United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires State plans under the Medicaid program of the Social Security Act to be ratified by both the State's legislative and executive branch before being presented to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for his approval; and requires that such plans be posted and available to the public. Directs the Secretary to annually review a State's compliance with such plan and to publish performance ratings for the States. Creates a cause of action allowing Medicaid recipients individually or as a class to bring suit against a State for specific performance when a State fails to comply with the provisions of its plan.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Allows the States to use supplementary security income payments plus a State supplement of not less than $100 per resident per month to provide care for residents in nonmedical shelter care facilities, if such residents are ambulatory and need only minimum supervision.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires admissions contracts between nursing homes participating in Federal programs and the patients they serve under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires under titles XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, that skilled nursing facilities employ at least one registered professional nurse twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Requires under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act that only licensed personnel may set up or distribute medications in skilled nursing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Allows a tax deduction under the Internal Revenue Code for amounts paid during the taxable year by the taxpayer for nursing home expenses for an individual who would be a dependent of such taxpayer if sufficient support were provided.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides for the modification of the medicare reimbursement formula under title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow small hospitals in rural areas with low occupancy to provide long term care in those areas where there are no appropriate nursing home beds available.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President submit to Congress a action plan which would provide a suitable multagency plan for monitoring the State and Federal investigations and actions related to nursing home abuses. Provides that possible linkages between scandals and nursing home problems be reported to local, State, and Federal law enforcement officials. Requests regular reports by th multiagency task force to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1975
Provides that a cooperative housing association shall be taxable in the same manner as a corporation under the Internal Revenue Code, except that income received from the following sources shall be tax-exempt: (1) tenant-shareholder in the case of a cooperative housing association; (2) owners of condominium housing units in the case of a condominium management association; or (3) owners of real property in the case of a residential real estate management association
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1975
Provides that appointments, promotions, assignments, and transfers within the Federal civil service shall be made without regard to political recommendations. Prohibits Members of Congress, State and local elected officials, officials of political parties, and any other individual or organization from making recommendations with respect to any person being considered for appointment, transfer, promotion, or assignment. Prohibits officers or employees of the United States from soliciting, considering, or accepting such recommendations. Authorizes any officer or employee of the United States to solicit or furnish a statement with respect to a person if: (1) it is furnished pursuant to a request or requirement of the executive agency concerned and consists solely of an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, and general qualifications of such person; (2) it relates solely to the character and residence of such person; (3) it is furnished pursuant to a request made by an authorized representative of the United States solely in order to determine whether such person meets the loyalty, suitability, and character requirements for employment with the United States; or (4) it is furnished by a former employer of such person pursuant to a request of the executive agency concerned, and consists solely of an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, and general qualifications of such person during his employment with such former employer. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 3303)
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1975
Consumer Goods Pricing Act - Repeals the provision of the Sherman Antitrust Act which permits contracts or agreements by the producer or distribution of such commodity prescribing minimum prices for the resale of a commodity bearing a trademark or tradename.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1975
Revises clause 6 of rule XXVIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that managers appointed by the House to each conference committee shall transact all business in meetings open to the public except where the House, by majority vote and in open session, shall vote to close such meeting or meetings. Directs that it shall be in order to debate such motion to close for ten minutes before the vote is taken on that motion, one-half of such time to be given to debate by the mover of the motion and one-half to debate in opposition to the motion.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1975
Autistic Children Research Act - Provides, under the Public Health Service Act, for the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to: (1) plan and develop a coordinated autism research program; (2) collect, analyze, and disseminate all data useful in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of autism; and (3) establish comprehensive, coordinated diagnostic and evaluation procedures for early detection guidance for autistic children. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary to carry out these provisions. Authorizes $500,000 for fiscal year 1976 and $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 1977-1980 for loans and grants to any public or private nonprofit entity operating a center with education programs for autistic children. Defines, for the purpose of this Act, the term "autistic."
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1975
Provides for certification by the State water pollution control agency of treatment projects within such State where the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency determines that such projects will be carried out in accordance with State laws and standards at least equivalent to those established by Federal law.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to award a grant to any student who is (1) regularly enrolled, as of January 1, 1975, in an institution of higher education for study leading to an academic degree and (2) a citizen of Vietnam or Cambodia as determined by the Secretary of State. Stipulates that any grant awarded to any student under this Act shall not exceed the actual cost of that student's study at the institution of higher education at which that student is enrolled for that academic year, or $2,500, whichever is the lesser. Provides that any student awarded a grant under this Act shall continue to receive such a grant during any academic year in which that student continues to pursue studies leading to the academic degree for which that student was enrolled as of January 1, 1975. Authorizes to be appropriated for purposes of this Act not to exceed $6,500,000 for fiscal year 1976, and for each fiscal year through the period ending September 30, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
Authorizes the attorneys general of the States to secure actual damages and other relief for persons, classes of persons, and political subdivisions of their States which are injured by reason of any violation of the antitrust laws. Permits the determination of such damages in the aggregate by use of statistical sampling or any other reasonable method, rather than requiring proof of amount of damage to each individual member of the injured class. Provides that, in any action with respect to any federally funded program affected by a violation of the antitrust laws, a State may recover treble damages plus actual damages sustained by the United States. Authorizes the Attorney General of the United States to bring the action to protect Federal interests or on behalf of a State if the State attorney general fails to do so within 180 days after the Attorney General has notified the State attorney general of the violation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Internal Revenue Service and the Congress should take action to simplify the Federal income tax forms. Calls upon the States and local governments which impose income taxes to model their forms upon the Federal income tax forms.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1975
Social Security Rights Act - Requires that procedures be established for the expedited replacement of undelivered benefit checks. Requires that decisions (and reconsiderations) on initial benefit claims be made within 90 days. Requires that payment of benefits on approved claims begin no later than the day regularly fixed for delivery of benefits checks in the second month following the month in which the claim was approved.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1975
Prisoner Rights Act - Prohibits the inhumane treatment, as defined by the Act, of Federal prisoners. Requires the immediate discharge of any Federal employee engaging in such prohibited conduct. Sets forth minimum standards to be followed before a Federal prisoner may be placed in solitary confinement and regulates the treatment of such prisoner while so confined. Directs the Attorney General to establish grievance procedures for Federal prisoners. Declares that any such prisoner shall be entitled to report any grievance. Provides for the investigation by independent investigators appointed by the Attorney General of alleged grievances. Sets forth visitation rights for the friends, relatives, and attorneys of Federal prisoners.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1975
Provides, under the Foreign Military Sales Act, that no letter of offer to sell any defense articles or services under such Act may be issued until the end of the first period of thirty calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date on which the statement required by such Act is transmitted, unless the President in his statement certifies that an emergency exists which requires such sale in the national security interests of the United States. States that the President may issue such letter of offer thirty days after the statement has been so transmitted unless, before the end of the first period of thirty calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date on which the statement is transmitted, Congress adopts a concurrent resolution disapproving the proposed sale, credit sale, or guaranty with respect to which the statement is made. Specifies the procedures by which such a resolution shall be considered by the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1975
Provides that a license for the export of arms, ammunition, or implements of war may not be issued until a report on such exports is submitted to Congress. Directs that the report shall include information as to the name and address of the cosignee, user and manufacturer and the dollar amount of items contained in the application. Specifies that Congress has twenty days to object to the application. (Amends 22 U.S.C. 1934)
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1975
Foreign Discriminatory Practices Act - Title I : Prohibits discriminatory actions by United States exporters which have the purpose or effect of supporting restrictive trade practices or boycotts imposed against countries friendly to the United States by other foreign countries under the Export Administration Act of 1969. Requires United States exporters to report requests that it engage in activities prohibited under this Act. Title II : States that whenever an exporter violates the provisions of Title I, the Secretary of Commerce shall suspend or revoke the export license or privileges of the exporter.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1975
Requires unannounced State inspections of public and private extended care facilities, skilled nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities as a criteria for eligibility for Medicaid payments under title XIX of the Social Security Act. Specifies that States must impose a fine of up to $300 for willful refusal to permit such inspections. Requires States to enforce specified guarantees of rights of patients in such facilities, including guarantees: (1) that the patient's civil and religious liberties will not be infringed; (2) that the patient has the right to private communications with his physician, attorney, or any other person; and (3) that the patient has the right to have privacy in treatment and in caring for personal needs and confidentiality in the treatment of personal and medical records.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1975
Authorizes the appropriation of $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, and $6,000,000 for each of the four succeeding fiscal years for grants to the States for the establishment and expansion of veterans cemeteries owned by the States. Sets forth the conditions under which grants may be made to the States under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to make payments, for the calendar year 1976 and each calendar year thereafter, to the States for the interment of veterans and for the maintenance of State veterans' cemeteries. Requires the Administrator to conduct a survey to determine the reasonable cost of interment and prepetual care maintenance for the purposes of payment under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to pay transportation costs of the bodies of eligible veterans to national cemeteries.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1975
Prohibits franked mailings by Members of the Congress and officers of the United States other than mailings related to the closing of their official business, after such Members or officers have left office. (Amends 39 U.S.C. 3210 (b) (1))
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1975
Restores citizenship posthumously to General Robert E. Lee. Provides that, in accordance with the United States Constitution, the legal disabilities placed upon General Lee as a result of his service as General of the Army of Northern Virginia are removed and that General R. E. Lee is posthumously restored to the full rights of citizenship, effective June 13, 1865.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1975
Authorizes $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1975 to provide humanitarian assistance to all people in need in South Vietnam and Cambodia. Stipulates that such assistance shall be provided under the auspices of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, or other international organizations, or by arrangements with multilateral institutions and private voluntary agencies. Requires that, not later than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate: (1) the names of all agencies and organizations involved in the distribution of such assistance; (2) the means with which such distribution is carried out; and (3) the recipients of such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1975
Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to award a grant to any student who is (1) regularly enrolled, as of January 1, 1975, in an institution of higher education for study leading to an academic degree and (2) a citizen of Vietnam or Cambodia as determined by the Secretary of State. Stipulates that any grant awarded to any student under this Act shall not exceed the actual cost of that student's study at the institution of higher education at which that student is enrolled for that academic year, or $2,500, whichever is the lesser. Provides that any student awarded a grant under this Act shall continue to receive such a grant during any academic year in which that student continues to pursue studies leading to the academic degree for which that student was enrolled as of January 1, 1975. Authorizes to be appropriated for purposes of this Act not to exceed $6,500,000 for fiscal year 1976, and for each fiscal year through the period ending September 30, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1975
Electric Vehicle Research, Development and Demonstration Act - Declares it to be the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of electric vehicles for urban individual and business use, and to encourage research and development in new technologies for electric vehicles with wider applications, in order to promote long-range conservation of liquid fuel and reduce environmental pollution. Directs the Administrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration to initiate and provide for the conduct of research and development in areas related to electric vehicles. Directs the Administrator to enter into such contracts as may be necessary and appropriate for: (1) the production, within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, of significant numbers of urban passenger and commercial vehicles which have electric propulsion systems on conventional chassis; and (2) for the production, within three years after such date, of significant numbers of urban passenger and commercial vehicles which are specifically designed for electric propulsion as the primary power source. Directs the United States Postal Service, the General Services Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other Federal agencies to arrange for the introduction of electric vehicles into their fleets as soon as possible. Authorizes $40,000,000 to be appropriated to the Administrator for each of the fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1975
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen every fourth year. Directs that no Member of the House shall be a candidate for election as a Senator for a six-year term which begins before the expiration of a term of the office held by him unless he resigns from such office at least 90 days prior to such election.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1975
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United Nations should make all possible efforts to aid refugees in Indochina. Urges the United Nations Secretary General to call upon the government of North Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government not to interfere with such efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1975
Prohibits former Federal employees who participated in a contract formulation whose value exceeded $10,000 from being employed, for a period of two years, by anyone who has a direct interest in the contract. (Amends 18 U.S.C. 207)
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1975
Government in the Sunshine Act - Provides that all meetings of Government agencies at which official action is considered or discussed shall be open to the public. Excludes from this requirement any portion of an agency meeting where the agency determines by vote of a majority of its entire membership that the meeting: (1) will probably disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct of the foreign relations of the United States; (2) will relate solely to individual agency personnel or to internal agency office management and procedures or financial auditing; (3) will tend to charge with crime or misconduct, or to disgrace, any individual, or will represent a clearly unwarranted invasion of the privacy of any individual; (4) will disclose information pertaining to any investigation conducted for law enforcement purposes; (5) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets or financial or commercial information pertaining specifically to a given person; or (6) will relate to the conduct or disposition of a case or adjudication governed by specified sections of the United States Code. Requires each agency to make a public announcement of the date, place, subject matter of each meeting, and whether open or closed to the public, at least one week before each meeting. Requires that a transcript or electronic recording of each such meeting, together with any official minutes of such meeting be made available to the public for inspection. Permits an agency by majority vote to delete from the transcripts or recordings made available to the public specified materials. Directs each agency to promulgate regulations to implement this Act. Grants jurisdiction to the district courts of the United States to enforce the requirements fo this Act. Prohibits ex parte communication between interested persons and members of the agency in question, or an administrative judge, or an employee who is or may be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding. Requires each agency subject to such prohibition to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of this Act. Grants to the district courts of the United States the jurisdiction to enforce such prohibitions by declaratory judgement, injunctive relief, or otherwise. Defines "ex parte communication" as meaning a communication relevant to an on-the-record agency proceeding where such communication is not made openly or on the record.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1975
Prohibits, under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, the President from setting minimum prices for crude oil, residual fuel oil, or any refined petroleum product without congressional review. Requires that amendments to such Act be subject to congressional approval and be supported by a report from the President as to the need for the proposed amendment and impact of such amendment upon the price of energy products and domestic production and the consumption of energy. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should not enter into any formal international agreement having the effect of establishing a price floor on crude oil, residual fuel oil, or any refined petroleum product until such time as the Congress grants him the authority to enter into it.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1975
Provides that recipients of veterans' pension and compensation shall not have the amount of such pension or compensation reduced, or entitlement thereto discontinued, because of increases in monthly social security benefits resulting from the enactment of Public Law 93-66, Public Law 93-233, and subsequent cost-of-living increases under title II of the Social Security Act. Provides that the provisions of this Act shall apply with respect to annual income determinations made for calendar years after 1972.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1975
Makes it a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act for any retailer to increase the price of consumer commodities once he marks the price on any such consumer commodity, and permits the Federal Trade Commission to order any such retailer to refund any amounts of money obtained by increasing the price of such consumer commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1975
Authorizes payment under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for emergency inpatient hospital services furnished outside the United States to a qualified individual whose principal residence is within the United States, without regard to where the emergency occurred.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1975
Urges the President to seek a treaty or other appropriate international agreement establishing a wildlife preserve for humpback whales in the West Indies.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1975
States that the United States should, as expeditiously as possible, take all necessary actions to effect a regional conservation treaty for the protection of northern hemisphere pinnipeds (includes seals and walruses).
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1975
Social Security Recipients Fairness Act - Title I: Replacement of Lost, Stolen, or Delayed Checks - Requires the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to establish procedures for expedited payment of monthly benefits. Requires the Secretary, within one day after the date an individual files for late payment of benefits, to cause such monthly insurance benefits to be paid. Title II: Expediting of Hearings and Determination - States that in the administration of the programs established by titles II, XVI, and XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Secretary shall establish procedures designed to assure that: (1) any duly requested hearing to which an individual is entitled thereunder will be held within a reasonable period of time after such hearing is so requested, if such hearing is requested with respect to a determination of entitlement to benefits; and (2) not later than ninety days after such a hearing is requested, the Secretary shall render a final determination on the issues which were the subject of such hearing, or if no final determination of the Secretary has been made at that time, the Secretary shall make payments of benefits to such individual in like manner as if a final determination has been made fully in favor of such individual. Title III: Expedited Payment of Black Lung Benefits; and Expedited Hearings and determinations Respecting Such Benefits - Provides for expedited payments of black lung benefits under the Federal coal Mine Health and Safety Act. Directs the Secretary to establish procedures for expediting hearings and hearings and determinations on claims for such benefits. Title IV: Limitation of Benefit Reduction to Compensate for Benefit Overpayment - Limits to 25 percent the reduction that may be made in an individual's Social Security benefit check for any month because of any previous overpayment of monthly benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1975
Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act - States that the current depressed condition of the national economy has had an especially heavy impact upon local governments, making it no longer possible for them to finance needed public facilities, thereby threatening the health, safety, and general welfare of their citizens. Declares it to be needless and unwise public policy for a vast pool of idle manpower to coexist with a backlog of needed and long overdue local public facilities work. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Economic Development Administration to make grants to any State or local government for local public works projects, including but not limited to: (1) those public works projects of State and local governments for which Federal financial assistance is authorized under provisions of law other than this Act; and (2) the architectural design, engineering, and related planning of local public works projects. Provides that the Federal share of any project for which a grant is made under this Act shall be 100 percent of the cost of such project. Directs the Secretary to prescribe those rules, regulations, and procedures necessary to carry out this Act. States factors that the Secretary shall consider in accordance with the relative needs of the various sections of the country. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant for the purpose of increasing to 100 percent the Federal contribution to a public works project for which Federal financial assistance is authorized under provisions of law other than this Act. States that not more than 10 percent of all amounts authorized to carry out this Act shall be granted for local public works projects within any one State. Provides that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on projects assisted by this Act shall be paid wages a rate not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act. Authorizes to be appropriated an amount not to exceed $5,000,000,000 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1975
Allows a deduction from gross income under the Internal Revenue code of up to $1250 ($625 in the case of a married individual filing separately) for social agency, legal, and related expenses incurred in connection with the adoption of a child by the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1975
Provides that any grant funds under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act which were withheld from allotment by Presidential direction for fiscal years 1973, 1974, and 1975 shall be alloted among the States by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with a specified formula. Revises the distribution of such allotments to the States for fiscal years beginning with 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish national petroleum reserves on any reserved or unreserved public lands of the United States except lands in the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the National Wilderness Preservation System, areas now under review for inclusion in the Wilderness System in accordance with provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964, and lands in Alaska other than those in Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 4. States that no national petroleum reserve that includes all or part of an existing naval petroleum reserve shall be established without prior consultation with the Secretary of Defense. Authorizes the development of the oil and gas in the national petroleum reserves in the contiguous 48 States established pursuant to this Act. Requires competitive bidding procedures with prior public notice for any contract, lease, or operating agreement for development and production of oil and gas from a national petroleum reserve. States that the terms and conditions for such development, which shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be subject to disapproval by Congress. Provides that any oil or gas produced from such petroleum reserves shall, with exceptions, be subject to all the limitations and licensing requirements of the Export Administration Act. Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to explore for oil and gas on Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 4 and to report annually to Congress on his plan for exploration of such reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1975
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should convene immediately a meeting of the heads of all appropriate Federal departments and agencies for the purpose of taking such steps as may be necessary to prevent Arab discrimination against American business enterprises which have Jewish individuals serving in positions of major responsibility or which do business with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1975
American Folklife Preservation Act - Creates an American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress. Provides that the center shall be subject to the supervision and direction of a board of trustees. Specifies the composition of the board, including: four members appointed by the President, eight members appointed by the Librarian of Congress, the Librarian of Congress and the director of the Center. Authorizes the Center to establish and implement a program of contracts, grants, revitalize and scholarships to preserve, protect, revitalize and disseminate American folklife traditions and arts. Provides that no payment shall be made pursuant to this Act to carry out any research or training over a period in excess of two years, with specified exceptions. Provides that no former employee of the Federal government shall be eligible to receive any grant or other assistance under this Act in the two year period following the termination of such employment. Requires the Center to submit to the Librarian of Congress, for inclusion in its annual report to the Congress, an annual report of its operations under this Act. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Center to carry out the provisions of this Act $167,750 for fiscal year 1976, $710,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $1,716,000 for fiscal year 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1975
Provides that not less than 50 percent of the food commodities budgeted for Cambodia shall be made available in Cambodia for humanitarian purposes. Directs that such food be administered by voluntary agencies already established in Cambodia.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1975
Establishes a permanent police force within the General Services Administration to be known as the Federal Protective Service. Provides for rate of compensation and for law enforcement training of members of the Federal Protective Service. Sets forth the duties of such Federal Protective Officers, primarily involving law enforcement within public buildings and other areas under GSA jurisdiction. Includes such officers within Civil Service provisions for immediate retirement of individuals engaged in hazardous occupations; within provisions relating to the absence of police and firemen due to a job-related injury or illness; and within provisions relating to assaults on officers and employees of the United States.