United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1978
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require that a statement of the steps that have been or will be taken to reduce unobligated balances of budget authority under Federal programs and an estimate of the level of unobligated balances of budget authority that will exist at the end of the fiscal year be included in the report accompanying the first concurrent resolution on the budget each year, and in the annual reports submitted by other committees to the Budget Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and in the President's annual budget.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1978
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that remarks of Members made on the floor of the House or submitted for inclusion in the Congressional Record, including revisions and extensions, be relevant to governmental matters.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1978
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Reverend Sun Myung Moon return to the United States prior to October 31, 1978, appear before the Subcommittee on International Organizations investigating Korean-American relations, and fully respond to all questions of the subcommittee.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1978
Expresses the concern of Congress for the safety of the residents of the South African black community known as "Crossroads." Urges the South African Government: (1) to reconsider its plan to destroy Crossroads; and (2) to recognize the right of the residents to continue to live in Crossroads.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1978
Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to make payments to local governments based on the amount of tax exempt public and foreign lands within the boundaries of such governmental units.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide, through demonstration projects, payments to individuals who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, benefits with respect to post-hospital extended care services under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act or intermediate care facility services or skilled nursing facility services under Title XIX (Medicaid) of such Act, who do not require 24-hour nursing care or supervision, and who desire to establish a noninstitutional living arrangement which will meet their medical and other needs. Requires payments received to be used to finance appropriate noninstitutional living arrangements which meet the medical and other needs of the individual. Provides that such payments shall not be includable in gross income under the Internal Revenue Code. Requires the Secretary to design demonstration projects for the purpose of determining: (1) the feasibility of transferring inpatients of skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities to noninstitutional living arrangements; (2) the types and percentage of such inpatients who could live effectively in a noninstitutional living arrangement; and (3) the types and percentages of such inpatients who would benefit economically and qualitatively from transferring to a noninstitutional living arrangement. Directs that funds for such payments be made from the Federal Hospital Insurance Fund established under the Social Security Act and from funds appropriated for Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1978
Criminal Justice Improvements Act - Title I: Revision of Title 18 - Repeals by not reenacting certain offenses, including the capturing or killing of carrier pigeons, building vessels for slave trade purposes, selling intoxicants to Indians, and advocating overthrow of the Federal or State government. Incorporates into Title 18 certain offenses which are located in other United States Code sections, including aircraft piracy, assaulting certain Federal government officers or employees, and interference with the exercise of certain rights in the buying, selling, and renting of housing. Consolidates chapters which contain similar subject matter. Repeals by not reenacting certain procedural provisions, and excludes procedural provisions which are cross-referenced to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Modifies the language of three offenses dealing with abortion to read "illegal abortion." Revises the maximum authorized terms of imprisonment for 14 offenses, including conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims (from ten years to five years), the transportation of slaves (from five years to ten years), and destruction of a vessel by the owner (from life to ten years). Specifies a uniform fine structure in which the maximum fines are related to the maximum authorized terms of imprisonment. Authorizes imposition of a fine upon any person found guilty of an offense. Directs the court to consider the defendants' financial status when deciding whether to impose a fine and its amount. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to analyze on a continuing basis data relating to sentencing in the Federal courts. Requires the Conference to develop, make available, and evaluate advisory sentencing guidelines. Requires the court, in determining a particular sentence, to consider specific factors, including: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence imposed to provide punishment commensurate with the seriousness of the offense, to deter similar conduct, protect the public, or provide the defendant needed training; (3) effective alternatives to imprisonment; and (4) any applicable advisory sentencing guidelines. Allows a defendant who has been convicted to be sentenced to a term of probation and specifies limitations. Increases from six months to one year the length of time a person can be confined while on probation. Requires probation officers to provide to the court information which is necessary to evaluate sentencing alternatives and information concerning advisory guidelines. Directs officers to conduct pre-release or pre-parole investigations. Decreases from six months to 90 days the minimum sentence for which good time allowance may be deducted. Applies restrictions on release prior to trial to offenses punishable by life imprisonment. Eliminates and modifies certain corrections provisions. Requires requests from specified sources to the court for the use of juvenile records to be in writing. Title II: Technical and Conforming Provisions - Conforms the fine levels of criminal statutes in other titles of the United States Code (except the Internal Revenue Code) to those of Title 18. Sets January 1, 1980, as the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1978
Urges the President to communicate with the Soviet Union concerning its obligation in accordance with the Helsinki accords to allow Isaac Zlotver to emigrate from the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 1978
Nuclear Incident Liability Reform Act - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require that licensees for nuclear facilities obtain the maximum amount of liability insurance available from private sources. Requires that such licensees participate in an industry retrospective rating plan in addition to maintaining such insurance. Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish rules specifying the rates for deferred premiums charged to licensees under such plan in the event of any nuclear incident resulting in public liability which exceeds or appears likely to exceed the level of a licensee's primary financial protection and the amount otherwise available from such licensee for the satisfaction of such liability. Authorizes the Commission to loan to a licensee, at prescribed interest rates, the amount by which an assessment of deferred premiums exceeds the amount which the licensee is able to pay within a reasonable time following any nuclear incident without impairing its ability to provide electric utility service. Repeals the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 relating to indemnification of licensees from liability which is in excess of the level of financial protection required of the licensee. Eliminates the $500,000,000 ceiling on indemnification of contractors of the Commission against claims for liability, arising out of contractual activities, which are above the amount of financial protection required of contractors. Repeals provisions of such Act relating to: (1) the $560,000,000 maximum aggregate liability for a single nuclear incident; (2) the collection of fees for indemnification agreements, and (3) compensation to private insurance organizations for services connected with handling indemnifications. Eliminates the exemption from the requirements of financial protection of nonprofit educational, institution licensees. Repeals the Commission's authority to indemnify persons engaged in activities relating to the Nuclear Ship Savannah from liability for nuclear incidents. Terminates the Commission's authority to enter agreements with other indemnitors with respect to emergency assistance payments. Makes technical and conforming amendments to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 1978
Directs the Civil Aeronautics Board to immediately dissolve the Airlines Mutual Aid Pact. Directs the Board to study the collective bargaining process within the airline industry and to make recommendations to Congress within six months on methods of alleviating the occurrence of protracted airline strikes.
United States · United States Congress · 8 August 1978
Voluntary Job Preservation and Community Stabilization Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a continuing investigation to identify those industrial, business, agricultural, and service organizations (1) which are in danger of ceasing operation or of outmigration and (2) whose closing or relocation would result in substantial unemployment and economic dislocation in the community. Provides, through the Secretary, loans for technical assistance and status and operating costs to an employee or employee/community corporation which meets certain requirements in order that it may assume ownership and operation of an organization so identified. Conditions loans, among other factors, upon certification that the corporation will allow new employees to participate and will adopt a method for acquisition of stock of persons no longer associated with the organization for the purpose of making it available to all employees on a nondiscriminatory basis. Authorizes loans of up to $15,000 to an employee who wishes to purchase stock in a purchasing corporation and who is unable to secure financing elsewhere.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1978
Entitles certain unremarried former spouses of members of the uniformed services to medical and dental benefits under the Civilian Health and Medical Plan of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS).
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1978
Senior Citizens' Property Tax Relief Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to pay to a State 66 2/3 percent of the amount the State pays on behalf of senior citizen homeowners for real property taxes. Requires a State which wishes to receive such payments to pay all the property taxes due by the senior citizen and to obtain repayment upon the death of the homeowner from the estate. Directs the State to repay amounts paid by HUD upon receipt of payment from the estate.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1978
Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act - Requires a report to the Secretary of Agriculture, containing legal name, address, citizenship, type of interest, and legal description of the land involved, and other specified information, from any foreign person (including individuals, organizations, governments, or any combination thereof) who holds, acquires, or transfers any interest, other than a security interest, in agricultural land. Establishes a civil penalty for violation of any provision of this Act in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the fair market value of the land interest involved on the date of the penalty assessment. Requires the Secretary to report to the President and to Congress an analysis of the information obtained by him pursuant to this Act, and a determination of the effects of foreign holdings, acquisitions, and transfers on family farms and rural communities.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1978
Third Party Search Protection Act - Amends the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to limit the circumstances under which a search warrant may be issued for property in possession of a third party. Allows a warrant to issue only if: (1) there is probable cause to believe the person in possession of the property committed or is committing a criminal offense; or (2) in any other case, only if a subpoena is not available or the property may be destroyed or removed and a restraining order would not prevent such removal or destruction.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1978
States that the Territory of American Samoa shall be represented in the United States Congress by a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives. Sets forth the procedure for the election of such delegate.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1978
Radioactive Waste Management Act - Requires the Secretary of Energy, before investigating any site for construction of a radioactive waste storage facility, to notify each chamber of the concerned State legislature and publish notice of such investigation in the Federal Register. Requires notice to State legislatures of decisions and contracts for the construction of such facilities. Allows a 120-day period for disapproval of construction by the affected State's legislature or by statewide referendum.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1978
Declares that President Brezhnev of the Soviet Socialist Republics should authorize the release of Doctor Semyon Gluzman from prison and allow him and his family to emigrate to Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1978
Expresses the disapproval of the Congress of the denial by the Government of the Soviet Union of the right to emigrate and the harassment and imprisonment of individuals, including Mrs. Ida Nudel, who desire to emigrate.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1978
Declares it the sense of the Congress (1) that the President should express to the Soviet Union the disapproval of the American people concerning the nondelivery of mail to persons residing within the Soviet Union and (2) that the United States should bring to the attention of the next Congress of the Universal Postal Union the failure of the Soviet Union to comply with certain articles of the Universal Postal Union.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1978
Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish an urban park and recreation recovery program to provide financial assistance for rehabilitation of recreation areas and facilities in the form of challenge grants to local governments. Sets the requirements for grant eligibility. Directs the Secretary to promulgate funding priority regulations, for processing and approval of grant proposals, which include the use of objective data to measure comparative need for assistance among local governments. Requires regulations to include criteria evaluating the extent to which local governments have demonstrated results in providing equal opportunity housing.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow handicapped individuals who are incapable of operating highway vehicles an income tax deduction for their comuting expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1978
Prohibits the distribution in commerce of any ionization smoke detector unless such device bears a label which: (1) includes a recognized symbol indicating the presence of radioactive material; and (2) bears the following statement: "This device contains radioactive material which may be hazardous to your health if ingested or improperly disposed."
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1978
Requests the President to convene a White House Conference on Foreign Trade to provide a forum for representatives of industries and labor organizations in the United States, scholars and experts in the field of foreign trade, representatives of Federal, State, and local government, and other interested persons to (1) examine and recommend methods to increase trade, (2) evaluate the recommendations made by the President's Task Force on Export Policy, and (3) assess the impact on the United States of the anticipated trade agreement of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1978
Amends Title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require States having agreements for coverage of their employees under the system of insurance established by such Title to make payments and reports on a calendar-quarter basis.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1978
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to repeal specified provisions depriving persons of their United States nationality and citizenship in the following circumstances (1) a person, born outside the United States to parents one of whom was not a United States citizen, and who failed to come to and reside in the United States; (2) a person having dual nationality who sought the benefits of his non-United States nationality; (3) a person who voted or participated in a foreign election; (4) a person who was convicted of desertion from the United States military; (5) a naturalized citizen who resided outside the United States for a specified period of time; and (6) in instances of a minor's parents' expatriation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1978
Amends the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 to extend specified payments to assist refugees in the United States from Cambodia, Vietnam or Laos. Increases from $25,000,000 to $40,000,000 the amount available for special projects administered wholly or in part by State, local, or private agencies for such refugees. Makes any such refugee paroled into the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act after March 31, 1975, eligible to have his status adjusted to that of a permanent resident.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1978
Medicare Home Health Amendments - Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to remove the 100 visit limitation presently applicable to home health care services under such Title. Eliminates prior hospitalization as a condition of eligibility for home health care services under part A (Hospital Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of such Title. Eliminates confinement to home as a requirement for receiving home health care services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of such Title. Includes "periodic chore services" within those home health services for which payment may be made under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1978
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, in carrying out his duties under the Trade Act, should seek the adoption and application of trade agreements which include environmental and safety and health standards among the international fair labor standards to be adopted.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1978
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare benefits for individuals who require total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1978
Meat and Poultry Inspection Consumer Protection Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to increase the fines and maximum prison terms for bribery of and assaults on Federal meat and poultry inspectors, and for other violations of the respective Acts. Subjects any person, firm, or corporation guilty of such violations to liability for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1978
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for occupational therapy services under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1978
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike bronze, silver, and gold national medals and deliver them to the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games Corporation, a nonprofit corporation. Requires such medals to be struck at not less than their estimated cost of manufacture, plus a surcharge equal to 25 percent of such cost. Requires such surcharge to be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1978
Prohibits the construction of any regulated interstate pipeline unless the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity for construction of such pipeline. Authorizes the Commission to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of any regulated interstate pipeline if (1) the pipeline satisfies the route requirements specified in this Act, (2) the person involved satisfies the reasonable attorneys fee requirement with regard to affected landowners, and (3) the Commission prepares an environmental impact statement.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1978
Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coin Act - Amends the Coinage Act of 1965 to change the size and weight of the one-dollar coin and to require that the obverse side of such coin bear the likeness of Susan B. Anthony.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1978
Stipulates that upon the withdrawal of approval of any portion of an Interstate Highway, the State involved, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Transportation, shall not be required to refund to the Highway Trust Fund any sums paid to the State for intangible costs. Stipulates that refunds shall not be required if the State applies such funds to an eligible transportation project or to a public conservation or recreation purpose within ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1978
Entitles former spouses of members of the armed forces who were married to the member for at least ten years to a portion of that member's retired or retainer pay. Entitles such former spouses to a portion of the annuity of the surviving spouse of such member. Stipulates that such a member may not elect not to provide an annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan without the consent of the member's spouse and any former spouses.
![Official portrait of Rep. Holtzman, Elizabeth [D-NY-16]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000752_200.jpg)