United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1976
Authorizes appropriations for grants to the Navajo Community College for fiscal years 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982, of $10,000,000 for construction costs. Authorizes appropriations of an annual sum for operation and maintenance of the college equal to the average amount of the per capita contribution made by the Federal Government to the education of Indian students at federally operated institutions of the same type.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1976
Establishes in the House of Representatives a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. Provides that the select committee shall conduct a continuing comprehensive study and review of the problems of narcotics abuse and control and shall review any recommendations made by the President, or by any department or agency of the executive branch of the Federal Government, relating to programs or policies affecting narcotics abuse or control. Authorizes the select committee to conduct field investigations or inspections. Requires the select committee to submit an annual report to the House which shall include a summary of the activities of the select committee during the calendar year to which such report applies.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1976
Creates a House select committee which shall conduct an investigation of all records, memorandums, papers, documents, books, and other information of any standing or select committee of the House or officer of the House respecting expenses incurred by or on behalf of any such committee or its members or employees.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1976
Indian Land Consolidation and Resources Inventory Act - Title l: Tribal Land Consolidation - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, upon the request of an Indian tribe, to acquire lands within the boundaries of the requesting tribe's reservation for the purpose of consolidating tribal land holdings. Authorizes any tribe, pursuant to an approved land consolidation plan, to exchange or sell any tribal land or interests in land not needed or suitable for use by the tribe or so situated and located that it would be to the economic or social advantage of the tribe to sell or exchange the property. Permits any Indian tribe, by appropriate action of its governing body, to provide that no undivided fractional interest in trust lands, of an appraised value of $100 or more shall descend by intestacy but shall escheat to the tribe. Authorizes the purchase or exchange of undivided fractional interests in trust lands under specified circumstances. Title II: Tribal Inventory - Directs the Secretary, within 180 days of the enactment of this Act, to submit to the Congress and each Indian tribe a plan for the conduct of resource inventories of land and other natural resources of Indian tribes, and a timetable for carrying out such plan. Specifies that the Secretary shall not conduct any such inventory if the governing body of the tribe has notified the Secretary, in writing, that it does not wish an inventory to be made.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1976
States that for the purpose of maintaining law and order and to protect persons and property within Indian country, the Secretary of the Interior may charge any officers or employees of the Department of the Interior with law enforcement responsibilities. Permits such officers to exercise specified authority, including authority to: (1) carry firearms; (2) execute warrants; and (3) perform any other law enforcement duty that the Secretary of the Interior may designate. Authorizes the Secretary to publish such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or proper for the maintenance of law and order in Indian country. States that violations of such rules shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1976
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service shall not close or suspend the operation of any post offices, unless there is a clear and compelling need to do so. Encourages the service to continue cost-cutting programs which do not affect levels of service.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1976
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to exclude those payments made by a State to or on behalf of State or municipal employees on account of sickness or accident disability from the income of such employees in the calculation of the Social Security tax owed by the State to the United States Treasury on such income.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1976
Makes it unlawful for any individual or entity to solicit or enroll any member of the armed forces in any labor organization, or for any member of the armed forces to join, or encourage other members to join, any labor union. Prescribes a penalty of not more than five years imprisonment for any individual violating this Act, and a fine of not less than $25,000 or more than $50,000 for any labor organization in violation of this Act. (Adds 10 U.S.C. 975)
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1976
Requires that an election commissioner be appointed in American Samoa. States that the duty of the Commissioner will be to conduct a plebiscite on the issue of whether there should be a popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of that country. Provides that a gubernatorial election be held within one year of such plebiscite if there is a majority of affirmative responses. Directs the legislature of American Samoa to establish rules and procedures regarding nomination, length of terms, and removal from the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1976
Extends the delimiting period in the case of any eligible veteran who is pursuing, during his or her tenth year of eligibility, a program of education. Terminates such extension on whichever of the following dates first occurs: (1) the date on which the veteran completes, or ceases to pursue, the program he was pursuing in his tenth year of eligibility; or (2) the last day of the 11-year period beginning on the date of his discharge from active duty. (Adds 38 U.S.C. 1662(e))
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1976
Agenda for Government Reform Act - Directs the President to report to Congress concerning the effects of Federal agency activity upon: (1) the transportation and agriculture industries by January 31, 1978; (2) the mining, heavy manufacturing, and public utilities industries by January 31, 1979; (3) the light manufacturing and construction industries by January 31, 1980; and (4) the communications, finance, insurance, real estate, trade, and service industries by January 31, 1981. Requires that such report include a determination of whether any such agency activity has fulfilled its purposes, whether it is duplicative or conflicts with other agency activity, and whether the benefits of such activity exceed its costs. Directs the President to present in such report his recommendation for reform. States that the Congressional committee to which a proposal made by the President is referred must report to its respective House a bill approving or disapproving, in whole or in part, such proposal. Provides that if such a bill has not been reported by November 15 next following the submission of such report, the President's proposal shall become the pending order of business in both Houses and remain so until acted upon.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1976
Estate and Gift Tax Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a single unified rate schedule for estate and gift taxes. Establishes progressive rates based on cumulative lifetime transfers and transfers at death. Determines the amount of estate tax by applying the unified rates to such cumulative transfers and then subtracting the taxes payable on lifetime transfers. Provides that for purposes of determining the amount of the gross estate, the amount of gift tax paid with respect to transfers made within three years of death shall be included in the decedent's gross estate. Provides, as a transitional rule, that the lifetime transfers taken into account in determining cumulative transfers at death, for purposes of imposing the estate tax under the unified schedule, shall only include taxable gifts made after December 31, 1976. Repeals the estate and gift tax exemptions. Substitutes for such exemptions a credit against estate and gift taxes in the amount of $29,800. Provides for an additional credit against the estate tax for specified farms and closely held businesses passing to a qualified heir. Defines "qualified heir" as a member of the decedent's family, including his spouse, lineal decendents, parents, and aunts and uncles of the decedent and their decendants. Makes such credit available where the value of a farm or closely held business included in a decedent's gross estate equals or exceeds 65 percent of the value of the gross estate. Stipulates that such credit shall be available only if the farm or closely held business has been owned by the decedent or his family for at least five out of the preceding eight years. Provides that the amount of such credit shall be $25,000 multiplied by a percentage representing the portion of the decedent's estate consisting of the farm or other closely held business. Phases out such credit after the value of the gross estate exceeds $1,000,000. Provides for the recapture of the estate tax benefit of such credit where there is a disposition of the business by the qualified heir to nonfamily members prior to the qualified heir's death or within 25 years of the death of the decedent. Provides for a lien on the qualified interest in a farm or closely held business with respect to which an election of such credit has been made. Increases the estate tax marital deduction to $250,000 or one-half of the decedent's gross estate, whichever is greater. Increases the gift tax marital deduction in the case of lifetime gifts to a spouse. Allows an unlimited marital deduction for the first $100,000 of lifetime gifts made to a spouse and, thereafter, a deduction for one-half of the aggregate lifetime gifts made to a spouse in excess of $200,000. Imposes a tax on the unrealized appreciation of property transferred by a decedent. Provides that the basis of such property shall be its fair market value on December 31, 1976. Allows an election to carry over the decedent's basis in any property instead of having the appreciation taxed. Exempts the first $50,000 of appreciation from taxation. Excludes the appreciation of assets valued at less than $10,000 and which are not held for use in a trade or business or for the production of income from such tax. Allows the deduction of the appreciation tax in computing the value of the taxable estate for estate tax purposes. Exempts from the appreciation tax any property transferred from the decedent if the income tax carries over to the recipient (income in respect of a decedent and survivor annuities). Provides that if an election to carry over the decedent's basis in lieu of paying the appreciation tax is made, the basis of the property is to be increased by the Federal and State estate taxes attributable to the net appreciation in value for the property. Allows the executor of an estate which includes real farm property to value the property as a farm, rather than its fair market value determined on the basis of its highest and best use. Imposes special qualifying conditions for such valuation, including: (1) the farm assets in the decedent's estate including both farm real property and personal property must be at least 50 percent of the decedent's gross estate (reduced by debts and expenses); (2) at least 25 percent of the adjusted value of the gross estate must be qualified farm real property; (3) the real property must pass to a qualified heir; (4) the real property must have been used or held for use as a farm for five of the last eight years prior to the decedent's death; and (5) there must have been material participation in the operation of the farm by the decedent or a member of his family in five years out of the eight years immediately preceding the decedent's death. Provides for recapture of any tax benefits obtained by use of the reduced valuation if, prior to the death of the qualified heir or within 25 years of the death of the decedent, the property is disposed of to nonfamily members or ceases to be used for farming purposes. Provides for a lien on all such real property with respect to which the farm valuation is elected. Provides for a 15-year period for the payment of the estate tax attributable to the decedent's interest in a farm or closely held business, with a deferral of the tax for five years and installment payments over the next ten years. Requires, as a qualification for such deferral and installment treatment, the value of the closely held business or farm in the decedent's estate to be at least 65 percent of the gross estate. Allows discretionary extensions of up to ten years to pay the estate tax for reasonable cause (rather than for "undue hardship" as under present law). Provides for a lien for payment of the deferred taxes attributable to a closely held business or farm. Imposes a tax, in the case of generation skipping transfers under a trust, upon a distribution of the trust assets to a generation skipping heir, or upon the termination of an intervening interest in the trust. Determines the tax by adding the value of the distributed property, or terminated interest, to the heir's taxable transfers and applying the heir's marginal transfer tax rate to the value of such interest. Extends from nine months to 12 months the period after the decedent's death in which an estate tax return must be filed. Requires gift tax returns to be filed for any quarter only when the total cumulative gifts made during the taxable year exceed $25,000, or during the last quarter if the total does not reach $25,000. Provides that if the Internal Revenue Service proposes a deficiency in the estate tax because of a higher valuation of the assets included in the decedent's gross estate, it must disclose to the executor during the settlement process the basis on which the higher valuation was determined.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1976
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress has not delegated to the Federal Trade Commission any authority to preempt the laws of the States and their political subdivisions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1976
Authorizes every individual whose income tax liability, under the Internal Revenue Code, is $1 or more to designate that $1 shall be used to reduce the public debt of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1976
Title I: Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to establish procedures for expeditious review of applications for the licensing of sites for nuclear production and utilization facilities. Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to disclose information concerning radiation risks to the public in order to insure that its proceedings give adequate consideration to protection of public health and safety. Directs the Commission to study methods of coordinating and reaching environmental decisions as efficiently as possible. Authorizes the establishment of procedures for early notification to the public by potential licensing applicants. Establishes procedures for approval of sites for utilization or production facilities prior to the submission of plans for construction and operation of such facilities. Requires that environmental and safety issues be resolved prior to the initiation of construction activities. Authorizes the suspension of public hearing comments upon applications for construction and/or operating permits where a site approval permit has been obtained and where no person has requested such a hearing within 30 days of the publication of notice in the Federal Register. Requires that persons requesting such a hearing: (1) have an interest that will be affected by the operation; (2) show the existence of a genuine issue of material fact; and (3) show that a hearing is likely to result in some action which will provide additional protection for the public health and safety, national defense and security, or the environment. Authorizes the Commission to issue interim operating licenses of up to 12 months prior to the completion of a required hearing where such interim license is found to be necessary in the public interest of avoiding undue delay. Title II: Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to direct the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to review permit applications before the Commission. Authorizes the Commission to dispense with public notice requirements for applications for amendments to existing licenses which involve no significant hazard considerations. Title III: Revises provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 for consistency with the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1976
National Commitment to Energy Independence using Solar and Geothermal Energy Act - Title I: Findings, Policy, Purpose, and Definitions - Declares it the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act to eliminate reliance on imports of crude oil as an energy source through the implementation of energy conservation programs coupled with construction of solar and geothermal energy generation facilities. Title II: Assistant Administrator for Solar and Geothermal Energy and Conservation - Creates, within the Energy Research and Development Administration, the position of Assistant Administrator for Solar and Geothermal Energy and Conservation. Directs the Assistant Administrator to oversee projects and programs under the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974 and the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974. Authorizes the Administrator to undertake energy conservation duties in the areas involving reduction of heat use, heat loss, electric energy use, and the reuse of solid wastes. Title III: Test and Evaluation Facilities - Directs the Assistant Administrator to implement various current systems concepts related to solar and geothermal energy. Lists specific number of test facilities as a required part of such program. Directs the Assistant Administrator to establish programs to standardize photovoltaic component costs below specified levels within five years. Requires the establishment of a residential and commercial solar heating and cooling program to expand the use of such technologies within the next five years. Requires that a major portion of the research and development costs for such programs be borne by private industry. Limits the Federal funds expended for such purposes to $100,000,000 or 25 percent of the total funds appropriated under the authority of this Act, whichever is less. Title IV: Commercial Implementation - Establishes the following goals for which additional Federal assistance to private industry shall be available: (1) the production of ten percent of all the energy consumed within the United States through the use of solar and geothermal energy within ten years of the enactment of this Act; and (2) an increase in the percentage of such consumption from solar and geothermal sources to 20 percent by the year 2000. Title V: Report - Directs the Assistant Administrator to submit a detailed plan of implementation within 90 days of the enactment of this Act. Requires annual progress reports listing the amount of Federal funds expended on each program. Directs the Congressional Budget Office to report on direct and indirect costs associated with Federal nuclear and fossil fuels subsidization programs. Directs the Budget Office to submit similar reports on cost incentive programs recommended by the Assistant Administrator to encourage the development of solar and geothermal structures for businesses and residencies. Title VI: Conservation - Directs the Assistant Administrator to implement various energy conservation programs designed to offer tax incentives for energy conservation and to assist in the development of improved energy-saving technologies. Establishes as the ultimate objective of such program a ten percent reduction in national energy consumption by 1985. Title VII: Regulation-Information to Congress - Authorizes the Assistant Administrator to prescribe appropriate rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires that appropriate committees of Congress be fully and currently informed with respect to activities under this Act. Title VIII: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1985 for: (1) solar-thermal and ocean-thermal electric generation facilities; (2) wind-electric generation facilities; (3) biconversion-methane gas generation facilities; (4) geothermal-electric generation facilities; (5) photovoltaic-electric generation facilities and related activities; (6) the residential and commercial structure solar heating and cooling program and related activities; and (7) the energy conservation program outlined in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1976
Allows a tax credit, under the Internal Revenue Code, in an amount equal to the lesser of 20 percent of the qualified investment or $5,000,000, but the credit shall not exceed 50 percent of the liability for tax for the taxable year. Defines the term "qualified investment" to mean investment in tangible property located in a development area certified by the Secretary of Commerce as development property which is outside any standard metropolitan statistical area, the population of which exceeds 300,000. Recaptures such tax credit if property which was certified development property placed in service during either of the two preceding taxable years is disposed of or ceases to be certified development property with respect to the taxpayer. Allows any portion of the credit which exceeds the limitations to be carried back to the three preceding taxable years and carried forward to the seven taxable years following the unused credit year. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to report annually to the Congress with respect to the amount of and the economic effects of such tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1976
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt farmers or farm operators from the highway use tax on heavy trucks if the farmer: (1) uses such vehicle primarily for farming purposes, and (2) is not a corporation with gross receipts in excess of $950,000 or with gross receipts more than 50 percent of which are from activities other than farming.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1976
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, that unemployment insurance funds may be used for payments to employers of otherwise unemployed individuals. Requires that each State establish a plan for such payments, which includes specific requirements that the employer will pay the unemployed individual wages comparable to the amount paid to other individuals doing the same work, and that no payment will be made for any position for a period of longer than one year. Stipulates that the State law establishing an approved plan shall require from prospective employers information for qualification purposes. Defines "otherwise unemployed individual" as meaning an individual who, but for his employment, would be eligible to receive compensation under State law.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1976
Legal Fees Reimbursement Act - Provides that in any legal action initiated by the Government, or in any action instituted by a taxpayer contesting the accuracy of a deficiency or claiming a refund of taxes paid where the taxpayer prevails or substantially prevails, the Government shall be liable for the reimbursement in full of all reasonable litigation expenses incurred by the taxpayer as a consequence of legal defense, under the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1976
Designates specified areas within the following national parks and national monuments as wilderness: (1) Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico; (2) Gunnison National Monument, Colorado; (3) Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona; (4) Great Sand Dunes National Monument Colorado; (5) Haleakala National Park, Hawaii; (6) Isle Royale National Park Michigan; (7) Joshua Tree National Monument, California; (8) Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado; (9) Pinnacles National Monument, California; and (10) Saguaro National Monument, Arizona. Revises the boundaries of Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, and Pinnacles National Monument, California. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to review the suitability of specified lands in Coronado National Forest, Arizona, for designation as wilderness.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1976
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish the acreage of individually owned land which may eligibly receive project water as nonexcess acreage under Federal reclamation laws at 160 acres of class I land or the equivalent acreage of lands of lesser productive value as would be appropriate for an economic family size farm. Requires the Secretary in establishing land classes to take into account factors including soil characteristics, crop adaptability, cost of crop production and soil characteristics.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1976
Authorizes payment under the supplementary medical insurance program of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for optometric and medical vision care.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1976
Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to include in the Renewable Resource Program, national program recommendations which take into account specified policy objectives. Requires the Secretary to provide for public participation in the formulation and review of proposed land management plans for units of the National Forest System. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations that set out the process for the development and revision of such land management plans. Requires that such regulations specify procedures to insure that plans are prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and guidelines set out in this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to appraise and sell so much of the trees and other forest products found upon National Park System lands as may further the policies set forth in the Multiple Use and Sustained Yield Act, and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Repeals the requirement that such forest products be sold for use only in the United States or territory in which the timber reservation from which such products were taken is located. Increases to $10,000 in appraised value the maximum value of timber and cord wood which the Secretary may sell without advertisement.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1976
Specifies, under the Robinson-Patman Act, that price discrimination shall be deemed to include the failure to impose price differentials between purchasers in different functional classes. States that the character of the selling of the purchasers, not the buying, shall determine the classification.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1976
Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Postal Service should not close or otherwise suspend the operation of any post office during the six-month period beginning on the date of adoption of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1976
Designates the week beginning April 4, 1976, as "National Drafting Week." Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1976
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands and interests in lands in specified areas of Nebraska and to establish the Trails West National Historical Park in Nebraska and Wyoming once sufficient lands have been acquired. Creates a Trails West National Historical Park Advisory Commission. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1976
Title I: Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to increase the amount of appropriations authorized under such Act to $300,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, $450,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, $625,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, and $800,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 1989. Revises procedures for the apportionment of land and water conservation fund moneys to States by the Secretary of the Interior. Imposes public participation requirements with respect to the preparation of comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plans. Authorizes Federal financial assistance for the planning and development of sheltered facilities for swimming pools and ice skating rinks, provided specified conditions are met. Title II: Amends the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to establish a historic preservation fund in the United States Treasury. Stipulates that $24,400,000 for fiscal year 1977, $75,000,000 annually for fiscal years 1978 and 1979 and $100,000,000 annually for each fiscal year thereafter until fiscal year 1989 be covered into the fund from revenues due and payable to the United States under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and other Federal Mining laws. Stipulates that such moneys shall remain available until appropriated to carry out the purposes of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Authorizes the appropriation of $175,000 per year for fiscal years 1977,1978, and 1979 for the International Center for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1976
Increases the amount of land which the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept on behalf of the United States for the Pecos National Monument, New Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1976
Drought Emergency Relief Act - Makes available financial assistance for drought-striken areas under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. Authorizes the President, upon request by a Governor of a State, to declare a state of drought to exist in the areas designated by the Governor. Makes such district or districts eligible for Federal financial assistance for weather modification purposes. States that 60 percent of the cost of any weather modification program in a drought area shall be provided by the Secretary of Agriculture and the remaining 40 percent shall be paid by the districts in which the drought was declared. Authorizes a transfer of funds not in excess of $5,000,000 for the fiscal year 1976 from any funds included in the Agricultural and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for purposes of this Act. Authorizes appropriations in such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act not exceeding $5,000,000 annually through fiscal year 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1976
Designates February 22, May 30, and October 12 as Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, and Columbus Day, respectively. Makes such days legal public holidays.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1976
Government Economy and Spending Reform Act - Title I: Authorizations of New Budget Authority - Terminates on specified dates budget authority for all Government programs except health care services, general retirement and disability insurance, and Federal employee retirement and disability programs which are funded by trust funds. Declares out of order in either the Senate or the House of Representatives any legislation which authorizes new budget authority not in compliance with this Act. Requires the Committees on Appropriations and the Committees on the Budget of both Houses of Congress to identify each program's functional and subfunctional category (as so characterized in the Budget of the United States, Fiscal Year 1977, transmitted to Congress by the President on January 21, 1976), the committees having legislative jurisdiction over such program, and whether such program operates under permanent authorizations and budget authority. Makes the budget termination provisions of this Act effective on the first day of the Ninety-fifth Congress. Title II: Early Elimination of Inactive and Duplicate Programs - Requires the Comptroller General of the United States to identify for Congress any programs which have duplicate objectives or for which no outlays have been made for the last two fiscal years. Directs the standing committees of both Houses to consider such programs and report recommendations on such programs before March 15, 1978, if possible. Title III: Quadrennial Program Review and Evaluation - Sets forth a timetable for reviewing the budget of a Government program. Requires review by standing committees of the Congress every four years of each program's cost, effectiveness, and the extent to which such program duplicates or is similar to any other program. States that such review shall include a comprehensive evaluation of the merits of such program to determine if it warrants continuation. Requires justification of any recommendation to fund any program which has objectives similar to or the same as another program's objectives. Directs the Comptroller General and the Congressional Budget Office to provide Congress with information and analysis of programs being reviewed under this Act. Requires the President to similarly review the merits of continuing programs contained in the annual Budget and to report the finding of such review prior to transmitting the Budget to Congress. Title IV: Continuing Review and Evaluation - Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress the result of any audit which shows a substantial deficiency in achievement of the objectives of any Government program. Requires subsequent audits, a report of which must be submitted to Congress, to determine if such deficiency has been eliminated. Title V: Miscellaneous - States that those provisions of this Act which direct the operation of either House are enacted as an exercise of the rulemaking power of such House and recognizes the right of either House to change such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1976
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire specified lands for addition to the Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1976
Provides a Federal income tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code for expenses incurred in filing Federal forms. States that the amount of such credit shall be ten cents for each item of information or inquiry on any form or document which the individual taxpayer is required by Federal law to file with the United States Government. Specifies that in no case shall an individual receive a tax credit of less than $1.00 for each form or document. Provides that in the case of a corporation, the credit allowed shall be 20 cents for each such item, but not less than $2.00 for each form or document. Authorizes a tax credit of 30 cents for each such item, but not less than $3.00 for each form or document in the case of a small business. Provides that an overstatement of the credit allowable by this Act which is allowed as a credit or refund may be assessed by the Secretary of the Treasury in the same manner as in the case of a mathematical error appearing upon the return. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to any State or local unit of government, upon application by such unit, the amount of 20 cents for each item of information on any form or document which such unit is required by Federal law to file with the United States Government. Specifies that such credit shall amount to not less than $2.00 for each such form. Authorizes the Secretary to pay, upon application, to tax-exempt nonprofit and charitable organizations, as defined under the Internal Revenue Code, the 20 cents per item, $2.00 minimum, for each form required to be filed.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1976
Amends the Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 to remove the limitation on annual expenditures for the Water Resources Council in the authorization of appropriations under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1976
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to select an appropriate site for the erection of a statute of Bernardo de Galvez, a gift of the Government of Spain in recognition of the Bicentennial celebrations of the United States of America. Specifies that the statue shall be erected on grounds now owned by the United States of America in the District of Columbia. Requires approval of the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission for the site selection and design of the statue. Provides that the erection of the statue and proper landscape treatment shall be without expense to the United States of America, except for necessary maintenance after completion.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1976
Administrative Rulemaking Control Act - Expresses the findings of Congress that executive agencies have promulgated rules containing criminal sanctions which have often exceeded the intent of Congress. States that it is the purpose of this Act to establish a procedure whereby Congress may review specified rulemaking activities of executive agencies, thereby exercising greater control and oversight over the operations of such agencies. Requires public notice of proposed rulemaking, allowance of public participation in such rulemaking, and a public statement of the basis and purpose of any adopted rule. Provides that an administrative rule, the violation of which subjects an individual to a criminal penalty, shall take effect only: (1) if published in the Federal Register; (2) after the expiration of 30 days of continuous session of Congress after the date on which the rule was published; and (3) if neither House of Congress passes a resolution disfavoring such a rule. Sets forth procedures governing the consideration of such resolution by the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1975
Voting Rights Act Repealer Amendments Act - Repeals titles II and III of Public Law 94-73, an act to amend the voting Rights Act of 1965. Ends the extension (through title III of Pub. Law 94-73) of the Voting Rights Act to jurisdictions where more than five percent of the citizens of voting age in the jurisdiction are of a single language minority. Ends the requirement (imposed by title II of Pub. Law 94-73) that such jurisdiction provide registration and voting materials to minority groups in the language of such group.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 1975
Approves the compact of permanent union between Puerto Rico and the United States. Accords to Puerto Rico the right of self-government and jurisdiction over the population, territorial seas, and Island of Puerto Rico, as well as jurisdiction over the adjacent population, territorial seas, and islands. Gives the U.S. responsibility for and authority with respect to international relations and defense affecting Puerto Rico. Permits Puerto Rico to enter into specified categories of agreements with other countries consistent with the functions of the U.S. as determined by the President and the Governor of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico on a case-by-case basis. States that all persons born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the U.S. Makes U.S. currency the exclusive currency of Puerto Rico. Declares that economic, trade, and commercial relations between the two parties shall be conducted within the framework of the common market previously and henceforth established. Lists related rights and responsibilities. Provides that U.S. immigration laws, rules, regulations, and procedures shall be applied to Puerto Rico except as the President and Governor agree to limit or increase the quota of aliens who may be admitted. Directs that Puerto Rico be represented by one elected representative in each House of Congress. Provides that U.S. laws, present and past, be given full effect. Allows, prior to passage of any legislation affecting Puerto Rico, the Governor to submit to Congress objections to its applicability. Exempts Puerto Rico from the provisions of such legislation if the respective Congressional committee or committees by vote express agreement with the objections. Prohibits this procedure if proposed laws directly affect the rights and duties of citizens, security and common defense, foreign affairs, or currency. Allows the U.S. to transfer to Puerto Rico, with its consent, the total or partial performance of Federal functions. Creates a six-member Joint Commission, three members and their successors to be appointed by the President, and three by the Governor. Subjects the Commission to review by the President and the Governor after an initial period of five years, such review to encompass the Commission's membership and continuation. Assigns the Commission to help in the perfection of relations between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, directing it to study: (1) the desirability of retaining, modifying, or eliminating the application of specific Federal laws to Puerto Rico, giving priority to laws pertaining to communications, coastal shipping, and administration of Selective Service; (2) the possible transfer of Federal functions to Puerto Rican agencies; and (3) the desirability of recommending a system of contributory payments from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Treasury, based upon disbursements by the Puerto Rican legislature from the general fund or any other sources subject to its legislative action. Grants concurrent jurisdiction to U.S. and Puerto Rican courts with respect to justifiable questions arising under this Act. Establishes a U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico. Declares that the public policy of the U.S. and Puerto Rico is to make the minimum wage in Puerto Rico equal to that of the U.S. as soon as economic conditions permit. Grants Puerto Rico exclusive jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to minimum wage and working hours, labor-management relations, and occupational health and safety regulation, except as those areas apply to the shipping and aviation industries, where the appropriate Federal law governs. Requires that this compact, to become effective: (1) be approved by the U.S. Congress; (2) be approved by the Puerto Rican electorate in a special referendum; and (3) be proclaimed approved by the electorate, such proclamation to include the effective date as agreed upon by the President and the Governor. (It must become effective within one year of approval). Directs that the provisions of this Act shall not interrupt or impair pending matters before courts or quasi-judicial agencies, and shall not affect franchises, permits, and other grants previously issued. Requires mutual agreement between the two governments for modification of this Act, and with respect to specified provisions concerning fundamental relations, the approval of the Puerto Rican electorate is also required.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1975
Occupational Safety and Health Reform Act - Makes it the purpose of this Act to improve the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and to provide for regulatory procedures related to such administration. States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall not propose any rule promulgating a new occupational health or safety standard before he: (1) has, as part of each such proposal, reviewed and published in the Federal Register the financial impact of such proposed standard; and (2) has determined with due regard for that impact that the benefit to be derived from such standard justifies such proposal. Provides that no standard adopted or promulgated shall require any employer to phase out, change, or replace existing equipment or facilities before the normal useful life of that equipment or facility has expired unless failure to so phase out, change, or replace that equipment or facility prematurely would result in a serious violation. Directs the Secretary to prescribe, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, as part of each existing standard adopted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act: (1) the estimated average and maximum cost per unit to the average employer who is subject to that standard for compliance with the conditions, practices, means, methods, operation, or process used or proposed to be used by that employer under that standard; and (2) the period within which it is, in fact, possible for such employers to meet such standard including, but not limited to, availability of required devices, and possibility of performance of required procedures. Sets forth requirements with respect to notifying an employer of violations of the requirements prescribed pursuant to this Act. States that any employer who has been found to be not in compliance with any rule or standard adopted or promulgated under this Act shall not receive a notice for such violation if he is able to show: (1) that implementing such rule or standard would not materially affect the safety or health of his employees in the facility inspected; (2) that he has employed alternative procedures to protect his employees from the hazards contemplated by the rule or standard which are as effective in protecting the safety and health of his employees; or (3) that he has furnished adequate notice and exerted all reasonable efforts, pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, to obtain the compliance of his employee, that such violation was attributable to such employees, and that he could not otherwise have reasonably prevented such violation. Sets forth procedures for enforcement of these regulations. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into compliance agreements with an employer believed to be in violation of an occupational safety and health standard promulgated pursuant to such Act under which enforcement and penalty provisions are waived or deferred upon condition that the employer will voluntarily comply with the applicable standard upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate under the circumstances. States that failure of an employer to abide by such an agreement may be taken into account in resulting enforcement and penalty procedures. Directs the Secretary to provide technical advice, assistance, and consultation to employers with less than 100 employees whenever it is necessary to assist them in complying with applicable standards.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1975
Increases the amount of money paid to States and counties for forest services and watershed protection from 25 percent of the cost of State programs to 75 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 1975
Provides that the total contribution of the United States to the United Nations for any calendar year after 1975 shall not exceed an amount which bears the same ratio to the United Nations budget as the total population of the United States bears to the total population of the United Nations member states.
![Official portrait of Rep. Lujan, Manuel, Jr. [R-NM-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/l000506_200.jpg)