allow emissions of up to 9.0 grams per vehicle mile. Extends until model year 1981 the current 2.0 grams per vehicle mile interim standard for nitrogen oxide emissions from light-duty vehicles. Establishes a nitrogen oxides emissions standard of 1.0 gram per vehicle mile for model years after 1981, subject to revision or waiver by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with prescribed procedures. Stipulates that such revisions and waivers shall not permit emissions in excess of the 2.0 grams per vehicle mile interim standard. Directs the Administrator, the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Energy Administration to submit separate reports to Congress regarding the consequences of such emission standards on fuel consumption. Establishes additional prohibitions and penalties for tampering with motor vehicle emission control equipment. Empowers limits in the amount of vehicle testing required of small manufacturers. Establishes procedures for review of instructions for high altitude performance adjustments for motor vehicle emission control systems by the Administrator in accordance with specified requirements. Revises warranty requirements stipulated by the Act. Specifies an 18-month or 18,000 mile warranty requirement for the useful life of motor vehicle emission control systems. Directs the Administrator to study the effects of emissions of sulfur-bearing conformed from motor vehicles and aircraft. Extends the exception for disclosure of confidential information in administrative and judicial proceedings to emission data upon a satisfactory showing to the Administrator that such data would divulge trade secrets. Requires that documentation, justifications, proposed drafts, and comments of other agencies an proposed motor vehicle emission standards be made available to the public once such standards are proposed. Establishes procedures for oral presentation of views, with opportunity for cross-examination, with respect to such standards. Authorizes direct review of alleged procedural errors in the appropriate court of appeals. Authorizes the appropriation of $200,000,000 per fiscal year for fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 1980, to carry out the purposes of this Act other than research, development, and demonstration activities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1977
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that total appropriations shall not exceed estimated revenues. Authorizes the suspension of such prohibition in time of war or national emergency. Prohibits any increase in the national debt as it exists on the date this article is ratified. Sets forth a schedule for repayment of the national debt.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1977
Prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds for the conversion of highway signs to the metric system unless the Congress specifically authorizes such an expenditure.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1977
Unvouchered Expenditure Control Act - Prohibits the expenditure of Federal moneys, not otherwise provided for by law, which are not made pursuant to procedures providing for a voucher describing the payee and items or services for which payment is being made. Requires all appropriations, not made under a law which provides otherwise, to provide for voucher requirements for expending such moneys appropriated. Requires the Comptroller General to audit all programs subject to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1977
Mobile Teachers' Retirement Assistance Act - Establishes a Federal-State program to permit teachers to perform out-of- State educational service without loss of retirement benefits for such service. Entitles a qualified State retirement system, which credits a teacher for out-of-State service to Federal aid of 50 percent of the total cost to the system of such out-of-State credit. Specifies the requirements which a State retirement system must meet in order to qualify for Federal aid under this program. Limits the amount of the Federal aid to a State retirement system to an amount providing not more than ten years of out-of-State service credit. Directs the Commissioner of Education to make a grant to each qualified State retirement system of an amount equal to two percent of such system's Federal aid received under this Act for the costs of administration.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to transfer the responsibility for investigating Communist and subversive organizations affecting the internal security of the United States to a standing Committee on Internal Security established by this Resolution. Confers upon such committee the responsibility for investigating all organizations within the United States aimed at overthrowing or altering the Government of the United States by force, insurrection or other unlawful means or inciting or employing violence to obstruct the authority of the Federal Government with respect to matters of internal security of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1977
Amends the Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1976 to extend to June 15, 1977, the period during which the Postal Service is prohibited from: (1) increasing rates and fees to levels exceeding those in effect on the date of enactment of the Act; (2) offering levels and types of services which are less than those available on July 1, 1976; and (3) closing certain postal facilities which were in operation on July 1, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Includes veterans of World War I who have a service-connected disability among those disabled veterans eligible for an automobile assistance allowance and for automobile adaptive equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to assign and pay the applicable rate of compensation for full-service connected disability to a veteran who has suffered the loss or loss of use of one limb as a result of a service-connected disability, and has suffered the loss or loss of use of the other limb such as to cause total disability, as a result of a non-service-connected disability not the result of his own willful misconduct.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to revise the formula for allocation of food aid commodities to prohibit more than 25 percent of such aid from being allocated to countries which do not meet the poverty criteria of the International Development Association, with certain exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Broadcast License Renewal Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to set the term of a broadcast station license, or renewal, at five years. Provides that any license granted may be renewed upon its expiration, if the Commission finds that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by the renewal of such license. Allows appeals from decisions and orders of the Commission to be taken to the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which such broadcast facility is located. Sets guidelines for expeditious action on applications for renewal of broadcasting station licenses by limiting material required to be filed. Requires the Commission to examine the renewal process and report within six months on methods of reducing and consolidating filings and supporting documents.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt nonprofit volunteer firefighting or rescue organizations from the excise tax on sales of special fuels, automotive parts, petroleum products, and communication services.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Natural Gas Act Amendments - Amends the Natural Gas Act to terminate Federal Power Commission authority to regulate sales of new natural gas in interstate commerce. Stipulates that prices for offshore sales of new natural gas shall not exceed the ceiling price for sales of new natural gas produced from onshore Federal lands. Stipulates that emergency sales of natural gas to curtailed customers who qualify as essential users shall not affect such exempt status. Authorizes the Commission to terminate such exemptions on or after April 15, 1978, if they are no longer deemed necessary to protect high priority consumers of natural gas. Directs the Federal Power Commission to conduct studies and make reports regarding the nature and availability of natural gas reserves. Requires that the Commission keep current information available relating to the estimated natural gas reserves for individual fields. Establishes procedures for the establishment of ceiling prices for new natural gas produced from offshore Federal lands through December 31, 1982. Authorizes the Commission to grant exemptions to price ceilings within high-cost production areas. Establishes procedures for adjustments to price ceilings established pursuant to this Act. Directs the Commission to prohibit the curtailment of adequate supplies of natural gas for essential agricultural purposes. Directs the Commission to prohibit the use of natural gas as boiler fuel where adequate alternatives are available. Authorizes exemptions from such prohibition where necessary to comply with pollution control or environmental protection and safety standards.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the people of the several States, and the District of Columbia, shall elect the President and Vice President. Requires each voter to cast a single vote for two persons who shall have consented to the joining of their names as candidates for the offices of President and Vice President. Requires the voters for President and Vice President in each State to have the qualifications requisite for voters for the most numerous branch of the State legislature, except that for voters for President and Vice President, the legislature of any State may prescribe less restrictive residence qualifications and for voters for President and Vice President the Congress may establish uniform residence qualifications. Provides that the pair of persons having the greatest number of votes for President and Vice President shall be elected, if such number be at least 40 percent of the whole number of votes cast for such offices. Provides that if the choice of President and Vice President shall be made from the two pairs of persons who received the highest numbers of votes. Requires the days for such elections to be determined by Congress and to be uniform throughout the United States. Requires Congress to prescribe by law the time, place, and manner in which the results of such elections shall be ascertained and declared. Allows Congress to provide for the case of the death, inability, or withdrawal of any candidate for President or Vice President before a President and Vice President have been elected, and for the case of the death of both the President-elect and Vice President-elect.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1977
Exempts sales of natural gas by small producers from regulation by the Federal Power Commission. Requires that prices of such sales be at a level which adequately compensates the seller for current costs, including an adequate return on investment. Defines the term "small producer" to include independent producers (1) not affiliated with natural gas pipeline companies or larger producers; (2) whose total sales do not exceed 10 million Mcf per year; and (3) whose average production per well does not exceed 100 Mcf per day on an annual basis.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1977
Approves the proposed amendment to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure contained in an April 26, 1976, Supreme Court order permitting the parties to stipulate in writing that a verdict may be returned by a jury of less than 12 should the court find it necessary to dismiss a juror after trial commences. Approves proposed amendments contained in such order modified as follows: (1) revises the proposed amendment relative to disclosure of grand jury proceedings to restrict access to such information to only attorneys for the government and to deny access to those persons assisting such attorneys; and (2) revises the proposed amendment relative to factfinding in nonjury trials to require a special finding as to the facts unless such a finding is waived by the defendant. Disapproves three other proposed amendments contained in such order: (1) reducing the number of preemptory jury challenges and permitting a variance in the number of such challenges; (2) setting forth procedures for the removal of State prosecutions to Federal court; and (3) permitting issuance of search warrants in certain circumstances on the basis of oral testimony, communicated by telephone or otherwise, of a person not in the magistrate's presence.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1977
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to prohibit any cost-of-living adjustments to the salaries of Senators and Representatives which take effect before October 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1977
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem a food additive unsafe if it induces cancer when ingested by man or animal in quantities pathologically significant to man.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1977
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to redefine the term "navigable waters" to include only those waters capable of transporting interstate or foreign commerce shoreward to the ordinary high water mark.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1977
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to redefine the term "navigable waters" as it applies to permits for dredged or fill material as required by the Act. Allows the discharge of dredged or fill materials without a permit in waters other than navigable waters and adjacent wetlands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engineers, to enter into agreements with States to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters other than navigable waters and in wetlands other than adjacent wetlands. Exempts farming, silviculture, ranching, forestry and specified construction activities from permit requirements with respect to discharges of dredged or fill material. Stipulates that Federal projects shall be exempt only if the effects of such discharges have been assessed pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engineers, to delegate authority over dredged and fill material in adjacent wetlands to the States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1977
Designates service as a Member of the Women's Air Forces Service Pilots as active duty for the purposes of all laws administered by the Veterans' Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1977
Permits any Federal employee or Member of Congress who, at the time of retirement, does not elect a reduced annuity in order to provide a survivor annuity to a spouse or other person to make such an election within one year after retiring. Requires such employee to refund to the Government an amount equal to the amount such employee's annuity would have been reduced during the period from the date of retirement to the date of election plus interest. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 8339)
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Food Additive Safety Amendments - States that a food additive shall be deemed safe if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1) makes a finding, based on recommendations of an advisory committee, that the public benefit from permitting the use of such additive would exceed the public risk which might result from such use; (2) gives notice in the Federal Register of such a finding and invites public comment thereon; and (3) issues a final order not earlier than 120 days of such publication in the Federal Register of such findings. Specifies factors the Secretary must take into consideration when evaluating a food additive. Deems saccharin a safe food additive unless the Secretary declares it unsafe under the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to reduce from 72 to 65 the age beyond which deductions on account of an individual's outside earnings will no longer be made from such individual's benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Permits any Federal employee or Member of Congress who, at the time of retirement, does not elect a reduced annuity in order to provide a survivor annuity to a spouse or other person to make such an election within one year after retiring. Requires such employee to refund to the Government an amount equal to the amount such employee's annuity would have been reduced during the period from the date of retirement to the date of election plus interest. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 8339)
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act to exclude from coverage (1) employers with ten or fewer employees; and (2) employees not employed on a regular basis for 30 or more consecutive days. Requires that a warning rather than a citation be given for a first instance violation, other than a willful or serious violation, to an employer who has not employed more than 25 employees at any time during the 30 days prior to an inspection or investigation. Prohibits the imposition of a civil penalty against an employer for a nonserious violation if (1) such employer has not previously received a citation for the same violation; and (2) the inspection upon which such citation was based resulted in the issuance of citations for ten or or fewer violations of a nonserious nature.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1977
Amends rules XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that each committee report accompanying a public bill or joint resolution contain an evaluation of the paperwork which would be incurred in carrying out such bill or resolution including estimates of time and cost required of affected parties, a showing of whether the effect of the bill could be substantial, and an estimate of recordkeeping requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment for specified services performed by chiropractors, including x-rays and physical examinations, and related routine laboratory tests.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1977
Extends until September 30, 1979, the authority: (1) of the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to maintain an office in the Republic of the Philippines; (2) of the President to authorize the Administrator to enter into contracts with the Veterans' Memorial Medical Center to pay for hospital care and medical services to Commonwealth Army veterans and new Philippine Scouts for service-connected disabilities; (3) to make payments for such care and services; and (4) to appropriate specified sums for the training of health service personnel, for new equipment and the rehabilitation of the Veterans' Memorial Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1977
Removes from the definition of "Veterans' Administration facility" private facilities contracted for when Government facilities are not capable of furnishing economical care because of geographic inaccessibility. Repeals the requirement that medical services be furnished only within the limits of Veterans' Administration facilities to: (1) any eligible veteran on an outpatient or ambulatory basis; or (2) any veteran on pension receiving a care and attendance allowance or who is permanently housebound.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1977
Veterans' Administration Medical Facilities Acquisition Act - Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, in carrying out his duties under this Act: (1) to provide for the construction and acquisition of medical facilities equitably throughout the United States with due regard for the comparative urgency of the need for each particular facility; and (2) to give due consideration to excellence of architecture and design. States that no appropriation shall be made to construct, alter, or otherwise acquire any medical facility which involves a total expenditure of more than $1,000,000 unless such construction, alteration, or acquisition is first approved by resolution adopted by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, respectively. Stipulates that no appropriation shall be made to lease any space at an average annual rental of more than $200,000 for use for a medical facility unless such lease is first approved by resolutions adopted by such committees. Enumerates structural requirements for any medical facilities pursuant to this Act. Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress an annual report regarding the construction, alteration, and leasing of medical facilities. Requires such report to contain: (1) a five-year plan for those medical facilities most in need of construction, replacement and alteration; (2) a priority list of at least ten such hospitals, and (3) general plans for each medical facility in the five-year plan or the list. Directs the Administrator to establish and operate not less than 10,000 beds in the fiscal year 1980 and in each fiscal year thereafter, for the furnishing of nursing home care to eligible veterans in facilities over which the Administrator has direct and exclusive jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1977
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 by establishing the support price of milk at not less than 90 percent of the parity price, and by providing for quarterly adjustments.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1977
Provides that recipients of veterans' pensions and compensation will not have the amount of such pension or compensation reduced, or entitlement thereto discontinued, because of general or cost-of- living increases in social security benefits or in benefits under any other Federal retirement, annuity or endowment program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1977
Regulatory Reform Act - Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan recommending reforms with respect to the regulation of: (1) energy, the environment, housing, and occupational health and safety by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1979; (2) transportation and communications by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1981; (3) banking and finance, international trade, and Government procurement by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1983; and (4) food, consumer health and safety, economic trade practices, and labor- management concerns by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1985. States that each such plan shall include recommendations for reform of such specified agencies and shall report on the cumulative impact of all Government regulatory activity reviewed, up to that date, on specific industry groupings. States that if the President fails to submit such plans by the specified dates, the Senate and House Committees on Government Operations shall draft their own plans to be submitted to Congress for action. Requires the Comptroller General and the Congressional Budget Office to, contemporaneously with the development of the President's plan, submit a report assessing the purpose, effects, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of each agency included in the plans submitted by the President. States that if no comprehensive regulatory reform legislation is enacted by August 1 of the year following the year in which a comprehensive plan has been submitted by the President, then all agencies affected thereby shall have no authority to issue any new rules not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if such reform is not enacted by October 1 of such year, such agency shall have no authority to enforce any rule not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if no such reform is enacted by December 31 of such year, such agency shall be terminated on such date. States that all rules of such terminated agency essential for preserving the public health and safety shall remain effective and shall be enforced by the Department of Justice. Requires the President to submit subsequent plans in the manner and in the order and frequency set forth by this Act every ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1977
Exempts courses which lead to a standard college degree from the "85-15" rule whereby the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs is required to disapprove enrollment of any eligible veteran, not already enrolled, in any course offered by a proprietary profit or proprietary nonprofit educational institution where more than 85 percent of the students enrolled have their fees paid by either the Veterans' Administration or the institution itself. Revises the application of rules governing the two-year period a course must be in operation before enrollment of eligible veterans or persons can be approved.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1977
Regulatory Agency Abolition Act - Abolishes each Federal regulatory agency three years after enactment of this Act unless prior to such date the President and Congress study the effectiveness of such agencies and Congress thereafter adopts a resolution disapproving such abolition. Provides that each regulatory agency established after the date of enactment of this Act shall be abolished three years from the date on which it was first empowered unless the President and Congress take the steps outlined above. Directs the President to submit to Congress a plan for the orderly transfer of duties essential to the public health, safety or welfare from an abolished agency to the President or to a successor agency. Provides that all orders, rules, certificates, judicial proceedings and licenses made effective by agencies abolished by this Act shall continue in effect until repealed or superceded by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1977
Provides that recipients of veterans' pension and compensation will not have the amount of such pension or compensation reduced, or entitlement thereto discontinued, because of increases in monthly social security benefits. Applies these amendments to annual income determinations made for calendar years after 1972. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 415(g), adds 38 U.S.C. 503(d))
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1977
Natural Gas Act Amendments - Amends the Natural Gas Act to prohibit the Federal Power Commission from regulating sales or deliveries of natural gas by producers of new natural gas. Prohibits the Commission from regulating rates or charges made by natural gas companies dealing with affiliates to the extent that such prices do not exceed current prices paid for comparable gas to nonaffiliates. Prohibits the Commission from utilizing prices charged for new natural gas as a basis for determining whether or not to grant certificates of public convenience or necessity to natural gas transportation companies.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1977
Constitutional Amendment - States that Congress shall make no appropriations for any fiscal year which exceed the total revenues of the United States for such year. Prohibits spending by, or on behalf of, the United States which exceeds the total revenue for that year. Suspends such requirements when Congress declares war or national emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 by establishing the price support of milk at not less than 90 percent of the parity price on the date of enactment, and by providing for quarterly adjustments.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Broadcast License Renewal Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to set the term of a broadcast station license, or renewal, at five years. Requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish procedures to be followed by licensees of broadcasting stations to ascertain the needs, views and interests of the residents of their service areas. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study to determine how it might expedite the elimination of those regulations of broadcast licenses required by the Communications Act of 1934 which do not serve the public interest and to make annual reports of the results of such study (including any recommendations for legislation) to the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt activities related to oil and gas from the limitation on business losses to the amounts at risk; retains the exemption for such activities from the limitation on the division of partnership losses to each partner's contribution basis.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1977
Big Thicket National Preserve Act - Grants the United States Government the right to immediate possession of specified real property within the units of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Makes provisions for the rendering of just compensation for such lands. Permits the Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion, to initiate eminent domain proceedings against improved property if such lands are subject to uses which are detrimental to the stated purposes of this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hall, Sam B., Jr. [D-TX-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000070_200.jpg)