United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should inform Iran that the United States will initiate military operations against Iran unless the hostages held in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran are released by a certain day. Declares that the President should order U.S. Armed Forces into areas adjacent to Iran for appropriate action.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 1979
Establishes the Barrier Islands National Parks. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands and interests in land within the boundaries of the barrier islands units by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, except that in the case of developed land, the Secretary may acquire such land only with the consent of the owner thereof, or following a determination by the Secretary that an actual or proposed change in the use of such land after the date of enactment of this Act would impair the quality of the unit. Withdraws lands within the barrier islands units from entry or appropriation under the mining laws of the United States and from the operation of the mineral leasing laws. Prohibits any Federal financial assistance from being made available under any authority of Federal law, and no Federal license, permit, or other form of approval may be issued by any Federal agency for: (1) the construction of any structure, road, or facility of any type on any barrier island unit of the Atlantic or gulf coast of the United States; (2) any road, airport, boat landing facility, or other facility to be used for providing access to any such barrier island contrary to the purposes of this Act; and (3) any project to prevent the erosion of, or to otherwise stabilize, any shoreline or inshore area of such a barrier island.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the categories of deportable aliens an alien convicted of a crime of moral turpitude at any time after entry, regardless of whether imprisoned or not. States that such provision shall apply only to crimes committed after January 1, 1979. Reduces from six months to one month the period in which: (1) the Attorney General must effectuate a final order of deportation; (2) an alien so ordered must leave the United States or be in violation of law; and (3) a petition for judicial review of a deportation order must be filed.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
Title I: - Amends the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act to extend the current reporting requirement to include persons "attempting" to transport monetary instruments into or from the United States. Title II: Authorizes any customs officer who has reasonable cause to suspect that monetary instruments are being transported for which a report is required to search, without a search warrant, any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, envelope or other container, or person entering or departing from the United States. Title III: - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a reward to any individual providing original information which leads to a recovery of at least $50,000 by way of a criminal fine, civil penalty, or forfeiture for a violation of such Act. Makes ineligible for such payment any Federal, State, or local employee who furnishes information in the performance of official duties.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
Irrigation Water Conservation Tax Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for equipment which conserves irrigation water an additional ten percent investment tax credit and an election to depreciate such equipment based on a useful life of three years.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
Amends the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a reward to any individual providing original information which leads to recovery of at least $50,000 by way of a criminal fine, civil penalty, or forfeiture for a violation of such Act. Makes ineligible for such payment any Federal, State, or local employee who furnishes information in the performance of official duties.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from unemployment taxation commercial fishermen who, pursuant to an agreement with the fishing boat owner, receive a share of the boat's catch of fish in lieu of cash remuneration. Specifies that such share must be proportionate to the boat's entire catch and that the boat's crew must be comprised of fewer than ten individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1979
Directs the President to impose a total trade embargo between the United States and Iran. Makes violators of such embargo subject to penalties contained in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Authorize the President to terminate or modify the terms of such embargo, if the national interest so requires. Provides for a congressional veto of such termination or modification.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should terminate U.S. sanctions against Zimbabwe-Rhodesia upon the appointment and arrival of a British Governor in Salisbury.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1979
Directs the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to determine the validity and amounts of claims against Iran by U.S. citizens held as hostages in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, and their families, for personal injuries and punitive damages. Requires the Commission to certify: (1) the amount of damages to the individual claimants and to the Secretary of State; and (2) the amount of each award to the Secretary of the Treasury. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a special fund for the payment of such awards into which shall be paid: (1) payments by Iran to satisfy such claims; and (2) amounts realized from Iranian assets subject to control under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Requires the Secretary to make payments from such funds for awards not otherwise satisfied by Iran. Directs the President to continue to prohibit transactions in at least $100,000,000 of Iranian assets subjected to controls, until all claims are fully satisfied.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 1979
Wind Energy Systems Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1979 - Declares it to be the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for converting wind energy into electricity. Sets as a goal of such program the attainment of a total megawatt capacity of at least 800 megawatts from wind energy systems by fiscal year 1988 and the reduction of the average cost of electricity produced by such systems to a level competitive with conventional energy sources by the end of fiscal year 1986. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to enter into agreements with public and private entities to obtain scientific, technological, and economic information on the design, fabrication, purchase, installation, and testing of wind energy systems. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to entities seeking to install wind energy systems upon submission of the proper application. Sets forth terms and conditions for receiving such assistance. Terminates any Federal subsidization of purchases of such equipment upon the determination that such systems have become competitive with conventional energy sources or by a specified date. Sets forth the amount of such assistance, taking into consideration any tax credits allowed under the Internal Revenue Code for renewable energy source expenditures. Allocates a portion of the funds appropriated to carry out such assistance program for accelerated procurement and installation of wind energy systems by Federal agencies for demonstration purposes. Directs the Secretary to promulgate voluntary performance standards for such systems. Directs the Secretary to initiate a three-year national wind resource assessment program to: (1) validate existing assessments of known wind resources; (2) perform wind resource assessments in regions where the use of wind energy may prove feasible; (3) initiate a general site prospecting program; (4) establish standard wind data collection and siting techniques; (5) establish, in consultation with the Administrators of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a national wind data center to make public information available on wind energy. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive program management plan for the research, development, and demonstration activities prescribed under this Act for submission to specified congressional committees. Sets forth criteria for selection of programs consistent with the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to monitor, collect and evaluate data and information, and conduct studies and investigations relating to wind energy systems and programs. Directs the Secretary to assure that information relating to programs, projects and other activities conducted under this Act are widely disseminated to Federal, State, and local authorities, relevant segments of the economy, the scientific community and the public, so as to promote the use of wind energy to the maximum extent feasible. Directs the Secretary to assure that small businesses will have adequate opportunities to participate in the programs conducted under this Act to the maximum extent practicable. Authorizes the appropriation of $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1980 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 1979
Limits the applicability of specified penalty provisions relating to failure to answer questions presented in the decennial and mid-decade census to questions approved for the particular census by a concurrent resolution passed by Congress. Prohibits compelling an answer to census questions which apply to persons or families or the farms they occupy, unless such questions have been so approved. Directs the Secretary of Commerce: (1) to study the effect of such removal of penalties upon the accuracy and completeness of responses to census questions; and (2) to report the results of such study to the appropriate committees of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should terminate all military training of Iranian personnel pursuant to sales under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Repeals the provision prohibiting Federal recognition of Virgin Islands' National Guard Officers above the grade of colonel as members of the National Guard.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Sunset Review Act of 1979 - Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to jointly develop and maintain an inventory of all Federal programs and tax expenditures. Requires such inventory to classify all such programs and expenditures according to the jurisdiction of the various legislative committees of the two Houses. Requires the General Accounting Office, before the beginning of the 97th Congress, after consultation with the appropriate legislative committees, to submit a draft inventory to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Requires such Committees to notify each legislative committee of the programs and tax expenditures which are classified within its jurisdiction. Allows any legislative committee to propose revisions of such inventory within 30 days after notification. Requires, after a determination that all programs and tax expenditures are accurately classified, that such inventory be published in a single document. Requires that an update be made of such inventory at the beginning of every Congress. Directs the General Accounting Office to maintain and publish a supplement to the inventory. Requires each legislative committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate, on or before March 1 in the first session of each Congress beginning with the 98th Congress, to develop, adopt, and submit to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committees on Rules and Administration an agenda for the sunset review of selected Federal programs within its jurisdiction or in the case of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance, of selected tax expenditures. Requires the committees of each House to develop their sunset review agenda in consultation with any other committee which has concurrent jurisdiction over any programs or tax expenditures involved. Prohibits either the House or the Senate from considering a primary expense resolution for any legislative committee in any Congress until that committee has developed and submitted its sunset review agenda. Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to incorporate such agendas into a consolidated sunset review agenda and to report such consolidated agenda to its House in the form of a concurrent resolution, within seven legislative days after all committee sunset review agendas have been submitted. Requires the consolidated sunset review agenda to be adopted in the House and in the Senate no later than March 30 in the first session of each Congress. Sets forth the procedures for adoption. Requires each committee of the House or the Senate, not later than May 15 in the second session of each Congress, to report a bill or bills modifying, continuing, or terminating each program or tax expenditure which it has been directed to review under the consolidated sunset review agenda adopted during the first session. Requires such bill to be accompanied by a report setting forth the committee's findings, recommendations, and justifications. Requires each department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch of the Government which is responsible for the administration of a Federal program or tax expenditure selected for sunset review to give assistance to the appropriate Congressional committees. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall affect the authority of any legislative committee to review programs or tax expenditures within its jurisdiction and to report legislation modifying, continuing, or terminating such programs or expenditures at such times and in such manner as it deems appropriate. Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to include the consolidated sunset review agendas and the congressional inventory of Federal programs as part of the House Committee on Rules' functions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Violent Demonstration Deportation Act of 1979 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the categories of deportable aliens an alien who participates in any demonstration in which personal injury or significant property damage occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the categories of deportable aliens foreign students: (1) who knowingly participated in a political demonstration resulting in, or intending to result in, injury or damage to another's person or property; or (2) whose government engages in or permits hostile actions against United States citizens or property, including the seizure of United States Embassy or Consulate buildings and the taking of hostages.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1979
Designates certain lands in the Los Padres National Forest, California, as the Dick Smith Wilderness. Requires that the management plan for such wilderness authorize the Forest Service to take any actions necessary for fire prevention and watershed protection therein. Amends the Act establishing the San Rafael Wilderness to transfer a portion of the lands in such wilderness to the Dick Smith Wilderness.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the categories of deportable aliens foreign students who knowingly participated in a political demonstration resulting in, or intending to result in, injury or damage to another's person or property. Permits the Attorney General to suspend deportation of such foreign students.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1979
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal of appropriate design to Bryan Lewis Allen, the first aviator to cross the English Channel in a self-powered plane. Authorizes appropriations of up to $15,000 to strike such medal. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike bronze duplicates of such medal for sale to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1979
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Research and Development Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to prepare a comprehensive plan and program of research, development, and demonstration of ocean thermal energy conversion systems. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive technology application plan designed to realize the goal of producing 10,000 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent from ocean thermal energy conversion systems by the year 1999. Sets forth criteria for the selection of programs and the establishment of priorities concerning ocean thermal energy conversion systems. Establishes an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Advisory Committee to study and advise the Secretary on the implementation and conduct of the programs established under this Act and on other matters concerning ocean thermal energy conversion. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress an annual report on the activities undertaken pursuant to this Act. Authorizes appropriations for plant and capital equipment for specified ocean thermal energy conversion demonstration plants.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1979
Hazardous Waste Response Fund Act of 1979 - States that the provisions of this Act shall not apply to oil or other pollution of navigable waters. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a hazardous waste response program for dealing with emergencies involving the release or threat of release of hazardous waste into the environment from sites now regulated under Federal law. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to take such emergency response actions as determined to be immediately necessary to prevent or minimize any harm to public health or the environment when any hazardous waste is released or is threatened to be released into the environment. Stipulates that where the Administrator determines that the owner or operator of such site, the generator of such waste, any other person responsible for such release or threatened release, or the State or local government concerned, will take such emergency actions, the Administrator shall not exercise such emergency response authority. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with, State or local governments to undertake such emergency actions where it is determined that such entities have the capability to carry out those actions. Sets forth the types of emergency actions which are authorized. Authorizes the Administrator to remove, contain, and clean up hazardous waste at or associated with any hazardous waste site which may present a danger to public health or the environment. Directs the Administrator not to exercise such authority if he determines that the owner or operator of such site, the generator of waste treated, stored or disposed of at such site, any other person responsible for such site, or the State or local government concerned, will take the action referred to in this paragraph. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with, State or local governments to undertake such actions where it is determined that such entities have the capability to carry out those actions. Sets forth the types of containment and removal actions which are authorized. Authorizes the Administrator to provide special rapid emergency assistance to State and local governments and to take such action, or assist other Federal agencies in taking actions as are deemed necessary to protect health and the environment from hazardous substances released into the environment in a manner which may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or the environment. Stipulates that such assistance may be rendered and actions taken even where the Administrator is unable to immediately determine the applicability of any Federal law other than this Act or the existence of any authority to take remedial action with respect to such hazardous substance release. Requires the Administrator or such other Federal agency or instrumentality to reimburse the Fund established under this Act for amounts expended for emergency assistance or actions where it is determined that such action taken or assistance provided is authorized under any authority of law other that this Act. Directs the Administrator to issue a National Hazardous Waste Response Plan after appropriate public review and public hearings are completed. Sets forth the components of such plan, and requires that hazardous waste removal and containment and emergency assistance for releases of such wastes shall be in accordance with such plan. Requires that such plan set forth recommended methods, procedures, criteria, and equipment for handling released hazardous waste. Authorizes the Administrator to provide equipment and other items necessary for damage assessment and response capability of Federal, State, and local strike forces or other emergency response teams. Limits the Federal share of the cost of actions taken by the Administrator under this Act. Establishes in the United States Treasury a Hazardous Waste Response Fund to finance emergency response, removal, containment, cleanup, and other actions authorized by this Act, including administrative and personnel costs. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981 through 1984 for such fund. Includes in such fund: (1) fees collected under this Act; (2) damage payments received for liability for hazardous waste releases; (3) reimbursements for emergency assistance or for the costs of actions taken for removal, containment, or cleanup of hazardous waste releases; (4) penalties assessed under this Act; and (5) amounts authorized to be appropriated. Imposes fees to be set by the Administrator on: (1) suppliers of petrochemical feedstocks; (2) suppliers of inorganic elements and compounds; and (3) refiners and exporters of crude oil. Specifies the aggregate amounts of fees imposed under this Act which are to be collected from such parties. Authorizes the Administrator to reduce such fees upon his determination that any such feedstock, element, or compound is derived from the waste stream of a production process or from recycled materials. Imposes civil penalties for the failure or refusal to pay such fees. Directs the Administrator to issue regulations prohibiting the release of hazardous waste into the environment. Requires owners or operators of hazardous waste sites and persons responsible for hazardous waste releases or threatened releases violating the regulations issued under this Act to notify the Administrator thereafter. Prohibits any person from knowingly destroying or concealing records relating to hazardous wastes or hazardous waste sites. Authorizes the Administrator to require, by order, any owner or operator of a hazardous waste site or generator of hazardous waste to take such action as may be required for removal, containment, or cleanup of released hazardous waste. Authorizes the Administrator to commence a civil action against any person to impose a civil penalty for violation of regulations issued under this Act, up to $50,000 for single violations, and $250,000 for willful and knowing violations. Authorizes the Administrator to issue abatement orders or to seek equitable relief in the event of hazardous waste releases endangering or threatening to endanger public health or safety. States that the United States district courts shall have jurisdiction to grant such relief. Authorizes criminal penalties and imprisonment upon the owner or operator of a hazardous waste site or upon any other party responsible for a hazardous waste release for failure to comply with the notification requirements of this Act. Authorizes anyone taking actions under this Act as authorized by the Administrator to exercise the entry, inspection, and other authority contained in the applicable inspection provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Imposes strict liability upon any person causing or contributing to the release or threatened release of hazardous waste into the environment. Specifies the damages and costs for which such person shall be liable and states that such liability shall be to the governmental entity which incurred costs relating to removal, containment, emergency assistance or other actions, and to persons who sustained damages for personal injury, injury to property, and economic loss resulting from such release or threatened release. Stipulates that nothing in this Act shall affect the liability of any person under any other law except that the amount recovered under such other laws shall reduce the amount recoverable under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1979
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for crediting the pro rata expense obligations of a handler of grapefruit, lemons, and oranges from California and Arizona, pursuant to a marketing order, with all or any portion of such handler's direct expenditures for such marketing promotion.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1979
Nuclear Safety Board Act of 1979 - Establishes the Nuclear Safety Board as an independent executive agency. Provides for presidential appointment of three members of such board, and sets forth provisions relating to terms, compensation, and appointment of officers and support staff. Sets forth the duties of such Board, including: (1) investigation of potentially hazardous events occurring at facilities regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (2) analysis of operational data reported to it by such facilities to determine the existence of patterns of events indicating safety problems; (3) conducting nuclear facility safety studies; (4) evaluation of suggestions received from the scientific and industrial community and others on improving nuclear facility safety; (5) recommendation to the Commission of specific measures to minimize the likelihood of events which could affect public health or safety; (6) assessment of the effectiveness of the Commission in monitoring facility operations and in providing safety procedures concerning construction and operation of such facilities; (7) monitoring the Commission's resolution of safety issues; (8) establishment of reporting requirements regarding facility design, construction, and operation, which shall be binding on the Commission, Federal, State, and local nuclear safety agencies, and private parties involved with facility construction or operation; and (9) issuance of periodic reports on nuclear facility safety. Grants the Board specified powers relating to issuance of subpenas, inspection authority, enforcement authority, immunity, obtaining official data, delegation, contracting authority, and appointment of advisory committees. Authorizes the Board to make any information not relating to trade secrets available to the public upon request, with exceptions. Requires the Commission to provide written response to the Board to each recommendation submitted by the Board regarding nuclear safety. Establishes civil penalties for violation of reporting requirements regarding facility design, construction, or operation. Authorizes judicial review of any order issued by the Board under this Act. Requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Congress on the activities conducted by the Board. Terminates the existence of the Board six years after the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any gain from the sale of land to the United States, a State, or a tax-exempt conservation authority to be used for fish and wildlife conservation or preservation as a natural area.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1979
Congressional Pay Reform Act of 1979 - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to specify that pay adjustments for Members of Congress shall become effective on the March 1 following the beginning of the next Congress following the Congress during which such adjustment was approved. Conditions such adjustment on the adoption of a concurrent resolution by each House of Congress. Requires the vote on such resolution to be recorded to reflect the vote of each Member. Prohibits any congressional employee from being paid at a rate in excess of the rate payable for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives. Requires the President to transmit to the Congress, within the first 15 days of January after the date on which the report and recommendations, concerning salaries, of the Commission on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries are required to be submitted, his recommendations with respect to the rates of pay of Members of Congress, legislative, and judicial employees. Prohibits the House of Representatives and the Senate from considering any bill or joint resolution carrying an appropriation for compensation of Members of Congress for any fiscal year if such bill or joint resolution carries an appropriation or a limitation on appropriations for any other purpose.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove dollar limitations on the allowable amount of the income tax deduction for moving expenses incurred in connection with the sale or purchase of a residence.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1979
Pay Continuity Act of 1979 - Appropriates the funds necessary to pay the salaries of employees of the executive branch of Government, Members of Congress, and members of the uniformed services during any period when such funds are not available because the legislation making appropriations to the Government entity responsible for paying such individuals has not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1979
Amends the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Incorporated, to erect a memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia in honor and recognition of the men and women of the armed forces who served in the Vietnam war.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1979
Youth Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit employers, without prior certification by the Secretary of Labor, to pay 85 percent of the minimum wage: (1) to youths under age 20, for a 365-day period; and (2) to full-time students, with proof of enrollment at an institute of higher education, for part-time work up to 20 hours per week or full-time work during vacation periods. Directs the Secretary to insure against specified violations of requirements for such special minimum wages for youths and students. Makes employers liable for unpaid wages and overtime compensation for such violations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1979
Amends the National Trails Systems Act to authorize a study to be conducted by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, the appropriate States, and the Cherokee people, to determine the feasibility of designating the Trail of Tears as a National Historic Trail. Includes the Trail of Tears as a route to be studied for designation as a national scenic trail.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1979
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) no action should be taken to withdraw the one-dollar bill from circulation without congressional approval; (2) no action shall be taken to artificially stimulate the demand for the one-dollar coin; and (3) public demand shall dictate the quantity of United States coins produced.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1979
Amends the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to authorize payment of a gratuity (equal to one year's salary at time of death) to the surviving dependents of officers or employees of the Central Intelligence Agency who die as a result of injuries sustained outside of the United States upon a determination by the Director of Central Intelligence that the death resulted from hostile or terrorist activity or occurred in connection with an intelligence activity having a substantial element of risk.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1979
Alternative Energy Incentive Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to 50 percent the rate of the income tax credit for residential energy conservation expenditures and for renewable energy source expenditures. Increases the amount of renewable energy source expenditures eligible for the credit to $10,000. Eliminates the requirement that such expenditures be limited to the taxpayer's principal residence. Qualifies expenditures for the drilling of an onsite well drilled for any geothermal deposit for the renewable energy source tax credit. Qualifies renewable energy source property which is also a structural component of a building for the energy tax credit. Permits lessors, lessees, and builders who are not the original users of property to claim a residential energy credit. Permits taxpayers, upon application to the Secretary of the Treasury, to claim an immediate tax credit for the taxable year previous to the year in which energy conservation expenditures are made. Provides a residential energy credit for heat pumps which replace an electric resistance heating system. Extends the termination date of the residential energy tax credit to December 31, 2000. Increases the investment tax credit for: (1) hydroelectric and cogeneration energy property; (2) solar and wind energy property; (3) geothermal energy property; (4) biomass property; (5) ocean thermal energy conversion property; and (6) utilities. Makes the credit for such properties refundable. Repeals the exemption from excise tax for gasohol. Allows an income tax credit for the use of gasohol. Bases the amount of such credit on the volume of alcohol mixed with gasoline.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1979
Title I: Findings, Purposes, and Definitions - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to provide for a coordinated, simplified, and prompt process for obtaining Federal, State, and local approval of nonnuclear energy facilities which are determined to be in the national interest. Title II: Priority Projects - Authorizes the President to establish an Energy Mobilization Board to be composed of members appointed by the President. Sets forth the general duties and powers of such Board, including the subpoena power. Directs the Board to keep the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs and on Interstate and Foreign Commerce fully and currently informed concerning its activities, including the submission of an annual report. Stipulates that projects related to the production of nuclear energy or approved under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies of 1978 be excluded from coverage under this Act. Directs the Board to designate Priority Energy Projects and to publish a Project Decision Schedule containing deadlines for all Federal actions relating to such projects. Directs the Board to provide the appropriate committees with a copy of such designation orders. Sets forth the criteria the Board must consider in making such designations, including: (1) the extent to which the energy project would reduce the Nation's dependence upon nonrenewable resources; (2) the magnitude of any economic and social impacts and costs associated with the project in relation to the impacts and costs of alternatives; (3) the extent to which the project would make use of renewable energy resources, or conserve energy; (4) the extent to which the project would contribute to the development of new production or conservation technologies and techniques; (5) adverse impacts on the environment and on competition; and other specified criteria. Directs the Board to notify the Governor of each State in which any portion of a project designated as a Priority Energy Project is proposed to be located. Permits such Governor to appoint a non-voting Member to the Board to participate in decisions concerning such project, including the Project Decision Schedule. Exempts priority energy project designations or refusals to make a designation, promulgation or revision of Project Decision Schedules, and Board actions relating to streamlining of procedures, from the impact statement requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Directs the Council on Environmental Quality to determine whether any Federal action relating to a Priority Energy Project, after it has been so designated and prior to establishing the Project Schedule, will be a "major Federal action" for purposes of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Requires the Council to designate a lead agency to assure compliance with NEPA whenever a major Federal action is involved. Authorizes the Board to require that one environmental impact statement be prepared and that such statement be used by all Federal agencies to satisfy NEPA with respect to such projects. Authorizes the Board to extend the time for certain deadlines. Requires each agency having authority to make any agency decision with respect to any part of a project designated as a Priority Energy Project to transmit to the Board: (1) a compilation of all significant actions required to be taken by such agency and by the applicant before such decision can be made and a summary of procedural requirements applicable to such actions; (2) a tentative schedule for completing such actions and making such decisions; and (3) a statement of administrative requirements to take such actions. Directs the Board to publish a Project Decision Schedule within 45 days of the transmittal of agency information. Stipulates that such schedule: (1) identify the order in which decisions which must be made by each agency are to be made; (2) identify the deadlines applicable to such decisions; (3) be consistent with the tentative schedules transmitted to the Board, unless the Board determines a different schedule is essential to expedite and coordinate agency review; and (4) be binding on the agency and on all other persons to which the Schedule applies. Permits the Board to modify any schedule applicable to any agency's decision or action subject to the Project Decision Schedule upon petition of such agency where the agency determines such modification will facilitate agency compliance with the Schedule. Permits affected agencies to consolidate proceedings related to actions and decisions subject to the Project Decision Schedule, if such streamlined procedures provide for effective participation by interested parties in such decisionmaking. Directs the Board to monitor compliance with the Schedule by all affected agencies and persons. Permits the Board to take such actions as it deems appropriate to bring any person or agency responsible for a project delay into compliance with the Schedule. Directs the Board, when any person responsible for filing or taking any other action on behalf of a Project refuses to take such action, to either revise such Project Decision Schedule or revoke the Priority Energy Project designation. Stipulates that, unless otherwise provided for, the other statutory obligations and authority of any independent regulatory agency remain unaffected by this Act. Authorizes the Board to bring an expedited enforcement action against any agency failing to or reasonably likely to fail to comply with a Project Decision Schedule in the appropriate United States district court. Directs such court to issue specified orders requiring compliance with such Schedule and to take any necessary measures, including citation and punishment of the responsible officials for contempt of court, for failure to meet any court-imposed deadlines. Authorizes the President to perform any action or make any decision required of an agency by court order in the event such agency fails to perform such action or make such decision. Authorizes the Board to order the temporary suspension of the application of any requirement of Federal, State, or local law enacted or promulgated after the commencement of construction of any facility which is part of a Priority Project where it is determined that such requirement could prevent timely completion or operation of such facility and that such temporary suspension would not create any significant public health or safety risks. Sets forth time limits on such suspension orders and exempts specified requirements from being suspended. Stipulates that nothing in this Act shall expand or confer on the United States any right to acquire water rights nor alter any provisions of State law or interstate compact governing water use. States that Board action granting or denying designation orders or suspending Federal, State, or local requirements of law shall be subject to judicial review only for failure to comply with this Act or for constitutional violations. Provides for judicial review of other Board actions as specified. Requires that any reviewing court expedite and consolidate such review to the maximum extent practicable. Requires that any party seeking Supreme Court review of any judgment or order of a circuit court of appeals pursuant to this Act must file a petition for a writ of certiorari within 60 days of the decision of the lower court or such appeal shall be barred. Sets a 60-day time limit for the promulgation of regulations for carrying out this Act. Terminates the Board's authority seven years after the date of enactment of this Act. Directs the Board to prepare and submit to the President and the Congress a comprehensive report of its activities during such period. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to the Congress a report evaluating the performance of the Board and setting forth findings and recommendations with respect to the program authorized under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 and succeeding fiscal years to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1979
Scholarship Program Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to exempting certain kinds of scholarship or fellowship grants from classification as taxable expenditures of a private foundation, to apply such exemption to a grant under an employer-related scholarship program where the number of such grants awarded during any year does not exceed 50 percent of the number of eligible individuals submitting applications for such grants. Defines an "employer-related scholarship program" as one which: (1) provides grants for study at educational institutions eligible to receive tax deductible charitable contributions; and (2) limits the eligibility for all or a portion of such grants to employees of a particular employer (or group of employers), or to members of such employees' families.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union should release Ida Nudel and allow her to emigrate to Israel. Urges the President to: (1) express U.S. opposition to the exile of Ida Nudel to Siberia; and (2) inform the Soviet Union that the United States will take into account the extent to which countries honor their commitments under international law, particularly concerning human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the 1980 Madrid meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to seek free elections supervised by the United Nations in the Baltic States after the withdrawal of all Soviet military and civilian personnel. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should inform and gain the support and cooperation of other nations in realizing independence for the Baltic States. Expresses the sense of Congress that the: (1) President should warn the Soviet Union against making citizenship claims on U.S. citizens; and (2) Secretary of State should inform U.S. citizens planning to visit the Soviet Union of the implications of the Soviet law on citizenship.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1979
Requests the President to: (1) publicly condemn Vietnam for violations of the human rights of the people of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos; and (2) request a session of the United Nations General Assembly to impose sanctions on Vietnam for such violations.
![Official portrait of Rep. Lagomarsino, Robert J. [R-CA-19]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/l000020_200.jpg)