United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1979
Limits the amount of outside earned income which may be received by any Member of Congress in any calendar year to 15 percent of his or her annual aggregate salary. Prohibits any Member of Congress from accepting any honorarium in excess of $1,000 in value for an appearance or speech made or article written by such Member while serving in Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer who does not itemize his income tax deductions to claim a deduction for charitable contributions in excess of specified floor amounts. Defines the amount allowable as the excess of the deduction, without regard to this provision, over the floor amount. Sets the floor amount for the return of a single individual at $333.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment under the medicare program for the trimming of club nails and the cutting and removal of corns, warts, and calluses.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from taking any action under the Wholesome Meat Act or any other law to prohibit the sale, distribution, or use of nitrites as a food preservative solely on the basis of any carcinogenic effect in humans that nitrites may be represented to have, unless validated evidence is made available to the Secretary which proves beyond a reasonable doubt that nitrites as a food preservative have a significant carcinogenic effect on humans. States that such prohibition shall not apply if the Secretary determines, and publishes in the Federal Register, that a food preservative is commercially available: (1) which may be used in the place of nitrites; (2) which is effective in the protection of public health from botulism and other forms of food poisoning; and (3) the use of which is economically feasible for meat processors and the consumer. Requires the Secretary to conduct or support, by grant or contract research and development activities for a food preservative alternative to nitrites.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject nonresident aliens and foreign corporations to a tax on the gain from the sale or exchange of farm or rural lands situated in the United States. Requires foreign corporations which hold United States farm lands comprising 20 percent of their assets to make reports on such holdings as the Secretary of the Treasury may require.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Authorizes the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a bust or statue of Martin Luther King, Junior, to be placed in a suitable location in the Capitol. Authorizes appropriations not to exceed $25,000 for such purpose
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1979
Elephant Protection Act of 1979 - Directs the President to propose to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species that all trade in elephant products be suspended until large and healthy elephant populations have been reestablished and are biologically stable. Prohibits the importation into or exportation from the United States of elephant products. Prohibits the possession, transportation, or sale of such products. Provides for administration of this Act by the Secretary of the Interior. Authorizes the Secretary to grant permits for scientific purposes or to enhance elephant propagation. Prescribes the conditions for granting of such permits. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes the payment of rewards to persons furnishing information concerning violations of this Act. Grants specified search and seizure powers for enforcement of this Act by authorized persons. Preempts any incompatible State laws.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1979
Meat Import Act of 1979 - Limits the maximum aggregate quantity of specified meat articles which may be entered or withdrawn from warehouses, for consumption in the customs territory of the United States in any calendar year after 1979 to 1,204,600,000 pounds, adjustable according to a specified formula. Excludes from the domestic commercial production factor in such formula the carcass weight of live cattle specified in certain Tariff Schedules. Requires a further adjustment of such annual aggregate quantity by multiplying it by a ratio of: (1) the average annual per capita production of domestic cow beef during a calendar year (as estimated) and the four preceding calendar years; to (2) the average annual per capita production of domestic cow beef in the calendar year. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, for each calendar year after 1979, to estimate and publish the aggregate quantity of meat articles prescribed for such year as well as the quantity that would be entered into the United States but for the limitations. Directs the President to limit by proclamation the total quantity of meat articles entered into the United States, whenever such quantity equals or exceeds 110 percent of the Secretary's estimate but prohibits limitation below 1,200,000,000 pounds. Requires the termination of any limitation as of the first day of a calendar quarter, under most circumstances, if before such quarter the aggregate quantity is less than 110 percent of the Secretary's estimate. Permits the President to increase or decrease meat imports in certain circumstances. Allows the President to suspend any proclamation concerning meat import limitations if: (1) a period of national emergency is declared; or (2) supplies are inadequate because of a natural disaster to meet demand at reasonable prices. Prohibits such suspension or increase from extending beyond the termination of the national emergency. Requires the Secretary to allocate the entry quota of meat articles proclaimed by the President among supplying countries on the basis of their representative shares of the United States market for meat articles during the respective period, taking into account any special factors. Directs the Secretary to study the regional economic impact of imports of meat articles and report any recommendations to the appropriate committees of Congress by June 30, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1979
Regulatory Agency Abolition Act - Abolishes specified Federal regulatory agencies three years after enactment of this Act unless prior to such date the President and Congress study the effectiveness of such agencies and Congress thereafter adopts a resolution disapproving such abolition. Provides that each regulatory agency established after the date of enactment of this Act shall be abolished three years from the date on which it was first empowered unless the President and Congress take the steps outlined above. Directs the President to submit to Congress a plan for the orderly transfer of duties essential to the public health, safety or welfare from an abolished agency to the President or to a successor agency. Provides that all orders, rules, certificates, judicial proceedings and licenses made effective by agencies abolished by this Act shall continue in effect until repealed or superceded by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers who do not itemize income tax deductions a deduction from gross income for charitable contributions to the extent such contributions exceed $200 ($300 for joint returns, $150 for married individual filing separately).
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1979
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to condition certain assistance to States, local governments, and agencies on the adoption of a law enforcement officers' bill of rights which includes as a minimum the following: (1) allowing off-duty officers' to engage in political activities; (2) granting officers specified procedural rights in connection with investigations of their conduct on duty which may lead to a personnel action; (3) requiring officer representation on any police complaint review board established in the jurisdiction; and (4) prohibiting mandatory disclosure of officers' finances.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1979
Franchise Reform Act - Requires a franchisor to notify a franchisee at least 90 days in advance of the franchisor's intention to terminate the franchise and to state the reasons for termination. Prohibits a franchisor from cancelling a franchise or failing to renew a franchise unless the franchisor is effecting a market area withdrawal or the franchisor has good cause for failure to renew and has given proper notice. Makes any franchisor who has violated the requirements of this Act civilly liable to the aggrieved franchisee.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require as a condition of a stepchild's eligibility for child's insurance benefits that such child receive at least one-half of his or her support from his or her stepfather or stepmother.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1979
National Ski Patrol System Recognition Act of 1979 - Grants a Federal charter to the National Ski Patrol System. Declares that the purpose of such corporation shall be to promote public safety in skiing.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Congressional Award Program Act - Establishes the Congressional Award Program in the United States and its territories to recognize and promote youth leadership and excellence in the areas of expedition fitness, personal creative development, and public service. Creates a Congressional Award Board with a Director to supervise such program. Authorizes the appointment of State award directors under this Act. Exempts the Board, its property, and its income from present and future Federal, State, and local taxation, with specified exceptions. Creates three Congressional Award Medals to be awarded under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Sales Representatives Protection Act - Requires a principal who, without good cause, terminates or fails to renew a contract between such principal and a sales representative, reduces the size of the geographic territory assigned to a representative for a specified account by more than 25 percent, or reduces the rate of commission for orders solicited on behalf of such principal, to indemnify the representative according to this Act. Sets forth formulae for the indemnification of such representatives. Requires a principal to furnish specified information to a sales representative concerning orders placed through the representative's account and a monthly accounting of commissions due such representative. Allows a plaintiff to bring an action to enforce any rights or liabilities created by this Act in a United States district court. Stipulates the procedure for such action.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Abolishes diversity of citizenship as a basis of jurisdiction of Federal district courts, but retains as a basis of jurisdiction "alienage," involving foreign states or citizens of foreign states. Increases the amount in controversy requirement in such cases from $10,000 to $25,000. Abolishes the amount in controversy requirement in Federal question cases. Retains as a basis for Federal jurisdiction statutory interpleader, which includes actions between citizens of different States. Permits venue for a Federal civil action in any judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or in which a substantial part of property that is the subject of the action is situated. Requires, in suits for damages brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act, that the matter in controversy exceed the sum or value of $10,000. Exempts from such requirement actions brought against the United States, Federal agencies or employees of such agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President: (1) should enter into negotiations to secure the withdrawal of Soviet personnel and the release of political prisoners from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; (2) should instruct the U.S. delegation to present the illegal Soviet actions in such countries at the preparatory meeting of the 1980 Madrid meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; and (3) should gain the cooperation of other nations in achieving such objectives.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Public Disclosure of Lobbying Act of 1979 - Requires organizations which expend more than $2,500 per quarter year or which employ at least one individual who spends all or part of each of 13 days or more per quarter year for lobbying purposes to register with the Comptroller General and to update annually such registration. Requires the identification of any such person retained for such lobbying purposes. Requires such organization to file quarterly reports concerning such lobbying activities including: (1) listing of total lobbying expenditures including each expenditures over $35 made to or for the benefit of any Federal officer, congressional employee, or Member of Congress; (2) the identification of retainees of an organization or certain employees making lobbying communications and the disclosure of certain expenditures; (3) a description of the issues for which such an organization has lobbied; (4) the identification of the means of communicating an advertisement intended to solicit over 500 people; (5) known business contacts with the person whom such organization is attempting to influence; and (6) the disclosure of any lobbying communication made on the floor of either House of Congress. Requires that the final quarterly report identify by amount each organization which contributed $3,000 or more to the reporting organization. Requires the Comptroller General to make copies of each registration and report required by this Act available for public inspection and copying. Makes it the duty of the Attorney General to investigate alleged violations of any provision of this Act or regulations promulgated thereunder. Requires the Attorney General to attempt to correct any violation by informal methods of conference or conciliation. Authorizes the Attorney General to institute civil or criminal actions in appropriate circumstances. Grants to the United States district courts jurisdiction for actions brought under this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to transmit reports to the President and each House of the Congress no later than March 31 of each year concerning activities under this Act. Provides a Congressional veto of rules and regulations promulgated by the Comptroller General pursuant to this Act. Makes any person or organization who knowingly fails to comply with the registration, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements of this Act, or regulations promulgated thereto, subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each such violation. Provides criminal penalties of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than two years, for knowing and willful violations of this Act, and for knowingly and willfully making misstatements or omitting material facts. Repeals the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act and specified provisions of the Legislative Reorganization Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1979
Administrative Rulemaking Reform Act - Requires a Federal agency preparing to hold a rulemaking session to make a reasonable effort to inform those likely to be affected by the proposed rulemaking. 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 rulemaking include the projected effective date of the rules, the purpose of the rulemaking, the text of the proposed rules, and the technical or other studies on which the agency intends to rely in the rulemaking proceedings. Applies the requirements of this Act to all rulemaking 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 on all rulemaking 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 rulemaking. 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 rulemaking under this Act and report the effect of such review on such rulemaking before July 1, 1984. Authorizes to be appropriated $200,000 to finance such study. Makes this Act effective 90 days after enactment. Terminates the Congressional review required by this Act at the adjournment of the Ninety-eight Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment for specified services performed by chiropractors, including x-rays and for physical examinations, and for related routine laboratory tests.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, for purposes of computing the allowable retirement plan exclusion and employer contributions allowance for church employees, all years of service for a church, church association, or an agency for such churches, shall be considered employment for one employer. Extends to church employees the same option presently enjoyed by employees of tax-exempt health and education organizations to elect alternative exclusion allowances for contributions to annuity contracts. Provides a minimum $10,000 allowance for annual additions to these contracts without regard to the amount of the employee's compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the special tax treatment of church agency pension plans as qualified church plans. Provides that plans maintained by groups or associations of churches include individuals "substantially all" of whom are qualified beneficiaries. Allows such plans to retain accrued benefits, according to their terms, or to continue receiving contributions for up to five years for separated employees. Allows any plan which is determined to have failed to meet church plan requirements a grace period of 270 days, or any other period specified by the Secretary of the Treasury or a court in an adjudication of such an issue, to bring itself into compliance without becoming disqualified. Applies these provisions retroactively to 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1979
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to make permanent the special tax treatment of church agency pension plans as qualified church plans. Provides that plans maintained by groups or associations of churches include individuals "substantially all" of whom are qualified beneficiaries. Allows such plans to retain accrued benefits, according to their terms, or to continue receiving contributions for up to five years for separated employees. Allows any plan which is determined to have failed to meet church plan requirements a grace period of 270 days, or any other period specified by the Secretary of the Treasury or a court in an adjudication of such an issue, to bring itself into compliance without becoming disqualified. Applies these provisions retroactively to 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Amends the Saccharin Study and Labeling Act to extend to January 3, 1981 (or to the enactment, if earlier, of any law changing the conditions under which a food additive shall not be deemed safe) of the period during which the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare is prohibited from taking specified actions restricting the continued use of saccharin as a food, drug, or cosmetic. Declares void of all legal force or effect any such prohibited action which the Secretary may have taken after the expiration of the initial 18-month prohibition period.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Excludes from the Federal law limiting and restricting the corporate powers of national banking associations to deal in and underwrite investment securities, specified dealings in and underwriting of all other nongeneral obligations issued or guaranteed by or on behalf of a State or any political subdivision thereof or agency of a State or any political subdivision thereof (except special assessment obligations and industrial revenue bonds) which are at the time eligible for purchase by a national bank for its own account, subject to specified limitations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit an annual report to the Congress showing the extent to which the business of underwriting and dealing in State and local obligations is being carried on by commercial banks as compared with other banking institutions with a view to determining the effect of the amendment made by the first section of this Act on the institutional distribution of such business.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Foster Care and Adoption Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Child-Welfare Services Program - Amends part B of title IV (Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to: (1) revise procedures for the payment to States for child-welfare service programs; and (2) prohibit payment to any State for such programs unless that State has in effect an action plan to assure foster care protection. Title II: Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Amends part A of title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) to require States receiving payments under part A to make adoption support payments. States that parents of adopted children are eligible for such payments while the adopted child is either under the age of 18, or is under the age of 21 and is a student.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1979
Declares the public policy of the United States to prohibit the manufacture, sale, interstate shipment, and use of leg-hold and steel-jaw traps in the United States and abroad. Prohibits the shipment into interstate or foreign commerce of fur or leather products which come from animals trapped in any State or foreign country which has not banned such traps. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to publish a list of States and foreign countries which have not banned the manufacture, sale, and use of leg-hold and steel-jaw traps. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to waive the imposition of countervailing duties until the date of enactment or defeat of legislation implementing a multilateral trade agreement or agreements governing the use of subsidies or (2) October 20, 1979 (whichever occurs first).
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Extends death benefit coverage under title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include public safety officers who die as a result of medical conditions arising out of or exacerbated by official duties.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Wildlife on Federal Lands Trapping Act of 1979 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue such regulations relating to trapping as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any type of trap unless such trap utilizes the most humane capture method available for the species concerned, and minimizes the probability of capturing species for which such trap was not intended. Directs the Secretary to undertake a research program to develop such types of traps. Establishes an advisory commission to make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to traps designed or intended for use. Prohibits the Secretary from permitting trapping on Federal lands where such trapping may reduce any species below specified levels. Sets forth a procedure for the application and issuance of trapping permits. Requires the attachment of a shipping certificate to any package containing the fur, hide, skin, horn, or feathers of any mammal or bird captured by any trap within any State or the District of Columbia if such package is transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) engaging in trapping without a permit issued pursuant to this Act; (2) violating any condition of such permit; (3) violating any regulation of the Secretary relating to trapping; (4) selling or transporting in interstate commerce an unapproved trap; (5) falsifying the shipping certificate; or (6) conveying any package under this Act without affixing the shipping certificate or affixing a false certificate. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with States with respect to the imposition of trapping regulations consistent with those prescribed under this Act. Authorizes such appropriations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week beginning on the Sunday preceding the fourth Thursday in November of each year as "National Family Week."
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the new Department of Labor health and safety training regulations for miners places an undue burden on small store, sand, and gravel surface mining operations and should not apply to operations with 35 or fewer employees.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Provides for the arbitration of disputes between the Postmaster General and recognized organizations of Postal Service managerial personnel other than officers, postmasters, and employees engaged in personnel work in Postal Service headquarters. Identifies as subject to arbitration under this Act issues relating to pay policies, fringe benefits, and the determination of whether or not a matter is subject to participation by such organization. Establishes an arbitration board to consider a dispute upon the request of the Postal Service or such recognized organization.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income a corporate stock distribution to a stockholder based upon the reinvestment of stock dividends in the corporation by such stockholder pursuant to his election to participate in a qualified dividend reinvestment plan, as defined in this Act. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $1,500 per year. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a distribution made by a corporation which purchases its common stock within one year of such distribution shall not be deemed a distribution pursuant to a qualified dividend reinvestment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Regulatory Agency Abolition Act - Abolishes each Federal regulatory agency three years after enactment of this Act unless prior to such date the President and Congress study the effectiveness of such agencies and Congress thereafter adopts a resolution disapproving such abolition. Provides that each regulatory agency established after the date of enactment of this Act shall be abolished three years from the date on which it was first empowered unless the President and Congress take the steps outlined above. Directs the President to submit to Congress a plan for the orderly transfer of duties essential to the public health, safety, or welfare from an abolished agency to the President or to a successor agency. Provides that all orders, rules, certificates, judicial proceedings and licenses made effective by agencies abolished by this Act shall continue in effect until repealed or superceded by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Congressional Award Program Act - Establishes the Congressional Award Program in the United States and its territories to recognize and promote youth leadership and excellence in the areas of expedition fitness, personal creative development, and public service. Creates a Congressional Award Board with a Director to supervise such program. Authorizes the appointment of State award directors under this Act. Creates three Congressional Award Medals to be awarded under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an annual cost-of-living adjustment, based on the Consumer Price Index, to the individual income tax rates and the personal exemption.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to disregard renewal commissions received by an insurance salesman from life insurance policies which such salesman sold before reaching age 65, for purposes of computing OASDI benefits based on income.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Provides that anyone using or carrying a firearm during the commission of any felony prosecutable in Federal court may, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than 15 years. Requires the court to state in writing its reasons for deciding not to impose such additional sentence. Precludes the granting of probation or the suspension of such additional sentence. Requires in the case of a second or subsequent conviction the imposition of a term of imprisonment of not less than ten nor more than 30 years. Stipulates that in such case the sentence: (1) may not be suspended; (2) may not include probation; and (3) may not run concurrently. Includes in the definition of "dangerous special offenders" for purposes of the special sentencing procedure a defendant who used or unlawfully carried a firearm during the commission of a felony.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Grants a Federal charter to the Gold Star Wives of America. Declares that the purpose of such corporation is to aid widows and children of persons who died in the service of their country.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual income tax credit for qualified energy conservation expenditures with respect to a home which is owned by the taxpayer and is used by an individual other than the taxpayer as his principal residence.
![Official portrait of Rep. Jacobs, Andrew, Jr. [D-IN-10]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/j000033_200.jpg)