United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1979
Ixtoc I Oil Pollution Compensation Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to compensate U.S. claimants for economic losses resulting from oil pollution from the blowout of Ixtoc I in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. Sets forth the procedure for making such claims or settling such claims. Permits a claimant, whose claim is denied or not settled within 60 days of presentation, to commence a district court action against the Secretary in lieu of resubmitting such claim to the Secretary for a decision. Prohibits claimants receiving compensation from recovering under any other Federal or State law for the same injury. Permits States to impose additional requirements or liability. Directs the Secretary to make a grant to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the construction and operation of a saltwater fish hatchery. Stipulates that the amount of compensation payable to Texas shall be reduced by the amount of such grant.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1979
Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to extend to the 1980 and 1981 crops of rice, cotton, feed grains, and wheat the low yield and prevented planting disaster payment programs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1979
Title I: Meat Labeling and Inspection - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require the labeling as imported of any imported meat or meat product, which is capable for use as human food, or its container. Requires that such products: (1) meet the same health standards as domestically produced meat; and (2) be tested in the exporting country. Requires periodic tests of such products in the United States by the Department of Agriculture as well. Title II: Requirement of Certain Eating Establishments to Inform Customers that Imported Meat or Meat Food Products are Served in Such Establishment - Requires eating establishments serving imported meat to inform customers of this fact.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress to review each rule and regulation issued to carry out any law before it may become effective. Permits Congress to approve, modify, or disapprove such rule or regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits the total amount of money expended by the United States in any fiscal year from exceeding the total amount of revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year, except in time of war declared by the Congress. Allows the suspension of this Amendment by a joint resolution approved by a vote of three-fifths of the Members of each House of the Congress and approved and signed by the President, or by a vote of two-thirds of the Members of each House of the Congress. Requires tax rates to be reduced to offset the effects of inflation. Establishes a procedure for the approval of bills or joint resolutions affecting taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1979
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the adoption of any concurrent resolution on the budget which sets forth a level of total budget outlays in excess of 21 percent of the gross national product in fiscal year 1981, or 20 percent of the gross national product for each fiscal year thereafter. Establishes procedures to enable the President and the Congress to suspend such limitations on the level of budget outlays.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that interest earned on a nonnegotiable time deposit certificate which has a maturity of one year or less will not be treated as received or accrued until the earlier of its maturity date or the date on which it is redeemed. Excludes such certificates from classification as a discount instrument of indebtedness.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that interest earned on a nonnegotiable time deposit certificate which has a maturity of one year or less will not be treated as received or accrued until the earlier of its maturity date or the date on which it is redeemed. Excludes such certificates from classification as a discount instrument of indebtedness.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1979
Federal Firearms Law Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to Gun Control Act - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine: (1) "manufacturer" to mean any person engaged in the "business of manufacturing" (instead of "manufacture" of) firearms or ammunition; and (2) "dealer" to exclude dealers in ammunition and persons engaged in the business of repairing firearms. Adds a new definition, "engaged in the business", with respect to manufacturers, dealers, and importers. Includes as a manufacturer of ammunition a person whose gross sales of his own ammunition exceed $1,000 in any calendar year. Includes as a dealer in firearms a person who deals in firearms as a regular course of business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. Replaces the current term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" with a new definition of "disabling crime." Eliminates certain activities regarding ammunition from the coverage of the current prohibitions. Revises current provisions respecting the interstate sale or transfer of firearms. Revises the current prohibition against selling a firearm or ammunition to certain persons (such as persons under indictment for a felony or addicted to drugs) to apply such prohibition only to persons convicted of a disabling crime. Revises the current prohibition against certain persons transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce to: (1) extend such prohibition to possession or receipt in commerce or affecting commerce of any firearm or ammunition; (2) conform such prohibition to the new "disabling crime" provision; and (3) include as additional categories illegal aliens, persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and persons who have renounced their United States citizenship. Makes the same changes to the current prohibition against certain persons who receive a firearm or ammunition which has been transported in interstate commerce, but applies such prohibition to persons who are employed by specified individuals. Excludes ammunition dealers from the current licensing requirements. Stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury may revoke a license only where the holder of such license has "knowingly" violated a provision of the Act or regulation. Bars the Secretary from denying or revoking a license on the basis of violations under this Act which are alleged in criminal proceedings instituted against a licensee, but for which such individual has not been convicted. Imposes as a condition for the inspection or examination of records, documents, and any firearm or ammunition kept by an importer, manufacturer, or dealer pursuant to this Act that the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred and that evidence may be found on the premises of such persons. Restricts the firearm information obtained from licensees which the Secretary may make available to State or local governments. Establishes a limited recordkeeping requirement for firearms collectors. Stipulates that the general penalty under this Act shall apply to whoever "willfully" violates any provision. Prohibits, with respect to a person's second or subsequent conviction for illegally using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, the granting of parole before completion of the minimum sentence. Amends the forfeiture provision to subject to seizure any firearm or ammunition "involved in or used" in any violation of the Act (instead of "involved in or used or intended to be used"). Requires a court to award attorney's fees to the prevailing party (other than the United States) in an action or proceeding for the return of seized firearms or ammunition. Allows the court to award such fees in any other action upon a finding that the action was initiated in bad faith. Amends the rulemaking authority of the Secretary to provide that no regulation may require (1) the transfer of records required under this Act to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or (2) the establishment of any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions. Requires a 90-day public comment period for proposed regulations (no period is currently specified). Allows one House of Congress to disapprove by resolution any firearms regulation within 90 days of continuous session of the promulgation of such rule. Set forth procedures for such resolutions. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any rules identical to regulations disapproved by Congress without the enactment of additional legislation respecting his authority. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing regulations which require purchasers of black powder to complete affidavits or forms attesting to their exemption from certain provisions of the Federal criminal code. Makes any law or regulation promulgated by any State prohibiting the transfer of an unloaded and not readily accessible firearm or ammunition null and void. Title II: Amendments to title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Repeals title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (relating to the receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms by felons, veterans dishonorably discharged, mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and persons renouncing their United States citizenship).
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Sets forth venue provisions applicable to the National Environmental Policy Act or any Act of Congress relating to environmental quality, including Acts relating to nonstatutory Federal water rights, in which the impact or injury alleged is less than nationwide in scope, requiring such actions to be brought only in a judicial district in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs. Requires appeals from any agency decision arising under such Acts to be appealed to the court of appeals for the judicial circuit in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Lamb Meat Quota Act of 1979 - Limits the aggregate quantity of lamb meat that may be imported into the United States after 1979 to the smaller of: (1) 24,500,000 pounds; or (2) ten percent of the domestic slaughter of land during the preceding year. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to estimate quarterly whether the domestic price of lamb exceeds the parity price and, on the basis of such estimate, to adjust the aggregate quantity of lamb meat which may enter the United States. Requires the Secretary to annually estimate the quota established, the domestic price of lamb, and any adjustment of the quota. Directs the Secretary to allocate such quotas among supplying countries on the basis of their share of the U.S. market.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1979
North Pacific Fur Seal Protection Act of 1979 - Title I: Termination of Convention - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Interim Convention on the Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals should not be continued. Declares that the President should terminate such Convention and enter into negotiations for an international agreement banning all killing of such seals. Title II: Protection of Seals - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Pribilof Wildlife Refuge. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to designate that part of the fishery conservation zone extending seaward of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, as a marine sanctuary. Prohibits the taking of seals within such Refuge and marine sanctuary, unless by the natives for subsistence purposes. Sets forth sanctions for violations of these provisions. Directs the Secretaries to employ, to the greatest extent possible, Pribilof Islands natives as rangers and guides. Stipulates that this title shall become effective upon termination of the Convention. Title III: Advisory Council; Social Services Programs - Provides for the establishment of an advisory committee to study and recommend to Congress alternative means of developing a livelihood for Pribilof Islands natives in lieu of the taking of seals, upon the termination of the Convention. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to assure that the income of Pribilof Islands natives engaged in the taking of seals be maintained, after the prohibition on the taking of seals takes effect. Title IV: Other Provisions of Law - Repeals title I (Conservation and Protection of North Pacific Fur Seals) of the Fur Seal Act of 1966. Stipulates that the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 shall not apply if the taking of seals is prohibited under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1979
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should promptly enact the President's April 5, 1979, proposal providing for solar energy tax credits and that such enactment should take effect retroactively to such date.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1979
Energy Production Encouragement Tax Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction with respect to the amortization based on a 60 month period of facilities producing unleaded gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel, solar or wind energy equipment, or synthetic fuels.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to disqualify, for the appropriate period of ineligibility, the entire household of any individual found guilty of specified acts of food stamp fraud. Sets the commencement of such period either: (1) immediately upon the relevant administrative or judicial finding, if the household is currently otherwise eligible; or (2) at the time such household becomes otherwise eligible, if it is not so eligible at the time of such finding. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Food Stamp Fraud Clearinghouse to collect and disseminate to requesting State agencies information with respect to enforcement of the anti-fraud provisions of such Act for purposes of determining the eligibility of individuals and households to participate in the food stamp program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1979
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should promptly enact the President's April 5, 1979, proposal providing for solar energy tax credits and that such enactment should take effect retroactively to such date.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Requires each Executive agency, within ten days after entering into a personal services contract with any person or unit of State or local government, to report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the number of agency employees which would be required to perform the contracted functions. Directs any agency which is prevented because of a personnel ceiling from performing a function which the agency determines would be performed by the agency more effectively than by contract, to submit to the OMB, within ten days of such determination, a request for an adjustment in such ceiling to enable the agency to perform the function. Requires the OMB to make such adjustment within 30 days after it is submitted unless the OMB finds that the agency did not follow applicable procedures when making its determinations. Directs the OMB to submit to Congress quarterly reports regarding each agency's personal services contracts and adjustments in personnel ceilings. Directs an agency to consider an employee's administration of personnel ceilings and compliance with procedures governing the contracting out of agency functions when: (1) evaluating the performance of a member of the Senior Executive Service; and (2) determining any pay increase for an employee under the merit pay system. Prohibits an agency from obligating more than 20 percent of its appropriations for a fiscal year during the last two months of that year.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Smaller Enterprise Regulatory Improvement Act - Amends the Small Business Act to require each Federal agency to publish semiannually an agenda of those rules which may be proposed during the upcoming six-month period affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and small organizations. Defines "small organizations" to include unincorporated businesses, sheltered workshops, nonprofit enterprises which are not dominant in their fields and such other groups and enterprises as each Federal agency shall establish by rule. Requires each published agenda to be transmitted to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comments. Directs each Federal agency to endeavor to provide notice of each agenda to affected small enterprises by means other than publication in the Federal Register. Directs each Federal agency to publish a written analysis prior to the issuance of any rule affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and organizations which considers: (1) the effect of such rule on small enterprises and competition; (2) whether an exemption could be provided such small enterprises; (3) whether lesser compliance standards could be adopted for small enterprises; and (4) the expected nature of reporting and recordkeeping requirements necessitated by such rule. Requires each Federal agency to issue a rule containing an exemption or differing compliance standards for such small business concerns and organizations if it is lawful, desirable, and feasible to do so. States that such small enterprises shall be given an opportunity to participate in agency rulemaking. Requires each agency to review its existing rules and prepare an analysis for purposes of eliminating those rules which are most burdensome to small businesses and organizations. Permits any agency to perform the analyses required by this Act in conjunction with any other analysis required by law. Declares that such other analysis shall not in itself satisfy the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to permit local distribution companies to provide natural gas service to residential customers for use in outdoor lighting fixtures installed before the enactment of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1979
Motor Carrier Regulatory Improvement Act of 1979 - Title I: General Provisions - Declares the findings of Congress that: (1) a safe, sound, competitive, and fuel efficient motor carrier system is vital to the maintenance of a strong national economy and defense system; (2) the objective of a motor carrier system serving the Nation as a whole can best be achieved through the plan of regulation adopted in 1935; and (3) the Interstate Commerce Commission must administer such regulatory system through the issuance of certificates and permits necessary to implement more effectively the standards of public convenience and necessity and of consistency with the public interest. Title II: Motor Carrier Entry - Requires the Commission, in determining whether to issue any certificate authorizing motor carrier transportation, to take specified factors into consideration including the degree of existing competition and fuel conservation with respect to an applicant's requested route authority. Prohibits the Commission from considering an applicant's level of proposed rates in making a determination regarding such requested route authority but directs the Commission to consider whether the level of rates of existing carriers is so high as to constitute an embargo of the traffic. Authorizes the Commission to require a carrier which is protesting a grant of operating authority to show that: (1) it is able to handle the traffic contained in the application; (2) it is willing to provide such service; and (3) it has either performed service or solicited business within the scope of the application. Stipulates that a contract carrier does not have to limit its operation to carriage for a particular industry or within a particular geographic area. Removes the requirement that the Commission, in deciding whether to grant a permit to a motor contract carrier, consider the number of shippers to be served by the carrier or the nature of the transportation to be provided. Stipulates that an application for conversion of motor contract carrier authority to motor common carrier authority must be filed with the Commission when the operations of the contract carrier in fact become common carriage. Stipulates that a person may not hold a certificate of a motor common carrier of property or a permit of a motor contract carrier of property if the person performing the transportation is doing so in the furtherance of a nontransportation primary business. Authorizes one corporation to provide transportation services for another corporation without a certificate or a permit under specified conditions. Directs the Commission to approve pooling and division of transportation or earnings agreements between common carriers without a hearing, unless it finds that the agreement is of major transportation importance or there is a substantial likelihood that the agreement will unduly restrain competition. Stipulates that, if the Commission finds that either of such factors exist, it shall conduct a hearing to determine if the agreement will be in the interest of better service to the public or of economy in operation. Exempts from the Commission's jurisdiction certain carriage of property by motor vehicle which is incidental to transportation by aircraft. Title III: Motor Carrier Rates - Prohibits the Commission from disapproving motor carrier rate bureau agreements unless it finds that such an agreement would violate or not be in furtherance of the national transportation policy. Exempts such approved agreements from the antitrust laws. Revises the voting processes within rate bureau meetings. Directs the Commission, in determining the reasonableness of motor property carrier rate levels, to approve and maintain revenue levels that are adequate to cover total operating expenses, including the operation of leased equipment, and depreciation based upon the replacement cost of useful equipment and facilities of current prices, plus a reasonable profit. Prohibits the Commission from suspending a motor carrier rate on the basis that it exceeds or is below a just and reasonable if: (1) the rate changes are not of general applicability to all or substantially all classes of traffic; (2) the rate change if filed within five years after the enactment of this Act; and (3) the rate increase or decrease is not more than seven percent annually. Grants the Commission the exclusive authority to prescribe an intrastate rate for a motor carrier of property if: (1) the carrier files a change in such a rate with the appropriate State authority; and (2) the State does not act finally on such proposed change within 120 days. Limits a State's power to assess or collect discriminatory taxes on motor carriers of property. Title IV: Expediting Motor Carrier Proceedings - Establishes time limitations for actions of the Commission regarding motor carriers of property proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1979
Authorizes the Interstate Commerce Commission to prescribe through lines and joint rates for motor carriers of property. Prohibits the Commission from requiring such a carrier, without its consent, to embrace in such a mandated route substantially less than the entire length of its route and of any intermediate carrier operated in conjunction and under a common management which lies between the termini of such proposed through route unless: (1) such inclusion of lines would make the through route unreasonably circuitous; or (2) the Commission finds that the through route proposed to be established is needed in order to provide adequate, more efficient, or more economic transportation. Requires carriers participating in a through route and joint rate to promptly pay rate divisions or make interline settlements. Allows the suspension or cancellation of such a route and rate under rules promulgated by the Commission in the event of undue delinquency in the settlement of such divisions or interline settlements.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt from applicable Federal regulations any State having in effect a law, rule, or regulation applicable to underground injection control related to the production or recovery of oil or natural gas unless the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that such law, rule, or regulation fails to protect underground sources of drinking water. Provides that any State for which such finding is made may amend its law, rule, or regulation in order to benefit from such exemption where approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the underground injection well permit requirements any State having in effect such law, rule, or regulation approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the administrative procedure and judicial review requirements of the United States Code any action relating to national interim primary drinking water regulations, revised national primary drinking water regulations, and State underground injection control program regulations, except as expressly provided by this Act. Directs the Administrator to establish a docket for such actions, and sets forth notice and public and agency commenting requirements for any proposed rulemaking. Sets forth procedures and other requirements for promulgating rules concerning drinking water regulations, and establishes procedures for judicial review of such actions. Amends the definition of "primary drinking water regulation". Revises the standard for the promulgation of primary drinking water regulations. Makes technical and conforming amendments to such Act. Requires any State having primary enforcement responsibility to submit notice to the Administrator that its public water system supervision program conforms to any revision or amendment to any national primary drinking water regulation made by the Administrator. States that failure to submit such notice shall be grounds for withdrawal of State primary enforcement responsibility. Amends such Act to authorize a State having such enforcement responsibility to exempt from maximum contaminant level requirements or treatment technique requirements any public water system not having any reasonable alter native source of drinking water available. Revises the dates for compliance by public water systems with contaminant level and treatment technique requirements. Extends the effective date for State underground injection control regulations approved by the Administrator. Authorizes the waiver of the prohibition against State grants being made for any period beginning more than one year after the date of a State's first grant having been made for a period of 18 months after the effective date of any amendment or revision of the national primary drinking water regulations if the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility and is making diligent efforts to comply with such amendment or revision. Prohibits the Administrator from making grants to any State unless the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility within two years after the Administrator promulgates State underground injection control program regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1979
National Energy Self-Sufficiency Act of 1979 - Title I: Duty on Imported Crude Oil - Imposes on imported crude oil an additional duty equal to the amount by which the average synthetic fossil fuel price is greater than the imported crude oil price. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to establish methods for the determination of such prices. Provides for the monthly redetermination of such prices. Title II: Synthetic Fossil Fuel Fund - Establishes the Synthetic Fossil Fuel Fund in the U.S. Treasury. Stipulates that such Fund shall consist of the equivalent of amounts received from the duty imposed under title I, in addition to such other amounts as may be appropriated. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress concerning such Fund. Requires the Secretary to invest the portion of such Fund, not required to meet current withdrawals, in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. Declares that such Fund shall be available for making loans for synthetic fossil fuel production. Establishes the Synthetic Fossil Fuel Board to make loans for the construction of synthetic fuel production facilities. Sets forth the criteria to be used by the Board in making such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1979
Requires a ten percent reduction in the number of civilian employees of the executive branch from the number of such employees on September 30, 1977, to be attained through attrition by September 30, 1984. Limits the percentage of low level positions which may be involved in such reduction. States that the reduction of positions among agencies shall be proportionate to the size of each agency's work force. Requires a similar reduction in the work force of the legislative branch. Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report annually to Congress on work force reductions in the executive branch. Requires the Director of the Federal Judicial Center to submit to Congress recommendations for similar reductions in the Judicial branch.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Declares a moratorium on rules and regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency, denying any force or effect to any final rules promulgated after June 1, 1979, and before June 1, 1981. Stipulates that any rule or regulation of the Agency promulgated on or before June 1, 1979, shall cease to have any force and effect upon disapproval by either House of Congress. Prohibits the Administrator from taking any enforcement action against any person for failure to comply with any standard or requirement of the Agency when such person submits proof that such compliance will require the closing of all or part of any facility owned or operated by him, unless both Houses of Congress have by resolution approved such enforcement action. Requires the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and on Interstate and Foreign Commerce to report to the House of Representatives by January 1, 1981, the results of a complete and comprehensive review of all laws, rules, and regulations enforced by the Agency to determine the impact and extent to which such laws, rules, and regulations have contributed to, or exacerbated, the current energy crisis.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Amends title IV of the Public Health Service Act (National Research Institutes) to stipulate that the institute currently authorized to conduct research on neurological diseases shall be named the "National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke." Requires at least $16,000,000 of the sums appropriated for such Institute to be obligated for research in the area of regeneration of the spinal cord.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Terminates the Department of Energy on January 15, 1982, unless prior to such date a law is enacted continuing such Department. Requires the President, within 60 days after termination, to submit to Congress a plan for transferring the functions of such Department to other Federal agencies. States that such plan shall take effect unless disapproved within 30 days by either House of Congress. Requires submission of successive reorganization plans until one is not disapproved by either House. Prohibits any such reorganization plan from creating a new executive department.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Congratulates the men and women of the Apollo program upon the tenth anniversary of the first manned landing on the Moon and requests the President to designate the period of July 16 through July 24, 1979, as "United States Space Observance" in honor of such event.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963 to exclude from the definition of "farm labor contractor": (1) any nonprofit or charitable organization; (2) any farmer, processor, canner, ginner, packing shed operator, or nurseryman who engages in any such activity for the purpose of supplying migrant workers solely for his own operation, including its planting, cultivating, or harvesting of crops to be grown, processed, canned, ginned, or packed in or diverted from its own operation; and (3) any bona fide full-time or bona fide regular employee of any entity referred to in (1) or (2) above who engages in such activity solely for his employer. Defines "fee" to mean any money or other valuable consideration in excess of the actual cost of providing such services paid or promised to be paid to a person for services as a farm labor contractor. Eliminates from the definition of "agricultural employment" the handling, planting, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, or grading prior to delivery for storage of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state. Defines "migrant worker" to include an individual whose primary employment is in agriculture, as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1939, on a seasonal or other temporary basis, or who performs agricultural labor, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, on a seasonal or other temporary basis and who is transported from and to his or her permanent domicile each work day in a vehicle owned or controlled by a farm labor contractor, or who cannot regularly return to his or her permanent domicile each day after working hours. Defines the terms "transport", "bona fide full-time employee", "bona fide regular employee", and "agricultural cooperative" for the purposes of the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963. Eliminates the payroll records maintenance requirement for any person who is furnished any migrant worker by a farm labor contractor where the contractor pays the worker.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1979
Amends the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950 to implement a new civil defense program designed to: (1) enhance the survivability of the American people and its leadership; (2) enhance deterrence and stability; (3) continue reliance on strategic nuclear forces as the preponderant factor in maintaining deterrence; and (4) plan for population relocation during times of international crisis. Requires the President to develop and execute such program. Stipulates that such program include the following elements: (1) a survey of shelter inherent in existing facilities; (2) nuclear civil protection planning for both in-place protection and population relocation during times of international crisis; (3) planning for the crisis development of additional shelters; (4) improvement of warning systems; (5) improvement of systems and capabilities for direction and control of emergency operations; (6) improvement of radiological defense capabilities; (7) improvement of emergency public information and training programs and capabilities; and (8) development of such other systems and capabilities as may be necessary to maximize lifesaving potential. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of such Act, with provision for inflation adjustments.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1979
Legal Fees Reimbursement Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Federal Government to reimburse taxpayers who prevail in tax litigation initiated by the Government or by the taxpayer contesting a tax deficiency assessment for all reasonable litigation expenses incurred by such taxpayer. Includes within the meaning of "reasonable litigation expenses" all actual attorneys' fees, court costs, expert witnesses, clerical assistance, travel expenses, preparation of documents, and other related and necessary expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1979
Amends the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act to extend the period wherein the Secretary of Agriculture may enter into contracts for the conservation of soil in the Great Plains conservation program. Repeals funding limitations placed upon such program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act of 1979 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act to require the Congressional Budget Office, for every bill or resolution reported in the House or Senate, to prepare and submit (along with its regular estimate of the Federal cost involved) an estimate of the costs which would be incurred by State and local governments in carrying out or complying with such bill or resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Stipulates that the payment of retired or retainer pay which would otherwise be made to a member of the armed forces shall be paid by the Secretary concerned to another person to the extent provided for in the terms of any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Crude Oil Production Incentive Act of 1979 - Amends the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 to exempt the first sale of new crude oil and the first sale of market incentive crude oil from the mandatory price and allocation regulations promulgated under such Act. Directs the President to establish ceiling prices applicable to first sales of old crude oil produced in the United States. Exempts from any regulation issued under the mandatory allocation provisions of such Act: (1) deep stripper well crude oil; (2) stripper well crude oil; (3) high water cut crude oil; and (4) marginal offshore crude oil. Exempts the first sale of enhanced recovery crude oil from such regulations. Requires that any applicant for such exemption shall submit an application to the appropriate regulatory body containing such information as required by such regulatory body. Sets forth criteria for approval of such applications. Directs the Administrator of the Economic Regulatory Administration of the Department of Energy, the United States Geological Survey, and State regulatory agencies to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this Act under their appropriate jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt from pre-slaughter animal examination and post mortem carcass inspection requirements all meat food products processed by a federally inspected establishment and derived from meat which has been slaughtered or processed at a State-inspected establishment in a State whose meat inspection requirements have been determined by the Secretary to be at least equal to the Federal requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends titles XVI (Supplemental Security Income) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to deny benefits under such titles to persons who dispose, within a 12 month period preceding an application for benefits under such titles, of any type of property, worth in excess of $1,000, for less than its fair market value which, if retained, would cause such persons to be ineligible for benefits under such titles. Withholds eligibility for the length of time the market value of the property less encumbrances would have supported the applicant for the type of care for which such applicant applied.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Soft Drink Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that exclusive territorial arrangements made as a part of a licensing agreement for the manufacture, distribution, or sale of a trademarked soft drink product are lawful under the antitrust laws provided such product is in substantial and effective competition with other products of the same general class. Prohibits recovery in private actions under the Clayton Act based on territorial provisions in a trademark licensing agreement prior to a final determination that such provisions are unlawful.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the transfer of the Forest Service and the Farmers Home Administration business and industry programs from the Department of Agriculture is unacceptable, and that any reorganization proposal which would diminish the Department's resources is unacceptable.