United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1977
Allows larger acreages of specified land to be retained by the owner of such land and still remain qualified for irrigation water under the Federal reclamation laws. Redefines the term "irrigable acres" for purposes of eligibility for such irrigation water.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1977
Water Resources Research and Development Act - Title I: General Water Resources Research - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to assist in the establishment of qualified water research and technology institutes at State colleges and universities. Requires that water resources research programs be developed and submitted to the Secretary for approval in accordance with specified criteria. Authorizes the appropriation of up to $250,000 per year to each participating institute for fiscal years 1978 through 1982. Authorizes additional appropriations of $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 1978 and 1979 as matching grants to equal, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, funds made available to the institutes from non-Federal sources. Establishes eligibility requirements for such matching grants. Authorizes the appropriation of $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1978 and 1979 for grants and other assistance by the Secretary to other institutes for the conduct of water research projects. Authorizes the Secretary to initiate research assessment, transfer, and information dissemination programs. Authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000 per year for fiscal years 1978 through 1982 to the Secretary to carry out the general purposes of this title. Repeals the Water Resources Research Act of 1964. Title II: Research and Engineering Development on Saline and Chemically Contaminated Water - Saline Water Conversion Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of converting saline or other chemically contaminated water into water suitable for beneficial consumptive uses. Authorizes the appropriation of $25,000,000 for research, development, and administrative activities to carry out the provisions of this Title. Repeals the Saline Water Conversion Act of 1971.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1977
Amends the Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1976 to extend to June 15, 1977, the period during which the Postal Service is prohibited from: (1) increasing rates and fees to levels exceeding those in effect on the date of enactment of the Act; (2) offering levels and types of services which are less than those available on July 1, 1976; and (3) closing certain postal facilities which were in operation on July 1, 1976.
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
Allows, as a credit against the income tax, 25 percent of the expenditures paid for the installation of solar heating or cooling equipment in any building owned by the taxpayer and used as his residence. Limits the expenditures claimed by any taxpayer, for any building, to $8,000. Prorates the allowable credit among joint owners and tenant stockholders. Prohibits any increase in the structure's basis to the extent that this credit is claimed. Defines "solar heating and cooling equipment" as equipment meeting the criteria of the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act, with a useful life of at least three years, and which is originally used by the taxpayer. Allows, as a credit against the income tax, 30 percent of the expenditures paid for insulating the taxpayer's residence. Limits the expenditures claimed during this period to $750 for any individual or building. Prorates the allowable credit among joint owners and tenant stockholders. Prohibits any increase in the basis of such residence to the extent that this credit is taken. Allows an investment tax credit for expenditures paid or incurred for insulation and solar energy equipment installed in structures used for a trade or business or held for the production of income. Extends this investment credit to structures used as lodging facilities. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to draft additional criteria defining solar energy equipment for the purposes of the investment tax credit. Allows the amortization, over 60 months, of depreciable shale oil conversion, solar geothermal, and waste energy equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the President to waive prohibitions against the designation of a nation (1) which is a member of OPEC, (2) which is a party to an international arrangement to raise prices to unreasonable levels, or (3) which participates in an international arrangement to withhold vital resources, as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of certain tariff preferences, if the President determines such waiver to be in the national economic interest. Prohibits such waiver if the country is participating, or has participated in such withholding.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 to extend through 1980 assistance: (1) to refugees from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos; (2) to State and local public agencies providing assistance for such aliens; (3) for transportation to, and resettlement in, other areas of the United States; and (4) for employment assistance rendered to such aliens. Directs that funds appropriated under this Act be made available to State or local public agencies to reimburse them for the non-Federal share of costs under Titles IV (Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families with Children and for Child Welfare Services) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Limits the amount of assistance to be provided for a State or local public agency in fiscal years 1979, and 1980 for providing cash or medical assistance to aliens from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Requires the President to submit a report to specified Committees of Congress on the states of such refugees at regular intervals until December 31, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that any individual who would have been fully insured at age 62, may qualify for disability insurance benefits if such individual has 40 quarters of coverage, regardless of when such quarters were earned. Stipulates that such coverage requirement is an alternative to the requirement that an individual have 20 quarters of coverage during the 40-quarter period immediately preceding his disability.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Postal Reorganization Act Amendments - Changes the organizational structure of the United States Postal Service by: (1) naming the Postmaster General chief executive officer and vesting in the Postmaster General the powers formerly held by the Board of Governors; (2) revising the procedures for adjustment of rates and services whereby the Postal Service is authorized to request the Congress to authorize appropriations to defray the estimated costs of the Postal Service for the fiscal year, to request a recommended decision of the Postal Rate Commission, or to propose a change in the nature of postal services; (3) requiring that all proposed capital investments by the Postal Service be reviewed by the Post Office and Civil Service Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and (4) requiring the Postal Rate Commission to submit to the President annually a separate budget for its operating expenses. Prohibits reducing the frequency of mail delivery service below the frequency which was in effect on April 21, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Government Economy and Spending Reform Act - Title I: Authorization of New Budget Authority - Terminates all budget authority for Federal programs on specified dates according to the functional or subfunctional category of each program as set forth in the fiscal year 1977 budget. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress by April 1, 1977, on specified programs with respect to the laws under which such program is carried on, the amount of new budget authority received by such program during the four fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977, and to identify programs for which no outlays have been made during the last two fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977. Prohibits providing new budget authority after the applicable review date set forth in this Act unless the provision of such budget authority is specifically authorized by law or the standing rules of either House of Congress. Title II: Zero-Base Program Review - Sets forth a timetable for Congressional zero-base review of new budget authority. Defines "zero-base review" as an evaluation of a given program to determine the merits of its continuation at a level less than, equal to, or more than its existing level. Requires each congressional committee conducting a zero-based program review to adopt tentative and final review plans, receive reports from the Comptroller General and Federal agencies on the program being reviewed, and report to their respective House the results of such zero-base review of the program. Sets forth minimum objectives of inquiry for such reviews. Requires that any committee reporting pursuant to this Act recommend the extent to which any program reviewed should be continued or eliminated. Title III: Continuing Review - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 to require, whenever the Comptroller General issues a report which discloses any substantial deficiency in the achievement of the objectives of any Federal program, the agency conducting such program to report to specified congressional committees 60 days after such report and every six months thereafter to delineate the actions taken with respect to such deficiency. Requires that such agency continue to issue such reports until such time as the Comptroller General determines that no purpose is served by their submission. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, to require the inclusion in the Budget of a statement of the specific objectives of each Government program, and a comparison, in each subsequent Budget, of the achievement of such objectives for the last completed fiscal year with the planned objectives of such year. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Requires the Director of Management and Budget to study the feasibility of zero-base budgeting for Federal agencies. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to study the feasibility of personnel ceilings on employees of the United States and their relationships to alternative methods of carrying out the activities of such employees. Requires that such reports be submitted to Congress. Requires Federal agency heads to report requests for new budget authority to Congress. Requires specified committees to study the effectiveness of the zero-base review procedures required by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Drug Pushers Elimination Act - Increases maximum penalties for distribution, possession with intent to distribute, or domestic or certain foreign manufacture of coca leaves or certain of its derivatives, specified opiates or stimulants, or counterfeits thereof. Imposes mandatory minimum sentences for such violations. Excepts addicted persons from the applicable minimum term of imprisonment specified in this Act. Stipulates that one conspiring or attempting to manufacture, distribute, import, or export certain controlled substances shall be punished the same as one who commits the offense which was the object of the conspiracy or attempt. Directs a judicial officer to consider whether a person charged with an offense under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 poses a danger to himself, the persons or property of others, or the community in setting conditions of release pending trial. Denies release prior to trial to a person charged with an offense for which penalties are increased in this Act, upon a judicial officer making any one of specified findings in a special hearing to be conducted at the time of arraignment. Prohibits persons convicted of certain narcotics crimes, with certain exceptions for addicts, from being released while awaiting sentence or after having filed an appeal or a petition for a writ of certiorari. Permits an addict charged with unlawfully importing, selling, or conspiring to import or sell a narcotic drug to be eligible for civil commitment and rehabilitation in lieu of criminal prosecution if the court determines that such alleged violation was for the primary purpose of enabling the offender to obtain a narcotic drug required for personal use because of the addiction.
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 · 6 April 1977
Regulatory Review Act - Requires all rules proposed by any Federal agency to be submitted to Congress together with an estimate of the costs to be incurred by the Federal Government, State and local governments, nongovernmental entities, and individuals affected by such proposed rule. States that such rule shall become effective not sooner than 60 days after submission to Congress unless, within such period, either House disapproves such rule.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide honorably discharged veterans of the Vietnam War a refundable, $500 income tax credit for taxable years ending between 1976 and 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 6 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
Prohibits charging against the allowance, appropriation, or other fund from which a congressional employee is paid the amount such employee's salary is decreased by reason of the fact that such employee is receiving a Federal pension.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1977
Natural Game Fish Stream Preservation Act - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to establish a program whereby any State agency responsible for the management of game fish may apply to the Secretary of the Interior for Federal assistance with respect to the preservation of natural game fish streams within such State. Authorizes the Secretary to grant such funds as may be necessary to enable such State to acquire title to or interest in such streams and abating lands. Requires such State agency to show that it is able to acquire such interests, and that it will maintain the streams and their environs in their natural state as preconditions to the granting of funds under this Act. Permits any State receiving such assistance to regulate the use of such streams. Requires Federal agencies to limit their operations on and over lands within the watershed of any such streams for which assistance is granted under this Act. Requires any State receiving such assistance to appoint a citizens' advisory committee which shall make an annual report to the Secretary with respect to the status, fees, rules, supervisory practices and use of such streams. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
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
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to prohibit any cost-of-living adjustments to the salaries of Senators and Representatives which take effect before October 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1977
Export Administration Amendments - Title I: Export Administration Improvements and Extension - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to extend the authority granted by such Act to September 30, 1978. Requires that appropriations to carry out the Export Administration Act of 1969 be specifically authorized by Congress for each fiscal year after October 1, 1977. Authorizes the appropriation of $14,033,000 to the Department of Commerce to carry out this Act. Revises the criteria for imposition of export controls for national security purposes. Eliminates the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to assign priority to such controls. Revises the authority of the President to impose export controls for national security purposes without regard to the availability of the controlled articles from sources other than the United States in order to require the President to predicate the imposition of controls on articles available from other sources upon a determination that absence of such a control would be detrimental to the national security of the United States. Revises the policy for control of exports for national security purposes under such Act to redefine "controlled country" as a country to which exports are controlled for national security purposes. Amends such Act to permit agricultural commodities purchased by or for a foreign country to remain in the United States free of quantitative limitations on exports, upon approval by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, and under regulations for such export which the Secretary of Commerce is herein authorized to issue. Permits Congressional disapproval of any action by the President under such regulations to prohibit or curtail agricultural exports. Specifies that any export license application under such Act shall be deemed approved within 90 days of its receipt unless disapproved or unless the applicant is notified that additional time is required for the decision. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to study technical data exports and their effects upon the national security or foreign policy of the United States, and to submit a report of such study to Congress. Amends such Act to exclude petroleum products refined in United States foreign-trade zones, or Guam, from foreign crude oil export controls to prevent excessive drain of scarce materials except if the Secretary of Commerce finds that such products are in short supply and issues regulations herein authorized to limit such exports. Prohibits the exportation of horses by sea for slaughter. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to account for technical assistance and technical advisory committees in semiannual reports to Congress under such Act. Requires the Secretary to review regulations under such Act in order to report to Congress on simplification of such regulations. Increases the terms of persons on such committees. Increases the fine for violations of such Act to $25,000 for the first offense and to $50,000 for a subsequent offense. Increases the fine for prohibited exports to Communist- dominated nations to $50,000. Increases the civil penalty for such violation of such Act to $10,000. Permits suspension of the payment of export licensing penalties for a probationary period. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to stipulate that such Act shall not be construed as authority for withholding information from Congress. Requires the President to make every reasonable effort to reduce aid to international terrorists before resorting to export controls for that purpose. Amends the requirements for reports to Congress and to the President under such Act by appropriate departments or agencies to specify information to be included in such reports and to require semiannual rather than quarterly reports. Requires a special report to Congress by the President on multilateral export controls, and a special report to Congress by the Secretary of Commerce with respect to modification of unilateral and multilateral export control lists. Authorizes the President, acting through the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor and the International Trade Commission, to study the domestic economic impact of industrial technology the export of which requires a license under the Export Administration Act of 1969. Title II: Foreign Boycotts - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to direct the President to promulgate regulations (1) to prohibit any United States person from supporting any boycott by a foreign country against any country friendly to the United States; and (2) to require the reporting of requests for such compliance to the Secretary of Commerce. Permits the suspension or revocation of the authority of any United States person to export as a penalty for violation of such regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1977
Camp Safety Incentive Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to develop and promulgate model youth camp safety standards within six months after the enactment of this Act. Defines "youth camp" as any camp advertised as a youth camp; conducted for ten or more children under the age of 18; and operated for five or more consecutive days. Authorizes Federal financial assistance to States for the development of State youth camp safety plans which include either penalties or loss of certification as a means of enforcement. Requires States receiving financial assistance under this Act to file annual accident reports with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to make annual reports to the President and to the Congress. Terminates the assistance program established by this Act on September 30, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for 25 percent of the amount of rent paid by the taxpayer which is equal to the taxpayer's proportionate share of the local and State property taxes imposed on the land and building in which his dwelling unit is located.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 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 · 28 March 1977
Title I: Survey and Certification, Rate-Setting and Audit, and General Regulation of Long Term Care Facilities Under Medicaid Programs - Directs that State plans under Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act must provide that no skilled nursing facility may receive payments under such plan unless and until it is approved to receive payments under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Requires the State plan to give the State agency the power to terminate reimbursement to a skilled nursing or intermediate care facility which such agency has found has violated its provider agreement. States that payment of the skilled nursing facility and intermediate care facility services shall be based upon a prospective cost based method of computation in which the audited costs of rendering service in such facilities in a prior year is updated through the use of economic indices to the year in which payment is made. Requires that any skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility receiving payments under such plan be required to maintain with the State agency a bond in such amount, under such terms, and in such form as the State agency may direct. Title II: Medical, Psychological, and Social Assessment of Patients In Need of Long Term Care under Medicare and Medicaid Programs - Directs that payments for services furnished an individual may be made only to eligible providers of services and only if a physician certifies that such services are necessary, based on such patient assessment criteria as the Secretary may require.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1977
Entitles a Federal employee whose position is reduced in grade to have the grade of such position treated as if such reduction had not occurred so long as such position is continued to be filled by such employee without a break in service. (Adds 5 U.S.C. 5366)
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 · 24 March 1977
Encourages the Federal Communications Commission to insure that the quality and quantity of over-the-air broadcasting service which is now available to the public is not impaired by the operation of pay television. Expresses the sense of Congress that the development of pay television should be regulated in a manner consistent with the maintenance of free broadcasting.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to eliminate atomatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress. Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to establish the rate of pay for Members of Congress at the rate in effect on March 1, 1977.
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 · 22 March 1977
Removes the limitation on the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving benefits under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the charitable deduction allowed for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle shall include the depreciation, operation and maintenance costs allocable to such operation and shall be determined in the same manner as for a business related deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the excise tax, buses purchased by tax exempt organizations or by other persons for exclusive use in furnishing transportation for a State or local government or a tax exempt organization (currently, transportation must be limited to students and employees of schools).
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Establishes within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare a Home Health Clearinghouse. Directs such Clearinghouse to establish and maintain a computer system to gather information on services and benefits available to the elderly through public and private agencies. Directs the Clearinghouse to publish and keep current a publication describing services and benefits available to the elderly under Federal law. Creates in the Department an Assistant Secretary for Elderly Health, to perform specified duties, including the coordination of Department policy relating to the health of the elderly and coordination of the interagency task force on long-term home and institutional care of the elderly.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment under the supplementary medical insurance program for one comprehensive physical examination a year, dental care including dentures, eye examinations including eyeglasses, hearing aids including examination, treatment of foot conditions. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to take steps to eliminate unnecessary or excessive medical appliance expenditures under the Medicare program by implementing appliance leasing, auditing of medical appliance manufacturers and providers, and by cross-referencing prevailing medical appliance rates. Includes under the term "medical appliance" hearing aids, eyeglasses, dentures, and similar health aids. States that the Federal Trade Commission should continue and increase scrutiny of the medical appliance industries in the interest of consumer protection. States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare should provide increased assistance to encourage the continuing education and training of hearing specialists, clinical audiologists, and physicians to improve the quality of hearing care, and to encourage the provision by State local governments of more and better hearing care for the elderly, including a network of examination and treatment sites.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Veterans' Administration Administrative Procedure and Judicial Review Act - Provides that the decisions of the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs on any question of law or fact under any law administered by the Veterans' Administration providing benefits for veterans and their dependents or survivors shall be subject to judicial review. Subjects all rules regulations, orders and any other determination of any kind made by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. Repeals the requirement that the Administrator determine and pay fees to agents or attorneys in allowed claims for monetary benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to provide that any patient of a nursing home or intermediate care facility which is participating in the hospital insurance program under Title XVIII (Medicare) or Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act shall have the right to terminate any contract entered into for his or her care in such a facility upon giving the facility at least 30 days written notice. Prohibits such a facility from requiring any patient to turn over to it any periodic benefit check or other income received after the patient has given such notice.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Authorizes a tax deduction, under the Internal Revenue Code, for any taxpayer who contributes the right to use any real property owned by the taxpayer to a tax-exempt organization for use by a multipurpose senior citizen center or outpatient geriatric clinic. Limits such deduction to 50 percent of the lesser of (1) the fair market rental value of such property or (2) the amount of State or local property taxes which are paid or incurred by the taxpayer and which are allocable to such property.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to increase to $900,000,000 from $600,000,000 in fiscal year 1978 and $750,000,000 in fiscal year 1979 the amount of income to be produced by such Fund in such fiscal years. Authorizes the appropriation to such Fund of such sums, in addition to collected revenues, as are necessary to make the income of the Fund not less than $900,000,000 in fiscal year 1978 and each year thereafter through fiscal year 1989. Credits to a special account within the Fund the additional income to be produced by the Fund in fiscal years 1978 and 1979 in accordance with the amendments made by this Act. States that the special account shall remain available until appropriated for the acquisition of national or federally administered lands. Provides that appropriations allotted for the acquisition of land or waters for Recreation Areas of the National Park System and the National Forest System be available notwithstanding any statutory ceiling on such appropriations contained in any other provision of law enacted prior to the convening of the 95th Congress, except that such expenditures may not exceed such ceiling by a specified excess amount. Permits the Secretary of the Interior, following notice to specified committees in Congress, to modify boundaries of an area of the national park system and acquire land, waters or interests adjacent to such area. Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to issue free lifetime admission permits to designated units of the National Park System to persons 60 years of age or older and to specified blind or disabled persons.
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.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to decrease the floor on allowable medical deductions to two percent of adjusted gross income. Eliminates the one percent floor on deductions for drugs and medicine. Includes deductible amounts for medical insurance with other medical care expenses for which the two percent floor is applicable.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that property used in, or related to, the taxpayer's trade or business, and which the taxpayer acquired without cost, shall not qualify as a capital asset.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the carryover basis provisions enacted by the Tax Reform Act which provide that beneficiaries receiving property from a decedent's estate will retain the decedent's basis in the property. Restores prior law which "stepped up" or "stepped down" the property's basis to its market value at the time of death without imposing tax consequences on the appreciation or depreciation the property underwent while held by the decedent.
![Official portrait of Rep. Lagomarsino, Robert J. [R-CA-19]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/l000020_200.jpg)