United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
States that the Airlines Mutual Aid Agreement approved by the Civil Aeronautics Board is adverse to the public interest and is hereby terminated. States that the effective date of this Act is February 1, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Authorizes the voluntary withholding of Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia income taxes, pursuant to agreements subject to review by the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, in the case of employees and members of the House of Representatives, and those employees under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol or the United States Botanical Garden.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Act - Directs the President, with the assistance of the Council of Economic Advisors, to transmit annually a full employment and production program to the Congress. Sets forth a summary of the content to be contained in such annual report. Provides for annual Labor Reports of the President. Requires the Labor Reports to provide detailed attention on a continuing and progressively analytical basis to the changing volume and composition of the American labor supply. Renames the United States Employment Service as the United States Full Employment Service. Creates a Job Guarantee Office in the United States Full Employment Office headed by a Job Guarantee Officer whose responsibility is to provide useful and rewarding employment for any American, able and willing to work but not yet working, unable otherwise to obtain work, and applying to such office for assistance. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to carry out responsibilities under this Act upon the recommendation and approval of the local planning councils. Requires that each Job Guarantee Office in carrying out its responsibilities shall insure that among projects planned that adequate consideration be given to such individuals and groups as may face special obstacles in finding and holding useful and rewarding employment and shall provide or have provided through the coordination of existing programs special assistance including but not limited to counseling, training, and, where necessary, transportation and migration assistance. Provides that such individuals and groups shall include (1) those suffering from past or present discrimination or bias on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin; (2) older workers and retirees; (3) the physically or mentally handicapped; (4) youths to age 21; (5) potentially employable recipients of public assistance; (6) the inhabitants of depressed areas, urban and rural; (7) veterans of the Armed Forces; (8) people unemployed because of the relocation, closing, or reduced operations in industrial or military facilities; and (9) such other groups as the President or the Congress may designate from time to time. Directs that each Job Guarantee Office may, subject to the limitations specified in this Act, enter into agreements with public agencies and private organizations operating on a profit, nonprofit, or limited-profit basis. Requires such agreements to contain assurances that the agency or organization will: (1) provide an annual independent audit to the Job Guarantee Office; and (2) not discriminate on the grounds of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin in the administration of any program encompassed within the agreement. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to: (1) refer jobseekers to the private sector and general public sector employment placement facilities of the Full Employment Service (other than as supplemented by this Act); and (2) directly refer jobseekers for placement in positions on projects drawn from the reservoir of public service and private employment projects. Provides that anyone who presents himself or herself in person at the full Employment Office shall be considered prima facie "willing and able" to work. Provides that this stipulation specifically shall include persons with impairments of sight, hearing, movement, coordination, mental retardation, or other handicaps. Directs that this stipulation be implemented by the Job Guarantee Officer, prusuant to regulations issued by the Secretary. Establishes a Standby Job Corps which shall consist of jobseekers registered pursuant to this Act. Provides that such Corps shall be available for public service work upon projects and activities that are approved as a part of community public service work reservoirs established by community boards pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary, by regulation, to provide for: (1) a requirement that jobseekers registered in the Standby Job Corps maintain a status of good standing, which status shall include attendance and performance standards; and (2) a system of compensation for Corps members. Provides that no Standby Job Corps members shall be paid less than the minimum wage in effect in the area. Directs the Joint Economic Committee to: (1) annually review the activities of the executive branch under all sections of this Act; (2) regularly conduct on its own behalf, or in cooperation with or through the facilities of the appropriate legislative committees or subcommittees of the Senate and the House, public hearings in as many labor market areas as feasible; and (3) annually report upon, with its own conclusions and recommendations, the development and administration of the policies and programs mandated by this Act. Establishes a National Institute for Full Employment within the Department of Labor, under a director to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor, and to operate in continuing consultation with a National Commission for Full Employment Policy Studies. Authorizes and directs the Institute to make, or have made through grants to or contracts with individual researchers and private or public research organizations, universities, and other Government agencies, studies that shall include, but need not be limited to, such subjects as: (1) the policies and programs needed to reduce whatever inflationary pressures may result from full employment to manage any such inflationary pressures through appropriate fiscal policies and indirect and direct controls, and to protect the weaker groups in society from whatever inflationary trends cannot be avoided or controlled; (2) the identification of human potentialities that are hidden, undeveloped, or underdeveloped because of the lack of suitable job opportunities, encouragement, education, or training and of various ways of releasing such potentialities; (3) the forms of education and training needed to help provide people with the skills, knowledge, and values required by existing employment opportunities and technologies and needed to assist in developing such new types of goods, services, technologies, and employment opportunities as may better meet human needs; and (4) the policies and programs needed to substantially eliminate substandard employment, wages, and working conditions and the techniques for establishing standards for employment, wages, and working conditions in accordance with changing levels of national output and resources, and regional variations in output. Authorizes the appropriation for fiscal year 1976, and for each succeeding fiscal year of such sums as may be needed to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Eliminates the outside earnings limitation of the Social Security Act which presently operates to reduce the benefits payable under the Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program in the case where the insured individual has outside earnings in excess of such limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Prohibits the imposition by the President of any tariff, fee or quota upon petroleum imports under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, unless the Congress first approves such imposition by concurrent resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Expresses the sense of the House that the United States Government should seek agreement with other members of the United Nations on the prohibition of weather modification activity as a weapon of war.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1975
Directs the President to provide to the House Committee on the Judiciary all the information in the possession of the White House and the Central Intelligence Agency relating to any of the following activities since January 1, 1960, engaged in by any person in the United States for the Central Intelligence Agency: (1) each instance of surreptitious entry, breaking and entering or burglary; (2) each instance of intercepting and opening of mail; (3) each instance of wiretapping or electronic surveillance, not pursuant to court order; (4) each instance of collecting information and maintaining files on a citizen of, or person residing in, the United States or on an association or group within the United States; and (5) each instance of a plan or attempt to do any of the acts enumerated above whether or not such plan or attempt was successfully carried out. Specifies the information required for each activity referred to.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1975
Tax and Loan Account Interest Act - Terminates the insurance of any bank under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, which fails to pay the Federal funds rate of interest on all tax and loan accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1975
Strip Mining Abolition Act - Requires public participation in the development and enforcement of regulations and standards promulgated and permits issued under this Act pertaining to strip mining. Empowers the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) investigate and inspect to insure compliance with this Act; (2) hold public hearings; (3) issue cease-and- desist orders; and (4) order the revocation, suspension or modification of permits. Title I: Environmental Protection Coal Mining Limitations - Prohibits development of any new or previously mined and abandoned site for coal surface mining and, within 6 months, contour surface coal mining. Allows continuation of non-contour coal mining if a permit is obtained, containing provisions for a reduction of mining production in three years to 50 percent of the 1974 level. Prohibits surface coal mining after 6 months unless a permit is obtained, containing provisions for land stabilization and postmining land use. Prohibits the issuance of permits for mining within 300 feet of dwellings or public buildings or that will interrupt watercourses. Sets forth requirements for permit applications, including submission of ownership statements, mining maps, a hydrologic effect statement, and results of test borings and core samplings. Sets forth requirements for mining and stabilization plans required of permit applicants, including identification of the entire mining area over the life of the operations, a statement of land uses prior to mining, a detailed description of mining and land stabilization methods, and a time schedule of operations. Requires public liability insurance on such operations for resulting personal and property damage. Requires surface coal mining operators to: (1) restore land to a condition capable of supporting prior uses; (2) carry on stabilization along with mining operations; (3) preserve topsoil; (4) restore the original contour of the land; (5) revegetate the land; (6) maintain hydrologic balance in the area; and (7) meet certain requirements in the use of explosives. Requires underground mine operators to: (1) backfill mine wastes in mine voids for mines opened after enactment of this Act where possible; (2) provide for adequate ground support; (3) seal all portals; and (4) refrain from use of water impoundments. Allows local, State, and Federal agencies to file objections to surface mining and stabilization plans and request and receive hearings at which the permit applicant must establish that his plans comply with applicable law. Requires the Administrator to make a decision within 30 days of such hearings on issuing a permit. Requires permit applicants whose permits have been approved to file a performance bond sufficient to assure stabilization in the event of forfeiture. Allows release of such bond upon satisfactory completion of mining and stabilization work. Prohibits suspension or revocation of a permit without notice of violations to the permittee and 10 days to take corrective action, without a public hearing (if requested), unless a significant threat to public health, private or public property, land or air exists. Provides for a written statement of reasons of any such action to a permittee and the right to appeal to United States district courts. Requires mine operators to keep specified records and use monitoring equipment. Requires inspection of surface mining sites once a month without notice and public disclosure of reports of such inspections. Provides that the Attorney General, at the Administrators request, may institute civil action to enforce this Act. Requires civil penalties for violations of permits or of this Act. Allows citizen suits against any alleged violators of this Act. Authorizes necessary appropriations to carry out this title. Prohibits Government procurement from mines in violation of this Act. States that where the surface owner is not the owner of the mineral estate proposed to be surface mined, the permit application shall include the written consent of the owner of such surface land, including lessees. Title II: Abandoned Mine Stabilization - Creates the Abandoned Coal Mine Stabilization Fund and authorizes appropriations to it of $100,000,000 and such other sums thereafter as Congress may appropriate. Directs the fund to be used for acquisition and stabilization of mined lands, acquisition and filling of voids and sealing of tunnels and shafts, and for use by the Secretary of Agriculture to combat erosion caused by mining effects. Limits the use of the fund to lands affected by mining prior to enactment of this Act. Provides for the condemnation of land when the Chief of the Corps of Engineers cannot otherwise acquire land for stabilization purposes. Authorizes bidding for stabilization work contracts, with preference to be given to former employees of surface coal mines. Authorizes matching grants to States which require and transfer land to the chief of the Corps of Engineers for such purposes. Provides for resale of such stabilized land.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Elderly and Handicapped Americans Transportation Services Act - Authorizes, under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, free or reduced rate transportation to handicapped persons and persons who are sixty-five years of age or older. Authorizes, under the Interstate Commerce Act, free or reduced rate transportation for persons who are sixty-five years of age or older. Authorizes grants for special transportation planning, research and demonstration projects for the handicapped and the elderly. Authorizes the appropriation of $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1976 and $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1977 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Provides under the Social Security Act for a minimum annual income (subject to subsequent increases based on Bureau of Labor Statistics to reflect the cost of living) of $3,850 in the case of elderly (over 62) individuals and $5,200 in the case of elderly couples. Sets forth provisions governing the determination of annual income and payment of benefits. Authorizes to be appropriated for each fiscal year the sums necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Sales Promotion Game Act - Declares it to be an unfair method of competition for any manufacturer, producer, distributor, or wholesaler doing business in interstate commerce to require or encourage any retail seller to participate in a game in connection with the sale of any item, or for a retail seller to engage on his own in a game in connection with the sale of any item. Provides that whoever willfully violates the provisions of this Act shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years or both. (Amends 15 U.S.C. 41-58)
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Airport Noise Curfew Act - Establishes the Airport Noise Curfew Commission to study and make recommendations to the Congress regarding the establishment of curfews on nonmilitary aircraft operations over populated areas of the United States during normal sleeping hours. Requires the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Congress no later than six months after the enactment of this Act. Authorizes the Commission to secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to carry out its duties and functions. Requires the head of such department or agency to furnish such requested information to the Commission. Empowers the Commission to issue subpenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence that relates to any subject that the Commission is authorized to investigate by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Appliance Dating Act - Requires any consumer durable product determined by the Federal Trade Commission to be of a type whose design or performance features are changed on a periodic basis in such a manner as to make its date of manufacture a relevant factor in connection with sales to consumers to be labeled by the manufacturer as to the month and year of manufacture.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Allows a tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code for the ordinary and necessary expenses paid during the taxable year by a taxpayer for the improvement of the thermal design of the principal residence of the taxpayer, including that amount of the purchase price of a principal residence allocable to any storm door, storm window, or solar heating and cooling equipment (up to $1000 for the period during which such credit is available under the Internal Revenue Code, no more than $250 of which may be allowed as a credit for the purchase of conventional materials). Authorizes the taxpayer to elect a deduction of up to $4000 for the period during which the provisions of this Act are effective (no more than $1,000 of which may be allowed as a deduction for the purchase of conventional materials) in lieu of the credit provided by this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the Federal Energy Administration an analysis of the energy savings achieved through the operation of this Act no later than September 15, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Consumer Price Information Act - States that the Congress finds that during periods of severe inflation, consumers can minimize the effects of rapidly rising prices by avoiding the purchase of products that have experienced sharp price increases over a brief time span. Expresses the policy of Congress to provide consumers with point of sale information concerning the nature and extent of price variations for products offered for sale at retail in commerce. Provides that no person engaged in commerce may, in the course of such commerce, sell or offer for sale at retail any products, goods, wares, or merchandise unless there is conveniently available to consumers at the place of sale price information, in such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission, which contains: (1) the retail price at which such item or article is currently being offered for sale at retail by such person; and (2) the price at which the item or article was usually sold at retail by such person in the course of business (A) immediately before and (B) twelve and eighteen months before such time as the price referred to in clause (1) was established as the current retail price, if such former retail prices and the current retail price differ. Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act. Exempts specified entities from the operation of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Intergovernmental Consumer Assistance Act - Authorizes appropriations of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, $7,500,000 for fiscal year 1978, and $9,00,000 for fiscal year 1979 for the establishment and strengthening of consumer protection offices of State and local governments. Requires the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to assist the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in carrying out the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to allot each possession $10,000 for the three fiscal years and to allot each State the sums of $50,000, $75,000, and $90,000 for each of the three fiscal years, respectively. Provides that allotments shall be made to each State and possession which has submitted an adequate consumer protection plan that has been approved by the Secretary. Requires each consumer plan to provide for consumer education; consumer research; representation of consumer interests; studying the problems of low income consumers; serving as consumer complaint centers; providing counseling including legal services to the consumer; mediating consumer-retailer disputes; investigating complaints; cooperating with Federal and State agencies; setting forth fiscal controls and providing that Federal funds be used only in carrying out this plan. Provides that the Federal share of the cost of carrying out a plan submitted by a consumer protection office shall not exceed 75 percent. Authorizes the Secretary to withhold Federal funds for failure to comply with the approved consumer plan. Requires the Secretary to submit a detailed report as part of the annual report of the Department of HEW on the administration of this Act. Designates this Act as the "Intergovernmental Consumer Assistance and Protection Act".
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Performance Life Disclosure Act - Requires manufacturers of durable consumer products, including appliances and electronic items, to disclose on a conspicuous label or tag affixed to each item sold at retail to consumers the performance life, under normal operating conditions, of each manufactured durable product. Authorizes the National Bureau of Standards of the Department of Commerce to make regulations for this Act, and to determine the performance life of products and components of products covered by this Act. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to prevent any person from violating the provisions of this Act in the same manner and with the same jurisdiction as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Authorizes the Secretaries of the Interior, Transportation, and Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of bicycle trails along specified United States highways under the National Trails System Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Revises title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to: (1) eliminate the five- month waiting period for disability benefits; (2) permit adopted children to qualify for benefits without regard to time of adoption; (3) eliminate the reconsideration state in benefit determinations; (4) provide for the issuance of duplicate benefit checks where the initial checks are lost or delayed; and (5) provide for expedited benefit payments to disability beneficiaries. Increases to $7,500 the amount of outside earnings which an individual may earn without a deduction in benefits under title II of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Specifies that the provisions of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stocks Piling Act regarding the acquisition and development of strategic raw materials shall not apply to regulations or prohibitions pertaining to economic relations and/or communications with foreign nations or foreign nationals which are established under the authority of the United Nations Participation Act in response to sanctions imposed by the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Establishes weight restrictions for vehicles on the Interstate System. Provides that no funds authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year under the Federal-Aid Highway Act shall be apportioned to any State within the boundaries of which the Interstate System may lawfully be used by vehicles in excess of the established weight limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Youth Camp Safety Act - Makes it the purpose of this Act to protect and safeguard the health and well-being of youth attending day camps, resident camps, and travel camps by providing for the establishment of Federal standards for the safe operation of youth camps. Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare an Office of Youth Camp Safety to be headed by a Director of Youth Camp Safety. Confers upon the Director the primary responsibility for the promulgation and enforcement of Federal and State youth camp safety regulations. Requires any State which desires to assume responsibility for the development and modification of youth camp safety standards to submit a State plan to the Director for his approval. Allows a State whose plan has been rejected to obtain review of the decision in the United States Court of Appeals. Authorizes the Director to make grants to States which have in effect approved State plans, such grants not to exceed eighty percent of the cost of carrying out the State plan. Authorizes to be appropriated $7,500,000 for fiscal year 1975, and for each succeeding fiscal year, to make the grants provided for in this Act. Authorizes the Director to enter and inspect youth camps and their records. Directs the Director to establish within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare an Advisory Council on Youth Camp Safety and to submit to Congress at least once a year a comprehensive and detailed report on his administration under this Act. Prescribes penalties for each violation by youth camp operators of the standards promulgated pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Director to request directly from any department or agency of the Federal Government information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics needed to carry out his functions under this Act; and such department or agency is authorized to furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Director.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Provides that the charge to a household for its food stamp allotment under the Food Stamp Act of 1964 shall not exceed the lesser of (1) the level established as of January 1, 1975, or (2) 25 percent of the household's income. Provides that, effective July 1, 1975, households in which all members receive supplemental security income benefits under the Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled program of the Social Security Act, or households in which all members are included in a federally aided public assistance or general assistance grant shall be certified for participation in the food stamp program under this Act. States that certification of all other households shall be based on the uniform national standards for eligibility required to be established under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Reduces the rate of tax imposed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 on the self-employed, employees, and employers for the payment of the cost of the old-age, survivors and disability insurance and the hospital insurance programs of the Social Security Act. Increases the contribution and benefit base for tax determination purposes under the old-age, suriviors and disability insurance program. Increases by 50 percent the annual Federal contribution to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Allows any nonimmigrant foreign student to be employed, with the approval of the school attended by such student: (1) during any regularly scheduled school vacation; or (2) during any school term during which such person is not enrolled, if the institution determines that he continues to qualify as a full-time student.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Provides, under the Coastal Zone Management Act, for the establishment of a national policy with respect to the Nation's beach resources. Defines the terms used in this Act and states that it is the declared intention of Congress to exercise its constitutional power to protect the public's right to use the beaches. Provides that no person shall construct or maintain any barrier which interferes with the public's right to use the public beaches. Authorizes the Attorney General or U.S. district attorneys (1) to establish and protect the public's right to the beaches; (2) to determine the existing status of title, ownership, and control; and (3) to condemn easements to accomplish the purposes of this Act. Declares that actions brought under this Act may be for injunctive, declaratory, or other suitable relief. States that nothing in this Act shall be held to impair specified State interests in the beaches. Delcares that it is desirable that the States and Federal Government act together to protect the rights and interests of the public in the beaches. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to provide financial assistance to any State or political subdivision for the development and maintenance of transportation facilities necessary in connection with the use of public beaches. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums, not to exceed $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978, for grants to States to plan and develop projects designed to secure the right of the public to the beaches.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1975
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should not impose any tariff or other import restriction on petroleum or petroleum products before April 1, 1975, so as to give the Congress a reasonable period of time in which to act legislatively on such matter if it determines such action is necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 1975
States that any mailing of matter, as penalty mail, in excess of five thousand identical pieces, may not be carried in the mails as penalty mail until the officer, executive department, or independent establishment of the Government which intends to transmit such matter has submitted to the Comptroller General of the United States a request for certification that the carriage of such matter in the mails as penalty mail is in compliance with law and has received such certification from the Comptroller General.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds by the Central Intelligence Agency for the purpose of undermining or destabilizing the government of any foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds by the Commission on Central Intelligence Agency Activities within the United States established under Executive Order 11828 on January 4, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Directs the President to provide to the House the information contained in the report of William E. Colby delivered to the President on or about December 26, 1974, relating to activities of the Central Intelligence Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Directs the President to provide to the House Committee on the Judiciary all the information in the possession of the White House and the Central Intelligence Agency relating to any of the following activities since January 1, 1960, engaged in by any person in the United States for the Central Intelligence Agency: (1) each instance of surreptitious entry, breaking and entering or burglary; (2) each instance of intercepting and opening of mail; (3) each instance of wiretapping or electronic surveillance, not pursuant to court order; (4) each instance of collecting information and maintaining files on a citizen of, or person residing in, the United States or on an association or group within the United States; and (5) each instance of a plan or attempt to do any of the acts enumerated above whether or not such plan or attempt was successfully carried out. Specifies the information required for each activity referred to.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Black Lung Benefit Act - Defines "total disability" under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act as having the meaning given it by regulation of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, except that: (1) in the case of a living miner, such regulations shall provide that a miner shall be considered totally disabled when pneumoconiosis prevents him from engaging in gainful employment requiring the skills and abilities comparable to those of any employment in a mine or mines in which he previously engaged with some regularity and over a substantial period of time; (2) in the case of a deceased miner, such regulations shall provide that the fact that a miner was employed by a mine at the time of his death shall not be used as evidence that the miner was not totally disabled; and (3) such regulations shall not provide more restrictive criteria than those applicable under the Social Security Act. States that if a miner was employed for 15 years or more in one or more underground coal mines, there shall be an irrebuttable presumption that he is totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis or that at the time of his dealth he was totally disabled by pneumoconiosis. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to pay benefits to all previous claimants who have become eligible for benefits as a result of the enactment of this Act. Requires that at least 5 members of the Advisory Committee on Coal Mine Health Research be miners or retired miners.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Makes it unlawful to limit the availability or scope of the insurance coverage normally written with respect to a risk of loss because of the insured's sex. Makes exceptions to such provision for rates based on relevant actuarial data.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
States that it is unlawful for any citizen or resident of the United States to offer to make, or make, a contribution to any agency of the United States or officer, agency, or agent of the United States to make an offer for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election for public office in a foreign country. States that it is unlawful for any officer, employee, or agent of the United States: (1) to solicit any citizen or resident of the United States to contribute to, or make an expenditure in support of, any candidate or political party, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election for public office in a foreign country, or (2) to accept a contribution from any citizen or resident of the United States for such purpose. Provides that whoever violates any provision of this Act shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Establishes, as an independent agency of the executive branch, the Office of Special Counsel. Provides that the Special Counsel shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and may be removed from office only for gross dereliction of duty, gross impropriety or physical or mental inability to discharge the powers and duties of the office. Grants to the Office of Special Counsel the exclusive authority and duty to represent the interests of the United States in any proceeding related to the Presidential materials of Richard Nixon. Defines "Presidential materials of Richard Nixon" as used in this Act. Stipulates that this Act shall not impair any rights to the custody or use of such materials by the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and that no case in which the Special Counsel is representing the United States may be compromised, settled, or dismissed without prior notice to the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force and the express approval of the court.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Provides a tax deduction under the Internal Revenue Code for dependent care expenses for married taxpayers who are employed part time, or who are students up to an amount not to exceed: (1) $2,400 in the case of one qualifying dependent; (2) $3,600 in the case of two qualifying dependents; and (3) $4,800 in the case of three or more qualifying dependents. Provides that the deductions authorized by this Act shall be allowed to taxpayers electing to take the standard deductions, but not to married individuals living apart for more than one-half year.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Freedom from Surveillance Act - Prohibits any civil or military officer of the United States or the militia of any State from exercising surveillance of civilians. Provides a fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment for not more than two years, or both, for civil or military officers convicted of violations of this Act. Sets forth exceptions to the prohibitions of this Act and defines terms used in this Act. Authorizes any person aggrieved as a result of conduct prohibited by this Act to bring a civil action for damages irrespective of the actuality or amount of pecuniary injury suffered. Allows a person to seek injunctions to prevent violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Provides for the administrative and judicial review of claims (involving the amount of benefits payable) which arise under the supplementary medical insurance program of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare).
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1975
Health Security Act - Title I: Health Security Benefits - Provides that every resident of the U.S. (and every non-resident citizen when in the U.S.) will be eligible for covered services. Permits reciprocal and "buy-in" agreements for groups or non-resident aliens, and in some cases benefits to U.S. residents when visiting in other countries. Entitles every eligible person to have payments made by the Health Security Board for covered services provided within the United States by a participating provider. Provides that all necessary professional services of physicians, wherever furnished are covered, including preventive care, with two restrictions: (1) specialist services are covered only when performed by a qualified specialist except in emergency situations, and generally only on referral from a primary physician; and (2) psychiatric services to an ambulatory patient are covered only for active preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic or rehabilitative service with respect to mental illness. Provides that comprehensive dental services (exclusive of most orthodontic services) are covered for children under age 15, with the covered age group increasing by two years each year until all those under age 25 are covered. Provides that: (1) inpatient and outpatient hospital services and services of a home health agency are covered without arbitrary limitation; and (2) pathology and radiology services are specifically included as parts of institutional services. Limits payment for skilled nursing home care to 120 days per spell of illness, except that this limit may be increased when the nursing home is owned or managed by a hospital and payment for care is made through the hospital budget. Limits the psychiatric hospital benefit to 45 consecutive days of active treatment during a spell of illness. Provides coverage for two categories of drug use: prescribed medicines administered to inpatients or outpatients within participating hospitals; or to enrollees of comprehensive health service organizations, and drugs necessary for the treatment of specified chronic illnesses or conditions requiring long or expensive therapy. Requires the Board and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish two lists of approved drugs, taking into account the safety, efficacy and cost of each drug. Provides a broad list of approved medicines available for use in institutions and by comprehensive health service organizations and a more restricted list which is available for use outside such organized settings. Provides that the appliances benefit is similar in concept and operation to the drug benefit, subject to a limitation on aggregate cost. Asserts that the professional services of optometrists and podiatrists are covered, subject to regulations, as are diagnostic or therapeutic services furnished by independent pathology laboratories and radiology services. States that health services furnished or paid for under a workmen's compensation law are not covered. Provides that the services of a professional practitioner are not covered if they are furnished in a hospital which is not a participating provider. Requires that participating providers meet standards established in this title or by the Board. Requires that such providers must agree to provide services without discrimination, to make no unauthorized charge to the patient for any covered service, and to furnish data necessary for utilization review by professional peers, statistical studies by the Board, and verification of information for payments. Makes professional practitioners licensed when the program begins eligible to practice in the State where they are licensed and requires that all newly licensed applicants for participation meet national standards established by the Board in addition to those required by his State. Establishes conditions of participation for general hospitals similar to those required by Medicare. States that the two requirements not found in the Medicare program are: (1) that the hospital must not discriminate in granting staff privileges on any grounds unrelated to professional qualifications, and (2) that it establish a pharmacy and drug therapeutics committee for supervision of hospital drug therapy. Provides that psychiatric hospitals will be eligible to participate only if the Board finds that the hospital (or a distinct part of the hospital) is engaged in furnishing active diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services to mentally ill patients. Establishes conditions of participation for skilled nursing homes similar to those established for extended care facilities under Medicare. Makes provisions for the participation of home health service agencies. Describes as eligible a health maintenance organization which undertakes to provide an enrolled population either with complete health care or, at least, with complete health security services (other than institutional services, mental health or dental services) for the maintenance of health and the care of ambulatory patients. Permits a foundation sponsored by a county or other local medical society to participate as a provider of services. Permits the participation of community health centers or the like which, though furnishing services as comprehensive as are required by this Act, do not serve an enrolled or otherwise predetermined population and may not meet other requirements of this Act. Authorizes the Board to deal separately with the primary care portion of a system of comprehensive health care where it is necessary to rely on arrangements with other providers. Permits the Board to contract directly with public or other nonprofit mental health centers and mental health day care services. Specifies the conditions under which independent pathology laboratories, independent radiological services, and providers of drugs, devices, appliances, equipment, or ambulance services may qualify as providers under Health Security. Requires that a participating skilled nursing home have in effect an agreement with at least one participating hospital for the transfer of patients and medical and other information as medically appropriate. Prohibits in malpractice judgments any damages to be awarded to the injured party for the cost of remedial services which he is entitled to receive under this Act. Excludes the institutions of the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration, and institutions of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare serving merchant seamen or Indians or Alaskan natives, from serving as participating providers, as well as any employee of these institutions when he is acting as an employee. Provides reimbursement for any services furnished by these institutions or agencies to eligible persons who are not a part of their normal clientele. Permits a physician, dentist, optometrist, or podiatrist, licensed in one State and meeting the national standards, to furnish Health Security benefits in any other State, the scope of his permissible practice being governed by the law of the State in which he is practicing. Grants a similar authority to other health professional and nonprofessional personnel. Establishes the Health Security Trust Fund, to receive the net assets of existing (Medicare) funds taken over by the Health Security program, the yield of the Health Security taxes, and the Government's contribution from general revenues amounting to 100 percent of the yield from these taxes. Provides that three separate accounts shall be established in the Health Security Trust Fund: a Health Service Account, a Health Resources Development Account, and an Administration Account. Provides that in each of the first two years of program operation, 2 percent of the Trust Fund shall be set aside for the Health Resources Development Fund; and the allocation shall increase by 1 percent at two-year intervals to 5 percent within the next 6 years. Provides for allocation of the Health Services account among the regions of the country. Provides that the allocation to each region shall be based on the aggregate sum expended during the most recent 12-month period for covered services (with appropriate modification for estimated changes in the consumer price index, the expected number of eligible beneficiaries, and estimated changes in the number of participating providers). Provides that the Board shall divide the allocation to each region into funds available to pay: institutional services; physician services; dental services; furnishing of drugs; furnishing of devices, appliances, equipment; and miscellaneous services. Provides that payments for covered services provided to eligible persons by participating providers will be made from the Health Service Account in the Trust Fund. Describes the method to be used in applying, as between practitioners electing the various methods of payment (fee-for-service and capitation), the monies available in each health service area for payment to each category of professional providers. Authorizes the Board to experiment with other methods of reimbursement so long as the experimental method does not increase the cost of service or lead to overutilization or underutilization of services. Provides that skilled nursing homes and home health agencies will be paid in the same manner as a general hospital (on an approved annual budget basis). Provides that a health organization will be paid for covered services, on the basis of a fixed capitation rate multiplied by the number of eligible enrollees. Contains a series of provisions for developing a continuous process of health service planning and for assisting in the recruitment, education, and training of health personnel. Authorizes special improvement grants: (1) to any public or other nonprofit health agency or institution to establish improved coordination and linkages with other providers of services, and (2) to organizations providing comprehensive ambulatory care, to improve their utilization review, budget, statistical, or records and information retrieval systems, to acquire equipment needed for those purposes, or to acquire equipment useful for mass screening or for other diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Sets forth the responsibilities and duties of the Secretary of HEW and the Board with regard to this title. Creates an administrative structure within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare with exclusive responsibility for the administration of the Health Security program. Establishes a five-member, full-time Health Security Board serving under the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Provides that the members shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, for five-year overlapping terms. Creates the position of an Executive Director, appointed by the Board with the approval of the Secretary. Provides that the Executive Director will serve as secretary to the Board and shall perform such duties in the administration of the program as the Board may assign. Provides that the program will be administered through the regional offices of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Requires the establishment of sub-regional (service area) offices. Establishes a National Health Security Advisory Council, with the Chairman of the Board serving as the Council's Chairman and 20 additional members not in the employ of the Federal Government. Authorizes the Advisory Council to appoint professional or technical committees to assist in its functions. Provides that the Advisory Council will advise the Board on matters of general policy in the administration of the program, the formulation of regulations and the allocation of funds for services. Charges the Board with responsibility for informing the public and providers about the administration and operation of the Health Security program. Requires the Board to make a continuing study and evaluation of the program, including adequacy, quality and costs of services. Authorizes the Board directly or by contract to make detailed statistical and other studies on a national, regional, or local basis of any aspect of the title; to develop and test incentive systems for improving quality of care, methods of peer review of drug utilization and of other service performances; to develop and test systems of information retrieval, budget programs, instrumentation for multiphasic screening or patient services, and reimbursement systems for drugs; and to make such other other studies which it considers would improve the quality of services of the administration of the program. Grants authority to the Board, in accordance with regulations, to make determinations of who are participating providers of services, determinations of eligibility, of whether services are covered, and the amount to be paid to providers. Allows a provider of services who is dissatisfied with a final Board determination to obtain a hearing before a Board panel, and judicial review of a final decision. Authorizes the Board, with the advice and assistance of the Commission on the Quality of Health Care, to issue and review regulations assuring the quality of care furnished under this Act. Requires continuing professional education by physicians, dentists, optometrists, and podiatrists. Provides for the appointment of a Deputy Secretary of HEW and an Under Secretary for Health and Science. States that no provision of this Act shall alter any contractual obligation of an employer to provide health services to his employees and their dependents. Title II: Health Security Taxes - Converts the existing Medicare hospital insurance payroll taxes into Health Security taxes, and raises the rates to 1 percent on employees and 3.5 percent on employers. Raises the wage base for the employee tax from the present $7,800 to $15,000; or, if higher, 125 percent of the contribution and benefit base. Broadens the definitions of covered employment to include foreign agricultural workers, employees of the U.S. and its instrumentalities (other than members of the armed forces and the President, Vice-President, and Members of Congress), employees of charitable and similar organizations, railroad employees, and (for the employee tax only) employees of States and their political subdivisions and instrumentalities. Excludes from the gross income of employees, for income tax purposes, payment by their employers of part or all of the Health Security taxes on the employees. Spells out the precise effective dates of the new payroll tax provisions. Converts the existing Medicare self-employment tax into a Health Security self-employment tax, raising the rate to 2.5 percent, and raises the maximum taxable self-employment income from $7,800 to $15,000. Adds a new 1 percent Health Security tax on unearned income (unless such income is less than $400 a year), subject to the same maximum on taxable income as is applicable to the employee and self-employment taxes. Title III: Commission on the Quality of Health Care - Establishes in the Department of HEW a Commission on the Quality of Health Care, with the primary responsibility of: (1) initiating and continuing development of methods of assessing the quality of health care furnished under the Health Security Act, and (2) submitting to the Secretary and the Health Security Board its findings and recommendations. Stipulates that in carrying out its duties the Commissioner shall emphasize, and give first consideration to, care furnished for those illnesses and conditions which have relatively high incidence in the population and which are relatively amenable to medical or other care. Title IV: Repeal or Amendment of Other Acts - Requires that after the effective date of benefits, no State shall be required to furnish any service covered under Health Security as a part of its State plan for participation under Medicaid. Title V: Studies Related to Health Security - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury to study the coverage of health services for U.S. residents in other countries. Directs the Secretary of HEW to study the feasibility and desirability of coordinating the Federal health benefit programs for merchant seamen and Indians and Alaskan natives and also veterans and members of the Armed Forces, with the Health Security Benefit Program.