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
Agricultural Credit Act - Title I: Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a low-income farm ownership loan program for owners or operators of small or family farms, and to extend eligibility for farm ownership, equipment and operating loans to farm cooperatives. Provides loans for agricultural, animal, or poultry waste pollution abatement and control facilities. Increases the maximum allowable total principal indebtedness for real estate loans which may be outstanding by any one borrower to $200,000, or $300,000 in the case of a guaranteed loan. Removes the $500,000 ceiling from the aggregate principal of loans made using the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Raises the ceiling on the annual aggregate amount of water and waste facility grants from $300,000 to $400,000, and increases from 50 percent to 75 percent the percentage of the development cost of such facilities which a grant may cover. Increases the amount of indebtedness which may be outstanding for operating loans for an individual from $50,000 to $100,000, or in the case of a guaranteed loan, $200,000. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase the guaranteed portion of any rural development loan using funds from the Rural Development Insurance Fund and the guaranteed portion of all other loans with funds from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Replaces the current provision for an up to five-year renewal of an operating loan with a provision for the consolidation or rescheduling of outstanding loans for payment over a period not to exceed seven years from the date of such consolidation or rescheduling. Authorizes the Secretary to make loans and grants, and approve transfers and assumptions under such Act in connection with property securing a loan made, insured, or held by the Secretary notwithstanding the fact an area ceases to be eligible for assistance under the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a procedure for appeal and review of determinations by a county committee that a loan applicant is able to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance his actual needs at reasonable rates and terms. Increases from $15,000 to $25,000 the amount of a claim that can be compromised without approval of the Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration. Authorizes the Secretary to grant a moratorium upon the payment by an individual of interest and principal on a loan, if there is a showing of temporary inability to continue making payments which is beyond the individual's control. Title II: Emergency Agricultural Credit Adjustment Act - Authorizes the Secretary to insure or guarantee loans for the purpose of making payment of principal and interest installments or refinancing, in whole or in part, equipment or operating loans, giving preference to owners of small or family farms. Permits the Secretary to guarantee up to 90 percent of such loans. Limits the total principal balance outstanding on insured or guaranteed loans to $400,000. Allows the total outstanding principal indebtedness of any borrower to reach $150,000 without approval of the senior State official of the Farmers Home Administration. Limits the total principal amount of all outstanding loans under this title during 1978 to $2,000,000,000 and during 1979 to $4,000,000,000. Terminates such program on December 31, 1979. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Extends the Emergency Livestock Credit Act through September 30, 1979. Renames the Farmers Home Administration the Farm and Rural Development Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations corresponding to the principles set forth in a certain private letter ruling relating to the exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred by participants in public deferred compensation plans.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Beef Import Act - Title I: Import Quotas - Revises the quotas on the importation of beef. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to determine the domestic production quantity of beef each quarter in order that the import quota may be determined. Directs the Secretary to establish a system for the equitable distribution of such quota among importers. Title II: Customs Duties - Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to increase the customs duties on beef whenever domestic production is too low to trigger the imposition of import quotas.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1978
Agricultural Trade Act - Title I: Establishment of United States Agricultural Trade Offices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish abroad not less than six nor more than 25 United States Agricultural Trade Offices, for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities. Title II: Intermediate Commercial Credit - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to require the Corporation to finance, under its export credit sales program, export sales of agricultural commodities out of its own private stocks on credit terms in excess of three years, but not more than ten years. Title III: Reorganization - Establishes in the Department of Agriculture: (1) an Assistant Secretary for Commodity Programs, to perform duties related to agricultural stabilization and conservation; and (2) an Under Secretary for International Affairs to perform duties related to foreign agriculture. Title IV: Agricultural Counselors - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to change the title of Agricultural Attaches to Agricultural Counselors, and to require each Counselor to submit to the Secretary an annual report detailing the social, political and economic factors affecting agriculture and agricultural trade in the country or area to which such Counselor is assigned. Title V: General Provisions - Requires the Secretary to transmit to Congress annual reports on the activities and accomplishments of the Department, especially those of the United States Agricultural Trade Offices, in developing, maintaining, and expanding foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit the licensing of high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities located in areas where there exists an average of more than 15 persons per square mile in a 50-mile radius of the proposed facility. Allows the Governor of the State in question to waive such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Legislative Oversight Act - Title I: Requirements for Authorization Bills - Requires all legislation considered by either House of Congress which authorizes new budget authority or increased tax expenditures to include a statement of objectives of the program to be authorized or established and a requirement that the agencies administering the program report annually to Congress to assist it in determining whether such program should be amended. Requires such agency reports to list the costs and accomplishments of each program. Title II: Requirements for Reports Accompanying Authorization Bills - Requires committee reports accompanying such legislation to identify expected economic and social costs and benefits of new programs authorized or established by such legislation, potentially duplicative programs, and previous efforts to accomplish the objectives of the program being considered. Requires reports to contain, if the legislation continues an existing program, authorization, or tax expenditure, an assessment of the degree to which such program or tax expenditure has met previously stated objectives. Requires the Comptroller General to publish and periodically update a descriptive catalog of interrelated Federal activities which compares program costs and accomplishments and describes program interrelationships, including the extent to which programs are duplicative. Title III: Presidential Budget Recommendations - Requires the President's budget to describe the relationship between the President's recommended program budgets and the program accomplishments reported by Federal agencies under this Act. Title IV: Authorization Time Limit; Certain Obligations not Impaired - Prohibits congressional consideration of any legislation which authorizes new budget authority or provides new or increased tax expenditures, or new spending authority for a period exceeding five years. Exempts from this prohibition national debt service and payments to individuals from Federal trust funds to which such individuals have contributed. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions; Effective Date - Recognizes the authority of either House to amend this Act. Sets the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to the President findings concerning the suitability of designating specified areas of the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana as a wilderness area.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1978
SS Life Act - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer to LIFE International for 15 years the hospital ship U.S.S. Sanctuary (AH-17) to furnish health care to developing nations. Renames such ship the "SS LIFE". Authorizes the appropriation of $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 for modification of such ship and for maintenance and operation $494,000 for fiscal year 1979, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1983, and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1978
Small Business Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small businesses to compute taxable income under the cash method and without regard to inventories. Increases the corporate surtax exemption and reduces the corporate tax rates. Provides for limited recognition of the gain from the sale or exchange of a sole proprietorship prior to the age of 55, and non-recognition after age 55. Allows the amortization over a 36-month period of expenses of a business for property acquired to put the business in compliance with Federal law and which does not have any economic usefulness to the business. Increases the additional first year depreciation allowance for small businesses. Increases the investment tax credit for investments in certain small manufacturing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 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 · 2 February 1978
Agriculture Refinance Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to permit insured loans of up to $1,000,000 to farm owners and operators for refinancing existing indebtedness incurred between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1977. Allows a repayment period for refinancing loans of 40 years for real estate loans, 12 years for equipment loans, and five years for operating loans. Defers the first payment for the interest and principal of such loans for five years for real estate loans, for three years for equipment loans, and for two years for operating loans.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Product Liability Insurance Tax Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify trusts established for the payment of product liability claims as tax exempt organizations. Allows taxpayers a business income tax deduction for contributions to such trusts only to the extent they exceed the reasonable costs of product liability insurance for the deducting taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Agricultural Trade Act - Title I: Establishment of United States Agricultural Trade Offices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish abroad not less than six nor more than 25 United States Agricultural Trade Offices, for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities. Title II: Intermediate Commercial Credit - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to require the Corporation to finance, under its export credit sales program, export sales of agricultural commodities out of its own private stocks on credit terms in excess of three years, but not more than ten years. Title III: Reorganization - Establishes in the Department of Agriculture: (1) an Assistant Secretary for Commodity Programs, to perform duties related to agricultural stabilization and conservation; and (2) an Under Secretary for International Affairs to perform duties related to foreign agriculture. Title IV: Agricultural Counselors - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to change the title of Agricultural Attaches to Agricultural Counselors, and to require each Counselor to submit to the Secretary an annual report detailing the social, political and economic factors affecting agriculture and agricultural trade in the country or area to which such Counselor is assigned. Title V: General Provisions - Requires the Secretary to transmit to Congress annual reports on the activities and accomplishments of the Department, especially those of the United States Agricultural Trade Offices, in developing, maintaining, and expanding foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Directs the United States to pay reasonable litigation costs, including attorney fees, to prevailing defendants in civil actions in which the United States is a plaintiff.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction of up to $1,500 for household expenses to any taxpayer who maintains a household in which a dependent aged 65 or over resides.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Declares that the President should take steps to discourage activities by the United States which benefit the Government of Uganda; including closing the Ugandan embassy in the District of Columbia; restricting the movement of officials of the Ugandan mission to the United Nations; supporting legislation to prohibit imports to or exports from Uganda; prohibiting the entry of individuals on scholarships from Uganda; prohibiting the training of Ugandans in areas having military application; revoking the landing rights of Ugandan aircraft in the United States; and prohibiting maintenance in the United States of equipment having police or military application.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1977
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the people of Egypt and Israel be congratulated and encourages the states of the Middle East to begin direct negotiations for peace in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Flood Control Act of 1970 to require the Secretary of the Army, in determining the need for a flood control project, to consider the economic and social impact of not providing such protection. Sets forth factors for evaluating such impact. Requires the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, upon a finding that the costs of any flood control project exceed its benefits, to furnish the non-Federal interests affected by such decision with an opportunity to contribute to the project the amount by which the costs exceed the benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to not consider specified housing benefits available to veterans in determining eligibility of veterans for housing financing from sources other than the Farmers Home Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1977
Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 to restrict the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to determine the justness or reasonableness of any stockyard service rate or charge to only those rates or charges for services at stockyards which have a certain minimum annual sales volume.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Directs the President of the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Foreign Service, and the Department of State to formulate and implement a plan for the expansion of sales of American agricultural commodities abroad, including increased food-for-peace (Public Law 480) sales as well as private international transfers of food.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile, apparel, or fiber products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1977
Alcohol Fuel Encouragement Act - Requires all gasoline stations, within three years of the passage of this Act, to sell a mixture of gasoline and alcohol in the same manner as they sell gasoline. Imposes a civil penalty for violations of such requirement. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow rapid amortization of facilities producing alcohol for use as a fuel in motor vehicles. Amends the Clean Air Act with respect to the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the use of alcohol as a fuel additive.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1977
Amends the Flood Control Act of 1970 to require the Secretary of the Army, in determining the need for a flood control project, to consider the economic and social impact of not providing such protection. Sets forth factors for evaluating such impact. Requires the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, upon a finding that the costs of any flood control project exceed its benefits, to furnish the non-Federal interests affected by such decision with an opportunity to contribute to the project the amount by which the costs exceed the benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Declares that the President should establish a Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition which should: (1) collect and generate information and resources on food, hunger, malnutrition and related concerns; (2) assess current programs affecting domestic and international hunger and malnutrition; (3) analyze and report its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the public; and (4) assist the President and the Congress in implementing its recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Expresses the sense of the Congress that any right to, title to, or interest in the property of the United States Government agencies in the Panama Canal Zone or any real property and improvements thereon located in the zone should not be conveyed, relinquished, or otherwise disposed of to any foreign government without specific authorization of such conveyance, relinquishment, or other disposition by any Act of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as a scholarship and to exclude from gross income any amounts received by an individual under the Armed Forces health professions scholarship program or the National Health Service Corps scholarship program, without regard to whether such individual is receiving training while on active duty or in an off-duty or inactive status, and without regard to whether a period of active duty or other service is required of such individual as a condition of receiving such payments.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1977
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Congress to assure that the total outlays of the Government, during any fiscal year, do not exceed the total receipts of the Government during such fiscal year. States that by the fourth fiscal year after the ratification of this amendment the budget shall be balanced. Permits expenditures to exceed national revenues in time of declared emergency, but states that such expenditures shall never exceed receipts by more than ten percent. Provides that during the fifth fiscal year beginning after the ratification of this amendment and for the next 19 succeeding fiscal years thereafter, the total receipts of the Government shall exceed outlays by an amount equal to five percent of the Federal indebtedness at the beginning of the fifth year fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1977
Overturns the Internal Revenue Service's Revenue Ruling 76-453 which holds that: (1) transportation expenses between an individual's residence and temporary place of work are not deductible; and (2) reimbursement for such expenses by employers is includible in gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1977
Declares that the Federal Power Commission and other Federal agencies with authority over the allocation of natural gas shall give the highest priority to specified agricultural uses, including irrigation, grain drying, and the production of fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1977
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to exempt from customs duties products of the insular possessions of, the United States if not more than 70 percent of the products value is attributable to foreign materials, until the value of such imports reaches a specified annual total. Exempts watch products from such quota. Exempts from customs duties products of the insular possessions of the United States upon re-entry, if applicable duties were previously paid.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1977
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States Postal Services should not reduce the frequency of mail delivery service for any user of the mails below the frequency of such service which was in effect for such user of June 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to compute the amount of the deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of the United States should maintain its rights and jurisdiction over the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Zone.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1977
Consumer Communications Reform Act - States that Congress finds that the revenues from integrated interstate and foreign common carrier telecommunications services helped maintain a level of charges for telephone exchange service which is lower than otherwise would be required. Expresses the sense of Congress that the authorization of lines, facilities, or services of specialized carriers which duplicate the lines, facilities, or services of other telecommunications common carriers is contrary to the public interest. Reaffirms the intent of Congress that the complete authority to regulate terminal and station equipment used for telephone exchange service shall rest with the States even though such terminal and station equipment also may be used in connection with interstate services. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that no compensatory charges for or in connection with such communication service may be found to be unjust or unreasonable on the ground that it is too low. Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from holding the charge of a carrier up to a particular level to protect the traffic or revenues from a communication service offered or provided by another carrier if such charge proposed by the carrier is compensation. Provides that the Commission shall not grant or authorize any construction permit, station license, or certificate, for the construction, acquisition, or operation of any communication or transmission line or facility, or extension thereof, or any modification or renewal thereof, unless the Commission shall find, after full opportunity for evidentiary hearing on the record, that such permit, license, or certificate will not result in increased charges or unnecessary duplication of communication lines.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1977
Administrative Rule Making Reform Act - Requires a Federal agency preparing to hold a rule making session to make a reasonable effort to inform those likely to be affected by the proposed rule making. Requires that if the affected group is large, representatives of such group must be notified. Requires, in addition to present requirements, that the notice of rule making include the projected effective date of the rules, the purpose of the rule making, the text of the proposed rules, and the technical or other studies on which the agency intends to rely in the rule making proceedings. Applies the requirements of this Act to all rule making sessions except (1) those specifically authorized to be kept secret in the interest of national security, and (2) those relating to agency management. Requires public notice and public opportunity for comment of all rule making proceedings under this Act unless the agency finds that the rules to be proposed are emergency rules or are of routine or insignificant impact in which case the rule must be published with reasons for its adoption. Requires Federal agencies to give interested persons at least 45 days to participate in the rule making. Requires the agency to maintain a file of each proceeding to be made available to the courts, Congress, and to the public in connection with review of the rule. Limits the period for public comment to a maximum of 90 days. Requires a copy of all proposed rules to be sent to Congress. States that such rule, other than an emergency rule, shall not become effective if it is disapproved within 90 days by both Houses of Congress, or it is disapproved within 60 days by one House and no action is taken on the disapproval resolution by the other House. Sets forth procedures for adoption of resolutions to approve or disapprove any such rule for both Houses. Requires the Administrative Conference of the United States to study Congressional review of agency rule making under this Act and report the effect of such review on such rule making before July 1, 1982. Authorizes to be appropriated $200,000 to finance such study. Makes this Act effective on the first day of the first session of the Ninety-fifth Congress. Terminates the Congressional review required by this Act at the adjournment of the Ninety-seventh Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1977
Administrative Rule Making Reform Act - Requires a Federal agency preparing to hold a rule making session to make a reasonable effort to inform those likely to be affected by the proposed rule making. Requires that if the affected group is large, representatives of such group must be notified. Requires, in addition to present requirements, that the notice of rule making include the projected effective date of the rules, the purpose of the rule making, the text of the proposed rules, and the technical or other studies on which the agency intends to rely in the rule making proceedings. Applies the requirements of this Act to all rule making sessions except (1) those specifically authorized to be kept secret in the interest of national security, and (2) those relating to agency management. Requires public notice and public opportunity for comment of all rule making proceedings under this Act unless the agency finds that the rules to be proposed are emergency rules or are of routine or insignificant impact in which case the rule must be published with reasons for its adoption. Requires Federal agencies to give interested persons at least 45 days to participate in the rule making. Requires the agency to maintain a file of each proceeding to be made available to the courts, Congress, and to the public in connection with review of the rule. Limits the period for public comment to a maximum of 90 days. Requires a copy of all proposed rules to be sent to Congress. States that such rule, other than an emergency rule, shall not become effective if it is disapproved within 90 days by both Houses of Congress, or it is disapproved within 60 days by one House and no action is taken on the disapproval resolution by the other House. Provides that either House of Congress may, by resolution, require any agency to reconsider and resubmit any rule to which this Act applies. Requires that such proposed rule be repromulgated anew in accordance with all the provisions of this Act unless it is reconsidered and resubmitted to Congress within 180 days after the adoption of the resolution requiring such reconsideration. Requires the Administrative Conference of the United States to study Congressional review of agency rule making under this Act and report the effect of such review on such rule making before July 1, 1982. Authorizes to be appropriated $200,000 to finance such study. Makes this Act effective on the first day of the first session of the Ninety-fifth Congress. Terminates the Congressional review required by this Act at the adjournment of the Ninety-seventh Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1977
Administrative Rule Making Reform Act - Requires a Federal agency preparing to hold a rule making session to make a reasonable effort to inform those likely to be affected by the proposed rule making. Requires that if the affected group is large, representatives of such group must be notified. Requires, in addition to present requirements, that the notice of rule making include the projected effective date of the rules, the purpose of the rule making, the text of the proposed rules, and the technical or other studies on which the agency intends to rely in the rule making proceedings. Applies the requirements of this Act to all rule making sessions except (1) those specifically authorized to be kept secret in the interest of national security, (2) those relating to agency management, and (3) those promulgating rules which are not enforceable by imprisonment, fine, civil penalty, or denial of future Federal benefits. Requires public notice and public opportunity for comment of all rule making proceedings under this Act unless the agency finds that the rules to be proposed are emergency rules or are of routine or insignificant impact in which case the rule must be published with reasons for its adoption. Requires Federal agencies to give interested persons at least 45 days to participate in the rule making. Requires the agency to maintain a file of each proceeding to be made available to the courts, Congress, and to the public in connection with review of the rule. Limits the period for public comment to a maximum of 90 days. Requires a copy of all proposed rules to be sent to Congress. States that such rule, other than an emergency rule, shall not become effective if it is disapproved within 90 days by both Houses of Congress, or it is disapproved within 60 days by one House and no action is taken on the disapproval resolution by the other House. Provides that either House of Congress may, by resolution, require any agency to reconsider and resubmit any rule to which this Act applies. Requires that such proposed rule be repromulgated anew in accordance with all the provisions of this Act unless it is reconsidered and resubmitted to Congress within 180 days after the adoption of the resolution requiring such reconsideration. Sets forth procedures for adoption of resolutions to approve, disapprove, or compel reconsideration for both Houses. Requires the Administrative Conference of the United States to study congressional review of agency rule making under this Act and report the effect of such review on such rule making before July 1, 1982. Authorizes to be appropriated $200,000 to finance such study. Makes this Act effective on the first day of the first session of the 95th Congress. Terminates the congressional review required by this Act at the adjournment of the 97th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1977
Energy Conservation Tax Incentives Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow limited, nonrefundable income tax credits for individuals who: (1) install qualified insulation in their residences; (2) install qualified solar heating and cooling equipment in dwelling units used by them, or leased to others as residences; (3) replace the heating system in any dwelling with a reversible, compressible refrigerant system (i.e., a heat pump system); or (4) purchase personal or family electric highway vehicles between 1976 and 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to transfer the responsibility for investigating Communist and subversive organizations affecting the internal security of the United States to a standing Committee on Internal Security established by this Resolution. Confers upon such committee the responsibility for investigating all organizations within the United States aimed at overthrowing or altering the Government of the United States by force, insurrection or other unlawful means or inciting or employing violence to obstruct the authority of the Federal Government with respect to matters of internal security of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1977
Agricultural Act - Title I: Payment Limitation for Wheat, Feed Grains and Upland Cotton - Sets increasing amounts of payment limitations for each crop year from 1978 through 1981 for persons entitled to receive payments for wheat, feed grains or upland cotton under the annual programs established by the Agricultural Acts of 1949 and 1970. Title II: Dairy and Beekeeper Programs - Extends the effectiveness of Class I dairy base plans through 1984 and of other dairy base plans through 1981. Extends through 1981 the authority for making dairy products available to veterans' hospitals and to the Armed Forces, and for making indemnity payments to dairy farmers who sustain losses as a result of pesticides or, new with this Act, as a result of nuclear radiation of fallout. Sets the price support of milk at not less than 80 percent of parity, adjusted at the beginning of each semiannual period after the beginning of the marketing year and at the beginning of each remaining quarter. Extends through fiscal year 1981 the provisions of the beekeeper indemnity program. Title III: Wool and Mohair - Extends through 1981 the price support provisions of the National Wool Act of 1954. Excepts 1977 from the current price support of 80.2 cents per pound, grease basis; sets such support, for the years 1977 through 1981, at 85 percent of the amount calculated according to a specified formula. Excepts 1977 from the current price support for mohair; but makes no provision for such support for the years 1977 through 1981. Title IV: Wheat - Extends specified provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, through 1981. Raises the loan level for wheat to not less than $2.25 per bushel for the 1977 crops and to $2.35 per bushel for the 1978 through 1981 crops. Replaces the current established price with a target price and establishes such target price at $2.65 per bushel for the 1977 crop, at $3.00 per bushel for 1978, and for the 1979 through 1981 crops at an amount calculated according to a specified formula. Sets formulae for disaster payments and for prevented planting payments to compensate producers prevented from planting acreage intended for wheat because of drought, flood or other natural disaster. Suspends, for producers, processors and handlers, the marketing certificate program for the 1974 through 1981 wheat crops. Extends the set-aside program and current yield calculations through 1981. Substitutes, for the existing specified formulae for the determination of wheat acreage allotments, a single general formula based on an allocation factor found by dividing the announced national wheat acreage allotment by the number of harvested acres. Multiplies the allocation factor by the acreage of wheat harvested on the farm in the current crop year to determine each farm's allotment. Title V: Feed Grains - Extends specified provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, through the 1981 crops. Raises the loan level for corn to $1.75 per bushel for the 1977 crop and to $2.00 per bushel for each of the 1978 through 1981 crops. Replaces the established price of feed grains with a target price and sets such target price of corn at $1.85 per bushel for the 1977 crop, at $2.10 per bushel for 1978, and the 1979 through 1981 crops at the previous year's target price, adjusted to reflect changes in the average adjusted cost of production over the previous two to four years. Substitutes, for the existing specified formulae for the determination of feed grain acreage allotments, a single general formula based on an allocation factor found by dividing the announced national feed grain acreage allotment by the number of harvested acres. Multiplies the allocation factor by the acreage of feed grain harvested on the farm in the current crop year to determine each farm's allotment. Title VI: Cotton - Extends the national cotton production goal and national base acreage allotment provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. Suspends through 1981 other provisions, including: (1) the proclamation of national marketing quotas; (2) the referendum of cotton farmers on the marketing quota proclamation; (3) the existing basis for apportioning national acreage allotments and (4) the program for preserving unused acreage allotments. Revises the formula basis of the level for nonrecourse loans for the 1978 through 1981 crops. Directs the President to proclaim a special limited global import quota, subject to specified conditions, whenever the average price of Strict Low Middling one and one-sixteenth inch cotton exceeds a specified maximum. Sets the established price per pound of cotton at 110 percent of the loan level. Title VII: Rice - Extends through 1981 specified provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended by the Rice Production Act of 1975. States that for the 1978 through 1981 crops: (1) the established price shall be the established price for the previous year's crop adjusted to reflect any change in specified costs; and (2) the loan level shall bear the same ratio to the loan rate for the preceding year's crop as the established price for each year bears to the established price for the preceding year's crop. Requires that payments to cooperators planting not less than 90 percent of their allotment shall be based on the entire amount of such allotments. Requires that, beginning with the 1978 crop the $55,000 limitation on the total amount of payments to any eligible person shall be reduced 5 percent for each crop year from the limitation in effect for the previous crop year, never, though, below the limitation in effect for wheat, feed grains and cotton. Title VIII: Peanuts - Peanut Production Act - Suspends, for the 1978 through 1981 crops, provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 relating to national marketing quotas and county acreage allotments. Establishes an annual national acreage allotment for peanuts, not less than 1,610,000 acres. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to announce a minimum national poundage quota each year. Requires, for each farm, a farm yield determined according to a specified formula, a farm base production poundage and a farm poundage quota. Requires the Secretary to permit the sale, lease and transfer of acreage allotments, and prescribes the basis of such transfers. Increases the penalty for the marketing of peanuts in excess of a farm's quota from 75 percent to 120 percent of the support price for quota peanuts. Establishes similar penalties for handlers marketing peanuts larger in quantity or higher in quality than the quota peanuts they should be acquiring. Allows the Commodity Credit Corporation to make available for domestic edible use peanuts owned or controlled by it, under specified pricing conditions. Subjects all farmers engaged in peanut production to existing record and report requirements. Establishes the price support of peanuts at not less than $420 per ton. Permits the Secretary to make warehouse storage loans available to designated area marketing associations of peanut producers. Title IX: Miscellaneous Commodity Provisions - Establishes, for the 1977 through 1981 crops of wheat, feed grains and cotton, a minimum diversion of 55 percent of cropland acreage on summer fallow farms for summer fallow use. Directs the Secretary to permit loan borrowers to extend repayment periods for additional twelve month terms under specified conditions. Prohibits the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling wheat or feed grain owned or controlled by it for less than 150 percent of the current loan level, with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Secretary to administer a special program whereunder portions of wheat, feed grains or upland cotton farm acreage allotments shall be planted to wheat and used for grazing purposes or hay. Directs the Secretary to set the loan level for any commodity at 100 percent of parity on any day the President of the United States or any other member of the executive branch, initiates a suspension of export sales of such commodity to any country or area with which the United States continues commercial trade. Requires the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, to make available loans not in excess of $50,000 for the construction or remodeling of farm storage facilities. Directs the Secretary to make available to producers loans and purchases on each crop of soybeans at such level as he finds appropriate. Requires that export sales of 100,000 metric tons or more of a commodity be reported to the Secretary by 3 P.M., eastern time, on the business day following the day of sale. Restricts the importation of filbert nuts, whenever the Secretary issues a marketing order, to those filbert nuts that comply with the grade, size, quality and maturity provisions of the order. Directs the Secretary to collect and analyze information and to report his conclusions and recommendations to the appropriate Congressional committees regarding the use of bushels of wheat and feed grains and pounds of rice as the basis for assigning allotments to producers of such commodities. Title X: Rural Development and Conservation - Extends the multi-year set aside provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1970, as amended, through 1981. Exempts major disaster areas from the prohibition of livestock grazing; but only if the Secretary finds there is a need for grazing as a result of such disaster. Raises from $250,000 to $500,000 the maximum amount of the estimated Federal contribution to a project which must be exceeded, under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, and the maximum amount of a loan for a resource conservation and development project under the Bankhead-Jones Tenant Act, before special Congressional and Executive Branch approval requirements must be met. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with owners and operators of land in the Great Plains area for the purpose of devoting up to 50 percent of a farm acreage to the planting of soil conserving cover crops. Specifies the terms of such agreements and provides for an annual adjustment payment to such owners or operators not in excess of $30 per acre. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the appropriate Congressional committees on rural water programs. Authorizes the appropriation of $7,000,000 for rural community fire protection for each of fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 1980. Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to describe generally the content of small farm research and extension programs. Authorizes the appropriation for such programs of $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1978 and 1979; and specifies how such funds will be distributed. Requires the Secretary to file an annual report to Congress on such programs. Title XI: Public Law 480 - Requires that purchases of commodities shall be financed under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 only on the basis of an invitation for bids publicly advertised in the United States. Requires the reporting to the Secretary of any fees paid by commodity suppliers or ocean transportation financed by the Commodity Credit Corporation to any representatives of the importer or the importing country. States that assistance programs shall not be undertaken during any calendar year which call for an appropriation of more than $750,000,000 (currently, $600,000,000) to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for all costs incurred in connection with such programs. Allows disposition under the program of a commodity, which would reduce the domestic supply below that needed for domestic requirements, if the Secretary determines that some part of the supply should be used to carry out urgent humanitarian purposes. Requires that in determining the reimbursement due the Commodity Credit Corporation for all costs incurred in connection with such programs, commodities acquired under a domestic price support program shall be valued at the export market price as of the time they were made available under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. Title XII: Food Stamps - Permits the Secretary: (1) to make contracts or grants to public or private organizations to undertake research that will help improve the administration and effectiveness of the food stamp program; (2) to conduct pilot projects involving the use of identification mechanism that do not invade a household's privacy, the use of voucher-type forms in place of food coupons, and other experiments. Directs the Secretary to develop and implement measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the food stamp program in achieving its stated objectives. Authorizes for such programs a total appropriation not to exceed one-fourth of one percent of the previous year's appropriation. Directs the Secretary for fiscal years 1978 through 1981, to continue to purchase sufficient commodities to maintain the traditional level of assistance for domestic food assistance programs. Title XIII: National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act - Designates the Department of Agriculture as the lead Federal agency for agricultural research, extension and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences. Establish within the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering and Technology a Subcommittee on Food and Renewable Resources to review Federal research and development programs relevant to world food and fiber production and distribution, to promote planning and coordination of this research in the Federal Government and to recommend policies and measures concerning food and agricultural science for the consideration of the Council. Establishes a Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences to foster coordination of the research, extension and teaching activities of the Federal Government, the States, colleges and universities and other public and private institutions and persons involved in the food and agricultural sciences. Requires the Secretary to submit to the President and the Congress an annual report containing an annually updated five-year national agricultural research plan and a review of specified categories of research, extension and teaching activities of the Department and their relationship to the related activities of other Federal, State and private agencies. Establishes within the Department an Agricultural, Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Advisory Board. States that the Board's responsibilities shall include: (1) reviewing programs, policies, plans and goals of food and agricultural research agencies; (2) providing a forum for research-sponsoring agencies to exchange information on programs relating to food and agriculture; (3) reviewing and consulting on national policies, priorities and strategies for food and agricultural research, extension and teaching; and (4) assessing the overall adequacy of and making recommendations to the Secretary regarding the distribution of resources. Directs the Secretary to establish a program of competitive grants for agricultural research to be made to individual scientists for research in specified categories. Requires the Secretary to give priority to research in those fields of basic and applied science promising advances and breakthroughs. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for up to five year's duration for such research to land-grant colleges, and universities, and to State agricultural experiment stations and to all colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity in agricultural research. Directs the Secretary to make grants for research related to the production and marketing of industrial hydrocarbons derived from agricultural commodities and forest products. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of four pilot projects for the production and marketing of such hydrocarbons by guaranteeing loans not to exceed $15,000,000 per project to public, private or cooperative organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint a Committee on Agricultural Research Facilities to assist the Secretary in the compilation of a report to the President and the Congress on the status and future needs of specified agricultural research materials and facilities. Directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible institutions for the construction or improvement of agricultural research facilities. Authorizes specified appropriations for such grants for fiscal years 1978 through 1982. Authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with and assist the States in carrying out programs of animal disease research at eligible institutions. Directs that funds appropriated for such purposes be apportioned according to a specified formula. Directs the Secretary to conduct a program of grants to States for the purpose of meeting the costs of construction, employing faculty, and acquiring equipment to establish schools of veterinary medicine. Directs the Secretary to conduct a program of competitive grants and fellowships for merit to strengthen undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral research in the food and agricultural sciences. Establishes a National Agricultural Research Award, consisting of a grant not to exceed $50,000 per year for a period of not more than three years to support research or study by: (1) a scientist in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advance of agricultural science; and (2) a graduate student or post-doctoral research worker in recognition of demonstrated capability and promise. Authorizes appropriations to support agricultural research and continuing agricultural and forestry extension at 1890 land grant colleges and universities and Tuskegee Institute. Directs the cooperative extension services to give increasing attention to education programs for the preservation of the family farm system, human nutrition, energy conservation, forestry and natural resources, and animal disease and health care. Requires the Secretary to evaluate for the Congress the economic and social consequences of the programs of the Extension Service and the cooperative extension services. Permits the Department to expand its operational coordination with agricultural research and education activities around the world, in both developing countries. Directs the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive study of the effects of changing climate and weather on crop and livestock productivity. Establishes with the National Agricultural Library a Food and Nutrition Information and Education Resources Center which shall be responsible for collecting and maintaining food and nutrition education materials. Repeals the existing requirement that at least 20 percent of grant funds distributed to the States be used by State agricultural experiment stations for marketing research. Transfers the administration of additional appropriations for agricultural colleges from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to the Department of Agriculture. Authorizes the appropriation of specified sums for specified existing and new programs under this Title, for fiscal years 1978 through 1982. Title XIV; Agricultural Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Amends the Bankhead-Jones Act of 1935 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct and to stimulate research and development relating to uses of solar energy with respect to farm buildings, farm homes and farm machinery. Authorizes the appropriation of $25,000,000 each fiscal year to carry out such research and development. Includes the agricultural uses of solar energy in the agricultural extension programs. Directs that loans, under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, be made for the purchase of farm equipment which utilizes solar energy and for the acquisition and installation of any qualified solar energy thermal conversion system in any residential structure located on a family farm. Establishes within the Department of Agriculture an Advisory Committee which shall be responsible for compiling a list of solar energy research projects and for meeting with regional representatives of the State departments of agriculture to determine which projects will be useful and beneficial to the several States. Requires each State department of agriculture to establish one large model farm and after two years to establish not less than ten demonstrations of solar energy research projects using the most efficient or practicable research projects demonstrated on such model farm. Stipulates the terms of any agreement entered into between selected farmowners and the State departments of agriculture for the establishment of such demonstration projects. Authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 for the purposes of this Title, of which 80 percent is to be used by State departments of agriculture for the model farm and demonstration projects Title XV: Wheat and Wheat Foods Research and Nutrition Education Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue orders: (1) for establishing projects for research and nutrition education for wheat and wheat products; (2) for establishing and carrying on research or studies with respect to the sale, distribution, marketing, and utilization of wheat and wheat products and the creation of new products; and (3) requiring that processors, distributors of processed wheat, and end product manufacturers maintain and make available for inspection such books and records as may be required by any order issued pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary to issue orders providing for the establishment of a Wheat Industry Council to: (1) administer and make rules and regulations to effectuate orders issued pursuant to this title; (2) receive, investigate and report to the Secretary complaints of violations of such orders; and (3) recommend to the Secretary amendments to such orders. Requires each end product manufacturer to pay to such Council an assessment, not to exceed five cents per hundredweight, based on the total number of hundredweights of processed wheat purchased by or transferred to such manufacturer to be used for expenditures and expenses incurred by the Council or Secretary under this title. Requires the Secretary to conduct a referendum among end product manufacturers to determine whether the issuance of an order under this title is favored by such manufacturers. Allows end product manufacturers who have reserved the right to seek refunds and who disfavor the programs under this title to receive from the Council the assessment paid to such Council. Sets forth the procedures for the administrative and judicial review of orders of obligations imposed under this title. States that any person who willfully violates any order issued under this title or who fails to remit any required assessment or fee shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation. Requires the Secretary to conduct a referendum on request by ten percent or more of the end product manufacturers to determine whether such manufacturers favor the suspension or termination of any order. Authorizes the Secretary to make investigations for the effective carrying out of his or her responsibilities under this Act or to determine whether any person has or is about to violate any of the provisions of this title. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to prohibit any cost-of-living adjustments to the salaries of Senators and Representatives which take effect before October 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1977
Extends the provisions of the Rice Production Act of 1975 from the 1977 through the 1981 crop year. States that for the 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 crops: (1) the established price for each such rice crop shall be the established price for the crop immediately preceding the crop for which the price is established, adjusted in each year to reflect any changes in the index of prices paid by farmers for specified items; and (2) the loan rate for each such crop shall be established at such rate as bears the same ratio to the loan rate for the preceding year's crop as the established price for each such crop bears to the established price for the preceding year's crop. Requires that cooperators receiving payments for the 1978 through 1981 crops must have planted no less than 90 percent of their allotments. States that acreage on a farm not planted to rice because of drought, flood, other natural disaster, or a condition beyond the control of the producer shall be considered to be acreage planted to rice.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1977
Mobile Source Emission Control Amendments - Amends the Clean Air Act to extend through model year 1979 interim standards for hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions from light-duty motor vehicles. Specifies standards applicable in model years 1980 and afterwards for such pollutants. Revises the emission standard for carbon monoxide to allow emissions of up to 9.0 grams per vehicle mile. Extends until model year 1981 the current 2.0 grams per vehicle mile interim standard for nitrogen oxide emissions from light-duty vehicles. Establishes a nitrogen oxides emissions standard of 1.0 gram per vehicle mile for model years after 1981, subject to revision or waiver by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with prescribed procedures. Stipulates that such revisions and waivers shall not permit emissions in excess of the 2.0 grams per vehicle mile interim standard. Directs the Administrator, the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Energy Administration to submit separate reports to Congress regarding the consequences of such emission standards on fuel consumption. Establishes additional prohibitions and penalties for tampering with motor vehicle emission control equipment. Empowers limits in the amount of vehicle testing required of small manufacturers. Establishes procedures for review of instructions for high altitude performance adjustments for motor vehicle emission control systems by the Administrator in accordance with specified requirements. Revises warranty requirements stipulated by the Act. Specifies an 18-month or 18,000 mile warranty requirement for the useful life of motor vehicle emission control systems. Directs the Administrator to study the effects of emissions of sulfur-bearing conformed from motor vehicles and aircraft. Extends the exception for disclosure of confidential information in administrative and judicial proceedings to emission data upon a satisfactory showing to the Administrator that such data would divulge trade secrets. Requires that documentation, justifications, proposed drafts, and comments of other agencies an proposed motor vehicle emission standards be made available to the public once such standards are proposed. Establishes procedures for oral presentation of views, with opportunity for cross-examination, with respect to such standards. Authorizes direct review of alleged procedural errors in the appropriate court of appeals. Authorizes the appropriation of $200,000,000 per fiscal year for fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 1980, to carry out the purposes of this Act other than research, development, and demonstration activities.
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