United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1979
Telephone Privacy Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit unsolicited commercial telephone calls to a telephone subscriber who has notified the telephone company that he does not wish to receive such calls. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe regulations specifying the manner in which a telephone subscriber shall notify the telephone company that he does not wish to receive unsolicited calls. Prescribes criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Excludes from the definition of "unsolicited commercial telephone calls" calls made in response to an express request of the individual called or made in connection with an overdue debt or contractual obligation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 1979
Title I: Limitation on Future Growth of Federal Spending and Tax Expenditures - Federal Spending and Tax Expenditure Control Act of 1979 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the adoption of any concurrent resolution on the budget which sets forth a level of total budget outlays and total tax expenditures in excess of 28.5 percent of the gross national product in fiscal year 1981, 28 percent of the gross national product in fiscal year 1982, or 27.5 percent of the gross national product in any fiscal year thereafter. Establishes procedures to enable the President and the Congress to suspend such limitations on budget outlays and tax expenditures. Title II: Federal Credit Program Control - Federal Credit Program Control Act of 1979 - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to provide a basis for controlling loans and loan guarantees under Federal credit programs through the congressional budget process. Requires the first concurrent resolution on the budget for each fiscal year to set forth the appropriate level of total gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans and the appropriate level of total commitments to guarantee loans and to allocate such totals among the major functional categories of the budget. Directs each standing committee of the House and Senate to submit its estimates of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments provided for in legislation under its jurisdiction by March 15 of each year for consideration of the Budget Committees in formulating the budget resolution. Directs the House and Senate Banking Committees to submit recommendations to the Budget Committees for the aggregate levels of direct loans and loan guarantees in each fiscal year. Requires the joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on the concurrent resolution on the budget to include an estimated allocation of the total levels of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments among the committees of the House and Senate. Directs the Committees on Appropriations to provide such an allocation among their subcommittees as soon as practicable after a budget resolution has been agreed to. Requires the House Committee on Appropriations, before reporting any regular appropriations bills, to submit a summary report to the House comparing the credit authority contained in such bills to the levels agreed to in the budget resolution. Requires any report accompanying legislation conferring new budget authority or increasing tax expenditures to include information on direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments. Establishes a deadline for the completion of action on legislation providing credit authority. Requires the second concurrent resolution on the budget in any fiscal year and the reconciliation process to take into account Federal obligations and commitments on loans and loan guarantees. Declares out of order any measure brought up for consideration in either House which would increase the level of loan obligations and guarantee commitments agreed to in the budget process. Requires any authority to guarantee the payment of any indebtedness to be contingent on provisions in appropriation Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Directs the President to appoint an ad hoc commission to conduct a study of the effects that full compliance with the Clean Air Act by every State would have on: (1) employment; (2) the economic situation of our communities; (3) the health and safety of the United States population; and (4) energy supplies and demands. Prohibits, during the study and for six months thereafter, the monitoring of stationary source stack emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency on any time schedule less than an average of the previous 30 days.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1979
Amends the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Incorporated, to erect a memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia in honor and recognition of the men and women of the armed forces who served in the Vietnam war.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1979
Exempts nonprofit veterans' organizations and nonprofit fraternal organizations from the requirement that certain musical performance royalties be paid to copyright holders.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1979
National Publications Act of 1979 - Abolishes the Joint Committee on Printing and the Government Printing Office. Establishes the National Publications Agency (NPA) as in independent establishment in the executive branch to provide for public printing services and the distribution of public documents. Creates within the NPA a ten member National Publications Commission composed of seven voting members and three nonvoting members. Grants such Commission overall responsibility for NPA policies and operations. Lists the duties of the Commission which include: (1) providing for appropriate use of private commercial sources for public printing services and the distribution of documents; (2) prescribing indexing and bibliographic standards for public documents; (3) furnishing supplies manufactured by NPA to other Government entities; and (4) fixing standards for materials used to produce public documents. Provides for the appointment of the voting members of the Commission by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets forth the composition, administrative procedures, and compensation of the Commission. Directs the Commission to submit to the President and specified committees of Congress any regulations it may prescribe to carry out the provisions of this Act. States that such regulations shall take effect within ten legislative days after submission unless the President issues an Executive order or either committee adopts a resolution disapproving them. Authorizes the Chairman of the Commission to appoint and fix the pay of necessary staff personnel without regard to existing provisions governing appointments in the competitive service or classification and pay rates under the General Schedule. Directs the Chairman, with the Commission's approval, to appoint a Director of Administration of the NPA to be responsible for administrative and support services common to more than one component of the NPA. Authorizes the Director to employ necessary personnel including special police officers. Requires labor-management relations in the NPA to be based on principles of collective bargaining contained in existing Federal law relating to private sector employees. Declares that the provisions of title 5 of the United States Code (Government Organization and Employees) affecting the terms and conditions of Government employment, with specified exceptions, shall apply to NPA employees who are represented by a labor organization. Requires that unresolved collective bargaining matters be referred to binding arbitration whenever an impasse occurs. Provides for selection of an arbitrator. Sets forth the procedure to be followed by the arbitrator to resolve the impasse. Establishes the NPA revolving fund in the United States Treasury. Requires the Comptroller General to audit the activities of the NPA at least once every three years beginning in fiscal year in 1982. Sets forth restrictions pertaining to: (1) the procurement of property by the Chairman; and (2) the procurement of public printing services by the Director of Production Services. Requires Commission regulations governing such procurement to: (1) promote competition; (2) provide opportunities for small business participation in NPA contracts; (3) permit contractors to use subcontractors in the performance of a contract; and (4) limit the duration of any procurement contract to five years. Requires the Commission to submit any budget requests concurrently to the President, or the Office of Management and Budget, and to Congress. Creates within the NPA a position for a Director of Production Services who shall be appointed by the Chairman with the approval of the Commission. Makes the Director responsible for the provision of public printing services in the NPA. Requires that all public printing services for the Government be provided through the NPA. Directs the NPA to prescribe regulations allowing a Government entity to have printing services performed by a private person or in an authorized field printing plant of a Government entity under specified conditions. Requires materials which are printed as permanent public documents or at Government expense, to bear notice of such information. Establishes within the NPA the position of Director of Distribution Services to be responsible for the maintenance, distribution, and international exchange of public documents. Requires that public documents be distributed through the NPA unless the Director deems another method of distribution to be in the public interest. Declares that the price of a document shall not be less than the cost of production and distribution of such document, except under specified conditions. Requires the Director of Distribution Services to: (1) maintain an index of public documents; (2) prepare a catalog listing recent documents; (3) make available all documents to depository libraries; and (4) provide reference services to such libraries with respect to such documents. Authorizes each Member of Congress to designate two libraries within the Member's congressional district for the deposit of public documents. Permits the head of each Government agency to designate a depository library within the agency. Designates specified libraries as depository libraries. Requires any free public document to disclose certain information concerning its availability. Authorizes the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate to regulate public printing services and the distribution of public documents for Congress. Directs the NPA to prepare the Congressional Record, the Congressional Directory, and specified congressional documents. Directs the head of each Government entity to designate one employee as an information resources manager to: (1) coordinate public printing services and the distribution of documents for such entity; (2) certify the legality and necessity of a requested public printing service; (3) furnish the Director of Distribution Services with information concerning the publications of such entity; and (4) oversee compliance with this Act. Prohibits the Director of Production Services from providing public printing services without receiving a certification of the need and legality of such service from an information resources manager. Eliminates existing provisions of Federal law governing the public printing of particular reports and documents. Sets forth provisions concerning the transfer of functions, funds, and personnel of the Government Printing Office and the Joint Committee on Printing to the NPA and, with respect to oversight functions of such committee, to appropriate congressional committees. Directs the National Publications Commission to prescribe comprehensive regulations relating to the functions of the NPA. Makes technical and conforming amendments. States that this Act shall take effect on January 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1979
Vinson-Trammell Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Vinson-Trammell Act to prohibit the Secretary of Defense from making a noncompetitive national defense contract unless the contractor agrees to: (1) pay any excess profit to the United States; (2) make no subcontract in order to evade any provisions of this Act; and (3) make no first tier subcontract unless the subcontractor also agrees to such provisions (present section sets forth aircraft contract requirements). Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to carry out this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) collect any profits owed by a contractor by setoff against any amounts due such contractor; or (2) waive the requirements of this Act with regard to any contract or subcontract. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Congress concerning actions taken under this Act. Repeals provisions setting forth naval vessel contract requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1979
Dollar Bill Preservation Act - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit the cancellation, retirement, destruction, or removal from circulation of any dollar bill note, except where necessary to replace mutilated bills. Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain the amount of dollar bills issued at the level outstanding on September 26, 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard mileage rate used in computing the charitable deduction for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle shall be the same as the standard mileage rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury for the business related deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a separate income tax on the severance pay of unmarried individuals whose employment is terminated by a closing of their place of employment which appears reasonably likely to be permanent and which involves the discharge within a 12 month period of at least 75 percent of the employees. Allows an income tax deduction for severance pay received in a taxable year to the extent that such pay is included in the gross income of the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1979
Uniformed Services Health Professionals Special Pay Act of 1979 - Provides special and additional pay for physicians in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service who are on active duty for a period of not less than one year. Sets forth a schedule for such special pay providing that: (1) physicians below pay grade 0-7 are to receive between $1,200 and $10,000 per year based on years of creditable service; and (2) physicians above pay grade 0-6 are to receive $1,000 per year. Entitles a physician eligible for special pay to an additional $10,000 annual payment for any 12-month period during which he or she is not undergoing medical internship or initial residency training. Requires such a physician to agree in writing to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year in order to receive such $10,000 additional payment. Authorizes additional special pay (from $2,000 to $5,000 based on years of creditable service) for those physicians eligible for special pay who are board certified (under regulations prescribed by this Act). Sets forth a special pay schedule for dentists in the Armed Forces or in the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year providing that: (1) dentists below pay grade 0-7 are to receive between $1,200 and $9,000 per year based on years of creditable service; and (2) dentists above pay grade 0-6 are to receive $1,000 per year. Entitles a dentist eligible for special pay to an additional annual payment ($6,000 to $10,000 depending on years of creditable service) for any 12-month period during which he or she is not undergoing dental internship or residency training. Requires such a dentist to agree in writing to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year in order to receive such payment. Authorizes additional special pay (from $2,000 to $4,000 based on years of creditable service) for those dentists eligible for special pay who are board certified. Sets forth a special pay schedule for optometrists in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year providing for: (1) payments of $1,000 to $3,000 per year depending on years of creditable service; and (2) additional annual payments of $1,000 for optometrists with at least three years of creditable service. Requires a written agreement for such additional payments. Defines "creditable service" for purposes of this Act to include all time spent in internship or residency while not on active duty, and all time spent on active duty (as a physician, dentist, optometrist or podiatrist). Authorizes special pay of $100 per month to podiatrists in the Armed Forces or in the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year and who have three or more years of creditable service. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish standards for determining whether an officer is: (1) undergoing medical, dental, or optometry internship or residency training; and (2) board certified for a medical or dental specialty. Stipulates that any special pay received under this Act may not be included in computing the amount of any increase in pay authorized by any other uniformed services pay provisions, or in computing retired, severance, or readjustment pay. Provides for the refund of a specified percentage of the amount received by an officer who voluntarily terminates active service before the expiration of the one-year written agreement. Directs the Secretary to conduct a review every two years of such special pay authorizations. Requires the first such review to be submitted to the Congress no later than September 30, 1982. Repeals existing provisions of Federal law: (1) prohibiting special pay for veterinarians after September 1980; (2) setting forth guidelines for physicians' and dentists' continuation pay; and (3) regarding special pay for specified physicians below pay grade 0-7 who execute active duty agreements. Directs the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of alternatives for addressing the existing maldistribution of medical and dental specialties within the Armed Forces. Requires a final report to be submitted to the Congress no later than two years after enactment of this Act. Stipulates that health professionals eligible for basic and special pay under existing provisions shall not be paid less than such amounts as a result of amendments made by this Act. Authorizes appropriations of $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1981. Provides that special pay provisions under this Act shall take effect for periods beginning after September 30, 1979, or after date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1979
Uniformed Services Health Professionals Special Pay Act of 1979 - Provides special and additional pay for physicians in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service who are on active duty for a period of not less than one year. Sets forth a schedule for such special pay providing that: (1) physicians below pay grade 0-7 are to receive between $1,200 and $10,000 per year based on years of creditable service; and (2) physicians above pay grade 0-6 are to receive $1,000 per year. Entitles a physician eligible for special pay to an additional $10,000 annual payment for any 12 month period during which he or she is not undergoing medical internship or initial residency training. Requires such a physician to agree in writing to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year in order to receive such $10,000 additional payment. Authorizes additional special pay (from $2,000 to $5,000 based on years of creditable service) for those physicians eligible for special pay who are board certified (under regulations prescribed by this Act). Sets forth a special pay schedule for dentists in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year providing that: (1) dentists below pay grade 0-7 are to receive between $1,200 and $7,000 per year based on years of creditable service; and (2) dentists above pay grade 0-6 are to receive $1,000 per year. Entitles a dentist eligible for special pay to an additional annual payment ($6,000 to $8,000 depending on years of creditable service) for any 12 month period during which he or she is not undergoing dental internship or residency training. Requires such a dentist to agree in writing to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year in order to receive such payment. Authorizes additional special pay (from $2,000 to $5,000 based on years of creditable service) for those dentists eligible for special pay who are board certified. Sets forth a special pay schedule for optometrists in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year providing for: (1) payments of $1,000 to $3,000 per year depending on years of creditable service; and (2) additional annual payments of $1,000 for optometrists with at least three years of creditable service. Requires a written agreement for such additional payments. Defines "creditable service" for purposes of this Act to include all time spent in internship or residency while not on active duty, and all time spent on active duty (as a physician, dentist, or optometrist). Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish standards for determining whether an officer is: (1) undergoing medical, dental, or optometry internship or residency training; and (2) board certified for a medical or dental specialty. Stipulates that any special pay received under this Act may not be included in computing the amount of any increase in pay authorized by any other uniformed services pay provisions, or in computing retired, severance, or readjustment pay. Provides for the refund of a specified percentage of the amount received by an officer who voluntarily terminates active service before the expiration of the one-year written agreement. Directs the Secretary to conduct a review every two years of such special pay authorizations. Requires the first such review to be submitted to the Congress no later than September 30, 1982. Repeals existing provisions of Federal law: (1) prohibiting special pay for veterinarians after September 1980; (2) setting forth guidelines for physicians' and dentists' continuation pay; and (3) regarding special pay for specified physicians below pay grade 0-7 who execute active duty agreements. Directs the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of alternatives for addressing the existing maldistribution of medical and dental specialties within the Armed Forces. Requires a final report to be submitted to the Congress no later than two years after enactment of this Act. Stipulates that health professionals eligible for basic and special pay under existing provisions shall not be paid less than such amounts as a result of amendments made by this Act. Authorizes appropriations of $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1981. Provides that special pay provisions under this Act shall take effect for periods beginning after September 30, 1979, or after the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Illegal Alien Control Act of 1977 - Directs the Attorney General to establish a border patrol force of not less than 3,800 officers. Directs the Attorney General to report to the President and the Congress on the feasibility of: (1) establishing a system for issuing machine-readable identification cards to aliens entering the United States; and (2) utilizing the most current technology in electronic sensing devices in patrolling land borders. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from the definition of the term "immigrant" those persons entering the United States for a period of not more than one year to perform temporary services or labor if the Secretary of Labor has determined and certified to the Attorney General that there are not sufficient workers available at the aliens' destination who are willing and able to perform such services. Directs the Secretary to refer to employers who request such certification, workers in the number desired, able and qualified, and who agree to present themselves to commence employment on the date and for the period specified. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to issue social security cards for aliens who may be employed or receive public assistance in the United States. Specifies the information which an alien must provide when applying for a social security card. Requires the applicant to supply either proof of the individual's citizenship or alien status, or an affidavit that the individual was assigned a social security account number at least five years before the date of application for the card. Prohibits the employment or provision of public assistance to an individual specified in this Act unless such individual presents a social security card to the employer or agency and the employer or agency submits required information to the Secretary. Establishes a civil penalty for the violation of such prohibition. Prohibits the employment or provision of public assistance to an alien whose status under the Immigration and Nationality Act does not permit such alien to work or receive public assistance. Establishes penalties for presenting a false social security card or providing fraudulent information in order to obtain employment or public assistance. Amends the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 to prohibit the use of Federal financial aid to provide job training or employment opportunities to aliens who are not authorized to work or who are illegally in the United States. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit income tax deductions for wages paid to aliens illegally working in the United States. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the Secretary of Labor, when adjudicating the petition of an alien for admission to perform skilled or unskilled labor, from considering the work experience gained by the alien in the United States during any time while in an immigration status in which employment was not authorized for the alien. Amends the Social Security Act to prohibit the payment of Aid to Families with Dependent Children benefits and Medicaid benefits to illegal aliens. Adds border crossing cards, alien registration receipt cards, and other documents prescribed by regulation for entry into the United States to the list of documents the false making of which shall be punished by fine or imprisonment or both.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Sales Representatives Protection Act - Title I: Contracts Between Sales Representatives and Principals - Requires a principal to furnish specified information to a sales representative concerning orders placed through the representative's account and a monthly accounting of commissions due such representative. Enumerates items which must be set forth in any contract between a sales representative and a principal. Title II: Indemnification - Exempts principals conforming with such information requirements from the indemnification provisions set forth in this Act. Requires a principal who, without good cause, terminates a contract between such principal and a sales representative, or reduces the rate of commission for orders solicited on behalf of such principal, to indemnify the representative according to this Act. Requires a principal who reduces the size of the geographic territory assigned to a representative for a specified account, which results in a specified reduction in commissions, to indemnify such representative. Sets forth formulae for the indemnification of such representatives. Title III: Miscellaneous - Allows a plaintiff to bring an action to enforce any rights or liabilities created by this Act in a United States district court. Stipulates the procedure for such action.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Food Additive Safety Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem any food additive safe if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare: (1) makes a finding, based on recommendations of an advisory committee, that the public benefit from permitting the use of such additive would exceed the public risk which might result from such use; (2) gives notice in the Federal Register of such a finding and invites public comment thereon; and (3) issues a final order not earlier than 120 days after such publication in the Federal Register of such findings. Specifies factors the Secretary must take into consideration when evaluating a food additive or its proposed use. Authorize the Secretary to include in any food additive regulation a labelling requirement to identify the additive and its degree of risk. Prohibits the Secretary from denying a petition for a food additive regulation solely on the basis of evidence of tumors developed in test animals where the dosage levels used on such animals exceeds one hundred times the reasonably expected maximum human consumption of such additive. Amends the Saccharin Study and Labeling Act to extend from 18 to 36 months the period following enactment during which restrictions may not be imposed on the sale or distribution of saccharin, or any food, drug, or cosmetic containing it.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1979
Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to revise the definitional section. Changes the organizational structure of the political committees by eliminating the requirement that every committee have a chairman. Vests in the treasurer of each committee exclusive authority to authorize disbursements. Extends to ten days the time during which any person who receives a contribution for a political committee must forward to the treasurer of such committee certain information regarding the contribution. Revises the recordkeeping procedures to be followed by the treasurer with respect to contributions received by or on behalf of a political committee. Requires each candidate for Federal office (other than the office of Vice President) to authorize his or her principal campaign committee, together with any other political committees, to receive all contributions and make all expenditures on such candidate's behalf. Stipulates that no political committee which supports or has supported more than one candidate may be designated as an authorized committee. Requires that each designation, report, or statement of receipts received or disbursements made by an authorized committee be filed with the candidate's principal campaign committee. Directs each principal campaign committee to compile and file such reports in accordance with procedures set forth in this title. Requires each authorized campaign committee to file a statement of organization no later than ten days after designation. Requires all other committees to file such statement no later than ten days after becoming a political committee. Revises the content of the organization statement. Stipulates that a political committee may terminate only upon the filing of a written statement stating that it will no longer receive or disburse funds, and that such committee has no outstanding debts. Revises the section of the Act relating to the reporting of receipts and expenditures to require that each treasurer of a political committee file reports of receipts and disbursements with the Federal Elections Commission. Eliminates the requirement that each candidate must file such reports with the Commission. Revises the procedures for reporting data on receipts and expenditures by principal campaign committees, other political committees, and individuals. Amends Title III of the Act to strike out the sections dealing with: (1) regulation of campaign advertising; (2) preservation of financial reports; (3) reporting of pledges; (4) reports to the President; (5) use of the frank; and (6) penalties for violation of the Act. Requires any individual who at the time of his or her appointment to the Federal Election Commission is engaged in any other business, vocation, or employment to terminate or liquidate such activity no later than 90 days (previously one year) after such appointment. Prohibits any member of the Commission from delegating to any person his or her vote or any decisionmaking authority or duty vested in the Commission. Revises the procedures for the issuance of advisory opinions by the Commission. Sets forth revised enforcement procedures. Sets forth revised requirements relating to the filing of campaign expenditure and disbursement statements with State officers. Limits the amount of honorariums a person may accept while such person is an elected or appointed officer or employee of any branch of the Federal Government. Requires any communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate for Federal office, or soliciting any contributions for such candidate, to clearly state who financed the communication and that it was authorized by the political committee of such candidate. Prohibits any individual who sells space in a newspaper or magazine to a candidate from charging any amount for such space that exceeds the amount charged for comparable use of such space for other purposes. Sets forth amendments and technical changes to specified Federal laws. Increases to $3,000,000 (presently, $2,000,000) the aggregate amount of payments to which a national committee of a major party is entitled with respect to any presidential nominating convention.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1979
Consumer Checking Account Equity Act of 1979 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize member banks in the Federal Reserve System and federally insured nonmember banks to make automatic funds transfers from a savings deposit to a demand deposit pursuant to the written authorization of the depositor to make such transfers in connection with checks or drafts drawn upon the bank. Authorizes federally insured banks and savings and loan associations, State banks and savings and loan associations, savings banks, and mutual savings banks to offer interest-bearing deposits or accounts upon which the depositor may make withdrawals by negotiable instrument for the purpose of making transfers to third parties (NOW accounts). Stipulates that such deposits or accounts may only be held by individuals or nonprofit organizations. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933 to permit Federal savings and loan associations and Federal mutual savings banks to establish remote service units pursuant to regulations of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Authorizes such associations to extend loans directly related to negotiable order of withdrawal accounts. Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to require any institution which has subscribed for the stock of a Federal Home Loan Bank to maintain reserves against its negotiable order of withdrawal accounts pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Board after consultation with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Prescribes the required form of such balances. Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to permit insured credit unions to offer share draft deposits to individuals and nonprofit organizations in accordance with regulations prescribed by the National Credit Union Administration Board. Requires each Federal credit union to maintain reserves against such deposits in amounts and forms prescribed by the Board after consultation with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should establish and actively pursue a national energy plan that emphasizes and demands the use of domestic coal as a means of displacing current foreign energy imports. Declares that the President should establish a task force to examine modifications in the implementation of the Clean Air Act that could increase coal use without violating national ambient air quality standards. Declares that the appropriate House committee should review current regulations of the Office of Surface Mining of the Department of the Interior to insure that such regulations conform with the original intent of Congress in passing the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1977. States that the President should submit to Congress within 60 days of enactment of a plan which will achieve the goals of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Farm Credit Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Federal Land Banks and Associations - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize any Federal land bank, under the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions (i.e., Federal land banks, Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks, production credit associations, and banks for cooperatives); (2) participate in loans which the land banks are authorized to make with lenders which are not Farm Credit System institutions; (3) sell interests in loans to such lenders; (4) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance, and nonvoting stock; (5) make other investments; (6) accept contributions to their capital from Federal land bank associations; (7) enter into agreements with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan and other losses; (8) issue nonvoting stock to borrowers as a patronage refund; and (9) make or participate with other lenders in long-term real estate mortgage loans not exceeding 85 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security. Makes producers and harvesters of aquatic products eligible for Federal land bank services. Authorizes Federal land bank associations to make capital contributions to a Federal land bank. States that a member of a Federal land bank association need not make the required purchases of land stock with respect to that part of a loan derived from a lender which is not a Farm Credit System institution. Authorizes the Federal land bank associations to pay dividends on a differential basis between different classes and issues of stock and participation certificates corresponding to the value of such classes and issues to the capital or earnings of the Federal land bank in its district. Permits the Federal land bank associations to agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions. Title II: Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations - Authorizes the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance and nonvoting stock; (2) make other investments; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; (4) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; and (5) issue nonvoting stock to such institutions. Authorizes the Federal intermediate credit banks to discount for, or purchase from other financial institutions loans made to producers and harvesters of aquatic products. Permits any Federal intermediate credit bank to transfer more than 2.5 percent of its net earnings after expenses to its allocated reserve account (presently, not more than 25 percent of such earnings may be transferred to this account). Authorizes each production credit association, subject to the supervision of the intermediate credit bank in its district and the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to any bank in the Farm Credit System interests in loans, other financial assistance extended, and nonvoting stock; (2) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System Institutions; (4) issue participation certificates to eligible borrowers in lieu of nonvoting stock; and (5) issue participation certificates or nonvoting stock to any financial institution outside the Farm Credit System with which the association participates in a loan in satisfaction of the requirement that a borrower own such stock or participation certificates. Requires a borrower to own only that amount of stock or participation certificates which is proportionate to that portion of a loan retained by a production credit association when it participates with another lender in making a loan. Authorizes the production credit association to extend loan assistance to bona fide farmers, ranchers, and producers and harvesters of aquatic products for basic processing and marketing directly related to the borrower's operations. Title III: Banks and Cooperatives - Empowers each bank for cooperatives, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; (2) deposit its securities and current funds with any domestic or foreign financial organization (presently, such deposits must be made at a member bank in the Federal Reserve System); (3) buy and sell bankers acceptances which are obligations of member banks in the Federal Reserve System; (4) buy and sell other obligations including those which arise in the course of transactions which the bank has assisted through loans; (5) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other financial assistance extended and nonvoting stock; (6) make other investments; (7) invest in foreign and domestic business entities to facilitate the obtaining of credit information and the performance of services related to international transactions; (8) maintain credit balances to assist in the transfer of funds between parties to authorized transactions; (9) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; and (10) issue participation certificates to parties who may not be issued voting stock. Requires all participation certificates, voting and nonvoting stock issued by the banks for cooperatives to be retired at par value. Authorizes the banks for cooperative to: (1) offer a currency exchange for eligible cooperative associations; and (2) extend loans, loan participation commitments, and other technical and financial assistance to any domestic or foreign party in which a member cooperative has an ownership interest or which engages with the cooperative in dealings in agricultural or aquatic products, farm supplies or the lease of property, provided such assistance substantially benefits the member cooperative. Enables cooperatives solely engaged in furnishing aquatic business services to borrow from the banks for cooperatives. Reduces the degree of ownership in a cooperative which must be held by farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or other cooperative associations in order to make such a cooperative eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives. Requires a bank for cooperatives to retire any equity held by a borrower in default or dissolution at fair market value not to exceed the par value of the equity interest of the borrower. Prohibits the retirement or cancellation of such an equity interest if the bank's capital structure would be adversely affected. Permits each bank for cooperatives to transfer more than 25 percent of its net annual savings to a surplus account. Authorizes the banks for cooperatives to pay patronage refunds to borrowers in the form of participation certificates. Title IV: Provisions Applicable to Two or More Classes of Institutions of the System - Declares that interest rates established by the Farm Credit Administration for loans made by Farm Credit System institutions shall preempt any interest rate limitation imposed by State law. States that when two or more Farm Credit System institutions participate in a loan as authorized by this Act, the terms of such loan shall be those agreed upon by the institutions. Requires that such factors as borrower eligibility, membership, term, amount, loan security and purchase of stock or participation certificates by the borrower are to be governed by the provisions of law applicable to the institution originating the loan. Exempts credit transactions of Farm Credit System institutions from the provisions of any State statute or any other law or regulation which impose, with regard to a credit transaction, any duty or requirement which had been imposed by the Truth in Lending Act before amendment. Authorizes the institutions of the Farm Credit System to organize corporations to perform non-lending functions and services which such institutions are authorized to perform. Empowers the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration to review and revise the charters of such corporations. States that such corporations shall be subject to supervision and examination by the Administration. Title V: District and Farm Credit Administration Organization - Revises the process for the election of farm credit district directors by reducing from three to two the number of nominees in the election poll. Establishes the rate of compensation for the Federal Farm Credit Board at the daily equivalent of the rate prescribed for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule. Authorizes the Board to fix the salary of the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration at any level not exceeding the maximum rate of basic pay in the Executive Schedule. Authorizes the Governor to appoint Deputy Governors to provide assistance in the functioning of the Farm Credit Administration. Exempts the Administration from provisions of Federal law relating to appointments in the competitive civil service, travel expenses, allowances, procurement, and property disposition. Credits employees of Farm Credit System institutions with specified leave and retirement benefits when they are transferred to Federal service in the Farm Credit Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Requires each Executive agency, within ten days after entering into a personal services contract with any person or unit of State or local government, to report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the number of agency employees which would be required to perform the contracted functions. Directs any agency which is prevented because of a personnel ceiling from performing a function which the agency determines would be performed by the agency more effectively than by contract, to submit to the OMB, within ten days of such determination, a request for an adjustment in such ceiling to enable the agency to perform the function. Requires the OMB to make such adjustment within 30 days after it is submitted unless the OMB finds that the agency did not follow applicable procedures when making its determinations. Directs the OMB to submit to Congress quarterly reports regarding each agency's personal services contracts and adjustments in personnel ceilings. Directs an agency to consider an employee's administration of personnel ceilings and compliance with procedures governing the contracting out of agency functions when: (1) evaluating the performance of a member of the Senior Executive Service; and (2) determining any pay increase for an employee under the merit pay system. Prohibits an agency from obligating more than 20 percent of its appropriations for a fiscal year during the last two months of that year.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Postmaster General and the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee should give favorable consideration to the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Americans of Italian descent and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Philip Mazzei on December 25, 1980, or as soon as possible thereafter. States that the Postmaster General and the Committee should honor other foreign-born contributors to the revolutionary cause, from countries which have not yet been commemorated, prior to the conclusion of the American Bicentennial celebration in 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Smaller Enterprise Regulatory Improvement Act - Amends the Small Business Act to require each Federal agency to publish semiannually an agenda of those rules which may be proposed during the upcoming six-month period affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and small organizations. Defines "small organizations" to include unincorporated businesses, sheltered workshops, nonprofit enterprises which are not dominant in their fields and such other groups and enterprises as each Federal agency shall establish by rule. Requires each published agenda to be transmitted to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comments. Directs each Federal agency to endeavor to provide notice of each agenda to affected small enterprises by means other than publication in the Federal Register. Directs each Federal agency to publish a written analysis prior to the issuance of any rule affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and organizations which considers: (1) the effect of such rule on small enterprises and competition; (2) whether an exemption could be provided such small enterprises; (3) whether lesser compliance standards could be adopted for small enterprises; and (4) the expected nature of reporting and recordkeeping requirements necessitated by such rule. Requires each Federal agency to issue a rule containing an exemption or differing compliance standards for such small business concerns and organizations if it is lawful, desirable, and feasible to do so. States that such small enterprises shall be given an opportunity to participate in agency rulemaking. Requires each agency to review its existing rules and prepare an analysis for purposes of eliminating those rules which are most burdensome to small businesses and organizations. Permits any agency to perform the analyses required by this Act in conjunction with any other analysis required by law. Declares that such other analysis shall not in itself satisfy the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should establish and actively pursue a national energy plan that emphasizes and demands the use of domestic coal as a means of displacing current foreign energy imports. Declares that the President should establish a task force to examine modifications in the implementation of the Clean Air Act that could increase coal use without violating national ambient air quality standards. Declares that the appropriate House committee should review current regulations of the Office of Surface Mining of the Department of the Interior to insure that such regulations conform with the original intent of Congress in passing the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1977. States that the President should submit to Congress within 60 days of enactment of a plan which will achieve the goals of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Public Printing Reorganization Act of 1979 - Reestablishes the Government Printing Office (GPO) as an independent establishment of the Government. Abolishes the Joint Committee on Printing. Creates within the GPO a ten member Board of Directors composed of seven voting and three nonvoting members. Grants such Board overall responsibility for office policies and operations. Provides for the appointment of the voting members by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Lists the duties of the Board which include: (1) appointing and monitoring the performances of the Public Printer and the Superintendent of Documents; (2) furnishing GPO supplies to Government entities; and (3) setting standards for materials used to produce public documents. Specifies the composition, administrative procedures, and compensation of the Board. Requires the Board to prescribe and submit to specified committees of Congress such regulations as necessary to carry out its duties. States that such regulations shall take effect within ten legislative days after submission unless either committee adopts a resolution disapproving them. Authorizes the Chairman of the Board to appoint and fix the pay of necessary staff personnel, including special police officers, without regard to existing provisions governing appointments in the competitive service or classification and pay rates under the General Schedule. Requires labor-management relations in the GPO to be: (1) in accordance with provisions governing such relations for executive branch employees; and (2) based on principles of Federal law regarding collective bargaining over wages, hours, and working conditions for private sector employees. Prohibits GPO employees from striking. Requires the Board to submit any budget requests concurrently to the President, or the Office of Management and Budget, and to Congress. States that the Public Printer shall be under the supervision of the Board and that he or she shall be responsible for the provision of public printing services for the GPO. Eliminates provisions regarding a Deputy Public Printer. Requires that all public printing services for Government be provided through the GPO, with specified exceptions. Requires materials which are printed as permanent public documents or at Government expense, to bear notice of such information. States that the superintendent of Documents shall be: (1) responsible for the maintenance, distribution, and international exchange of public documents; and (2) under the Board's supervision. Requires that public documents be distributed through the GOP unless the Superintendent deems another method of distribution to be in the Government's interest. Declares that the price of a public document shall not be less than the cost of production and distribution of such document. Authorizes each Member of Congress to designate two libraries within the Member's congressional district for the deposit of public documents. Permits the head of each Government agency to designate a depository library within the agency. Designates specified libraries as depository libraries, and authorizes the Board to designate not over 100 other depository libraries. Authorizes the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate to regulate public printing services and the distribution of public documents for Congress. Stipulates that such documents shall be distributed through the GPO whenever practicable. Directs the GPO to prepare: (1) the Congressional Record in both daily and permanent form; and (2) the Congressional Directory. Requires the Board to prescribe regulations regarding the sale of the Congressional Record. Directs the head of each Government entity to designate one employee as an information resources manager to: (1) coordinate public printing services and the distribution of documents for such entity; (2) certify the legality and necessity of a requested public printing service; (3) furnish the Superintendent of Documents with information concerning the publications of such entity; and (4) oversee compliance with this Act. Prohibits the Public Printer from providing public printing services without receiving a certification of the need and legality of such service from an information resources manager. Eliminates specified provisions governing the public printing of particular reports and documents. States that this Act shall take effect on January 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Priority Energy Project Act of 1979 - Title I: Purposes and Definitions - Sets forth the purposes and definitions of terms as used in this Act. Title II: Priority Projects - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to designate a maximum of six proposed energy facilities as priority energy projects during each calendar year. Allows any person planning or proposing an energy facility to apply to the Secretary for an order designating such facility as a priority energy project. Sets forth the procedure and criteria for designating priority energy projects. Excludes such determinations by the Secretary from the definition of major Federal action within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Directs the Secretary to encourage prospective applicants to file applications for any necessary Government actions or approvals with the appropriate agencies as soon as possible. Requires such Federal agencies to submit specified information to the Secretary not later than 30 days after public notice of an order designating a proposed energy facility as a priority energy project. Directs the Secretary to establish a decision deadline schedule. Provides for the extension of such deadlines. Delegates decision authority to the President if a deadline on the decision deadline schedule has elapsed without Federal agency decision or action. Provides for the Presidential extension of such deadlines. Directs the Secretary to grant certification of completed Federal agency review upon the determination that all Federal actions and approvals necessary to the completion of a priority energy project have been granted. Specifies that such certification shall indicate Federal approval expiration dates and shall constitute conclusive evidence in any judicial or executive proceeding that all necessary Federal permits have been granted. Directs the Secretary to notify the Governor of any State within which any portion of a priority energy project would be located and to request the Governor to submit specified information to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to submit all such information to the priority energy project and propose a decision schedule to assist State and local authorities in coordinating their activities with actions by the Federal Government. Title III: Judicial Review and Miscellaneous Provisions - Exempts from judicial review the actions of Federal officers or agencies pursuant to this Act, except as specified in this title. Exempts from judicial review a decision of the Secretary granting or denying an order designating a proposed energy facility as a priority energy project except as required by the Constitution of the United States. Sets forth judicial procedures for claims arising out of actions pursuant to this Act. Grants to the Supreme Court the exclusive authority to review an interlocutory judgment or order of the court of appeals pursuant to this title. Sets forth certiorari and certification procedures. Makes this Act effective 30 days after the date of its enactment. Provides for the expiration of the Secretary's authority to designate priority energy projects seven years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Defense Production Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to authorize the President to allow the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority to guarantee loans for the purpose of expediting deliveries or services with respect to national defense contracts. Increases the maximum loan which any Federal agency may guarantee under such Act without the approval of Congress from $20,000,000 to $38,000,000. Requires notification to specified Congressional committees of any proposed obligation above such limit. Authorizes the agency involved to guarantee such a loan if neither House of Congress disapproves of such action within a specified time. Authorizes the President to provide loans to private business enterprises for the production of energy. Increases the ceiling for loans made to private enterprises pursuant to such Act from $25,000,000 to 48,000,000. Extends the President's power under such Act to purchase raw materials for the national defense through fiscal year 1995. Directs the President to attempt to achieve a national production goal of at least 500,000 barrels per day crude oil equivalent of synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks within five years. Authorizes and directs the President to require fuel and chemical feedstock suppliers to provide synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks in any case where the President deems it practicable and necessary to meet national defense needs. Authorizes the President, in carrying out these objectives, to: (1) contract for purchases or commitments to purchase synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks which may be for Government use or resale; and (2) encourage the development and production of such synthetic fuels and feedstocks for national defense preparedness. Terminates the President's authority to enter into such contracts at the end of fiscal year 1995. Sets forth procedures for the awarding and performance of such contracts. Authorizes the President to organize corporations to meet the production goal for synthetic fuels and feedstocks as set forth in this Act. Sets forth Congressional oversight measures with respect to the formation of such corporations. Authorizes appropriations of $2,000,000,000 for synthetic fuel and feedstock contracts as authorized pursuant to this Act. Extends specified provisions of such Act through fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of Education to enter into agreements with credit bureau organizations providing for the exchange of information concerning defaulting student borrowers. States that such agreements: (1) shall provide for disclosure by the Commissioner to such credit organizations; and (2) may provide for the disclosure, by such credit organizations to the Commissioner, of information concerning the defaulting borrower's address and other relevant information. Directs the Commissioner, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to establish a system for the prompt notification to a defaulting borrower of any disclosure made under this Act. Includes notice of such system of disclosure to credit organizations among the terms of the written agreement evidencing: (1) a federally-guaranteed student loan made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (2) subsidy payments for such loans to State and nonprofit private institutions made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (3) Federal contributions to an institution for direct student loans; and (4) a direct student loan to an eligible student from his or her institution made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1979
National Energy Self-Sufficiency Act of 1979 - Title I: Duty on Imported Crude Oil - Imposes on imported crude oil an additional duty equal to the amount by which the average synthetic fossil fuel price is greater than the imported crude oil price. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to establish methods for the determination of such prices. Provides for the monthly redetermination of such prices. Title II: Synthetic Fossil Fuel Fund - Establishes the Synthetic Fossil Fuel Fund in the U.S. Treasury. Stipulates that such Fund shall consist of the equivalent of amounts received from the duty imposed under title I, in addition to such other amounts as may be appropriated. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress concerning such Fund. Requires the Secretary to invest the portion of such Fund, not required to meet current withdrawals, in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. Declares that such Fund shall be available for making loans for synthetic fossil fuel production. Establishes the Synthetic Fossil Fuel Board to make loans for the construction of synthetic fuel production facilities. Sets forth the criteria to be used by the Board in making such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Diabetes Research and Training Amendments and National Diabetes Advisory Board Extension Act of 1979 - Amends title IV of the Public Health Service Act (National Research Institutes) to redesignate the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases and the Advisory Council to such Institute as the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, Diabetes, and Digestive Diseases and the National Arthritis, Metabolism, Diabetes, and Digestive Diseases Advisory Council. Establishes within the Advisory Council separate subcommittees on diabetes, arthritis, digestive diseases, and kidney diseases. Directs these subcommittees to: (1) review applications made to the Director of the Institute for research projects relating to such diseases and make recommendations to the Advisory Council; and (2) review and evaluate programs directed at such diseases. Establishes within the Institute the position of Associate Director for Diabetes. Sets forth the duties of the Associate Director, including: (1) having primary responsibility for all diabetes-mellitus-related activities supported or conducted by the National Institutes of Health; (2) providing information to public and private agencies with respect to such activities; and (3) reporting and making recommendations to the Director of the National Institutes of Health with respect to other enumerated functions. Extends the authorization of appropriations for diabetes research and training centers in the following amounts: $14,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, $17,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, and $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1983 through 1985. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide from such amounts up to ten training stipends through each center in any fiscal year. Eliminates as an ex officio member of the National Diabetes Advisory Board the Secretary of Defense or his designee; adds as such a member the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or his designee. Revises the terms of appointed members of the Board. Directs the Board to amend the Diabetes Plan (formulated by the National Commission on Diabetes under the National Diabetes Mellitus Research and Education Act) as is necessary to insure its continuing relevance. Extends the current level of authorizations for the purposes of the Board ($300,000 per fiscal year) through fiscal year 1985. Extends the expiration date of the Board from September 30, 1980, to September 30, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Permits prayer in public places or institutions. Permits religious instruction in public places or institutions, including schools, if provided under private auspices. Prohibits any infringement of the right to pray or to receive religious instruction.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1979
Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish a standing Committee on Energy to investigate and report on: (1) coal production, distribution, and utilization; (2) energy policy; (3) energy regulation and conservation; (4) energy related aspects of deepwater ports; (5) energy development; (6) hydroelectric power; (7) uranium mining and production; (8) conservation, development, and use of naval petroleum and oil shale reserves; (9) oil and gas production and distribution; and (10) solar energy systems. Declares that the committee shall have the special oversight function of reviewing and studying on a continuing basis, all laws, programs and government activities relating to nuclear energy and nonmilitary nuclear energy and research and development, including the disposal of nuclear waste.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President, at the Tokyo Summit, should request those nations dependent on Middle East stability to cooperate with the United States in financing the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1979
Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Act to designate the Commodity Credit Corporation as the seller or marketing agent for all export sales of wheat, feed grains, rice, and soybeans. Allows an exporter to enter into a sale for export of any such commodity only if it is purchased from the Corporation and such sale is approved by the Corporation. Prohibits any contract for sale of a commodity at less than its established price. Establishes a civil penalty for violations of this Act. Authorizes the Board of Directors of the Corporation, acting as the National Grain Board, to negotiate such export sales, to barter such commodities for other goods, to accept purchase bids from foreign purchasers, and to offer selling bids in the world market. Permits the Corporation to acquire commodities on the domestic market to meet the objectives of this Act, and to establish reserves to meet future export sales. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States a revolving Export Sales Fund to receive revenues made by the Corporation in such sales in excess of costs. Allocates the moneys in such Fund for the making of deficiency payments under the Agricultural Act of 1949 with respect to the agricultural commodities concerned. Allocates ten percent of such Fund to establish and maintain a reserve to provide international famine relief assistance. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, at the beginning of each crop year, to increase the established price of an agricultural commodity, according to a specified formula, if any moneys in the Export Sales Fund are derived from such commodity. Directs the Secretary to establish a permanent advisory committee to advise the Secretary, the Corporation, and the National Grain Board. Requires the Corporation to make statistics and other information concerning export sales available to the public on a quarterly basis.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1979
Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to divide any lands subject to such Act classified for coal leasing into leasing tracts which will permit the mining of all coal which can be economically extracted from such tracts. Permits the Secretary to negotiate the sale at fair market value of Federal coal.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that disability insurance benefits for an individual having a terminal illness shall begin with the first month during all of which such individual has such illness. Defines the term "terminal illness" to mean, a medically determinable physical impairment which is expected to result in death within the next 12 months.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1979
Directs the Postmaster General to issue four commemorative postage stamps to honor leaders of the American labor movement. Stipulates that one such stamp shall honor Walter Philip Reuther and each of the three remaining stamps shall honor another labor leader as designated by the Postmaster General.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the people of the several States and the District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall elect the President and Vice President. Requires each elector to cast a single vote for two persons who shall have consented to the joining of their names as candidates for the offices of President and Vice President. Requires the electors of President and Vice President in each State to have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature, except that for electors of President and Vice President, the legislature of any State may prescribe less restrictive residence qualifications and for electors of President and Vice President the Congress may establish uniform residence qualifications. Provides that the pair of persons having the greatest number of votes for President and Vice President shall be elected, if such number be at least 40 percent of the whole number of votes cast. Provides that if no pair of persons has such number, a runoff election shall be held in which the choice of President and Vice President shall be made from the two pairs of persons who received the highest number of votes. Requires the days for such elections to be determined by Congress and to be uniform throughout the United States. Requires Congress to prescribe by law the time, place, and manner in which the results for such elections shall be ascertained and declared. Allows Congress to provide for the case of the death, inability, or withdrawal of any candidate for President or Vice President before a President and Vice President have been elected, and for the case of the death of both the President-elect and Vice President-elect.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1979
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the employment of blind persons, or persons with impaired sight, at less than the applicable minimum wage under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1979
Intelligence Officer Identity Act of 1979 - Establishes maximum criminal penalties of ten years imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine for: (1) past or present employees of the United States or members of the uniformed services; and (2) anyone having lawful access to information identifying individuals as associated with a United States agency engaged in foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities, who discloses classified information concerning any such association to anyone not authorized to receive it. Establishes additional penalties for any disclosure or false assertion which prejudices the safety of the individual indentified or damages the foreign affairs functions of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from a decedent's gross estate for purposes of the estate tax the value of real property used in farming. Excludes up to the first $250,000 of the value of the farm property and certain percentages of the value in excess of $250,000. Requires a percentage reduction of the amount of the exclusion for farm property in excess of $450,000.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Prohibits the Federal Trade Commission from applying for the cancellation of a registered trademark under the Lanham Act solely on the ground that such trademark has become the common descriptive name of an article or substance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Amends the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 to extend the effective period of ceiling prices established by the President and applicable to any first sale of crude oil produced in the United States. Extends the President's authority under such Act to December 31, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to tax income of married individuals filing tax returns separate from their spouses at the same rates applicable to unmarried individuals.
![Official portrait of Rep. Mollohan, Robert H. [D-WV-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000845_200.jpg)