United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Increases from $500 to $1,000 the amount by which the annual income of certain disabled veterans may exceed the maximum annual income limitation for pensions without such veterans losing the right to continue to receive drugs and medication from the Veterans' Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
International Emergency Food Reserve Act - Authorizes the President: (1) to enter into negotiations with other nations to develop an international system of food reserves for humanitarian food relief needs; and (2) to establish and maintain an International Emergency Food Reserve as a contribution of the United States toward the development of such a system. Requires for such Reserve minimum stocks of two million tons, allowing an increase up to six million tons pursuant to an international agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1977
Directs the Secretary of Defense to place a plaque and a permanent display of medals, ribbons, and tributes of the Vietnam era on the crypt at the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia, reserved for an unknown American serviceman who lost his life in Southeast Asia. Directs the Secretary to perform the duties required by this Act even though the remains of such serviceman have not yet been placed in the crypt.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to compute the amount of the deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile or apparel products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) remove the adjusted gross income limitation on the credit for the elderly; (2) increase the amount of the credit; and (3) provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Declares that the President should establish a Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition which should: (1) collect and generate information and resources on food, hunger, malnutrition and related concerns; (2) assess current programs affecting domestic and international hunger and malnutrition; (3) analyze and report its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the public; and (4) assist the President and the Congress in implementing its recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1977
Amends the National Trails System Act by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the Overmountain Men Victory Trail in the States of Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as a national scenic trail.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1977
Drought Relief and Water Conservation Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish a loan program to provide financial assistance to drought-impacted water districts and to provide Federal assistance to water districts for acquisition and installation of residential and agricultural water conservation devices and equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received from nonmember telephone companies shall not be used in determining whether mutual and cooperative telephone companies qualify as tax exempt organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to postpone from 1978 to 1982 the termination of the 60 month, straight line depreciation deduction for rehabilitated low-income rental housing.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1977
Administrative Rule Making Reform Act - Requires a Federal agency preparing to hold a rule making session to make a reasonable effort to inform those likely to be affected by the proposed rule making. Requires that if the affected group is large, representatives of such group must be notified. Requires, in addition to present requirements, that the notice of rule making include the projected effective date of the rules, the purpose of the rule making, the text of the proposed rules, and the technical or other studies on which the agency intends to rely in the rule making proceedings. Applies the requirements of this Act to all rule making sessions except (1) those specifically authorized to be kept secret in the interest of national security, and (2) those relating to agency management. Requires public notice and public opportunity for comment of all rule making proceedings under this Act unless the agency finds that the rules to be proposed are emergency rules or are of routine or insignificant impact in which case the rule must be published with reasons for its adoption. Requires Federal agencies to give interested persons at least 45 days to participate in the rule making. Requires the agency to maintain a file of each proceeding to be made available to the courts, Congress, and to the public in connection with review of the rule. Limits the period for public comment to a maximum of 90 days. Requires a copy of all proposed rules to be sent to Congress. States that such rule, other than an emergency rule, shall not become effective if it is disapproved within 90 days by both Houses of Congress, or it is disapproved within 60 days by one House and no action is taken on the disapproval resolution by the other House. Sets forth procedures for adoption of resolutions to approve or disapprove any such rule for both Houses. Requires the Administrative Conference of the United States to study Congressional review of agency rule making under this Act and report the effect of such review on such rule making before July 1, 1982. Authorizes to be appropriated $200,000 to finance such study. Makes this Act effective on the first day of the first session of the Ninety-fifth Congress. Terminates the Congressional review required by this Act at the adjournment of the Ninety-seventh Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1977
Requests the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to hasten the assembly of data and expedite the reviews and consideration precedent to the introduction of sodium valproate for the treatment of epilepsy in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1977
Child Exploitation Prevention Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to prohibit the sexual exploitation of children by making it unlawful for any individual to (1) cause or permit a child to be photographed or filmed engaged in a sexual act prohibited under this Act; (2) photograph or film a prohibited sexual act; (3) knowingly transport any film or photograph depicting a prohibited sexual act; or (4) receive for sale or sell any such film or photograph, if such individual knows or should know such film or photograph has or may be transported in such a manner as to affect interstate or foreign commerce. Imposes a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years for a violation of the sexual exploitation of children provisions of this Act. Imposes a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 15 years for a violation of the transportation of photographs and films for children engaged in sexual acts provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1977
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to social security coverage of employees of tax exempt nonprofit organizations which have treated their employees as having such coverage when they have not been covered. Extends to December 31, 1977, the deadline for organizations which have received credit or refunds for social security taxes paid to file certificates providing such coverage. Forgives any retroactive liability of organizations which have not received refunds or credits for unpaid social security coverage for October 1976, through June 1977, absent a contrary election by individual employees. Provides for the payment of retroactive liabilities in installments rather than lump sums, under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1977
Amends the Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring that the locomotives of all trains be equipped with strobe lights for safety purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1977
Amends the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to obligate for fiscal years 1979 and 1980 not less than $30,000,000 of the funds authorized to be appropriated under such Act for improving air navigation facilities for the purpose of establishing no fewer than 45 automated flight service stations. Defines "flight service stations" as air navigation facilities used to assist pilots in the safe conduct of flight.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1977
Prohibits the Postal Service from decreasing the frequency of mail delivery service below the frequency in effect for the calendar week beginning May 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Title I: Customs Procedural Reform - Customs Procedural Reform Act - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to (1) the rate of duty on articles upon which the duty may be paid later than the time of entry, (2) times and places for filing the entry of merchandise, (3) procedures for the release of merchandise from customs custody, (4) recordkeeping requirements regarding imported merchandise, (5) the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to examine records and witnesses regarding the entry of imports, and (6) court jurisdiction regarding the summons of such records and witnesses. Repeals the authority of the Secretary to prohibit importation for failure to permit inspection of import records. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to (1) publication of a protest against the decision of a customs officer, (2) withdrawal from a warehouse of merchandise for consumption without payment of duty, (3) falsity or lack of manifests on a vessel or vehicle of importation and the presence of narcotics on such vessel or vehicle, and (4) penalties, enforcement, and judicial procedures for fraud, gross negligent, and negligent entry of merchandise. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to (1) the value limitations on seizure and condemnation of prohibited merchandise, (2) publication requirements on Customs Service rulings, and (3) customhouse brokers licensing. Title II: Customs Simplification - Customs Simplification Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Tariff Schedules of the United States with respect to alcoholic beverages, tobacco imports, and articles for personal use. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to administrative customs exemptions, entry of equipment, and repair parts of vessels made in a foreign country, and consignees as owners of imported merchandise. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to (1) unclaimed merchandise, (2) the disposition of forfeited spirits, wines and beer, (3) the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe declaration and entry regulations, (4) the authority of the Secretary to refund duty paid due to error, (5) exemption of articles imported for personal use from trademark regulations, (6) exemption of owners of pleasure boats from prohibitions against Federal employee ownership of vessels used for importation, and (7) limitations on liquidation. Amends the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 to authorize a monetary payment in lieu of forfeiture of merchandise transported in violation of vessel documentation requirements. Repeals specified importation fees regarding customs documents, vessels and manifests, fees on frontiers, and requirements that tables of such fees be posted. Title III: Custom Service Appropriations Authorization - Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for the United States Customs Service for fiscal years 1979 and 1980. Title IV: Separability of Provisions - Declares portions of this Act to be severable.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1977
Investment Policy Act - Title I: Findings and Definitions - States that the lack of a national policy on investment can adversely affect the economic health and well-being of the Nation. Title II: Declaration of National Policy - Declares that it is the policy and responsibility of the Federal Government to provide incentives to assure maximum investment in private enterprise. Title III: Federal Agency Coordination and Cooperation - Requires the Council on Wage and Price Stability shall submit an Investment Policy Report to Congress which shall include information on levels of capital investment available, trends in such levels, and reviews of economic programs affecting capital investment. Requires the President to transmit to Congress as a part of the economic report such other recommendations as desirable or necessary to achieve the policy declared in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1977
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States Postal Services should not reduce the frequency of mail delivery service for any user of the mails below the frequency of such service which was in effect for such user of June 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received from nonmember telephone companies shall not be used in determining whether mutual and cooperative telephone companies qualify as tax exempt organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received from nonmember telephone companies shall not be used in determining whether mutual and cooperative telephone companies qualify as tax exempt organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1977
Grants the court of claims jurisdiction to render judgments against the United States upon claims for losses other than lost profits sustained by producers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or other persons resulting from the ban on apparel, fabric, yarn, or fiber containing Tirs phosphate.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1977
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase from 50 to 90 the percentage of the cost of a water or waste project which the Department of Agriculture may fund by a grant to a local association. Requires that such a grant be in an amount that will leave the average domestic user payment rate in the area served by the project at no more than: (1) one percent of the median family income of the area if such income fails in the lowest 25 percentile of the national median income; (2) one-and-one-half percent, if the median income falls in the 26 to 49 percentile; (3) two percent, if the median income falls in the 50 to 74 percentile; or (4) two-and- one-half percent, if the median income is above the 75 percentile of the national median income. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to seek State and Federal assistance if the maximum amount of a grant will be insufficient to result in the applicable user cost limitation prescribed. Specifies conditions under which the Secretary may increase the amount of a grant. Revises the priorities for recipients of such grants to accord the highest priority to specified municipalities or public agencies which have a hazardous public health situation (currently, such priority is accorded to municipalities or public agencies which already have community water supply or waste disposal systems, when due to unanticipated occurrences such systems are suddenly inadequate to serve the community needs).
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1977
Civil Rights Amendments - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of marital status in: (1) public accommodations; (2) public facilities; (3) public education; and (4) federally assisted opportunities. Prohibits such discrimination in housing. Amends the Education Amendments of 1972 to prohibit such discrimination in federally assisted education.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to transfer the responsibility for investigating Communist and subversive organizations affecting the internal security of the United States to a standing Committee on Internal Security established by this Resolution. Confers upon such committee the responsibility for investigating all organizations within the United States aimed at overthrowing or altering the Government of the United States by force, insurrection or other unlawful means or inciting or employing violence to obstruct the authority of the Federal Government with respect to matters of internal security of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1977
Grants the court of claims jurisdiction to render judgments against the United States upon claims for losses other than lost profits sustained by producers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or other persons resulting from the ban on apparel, fabric, yarn, or fiber containing Tirs phosphate.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1977
Consumer Communications Reform Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the authorization of lines, facilities, or services of specialized carriers which duplicate the lines, facilities, or services of other telecommunications common carriers is contrary to the public interest. Reaffirms the intent of Congress that the complete authority to regulate terminal and station equipment used for telephone exchange service shall rest with the States even though such terminal and station equipment also may be used in connection with interstate services. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that no compensatory charges for or in connection with such communication service may be found to be unjust or unreasonable on the ground that it is too low. Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from holding the charge of a carrier up to a particular level to protect the traffic or revenues from a communication service offered or provided by another carrier if such charge proposed by the carrier is compensatory. Provides that the Commission shall not grant or authorize any construction permit, license, or certificate for the construction, acquisition, or operation of any communication or transmission line or facility, or extension thereof, or any modification or renewal thereof, unless the Commission shall find, after full opportunity for evidentiary hearing on the record, that such permit, license, or certificate, will not result in increased charges or unnecessary duplication of communication lines.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt in certain circumstances, the leasing of property by a corporation, all the stock of which is owned by a private foundation, to a person affiliated with the foundation, from the excise tax on self-dealing by private foundations. Extends specified temporary provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1969 which exempt certain transactions between private foundations and affiliated persons from the self-dealing tax.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1977
Calls for the consideration of the relationship between the violence depicted on television and violence in society by those persons responsible for television programming and broadcasting in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the discharge of unrecorded tax liens on personal residences which are purchased from the delinquent taxpayers by individuals. Allows purchasers of such property to bring civil suit, within six years after the notice of the lien is filed, for discharge of the lien, in any district court of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit the President from designating a country as a beneficiary developing country, for purposes of tariff preferences (under the President's authority to confer such designation when he determines it to be in the national economic interest), when such country has participated, or is participating, in withholding supplies of any vital commodity resource from international trade.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1977
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize appropriations for the United States International Trade Commission for fiscal year 1978, and for each fiscal year there after. Limits the number of personal staff members of each commissioner and the Chairperson of the Commission. Revises the qualifications for such commissioners. Revises the procedures for the appointment and extends the terms of office of the Chairperson and vice-chair person. three years. Prohibits a commissioner from engaging in any outside business, vocation, or employment. Permits the Commission to function notwithstanding vacancies. Authorizes the chair to take certain administrative actions. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the United States International Trade Commission to establish the comparability of statistics on imports with programs for international harmonization of trade statistics as well as domestic production statistics programs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1977
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the President to waive prohibitions against the designation of a nation (1) which is a member of OPEC, (2) which is a party to an international arrangement to raise prices to unreasonable levels, or (3) which participates in an international arrangement to withhold vital resources, as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of certain tariff preferences, if the President determines such waiver to be in the national economic interest. Prohibits such waiver if the country is participating, or has participated in such withholding.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for rural health clinic services pursuant to program of Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled of such Title.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Prohibits rules promulgated by any Federal agency (except an emergency rule which must become immediately effective to prevent serious injury or the substantial frustration of legislative policies or intent) from becoming effective until such proposed rules have been submitted to Congress and a 60-day period has lapsed thereafter. Prevents such rules from becoming effective if disapproved by either House of Congress within such 60-day period. Permits disapproved of emergency rules. Prohibits the submission to Congress of any rule identical to one which has been disapproved unless submitted pursuant to new legislative authority which has been enacted affecting the agency's powers with respect to the subject matter of such rule. Renders agency rules dealing with emergency or routine matters or which will have an insignificant impact effective without publication of advance/notice of proposed rule making proceedings in the Federal Register as is currently required. Renders any rule granting an exemption to another rule or which is exempt from public notice and comment requirements effective immediately.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Food Additive Safety Amendments - States that a food additive shall be deemed safe if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1) makes a finding, based on recommendations of an advisory committee, that the public benefit from permitting the use of such additive would exceed the public risk which might result from such use; (2) gives notice in the Federal Register of such a finding and invites public comment thereon; and (3) issues a final order not earlier than 120 days of such publication in the Federal Register of such findings. Specifies factors the Secretary must take into consideration when evaluating a food additive. Deems saccharin a safe food additive unless the Secretary declares it unsafe under the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act to exclude from coverage (1) employers with ten or fewer employees; and (2) employees not employed on a regular basis for 30 or more consecutive days. Requires that a warning rather than a citation be given for a first instance violation, other than a willful or serious violation, to an employer who has not employed more than 25 employees at any time during the 30 days prior to an inspection or investigation. Prohibits the imposition of a civil penalty against an employer for a nonserious violation if (1) such employer has not previously received a citation for the same violation; and (2) the inspection upon which such citation was based resulted in the issuance of citations for ten or or fewer violations of a nonserious nature.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1977
Campaign Financing Act -- Title I: Public Financing of Congressional General Election Campaigns - Entitles to payments under this Act Congressional candidates who agree to certain reporting and recordkeeping procedures and who certify that (1) he and his authorized committees will not incur campaign expenses in excess of certain limitations, (2) he has qualified to have his name placed on the election ballot in an election for Congressional office, and (3) he has received contributions in excess of a certain sum and no person has given more than $100 toward the amount so certified. Sets the amount of payments to an eligible candidate at the amount of contributions received up to a specified maximum. Stipulates that sums given by any one contributor totalling over $100 shall be disregarded for purposes of matching grants. Restricts use of funds forwarded under this Act to defraying campaign expenses either directly or through repayment of campaign loans. Specifies a limit on the amount of personal funds which a candidate may spend in connection with a Congressional campaign and remain eligible to matching grants. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to specify spending limits for candidates receiving payments under this Act. Waives such limits for candidates whose opponents are not receiving matching payments and have spent sums in excess of the limit imposed for candidates receiving payments. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a separate Congressional General Election Payment Account in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and to deposit certain sums in such account in accordance with specified guidelines. Requires repayment of excess payments and unexpended payments. Penalizes use of funds for other than campaign purposes. Authorizes the Federal Election Commission to institute repayment actions in district courts. Specifies the administrative authority of the Commission in carrying out this Act. Title II: Public Financing of Presidential General Election Campaigns - Raises the general election spending limit for Presidential candidates who are eligible to receive public funds under either the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act or the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. Sets limits on the amount which a State party committee may spend in connection with the general election campaign of its Presidential candidate. Provides an alternative method for determining the amount of money to which candidates are entitled under the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act based upon amount of contributions received after the final primary. Specifies conditions for candidates electing such method. Permits Presidential candidates eligible to receive payment under the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act to receive additional small contributions from individual contributors up to a specified limit. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reduce the maximum amount which a multicandidate committee may contribute to any candidate or his committees. Specifies the effective date of the provisions of this Act and guidelines with respect to deposit in the Congressional General Election Campaign Fund during 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1977
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to suspend for two years the customs duty on the importation of color couplers and coupler intermediates for the manufacture of photographic sensitized material.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide a claimant who has been denied benefits thereunder with the opportunity to obtain informal reconsideration of his claim. Requires the maintenance of a written summary of reconsideration proceedings. Grants a claimant the right to a hearing on the denied claim if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare affirms the denial upon review. Requires the hearing to be conducted pursuant to the requirements for an 'adjudication" under the Administrative Procedure Act under an administrative law judge (ALJ). Directs the Secretary to appoint ALJ's to conduct such hearings. Sets forth criteria under which the ALJ in charge of a hearing must remand a disputed claim to the appropriate regional commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1977
Requires appointments to the position of postmaster at post offices serving a delivery area with a resident population of 5,000 or less to be made from a list of qualified applicants who have resided in the area for at least one year unless no such individual has applied for the position. (Amends 39 U.S.C. 1001)
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to States which submit and have approved by the Secretary a plan for providing a benefit to the spouse or dependents of rescue squad workers who die as a direct result of an injury sustained in the performance of duty. Sets forth the standards imposed on the States, and the procedure for payment of benefits and Federal reimbursement of the States.
![Official portrait of Rep. Holland, Kenneth L. [D-SC-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000719_200.jpg)