United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1975
Animal Welfare Act Amendments - Provides, under the Federal Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, that no animals shall be delivered to any intermediate handler or common carrier for transportation in commerce unless the animals are accompanied by a veterinarian's certificate certifying that the animals are sound and healthy. States that specified animals shall not be delivered for transportation if they are less than eight weeks of age. Provides that no intermediate handler or common carrier shall participate in any practice under which the cost of such animal or its transportation is to be paid and collected upon delivery of the animal to the consignee. Imposes civil penalties for violations of this Act. Makes it unlawful to transport in interstate or foreign commerce any live dog or animal trained to participate in dog or animal fighting ventures.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1975
Disapproves the proposed amendment by the President to remove existing price controls relating to crude oil as submitted by the Federal Energy Administrator to the Speaker of the House on July 16, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1975
Industrial Energy Conservation Act - States that the energy needs of United States industry are increasing consistently, although energy resources are limited, and that the conservation of energy is therefore necessary. Declares that rapid development and cost-effectiveness demonstrations, and widespread application by industry, of energy-efficient technologies can be facilitated by Federal financial assistance in the form of research, development, and demonstration projects and through incentives to companies that invest in such technologies. States that it is the purpose of this Act to stimulate the development of energy-efficient technologies in American industry. Defines terms used in this Act. Directs the Administrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration to establish and maintain a program for research, development and demonstration of energy conserving industrial technologies, including: (1) basic and applied research under the control of the Administrator; (2) the development by the Administrator or private persons of prototypes or demonstration models of energy conserving technologies; and (3) the making of grants to private organizations to facilitate the incorporation of such technologies into commercial operating industrial plants, such projects to be used as demonstrations for other industrial facilities. Sets forth priorities to be observed by the Administrator in determining the recipients of grants under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to make loans and loan guarantees for the purchase, construction, operation or maintenance of energy-efficient equipment or facilities. Enumerates priorities to be observed in making or guaranteeing such loans, including: (1) the extent to which a loan recipient is located within a depressed industrial area, and will contribute to the economic recovery of such area; (2) the extent to which such loan or guarantee will foster the widespread adoption of energy conservant technology; (3) the extent to which modernization, rather than replacement, of existing equipment will contribute to the purposes of this Act; and (4) the extent to which small businesses will be able to participate in the benefits resulting from this Act. Sets forth regulations governing the administration of loans and guarantees made pursuant to this Act. Requires that at least 60 percent of the funds available for loans and guarantees be allocated to recipients in depressed industrial areas. Sets forth additional regulations pertaining only to loan guarantees made pursuant to this Act. Limits the outstanding indebtedness guaranteed under this Act to $500,000,000 at any one time. States that no guarantee shall be made under this Act after September 30, 1977. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1975
Franchising Practices Reform Act - Requires a franchisor to notify a franchisee at least ninety days in advance of the franchisor's intention to terminate the franchise, and the franchisor's reasons for terminating. Prohibits a franchisor from cancelling a franchise unless the franchisor has acted in bad faith, or has violated a material requirement of the franchise, or the franchisor is effecting a market area withdrawal. Prohibits a franchisor from failing to renew a franchise except for the reasons stated above, or the franchisor has a legitmate business reason for failing to renew. Makes any franchisor that has violated the requirements of this Act civilly liable to the aggrieved franchisee.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1975
Provides that a unit of general local government having a population of fifty thousand or more (the present eligibility requirement is one hundred thousand) shall be eligible to be a prime sponsor under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1975
United States Grain Standards Act Amendments - Requires, under the United States Grain Standards Act, that inspections made under such Act be made by Federal employees. Increases the criminal penalties for violations of such Act from a fine of $3,000 and six months imprisonment to $5,000 and one year for a misdemeanor and from $6,000 and two years imprisonment to $10,000 and four years for a felony.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1975
Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in determining the extent to which the value of an individual's home is excludable for purposes of establishing his or her eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, to take into account regional variations in the market prices of homes and to make periodic adjustments reflecting changes in land and home values.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1975
Provides for the establishment on the basis of decennial censuses, of congressional districts composed of contiguous and compact territory for the election of Representatives to the Congress. Grants exclusive jurisdiction to the United States district courts to hear and determine controversies under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1975
Federal Court Attorneys' Fees Act - Provides that if in a civil action a Federal court determines the interests of justice so require, such court shall award reasonable attorneys' fees to the prevailing party. Makes the United States liable for payment of any such fees under this Act the same as a private party. (Adds 28 U.S.C. 1930)
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1975
Authorizes the awarding of attorneys' fees to prevailing plaintiffs in actions brought under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. States that the United States shall be liable for such fees the same as a private party.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1975
Revises the Mineral Leasing Act to provide that in any case arising under the provisions of such Act in any court of the United States, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff. States that the United States shall be liable for such fees the same as a private party.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1975
Adds rule XLV to the Rules of the House of Representatives. Provides that the Congressional Record shall contain an accurate and verbatim account of remarks delivered on the floor of the House together with supportive data. Directs that revisions of the Record shall be limited to the correction of grammatical and typographical errors. Allows insertions in the Record of remarks not actually delivered on the floor by unanimous consent. Requires that such insertions be printed in a type face distinctively different from that used for verbatim remarks.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1975
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of the Interior should not grant new offshore oil leases affecting the United States coastal zones until Congress has completed action on legislation amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and each State affected by such leases has developed a management program for the land and water resources of its coastal zone.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1975
Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to make grants to local educational agencies or to the States to assist in the cost of providing education and occupational training and retraining to Cambodian and Vietnamese children and adults who are refugees as defined in the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975. Authorizes specified appropriations for fiscal years 1976, 1977 and 1978 for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1975
Consumer Protection Act - Establishes as an independent agency within the executive branch the Agency for Consumer Protection. States that the Agency shall be headed by an Administrator appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires the Administrator to transmit to the Congress and the President in January of each year a comprehensive statement of the activities and accomplishments of the Agency during the preceding calendar year, including a summary of consumer complaints received and actions taken thereon and such recommendations for legislation necessary or desirable to protect the interests of consumers within the United States. Directs the Agency, in the performance of its functions, to advise the Congress and the President as to matters affecting the interests of consumers; and to protect and promote the interests of the people of the United States as consumers of goods and services made available to them through the trade and commerce of the United States. States the functions of the Agency, including to: (1) represent the interests of consumers before Federal agencies and courts to the extent authorized by this Act; (2) encourage and support research, studies, and testing leading to a better understanding of consumer products and improved products, services, and consumer information; and (3) submit recommendations annually to the Congress and the President on measures to improve the operation of the Federal Government in the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers. Directs the Agency to receive, evaluate, develop, act on, and transmit complaints to the appropriate Federal or non-Federal entities concerning actions or practices which may be detrimental to the interests of consumers. Requires the Agency to maintain a public document room containing an up-to-date listing of all signed consumer complaints of any significance for public inspection and copying of which the Agency has received, arranged in meaningful and useful categories, together with annotations of actions taken by it. Directs the Agency to investigate and report to Congress on the desirability and feasibility of establishing a National Consumer Information Foundation which would administer a voluntary, self-supporting, information tag program. Prohibits sex discrimination in any program activity receiving Federal assistance under the Act. Authorizes to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this Act such sums as may be required for fiscal year 1976, for the transitional period July 1, 1976, through September 30, 1976, and for fiscal years 1977 and 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1975
Directs the Secretary of State to furnish to the House of Representatives the following information: (1) specific diplomatic initiatives carried out by the United States in response to Cambodians seizure of the United States merchant ship Mayaguez and its crew; (2) what diplomatic initiatives are known to have been carried out by Cambodia and other parties in respect to such seizure; (3) what specific diplomatic options were considered and rejected by the National Security Council; (4) what United States covert actions and intelligence gathering activities were conducted in or over or from off the shore of Cambodia prior to the seizure of the Mayaguez; and (5) what communications have occurred to date between the United States and Thailand regarding the use of Thai territory in conjunction with the United States military action to secure the release of the Mayaguez and its crew?
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1975
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to review specified lands comprising approximately 28,000 acres in the Sierra National Forest, California, for possible inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1975
Directs the President to furnish to the House of Representatives to following information: (1) the sequence of events in the United States response to Cambodia's seizure of the United States merchant ship Mayaguez and its crew; (2) military and diplomatic action carried out by Cambodian and other parties with respect to seizure of the Mayaguez; (3) the specific military and diplomatic options considered by the National Security Council in seeking the release of the ship and its crew; (4) what consultations were carried out between the President and Congress; (5) what if any military action had been ordered by the United States Armed Forces with respect to the Mayaguez incident before the Secretary General of the United Nations was asked to give diplomatic assistance; (6) specifics concerning the intelligence information and military actions by the United States; (7) if known, the exact position and course of the Mayaguez when it was seized; (8) what covert and intelligence activities were conducted in or over or from off the shores of Cambodia subsequent to the Khmer Rouge take over in April 1975; (9) what warning, if any, was issued to the United States merchant marine prior to the seizure of the Mayaguez; (10) under what authority of law were the United States Armed Forces used to secure the release of the Mayaguez and its crew; and (11) what steps were taken to insure the accuracy of the various announced casualty figures relating to the Mayaguez rescue operation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1975
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the designation of 1975 as International Women's Year has its full support. Calls for 1975 to be a time for launching new programs and forming new attitudes to overcome obstacles encountered by women in exercising their full human rights. States that Congress should take appropriate legislative actions to correct inequities. Calls for equal job and educational opportunities and greater representation at official conferences. Recognizes the unique problems faced by older women. Acknowledges the contributions of homemakers to their families and communities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1975
Industrial Energy Conservation Act - Directs the Administrator of Energy Research and Development under the Energy Reorganization Act to establish and maintain a comprehensive program for the conduct, sponsorship, and promotion of research, development, and demonstration of industrial energy-conserving technologies. Specifies criteria that the Administrator is required to apply in reaching decisions regarding the directions, priorities activities, and operations of the industrial energy conservation program. Requires the Administrator, in furthering the goals of this Act, to: (1) allocate 60 percent of the funds available for contracts, grants, and loans to depressed areas; and (2) promulgate rules and regulations. Requires the Administrator to compile a list of depressed industrial areas. Authorizes to be appropriated for the fiscal year 1976, and for each fiscal year thereafter, such funds as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1975
Authorizes the President to award an annual $50,000 prize for the individual who has conducted the research project which has made the most outstanding contribution to the world's understanding of the causes and cures of cancer. Provides that such prizes shall be known as the President's Cancer Research Prize. Requires the Director of the National Cancer Institute to review projects in cancer research throughout the world in order to make recommendations to facilitate the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1975
Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Act - Directs the President, with the assistance of the Council of Economic Advisors, to transmit annually a full employment and production program to the Congress. Sets forth a summary of the content to be contained in such annual report. Provides for annual Labor Reports of the President. Requires the Labor Reports to provide detailed attention on a continuing and progressively analytical basis to the changing volume and composition of the American labor supply. Renames the United States Employment Service as the United States Full Employment Service. Creates a Job Guarantee Office in the United States Full Employment Office headed by a Job Guarantee Officer whose responsibility is to provide useful and rewarding employment for any American, able and willing to work but not yet working, unable otherwise to obtain work, and applying to such office for assistance. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to carry out responsibilities under this Act upon the recommendation and approval of the local planning councils. Requires that each Job Guarantee Office in carrying out its responsibilities shall insure that among projects planned that adequate consideration be given to such individuals and groups as may face special obstacles in finding and holding useful and rewarding employment and shall provide or have provided through the coordination of existing programs special assistance including but not limited to counseling, training, and, where necessary, transportation and migration assistance. Provides that such individuals and groups shall include (1) those suffering from past or present discrimination or bias on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin; (2) older workers and retirees; (3) the physically or mentally handicapped; (4) youths to age 21; (5) potentially employable recipients of public assistance; (6) the inhabitants of depressed areas, urban and rural; (7) veterans of the Armed Forces; (8) people unemployed because of the relocation, closing, or reduced operations in industrial or military facilities; and (9) such other groups as the President or the Congress may designate from time to time. Directs that each Job Guarantee Office may, subject to the limitations specified in this Act, enter into agreements with public agencies and private organizations operating on a profit, nonprofit, or limited-profit basis. Requires such agreements to contain assurances that the agency or organization will: (1) provide an annual independent audit to the Job Guarantee Office; and (2) not discriminate on the grounds of sex, age, race, color, religion, or national origin in the administration of any program encompassed within the agreement. Directs the Job Guarantee Office to: (1) refer jobseekers to the private sector and general public sector employment placement facilities of the Full Employment Service (other than as supplemented by this Act); and (2) directly refer jobseekers for placement in positions on projects drawn from the reservoir of public service and private employment projects. Provides that anyone who presents himself or herself in person at the full Employment Office shall be considered prima facie "willing and able" to work. Provides that this stipulation specifically shall include persons with impairments of sight, hearing, movement, coordination, mental retardation, or other handicaps. Directs that this stipulation be implemented by the Job Guarantee Officer, prusuant to regulations issued by the Secretary. Establishes a Standby Job Corps which shall consist of jobseekers registered pursuant to this Act. Provides that such Corps shall be available for public service work upon projects and activities that are approved as a part of community public service work reservoirs established by community boards pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary, by regulation, to provide for: (1) a requirement that jobseekers registered in the Standby Job Corps maintain a status of good standing, which status shall include attendance and performance standards; and (2) a system of compensation for Corps members. Provides that no Standby Job Corps members shall be paid less than the minimum wage in effect in the area. Directs the Joint Economic Committee to: (1) annually review the activities of the executive branch under all sections of this Act; (2) regularly conduct on its own behalf, or in cooperation with or through the facilities of the appropriate legislative committees or subcommittees of the Senate and the House, public hearings in as many labor market areas as feasible; and (3) annually report upon, with its own conclusions and recommendations, the development and administration of the policies and programs mandated by this Act. Establishes a National Institute for Full Employment within the Department of Labor, under a director to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor, and to operate in continuing consultation with a National Commission for Full Employment Policy Studies. Authorizes and directs the Institute to make, or have made through grants to or contracts with individual researchers and private or public research organizations, universities, and other Government agencies, studies that shall include, but need not be limited to, such subjects as: (1) the policies and programs needed to reduce whatever inflationary pressures may result from full employment to manage any such inflationary pressures through appropriate fiscal policies and indirect and direct controls, and to protect the weaker groups in society from whatever inflationary trends cannot be avoided or controlled; (2) the identification of human potentialities that are hidden, undeveloped, or underdeveloped because of the lack of suitable job opportunities, encouragement, education, or training and of various ways of releasing such potentialities; (3) the forms of education and training needed to help provide people with the skills, knowledge, and values required by existing employment opportunities and technologies and needed to assist in developing such new types of goods, services, technologies, and employment opportunities as may better meet human needs; and (4) the policies and programs needed to substantially eliminate substandard employment, wages, and working conditions and the techniques for establishing standards for employment, wages, and working conditions in accordance with changing levels of national output and resources, and regional variations in output. Authorizes the appropriation for fiscal year 1976, and for each succeeding fiscal year of such sums as may be needed to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Provides, under the Investment Act of 1940, that no registered investment company shall redeem any securities of which it is the issuer other than for cash except under such circumstances as the Securities and Exchange Commission may permit by rules and regulations or orders for the protection of investors. Requires such rules and regulations to insure that such redemptions are made in a manner or on a basis which does not unfairly discriminate against shareholders of such company who are redeeming their shares, and those who are not.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1975
Mortgage Disclosure Act - Requires each financial institution which makes federally related mortgage loans to compile and make available to the public for inspection and copying at each office of that institution specified information concerning real estate loans, and savings accounts. Directs the Federal Reserve Board to prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the requirements imposed under this Act unless such enforcement is specifically charged to some other Government agengy.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Provides for the Federal incorporation of the United Service Organizations, Incorporated. Provides that such corporation shall provide a voluntary civilian agency responsible to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense, through which the people of this Nation may, in peace or war, serve the religious, spiritual, social, welfare, educational, and entertainment needs of the men and women in the Armed Forces within or without the territorial limits of the United States. Requires that the corporation shall be nonpolitical and, as an organization, shall not furnish financial aid or assistance to, or otherwise promote the candidacy of, any person seeking elective public office. States that no substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall involve carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. Provides that the corporation, its regional, State, and local councils, organizations, chapters, and affiliates shall have the sole and exclusive right to use the names "United Service Organizations, Incorporated" and "USO" and such distinctive insignia, emblems, and badges as the corporation may lawfully adopt in carrying out its purposes. Authorizes the Department of Defense and any other agency of the United States Government, to provide such assistance as they determine is appropriate to enable the corporation to carry out its purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Repeals the Military Selective Service Act. Provides that all activities and duties of the Reconciliation Service program of the Selective Service System shall be transferred to the Department of Justice.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1975
Mortgage Disclosure Act - Requires each financial institution which makes federally related mortgage loans to compile and make available to the public for inspection and copying at each office of that institution specified information concerning real estate loans, and savings accounts. Directs the Federal Reserve Board to prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the requirements imposed under this Act unless such enforcement is specifically charged to some other Government agengy.
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
Expresses the sense of Congress that the officers and administrators of the various governmental institutions supported by public moneys should take steps to remove from facilities under their control all architectual barriers to the handicapped. Directs that funds for such efforts be taken from their discretionary funds.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1975
Promotion of Energy Industry Competition Act - Makes it unlawful for any of the 20 major petroleum companies (as identified by rule by the Federal Trade Commission) to own or control any interest in any energy refinery asset, energy transportation asset, or energy marketing asset on and after December 31, 1978. States that it shall also be unlawful for such companies to control mineral deposits in hydrocarbons and uranium and other fissionable minerals. Forbids any person at the same time to be a director, officer, or employee of two or more corporations or associations, which own or control deposits of, produce, refine, transport, or market at retail petroleum, products of petroleum refining, natural gas, coal, uranium, or other fissionable minerals. Gives the Federal Trade Commission exclusive authority to enforce compliance with these provisions. Requires companies holding ownership interests in facilities which are covered by this Act to submit, within one year from the date of enactment of this Act, plans for the divestment of such ownership interests, whether represented by securities or otherwise. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to institute suits in the district courts of the United States requesting the issuance of such relief as is appropriate to assure compliance with this Act. Prescribes penalties for any person who knowingly violates any provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1975
Industrial Energy Conservation Act - Directs the Administrator of Energy Research and Development under the Energy Reorganization Act to establish and maintain a comprehensive program for the conduct, sponsorship, and promotion of research, development, and demonstration of industrial energy-conserving technologies. Specifies criteria that the Administrator is required to apply in reaching decisions regarding the directions, priorities activities, and operations of the industrial energy conservation program. Requires the Administrator, in furthering the goals of this Act, to: (1) allocate 60 percent of the funds available for contracts, grants, and loans to depressed areas; and (2) promulgate rules and regulations. Requires the Administrator to compile a list of depressed industrial areas. Authorizes to be appropriated for the fiscal year 1976, and for each fiscal year thereafter, such funds as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1975
Provides that the Sequoia National Game Refuge shall become part of the Sequoia National Park, and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish the new area. States that nothing in this Act shall terminate or impair any private right in permits or property in the Game Refuge.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1975
Authorizes cost-of-living increases in supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI (Grants to States for Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act whenever an equivalent cost-of-living adjustment is made under Title II (Old Age, Survivors', and Disability Insurance) of such Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to grant financial assistance to individuals eligible for Social Security whose expenses exceed one-third of his or her annual income. Limits such assistance to the lesser of: (1) the amount by which such individual's housing expenses exceed one-third of his or her income or; (2) $600. Permits individuals receiving supplemental security benefits to elect to retain food stamp eligibility in lieu of receiving the bonus value of food stamps in the form of a supplementary payment increase. Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance to Social Security recipients whose benefit checks or the cash proceeds thereof are lost or stolen, where the loss or theft has been promptly reported to and verified by appropriate local law enforcement officials. Requires the Secretary to supplement to the correct amount any check which is determined to be in an amount less than that to which the individual was entitled. Permits financial grant assistance to individuals receiving benefits who are faced with extreme financial need due to specified circumstances, including the destruction or loss by theft or natural disaster of furniture and clothing and to prevent eviction due to non-payment of rent when such nonpayment is due to poor financial management or extraordinary expenses. Limits such assistance grants to no more than $500 per occurrence.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1975
Prohibits, except as provided in this Act, the inspection of tax returns and the disclosure of information contained in such returns. Authorizes the inspection of returns by or disclosure to (1) the taxpayer or his representative; (2) employees of the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Justice solely for purposes of enforcement of the tax laws; (3) State agencies charged with administration of the tax laws only for that purpose; (4) the President of the United States in the performance of his official duties; and (5) the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation for statistical purposes only. Increases the criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure or receipt of information under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1975
Federal Housing Bank Act - Declares the finding of the Congress that: (1) for decades this Nation has been able to produce housing at reasonable cost, but long-term projections of capital and materials shortages, threaten this goal; (2) decent, safe, and sanitary housing cannot be provided if interest rates on home mortgages are inordinately high; and (3) Congress must create an institution which can reduce the costs of financing the purchase of a home for the average American family. Creates a body corporate to be known as the Federal Housing Bank, which shall have succession until dissolved by Act of Congress. Requires that the Bank, which shall be an agency of the United States Government, shall maintain such offices as may be necessary or appropriate in the conduct of its business. Sets forth the general powers of the Bank. Provides for the management of the Bank. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in order to facilitate the formation of the Bank, to pay initial organizing and operating expenses. Authorizes to be appropriated not to exceed $500,000 for this purpose. Grants the Bank the authority: (1) to make commitments to purchase, and to purchase, service, and sell, on terms and conditions determined by the Bank, home mortgages on single family homes, or condominiums or cooperatives, from the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Bank system; and (2) to make commitments to purchase, and to purchase, hold, and refinance mortgages on homes of persons who certify that they have been unemployed for six months and do not have assets that could be used to pay the mortgage on their principal dwelling place. Authorizes the Bank to declare a moratorium on payments of principal, interest, or both for a period of eighteen months on terms and conditions to be determined by the Bank so as to alleviate hardship arising from unemployment. Requires an audit report to the Congress on an annual basis. Provides for an additional annual report to the Congress on the Bank's activities. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the heads of other departments affected by this Act, to issue and revise regulations from time to time, relating to the trapping and capturing of animals and birds. Imposes a fine of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to one year for violations of this Act. Establishes an advisory commission of 7 members to consult with the Secretary and make recommendations with respect to regulations concerning trapping and capturing of animals and birds. Imposes a fine of $5,000 and/or imprisonment or of one year, for the sale, shipment, or transport, of any unapproved trap or any animal skin or hide or bird feathers taken in violation of this Act. Outlines those trapping regulations specifically applicable to Federal lands. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with any affected State pursuant to which the Secretary shall assist such State to enable it to comply with the provisions of this Act. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1975
Makes the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act relating to adulterated cosmetics applicable to hair dyes by removing the exemption for hair dyes from the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1975
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Santa Moncia Mountains and Seashore Urban National Park in the State of California. Specifies which lands shall be included within the boundaries of the Park. Requires the Secretary to identify lands which should be acquired to achieve the purposes of this Act. States that with respect to improved properties, the Secretary shall not acquire fee title unless he determines that such property is being used, or is threatened with uses, which are detrimental to the purposes of this Act. Defines "improved property" as property on which a detatched single family dwelling is located or property developed for agricultural uses. Permits owners of improved properties to retain a right of use and occupancy for a definite term of up to 25 years. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs and to the Committees on Appropriations of the United States Congress a detailed program identifying the lands selected and the annual acquisition program which he recommends for the ensuing five fiscal years. Authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with local government in establishing zoning laws or ordinances which will assist of achieving the purposes of this Act. Establishes the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashores Urban National Park Advisory Commission, to be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary for terms of three years each. Directs the Secretary to meet at least annually with the Commission to consult on general policies and specific matters related to planning, administration, and development affecting the park. Authorizes specific appropriations of up to $500,000 for the development of needed public facilities. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1975
Provides that it shall be unlawful for any business enterprise or person acting on behalf or in the interest of a business enterprise to coerce, or attempt to coerce, by economic means another person, to fail to do business with, or to otherwise discriminate against any U.S. person, or any foreign person with respect to its activities in the United States, by reason of: (1) the religion, race, national origin, or sex of such U.S. or foreign person; or (2) direct or indirect support for any foreign government when such support is not in violation of U.S. laws. Prescribes a penalty of a fine of not more than $100,000, or imprisonment for not more than three years, or for violation of such provision. Prescribes a fine not to exceed $1,000,000 if the violator is any person other than an individual. Allows any person aggrieved by a violation of the prohibition against economic coercion to bring a suit in an appropriate U.S. district court without regard to the amount in controversy. States that such person may recover threefold actual damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and other litigation costs reasonably incurred. Permits the Attorney General to institute an action in an appropriate district court to collect a civil penalty against any person who practices prohibited economic coercion. States that the penalty shall not exceed $50,000 if imposed upon an individual, or not more than $500,000 if imposed upon any person other than an individual. Makes it unlawful for a person to violate this Act by exercising coercion through a foreign government or a business enterprise not subject to U.S. jurisdiction. States that whoever violates such provision shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $50,000 if an individual, or not to exceed $500,000 if any person other than an individual. Defines terms used in this Act, including "persons", and states that such term shall include a corporation, trust, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, fund, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1975
Provides, under the Agricultural Adjustment Act, that the national acreage allotment of rice for the 1976 and subsequent crops of rice shall be 2,000,000 acres, unless the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the difference between the total supply of rice for the marketing year beginning in the calendar year preceding such crop year and the normal supply of rice for such marketing year is greater than 20 percent of such normal supply. Specifies that if the Secretary makes such determination, the national acreage allotment of rice for the crop year shall be established at a level adjusting the supply of rice so that a quantity of marketable rice will be on hand in the United States at the end of the marketing year beginning August 1 of the calendar year in which the rice for which the acreage allotment is being determined is to be produced (not including rice produced in the calendar year in which such marketing year ends) which is less than 20 percent of the estimated amount of rice which will be utilized in exports and domestic consumption during such marketing year. Stipulates that the national acreage allotment for rice for any crop of rice may not be less than 1, 652,596 acres. Permits the selling or leasing of farm acreage allotments to other persons in the same state. Provides that whenever marketing quotas are in effect with respect to any crop of rice, the producer shall be subject to a penalty on the farm marketing excess at a rate per pound which is equal to the cost of production per pound of rice for the crop with regard to which the penalty is imposed. Directs the Secretary to make available nonrecourse loans and purchases for the 1976 and subsequent crops of rice. Stipulates that such loans and purchases shall be available only to persons producting rice on allocated acres. Specifies the formula by which the amounts of such loans and purchases shall be determined.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1975
Extends the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make 3 percent interest rate loans to property owners to rehabilitate their property in urban renewal areas through September 30, 1978. Permits the Secretary to require borrowing property owners to pay a greater interest rate when the income of such borrower exceeds the median income for a family of four persons. Directs the Secretary to administer the loan program in a manner designed to: (1) encourage communities to undertake programs which facilitate public or private financing of rehabilitation with funds not made available under any Federal housing program; (2) encourage communities to address the rehabilitation needs of owner-occupants living in areas participating in rehabilitation programs whose incomes are too low to afford such Federal loans; and (3) accommodate the needs of communities which have no other feasible source of loan funds for rehabilitation. Transfers the funding for such program from the appropriations process to the Treasury borrowing process. Authorizes appropriations of up to $7,500,000 for any fiscal year for such program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1975
Provides for the payment by the United States of reasonable attorneys' fees and other reasonable costs of the accused in criminal cases where the ultimate disposition is other than a conviction, unless the court determine that such payment would not be in the interest of justice.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1975
Electric Vehicle Research, Development and Demonstration Act - Declares it to be the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of electric vehicles for urban individual and business use, and to encourage research and development in new technologies for electric vehicles with wider applications, in order to promote long-range conservation of liquid fuel and reduce environmental pollution. Directs the Administrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration to initiate and provide for the conduct of research and development in areas related to electric vehicles. Directs the Administrator to enter into such contracts as may be necessary and appropriate for: (1) the production, within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, of significant numbers of urban passenger and commercial vehicles which have electric propulsion systems on conventional chassis; and (2) for the production, within three years after such date, of significant numbers of urban passenger and commercial vehicles which are specifically designed for electric propulsion as the primary power source. Directs the United States Postal Service, the General Services Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other Federal agencies to arrange for the introduction of electric vehicles into their fleets as soon as possible. Authorizes $40,000,000 to be appropriated to the Administrator for each of the fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1975
Increases to $450,000,000 the minimum amount of the annual contributions to public housing agencies to be made by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Housing Act of 1937.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1975
Requires, under the Public Buildings Act, that the Administrator of General Services consult with local governments with respect to the potential effects of construction of buildings for the use of Federal agencies. Requires the Postmaster General to engage in such consultation with respect to the construction of postal facilities. States that such consultation shall seek to determine the impact of such construction on the environment, economic growth, zoning requirements and objectives, traffic flow, and other similar considerations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1975
Provides that corporations, labor organizations, and specified Government contractors which make unlawful political contributions shall be fined in an amount equal to the amount of such contributions. (Amends 18 U.S.C. 610)