United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1976
Authorizes the President to issue a proclamation designating the week beginning April 4, 1976, as "National Rural Health Week." Urges improved health services and intensified dissemination of health information for rural America.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1976
Imposes, in addition to existing punishment, a penalty of imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both, on anyone who transports, receives, or sells any stolen firearm or stolen ammunition, which constitutes a part of interstate or foreign commerce while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the firearm or ammunition was stolen. (Amends 18 U.S.C. 924)
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1976
Requires that whoever uses or carries a firearm during the commission of a felony threatening life or property, for which such individual may be prosecuted in a Federal court, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 15 years. Requires in the case of a subsequent such conviction that the felon be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 30 years. (Amends 18 U.S.C. 924)
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1976
Imposes increased penalties on an individual who steals, knowingly converts to use, or knowingly receives a converted firearm of the United States or any of its departments and agencies. (Amends 18 U.S.C. 641)
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1976
Designates the week beginning April 4, 1976, as "National Drafting Week." Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1976
Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Postal Service should not close or otherwise suspend the operation of any post office during the six-month period beginning on the date of adoption of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1976
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to select an appropriate site for the erection of a statute of Bernardo de Galvez, a gift of the Government of Spain in recognition of the Bicentennial celebrations of the United States of America. Specifies that the statue shall be erected on grounds now owned by the United States of America in the District of Columbia. Requires approval of the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission for the site selection and design of the statue. Provides that the erection of the statue and proper landscape treatment shall be without expense to the United States of America, except for necessary maintenance after completion.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1976
Voter Registration and Election Administration Assistance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make grants to the States to carry out programs to encourage voter registration, education, and participation. Provides that each State may, in its discretion, allocate all or part of any grant made under this Act to political subdivisions of such State. Provides that each grant made under this Act shall be used for programs related to voter registration and election administration, including but not limited to: (1) programs to increase opportunities for voter registration, such as mail registration, expanded registration hours and locations, mobile registration facilities, election day registration, re-registration programs, door-to-door canvassing procedures, and other methods which the State may deem appropriate; (2) programs to improve election administration procedures such as the purchase of additional voter machinery, organization and planning of election administration procedures, improvements in ballot preparation and absentee ballot procedures, coordination of election activities, and other methods designed to facilitate the smooth functioning of the election administration process; (3) planning, evaluating, and designing the use of electronic data processing or other appropriate procedures to streamline and modernize voter registration and election administration, with special emphasis on techniques which would allow voter registration closer to election day; (4) programs for the prevention and control of fraud; (5) education and training programs for State and local election officials; and (6) establishing nonpartisan programs for the purpose of voter and citizen education. Requires the Comptroller General to audit and review annually the programs of at least five States receiving grants under this Act. Provides that the Comptroller General shall disseminate to all the Chief Elections Officers of the States a summary of the types of programs he found to be most effective and those he found to be least effective. Authorizes to be appropriated the sum of $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1976 to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1976
National Agricultural Research Policy Act - Declares that the purposes of this Act are to emphasize agricultural research as a distinct mission of the Department of Agriculture, to be certain such research is effectively coordinated, and to provide a mechanism for identifying the Nation's highest priority problems for agricultural research. Provides for an additional Assistant Secretary of Agriculture to be responsible for the agricultural research activities of the Department of Agriculture and to serve as co-chairman of the National Agricultural Research Policy Committee. Directs the Secretary to appoint a scientist to serve and report to such new Assistant Secretary and to act as Executive Secretary of such Committee. Establishes, within the Department of Agriculture, the National Agricultural Research Policy Committee. Specifies the membership of such Committee. States that the Committee's responsibilities shall include: (1) reviewing programs, policies and goals of agricultural research agencies; (2) providing a forum for research sponsoring agencies to exchange information on agricultural plans and programs; and (3) making recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding applications for funding of mission-oriented basic agricultural research. Requires such Committee to annually submit a report of its activities to specified committees of the Congress. Defines "mission-oriented basic agricultural research" as research on fundamental science topics with regard to which there is a basic need in existence for new knowledge that would be genrated by such research, has a strong potential for benefitting mankind and deals with more than an unproven concept. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to land grant colleges and universities eligible for assistance under the First and Second Morrill Acts and to State agricultural experiment stations eligible for assistance under the Hatch Act to carry out mission-oriented basic research. Allows the Secretary to make grants on a competitive basis to Federal agencies, research institutions, organizations and individuals for agricultural research, without regard to matching State funds. Authorizes appropriations of $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1978 and $250,000,000 for fiscal year 1979. Declares it to be the sense of Congress that Federal funding for existing agricultural research programs be increased by $250,000,000 annually.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 1975
Extends from February 1, 1976, to October 1, 1977, the period during which payment may be made for child day care services under titles IV (Aid to Dependent Children) and XX (Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act without regard to new staffing standards imposed by or under title XX.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1975
Authorizes suits against the United States Government by private parties where the basis of such a suit is misrepresentation, deceit, or the exercise or performance of failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of the Consumer Product Safety Commission or of any employee of such Commission, if such exercise, performance or failure is determined, as a matter of law, to be unreasonable with respect to the discretionary function or duty involved. (Amends 28 U.S.C. 2680 (a))
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1975
Directs the Attorney General of the United States to investigate the city of New York to determine whether any violation of any law of the United States has helped in bringing about the City's possible default. Requires the Attorney General to submit an interim and final report outlining his findings and his actions as a result of such investigations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1975
Jobs Creation Act - Allows an exclusion from gross income of qualified additional savings and investment made during a tax year. Provides for an exclusion of up to $1,000 or $2,000 for a married couple filing a joint return. Excludes dividends paid by domestic corporations from corprate gross income. Grants a $1,000 exclusion from capital gains for each capital transaction qualifying. Allows an extension of time for payment of estate taxes where the estate consists largely of small business interests. Increases the estate tax exemption for family farming operations to $200,000. Increases the corporate surtax exemption, including provisions for reduced taxes for small business, to give an effective corporate income tax reduction in the range of 6 percent. Increases the investment tax credit to 15 percent and makes it permanent. Allows taxable year price-level adjustments in property and allows increases in class life variances for purposes of depreciation, the latter increasing the asset depreciation range (ADR) from a factor of 20 to a factor of 40 with respect to asset life. Provides for a complete amortization in one year of required but nonproduction pollution control facilities and equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1975
Increases to $4,560 the amount of outside earnings which (subject to further increases under the automatic adjustment provisions) is permitted an individual each year without any deductions from benefits under title II (Old-Age, Surviviors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1975
Condemns the resolution adopted by the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly which equates Zionism with racism, and urges the U.N. General Assembly to disapprove such resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1975
National Food Stamp Reform Act - Defines "household" under the Food Stamp Act as meaning a group of individuals who are sharing common living quarters, but who are not residents of an institution or boarding house, and who have access to cooking facilities and for whom food is customarily purchased in common. Provides that the Secretary of Agriculture may not approve any plan which permits any household to simultaneously participate in both the food stamp program and the distribution of federally donated foods. Requires the Secretary to establish uniform national standards of eligibility for participation by households in the food stamp program. States that the income standards of eligibility shall be the income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget adjusted pursuant to the Economic Opportunity Act. Directs the Secretary to prescribe additional standards of eligibility which shall include, but not be limited to, the amounts of liquid and nonliquid assets. Provides that household income for purposes of the food stamp program shall be the gross income of the household less: (1) a standard deduction of $100 a month applicable to all households; (2) an additional deduction of $25 a month for any household in which there at least one member who is age sixty-five or older. Limits eligibility to participate in the food stamp program to citizens and aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residency. States that no individual shall be considered eligible for the food stamp program as a member of a household if he is: (1) over 18; (2) is enrolled at an institution of higher education; and (3) is a dependent child for income tax purposes of a taxpayer who is not a member of an eligible household. Prohibits households which transfer liquid or nonliquid assets for the purpose of qualifying for the food stamp program from becoming eligible for at least a ninety-day period. Requires the Secretary to issue photo identification cards to households certified eligible to participate in the program. States that households shall be charged thirty percent of their income for the coupon allotment issued to them. Provides that if a State agency does not comply with the provisions of the Food Stamp Act, the Secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General with a request for an injunction, or he may direct that there be no further inssuance of coupons in the political subdivisions where such failure has occurred until such time as satisfactory corrective action has been taken. Directs the Secretary to pay to each State agency out of funds appropriated by Congress an amount equal to 75 percent of all direct costs of State food stamp program investigations, prosecutions, and State activities related to recovering losses sustained in the food stamp program. Provides for a civil money penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the Food Stamp Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1975
Provides that any individual who is eighteen years of age or older and who is receiving half of his income from any member of another household which, because of its income and other financial resources, is not eligible to receive food stamps shall not be considered as a member of household for purposes of the Food Stamp Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1975
Requires Executive agencies to submit proposes ruless and an explanation thereof to Congress. Provides that such proposes rules shall become effective within 60 days after submission unless either House of Congress disapproves of such rules by resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1975
States that the liability of a broker who sells any agricultural commodity on behalf of his principal when that commodity serves as security for any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under a program administered by the Farmers Home Administration shall be limited to the extent of any commission received by the broker as a result of the sale.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1975
Authorizes the President to issue a proclamation designating the week in November which includes Thanksgiving Day in each year as "National Family Week."
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1975
Requires that the support price of milk be adjusted by the Secretary of Agriculture at the beginning of each quarter to reflect estimated changes during the immediately preceding quarter in the index of prices paid by farmers of production items, interest, taxes and wage rates.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1975
Provides that, in the determination of the annual income of recipients of veterans' pensions and dependency and indemnity compensation, the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall not reduce the amount of such pension or compensation because of increases in monthly social security benefits. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 415)
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1975
Postpones for six months the application of Federal standards governing the provision of child day care services under the new social services program of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1975
National Food Stamp Reform Act - Defines the term "income" as used in the Food Stamp Act as the monthly gross income of all members of a household, including any in-kind payment, and the total value of any publicly funded assistance payments which supplement food and housing needs. Excludes specified individuals from the definition of "household. Provides for the distribution of federally donated foods to households upon the request by a political subdivision that such distribution be made to all eligible households in lieu of food stamps. Excludes households from eligibility for food stamps: (1) if the monthly household income exceeds the poverty index level of income established by the Office of Management and Budget; or (2) if the market value of liquid and nonliquid resources of a household consisting of one individual exceeds $1,500 or the resources of a multiple member household exceed $2,250 exclusive of specified resources. Excludes from eligibility households which include an able-bodied adult between the ages of 18 and 65 who is enrolled in an institution of postsecondary education and such enrollment is a substitute for fulltime employment. Declares that a refusal to work at a plant or site because of a strike or other labor dispute shall be deemed a refusal to work which makes the household of the nonworking individual ineligible for food stamps. Rejects as an excuse for refusal to accept work a condition of employment which requires an individual to join, resign from, or refrain from joining any labor organization. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to require each household receiving benefits under this Act to report its income at least once each month. Requires food coupons to be designed with a space for the recipient to sign upon receipt and again at redemption. Requires one member of each eligible household to be issued a photo-identification card with a color photograph of the recipient. States that such card must be presented at redemption at a food store. Sets forth specific instructions to provide control and accountability over the distribution of food coupons to State agencies. Ties the value of the coupon allotment to the overall retail cost-of-living index. States that the "nutritionally adequate diet" as used to determine the amount of the coupon allotment shall mean the low-cost food plan developed by the Agricultural Research Service of the Department of Agriculture. Establishes as the charge a household shall pay for its coupon allotment the lesser of: (1) the percentage of its income which would be expended for food by an average household of its size and income range in the same region of the country; or (2) 30 percent. Provides, under the requirements for State plans for the administration of the food stamp program, for closer State supervision of eligibility by households. Requires the State agencies administering the program to conduct nutrition education programs for recipients. States that the United States Postal Service shall serve as a food stamp issuing agency upon the request of a State food stamp administration agency. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to pay the States 100 percent of the costs of providing food stamps to eligible aliens, and 75 percent of the costs of State investigations, prosecutions, collections of claims and other State activities related to retrieving food stamp losses. Provides for payment by the Federal Government to the States of a share of the difference between the face value of the coupon allotment and the amount charged eligible households for the allotment. Sets forth the method of determining and paying the Federal share. Directs the transfer of all functions of the Secretary of Agriculture under the Food Stamp Act to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
United States · United States Congress · 3 September 1975
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Government while engaged in a lessening of tensions with the People's Republic of China, do nothing to compromise continued close relations with the Republic of China.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1975
Federal Records Management Act - Defines terms used in this Act and declares that the purpose of this Act is to require the establishment of standards and procedures to assure efficient and effective records management in the Federal Government. States that such standards and procedures shall seek to effectuate specified goals, including: (1) accurate and complete documentation of the policies and transactions of the Federal Government; (2) control of the quantity and quality of records produced by the Federal Government; and (3) simplification of the processes through which records are created, stored, retrieved, and used. Directs that the Administrator of General Services shall provide guidance and assistance to Federal agencies with respect to records creation, records maintenance and use, and records disposition. Requires the Administrator to conduct inspections or paperwork studies of the records, records practices, and records management programs of every Federal agency. Authorizes and directs the Administrator to charge any Federal agency for the cost of any paperwork study. Directs the Administrator to transmit yearly reports to Congress. Enumerates the types of information that such report shall contain. Establishes the Records Review Board as an independent organization in the executive branch, such Board to consist of five members. Sets the rates of pay for Board members. Allows the Board to appoint and fix the pay of such personnel as it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this Act. Empowers any executive agency to appeal to the Board any order issued by the Administrator pursuant to this Act. Requires the head of each Federal agency to make and preserve records containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions of such Agency. Grants the Administrator immediate custody and control of the National Archives Building and its contents. Directs the Administrator to establish standards for the selective retention of records of continuing value. Authorizes the Administrator to establish and operate records centers for specified purposes and centralized microfilming services for Federal agencies. States that the head of each Federal agency shall establish safeguards against the removal or loss of records he determines to be necessary and required by the rules of the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to prescribe such rules as he considers essential to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1975
Revises the formula used by the Department of Agriculture in the computation of the level of price support for tobacco under the Agricultural Act of 1949 by using 3 marketing years in the computation (now 3 calendar years).
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1975
Declares the solidarity of the United States Congress in support of the democratic aspirations of the Portuguese people. Denounces the conspirational maneuvers of the Communists. Calls for congressional hearings on the Portuguese crisis. Urges NATO to warn Moscow against supporting communist subversion in Portugal. Calls upon Moscow to terminate such actions. Requests that the Department of State ask the Helsinki Conference to adopt a resolution proclaiming the right of the Portuguese people to determine their form of government through free election, and to appoint a committee to supervise such an election.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1975
Disapproves the loan of three landing craft (LCM-8's) to Panama, as proposed by the letter from the Department of the Navy of May 5, 1975, to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1975
Removes the numerical limitation on Allen J. Ellender Fellowships to disadvantaged secondary school students. Authorizes $750,000 each for fiscal years 1977 and 1978 and $1,000,000 each for fiscal years 1979 and 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1975
Revises the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require congressional approval of any suspension of the provision prohibiting the furnishing of assistance to any country in arrears more than one hundred and eighty days on any payment to the United States of any principal or interest due under any loan or credit furnished to such country by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1975
Eliminates any requirement that an institution have in effect a utilization review plan in order to qualify for participation in the medicare, medicaid, or maternal and child health and crippled children's services programs as administered under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1975
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, that real property which is farmland, woodland, or open land and forms part of an estate may be valued, for estate tax purposes, at its value as farmland, woodland, or open land (rather than at its fair market value). Provides for the revocation of such lower evaluation and recapture of unpaid taxes with interest upon the conversion rezoning of such land.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1975
Truth in Spending Act - Requires that any bill or resolution of a public character introduced in the House of Representatives or the Senate, and the report on any such bill or resolution reported by any committee of either House, shall contain an estimate of the average cost for each taxpaying family, if such bill were enacted into law. Provides that no bill or resolution shall be considered until such determination is made. Calls upon the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to print statistics of the average cost for each taxpaying family of bills and resolutions for the week and for the year in the Congressional Record.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to budget and provide for the authorization of appropriations, and the use of those appropriated funds by the Secretary of the Air Force to assist the Civil Air Patrol in providing services in connection with the noncombatant mission of the Air Force.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Provides under the Housing and Community Development Act that not less than 5 percent of the 80 percent allocated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Programs shall be allocated as of fiscal year 1976 to units of general local government.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Eliminates any requirement that an institution have in effect a utilization review plan in order to qualify for participation in the medicare, medicaid, or maternal and child health and crippled children's services programs as administered under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Defines the term "navigable waters", for purposes of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as it applies to Corps of Engineers responsibility and authority to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Jobs Creation Act - Title I: Individual Income Taxes - Allows a tax credit in the amount of 10 percent (up to $1,000) of the amount of qualified savings deposits and investments made by an individual during the taxable year. Defines qualified investments as amounts used to purchase stock in or debt instruments of a domestic corporation. Provides that the first $1,000 of capital gain shall be excluded from gross income during the taxable year. Provides for purposes of the estate tax, that the lessor of: (1) $200,000; and (2) the value of the decedent's interest in a family farming operation continually owned by him for five years prior to his death and which passes to a related individual shall be excluded from the value of the taxable estate. Title II: Corporation Taxes - Reduces the normal tax rates imposed on corporations. Increases the investment credit to 15 percent (12 percent in the case of property constructed or acquired before an unspecified date in March, 1975). Increases the corporate surtax exemption from $25,000 to $100,000. Increases the class life variance for purposes of the depreciation deduction allowed for property used in a trade or business or held for the production of income. Title III: Employee Stock Ownership Plan Financing - Creates special deductions for dividends paid during the taxable year by employers on securities held by an employee stock ownership plan (as defined by this title). Provides for the distribution of dividends to employees and repurchase of qualifying employer securities from persons receiving distributions. Provides for the exclusion from gross income of that part of a distribution held or reinvested within 60 days in income-producing assets of equivalent value for the purpose of realizing current income from such assets.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Revises clause 6 of rule XXVIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that managers appointed by the House to each conference committee shall transact all business in meetings open to the public except where the House, by majority vote and in open session, shall vote to close such meeting or meetings. Directs that it shall be in order to debate such motion to close for ten minutes before the vote is taken on that motion, one-half of such time to be given to debate by the mover of the motion and one-half to debate in opposition to the motion.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish and administer a National Law Enforcement Heroes Memorial within the District of Columbia. Authorizes to be appropriated $1,000,000 for the development of such memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1975
Animal Health Research Act - Sets forth the purpose of this act and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate with the several States for the purpose of encouraging and assisting them in carrying out programs of animal health research at eligible institutions. Authorizes the Congress to appropriate such funds, not to exceed $20,000,000 annually, as it may determine necessary to support such research programs. Specifies the formula by which funds appropriated under this Act shall be apportioned. Authorizes to be appropriated such funds, not to exceed $15,000,000 annually, as may be necessary to support research on specific national or regional animal health problems. Provides that in developing plans for the use of such funds the Secretary shall consult the Advisory Board created by this Act. Authorizes to appropriated such sums, not to exceed $12,000,000 annually, as may be necessary to support costs of providing veterinary medical science research facilities. Provides that such funds shall be apportioned in accordance with the formula set forth in this Act. States that each dean or director of an eligible institution shall submit a brief annual report of research accomplishments on a project-by-project basis. Directs the Secretary to appoint a Veterinary Medical Science Research Advisory Board which shall consist of twelve members. Authorizes the SEcretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1975
Prohibits the importation of fresh strawberries into the United States during the period beginning on February 15 and ending at the close of April 1 during any calendar year after 1975. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture after calendar year 1975 to establish a 60-day period during which fresh strawberries may not be imported into the United States. Specifies that such 60-day period shall coincide with the maturity of the domestic strawberry crop.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1975
Declares it to be the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Government of the United States should maintain and protect its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the canal and zone, and should in no way cede, dilute, forfeit, negotiate, or transfer any of these sovereign rights, power, authority, jurisdiction, territory, or property that are indispensably necessary for the protection and security of the United States and the entire Western Hemisphere; (2) that there be no relinquishment or surrender of any presently vested United States sovereign right, power, or authority or property, tangible or intangible, except by treaty authorized by the Congress and duly ratified by the United States; and (3) that there be no recession to Panama, or other divestiture of any United States-owned property, tangible or intangible, without prior authorization by the Congress (House and Senate), as provided in article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the United States Constitution.