United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1978
Second Careers Act - Title I: Findings and Purposes - Expresses the findings of Congress and states the purposes of this Act, including to establish a second careers program to in part redress the pattern of discrimination against workers over 40 and afford them a suitable employment program. Title II: Second Careers Programs - Directs the Secretary of Labor to administer this Act. Requires any program carried out under this Act to include the following: (1) analysis of the local labor force by comparative age factors; (2) activities to familiarize employers in the area with the availability of the workers in the program, and to obtain commitments from on-job-training and work experience sponsors and other employers in the area, to hire second career participants; (3) the formulation of a second career strategy plan by the Secretary of Labor which will include the steps planners intend to take to solve the problems of workers over 40 in the area; (4) the assessment of the skills and experience of a participant in order to formulate realistic career objectives which will enable a participant to compete successfully in the job market; (5) second career counseling; (6) the establishment of second career objectives for program participants; (7) format training agreements between the participant and program manager; (8) the payment by the Secretary of reasonable training costs including training stipends, tuition payments, and payments to on-the-job training sponsors; (9) part-time or flexible-time working hours; and (10) review of work attendance and progress. Requires that program participants be over 40, underemployed, unemployed, or disadvantaged. Lists groups which may qualify as program sponsors. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1979 and 1980 to carry out this Act. Title III: Institute on Age and Employment - Establishes an Institute on Age and Employment in the Department of Labor to help to utilize middle-age and older workers most effectively in the economy.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1978
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to prohibit the export to South Africa of aircraft and aircraft parts, helicopters and helicopter parts and nonmilitary arms. Establishes a procedure for Congressional veto of Presidential authorization of exports to South Africa under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1978
Extends countercyclical revenue sharing until fiscal year 1982 and decreases the unemployment percentage required for authorization of such program from six to five percent.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1978
Provides that refugees who were paroled by the Attorney General for temporary entry into the United States under the Immigration and Naturalization Act and later admitted for permanent residence into the United States shall be treated for naturalization purposes as having established permanent resident status as of the date of such temporary entry.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1978
Interstate Land Sales Reform Act - Amends the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act to expand the exemption from the terms of the Act for the sale or lease of lots in subdivisions and to limit the exemption for the sale or lease of real estate which is not a part of a common promotional plan. Grants purchasers or lessees of subdivided real property the right to void a contract for purchase or lease during the 30-day period following the consummation of the transaction and during the three-year period after consummation under specified circumstances. Requires land developers to make public all printed promotional material, transcripts of all radio and television advertisements, and accurate summaries of all verbal representations made by a developer or his agent to promote the purchase or lease of subdivided lots. Revises the formula for determining the amount of damages awarded to purchasers or lessees prevailing in civil suits for untrue statements or omissions of material facts in statement of record to include reasonable court costs, attorneys' fees, appraisal costs, and travel expenses. Permits suits for securing specific performance of contracts or promises made by a developer in connection with a sale or lease of subdivided land. Extends the statute of limitations for such suits from one to three years after the discovery of the untrue statement or omission or after a discovery should have been made by the exercise of reasonable diligence. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to initiate administrative proceedings upon a reasonable belief that a developer is violating or had violated any provision of this Act or any rules or regulations prescribed pursuant to this Act. Grants the Secretary the power to issue temporary compliance orders if it is in the public interest to do so. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Act and increases the amount of criminal penalties which may be assessed. Authorizes any attorney general of a State to bring a civil action, as parens patriae on behalf of individuals residing in such State to secure monetary or injunctive relief for injury sustained by reason of any violations of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1978
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from admission into, and provide for the deportation from, the United States of any alien who engaged or assisted in, or incited or directed others to engage in, the persecution of others on the basis of religion, race, national origin, or political opinion.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1978
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the hemispheric immigration quota system for lawfully admitted aliens, including those born in colonies or other component or dependent areas of a foreign state. Establishes a Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy to study existing laws and policies governing immigration to the United States and to make appropriate administrative and legislative recommendations to the President and the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1978
Amends the Export Administration Act to prohibit United States persons from making investments in South Africa, other than those consisting soley of earnings derived from existing enterprises and made in such enterprises. Imposes fines of up to $1,000,000 for violations of this Act. Prohibits United States persons with major investments in South Africa from: (1) receiving licenses for exports to South Africa; (2) entering into Federal Government contracts; (3) receiving income tax credits for South African taxes; or (4) using Export-Import Bank services, if engaged in unfair employment practices or if not listed on the roster established by this Act. Establishes the mechanism for enforcement of such prohibitions. Establishes an Advisory Board to recommend policy with respect to the exercise of the authority granted under this Act. Requires persons having major investments, as defined in this Act, to notify the Administrator designated by the President to carry out the Act's provisions. Requires the Administrator to establish a roster of all persons complying with required employment practices. Prescribes procedures for findings of unfair employment practices and for enforcement of violations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Public Playground Equipment Safety Act - Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to (1) carry out a study of the different types of surfacing materials used in playgrounds and determine the relationship between such materials and the occurrence of accidents and injuries at such facilities; and (2) promulgate advisory safety standards for playground equipment. Requires playground equipment in federally assisted playgrounds to comply with such safety standards.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Establishes in the executive branch the National Zoological Foundation consisting of a National Zoological Board and a Director. Directs the Foundation to award scholarships for the training of staff members for zoos and aquariums, initiate and support research to improve the welfare of animals in zoos and aquariums, establish accreditation standards for zoos and aquariums, and to make specified project and program grants. Authorizes the Foundation to initiate and support appropriate research at academic and other nonprofit institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Makes ionization smoke detectors containing any radioactive isotope banned hazardous substances subject to the prohibitions of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Authorizes a certain nonprofit corporation to have medals struck in commemoration of the XIII Olympic Winter Games to be held in Lake Placid, New York in 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Declares it the sense of Congress that the President should direct the Amabassador to the United Nations to offer a resolution removing the observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization at the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Rural Housing Act - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to state that foreclosure of any rural housing loan made, insured, or guaranteed under Title V of such Act shall be undertaken only as a last resort. Authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct specified programs of research, study and analysis of rural housing. Authorizes the Secretary to make expenditures from the Rural Housing Insurance Fund in order to correct construction defects or to pay claims of the owner of property arising from such defects. Makes changes with respect to the Secretary's power to make rules and regulations. Authorizes increases in assistance to specified rural housing programs for fiscal years 1978 and 1979. Extends rural housing loans for elderly and handicapped facilities to include supervisory assistance personnel for congregate housing facilities. Makes it mandatory for the Secretary to provide rural rental assistance. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary to withhold assistance for specified programs from any otherwise eligible borrower who fails to incorporate energy conservation features into any structure commenced by such borrower after January 1, 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1978
Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to permit the President to waive prohibitions against commodity assistance relating to (1) status as a "friendly country," (2) North Vietnam, (3) diplomatic relations with the United States, (4) seizure of property owned by any United States person, and (5) emigration restrictions; in order to directly benefit needy people. Amends the Food for Peace Act to permit the Commodity Credit Corporation to extend agricultural export credit if the President waives prohibitions against such credit relating to (1) emigration restrictions, and (2) North Vietnam, in order to directly benefit needy people.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make urban rehabilitation grants to severely distressed cities and urban counties for the following purposes: (1) to finance the acquisition of real property by private, nonprofit entities for residential rehabilitation; (2) to finance residential rehabilitation through grants, revolving loan funds, mortgage insurance, high-risk mortgage pools, and low interest loans; (3) to make grants to neighborhood groups to carry out residential rehabilitation; and (4) to finance the rehabilitation of publicly owned building when the recipient of the grant participates in such rehabilitation. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations for the purpose of assuring that rehabilitation activities conducted with grants made under this program are primarily moderate rehabilitation activities and that such activities do not displace low- and moderate-income people. Lists information to be included in applications for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1978
Extends countercyclical revenue sharing until fiscal year 1982 and decreases the unemployment percentage required for authorization of such program from six to five percent.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide identical income tax rates for single persons and married couples filing joint returns. Limits the earned income that must be reported by a married individual filing a separate return to the amount actually earned by that individual.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Requires that Federal employees be given compensatory time off to conform to religious requirements of abstention from work during certain periods of time.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Amends the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out such Act to $10,000,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Emergency Daylight Saving Time Act - Allows the President to declare an energy emergency exists within a State suffering from severe energy shortages. Requires, upon such declaration, that daylight savings time be instituted within the effected State for 60 days. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to the President, within 60 days after the imposition or extension of emergency daylight saving time, concerning the operation and effect of this Act upon the effected State. Permits the President to declare additional 60-day emergency periods if he deems such action to be appropriate after having received the most recent report of the Secretary of Transportation. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to make appropriate adjustments in its rules where daytime standard amplitude modulation broadcast stations are adversely affected by the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1978
Amends the National Housing Act to redefine the term "essential property insurance" to include homeowners insurance for purposes of the National Insurance Development Program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1978
Requires that Federal employees be given compensatory time off to conform to religious requirements of abstention from work during certain periods of time.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1978
Amends the National Housing Act to require that at least one-third of the voting members of every board of directors or other advisory boards of State plans to assure fair access to insurance shall not be employed by, or otherwise affiliated with, insurers, agents, or other entities of the insurance industry.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1978
Interstate Land Sales Reform Act - Amends the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act to expand the exemption from the terms of the Act for the sale or lease of lots in subdivisions and to limit the exemption for the sale or lease of real estate which is not a part of a common promotional plan. Grants purchasers or lessees of subdivided real property the right to void a contract for purchase or lease during the 30-day period following the consummation of the transaction and during the three-year period after consummation under specified circumstances. Requires land developers to make public all printed promotional material, transcripts of all radio and television advertisements, and accurate summaries of all verbal representations made by a developer or his agent to promote the purchase or lease of subdivided lots. Revises the formula for determining the amount of damages awarded to purchasers or lessees prevailing in civil suits for untrue statements or omissions of material facts in statement of record to include reasonable court costs, attorneys' fees, appraisal costs, and travel expenses. Permits suits for securing specific performance of contracts or promises made by a developer in connection with a sale or lease of subdivided land. Extends the statute of limitations for such suits from one to three years after the discovery of the untrue statement or omission or after a discovery should have been made by the exercise of reasonable diligence. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to initiate administrative proceedings upon a reasonable belief that a developer is violating or had violated any provision of this Act or any rules or regulations prescribed pursuant to this Act. Grants the Secretary the power to issue temporary compliance orders if it is in the public interest to do so. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Act and increases the amount of criminal penalties which may be assessed.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1978
Emergency Interim Consumer Product Safety Rule Act - Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to provide an interim mandatory safety standard for flame resistance and corrosiveness for cellulose insulation. Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce such safety rule until a final cellulose home insulation product safety rule is in effect. Establishes procedures for amendments to the interim rule as promulgated by the General Services Administration. Directs the Commission to study: (1) the need for safety standards for other forms of home insulation; (2) the methods of testing such insulation; and (3) the methods of enforcing home insulation standards.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that property used in, or related to, the taxpayer's trade or business, and which the taxpayer acquired without cost, shall not qualify as a capital asset.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1978
Second Careers Act - Title I: Findings and Purposes - Expresses the findings of Congress and states the purposes of this Act, including to establish a second careers program to in part redress the pattern of discrimination against workers over 40 and afford them a suitable employment program. Title II: Second Careers Programs - Directs the Secretary of Labor to administer this Act. Requires any program carried out under this Act to include the following: (1) analysis of the local labor force by comparative age factors; (2) activities to familiarize employers in the area with the availability of the workers in the program, and to obtain commitments from on-job-training and work experience sponsors and other employers in the area, to hire second career participants; (3) the formulation of a second career strategy plan by the Secretary of Labor which will include the steps planners intend to take to solve the problems of workers over 40 in the area; (4) the assessment of the skills and experience of a participant in order to formulate realistic career objectives which will enable a participant to compete successfully in the job market; (5) second career counseling; (6) the establishment of second career objectives for program participants; (7) format training agreements between the participant and program manager; (8) the payment by the Secretary of reasonable training costs including training stipends, tuition payments, and payments to on-the-job training sponsors; (9) part-time or flexible-time working hours; and (10) review of work attendance and progress. Requires that program participants be over 40, underemployed, unemployed, or disadvantaged. Lists groups which may qualify as program sponsors. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1979 and 1980 to carry out this Act. Title III: Institute on Age and Employment - Establishes an Institute on Age and Employment in the Department of Labor to help to utilize middle-age and older workers most effectively in the economy.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1978
Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to permit the President to waive prohibitions against commodity assistance relating to (1) status as a "friendly country," (2) North Vietnam, (3) diplomatic relations with the United States, (4) seizure of property owned by any United States person, and (5) emigration restrictions; in order to directly benefit needy people. Amends the Food for Peace Act to permit the Commodity Credit Corporation to extend agricultural export credit if the President waives prohibitions against such credit relating to (1) emigration restrictions, and (2) North Vietnam, in order to directly benefit needy people.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1978
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1970 to require exporters of agricultural commodities to report to the Secretary of Agriculture contracts involving exportation of a into the United States by foreign subsidiaries and affiliates of such exporters.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1978
Directs the Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to develop methods for better collection and publication of labor force characteristics relating to women in professional, technical, and managerial occupations (including a breakdown in the statistical tables of the Bureau of the Census).
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Defense Economic Adjustment Act - States the purpose of this Act to be to provide advance planning for effective conversion of defense-related industries to productive civilian activity and to provide economic adjustment assistance to affected communities, industries, and workers which may be substantially and seriously affected by reductions in defense expenditures. Title I: Defense Economic Adjustment Council - Establishes a Defense Economic Adjustment Council in the Executive Office of the President, membership to include Cabinet officers, representatives of the business-management community, and representatives of labor union organizations. Defines the duties of the Council, including: (1) encouraging preparation of plans for civilian-oriented public projects; (2) supervising the establishment of a Job Information Bank in the Department of Labor to coordinate State, local and Federal employment services; (3) preparing lists of organizations and consultants engaged in civilian-oriented activity for use by local conversion committees; and (4) preparing and distributing a Conversion Guidelines Handbook. Title II: Alternative Use Committees - Establishes local Alternative Use Committees to undertake economic conversion planning and preparation in the event of reductions in defense spending resulting in substantial and serious unemployment. Provides a fund for performing these duties to be derived from the military contract or base operating costs. Title III: Economic Adjustment Fund - Provides for establishment in the Treasury of a Workers Economic Adjustment Reserve Trust Fund. Requires defense contractors to pay to the Fund an amount equal to one and a quarter percent per year of their gross revenue. Title IV: Economic Adjustment Assistance for Workers - Requires that all displacements in defense related facilities affecting more than five percent of the workers be reported to the State employment office or agency acting as agent for administration of employees' benefits programs. Provides eligible workers with two year entitlement to the following applicable benefits: (1) compensation on a weekly basis to maintain an income equal to 90 percent of the first $20,000 per year and 50 percent of the next $5,000 in excess of $20,000; (2) vested pension credit; (3) maintenance of hospital, surgical, medical, disability, and life insurance coverage; (4) retraining for civilian work; and (5) necessary relocation expenses. Requires all managerial and technical employees who have spent more than 50 percent of the ten years preceding implementation of the plan to participate in a professional retraining program in order to be eligible for benefits. Authorizes the Council to reimburse a State or administering agency (acting as agent of the Council) for all benefits paid. Title V: Use of Certain Research Funds - Amends the Defense Authorization Act of 1970 to expand kinds of independent research and development which can be funded in a defense contract to include projects which the Council believes have a potential relationship to an urgent national requirement in a designated non-defense sector. Title VI: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes the appropriation of sums which may be necessary to carry out provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that appropriations for the United Nations for any fiscal year be reduced by an amount equal to the product of the United States contribution to the United Nations for the preceding year and the proportion which the aggregate budget of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights for such fiscal year bears to the budget of the United Nations for such fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Condemns the recent poisoning of Israeli oranges. Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the President direct the United States delegations to the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament and the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament to urge that the poisoning incident be placed high on the agenda of these organizations. Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the President direct the United States delegation to the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament to recommit itself to efforts to negotiate an effective prohibition of chemical weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1978
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from admission into, and provides for the deportation from, the United States of any alien who engaged or assisted in, or incited or directed others to engage in, the persecution of others on the basis of religion, race, or national origin under the direction of the Nazi government of Germany between March 23, 1933, and May 8, 1945.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply the same tax rates to married persons filing separate returns as are presently applicable to unmarried individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation by the Congress of the March 11, 1978, attack on Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the expressed intention of the PLO to continue such attacks and to disrupt the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Requests the President to make the disapproval of the Congress known to governments approving the PLO attack. Expresses Congressional approval of the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Urges other Middle East countries to join such efforts. Declares negotiation to be the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Federal Acquisition Act - Title I: Acquisition Methods and Regulatory Guidance - Requires Federal agencies to procure goods and services utilizing methods prescribed in this Act as directed by rules promulgated by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (Office). Title II: Acquisition by Competitive Sealed Bids - Sets criteria for use of the competitive sealed bid method of acquisition. Requires bid invitations to indicate what factors, in addition to price, will be considered in evaluating bids. Title III: Acquisition by Competitive Negotiation - Permits the use of the competitive negotiation method of procurement when the competitive sealed bid method is inappropriate under this Act. Permits procurement through negotiation with a single source if a contract stems from the acceptance of an unsolicited proposal or if such procurement practice is in the best interest of the Government. Requires contractors to submit price data for analysis prior to any negotiated award, change, or modification of any contract valued at over $500,000 in order to facilitate determination of the reasonableness of its offers. Requires contractors party to a single-source award or negotiated contract to submit cost information bearing on the reasonableness of the offered price. Gives agencies the power to inspect plants and records of a contractor up to three years after final payment has been made under a contract to ascertain the accuracy of price and cost data submitted under this Act. Title IV: Acquisition by Competitive Small Purchase Procedures Method - Permits the use of the competitive small purchase procedures method of procurement when contracts valued at not more than $10,000 are involved and if such procedure would be advantageous to the Government. Title V: General Provisions - Prohibits the use of cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost contracting under this Act. Prohibits the employment of any agent on a contingent fee basis to solicit or secure a contract made with the Government. Disallows the making of any contract for a period of more than five years unless an exception has been made by the Office under this Act. Sets forth limitations for the making of advance payments. Gives title to the product of a contractor to the Government as security for partial and progress payments made pursuant to a Government contract. Directs the reconsideration and revision, if necessary, of specifications at least every three years. Title VI: Delegation of Authority - Permits agency heads to delegate specified authority conferred under this Act. Permits one agency to delegate acquisition functions to another agency to facilitate joint acquisitions. Title VII: Protests - Authorizes the Comptroller General to decide protests of awards under this Act. Permits the Comptroller General to declare a protested award or proposed award illegal. Requires protest proceedings to be as informal as possible. Title VIII: Applicability of Subsequent Laws - Prohibits the interpretation of any law passed subsequent to the enactment of this Act as amending this Act unless such law explicitly refers to this Act. Title IX: Amendments and Repeals - Makes technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1978
Permits the Governor of any State with jurisdiction to establish a disaster area Recovery Planning Council to contract the performance of Council functions to any Federal agency, State agency, or private nonprofit organization receiving Federal funds, which has economic development functions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Declares it the sense of Congress that coffee containers used for the retail distribution of coffee should be labeled with the percentage of coffee contained which was purchased from Uganda.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Extends, from June 30, 1978, until June 30, 1981, the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to make loans under the New York City Seasonal Financing Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment under the supplementary medical insurance program for dental care including dentures, eye examinations including eyeglasses, and hearing aids including examination. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to take steps to eliminate unnecessary or excessive medical (appliance) expenditures under the Medicare program. States that the Federal Trade Commission should continue and increase scrutiny of the medical appliance industries in the interest of consumer protection.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1978
Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act - Title I: Amendments to Pension Program for Non-service-connected Disability or Death - Revises the list of specified catagories of payments excluded from the determination of annual income for benefit payment purposes. Requires persons applying for a non-service-connected disability pension to report the income and estate of each spouse and child on account of whom added pension is applied for or received. Sets increased flat pension and aid-and-attendance allowance rates, reduced by the amount of a veteran's annual income, and in specified instances, by the amount of a spouse's or child's income which is reasonably available to or for such veteran. Sets increased flat benefit rates, with similar reductions, for the surviving spouses and children of such veterans. Requires annual adjustments in such pension and benefit rates in conjunction with cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions and Effective Dates - Sets the effective dates for provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Amends Title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to increase the ceiling imposed upon payments for services under such Title for the fiscal years 1979, 1980, 1981 and maintains the 1981 level for succeeding years.
![Official portrait of Rep. Holtzman, Elizabeth [D-NY-16]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000752_200.jpg)