United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the limitations on charitable deductions and investment tax credits taken by cooperative corporations. Allows cooperatives to allocate their investment tax credits among their patrons.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1977
Prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds for the conversion of highway signs to the metric system unless the Congress specifically authorizes such an expenditure.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1977
Requires that, prior to the performance of any maintenance, alteration, overhaul, or repair work or an aircraft for which a customer is to be charged more than $100, the customer shall, unless otherwise agreed to in writing, be provided with a signed, written estimate for the work. Allows a customer charged in excess of ten percent of the written estimate to bring a course of action in a United States district court.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1977
Confirms a conveyance of certain real property, with respect to all interests of the United States in its surface rights, by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company to a certain individual.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1977
Amends the Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1977, to repeal the prohibition of expenditure of funds for claims for nonemergency inpatient hospital care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) when such care was available at a facility of the uniformed services within a 40-mile radius of the patient's residence.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1977
National Product Liability Act - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to establish a substantive law of product liability for damages resulting from harm caused by products affecting interstate commerce and to establish a product liability action therefor. States that such product liability action preempts all existing causes and laws for the same purpose. Subjects whomever is engaged in interstate commerce and manufactures or sells: (1) a product which is in a defective condition; or (2) any product and fails to warn or protect against a dangerous condition in the use or reasonably foreseeable misuse or unintended use of the product or fails to provide proper instructions for the intended use of that product, to liability for the harm caused despite the fact that the manufacturer or seller has exercised all possible care in the preparation and/or sale of the product. Allows any person harmed by a product who is a reasonably anticipated user or consumer of the product to bring an action in "product liability" against the manufacturer or seller of the product. Allows any person against whom a product liability action is brought to bring an action for indemnification or other appropriate relief against any third party whose misconduct has caused or contributed to the harm for which damages are sought. Limits the time for commencing a product liability action to two years from the date when the harm is first sustained, discovered, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered. Stipulates that a product shall be deemed in defective condition only if it is unreasonably dangerous for its intended use at the time the product left the control of the party against whom the action is being brought. Prohibits the awarding of punitive or exemplary damages unless the trier of fact finds that the accused acted out of malice or willfully or wantonly acted in flagrant disregard of public health and safety. Allows the primary forum for trying cases brought under this Act to remain in the State courts.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1977
Directs the Secretary of Defense to place a plaque and a permanent display of medals, ribbons, and tributes of the Vietnam era on the crypt at the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia, reserved for an unknown American serviceman who lost his life in Southeast Asia. Directs the Secretary to perform the duties required by this Act even though the remains of such serviceman have not yet been placed in the crypt.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to reduce the requirements for eligibility for disability benefits for blind persons. Requires that a blind individual have at least six quarters of coverage to be eligible for disability benefits. Sets forth a method of computing the average monthly wage of a blind individual for the purpose of determining such individual's primary insurance amount. Provides that in no case shall such amount be less than the amount which would be determined without regard to an individual's blindness. States that no reductions will be made from the benefits to which a person is entitled because of such person's refusal to accept State-approved rehabilitative services under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. Continues the payment of such benefits as long as blindness lasts, the amount of an individual's earnings notwithstanding.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1977
Prohibits use or supply of false documentation, false information, or birth or immigration documents of another, for purposes of obtaining a Federal document containing an element of identification. Forbids commerce in such information, documentation, or official documents for purposes of securing a State or local government document containing an element of identification. Proscribes specified acts relative to: (1) forgery, counterfeiting, or alteration of Federal, State, or local government documents containing an element of identification; (2) interstate or foreign commerce in any such counterfeited, forged, or altered document; and (3) receipt, possession, use, or furnishing of any such document with intent to secure false official identification.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1977
Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1974, to increase to three the number of Lyndon Baines Johnson congressional interns which may be hired by each Member of the House of Representatives. Authorizes the payment of additional compensation to such interns from the clerk-hire allowance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1977
Declares that service during World War I by any female citizen of the United States as a member of a telephone operating unit of the Army Signal Corps shall be considered active duty in the Army for purposes of all laws administered by the Veterans' Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to permit the private, noncommercial ownership of excess wild free-roaming horses and burros.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1977
Abolishes the positions of majority and minority printing clerks. Stipulates that the functions of such employees shall be performed by such persons as the Committee on House Administration may designate on the basis of bids submitted.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1977
Amends the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to disallow Federal employees to accept grants and other types of assistance provided by a foreign government to facilitate participation of such employees in certain cultural exchange programs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1977
Public Assistance Amendments - Title I: Supplemental Security Income Program Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1964 to deny eligibility under such program to individuals receiving supplemental security income benefits through October 1, 1978. Amends Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income Program) of the Social Security Act to direct that in determining the income of an individual for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income Program there shall be excluded any amount received for the foster care of an individual who is not eligible for such benefits. Amends provisions of Title XVI requiring the payment of benefits directly to an institution or facility where an eligible individual is being treated, to allow the continued payment of benefits to the individual when such payment would be of significant therapeutic value and when there is substantial reason to believe that he or she would not misuse or improperly spend the funds involved. Continues payment of Title XVI benefits to individuals hospitalized outside the United States in specified cases. Terminates mandatory minimum State supplementation of Supplemental Security Income benefits under specified circumstances. Provides that computation of benefits shall be determined on a monthly rather than a quarterly basis. Provides for the payment to an individual who is in a hospital, extended care facility, nursing home, or intermediate care facility, of the full amount of such individual;s benefit during the first three months during which such individual is in a hospital, home, or facility. Sets forth the specific amounts to which an individual is entitled after the third month or when such individual is receiving payments under Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Excludes from income, for purposes of benefit determinations, assistance furnished an individual by non-profit charitable institutions. Revises the definition of "eligible spouse" for purposes of Title XVI, to require that the couple not be separated for more than one month (presently six months). Requires that the Supplemental Security Income Program be coordinated with Medicaid and the food stamp program. Directs that in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits for aliens under the Supplemental Security Income program the income of such individual's sponsor shall be attributed to the alien. Title II: Public Assistance Programs in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam Amends Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income Program), of the Social Security Act to extend such program to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. States that the benefits paid in each territory shall be in amounts proportionate to the ratio of the per capita income in each territory to the per capita income of the State having the lowest per capita. Amends Title XI (General Provisions) and Title XX (Grants to States for Services) to remove the ceiling on Federal matching funds for Aid to Families with Dependent Children in Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. Title III: Social Services Program - Amends Title XX (Grants to States for Services) to increase the ceiling on Federal social services funding. Extends the period during which payment may be made for specified child day care services under title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and Title XX of the Social Security Act without regard to new staffing standards imposed by Title XX. Title IV: Child-Welfare Services Program - Amends Title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to revise procedures for the payment to States for child-welfare service programs. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a national and regional adoption information system to assist in the location of children in need of adoption and in the placement in adoptive homes of children awaiting adoption. Amends Title IV of the Social Security Act to prohibit payment to any State unless that State has in effect an action plan to assure foster care protection. Title V: Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Amends Title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to require the States receiving payments under Title IV, to make subsidy payments to parents who adopt a child qualifying on the basis of special need.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1977
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to a certain individual in full settlement of such individual's claims against the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow to a taxpayer holding an economic interest in a geothermal energy property a tax deduction amounting to 22 percent of the gross income from such property excluding from such gross income an amount equal to any rents or royalties paid or incurred by the taxpayer in respect to such property. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations granting the option to deduct as expenses intangible drilling and development costs in the case of wells drilled for geothermal steam and associated geothermal resources.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1977
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to (1) prohibit all political committees, other than National, State, or local committees of national political parties from making contributions to candidates or their committees and (2) forbid all political committees from making contributions to other political committees, with the exception of transfers between and among National, State, and local party committees.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1977
Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to permit importation of chrome, shipped from a country other than Rhodesia under a contract entered into prior to March 18, 1977, if the seller is not of Southern Rhodesian origin.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1977
Authorizes the President of the United States 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 · 4 May 1977
Declares it the sense of the Congress that the President should be commended for assistance to Zaire, and that the President should call upon the United Nations and its Security Council to investigate violations of Zaire's sovereignty.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1977
Amends Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to make benefits under such Title payable to a resident alien only if such alien has continuously resided in the United States for at least five years.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1977
Amends Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to make benefits under such Title payable only to individuals who are both citizens and residents of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1977
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense shall at the earliest opportunity inter an Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and make permanent display of representative medals, ribbons, and tributes of the Vietnam War in the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1977
Postal Service Reform Act - Requires all revenues and fees collected by the Postal Service to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States. Requires the Postal Service to describe all operations and provide any other necessary information to Congress when seeking appropriations for its operations before the appropriate Congressional committees as required by this Act. Authorizes appropriations to the Postal Service for public service costs incurred in maintaining post offices which are not self-sustaining. Requires the Postal Service to provide door or curbline mail delivery to all permanent residential addresses receiving such service on or after the date of enactment of the Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1976 until September 15, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1977
Provides that the recipient of a veterans' pension or dependency and indemnity compensation will not have the amount of such pension or compensation reduced because of cost-of-living increases in social security benefits, railroad retirement annuities, or other retirement benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 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 · 22 April 1977
Title I: Amends the provision of law dealing with the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to authorize, for fiscal year 1977, the appropriation of funds authorized but not appropriated for 1975, 1976 and 1977. Amends the provision of law dealing with the Trust Territory Economic Development Loan Fund to authorize $5,000,000 to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior for payment to that fund. Authorizes $13,515,000 to be appropriated for the government of the Northern Mariana Islands. Authorizes the appropriation of such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy (1) 50 percent of each award made under Title I of the Micronesian Claims Act, and (2) 100 percent of each award made under Title II of such Act. Authorizes $12,400,000 to be appropriated for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Enewetak Atoll. Authorizes certain sums to be appropriated to compensate inhabitants of Rongelap Atoll and Utirik Atoll who have suffered varying degrees of radiation exposure. Authorizes the appropriation of $100,000 for the use of the island communities of Rongelap, Utirik and Bikini Atolls. Title II: Permits government agencies and departments to consolidate all grants made to any insular area in which payments received must be used for certain specified purposes. Requires departments and agencies making such grants to specify the procedure under which insular areas may receive consolidated grants. Title III: Authorizes $15,000,000 to be appropriated to the Secretary for a grant to the Government of Guam to assist in typhoon rehabilitation, upgrading and construction of public facilities, and maintenance of essential services. Amends the Guam Development Fund Act to authorize $1,000,000 to be appropriated to the Secretary to be paid to the Government of Guam annually for five fiscal years commencing in fiscal year 1978 to promote economic development on Guam. Amends the Organic Act of Guam to abolish the office of the Government Comptroller of Guam, and provides that the Comptroller General of the United States shall assume his duties. Empowers the Legislature of Guam to levy a 10 percent surtax on all annual income tax obligations. Authorizes $5,000,000 to be appropriated to the Secretary for the purpose of providing equitable compensation to persons whose real estate in Guam was acquired by the United States, between July 21, 1944 and August 23, 1963, at less than fair market value. Sets forth the procedure to be followed by the Secretary in making such compensation. Title IV: Amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to abolish the office of the Government Comptroller of the Virgin Islands and provides that the Comptroller General of the United States shall assume his duties. Provides that the Legislature of the Virgin Islands may override the Governors veto of legislation by a vote of two-thirds of all the members of the legislature. Title V: Makes certain provisions of law applicable to Guam and the Virgin Islands on the game terms and conditions as such provisions are applied to the Northern Mariana Islands. Authorizes the Secretary to make separate grants to the Governments of American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands in amounts necessary to offset income tax revenue losses incurred by each government caused by the Tax Reduction Act of 1975 and the Tax Reform Act of 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1977
Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to include the securities of territories of the United States, the District of Columbia, any State of the United States, any political subdivision of a State of territory, and any public instrumentality of one or more States or territories among securities covered by the terms of this Act. Permits the Securities and Exchange Commission to exempt by rule or regulation such securities if it finds that the enforcement of this title with respect to such securities is not necessary in the public interest and for the protection of investors. Includes under the provisions of this Act any security which is an industrial development bond.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Constitutional Amendment- Allows an item veto by the President of appropriations bills. Requires the President, in signing the bill, to designate the provisions disapproved and return the bill to the House in which it originated. Provides that such bills shall be subjected to the same proceeding as other bills disapproved by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1977
Denies veterans' benefits to an individual whose discharge from military service during the Vietnam era under less than honorable conditions is administratively upgraded, under temporarily revised standards, to discharge under honorable conditions; but only when such veteran's claim for benefits is based solely on such upgraded discharge.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the people of the several States, and the District of Columbia, shall elect the President and Vice President. Requires each voter to cast a single vote for two persons who shall have consented to the joining of their names as candidates for the offices of President and Vice President. Requires the voters for President and Vice President in each State to have the qualifications requisite for voters for the most numerous branch of the State legislature, except that for voters for President and Vice President, the legislature of any State may prescribe less restrictive residence qualifications and for voters for President and Vice President the Congress may establish uniform residence qualifications. Provides that the pair of persons having the greatest number of votes for President and Vice President shall be elected, if such number be at least 40 percent of the whole number of votes cast for such offices. Provides that if the choice of President and Vice President shall be made from the two pairs of persons who received the highest numbers of votes. Requires the days for such elections to be determined by Congress and to be uniform throughout the United States. Requires Congress to prescribe by law the time, place, and manner in which the results of such elections shall be ascertained and declared. Allows Congress to provide for the case of the death, inability, or withdrawal of any candidate for President or Vice President before a President and Vice President have been elected, and for the case of the death of both the President-elect and Vice President-elect.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1977
Establishes a Public Integrity Section within the Department of Justice. Authorizes the Section to, among other things, (1) investigate and prosecute official misconduct, (2) train and supervise appropriate employees of Department of Justice and take other measures to facilitate investigation and prosecution of official misconduct, and (3) monitor legal developments relative to prosecution of official misconduct.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1977
Food Additive Safety Amendments - States that a food additive shall be deemed safe if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1) makes a finding, based on recommendations of an advisory committee, that the public benefit from permitting the use of such additive would exceed the public risk which might result from such use; (2) gives notice in the Federal Register of such a finding and invites public comment thereon; and (3) issues a final order not earlier than 120 days of such publication in the Federal Register of such findings. Specifies factors the Secretary must take into consideration when evaluating a food additive. Deems saccharin a safe food additive unless the Secretary declares it unsafe under the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1977
Exempts saccharin from the provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act banning the marketing of any food additive which induces cancer in man or animal.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1977
Repeals all the price support and marketing provisions relating to tobacco of the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, and related laws. Prohibits the Commodity Credit Corporation, under its Charter Act, from exercising any of its specified powers with respect to tobacco.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1977
Foster Care and Adoption Reform Act - Amends the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program of Title IV of the Social Security Act to repeal the eligibility of children in foster homes for aid under such program. Establishes a separate program under Title IV of Federal assistance for foster care services. Requires each State, in order to receive assistance under such program, to develop a State plan for foster care and adoption services. Requires such State plans to assure that no child shall be placed in foster care unless the child and his family have been provided adequate preventive services designed to avoid unnecessary out-of-home placements or have refused such services. Requires State plans to prohibit the involuntary removal of a child from a home shared with a parent unless there has been a judicial determination that the home situation is dangerous to the child, or the child is in need of supervision or has committed a delinquent offense. Sets forth standards of care which must be established under State plans for foster children. Sets forth the duties of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in connection with the implementation and administration of the provisions of this Act. Establishes a program of "foster care support payments" as a form of aid to families with dependent children. Specifies the requirements for eligibility for such payments. Directs the Secretary to appoint a Committee on Uniform Adoption Regulations to propose to the Secretary, the President, and Congress a set of uniform adoption regulations which would facilitate adoption. Directs the Secretary, after appropriate hearings, to promulgate final uniform adoption regulations. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress annually on the adoption and foster care programs conducted pursuant to this Act. Requires each State having a plan approved under this Act to make payments to parents who adopt a child after the date of enactment of this Act. Provides for payments on behalf of foster children under circumstances specified in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1977
Contract Disputes Reform Act - Authorizes an executive agency to settle any claim arising out of any express or implied contract of such agency. Requires an agency contracting officer to settle disputes which cannot be resolved by mutual agreement. Permits any contractor to request an informal administrative conference with the appropriate agency to review the decision of the contracting officer. Declares the decision of the contracting officer to be final unless the contractor sues or appeals as provided in this Act. Permits each agency to establish an agency Board of Contract Appeals if the volume of procurement of such agency justifies a Board of at least three full-time members. Requires appeals to be made to such Board within 90 days of receipt of the contracting officer's decision. Provides for an appeal to the Board of another agency in the event that the party agency does not have its own Board. Requires the rules of each board to provide for a simplified procedure for small claims of $25,000 or less which can be invoked at the option of the contractor. Permits suits in any U.S. district court or the Court of Claims in lieu of an appeal by the contractor to an agency Board. Permits the agency or the contractor to appeal any decision of an agency Board to such Courts. States that in the event the agency appeals a Board decision, that decision shall not be overturned unless arbitrary, capricious, or so clearly erroneous as to imply bad faith. (Amends 28 U.S.C. 2401; 2517)
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Prohibits rules promulgated by any Federal agency (except an emergency rule which must become immediately effective to prevent serious injury or the substantial frustration of legislative policies or intent) from becoming effective until such proposed rules have been submitted to Congress and a 60-day period has lapsed thereafter. Prevents such rules from becoming effective if disapproved by either House of Congress within such 60-day period. Permits disapproved of emergency rules. Prohibits the submission to Congress of any rule identical to one which has been disapproved unless submitted pursuant to new legislative authority which has been enacted affecting the agency's powers with respect to the subject matter of such rule. Renders agency rules dealing with emergency or routine matters or which will have an insignificant impact effective without publication of advance/notice of proposed rule making proceedings in the Federal Register as is currently required. Renders any rule granting an exemption to another rule or which is exempt from public notice and comment requirements effective immediately.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Allows any Federal employee or Member of Congress who is a Japanese-American World War II internee to credit, for civil service retirement purposes, the period during which such individual was detained or interned in a camp or similar facility.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Amends the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 to authorize the President to appoint a board of inquiry to inquire into and, upon receiving the board's report, to direct the Attorney General to petition a district court to enjoin any actual or threatened strike or lockout which (1) affects an entire industry or substantial part thereof, and (2) if allowed to occur or continue, will cause losses of agricultural crops.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Economic Impact Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to prepare an economic impact statement for each bill or joint resolution reported in Congress, for each amendment proposed in either House, and for each rule proposed by any Federal agency. Requires such statement to contain the direct and indirect effects of such proposed law on employment, production, inflation, and costs to be incurred by the Government for the fiscal year in which it is proposed or reported and each of the five fiscal years following such fiscal year. States that the effects referred to in this Act as they apply to agency rules shall include effects on State and local governments, major industrial sectors of the economy, the availability of consumer goods, low- and middle-income families, and small business. States that such statement applying to an agency rule shall be distributed as soon as possible but not later than 30 days before such rule is to become effective.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Provides that any individual who is 18 years of age or older and who is receiving half of his income from any member of another household which, because of its income and other financial resources, is not eligible to receive food stamps shall not be considered as a member of household for purposes of the Food Stamp Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require automatic sprinkler systems in all skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities certified for participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs unless a waiver of such requirement is granted in accordance with conditions set forth in this Act. Establishes a program of low-interest Federal loans to assist such facilities in constructing or purchasing and installing automatic sprinkler systems.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act to exclude from coverage (1) employers with ten or fewer employees; and (2) employees not employed on a regular basis for 30 or more consecutive days. Requires that a warning rather than a citation be given for a first instance violation, other than a willful or serious violation, to an employer who has not employed more than 25 employees at any time during the 30 days prior to an inspection or investigation. Prohibits the imposition of a civil penalty against an employer for a nonserious violation if (1) such employer has not previously received a citation for the same violation; and (2) the inspection upon which such citation was based resulted in the issuance of citations for ten or or fewer violations of a nonserious nature.