United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Valley Forge National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Stipulates that such park is not to exceed three thousand five hundred acres. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1975
Title I: Revision of National Heart and Lung Institute Programs - Authorizes research and training in the use of blood products and the management of blood resources under the National Heart and Lung Institute programs. Authorizes the use of funds under such programs for the prevention and control of blood diseases. Title II: National Research Service Awards - Makes such awards available under Federal programs and extends the authorization for them through fiscal year 1977. Title III: Disclosure of Research Information - Provides that, subject to specified exceptions, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may not disclose any information contained in a research proposal, research hypothesis, or research design obtained by him in connection with an application or proposal for a grant, fellowship, or contract under the Public Health Service Act. Title IV: Genetic Diseases - Establishes a national program of project grants and contracts to provide for basic and applied research, research training, testing, counseling, information, and education programs with respect to genetic diseases, including sickle cell anemia, Cooley's anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease. Title V: Miscellaneous - Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Public Health Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1975
Prohibits a petroleum refiner or distributor from cancelling, failing to renew, or otherwise terminating a franchise unless he furnishes notification in writing to each affected distributor or retailer by certified mail not less than ninety days prior to the date on which such franchise will be canceled, together with a statement of the reasons of such cancellation and of the remedies available. Provides that a petroleum refiner or distributor shall not cancel, fail to renew, or otherwise terminate a franchise unless the retailer or distributor whose franchise is terminated failed to comply substantially with any essential and reasonable requirement of such franchise or failed to act in good faith in carrying out the terms of such franchise. States that if a refiner or distributor engages in conduct prohibited under this Act, a retailer or distributor may maintain a suit against such refiner or distributor.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1975
Health Maintenance Organization Amendments - Makes the offering of supplemental health services, as defined by the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, optional by health maintenance organizations. Eliminates the requirement imposed by such Act that health maintenance organizations offer annual open enrollment for individual membership. Redesignates medical treatment and referral services for drug or alcohol abuse or addiction and home health services as supplemental health services for purposes of such Act. Enables private entities to obtain federally guaranteed loans for the planning, initial development, and operation of a health maintenance organization to serve populations in addition to medically underserved populations. Includes State and local governmental employers as among those employers which must offer employees the option of membership in a health maintenance organization. Sets forth new procedures, penalties, and other requirements, to be applied by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare where health maintenance organizations are alleged to be in noncompliance with such Act. Extends the authorization of appropriations for programs under such Act an additional two years.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1975
Emergency Employment Appropriation Act - Authorizes the appropriation of enumerated sums for emergency employment for fiscal year 1975. Title I: - Authorizes specified amounts for the Comprehensive Manpower Assistance, Community Service Employment for Older Americans, and Temporary Employment Assistance programs in the Department of Labor. Authorizes specified amounts for the Health Services, Higher Education, and Social and Rehabilitative Service Work Incentives programs in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Authorizes $5,000,000 for the administrative expenses of the United States Railway Association in the Department of Transportation. Title II: Limits the application of sums under this Act. Prohibits the expenditure of sums authorized by this Act for the acquisition of motor vehicles other than motor vehicles manufactured and assembled in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1975
Social Security Reform Amendments - Repeals the earnings limitation under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Provides benefits under such title to husbands, widowers, and fathers on the same basis as wives, widows, and mothers who presently receive benefits. Eliminates the five-month waiting period for disability benefits. Continues the benefit entitled under such title through the month of the beneficiary's death. Permits individuals 65 years of age or older to elect an exemption from Social Security coverage and payment of Social Security taxes. Eliminates marriage or remarriage of a beneficiary as a factor in terminating or reducing the amount of benefits available. Authorizes direct payments to physicians and other providers at their option under the supplementary medical insurance program of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1975
Authorizes the President to award an annual $50,000 prize for the individual who has conducted the research project which has made the most outstanding contribution to the world's understanding of the causes and cures of cancer. Provides that such prizes shall be known as the President's Cancer Research Prize. Requires the Director of the National Cancer Institute to review projects in cancer research throughout the world in order to make recommendations to facilitate the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1975
Extends the life of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention and the National Advisory Council for Drug Abuse Prevention indefinitely. Redesignates such Office as the "Office of Drug Abuse Policy". Reduces the number of assistant Directors of such office from six to two. Authorizes specified appropriations for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978 for purposes of carrying out the provisions of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972. Provides that at least two former drug addicts or drug abusers shall be members of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse Prevention. Prohibits hospitals receiving Federal support from refusing admittance to drug abusers suffering from any medical conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1975
Medical Malpractice Claims Settlement Assistance Act - Sets forth the findings of Congress that the achievement of equal access to quality health care at a reasonable cost is jeopardized by the uncertain future availability and cost of medical malpractice insurance. Title I: Federal Authority - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make available to insurance companies and other insurers reinsurance against medical malpractice claims by any of their insureds which exceed $200,000 within a qualified State. Defines "qualified States" as a State which meets requirements set forth in this Act. Permits the Secretary to use existing facilities and services in carrying out his responsibilities under this Act. Entitles the Secretary to recover from any insurer the amount of any unpaid premiums lawfully payable by such insurer to the Secretary. Requires, as a condition to the receipt of reinsurance, that each insurer file specified information with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to conduct comprehensive studies of medical malpractice claims and litigation, in order to determine methods of minimizing the costs of such a system. Title II: State Programs - Requires States to establish a program for the arbitration of medical malpractice claims. Provides that any civil action arising from a claim for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice on the part of any health professional or health care insitution may be instituted in a court of the State only after there has been an arbitration of the claim which forms the basis for such action. Sets forth procedures governing the initiation of arbitration, the appointment of an arbitration panel, hearing procedures, the decision of the arbitration panel, proceedings subsequent to the decision of the arbitration panel, the admissibility of the arbitration panel decision as evidence at trial, and the reporting of arbitration decisions. Requires States to establish and appropriately enforce a schedule of maximum contingent fee rates which may be charged or accepted by attorneys for services performed in connection with claims for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice. Provides that in order for any State to be eligible for Medicaid payments under title XIX of the Social Security, such State must have in effect a patient grievance mechanism applicable to all health care entities within the State. States that in order to qualify for malpractice reinsurance under this Act, such patient grievance mechanism must (1) receive, investigate, and evaluate grievances of patients respecting medical injuries occurring in noninstitutional settings, and (2) assist in the equitable settlement of any claims arising out of such grievances. Requires such mechanism to make quarterly reports to the Secretary on the grievances received by the mechanism, the disposition of such grievances, and the medical malpractice claims arising out of such grievances.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Permits signs and notices for motorists to get information about travel-oriented services and facilities along the Federal Interstate System of highways. States that such signs must conform to national standards promulgated by the Secretary of Transportation under the authority of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Defines the term "navigable waters", for purposes of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as it applies to Corps of Engineers responsibility and authority to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Jobs Creation Act - Title I: Individual Income Taxes - Allows a tax credit in the amount of 10 percent (up to $1,000) of the amount of qualified savings deposits and investments made by an individual during the taxable year. Defines qualified investments as amounts used to purchase stock in or debt instruments of a domestic corporation. Provides that the first $1,000 of capital gain shall be excluded from gross income during the taxable year. Provides for purposes of the estate tax, that the lessor of: (1) $200,000; and (2) the value of the decedent's interest in a family farming operation continually owned by him for five years prior to his death and which passes to a related individual shall be excluded from the value of the taxable estate. Title II: Corporation Taxes - Reduces the normal tax rates imposed on corporations. Increases the investment credit to 15 percent (12 percent in the case of property constructed or acquired before an unspecified date in March, 1975). Increases the corporate surtax exemption from $25,000 to $100,000. Increases the class life variance for purposes of the depreciation deduction allowed for property used in a trade or business or held for the production of income. Title III: Employee Stock Ownership Plan Financing - Creates special deductions for dividends paid during the taxable year by employers on securities held by an employee stock ownership plan (as defined by this title). Provides for the distribution of dividends to employees and repurchase of qualifying employer securities from persons receiving distributions. Provides for the exclusion from gross income of that part of a distribution held or reinvested within 60 days in income-producing assets of equivalent value for the purpose of realizing current income from such assets.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1975
Increases from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 the amount of interest on industrial development bonds which may be excluded from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1975
Railroad Right-of-Way Improvement Act - Declares it the purpose of this Act to provide, during times of high unemployment, assistance to create employment opportunities in rebuilding the Nation's railroad rights-of-way. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to provide financial assistance during times of high unemployment for the purpose of providing employment for unemployed and under employed persons in jobs maintaining or rebuilding railroad rights-of-way. Authorizes, for such purposes, appropriations of $500,000,000 for fiscal year 1975; $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, and $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1977. Requires such funds be expended only for wages and employment benefits. Prohibits further obligation of such funds to be made subsequent to a determination by the Secretary that the rate of national unemployment (seasonally adjusted) has receded below 4.5 percent for three consecutive months. Requires applications for financial assistance for a railroad right-of-way employment program to contain specified assurances. Directs the Secretary to transmit to Congress at least annually a detailed report setting forth the activities conducted under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1975
Title I: Revision of National Heart and Lung Institute Programs - Authorizes research and training in the use of blood products and the management of blood resources under the National Heart and Lung Institute programs. Authorizes the use of funds under such programs for the prevention and control of blood diseases. Title II: National Research Service Awards - Makes such awards available under Federal programs and extends the authorize for them through fiscal year 1977. Title III: Disclosure of Research Information - Provides that, subject to specified exceptions, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may not disclose any information contained in a research protocol, research hypothesis, or research design obtained by him in connection with an application or proposal for a grant, fellowship, or contract under the Public Health Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1975
Provides, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, that exclusive territorial arrangements used in the distribution or sale of a trademarked soft drink product or a trademarked private label food product shall not be deemed unlawful per se and may be judged on any basis other than a per se basis.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may not regulate the potency or combinations of vitamins or minerals in food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act except under specified provisions of such Act or in the case of children or pregnant or lactating women. Requires prominent disclosure of ingredients which are not vitamins or minerals in foods for special dietary use. Provides that a libel for condemnation of misbranded foods may be instituted against the retailer of such food if he is generally responsible for its advertising.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
Provides that the first 60,000 barrels of beer brewed by a brewery in the United States producing less than 2,000,000 barrels annually for consumption shall be taxable under the Internal Revenue Code at a rate of $7 per barrel (as opposed to the flat rate of $9 per barrel presently imposed).
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
Medical Malpractice Claims Settlement Assistance Act - Sets forth the findings of Congress that the achievement of equal access to quality health care at a reasonable cost is jeopardized by the uncertain future availability and cost of medical malpractice insurance. Title I: Federal Authority - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make available to insurance companies and other insurers reinsurance against medical malpractice claims by any of their insureds which exceed $200,000 within a qualified State. Defines "qualified States" as a State which meets requirements set forth in this Act. Permits the Secretary to use existing facilities and services in carrying out his responsibilities under this Act. Entitles the Secretary to recover from any insurer the amount of any unpaid premiums lawfully payable by such insurer to the Secretary. Requires, as a condition to the receipt of reinsurance, that each insurer file specified information with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to conduct comprehensive studies of medical malpractice claims and litigation, in order to determine methods of minimizing the costs of such a system. Title II: State Programs - Requires States to establish a program for the arbitration of medical malpractice claims. Provides that any civil action arising from a claim for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice on the part of any health professional or health care insitution may be instituted in a court of the State only after there has been an arbitration of the claim which forms the basis for such action. Sets forth procedures governing the initiation of arbitration, the appointment of an arbitration panel, hearing procedures, the decision of the arbitration panel, proceedings subsequent to the decision of the arbitration panel, the admissibility of the arbitration panel decision as evidence at trial, and the reporting of arbitration decisions. Requires States to establish and appropriately enforce a schedule of maximum contingent fee rates which may be charged or accepted by attorneys for services performed in connection with claims for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice. Provides that in order for any State to be eligible for Medicaid payments under title XIX of the Social Security, such State must have in effect a patient grievance mechanism applicable to all health care entities within the State. States that in order to qualify for malpractice reinsurance under this Act, such patient grievance mechanism must (1) receive, investigate, and evaluate grievances of patients respecting medical injuries occurring in noninstitutional settings, and (2) assist in the equitable settlement of any claims arising out of such grievances. Requires such mechanism to make quarterly reports to the Secretary on the grievances received by the mechanism, the disposition of such grievances, and the medical malpractice claims arising out of such grievances.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1975
Increases the Federal share of rail service continuation subsidies under the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973. Increases the allowable term of such subsidies. Authorizes appropriations for such subsidies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1975
Increases the surtax exemption for qualified corporations from the present level of $25,000 to $50,000 for taxable year 1976 and an additional $10,000 per year up to $100,000 in 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1975
New Homestead Act - Provides that in the case of any farm purchase loan to any person who is (1) a nonowner-operator of a farm or (2) an owner-operator of a farm who is not reliant on such farm for his principal source of income, the Secretary of Agriculture may make or insure any such loan up to $100,000 or 90 percent of the value of the farm being purchased, whichever is greater. States that the repayment of any farm purchase loan by any person who was at the time of such loan a nonowner-operator of a farm or an owner-operator of a farm, but not reliant on such farm for his principal source of income, shall, upon the request of such person at the time the loan is made or insured, be made as follows: (1) during the first twelve-month period beginning on the first day of the first month after the loan is made and during each of the next fourteen twelve-month periods, one-eightieth of the total amount to be financed including interest; and (2) (A) during each of the next twenty-five twelve-month periods, one twenty-fifth of an amount equal to the total amount to be financed including interest minus the amount paid pursuant to paragraph (1); or (B) at the close of the fifteenth twelve-month period, the balance of the principal plus an amount of interest which would have been due and payable during the first fifteen twelve-month periods had the forty-year loan been paid in four hundred and eighty equal installments; except that the balance of the loan shall become due and payable if such farm or any interest therin is transferred without the approval of the Secretary to any person ineligible for a loan. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1975
Medical Malpractice Claims Settlement Assistance Act - Sets forth the findings of Congress that the achievement of equal access to quality health care at a reasonable cost is jeopardized by the uncertain future availability and cost of medical malpractice insurance. Title I: Federal Authority - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make available to insurance companies and other insurers reinsurance against medical malpractice claims by any of their insureds which exceed $200,000 within a qualified State. Defines "qualified States" as a State which meets requirements set forth in this Act. Permits the Secretary to use existing facilities and services in carrying out his responsibilities under this Act. Entitles the Secretary to recover from any insurer the amount of any unpaid premiums lawfully payable by such insurer to the Secretary. Requires, as a condition to the receipt of reinsurance, that each insurer file specified information with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to conduct comprehensive studies of medical malpractice claims and litigation, in order to determine methods of minimizing the costs of such a system. Title II: State Programs - Requires States to establish a program for the arbitration of medical malpractice claims. Provides that any civil action arising from a claim for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice on the part of any health professional or health care insitution may be instituted in a court of the State only after there has been an arbitration of the claim which forms the basis for such action. Sets forth procedures governing the initiation of arbitration, the appointment of an arbitration panel, hearing procedures, the decision of the arbitration panel, proceedings subsequent to the decision of the arbitration panel, the admissibility of the arbitration panel decision as evidence at trial, and the reporting of arbitration decisions. Requires States to establish and appropriately enforce a schedule of maximum contingent fee rates which may be charged or accepted by attorneys for services performed in connection with claims for damages on account of alleged medical malpractice. Provides that in order for any State to be eligible for Medicaid payments under title XIX of the Social Security, such State must have in effect a patient grievance mechanism applicable to all health care entities within the State. States that in order to qualify for malpractice reinsurance under this Act, such patient grievance mechanism must (1) receive, investigate, and evaluate grievances of patients respecting medical injuries occurring in noninstitutional settings, and (2) assist in the equitable settlement of any claims arising out of such grievances. Requires such mechanism to make quarterly reports to the Secretary on the grievances received by the mechanism, the disposition of such grievances, and the medical malpractice claims arising out of such grievances.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1975
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United Nations should make all possible efforts to aid refugees in Indochina. Urges the United Nations Secretary General to call upon the government of North Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government not to interfere with such efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1975
Provides that the discharge of disaster relief loans by the United States issued pursuant to the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 shall not constitute income to the taxpayer and shall not reduce the amount of any casualty loss deduction under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1975
Provides for inclusion of the services of licensed (registered) nurses under the medicare and medicaid, titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1975
Lowers the population requirements from 100,000 to 50,000 for a unit of local government to be eligible to be a prime sponsor under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1975
Health Manpower Act - Title I: Extension of Current Authorization Through Fiscal Year 1975 - Extends the authorization for specified trainee, construction, loan guarantee, interest subsidy, special project, financial distress, and scholarship grants, under the Public Health Service Act through fiscal year 1975. Title II: General Provisions - Establishes minimum requirements for the training of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and expanded function dental auxiliaries to extend one academic year and include supervised clinical practice and at least 4 months of classroom instruction. Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex by schools training students in the health sciences. Defines acts constituting discrimination. Requires assurances that such schools or entities will not discriminate as a condition of any financial assistance under the Public Health Service Act. Requires financial assistance recipients to maintain records of the disposition of such assistance. Provides that active service of commissioned officers in the Public Health Service shall be accorded the same status as active military service under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940. Title III: Assistance for Construction of Teaching Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978 for grants for the construction of teaching facilities for the training of physicians, dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, podiatrists, veterinarians, and professional public health personnel. Specifies ceilings for the amounts of such grants. Title IV: Student Assistance; National Health Service Corps - Provides that student loans under the Public Health Service Act may not exceed annual tuition costs plus $2,500. Increases the interest rate on such loans from 3 to 7 percent. Authorizes $30,000,000 to be appropriated for distribution in the student loan funds by participating schools for each of fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to schools of public health for traineeships to train students enrolled in such schools. Authorizes grants for the continuance of scholarship payments to public and private health profession schools through September 30, 1978. Establishes the Public Health and National Health Service Corps Scholarship Training Program. Specifies requirements for participation in the program by eligible institutions and students (including required periods of public health service for participating students). Authorizes grants of up to $25,000 under such program. Revises the National Health Service Corps Program (1) to provide greater financial incentives for physicians and dentists to deliver health services to medically underserved populations, and (2) to insure greater cooperation between State and Federal authorities in the administration of health programs to medically underserved populations. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress concerning the effectiveness of such programs. Establishes the National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps. Authorizes specified appropriations for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978 for the revision of the National Health Service Corps Program. Title V: Grants for Health Professions Schools - Authorizes grants to be made to health profession schools in amounts determined by the number of full-time students and the type of training afforded by the school. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978. Specifies application requirements for the awarding of such grants, including assurances of improved quality of training and increased enrollments by prospective recipients. Entitles eligible public health, veterinary, optometry, pharmacy, and podiatry schools to start-up grants under the Public Health Service Act. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978 for such grants. Authorizes appropriations under such Act for financial distress grants for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978. Title VI: Special Project Grants and Contracts - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978 to provide financial assistance to promote (1) residency programs in the general practice of dentistry and (2) with respect to schools of medicine and osteopathy, provision of clinical instruction in family medicine. Broadens the assistance program for financially disadvantaged students, and authorizes appropriations for such program for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978 for project grants and contracts for schools of optometry, pharmacy, and podiatry to assist these schools in cooperating with other health profession training programs and institutions. Provides for the education and training of United States students returning from foreign medical schools with deficiencies in their medical school educations. Authorizes the Secretary to expand the overall program for training of physician assistants and expanded function dental auxiliaries. Title VII: Public and Allied Health Personnel - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978 for (1) institutional grants for graduate programs in health administration, hospital administration, health planning, environmental health, and preventive medicine; (2) grants for traineeships to train public and community health personnel for which the Secretary determines there is unusual need; (3) project grants and contracts for the education, coordination, and management of allied health personnel; and (4) grants for advanced training of allied health personnel. Title VIII: Medical Residency Training Programs - Restricts the number of first-year positions to be available in medical residency training programs under the Public Health Service Act. Requires the Secretary to establish a medical residency training program accrediting agency for accrediting such programs for which first-year positions may be designated. Title IX: Miscellaneous - Directs the Secretary to contract for a study of the current and projected geographical distribution of physicians by specialty and subspecialty. Directs the Secretary to arrange for studies (1) to classify allied health personnel according to activities, to identify education costs in each classification, and to identify classifications in which personnel shortages are critical; and (2) of funding alternatives for health professions education.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1975
Medical Device Amendments - Revises the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the safety and effectiveness of medical devices intended for human use. Establishes classifications for such devices based upon their safety and effectiveness. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to classify all such devices. Authorizes the Secretary to establish panels of experts for the purpose of securing recommendations with respect to such classifications. Provides that, based on new information respecting a device, the Secretary may, upon his own initiative or upon petition of an interested person, by regulation: (1) change such device's classification; and (2) revoke, because of the change in classification, any regulation in effect with respect to such device. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a performance standard for those devices for which reasonable assurance for the safety and effectiveness of the device cannot be made. Sets forth criteria to be followed in establishing such standard. Directs the Secretary to provide for periodic evaluation of performance standards established under this Act. Establishes procedures to be followed by the Secretary in developing and changing such standards. Provides that the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice inviting any person, including any Federal agency, to submit an existing standard or an offer to develop such a standard. Requires the Secretary to obtain from the offeror such information concerning the offeror as the Secretary determines is necessary to disclose potential conflicts of interests. States that if a standard or offer to create a standard is submitted to the Secretary which he does not accept he shall publish in the Federal Register notice of that fact together with the reasons therefor. Authorizes the Secretary to accept offers to develop a proposed standard for a device. Allows the Secretary to contribute to the offeror's cost in developing a proposed standard. Makes provisions for the development of performance standards by the Secretary when no other means are available. Requires premarket approval for medical devices for which insufficient information exists for the establishment of a performance standard and which are purported or represented to be for a use which is of substantial importance in supporting, sustaining, or preventing impairment of human life. Establishes procedures for premarket approval of such devices. Sets forth criteria upon which the approval or disapproval of such devices shall be based, including a lack of showing by the applicant of reasonable assurance that such device is safe for use under the conditions prescribed in the proposed labeling. Allows the Secretary in specified circumstances to withdraw his premarket approval of a device. Sets forth procedures to be followed for the withdrawal of such approval. Authorizes the Secretary to exempt from the premarket approval requirements established by this Act devices which are intended solely for investigational use for the purpose of developing data relating to the safety and effectiveness of such devices. Authorizes the Secretary to ban devices intended for human use if he finds that: (1) they present substantial deception of a substanital risk of illness or human injury; and (2) such deception or risk could be eliminated by corrective labeling but the manufacturer does not do so. Sets forth procedures governing the banning of such devices. Authorizes the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to hear appeals of any person adversely affected by a decision, rule, or order, of the Secretary under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to require manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of medical devices, and health professionals utilizing them to participate in a process of notification to users of those medical devices which the Secretary determines present an unreasonable risk of substantial harm to the public health. Authorizes the Secretary to require a manufacturer of a medical device intended for human use which (1) presents a substantial risk of harm to the public health and (2) was not properly designed or manufactured, to repair, replace, or refund the purchase price of such device at no cost to the person using it. Authorizes the Secretary to require that a device be limited to sale or distribution by prescription of a licensed medical practitioner. Authorizes the Secretary to establish mandatory manufacturing methods for medical devices. Sets forth procedures controlling the establishment of such methods. Requires manufacturers of medical devices intended for human use to register with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and to provide specified information concerning such devices. Requires every person who is a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of a medical device intended for human use to establish and maintain such records as the Secretary may by regulation direct. Makes conforming amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Extends specified sections of such Act relating to labeling, inspection, and seizures to medical devices.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1975
Rural Health Care Delivery Improvement Act - Declares that it is the policy of Congress and the purpose of this Act to provide assistance to programs for the delivery of health services in order to increase the availability of health care services to residents of rural areas. Establishes within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare an Office of Rural Health. Authorizes the Director of such office to award grants, contracts, loans, and loan guarantees for projects to: (1) examine existing models of rural health care delivery; (2) determine such models applicability and transferability to other rural areas; and (3) assist in the study, planning, and development of rural health care delivery models. States that the Director shall: (1) provide liason among all Federal agencies for the purpose of coordinating health care programs in rural areas; (2) provide technical assistance and advice for the development of rural health care delivery models; and (3) provide for the coordination of programs assisted under this Act with programs of the National Health Service Corps. Establishes in the Treasury a rural health care delivery loan guarantee and loan fund. Stipulates that the Director shall not approve an application for a loan or a loan guarantee under this Act unless he determines that the terms and conditions are sufficient to protect the financial interests of the United States. Establishes a Rural Health Care Advisory Committee composed of eleven members. Directs such committee to make recommendations to the Director with respect to overall planning, policies, objectives and priorities for the Office of Rural Health. Stipulates that the Director shall not approve an award of any grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee under this Act unless such award has been approved by the Rural Health Care Advisory Committee and the appropriate State and local medical society. Authorizes to be appropriated for grants and contracts under this Act $75,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $125,000,000 for fiscal year 1978. Authorizes to be appropriated for the rural health care delivery loan guarantee and loan fund such amounts as may be required from time to time for the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1975
National Health Education Policy and Development Act - Declares that the Congress finds that (1) a number of health problems have their roots in the habits, lifestyles, attitudes, and beliefs of the American people; and (2) there is a need for the development of effective school health education programs. Declares that it is the purpose of this Act to develop a national health education policy and program, and to authorize financial assistance for the development and implementation of that policy. Establishes within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare a Health Education Administration. Establishes a permanent Advisory Council for Health Education to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Administrator on matters relating to the administration of this Act. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study and submit a report to the Congress on specified subjects including: (1) the current status of health education in the United States; (2) areas of greatest potential impact for health education; and (3) opportunities to improve, by means of health education, the well being of ethnic groups with distinctive health problems. Authorizes the Administrator, upon recommendation of the Council, to make grants to or enter into contracts with public or nonprofit private entities for the purpose of: (1) developing specific educational and informational techniques for the dissemination of health information; (2) developing mutifaceted systems of health care education for a defined geographic area; and (3) providing the training for personnel to carry out health education programs. Requires the Administrator to submit an annual report to the Congress on the status of health education in the United States. Authorizes to be appropriated for the purposes of carrying out this Act a sum not to exceed $5,000,000 for the first fiscal year after the enactment of this Act, $10,000,000 for the second fiscal year, and $15,000,000,000 for the third fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1975
Provides, under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, that specific grants under such Act shall not be made to any State, unit of general local government, or public agency, unless there is in effect a law enforcement officer's bill of rights. States that such bill of rights must substantially provide as a minimum the rights enumerated in this Act, including: (1) the right of a law enforcement officer to engage in political activity during off-duty hours or to refrain from such activity; and (2) observance of specified standards with respect to the investigation of a law enforcement officer who is under investigation for alleged malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of official duty, with a view to possible disciplinary action, demotion, dismissal, or criminal charges. States that such standards shall include: (1) informing the law enforcement officer of the nature of the investigation, the names of any complainants, and the identity and authority of the person conducting such investigation; (2) full recordation of the investigation; and (3) allowing the law enforcement officer to have his counsel present at any interrogation in connection with the investigation. Grants a law enforcement officer the right to recover pecuniary and other damages from persons violating any of the rights established under the bill of rights. Provides that no law enforcement officer shall be required to disclose, for the purposes of promotion or assignment, any item of his property, income, assets, debts, or expenditures. Establishes a Law Enforcement Officers' Grievance Commission composed of representatives of the general public, law enforcement agencies, and other public agencies. Gives the Commission the authority to receive, investigate, and determine grievances of any law enforcement officer, and to require testimony under oath and the production of documents. Defines terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Permits the Secretary of Transportation to delegate the responsibility for the preparation of an environmental impact statement to the State affected by a proposed project on a Federal-aid highway system. (Amends 23 U.S.C. 109)
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Provides that the House of Representatives of the 95th Congress and each succeeding Congress shall consider and adopt the rules of its proceedings. Limits general debate on the resolution incorporating the proposed rules to 10 hours, to be equally divided and controlled by the majority leader and the minority leader.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Correctional Services Improvement Act - Title I: Correctional Centers and Services - Authorizes the Attorney General to construct and operate correctional centers for specified criminal offenders, providing such services and correctional programs as educational, vocational, and recreational programs, medical, psychiatric, and dental care, and counseling. Specifies such centers as: (1) demonstration community treatment centers for the commitment or treatment of certain persons confined and awaiting trial, of persons sentenced to terms of more than one year, and of persons on probation or parole; (2) regional youth correctional centers for the commitment and treatment of youths and young adults sentenced pursuant to the Federal Youth Corrections Act; and (3) demonstration correctional centers for special offender groups of persons sentenced to terms in excess of one year or committed for an undetermined period, including such offender groups as the mentally ill or defective, the violent and dangerous, and women. Authorizes the Attorney General to contract with State and local authorities of the region in which a center is constructed for the use of the center's facilities, and to transfer title of such center to a State, without payment to the United States, after construction of the center and a determination that the center is operating efficiently and that the facilities will be available on a contractual basis for Federal offenders or other transferring States. Requires the center to be operated as such for at least twenty years after the transfer, and gives the United States the right of reverter in the event of breach of conditions of transfer. Creates a Federal Prison Review Board to: (1) prescribe minimum standards concerning the construction, operation, personnel training, and programs of jails and of correctional services owned or operated by a State or political subdivision in which persons accused or convicted under laws of the United States are confined or treated; (2) conduct subsequent periodic public hearings to review the extent of compliance with existing standards and the need for new standards; and (3) periodically inspect correctional facilities for the purpose of determining compliance with existing standards and the need for new standards. Authorizes the Attorney General to contract with appropriate State or local officials to pay the annual costs of implementing the prescribed standards, including capital expenditures for improvements and innovations in facilities. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the construction and improvement of centers as prescribed by this title. Title II: Coordination of Federal Correctional Activities - Creates a Federal Corrections Coordinating Council, and specifies as its functions: (1) to issue guidelines for the operation of the Bureau of Prisons, the Board of Parole, the Youth Division of the Board of Parole, and the Division of Probation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to improve the administration of criminal justice and assure coordination of policies respecting the disposition, treatment, and correction of all persons convicted of crime; (2) to consider measures and suggest studies to promote the prevention of crime, delinquency and criminal recidivism; and (3) to establish a program of continuous research and experimentation to develop more effective methods for the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders. Provides that a court may require a person as conditions of probation, and that the Board of Parole may require a parolee, to reside in and participate in the program of a residential community treatment center, and to pay such costs incident to residence as deemed appropriate. Title III: Federal Corrections Institute - Establishes a Federal Corrections Institute to provide a coordinating center for the collection and dissemination of useful data regarding the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders and to provide training for representatives of Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers, judges and judicial personnel, probation and parole personnel, correctional personnel, welfare workers, and other persons, including lay personnel, connected with the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders. Authorizes the Institute: (a) to serve as an information bank by collecting systematically the data obtained from studies and research by public and private agencies on criminal behavior and recidivism, including, but not limited to, programs for prevention of crime and recidivism, training of corrections personnel, and rehabilitation and treatment of criminal offenders; (b) to publish data in forms useful to individuals, agencies, and organizations concerned with the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders; (c) to disseminate pertinent data and studies to individuals, agencies, and organizations concerned with prisoners, parolees, probationers, and other criminal offenders; (d) to devise and conduct in various geographical locations, seminars and workshops providing continuing studies for persons engaged in working directly with prisoners, parolees, probationers, and other criminal offenders; (e) to devise and conduct a training program of short-term instruction in the latest methods of treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders and prevention of recidivism for law envorcement officers, judges and judicial personnel, probation and parole personnel, correctional personnel, welfare workers, and other persons, including lay personnel, connected with the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders; and (f) to develop technical training teams to aid in the development of training programs within the several States and with the State and local agencies which work directly with prisoners, parolees, probationers, and other offenders. Places the overall supervision with regard to the policy and operations of the Institute in an Advisory Commission. Title IV: Commitment of Dangerous Persons Found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity - Provides that, whenever any person is found not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the commission of the offense, the United States attorney, if he has reasonable cause to believe that such person if released unconditionally would constitute a danger to himself or others because of his mental condition, shall move for a judicial determination of the dangerousness of such person in the court in which the criminal proceedings were conducted. Makes provisions for this judicial determination, and for the commitment or release under custody of the Surgeon General of such person. (Adds 18 U.S.C. 4021-4025; 5041-5048; 4249; Amends 18 U.S.C. 5002, 3651, 4203)
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Requires, under the Rules of the House of Representatives, that all committee meetings, including the mark-up of legislation, shall be open to the public, except when the committee determines in open session by roll call vote that the disclosure of the matter to be considered would endanger national security or violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives to take immediate action to implement a plan for the audio and video broadcasting of House floor proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Requires that all House-Senate conferences shall be open to the public and that no conference report shall be in order for consideration unless all conference sessions were open.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Provides, under the Rules of the House of Representatives, that any member in committee may demand a rollcall vote on any matter, and that a rollcall vote shall be required on any motion to report a bill or resolution of a public character from committee.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
Prohibits, under the Rules of the House of Representatives, a party caucus or conference from issuing binding instructions on a Member's committee or floor votes. Permits any Member so bound to raise a point of order.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1975
Amtrak Improvement Act - Permits officers of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to be compensated at a rate in excess of that prescribed for level I of the Executive Schedule if the board of directors of the Corporation determines that a higher level of compensation is necessary and is not higher than the general level of compensation paid officers of railroads in positions of comparable responsibility. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General to establish, in cooperation with the Corporation, convenient en route customs inspection and immigration procedures aboard trains operated in international intercity rail passenger service. Directs the board of directors of the Corporation to develop and submit to the Secretary of Transportion, to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and to the Congress an initial proposal for procedures under which the Corporation would be authorized to add or discontinue routes and services. Provides for the review and implementation of such procedures. Abolishes the financial investment advisory panel of the Corporation . Authorizes appropriations for the Corporation for the payment of operating expenses of the basic system and the operating and capital expenses of rail passenger service through fiscal year 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1975
United States Court of Labor-Management Relations Act - Establishes a 5-man United States Court of Labor-Management Relations empowered to assume jurisdiction in dead-locked labor disputes which the President determines imperil the national interest. Requires such judges to be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Permits either the Attorney General or any party to the labor dispute to invoke the jurisdiction of the court, but only after procedures under the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947 and the Railway Labor Act have been exhausted. Provides that the court may enjoin an actual or threatened strike for 80 days and issue whatever orders may be necessary during that time to require the parties to make every effort to settle their difference through negotiations. Provides that if the stalemate has not been broken during such 80 day period, and it is apparent that further bargaining will be futile, the court will continue the injunction and schedule immediate hearings for a final and binding judgment covering wages, hours, and other points of conflict. Provides that any final judgment, order, or decree of the court shall be the subject of a full written opinion in each case, containing a statement of the facts which the court finds and the legal principles and standards which the court uses as a basis for such judgment, order, or decree. Provides that a judgment, order, or decree of the court shall remain in effect until the expiration by its own terms occurs or when vacated by the court. Provides that whenever a matter before any agency or board established by the United States is the subject of a proceeding in the court, that agency or board, if also ordered by the court, shall suspend all proceedings in such matter pending further action by the court. Asserts that when proceedings in a matter are so suspended they may be resumed by the agency or board only if (and to the extent that) an order of the court so provides.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1975
Authorizes the President to annually issue a proclamation designating the second week of April of each year as "National Medical Laboratory Week". Urges the President, Governors and mayors to take further action during that week to impress upon the american people the importance of laboratory services.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1975
Railroad Right-Of-Way Improvement Act - Declares it the purpose of this Act to provide, during times of high unemployment, assistance to create employment opportunities in building the Nation's railroad rights-of-way. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to provide financial assistance during times of high unemployment for the purpose of providing employment for unemployed and underemployed persons in jobs maintaining or rebuilding railroad rights- of-way. Authorizes for such purposes, appropriations of $500,000,000 for fiscal year 1975; $1,000,000,000 for the fiscal year 1976; and $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1977. Requires such funds to be expended only for wages and employment benefits. Prohibits further obligation of such funds to be made subsequent to a determination by the Secretary that the rate of national unemployment (seasonally adjusted) has receded below 4.5 per cent for three consecutive months. Requires applications for financial assistance for a railroad right-of-way employment program to contain specified assurances. Directs the Secretary to transmit to Congress at least annually a detailed report setting forth the activities conducted under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1975
Emergency Health Benefits Protection Act - Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, under the Public Health Service Act, to enter into agreements with insurance carriers to provide health insurance benefits to persons unemployed, where such individuals were covered while employed by their previous employer. Requires the Secretary to enter into agreements with appropriate State agencies for purposes of determining the eligibility of individuals in the State for such benefits, and for the purpose of making payments to carriers.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hastings, James F. [R-NY-39]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000327_200.jpg)