United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1978
American Tax Reduction Act - States as the purposes of this Act: (1) the reduction of the public debt; (2) the imposition of limits on Federal spending; (3) the inducement of Members of Congress to eliminate unneeded Federal programs; (4) the reduction of individual income taxes; (5) tax relief for homeowners; and (6) the indexation of tax rates to reflect inflation of income. Title I: Individual Income Tax Rate Reductions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce individual and estate and trust income tax rates for 1979, 1980, and 1981 and to make a permanent reduction in such rates for years after 1981. Title II: Provisions Relating to Capital Gains - Reduces the alternative tax on capital gains to 15 percent of the net capital gain. Eliminates capital gains as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum and maximum tax. Allows a taxpayer to elect to offset against taxable income all capital losses not in excess of taxable income. Permits a one year carryover of losses in excess of taxable income. Permits a one-time exclusion from gross income of $100,000 of the gain from the sale or exchange of a principal residence. Title III: Provisions Relating to Indexing for Inflation - Requires inflation adjustments to income brackets for purposes of the individual income tax, the normal tax on corporate income, and the surtax exemption. Requires a similar adjustment to capital assets for purposes of determining gain or loss and for estates and gifts in determining the tax at the time of transfer. Title IV: Reduction in Federal Spending - Limits Federal spending to 18 percent of the gross national product by 1983. Prohibits the consideration of any bill in Congress which would cause the spending limit to be exceeded. Title V: Reduction of the Public Debt - Requires the application of two percent of the annual Federal budget to the retirement of the Federal deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit individuals who are fully vested in a tax-exempt employer pension plan an income tax deduction for cash contributions to an individual retirement account. Limits the amount of such deduction to five percent of the individual's compensation for the taxable year or $500, whichever is less. Increases the adjusted gross income limitation on the tax credit for the elderly, increases the allowable amount of such credit, and provides an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1978
Comprehensive Anti-Inflation Act - Title I: Coordination of Economic Policies - Amends the Employment Act of 1946 with the stated purpose of reducing the rate of inflation and keeping it within reasonable bounds. Directs the President, in each annual Economic Report, to establish economic and regulatory policies which set forth: (1) current trends in the levels of prices, wages, productivity, and production costs, including projections for inflation rates in the next calendar year; (2) annual numerical inflation goals; (3) fiscal policy targets; and (4) specific programs designed to achieve such inflation goals. Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to transmit annually to the Congress an independent statement of its intended monetary policies for the year. Title II: Establishment of Guidelines - Directs that a set of guidelines be established to govern price increases and wage settlements. Authorizes the President to promote voluntary compliance with such guidelines. Prohibits the use of mandatory wage or price controls by the President. Requires the Council of Economic Advisors to seek the advice and concurrence of the Council on Wage and Price Stability in establishing economic policies and guidelines. Title III: Policies and Programs to Reduce Inflation - Directs the President, in formulating and revising tax policy: (1) to reduce, or substitute for, taxes which significantly increase price levels; (2) to develop specific procedures to promote the promulgation of economically efficient and socially desirable regulations; (3) to deregulate industries over which the Federal Government has ratesetting authority; (4) to encourage the growth of productivity in both the private and public sectors; (5) to examine the use of tax incentives to hold cost increases to specified levels; (6) to strive to preserve production incentives and allow market forces to operate wherever possible; (7) to address the price implications of energy policies in the Economic Report; (8) to explore ways to increase competition in concentrated industries; and (9) to pursue negotiations for fair trade agreements with foreign nations. Title IV: Congressional Review - Directs the Joint Economic Committee to hold special hearings to review the President's proposed economic policies and to submit its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives and the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1978
American Tax Reduction Act - States as the purposes of this Act: (1) the reduction of the public debt; (2) the imposition of limits on Federal spending; (3) the inducement of Members of Congress to eliminate unneeded Federal programs; (4) the reduction of individual income taxes; (5) tax relief for homeowners; and (6) the indexation of tax rates to reflect inflation of income. Title I: Individual Income Tax Rate Reductions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce individual and estate and trust income tax rates for 1979, 1980, and 1981 and to make a permanent reduction in such rates for years after 1981. Title II: Provisions Relating to Capital Gains - Reduces the alternative tax on capital gains to 15 percent of the net capital gain. Eliminates capital gains as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum and maximum tax. Allows a taxpayer to elect to offset against taxable income all capital losses not in excess of taxable income. Permits a one year carryover of losses in excess of taxable income. Permits a one-time exclusion from gross income of $100,000 of the gain from the sale or exchange of a principal residence. Title III: Provisions Relating to Indexing for Inflation - Requires inflation adjustments to income brackets for purposes of the individual income tax, the normal tax on corporate income, and the surtax exemption. Requires a similar adjustment to capital assets for purposes of determining gain or loss and for estates and gifts in determining the tax at the time of transfer. Title IV: Reduction in Federal Spending - Limits Federal spending to 18 percent of the gross national product by 1983. Prohibits the consideration of any bill in Congress which would cause the spending limit to be exceeded. Title V: Reduction of the Public Debt - Requires the application of two percent of the annual Federal budget to the retirement of the Federal deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1978
Declares that the House of Representatives urges the Senate to adopt a similar provision to section 405 of H.R. 13511 (one-time tax exclusion from income of gain from the sale of a principal residence).
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1978
Sunset Program Reauthorization and Evaluation Act - Title I: Reauthorization of New Budget Authority - Requires Government programs to be evaluated pursuant to a specified schedule to determine whether each such program should be continued, terminated, or altered (reauthorization review). Prohibits the authorization of new budget authority for a period of more than ten years. Prohibits the authorization of new budget authority for any program for which there has not been conducted a reauthorization review. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in consulation with the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to compile a list of programs subject to a reauthorization date for which new budget authority was not authorized. Title II: Program Inventory - Requires the Comptroller General to compile an inventory of Federal programs including a description of such programs covering specified topics. Title III: Program Review and Evaluation - Requires each House of Congress to select from the programs scheduled for reauthorization review in any given year a number of programs for comprehensive reauthorization review. Requires the President and each congressional committee to recommend such programs. Title IV: Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government - Establishes an independent Citizen's Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government to study the organization and operation of Federal agencies and to recommend ways to improve the efficiency and operations of such agencies. Requires the Commission to submit its final report by July 1, 1983, and terminates the Commission 90 days after the submission of such report. Title V: Miscellaneous - Requires the Comptroller General to furnish Congress with the results of prior audits and reviews of programs being reviewed under this Act. Requires all agencies which are exempt from reauthorization review to submit a status report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1978
Veterans' Geriatrics and Gerontological Health Services Act - Establishes the Office of Assistant Chief Medical Director for Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Extended Care within the Office of the Chief Medical Director in the Veterans' Administration. Directs the Administration of Veterans' Affairs to designate 20 Veterans' Administration hospitals as geriatrics centers. Establishes a Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Extended Care Task Force within the Veterans' Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1978
Airport and Aircraft Noise Reduction Act - Title I: - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a single system of measuring noise and the impact of noise on individuals to be used to measure noise at airports and their surrounding areas and to establish land uses for such areas which are compatible with such noise levels. Allows airport operators to submit noise impact maps to the Secretary setting forth the noncompatible uses in each area of the map, a description of the projected aircraft operations during 1985, and the ways in which such operations will affect such map. Requires the revision of such maps when changes in airports operations would create any new noncompatible use in areas surrounding an airport. Amends the Airport and Airway Development Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants to qualified airports for noise compatibility planning. Defines "noise compatibility planning" as the preparation of noise impact maps and noise compatibility programs under this Act. Sets forth limitations regarding the amounts which may be obligated through such grant program. Authorizes appropriations of $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979 and beyond to carry out such grant program. Stipulates that noise compatibility programs filed with the Secretary pursuant to this Act shall include measures proposed by airport operators for the reduction of existing noncompatible uses and the prevention of the introduction of additional noncompatible uses with the area covered by the operator's noise impact map. Sets forth factors which the Secretary is to rely on in approving noise compatibility programs. Stipulates that the Federal share of an approved program shall be 80 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1979 and 1980 to carry out such grant program. Requires the Secretary to prepare noise impact maps and noise compatibility programs for specified airports near the District of Columbia. Places additional legal proof requirements on a person suing for damages as a result of airport noise. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study to determine the effectiveness of such airport noise compatibility planning. Title II: Increases specified appropriations authorized for fiscal years 1979 and 1980 under the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970. Increases from 80 to 90 percent the Federal share of approved projects under such Act for fiscal years 1979 and 1980. Requires prior approval by any incorporated village located within five miles of any general aviation airport located astride a line separating two counties within a single State before the Secretary may approve any runway construction or extension project for such airport. Title III: Directs the Secretary to publish a list of operators of United States civil subsonic turbojet powered aircraft above a specified weight which do not comply with noise standards prescribed for new subsonic aircraft in regulations issued by the Secretary and in effect on January 1, 1977. Requires operators of noncomplying aircraft to impose a surcharge on any rates for the carriage of persons or property for a five-year period and to deposit such surcharges into a separate account to pay for the retrofitting or replacement cost of such aircraft to meet such noise standards. Prohibits the operation of foreign subsonic turbojet aircraft over a specified takeoff weight limit within the United States after January 1, 1985, unless such aircraft complies with the noise standards in effect on January 1, 1977. Title IV: Amends the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 to authorize appropriations to carry out air navigation and traffic control safety demonstration projects.
United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1978
Urges the President to communicate with the Soviet Union concerning its obligation in accordance with the Helsinki accords to allow Isaac Zlotver to emigrate from the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 1978
Directs the Civil Aeronautics Board to immediately dissolve the Airlines Mutual Aid Pact. Directs the Board to study the collective bargaining process within the airline industry and to make recommendations to Congress within six months on methods of alleviating the occurrence of protracted airline strikes.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1978
Federal Reserve Act Amendments - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to authorize the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to require specified depository institutions to submit to the Board such periodic financial reports as the Board determines to be necessary for it to control and monitor monetary aggregates. Subjects to reserve requirements any bank that is either an insured bank or is eligible to apply to become an insured bank under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Exempts savings and mutual savings banks as defined in such Act from reserve requirements. Requires such banks to maintain reserves against their reservable liabilities, as such term is defined in this Act, at a rate of six percent, or at such other rate between five and one-half and six and one-half percent as the Board may by requlation prescribe. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of reservable liabilities held by such banks. Eliminates the use of different reserve ratios for member banks not in reserve cities. Authorizes the Board to impose reserve requirements outside the limits established by this Act for 30-day periods upon a finding that extraordinary circumstances require such action. Authorizes the Board to establish additional reserve requirements against: (1) net balances owed by domestic offices of banks in the United States to foreign offices or banks; and (2) loans to United States residents made by overseas offices of banks with offices in the United States. Grants certain privileges of member banks in the Federal Reserve System to nonmember banks maintaining reserves required by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1978
Directs the Internal Revenue Service not to adopt a position which is inconsistent with a general audit position, a regulation, or a ruling in effect on January 1, 1976, in determining whether an individual is an employee for purposes of social security taxation, unemployment taxation, and income tax withholding. Prohibits the treatment of any individual as an employee of any employer, if such employer consistently treated the individual, in good faith, as an independent contractor in reasonable reliance on either past IRS audit practice, published rulings or judicial precedent, recognized practice in the industry, or long-standing treatment of the individual as an independent contractor.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1978
Extends the authority of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to regulate interest rates on deposits and share accounts in depository institutions from December 15, 1978, to December 15, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1978
Extends the authority of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to regulate interest rates on deposits and share accounts in depository institutions from December 15, 1978, to December 15, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1978
Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any professional football league from granting to its member clubs an exclusive right to exhibit football games if such right includes a territorial limit and if a league rule would prohibit a home area that had a club from acquiring another club in the event the original club moves to a different site within the territorial limit.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1978
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to invalidate agreements preventing the broadcast of a professional sports game, by means of television, at the same time and in the same area in which the game is to be played if all tickets to such game have been sold 72 hours before gametime. Invalidates any agreement which would prevent the television broadcast of any professional football game in the original home area of a team the playing site of which has been moved from the original home area under an agreement prohibiting the location of a different franchise in such original area. Repeals this amendment effective February 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1978
Requests the President to convene a White House Conference on Foreign Trade to provide a forum for representatives of industries and labor organizations in the United States, scholars and experts in the field of foreign trade, representatives of Federal, State, and local government, and other interested persons to (1) examine and recommend methods to increase trade, (2) evaluate the recommendations made by the President's Task Force on Export Policy, and (3) assess the impact on the United States of the anticipated trade agreement of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1978
Directs the Secretary of Defense, in computing incentive pay for medical officers of the uniformed services, to prescribe a system through which variable incentive pay may be reduced or adjusted to reflect amounts the Federal Government has paid to, or benefits received by, medical officers prior to the commencement of their active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1978
Financial Institutions Regulatory Act - Title I: Supervisory Authority Over Depository Institutions - Creates civil penalties for specified insiders loans and loans to affiliates, prohibited by the Federal Reserve Act, for violations of reserve borrowing loan limits. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit member banks from making loans to insiders under specified conditions. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to authorize the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to order the termination of control or ownership by a bank holding company of any of its nonbank subsidiaries whenever they constitute a serious risk to the financial safety of a subsidiary bank of the holding company. Amends the National Housing Act by authorizing the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation to order the termination of ownership or control of any noninsured subsidiary by a savings and loan holding company whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that continued ownership constitutes unsafe and inconsistent banking practice. Grants authority to the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation to make loans to a savings and loan association in order that it may buy the assets of a failing savings and loan institution so as to prevent the failure of such institution. Prescribes penalties for the violation of any provision of this Title. Authorizes financial regulatory agencies, including the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, to initiate cease and desist actions against officers, directors, stockholders, or any person participating in the affairs of a financial institution (as well as against the institution itself as is allowed by current law) when there have been violations of laws and regulations or unsafe and unsound banking practices which are likely to seriously weaken the condition of the institution in question. Sets forth a procedure to be followed for removal of any officer or director for breach of fiduciary duty. Increases the allowable mortgage and education loans to executive officers of banks. Creates a hearing process for removal of a bank officer or director based on an indictment for or conviction of a felony. Title II: Interlocking Directors - Depository Institution Management Interlocks Act - Prohibits interlocking management and director relations between any depository institutions or depository holding companies located in the same metropolitan area. States that this prohibition applies without regard to geographical limits where such an institution has assets exceeding $1,000,000,000 and seeks an interlocking relationship with any institution with assets over $500,000,000. Delegates authority for the enforcement of this Act. Title III: Foreign Branching - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prohibit any State nonmember insured bank from operating any foreign branch without prior written consent of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). States that when the liabilities of an insured bank for deposits are assumed by another insured bank the following shall occur: (1) the insured status of the bank whose liabilities are assumed shall terminate on the date of receipt by the FDIC of evidence of such assumption; (2) termination of separate insurance of all assumed deposits at the end of six months from the effective date; and (3) notification of such assumption by the assuming bank to each of the depositors of the assumed bank. Amends existing requirements for the reporting and assessment of deposits accumulated for the payment of personal loans when such deposits are assigned or pledged to assure the payment of such loans at maturity. Title IV: Conflicts of Interest - Depository Institutions Conflict of Interests Act - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to prohibit specified Presidential-appointee bank regulatory agency heads and members of such agencies from being employed for a period of two years after they leave office by institutions under their regulatory jurisdiction or with a holding company affiliate. Prohibits such individuals from appearing before the board of their respective agencies, either formally or informally, from contacting such board, directly or indirectly, orally or in writing, or from acting as agent or attorney for any other person, other than the United States, before such board for a period of two years immediately following their employment. Title V: Credit Union Restructuring - Reorganizes the National Credit Union Administration and places it under the management of the National Credit Union Administration Board. Directs the chairperson of such Board to represent the Administration in its official relations with other branches of Government. Restricts the employment and activities of Board members for a period of two years immediately following their employment. Requires each Federal credit union to pay the Administration an annual operating fee and to make annual financial reports to the Board. Title VI: Change in Bank Control Act - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prohibit any person from acquiring any insured bank or bank holding company unless the appropriate Federal banking agency has been notified and has not issued a notice of its disapproval within a specified time period. Prescribes the procedure to be followed by any agency in making its determination to approve or deny such change of control. Title VII: Change in Savings and Loan Control Act - Amends the National Housing Act to prohibit any person from acquiring control of any federally insured savings and loan association or holding company unless the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has been notified and has not issued a notice of its disapproval within a specified time period. Prescribes the procedure to be followed by the Corporation in making its determination to approve or deny such change of control. Requires any insured institution to disclose any loan secured, or to be secured, by 25 percent or more of the outstanding voting stock of an insured institution to the Corporation. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Title. Title VIII: Correspondent Accounts - Prohibits the extension of credit to any officer, director, or specified stockholders of a bank which has a correspondent relationship with the lending bank, in its own name or in the name of another bank, unless such loan does not: (1) involve more than the normal risk of repayment; (2) include unusual terms of interest or collateral; or (3) present any other unfavorable features. Prohibits the establishment of a correspondent account where a loan already has been made to any officer, director, or specified stockholders of the bank desiring to open the account. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Title. Requires each executive officer and each stockholder who directly or indirectly owns, controls, or has the power to vote more than ten percent of any class of voting securities of an insured bank, to submit a written report to the board of directors of such bank for any year in which such officer or stockholder has outstanding an extension of credit from a bank which maintains a correspondent account in the name of such bank. Requires such report to include: (1) the maximum amount of indebtedness to the bank maintaining the correspondent account of such officer or stockholder and of each company, political or campaign committee which will benefit or is controlled by such officer or stockholder; (2) the maximum amount of such indebtedness as of a date not more than ten days prior to the filing of the report; (3) the range of interest rates charged on such indebtedness; and (4) the terms and conditions of such indebtedness. Requires each insured bank to compile and submit such reports to specified regulatory agencies. Title IX: Disclosure of Material Facts - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to list information which must be included in an annual report to be made by each insured bank to the appropriate Federal banking agency. Title X: Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council - Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act - Establishes a Financial Institutions Examinations Council to prescribe uniform principles and standards for the Federal examination of financial institutions. Defines the term "financial institution" to mean: (1) a commercial bank; (2) a savings bank; (3) a trust company; (4) a savings and loan association; (5) a building and loan association; (6) a homestead association; (7) a cooperative bank; and (8) a credit union. Directs that one-fifth of the operating costs of the Council be paid by each of the Federal financial institution regulatory agencies. Directs the Council to make recommendations for uniformity in other supervisory matters, including classification of loans subject to risk and identification of financial institutions in need of special supervisory attention. Requires the Council to establish a liaison committee composed of five representatives of State supervisory agencies in order to encourage the application of uniform examination principles and standards by State and Federal Supervisory agencies. Title XI: Right to Financial Privacy - Right to Financial Privacy Act - Prohibits any Government authority from obtaining copies of, access to, or the information contained in, the financial records of any customer from a financial institution unless such records are reasonably described and: (1) such customer has authorized such disclosure in accordance with this Act; (2) such records are disclosed in response to an administrative subpena or summons; (3) such records are disclosed in response to a court order; (4) such records are disclosed in response to a judicial subpena; or (5) such financial records are disclosed in response to a formal written request meeting specified requirements. Requires in all cases that the customer be notified of the agency seeking such records, the purpose for which such records are sought, and the rights of customers under this Act. Establishes specific conditions and procedures for the delay of notice to a customer. States that no financial institution may provide to a Government authority copies of or the information contained in the financial records of any customer except in accordance with the requirements of this Act. Sets forth provisions governing customer authorization, administrative subpenas and summonses, judicial subpenas, and search warrants. Establishes procedures for a customer to challenge the disclosure of financial records. Provides exceptions to the provisions of this Act and special procedures for the disclosure of records to the Secret Service and government authorities acting in the field of foreign intelligence. Establishes civil penalties and the right to injunctive relief without regard to the amount in controversy for violation of the provisions of this Title. Establishes conditions on the use of financial records about a customer obtained under the authority of a Federal grand jury. Title XII: Charters for Thrift Institutions - Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to authorize the Home Loan Bank Board to provide for the organization, chartering operation, and regulation of associations to be known as Federal Savings and Loan Associations or Federal mutual savings banks. Subjects converting mutual savings banks to the requirements of existing State law pertaining to discrimination in the extension of home mortgage loans if the State requirements are more stringent than Federal laws and regulations. Establishes a five year shared risk program in the event that a converting insititution fails. Title XIII: Holding Companies - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to prohibit a bank holding company from providing insurance as a principal, agent, or broker except: (1) where the insurance is to secure a credit transaction; (2) where the insurance is sold in a community with a population of less than 5,000 or that has no other adequate insurance agency facilities; (3) where the insurance is sold by a bank holding company or its affiliate lawfully engaged in insurance activities prior to June 6, 1978; or (4) where the bank holding company engaged in insurance activities has assets of $50,000,000 or less. Title XIV: Amendments to the National Banking Laws - Makes changes with respect to the following: (1) the power of national banks to purchase, hold, and convey real property; (2) the trust powers of national banks; (3) the emergency restrictions on Federal Reserve banks; and (4) examination of foreign operations of State member banks. Allows an individual who holds the required number of shares in a company that controls a banking association to serve as a director of that association. Permits a banking association to purchase shares of stock in a State chartered bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation if the stock of such bank is owned exclusively by other banks and if such bank is exclusively engaged in providing banking services for other banks, their officers, directors or employees. Limits the total amount of such stock which may be held by an association to five percent of its capital stock and paid in unimpaired surplus. Title XV: Termination of National Bank Closed Receivership Fund - Directs the Comptroller of the Currency to disburse the liquidating dividends from national banks closed on or before January 22, 1934, held by the Comptroller in the capacity as successor to receivers of those banks. Title XVI: Transaction Accounts - Permits any depository institution chartered by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and located in a State which authorizes State-chartered institutions insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation to offer transaction accounts permitting withdrawals or transfers of account on negotiable, transferable, or nonnegotiable check, order, or authorization, as determined by the Board, to offer comparable services to the extent authorized by the Board. Authorizes the Board to allow depository institutions located in the District of Columbia to offer transaction accounts if depository institutions in Virginia and Maryland are permitted to offer such accounts. Title XVII: Financial Regulation Simplification Act - Requires the Federal financial regulatory agencies to establish a program which assures periodic review of existing regulations to insure that: (1) the need for and purposes of a regulation are clearly established; (2) timely participation is available to the public, financial institutions, and other Federal, State and local agencies; (3) alternatives to the promulgation of regulations are considered; (4) compliance costs, paperwork and other problems are minimized; and (5) conflicts, inconsistencies and duplication between the regulations of Federal agencies are avoided. Terminates this Title five years after its effective date. Title XVIII: Alternative Mortgage Instruments - Permits federally chartered savings and loan associations to offer alternative mortgage instruments where State law, rules, or regulations, allow State chartered savings and loan associations to offer such instruments. Tile XIX: Prohibition on Credit Card Surcharges - Repeals the prohibition on the imposition of surcharges for payment by credit card in sales transactions. Title XX: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1978
Military Health Care System Reform Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to appoint regional civilian military health care administrators to coordinate budgeting, planning, and the allocation of health care resources. Provides for the enrollment of active duty personnel, former members of the military, and military dependents in the military health care system for the provision of medical and dental care. States that enrolled persons shall not be denied or limited in the care provided by reason of the capability of the medical or dental staffs of major military helath care facilities. Provides for the supply of identification cards to enrolled persons. Requires major military health care facilities to establish programs to provide services to enrolled persons. Establishes budgeting requirements for such programs. Directs the Secretary of Defense to take steps to maximize training and use of physician assistance, nurse practitioners, and similar practioners at military health care facilities. Authorizes private physicians to provide medical and dental care at such facilities. Prescribes procedures for processing contract claims for services by private physicians. Entitles military medical personnel to a special performance incentive payment if fiscal year facility expenses are below budgeted expenditures. Prescribes performance standards to be used in determining the amount of such special pay. Requires the Secretary to provide for recovery of payments from health care insurers, employers, or other entities contractually or legally obligated to make payment for the provision of such care to enrolled individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1978
Amends the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 to extend specified payments to assist refugees in the United States from Cambodia, Vietnam or Laos. Increases from $25,000,000 to $40,000,000 the amount available for special projects administered wholly or in part by State, local, or private agencies for such refugees. Makes any such refugee paroled into the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act after March 31, 1975, eligible to have his status adjusted to that of a permanent resident.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1978
Anti-Inflation Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to the individual income tax rates, personal exemption amounts, withholding tax amounts and the minimum amounts of income which necessitate filing a return.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1978
Investment Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore part of the pre-1969 tax treatment of capital gains by repealing the capital gains item of tax preference for the minimum tax; lowering the corporate alternative tax to 25 percent of net capital gain; and lowering the alternative individual tax to 25 percent of net capital gain. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the economic impact of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1978
Congressional Budget Act Amendments - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the authorization of new budget or spending authority or new tax expenditures for more than five fiscal years. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to prepare a statement to accompany each public bill or resolution reported out of a congressional committee estimating the costs such legislation would impose on State or local governments during the five-year life of such law. Prohibits the enactment of such bill or resolution without also authorizing budget authority for payment by the United States to such State and local governments for costs so imposed. Requires the Comptroller General to prepare for all reported legislation a statement identifying State or local programs designed to accomplish the same purposes as such reported legislation and recommending ways to avoid the duplication of such programs. Requires Federal agencies to publish a similar five-year State and local cost statement in the Federal Register for program-implementing regulations promulgated by such agencies. Requires such agencies to submit to Congress an annual review of each such program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1978
Omnibus Product Liability Insurance Act - Title I: Federal Insurance Commission - Creates the Federal Insurance Commission which shall have the duty to supervise and regulate all activities of any insurer affecting commerce, to insure that such insurer is solvent, charges reasonable premiums, and otherwise acts in the public interest. Declares unfair insurance practices in commerce to be unlawful. Empowers and directs the Commission to prevent persons from engaging in unfair insurance practices. Sets forth the procedures to be employed by the Commission in any proceeding against any person believed to be using unfair insurance practices in commerce. Empowers the Commission to issue cease and desist orders to persons, partnerships, or corporations found to be involved in such practices. Sets forth the procedure for obtaining a review of such order in the United States courts of appeals. Transfers to and vests in the Federal Insurance Commission, all the functions, powers, and duties of the Federal Insurance Administrator of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and of the other officers and offices within the Federal Insurance Administration. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as the Commission may deem necessary to carry out its duties under this Title. Title II: Standards For State Product Liability Tort Litigation Act - Declares that each State has authority to adopt legislation relating to product liability tort law in accordance with specified basic standards set forth in this Title. Establishes, as an independent instrumentality within the Department of Commerce, the Standards for Product Liability Tort Law Review Panel to review State product liability legislation, to determine whether such legislation is in accordance with the basic standards. Declares that such State legislation will be deemed to be in accordance with such basic standards, and hence an "Approved State Plan," if the Review Panel determines that such legislation provides for: (1) a product liability cause of action; (2) a statute of limitations; (3) a state of the art defense; (4) court appointment of expert witnesses; (5) comparative responsibility; and (6) the treatment of workplace injuries in accordance with this Title. States that the product liability cause of action provided by this Title shall be in lieu of all existing causes of action for damage as a result of bodily injury caused by a product. Sets forth the procedure whereby the Review Panel shall examine product liability legislation certified to it by the chief executive officer of a State. Declares that the Review Panel shall determine that a certified State plan is in accordance with the basic standards only if such plan is in compliance with all the provisions set forth in this Title. Subjects a declaration by the Review Panel that a State plan is not in accordance with the basic standards, to judicial review in the United States courts of appeals. States that if the Review Panel declares that a State does not have an approved State plan, an alternative plan for product liability, under which the product liability cause of action shall be in lieu of all existing causes of action for damages resulting from both bodily injury and injury to property caused by a product, shall take effect in that State. Stipulates that this Title is not a grant of Federal jurisdiction over actions for product liability benefits. Title III: Internal Revenue Code Amendments - Product Liability Tax Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for amounts contributed to a product liability trust, up to the fair market value of product liability insurance for the taxpayer. Sets forth the requirements such a product liability trust must meet to be tax-exempt. Includes distributions from such a trust other than for payment of product liability claims in the recipient's gross income. Imposes excise taxes on such trusts for self-dealing, unqualified expenditures, and contributions in excess of the fair market value of product liability insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1978
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike bronze, silver, and gold national medals and deliver them to the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games Corporation, a nonprofit corporation. Requires such medals to be struck at not less than their estimated cost of manufacture, plus a surcharge equal to 25 percent of such cost. Requires such surcharge to be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1978
Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Requires the Secretary of Energy to develop research, development, and demonstration programs concerning the use of solar photovoltaic energy systems. Authorizes the Secretary to provide up to 75 percent of the purchase and installation costs of selected systems used for research purposes. Requires the Secretary to formulate definitive performance criteria concerning solar photovoltaic systems and to develop a system certification for conforming systems. Directs the Secretary to consult with relevant Federal agencies concerning the use of solar photovoltaic systems in Federal facilities. Requires the Secretary to set up a development and demonstration program of prototype photovoltaic systems at the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado. Directs the Secretary to establish a solar energy data bank at the Golden facility. Requires relevant Federal officials to ensure that small business concerns are granted realistic and adequate opportunities to participate, to the maximum extent possible, in the programs under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1978
Unemployment Compensation Cost Equalization Act - Entitles, under the Social Security Act, states whose rates of insured unemployment is at least six percent to partial reimbursement on an ascending sliding scale of unemployment compensation costs incurred above a certain amount.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1978
Federal Reserve Membership Act - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prepare and publish a schedule of fees for its services and a set of pricing principles no later than July 1, 1979, and to put a fee schedule into effect no later than July 1, 1980. Directs the Board to pay interest on those reserves which member banks are required to maintain at a rate not in excess of the rate paid on United States Treasury bills with maturities of three months. Requires that the Board prepare a study on the feasibility and impact of permitting member banks to invest a percentage of their required reserves in United States Treasury securities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1978
Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to prohibit bank holding companies and their subsidiaries from selling property and casualty insurance as principals, agents, or brokers.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1978
Prohibits, after specified dates: (1) any licensee or permittee from manufacturing, importing, or otherwise placing or receiving in commerce any explosive, or (2) any person from placing or receiving in commerce any explosive sold as military surplus, unless such substance contains a material which permits identification of the manufacturer and date of manufacture after detonation and a material which permits detection of the substance prior to detonation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 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 · 1 May 1978
Housing and Community Development Amendments - Title I: Community and Neighborhood Development and Conservation - Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to extend the rehabilitation loan program through fiscal year 1979. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to extend the Urban Homesteading program through fiscal year 1979. Changes the requirements for application and eligibility for assistance under the Community Development Block Grant program. Title II: Housing Assistance Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make, and contract to make, assistance payments to owners of housing projects insured under the National Housing Act and assisted under rent supplement programs on an annual basis. Permits payments to be made only if such payments are necessary to restore or maintain the economic soundess of the project and to maintain its low-to-moderate-income character. Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to set aside a specified amount of the funds appropriated for housing for the handicapped to be made available for loans for the development of rented housing and related facilities specifically designed to meet the needs of handicapped (primarily non-elderly) persons. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize funds to be appropriated for annual contributions for low-income housing projects through fiscal year 1978. Authorizes the Secretary to make assistance payment to low-income families for the rental of real property on which is located a mobile home which is owned by such family and used by it as a principal residence. Title III: Program Amendments and Extensions - Amends the National Housing Act to extend specified Federal Housing Administration insurance programs including the following: (1) housing renovation and modernization; (2) general insurance authorization; (3) housing for moderate income and displaced families; (4) membership in cooperative associations for lower income families; (5) rental housing for low-income families; (6) coinsurance of mortgages; (7) experimental housing; (8) armed services housing; (9) group practice facilities and medical practice facilities; (10) new communities; and (11) crime and riot reinsurance. Permits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure, on a permanent basis, mortgages and loans with provisions for varying rates of amortization through fiscal year 1979. Extends the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance program through fiscal year 1979. Amends the Housing Act of 1954 to authorize appropriations for comprehensive planning for urban and rural development through fiscal year 1979. Calls for triennial, instead of biennial, review of the comprehensive plans developed by recipients of assistance under such Act. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 to extend research authorizations through fiscal year 1979. Authorizes the Secretary of such Department to conduct demonstrations to determine the feasiblity of expanding home ownership opportunities in urban areas including encouraging the conversion of multifamily housing properties to cooperative or condominium ownership by individuals and families. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act to extend the National Flood Insurance program and flood insurance through fiscal year 1979. Authorizes the Secretary to bid on specified properties which are not insured under the National Housing Act at foreclosure sales. Amends the National Housing Act to extend mortgage insurance to nonresident care facilities. Changes the eligiblity requirements for condominium mortgage insurance under the National Housing Act. Amends the National Housing Act to increase the authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 1979 for losses sustained by the General Insurance fund. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure loans for the acquisition of fee simple title to residential property from lessors beyond limits established by the National Housing Act, if such property is located in Hawaii. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to authorize the establishment of more than one day care facility for the children of employees of such Department. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1969 to remove certain restrictions on the purchase or lease of surplus real property for use in providing housing for low- and moderate-income families and individuals. Amends the National Housing Act to increase: (1) the total amount of purchase authority of the Government National Mortgage Association; and (2) the limits on the amounts of principal obligations of various classes of mortgages which such Association may purchase. Title IV: Rural Housing - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend the following housing programs until September 30, 1979: (1) low-income repair loans and grants; (2) low rent housing for domestic farm labor; (3) rural rental housing loans; (4) rural housing loans; and (5) mutual self-help housing loans and grants. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of housing which is available for migrant and settled farmworkers. Requires the adequate written notification of the reasons for which such assistance was denied be given to anyone who has applied for and been denied rural housing assistance. Removes the limitation on the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the low-income repair program and the mutual self-help housing program. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide additional assistance to persons receiving aid for rural housing under the interest credit program who are unable to afford a dwelling. Prescribes the formula for determining the amount of such additional assistance. Provides for the recapture of all or a portion of the assistance rendered upon the disposition or nonoccupancy of the property by the borrower. Title V: Congregate Services - Congregate Housing Services Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enter into contracts with public housing agencies for the establishment of congregate housing projects which are supplemented by supportive services for frail and physically impaired residents. Requires assisted public housing authorities to maintain any financial effort they are making in furtherance of congregate services prior to contract authority approval, unless the Secretary waives such requirement. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to permit the provisions of congregate services in existing public housing. Makes provisions for the administration of services and requires assisted public housing agencies to employ elderly and physically disabled residents to the maximum extent practicable. Sets forth application procedures, requirements for eligibility for services, and rules for the setting of fees for congregate services. Directs assisted public housing agencies to review this program with eligible residents and with the professional assessment committee within the 12-month period prior to the submission of an application for renewed funding. Title VI: Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation - Establishes the National Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. Opens all meetings of the board to public observation unless a board majority votes to close a specific meeting. Empowers the Corporation to continue the work of the Urban Reinvestment Task Force in establishing neighborhood housing services programs, in providing grants and technical assistance to selected neighborhood preservation projects, and in supporting Neighborhood Housing Services of America. Requires the Corporation, in making grants, to determine reporting and management restrictions or requirements on recipients and to assure that recipients make information necessary to determine compliance with Federal laws available to the Corporation. Authorizes specified Federal departments and Federal banks to provide services to the Corporation with or without reimbursement. Directs the Corporation to publish an annual report to the President and the Congress. Requires an annual audit of the Corporation. Requires the Corporation to prepare annual business-type budgets for submission to the Office of Management and Budget. Requires inclusion of such budget as part of the President's annual budget to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Extends the authority to make veterans readjustment appointments of Vietnam era veterans to the Federal Government through September 30, 1980. Abolishes the time limitation on eligibility for such appointments for veterans eligible on April 9, 1970, or who were separated from the armed services on or after such date. Raises the maximum level for such appointments from GS-5 to GS-7. Provides that any disabled veteran shall be eligible for such appointment without regard to certain existing limitations on the amount of education a veteran may have to be eligible for such an appointment.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Authorizes a certain nonprofit corporation to have medals struck in commemoration of the XIII Olympic Winter Games to be held in Lake Placid, New York in 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1978
Alcohol Fuel Encouragement Act - Requires all gasoline stations, within three years of the passage of this Act, to sell a mixture of gasoline and alcohol in the same manner as they sell gasoline. Imposes a civil penalty for violations of such requirement. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow rapid amortization of facilities producing alcohol for use as a fuel in motor vehicles. Amends the Clean Air Act with respect to the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the use of alcohol as a fuel additive.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Increases from $250 to $350 the burial and funeral expense allowance which may be paid by the Veterans' Administration on behalf of certain deceased veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Provides for a burial allowance of $150 to be paid by the Veterans' Administration: (1) to any State or political subdivision thereof for burying a veteran in any cemetery owned by the State or subdivision if such cemetery or section thereof is used solely for the interment of veterans; or (2) to a person prescribed by the deceased veteran if burial is in a cemetery other than the kind described.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Directs the Secretary of Defense to place a memorial plaque in the Trophy Hall of the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to those members of the armed force who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era. Directs the Secretary, to honor those members who lost their lives in Southeast Asia, to display near such plaque the medals, ribbons, and decorations associated with service in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the National Commission on Housing for the Elderly. Requires the Commission to study, investigate, and review: (1) present Federal programs to provide low- and middle-income housing for senior citizens; (2) the need for additional housing; (3) the feasibility of utilizing existing slum or abandoned central city housing to create senior citizen communities after rehabilitation; (4) the need for physical, social, cultural, and religious activities in senior citizen communities; and (5) the need for a living environment which provides adequate safeguards for the security of the residents.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1978
Wildlife on Federal Lands Trapping Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue such regulations, relating to trapping, as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any type of trap unless such trap utilizes the most humane capture method available for the species concerned, and minimizes the probability of capturing species for which such trap was not intended. Directs the Secretary to undertake a research program to develop such types of traps. Establishes an advisory commission to make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to traps designed or intended for use. Prohibits the Secretary from permitting trapping on Federal lands where such trapping may reduce any species below specified levels. Sets forth a procedure for the application and issuance of trapping permits. Requires the attachment of a shipping certificate to any package containing the fur, hide, skin, horn, or feathers of any mammal or bird captured by any trap within any State or the District of Columbia if such package is transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) engaging in trapping without a permit issued pursuant to this Act; (2) violating any condition of such permit; (3) violating any regulation of the Secretary relating to trapping; (4) selling or transporting in interstate commerce an unapproved trap; or (5) falsifying the shipping certificate. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with States with respect to the imposition of trapping regulations consistent with those prescribed under this Act. Authorizes such appropriations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1978
Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, l978 to repeal the provision of such Act which prohibits the payment of lodging expenses for individuals away from their post of duty on official business when adequate government quarters are available but are not occupied by such individual.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that artistic compositions, copyrights, and the like shall not be included in the estate tax valuation of the creator's estate.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hannaford, Mark W. [D-CA-34]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000166_200.jpg)