United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that appropriations for the United Nations for any fiscal year be reduced by an amount equal to the product of the United States contribution to the United Nations for the preceding year and the proportion which the aggregate budget of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights for such fiscal year bears to the budget of the United Nations for such fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Upper Delaware River Protection Act - Designates a specified segment of the Delaware River in New York and Pennsylvania as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop general guidelines for the land and water use control measures to be developed and implemented by appropriate State and Federal bodies. Requires that the Secretary provide for participation by all levels of State, county and local government as well as by private individuals and organizations in the development of such guidelines. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with and seek the advice of the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council. Directs that interested State, Federal, and private parties develop and submit a management plan to the Secretary within three years of the receipt of appropriations authorized by this Act. Specifies the components of such plan. Restricts the amount of land that may be acquired. Directs the Secretary to review all relevant local plans, laws, and ordinances to determine whether they substantially conform to the approved management plan. Requires the Secretary to give timely notice to the relevant parties concerning such review. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands managed in a manner not in conformance with the guidelines. Provides for the creation of an Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council to encourage the maximum public involvement in the development and implementation of the purposes of this Act. Directs the Council to report to the Secretary and the Commission concerning the development of the management plan. Requires the Council to meet annually after the creation of the management plan to make recommendations concerning land and water use in the Upper Delaware River region. Permits the expenditure of funds for projects in furtherance of the provisions of this Act without regard to the ownership of properties involved. Specifies that the provisions of this Act shall prevail where they conflict with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make urban rehabilitation grants to severely distressed cities and urban counties for the following purposes: (1) to finance the acquisition of real property by private, nonprofit entities for residential rehabilitation; (2) to finance residential rehabilitation through grants, revolving loan funds, mortgage insurance, high-risk mortgage pools, and low interest loans; (3) to make grants to neighborhood groups to carry out residential rehabilitation; and (4) to finance the rehabilitation of publicly owned building when the recipient of the grant participates in such rehabilitation. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations for the purpose of assuring that rehabilitation activities conducted with grants made under this program are primarily moderate rehabilitation activities and that such activities do not displace low- and moderate-income people. Lists information to be included in applications for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1978
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates below the level established by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 on employment income for both employers and employees and on self-employment income. Increases Federal contributions to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act by 50 percent. Increases the ceiling on the amount of income that is subject to social security taxation to $100,000 in 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1978
Older Americans Long-Term Care Act - Title I: Long-Term Care for the Elderly and the Disabled - Establishes a program of long-term comprehensive services for the elderly financed by the Federal Government and the States. Establishes within the Department of the Treasury a Federal Long-Term Care Trust Fund for such program. Requires a State to establish a State Long-Term Care Agency in order to receive funds under this Act. Requires such State agency to create within the State a system of Community Long-Term Care Centers. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth the relationship between the program established by this Act and certain programs under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation by the Congress of the March 11, 1978, attack on Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the expressed intention of the PLO to continue such attacks and to disrupt the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Requests the President to make the disapproval of the Congress known to governments approving the PLO attack. Expresses Congressional approval of the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Urges other Middle East countries to join such efforts. Declares negotiation to be the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Solar Energy Bank Act - Creates a Government corporation to be known as the Solar Energy Development Bank to make long-term, low-interest loans to encourage the use of solar energy in commercial and residential dwellings. Establishes procedures governing the processing and approval of loan applications by the Bank. Prohibits conflicts of interest, on the part of officers or employees of the Bank. Prohibits the Bank or its employees from utilizing the Solar Bank to finance political activities. Imposes criminal penalties for the furnishing of false or misleading information by applicants for loans under this Act. Declares that the Solar Bank and its assets shall be exempt by Federal, State, and local taxation. Establishes a Solar Energy Fund in the Treasury of the United States to pay the expenses of the Bank. Authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000,000 to the Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Directs the Secretary of the Army to pay to each person who served as a Philippine Scout between December 6, 1941, and December 31, 1946, or the survivors of such an individual the difference between the basic pay received by such an individual and the pay received by other members of the Army of corresponding grades and length of service. Requires that the retired pay of such individuals be computed using the rates of basic pay applicable to other members of the Army of corresponding grades and length of service.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Federal Acquisition Act - Title I: Acquisition Methods and Regulatory Guidance - Requires Federal agencies to procure goods and services utilizing methods prescribed in this Act as directed by rules promulgated by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (Office). Title II: Acquisition by Competitive Sealed Bids - Sets criteria for use of the competitive sealed bid method of acquisition. Requires bid invitations to indicate what factors, in addition to price, will be considered in evaluating bids. Title III: Acquisition by Competitive Negotiation - Permits the use of the competitive negotiation method of procurement when the competitive sealed bid method is inappropriate under this Act. Permits procurement through negotiation with a single source if a contract stems from the acceptance of an unsolicited proposal or if such procurement practice is in the best interest of the Government. Requires contractors to submit price data for analysis prior to any negotiated award, change, or modification of any contract valued at over $500,000 in order to facilitate determination of the reasonableness of its offers. Requires contractors party to a single-source award or negotiated contract to submit cost information bearing on the reasonableness of the offered price. Gives agencies the power to inspect plants and records of a contractor up to three years after final payment has been made under a contract to ascertain the accuracy of price and cost data submitted under this Act. Title IV: Acquisition by Competitive Small Purchase Procedures Method - Permits the use of the competitive small purchase procedures method of procurement when contracts valued at not more than $10,000 are involved and if such procedure would be advantageous to the Government. Title V: General Provisions - Prohibits the use of cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost contracting under this Act. Prohibits the employment of any agent on a contingent fee basis to solicit or secure a contract made with the Government. Disallows the making of any contract for a period of more than five years unless an exception has been made by the Office under this Act. Sets forth limitations for the making of advance payments. Gives title to the product of a contractor to the Government as security for partial and progress payments made pursuant to a Government contract. Directs the reconsideration and revision, if necessary, of specifications at least every three years. Title VI: Delegation of Authority - Permits agency heads to delegate specified authority conferred under this Act. Permits one agency to delegate acquisition functions to another agency to facilitate joint acquisitions. Title VII: Protests - Authorizes the Comptroller General to decide protests of awards under this Act. Permits the Comptroller General to declare a protested award or proposed award illegal. Requires protest proceedings to be as informal as possible. Title VIII: Applicability of Subsequent Laws - Prohibits the interpretation of any law passed subsequent to the enactment of this Act as amending this Act unless such law explicitly refers to this Act. Title IX: Amendments and Repeals - Makes technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Small Business Capital, Investment, and Business Opportunity Act - Title I: Amendments of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 - States that the interest rate on loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to small business investment companies shall be three percent per annum. Authorizes the Small Business Administration to guarantee up to 75 percent of the funds advanced by small business investment companies to start small business concerns. Limits such guarantees to not more than 20 percent of the private paid-in capital of the small business investment company. Makes the Associate Administrator for Investment of the SBA responsible for the administration of the small business investment program and removes any other duties. Title II: Amendments to the Securities Act of 1933 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to permit the sale of restricted securities without registration under specified circumstances. Requires issuers to report only material information with respect to transactions not involving any public offering. Title III: Amendment of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to provide that the prudence requirement under such Act is not violated solely by an investment in a small business, provided investments of this nature do not exceed in value five percent of the market value of all assets in a defined benefit plan fund. Title IV: Tax Provisions - Increases the surtax exemption from tax on the income of a corporation for any taxable year to $100,000. States that the gain from the sale of an interest in a small concern qualifies as a non-taxable exchange provided such gain is reinvested within 18 months of the sale in another eligible small concern. Repeals the amendments pertaining to qualified stock options under section 442 of the Code as enacted by the Tax Reform Act of 1976 and reinstates the former law. Changes the allowable deduction for any taxable year with respect to the issuance of small business stock. Makes small business investment companies eligible to be shareholders of subchapter S corporations. Provides for reserves for losses on equity investments of small business investment companies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Rehabilitation Cost Assistance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide grants to States: (1) to make a study of the costs involved in removing architectural, communications, and attitudinal barriers against handicapped persons in federally assisted programs; and (2) to pay the costs involved in assisting in such removal.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to initiate a Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program to study technical problems regarding the viability of the solar power satellite concept. Requires the Secretary to cooperate with the Administrator in the submission to Congress, by September 30, 1978, of a comprehensive plan to implement the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Amends Title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to increase the ceiling imposed upon payments for services under such Title for the fiscal years 1979, 1980, 1981 and maintains the 1981 level for succeeding years.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Voluntary Job Preservation and Community Stabilization Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a continuing investigation to identify those industrial, business, agricultural, and service organizations (1) which are in danger of ceasing operation or of outmigration and (2) whose closing or relocation would result in substantial unemployment and economic dislocation in the community. Provides, through the Secretary, loans for technical assistance and status and operating costs to an employee or employee/community corporation which meets certain requirements in order that it may assume ownership and operation of an organization so identified. Conditions loans, among other factors, upon certification that the corporation will allow new employees to participate and will adopt a method for acquisition of stock of persons no longer associated with the organization for the purpose of making it available to all employees on a nondiscriminatory basis. Authorizes loans of up to $15,000 to an employee who wishes to purchase stock in a purchasing corporation and who is unable to secure financing elsewhere.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Upper Delaware River Protection Act - Designates a specified segment of the Delaware River in New York and Pennsylvania as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop general guidelines for the land and water use control measures to be developed and implemented by appropriate State and Federal bodies. Requires the Secretary to provide for participation by all levels of State, county and local government as well as by private individuals and organizations in the development of such guidelines. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with and seek the advice of the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council. Directs that interested State, Federal and private parties develop and submit a management plan to the Secretary within three years of the receipt of appropriations authorized by this Act. Specifies the components of such plan. Restricts the amount of land that may be acquired. Directs the Secretary to review all relevant local plans, laws and ordinances to determine whether they substantially conform to the approved management plan. Requires the Secretary to give timely notice to the relevant parties concerning such review. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands managed in a manner not in conformance with the guidelines. Provides for the creation of an Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council to encourage the maximum public involvement in the development and implementation of the purposes of this Act. Directs the Council to report to the Secretary and the Commission concerning the development of the management plan. Specifies that the provisions of this Act will prevail where there is a conflict with any provision of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
International Emergency Food Reserve Act - Authorizes the President: (1) to enter into negotiations with other nations to develop an international system of food reserves for humanitarian food relief needs; and (2) to establish and maintain an International Emergency Food Reserve as a contribution of the United States toward the development of such a system. Requires for such Reserve minimum stocks of two million tons, allowing an increase up to six million tons pursuant to an international agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Better Jobs and Income Act - States that it is the intent of Congress to provide training and job opportunities to principal earners in families with children and to provide income support and supplementation to low-income families and individuals. States that Congress finds it necessary to consolidate and reform Federal and State income assistance programs. Title I: Cash Assistance Program Under The Social Security Act - Amends the Social Security Act to add Title XXI entitled "Income Supplement and Income Support for Families and Individuals". Authorizes appropriations to carry out the programs established by such Title. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), in accordance with the provisions of such Title, to make payments to an eligible household unit (household), as such term is defined in this Act, for any month in which the available income of such household is less than the maximum amount payable according to provisions of this Act, and in which the value of the household's assets does not exceed the allowable amount specified in this Act. Excludes from eligibility for payments as a member of a household: (1) individuals who are not citizens of the United States or aliens not lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; (2) individuals confined in penal or correctional institutions; (3) inmates of public institutions. Directs HEW to assist in the effective implementation of the Employment Opportunities Program established by Title II of this Act and to notify the Secretary of Labor of each adult member of a household with respect to which amounts are payable under this Act. Enumerates exemptions to such reporting requirement based on the need of an otherwise available worker in the home, the disability of such an individual, or status as a full-time student. Directs HEW, in the case of any blind or disabled individual who has not attained age 65 and who is receiving payments under this Act, to provide for referral of such individual to the appropriate State agency administering the State plan for vocational rehabilitation services approved under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Directs the referral of such an individual who is under age 16 to the State agency administering the State plan, required by this Act, for services to disabled children and for review, at least quarterly, of the blindness or disability of such individual and of the need for and utilization of the services made available under such plan. Specifies the amount of payment to a household. States that such amount shall be the "maximum payable amount," as determined by regulations set forth in this Act, reduced by the amount of "available income," as determined under provisions of this Act. Sets forth tables specifying the maximum amount payable to a household according to the number of members and the status of each member as adult, child, or aged, blind, or disabled. Reduces the amount payable for each member who is eligible for subsidized work or training under the Employment and Training Opportunities Program established by Title II of this Act and who is required to be referred to the Secretary of Labor, unless such member is certified as being incapacitated or has not been offered employment or training. Defines "available income" for purposes of determining the amount payable to an eligible household and enumerates exclusions from such available income. Prohibits the payment of benefits under this Act to a household if the value of its assets exceeds $2,250 for households consisting of two or more individuals, or $1,500 for households consisting of only one individual. Excludes from the determination of assets of a household: (1) the home, if it is the residence of such household; (2) the household goods and personal effects, including tools or similar items necessary for a member to engage in gainful employment; (3) separate, identifiable amounts set aside for burial expenses; (4) business assets held for the production of self-employment income; (5) assets of a blind or disabled individual who has an approved plan for achieving self support; and (6) certain stock held by Alaskan Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Directs that the payment to a household in Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands be scaled according to the ratio of the per capita incomes of such territories in fiscal year 1980 to the per capita income of the State having the lowest such income. Exempts household members in such territories from the requirement for subsidized work or training until such time as the Employment Opportunities Program established by Title II of this Act extended to such territories. Authorizes the States to enter into agreements with HEW under which the States will make supplemental payments to households receiving payment from HEW under this Act. Sets forth the method by which the amount of such supplements shall be determined. Requires the States to reimburse HEW for that portion of the cost of such supplements which is not covered by Federal participation. Sets forth directions for the computation of the amount of Federal participation in each State supplemental payment program. Requires each State to pay to HEW a specified percentage of the annual Federal expenditure for payments under this Act in order to assure that each State will continue to share responsibility for meeting the objectives of this Act. Establishes procedures to limit the fiscal liability of the States for participation in the program of State supplemental payments. Sets forth requirements and measures for the administration of the income supplementation program established by this Act. Includes requirements for making application for benefits and for determining eligibility for benefits. Directs HEW to make adjustments in future payments for overpayments and underpayments to households. Requires HEW to establish procedures for the determination of disagreements by an affected individual. Establishes criminal penalties for fraud under this Act. Directs HEW to prescribe criteria for approval of State plans for counseling and services to blind or disabled children. Requires HEW to pay to the State agency administering such plan the costs incurred in each fiscal year. Establishes a new program of grants to States to enable each State to furnish emergency assistance to meet the living expenses of needy families and individuals which are not met under the payments program established by this Act. Directs HEW to pay to each State that has an approved plan for such assistance the total expenditures for the provision of such assistance. Sets limits on the total amount of such payments to any State for a given year. Limits the participation of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands in the emergency assistance program except when the need for emergency assistance arises from a natural disaster or other occurrence of regional or national significance beyond the control of the named territories. Authorizes the President to permit HEW to make payments to States for assistance in meeting living expenses when emergency conditions exist because of a natural disaster. Sets forth steps for the establishment of State plans to administer the emergency assistance program established under this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to increase the amount of the credit against personal income tax to which an individual is entitled based on the individual's earned income. Provides for an earned income certificate permitting a reduction of withholding tax of individuals entitled to the earned income credit. Permits disclosure of income tax return records to HEW and State agencies for purposes of of determining eligibility for benefits under this Act. Establishes a program for grants to States for foster care of dependent children under Title IV of the Social Security Act. Authorizes appropriations and sets forth requirements for the administration of State plans. Repeals Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act and the program of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and the Work Incentive Program for Recipients of AFDC of Title IV of such Act. Directs HEW to grant priority in the hiring of Federal employees to qualified applicants who on the date of enactment of this Act, were State employees whose compensation was paid from funds provided under the work training programs established by certain Titles of the Social Security Act or the Food Stamp Act of 1977. Authorizes HEW to hire specially trained personnel and to procure any real or personal property needed to administer the programs established by this Act. Revises the method for distribution to the State and Federal Government of child support collected under the Child Support and Establishment of Paternity program of Title IV of the Social Security Act. Requires that retroactive disability insurance payments awarded under Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act be reduced by the amount of benefits paid under the cash assistance program established by this Act during the retroactive period. Title II: Employment and Training Opportunities - Establishes an Employment and Training Opportunities program under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 to provide assistance to jobseekers receiving income supplementation in securing employment. Provides for the referral of eligible individuals to employment and training programs and sets forth wage requirements and conditions of employment for individuals referred to such programs. Specifies minimum requirements for job search assistance programs, among them (1) use of a computerized job matching program in cooperation with the State employment security agency, (2) a program of job search assistance services, (3) referral to unsubsidized job opportunities of eligible individuals for an initial eight week period, and continued referrals thereafter, and (4) establishment, by the prime sponsor, of annual goals for placement of eligible individuals. Sets forth conditions under which an individual will not be deemed to have refused work without good cause. Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide financial assistance to prime sponsors conducting an Employment and Training Opportunity program and to the State Governors to be used for the Statewide planning and coordination of approved plans. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make determinations concerning the compliance of individuals participating in the Employment and Training Opportunity program and to withhold payments from any prime sponsor who repeatedly pays wages in excess of the authorized amount. Title III: Establishment of Preschool Education Programs - Provides for the establishment of an In-Home Early Child Development program and a Preschool Development program under the Social Security Act. Sets forth requirements for the establishment of each program.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Legislative Oversight Act - Title I: Requirements for Authorization Bills - Requires all legislation considered by either House of Congress which authorizes new budget authority or increased tax expenditures to include a statement of objectives of the program to be authorized or established and a requirement that the agencies administering the program report annually to Congress to assist it in determining whether such program should be amended. Requires such agency reports to list the costs and accomplishments of each program. Title II: Requirements for Reports Accompanying Authorization Bills - Requires committee reports accompanying such legislation to identify expected economic and social costs and benefits of new programs authorized or established by such legislation, potentially duplicative programs, and previous efforts to accomplish the objectives of the program being considered. Requires reports to contain, if the legislation continues an existing program, authorization, or tax expenditure, an assessment of the degree to which such program or tax expenditure has met previously stated objectives. Requires the Comptroller General to publish and periodically update a descriptive catalog of interrelated Federal activities which compares program costs and accomplishments and describes program interrelationships, including the extent to which programs are duplicative. Title III: Presidential Budget Recommendations - Requires the President's budget to describe the relationship between the President's recommended program budgets and the program accomplishments reported by Federal agencies under this Act. Title IV: Authorization Time Limit; Certain Obligations not Impaired - Prohibits congressional consideration of any legislation which authorizes new budget authority or provides new or increased tax expenditures, or new spending authority for a period exceeding five years. Exempts from this prohibition national debt service and payments to individuals from Federal trust funds to which such individuals have contributed. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions; Effective Date - Recognizes the authority of either House to amend this Act. Sets the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Prohibits commerce in contraband cigarettes. Defines "contraband cigarettes" as a quantity of more than 20,000 cigarettes, bearing no evidence of payment of applicable State cigarette taxes, which are in the possession of any person other than (1) a person licensed by the State where the cigarettes are found or by the Internal Revenue Service, (2) a common or contract carrier, or (3) a government agent in the performance of duties. Subjects dealers in cigarettes to such reporting requirements as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1978
Amends the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968 to establish a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in Social and Political Thought at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian Institution. Establishes the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Trust Fund in the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Expresses the insistence of the House of Representatives that the Government of the Republic of Korea cooperate with a certain investigation of the House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Declares that failure of the Government to cooperate with such investigation will have a negative impact on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, including assistance for the latter country.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the District of Columbia be treated as a State for purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President, and Article V of the Constitution of the United States. Repeals the provisions of the twenty-third amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Agricultural Trade Act - Title I: Establishment of United States Agricultural Trade Offices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish abroad not less than six nor more than 25 United States Agricultural Trade Offices, for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities. Title II: Intermediate Commercial Credit - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to require the Corporation to finance, under its export credit sales program, export sales of agricultural commodities out of its own private stocks on credit terms in excess of three years, but not more than ten years. Title III: Reorganization - Establishes in the Department of Agriculture: (1) an Assistant Secretary for Commodity Programs, to perform duties related to agricultural stabilization and conservation; and (2) an Under Secretary for International Affairs to perform duties related to foreign agriculture. Title IV: Agricultural Counselors - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to change the title of Agricultural Attaches to Agricultural Counselors, and to require each Counselor to submit to the Secretary an annual report detailing the social, political and economic factors affecting agriculture and agricultural trade in the country or area to which such Counselor is assigned. Title V: General Provisions - Requires the Secretary to transmit to Congress annual reports on the activities and accomplishments of the Department, especially those of the United States Agricultural Trade Offices, in developing, maintaining, and expanding foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Omnibus Anti-Terrorism Act - Title I: Aircraft Piracy - Authorizes civil penalties for carrying an accessible weapon aboard an aircraft and for imparting or conveying information known to be false regarding one of specified crimes aboard an aircraft. Specified criminal penalties for threatening to commit air piracy or any other of certain crimes aboard an aircraft. Title II: Findings and Purposes - States Congressional findings relative to the purpose of this Act and defines specified terms used therein. Title III: Reorganization of Executive Office of the President - Establishes a Council to Combat Terrorism in the Executive Office of the President. Includes among the council's functions: (1) assisting the President to implement this Act; (2) assisting in the preparation of lists of countries aiding terrorist enterprises and of dangerous foreign airports, and (3) coordinating Federal efforts to combat terrorism. Directs the President to: (1) report to Congress on each act of terrorism which involves or affects United States citizens; and (2) impose sanctions against countries on the list of countries aiding terrorists and against airports on the list of dangerous foreign airports. Title IV: Reorganization of the Department of State - Establishes a Bureau for Combating International Terrorism in the Department of State. Urges the President to seek international agreements which assure cooperation in combating terrorism. Lists provisions which should be given priority in negotiating such agreements. Requires the President to: (1) develop programs to insure full implementation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation; (2) approve all defense article sales and credit made to any individual or group; and (3) include the names of all types of explosives on the United States Munitions List. Title V: Reorganization of the Department of Justice - Establishes an office for Combating Terrorism in the Department of Justice. Directs the President to extend existing safety and security requirements to supplemental means of air transportation. Requires all explosives to contain identification and detection taggants. Title VI: Aircraft Sabotage and Piracy - Amends provisions of title 18 of the U.S. Code that specify prohibited acts regarding the destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities to, among other revisions, set forth penalties for committing violence against a passenger which is likely to endanger an aircraft in service, and for communicating false information which result in endangering the safety of an aircraft in flight. Sets forth penalties for a person found in the United States who has committed against or aboard a foreign aircraft an offense in violation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1978
Confers jurisdiction upon Federal district courts to enforce a State child custody order against a parent who, in violation of such order, took the child to another State.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for an amount, not to exceed $250, equal to 50 percent of the expenses paid or incurred by a speech- or hearing-impaired individual for the use of toll telephone services by means of teletypewriters.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Declares that it is the policy of the Congress in the interest of public health to phase out Federal assistance which promotes the production of tobacco and the manufacturing and marketing of tobacco products for human consumption. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to the President and to the appropriate Congressional committees his findings and recommendations regarding the probable economic effects (particularly on family farmers) of the phasing out of specified Federal tobacco assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Human Resources Development Act - Directs the President or his delegate to carry out, through grants to, or contracts with private and public nonprofit institutions, a program consisting of projects which either (1) involve labor-management cooperation for the improvement of productivity and quality of work life, innovation in a major feature of employment, increased worker participation in decisionmaking, or profit sharing or (2) are designed to establish the efficacy of policies and practices maintaining normal employment levels during periods of cyclical downturns in demand through reassignment of workers to training and other specified types of programs. Directs the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the National Center for Productivity and Quality of Working Life to assist in carrying out such program.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1977
Federal Election Campaign Reform Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to (1) permit designated committees to make expenditures for Presidential candidates, (2) exempt from a candidate's contribution limits payments for certain media advertisements by other candidates which advocate election of such candidate, and (3) direct the Federal Election Commission to establish uniform recordkeeping and reporting procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 1977
Imposes import quotas on beef and veal products entering the United States, a trade zone thereof, an insular possession thereof, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Sets forth the formula for establishment of such quota quantities by the Secretary of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen Protection Act - Requires that the Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen and other relics of Hungarian royalty to be kept in the United States, unless Congress specifically provides otherwise.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1977
Prohibits the sale or licensing for export to South Africa of defense articles or services under the Arms Export Control Act. Prohibits the exportation to South Africa of articles controlled under the Export Administration Act of 1969 if such articles could be used for military, law enforcement, or internal security purposes. Prohibits the issuing of licenses for export to or distribution within South Africa of any source material, special nuclear material, by-product material, production facility, utilization facility, or restricted data, under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1977
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional excise tax on cigarettes to be paid to States not imposing local cigarette taxes to the extent the taxes collected are attributable to those States. Imposes penalties for bootlegging large amounts of cigarettes and provides for the regulation of interstate cigarette dealers and transporters by the Department of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1977
Declares it the sense of the Congress that the President direct the United States delegation to the Belgrade Conference to place the issue of the arrest, trial, and conviction of Mykola Rudenko and Oleska Tykhy before the Conference.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Flood Control Act of 1970 to require the Secretary of the Army, in determining the need for a flood control project, to consider the economic and social impact of not providing such protection. Sets forth factors for evaluating such impact. Requires the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, upon a finding that the costs of any flood control project exceed its benefits, to furnish the non-Federal interests affected by such decision with an opportunity to contribute to the project the amount by which the costs exceed the benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Federal Disclosure and Accountability Act - Prohibits any Federal employee from coercing any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right of such individual to disclose any illegal or otherwise improper Government action to the Review Board on Improper Government Actions, established by this Act and from taking any adverse personnel action against such individual who is a Federal employee in retaliation for such disclosure. Requires the Board to investigate any such disclosure and, in the event further investigation or action is warranted, to notify the person, the head of the agency in which such person is employed, and, if appropriate, the Attorney General and/or the Comptroller General.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to not consider specified housing benefits available to veterans in determining eligibility of veterans for housing financing from sources other than the Farmers Home Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1977
International Emergency Food Reserve Act - Authorizes the President: (1) to enter into negotiations with other nations to develop an international system of food reserves to provide for humanitarian food relief needs; and (2) to establish and maintain an International Emergency Food Reserve, as a contribution of the United States toward the development of such a system, to be made available in the event of food emergencies in foreign countries. Requires for such Reserve minimum stocks of two million tons, allowing an increase of up to six million tons pursuant to an international agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1977
Makes additional immigration visas available in the case of a foreign state from which the total number of immigrants admitted to the United States in any fiscal year after June 30, 1972 was less than three fourths of the average annual number of visas made available to immigrants from such state during the ten year period beginning July 1, 1955. Limits to 7,500 the total number of visas to be made available in the case of any one foreign state. Specifies the percent of additional visas to be allocated to the categories of preference and nonpreference priorities set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Stipulates that the provision of such Act which prohibits the admittance of aliens seeking to enter the United States for the purpose of performing skilled or unskilled labor shall not apply in the determination of an immigrant's eligibility to receive an additional visa as authorized by this Act. Limits the application of the provisions of this Act to four years. Stipulates that nothing in this Act modifies or affects the authority of the Attorney General in the administration of any law relating to immigration, nationality, or naturalization.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1977
Competitive Energy Development Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to establish criteria to measure the level of competition in alternative energy source markets as such markets are defined in this Act. Requires the Commission to conduct monitoring studies of the energy industry by applying such criteria in order to isolate any violations thereof. Permits the Commission to exercise its authority to remedy an anticompetitive situation where a person is deemed responsible for any violation after a show cause hearing.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
International Emergency Food Reserve Act - Authorizes the President: (1) to enter into negotiations with other nations to develop an international system of food reserves for humanitarian food relief needs; and (2) to establish and maintain an International Emergency Food Reserve as a contribution of the United States toward the development of such a system. Requires for such Reserve minimum stocks of two million tons, allowing an increase up to six million tons pursuant to an international agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1977
International Emergency Food Reserve Act - Authorizes the President: (1) to enter into negotiations with other nations to develop an international system of food reserves for humanitarian food relief needs; and (2) to establish and maintain an International Emergency Food Reserve as a contribution of the United States toward the development of such a system. Requires for such Reserve minimum stocks of two million tons, allowing an increase up to six million tons pursuant to an international agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1977
Veterans' Educational Equity Act - Provides for payment of a supplemental tuition allowance to each qualified veteran upon application to the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs. Extends the delimiting period for completing a veteran's education program for up to two years if at the close of the ordinary ten-year delimiting period the veteran is enrolled in a program.
![Official portrait of Rep. McHugh, Matthew F. [D-NY-28]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000473_200.jpg)