United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1979
Federal Protective Service Act of 1979 - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to establish a permanent security force within the General Services Administration to be known as the Federal Protective Service (FPS). Prescribes the duties and authority of the officers of the FPS which primarily involve the protection of persons and property on real property under the control of the Administration. Includes such officers within provisions which: (1) concern the protection of officers of the United States; and (2) prohibit requiring certain policemen to use sick leave for an absence due to an injury sustained in the performance of duty. Requires the United States to make a lump sum payment of $50,000 to the survivors of a Federal law enforcement officer or fire fighter who dies as a result of such an injury.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Vietnam Veterans Act - Title I: Employment - Provides that Vietnam veterans eligible for specified veterans' educational benefits may use up to 12 months of such benefits for employment assistance payments to non-Federal Government employers hiring such veterans. Establishes eligibility requirements and guidelines for participating veterans and employers. Title II: Health and Psychological Care - Authorizes the Veterans' Administration to provide outpatient mental health services to Vietnam veterans with emotional or psychological civilian readjustment problems. Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to establish a program of treatment for Vietnam-era veterans or members of their immediate families with alcohol or drug abuse problems. Provides that any individual eligible for treatment in either the readjustment or alcohol drug program may elect to have such treatment at any community health center providing such services under the Community Mental Health Centers Act. Directs the Administrator to reimburse such centers for such treatment. Authorizes an employee of the General Accounting Office assigned to duty in a Veterans' Administration health facility to act as ombudsman for the patients of such facility. Title III: GI Bill Education Assistance - Extends the ten year delimiting period for veterans' educational assistance eligibility to January 1, 1985, for veterans discharged before December 31, 1969. Removes the requirement of State matching funds for veterans' accelerated payment of educational assistance allowances. Title IV: Administrative Costs for State Home Loan Programs - Authorizes the Administrator to provide grants to States for administrative expenses for the start- up costs veterans' home loan programs. Title V: Commission to Study Veterans' Benefits - Establishes the Commission on Veterans' Benefits to make a comprehensive study of United States laws providing benefits to veterans and their dependents, with particular attention to the needs of Vietnam veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1979
Authorizes the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a bust or statue of Martin Luther King, Junior, to be placed in a suitable location in the Capitol. Authorizes appropriations not to exceed $25,000 for such purpose
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to sell, subject to such conditions deemed appropriate in the national interest, five named obsolete vessels to a named corporation. Sets certain limitations on the use of such vessels.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1979
Shipping Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Shipping Act, 1916, to increase the fine for engaging in rebating and rate discrimination. Increases the fine for tariff violations. Requires the chief executive officer of every common carrier by water in foreign commerce to file periodically a written certification, under oath, with the Federal Maritime Commission, attesting to a policy prohibiting illegal rebating and efforts made to enforce such policy. Authorizes the Commission to require such certification by any other person subject to this Act. Empowers the Commission to institute adjudicatory investigations into possible violations of rebating prohibitions. Increases the Commission's authority to include orders for the payment of money for specified shipping violations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1979
Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972 to add a new "Title II: Port Safety Planning and Improvement", to authorize the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to make grants to municipalities and public agencies for the development and implementation of port safety plans to protect deep-draft ports from fires, explosions, or other damage. Prescribes the minimum requirements for each such plan. Limits the total funds obligated for such grants and the amount of obligated funds available in any one fiscal year. Provides that no grant may exceed two-thirds of the cost of development of each such plan and 50 percent of the cost of implementing each such plan. Stipulates that no more than ten percent or less than one percent of such funds be allocated for a single port, with certain exceptions. States that no municipality is eligible to receive more than three grants. Declares that no grants may be made for development of a plan after September 30, 1982, and no grant may be made for implementation of a plan after September 30, 1985. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress or whether the cost of providing port safety services could be paid for through the collection of user fees. Requires each municipality or public agency to keep records on the amount and disposition of such grants. Permits the Secretary and Comptroller General of the United States to have access to such records for the purposes of audit and examination. Authorizes appropriations through 1985 to carry out the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the administration of such program within six months after the end of each fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1979
Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act - Title I: Regulation of Exploration and Commercial Recovery by United States Citizens - Disclaims extraterritorial sovereignty by the United States over deep seabeds. Prohibits any United States citizen from engaging in exploration or commercial recovery unless authorized: (1) under a license issued pursuant to this Act; (2) under a license issued by a reciprocating state; or (3) pursuant to an international agreement. Permits the continuation of existing exploration upon timely application for such license. Prohibits interference with the activities of a licensee under this Act. Stipulates activities which are exempted from this Act. Sets forth procedures for the issuance of, and limitations upon, licenses for exploration and commercial recovery under this Act. Declares any United States citizen eligible for a license for exploration. Establishes a formula for the determination of priority of right for issuance. Sets forth findings which must be made prior to issuance of a license of exploration or commercial recovery. Permits modifications or suspension of operations upon order of the Secretary of Commerce. Provides for an antitrust review by the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission of any such license application. Stipulates procedures and effects of denial, suspension, or revocation of a license. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations for the implementation of this Act. Directs the Secretary to prepare an environmental impact statement with respect to the areas likely to be developed by United States citizens. Specifies criteria for the size of areas of exploration or commercial recovery. Requires the Secretary to impose performance requirements upon licensees. Permits relinquishment or surrender of such licenses. Requires certain record keeping, environmental impact statements, navigational safety procedures and disclosure by licensees. Prohibits licensees from interfering with reasonable uses of the seas. Permits the Secretary to monitor exploration or commercial recovery operations. Permits the President to designate "reciprocating states" as defined by this Act. Title II: Transition to International Agreement - Declares the intent of Congress regarding any international seabed agreements to which the United States may become a party to be: (1) to provide reasonable access to the deep seabed mineral resources for United States citizens; and (2) to recognize certain continuing seabed mining rights of United States citizens who have begun such mining operations prior to any such international agreement. Sets forth the effect upon specified provisions of this Act resulting from subsequent international agreements. Title III: Civil Penalties, Criminal Offenses, and Miscellaneous Provisions - Makes unlawful violations of this Act. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for such violations. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to enforce this Act. Makes vessels in violation of this Act liable in rem for such violation. Title IV: Tax - Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Removal Tax Act of 1978 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to impose a tax on the removal of hard mineral resources from the deep seabed. Establishes in the United States Treasury a Deep Seabed Revenue Sharing Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1979
Directs the Department of Labor, in cooperation with the Department of Commerce, to develop methods for improving the collection of labor statistics relating to Americans of East Asian or Pacific Island origin or descent. Directs the Departments of Commerce, Labor, Agriculture, and Health, Education, and Welfare to collect social, health, and economic statistics relating to such Americans. Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to develop a Government-wide program for the collection of such statistics. Directs the Department of Commerce to: (1) study methods for developing creditable estimates of undercounts of such Americans; (2) insure that the needs and concerns of such Americans are given full recognition in data-collection activities; and (3) implement an affirmative action program within the Bureau of the Census for the employment of personnel of East Asian or Pacific Island origin or descent.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1979
Self-Reliant Development and International Food Assistance Reform Act of 1979 - Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to condition the use of agricultural commodities under this Act on: (1) the need within the recipient country for the particular commodities; and (2) policies and programs to benefit the poor. Authorizes the export of commodities to meet developmental purposes even if it results in inadequate domestic supplies. Permits the free on board value of the commodities to be applied by the recipient country against their repayment obligation under the Food for Development Program. Directs the President to: (1) give special consideration to increasing demand for food by expanding markets for local foodstuffs, as well as U.S. commodities; and (2) assure that credit sales and commodity distributions do not interfere with local food production or marketing. Provides for the use of indigenous institutions and workers to assure that food commodities are used effectively and where most needed.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to remove the $75 limit on the excess shelter expense deduction in the computation of household income for households composed entirely of persons who are age 62 or older, or who receive supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act. Entitles such households to a medical expense deduction to the extent that the monthly amount expended by any such household for medical or dental care exceeds the amount of the standard deduction in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1979
Senior Citizens Health Insurance Reform Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to institute a program of voluntary certification for health insurance policies sold in supplementation of medicare. Sets forth minimum standards for such certification with respect to liability, cancellation, reasonableness of premium charge, and economic benefit to the insured. Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) misrepresentations in connection with such certification; (2) the sale of specified types of duplicate insurance; and (3) certain activities in connection with the sale of insurance policies in States which have not approved such policies.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1979
Makes it unlawful for any person, knowingly or intentionally, to possess, manufacture, distribute, dispense, or unlawfully import, on board a vessel of the United States or a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, a controlled substance as defined in the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. Makes it unlawful for a citizen of the United States to engage in such activities on any vessel. Prohibits any person on any vessel, within or without the United States, to attempt or conspire to import or transport a controlled substance into the United States or to attempt or conspire to facilitate the import or transport of such a substance (except as provided by certain Federal law). Makes it unlawful to transfer a controlled substance from any vessel to a vessel of the United States or a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, either within the territorial seas of the United States or on the high seas. Stipulates that any person who violates this Act shall be sentenced in the same manner as a person would be sentenced for possession of a controlled substance under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1979
Amends the National Ocean Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations to carry out the provisions of such Act for fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1979
Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1979 and 1980 to carry out the provisions of such Act with respect to: (1) the regulation of and research pertaining to ocean dumping; and (2) the acquisition, development, and operation of marine sanctuaries. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research to determine means of ending the dumping into ocean waters of material unreasonably degrading the marine environment.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1979
Regional Energy Development Act of 1979 - Chapter I: Introductory - Declares that energy shortages and the high cost of energy have created economic hardships in the Northeastern States, which would especially benefit from regional cooperation with the United States through an entity capable of financing and otherwise promoting increased energy supply and energy conservation. Defines "Northeastern States" as Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Chapter II: Organization, Management, Powers - Authorizes the creation of a corporation for profit, not an agency or establishment of the United States, to be known as the Energy Corporation of the Northeast. Directs the President to appoint incorporators who reside in the Northeastern States to serve as the initial Board of Directors of the Corporation, and to take whatever actions are necessary to establish the Corporation. Stipulates that a Northeastern State shall become a member of the Corporation when such State subscribes for State stock, contributes initial capital in the amount of $1 per capita, and enacts supporting legislation. Allows the Corporation to become operational if at least three States become members before December 31, 1978. Authorizes States that are contiguous to members to join the Corporation in the same manner. Authorizes the Corporation to participate in joint ventures with public or private groups and to operate through subsidiaries. Requires the Corporation to submit annual reports and audits to the President, Congress, Governors and legislatures of Member States. Directs the Governors, on a rotating basis, to designate independent persons to evaluate the performance of the Corporation every two years. Chapter III: Projects and Programs of the Corporation - Authorizes the Corporation to participate in financing any project related to solving the energy needs of the Northeast. Allows the Corporation to assist projects by loans, guarantees, or equity investments. Stipulates that before any financial assistance is provided, the Board of Directors of the Corporation must find that: (1) the project is expected to have a beneficial impact on the energy problems of the region; (2) the investment together with other Corporation activities will not materially impair the credit of the Corporation; (3) private capital is unavailable or insufficient; and (4) unless this limitation is specially waived, the Corporation will not operate the project on a continuing basis or invest more than 50 percent of the total cost. Authorizes rejection of each project by the Governor of the Member State in which it is located. Charges the Board with reviewing periodically the allocation of Corporation resources among the Member States to assure a measure of equity in the distribution of benefits. Limits the Corporation's investment in any one project to the greater of ten percent of its borrowing authority or $200,000,000. Chapter IV: Financing - Stipulates that capital subscriptions from the States ($1 per capita initial contribution) and private investors shall determine the borrowing authority of the Corporation according to a formula of $15 borrowing backed by Federal guarantees for each $1 capital contribution. Authorizes the contribution of additional capital by the States after the initial subscription. Authorizes the issuance of capital securities to States and private investors in a form determined by the Board. Permits the Corporation to issue its own obligations which shall be general obligations payable out of any revenues. Prohibits the Corporation from pledging the credit of the United States or the credit of Member States. Chapter V: Guarantee of Obligations - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to guarantee obligations of the Corporation. Stipulates that such obligations are not tax exempt. Prohibits purchase of such obligations by the United States. Establishes an administrative expense fund in the U.S. Treasury to provide for the administrative expense payments with respect to guaranteed obligations. Chapter VI: State Legislation - Requires Member States, upon joining the Corporation, to enact legislation: (1) assuring decisions within 90 days of application on request for permits required for Corporation projects; (2) exempting the property, income, and operations of the Corporation from State and local taxation; and (3) specifying that insofar as the provisions of any State, general, special, or local law may be inconsistent with this Act, the provisions of this Act and the legislation enacted under this Chapter are controlling. Chapter VII: Miscellaneous - Specifies terms of construction and separability of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1979
Maritime Appropriation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1980 - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for use by the Department of Commerce for: (1) acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of vessels, the construction-differential subsidy, and the cost of national defense features incident to the construction, reconstruction, or reconditioning of ships; (2) payments of obligations incurred for the operating-differential subsidy; (3) research and development activities; (4) maritime education and training expenses; and (5) operating expenses including reserve fleet expenses. Authorizes additional appropriations for increases in salary, pay, retirement, or other employee benefits authorized by law, and for increased costs for public utilities, food service, and other expenses of the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1979
Authorizes expenditures not to exceed $1,753,579 by the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries for investigations and studies. Prohibits any part of such funds from being available for expenditure in connection with the study of any subject which is being investigated for the same purpose by any other House committee. Terminates the authorization granted by this resolution on January 3, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1979
National Ski Patrol System Recognition Act of 1979 - Grants a Federal charter to the National Ski Patrol System. Declares that the purpose of such corporation shall be to promote public safety in skiing.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1979
Extends through fiscal year 1984 the entitlement periods for the authorization of appropriations under the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Drug Regulation Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Drug Regulation Reform - States the findings of Congress. Prohibits the manufacture, importation, export, or distribution of a drug entity or a drug product without the prior issuance by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare of a monograph containing a description of such drug and requirements and guidelines for the contents of information labeling for the forms of drug products eligible for licensing under such monograph. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to require, in a monograph, postmarketing surveillance of any drug, old or new, for a period of up to five years. Limits the issuance of such monographs to drugs determined safe and effective. Defines "safe" as meaning the health benefits of the drug entity or product clearly outweigh the risks it presents, taking into account pertinent standards and requirements. Defines "effective" to mean that a drug entity when incorporated into a drug product used in accordance with the use conditions set forth on the drug label, will have the effect represented. Provides for amendment, suspension, or revocation of a monograph under specified conditions. Authorizes the provisional issuance of a monograph (not to exceed five years) for any drug entity intended to be used in treatment of a life-threatening or severely debilitating disease when: (1) no other effective methods of treatment exist; or (2) such drug entity offers a major advantage to patients compared to the benefits of alternative methods; and (3) delaying issuance would present significantly greater risks to patients affected by such disease. Requires significant evidence of effectiveness and safety for such provisional issuance. Establishes a monograph-petition review procedure requiring a public hearing on the issuance, amendment, or revocation of any monograph, followed by a review of the evidence and issues by a drug science advisory committee, whose recommendations shall be forwarded to the Secretary for his final decision. Authorizes judicial review of a final order of the Secretary by a United States Court of Appeals. Requires, with specified exceptions, the registration of domestic and foreign establishments engaged in the manufacture, importation, export, or distribution of any drug entity or drug product. Prohibits for five years after the issuance date of a monograph the licensure of any drug product without: (1) written authorization from the monograph petitioner; or (2) data and information independent of the monograph which would support a determination that the monograph could be issued. Permits the licensure of a drug product, after the expiration of such five-year period, without the making of necessary animal and clinical studies already made to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the drug product under the original monograph. Requires registration of any drug to be used in a drug investigation, and revocation of registration if the human participants in the investigation are subject to unreasonable and significant risk of illness or injury. Specifies standards and requirements for such investigations. Requires the informed consent of participants in such investigations. Requires the informed consent of participants in such investigations unless the immediate use of the drug product is, in the investigator's opinion, needed to preserve the participant's life and time is not sufficient to obtain either consent from either the participant or his legal representatives. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) issue written guidelines regarding protocols and methods for conducting investigations; and (2) to review and advise, upon request, regarding specified aspects of a drug investigation. Requires unlicensed drug products and drug entities not subject to monographs to obtain permits for export to foreign countries. Specifies requirements for such exports. Exempts homeopathic drug entities and products from monograph, licensure, and investigational use requirements if manufactured or imported in accordance with import/export registration requirements of this Act. Requires: (1) patient information labeling in layperson's language of the risks, benefits, side effects and so forth of any drug entity or product; and (2) practitioner information labeling that identifies the licensee, registrant, permittee and manufacturer of such drug. Directs the Secretary to prepare and publish a compendium of all prescription drugs eligible for licensing under issued monographs. Prohibits from the promotional labeling of any prescription drug product indications for use, comparisons with other drug products, or dosage recommendations not contained in the information labeling of such product. Prohibits drug product licensees and their agents from: (1) distributing sample prescription drug products without charge; and (2) providing services or transferring items to specified medical personnel or their families, if the value of the service or item is at least $5.00, and no charge is made. Requires disclosure of the sponsorship by a drug product licensee or distributor of medical and scientific educational materials (other than labeling). Forbids the disclosure by pharmacists and their agents of prescriptions or information contained in prescriptions to anybody but the patient, the prescribing practitioners, or other specified persons. Prohibits licensees and their agents from obtaining or attempting to obtain such information. Prescribes civil, criminal, and administrative penalties, and subjects drug entities and products to seizure, for violations of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses in any matter relating to implementation or enforcement of this Title. Authorizes the Secretary to inspect drug manufacturing and distributing establishments to determine compliance with this Title. Title II: National Center for Clinical Pharmacology; Evaluation of the Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish, in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the National Center for Clinical Pharmacology to conduct and support, by grants: (1) research in clinical pharmacology and clinical pharmacy; and (2) an ongoing review and analysis of the use of drug products in the United States. Directs the Secretary to contract for an independent evaluation of Title I and its effect on: (1) protection of the public against adverse reactions from and misuse of drug products; (2) innovation in drug research; (3) the economics of the pharmaceutical industry; (4) the cost of drug products; (5) prescribing practices; and (6) the time required for the issuance of monographs. Requires a report on such evaluation to the appropriate Committees of Congress within seven years of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Amends title XVI of the Public Health Service Act (Health Resources Development) to authorize construction and modernization project grants designed to eliminate safety hazards or to avoid noncompliance with accreditation standards to be made to nonprofit private medical facilities, in addition to State and local governments as currently provided.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act - Title I: Findings, Policy, and Definitions - Declares it to be the policy of the Congress that: (1) it is necessary to immediately designate public lands in Alaska for inclusion in the National Park, National Wildlife Refuge, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Forest, National Trails, and National Wilderness Preservation systems; (2) intangible values shall be considered on an equal basis with quantifiable values, sound ecological principles shall be adhered to, and full public participation shall be encouraged in the planning, management, and administration of these conservation system units; (3) the public should have access to the public lands in Alaska, including access to those public lands which constitute conservation system units, consistent with the purposes for which those units are established; (4) those persons now dependent upon subsistence use of the public lands in Alaska should be enabled to continue in that lifestyle, to the extent possible, and within conservation system units, in a manner consistent with the purposes for which the units are established or expanded; and (5) in carrying out the provisions of this Act, the Federal Government is to give continuing consideration to the interest of the State of Alaska and its subdivisions and the Native Corporations in maintaining a viable economy and providing employment for citizens of Alaska. Excludes land selections of the State of Alaska which have been tentatively approved under the Alaska Statehood Act, as well as certain other selections, from the definition of "public lands". Title II: National Park System - Establishes as units of the National Park System: (1) Aniakchak National Monument and Aniakchak National Preserve; (2) Bering Land Bridge National Preserve; (3) Cape Krusenstern National Monument; (4) Gates of the Arctic National Park and Gates of the Arctic National Preserve; (5) Kenai Fjords National Park; (6) Kobuk Valley National Park; (7) Lake Clark National Park; (8) Noatak National Preserve; (9) Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Wrangell-Saint Elias National Preserve; and (10) Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Expands and redesignates: (1) Mount McKinley National Park, by addition of the Denali National Preserve and Denali National Park; (2) Glacier Bay National Monument, to be designated as Glacier Bay National Park; and (3) Katmai National Monument, to be designated as Katmai National Park and Katmai National Preserve. Requires that the mountain now called Mount McKinley shall retain such name in perpetuity. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer the lands, waters, and interests so established, designated, or enlarged. Provides that certain valid Native selections are recognized and shall be honored and conveyed by the Secretary in accordance with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and this Act. Title III: National Wildlife Refuge System - Defines the term "conserve," for purposes of this Title, as the use of such methods and procedures which are necessary to ensure the health, preservation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife and plants, their habitats, and the ecological system of which they form a constituent element. Defines "refuge" to mean any unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System established by this Act, prior to the enactment of this Act, or following the enactment of this Act. Declares the major purposes of each refuge to be: (1) to conserve the designated fish and wildlife, as well as to conserve the other fish and wildlife, and plants within the refuge; (2) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and plants; (3) to ensure water quality and water quantity within the refuge; and (4) to protect, maintain, or enhance any special value of the refuge, as well any other archaeological, cultural, ecological, geological, historical, paleontological, recreational, or scenic value of the refuge. Provides that each refuge shall be administered by the Secretary to achieve such purposes, and in accordance with the laws governing the administration of units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the laws governing the conservation and protection of fish and wildlife and plants, and this Act. Directs the Secretary, in administering each refuge, to provide an opportunity for subsistence uses, to the extent that they are compatible with the major purposes of the refuge. Withdraws, subject to valid existing rights, all public lands in each refuge from all forms of appropriation under the mining laws and from operation of the mineral leasing laws. Authorizes the Secretary to permit oil and gas development under a leasing program. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan for each refuge. Sets forth the contents of such plans. Requires that the Secretary consult with the appropriate State agencies and Native Corporations, and hold public hearings, in preparing such plans. Provides that the Secretary shall publish notice of a proposed plan in the Federal Register, and make copies of the plan available at each regional office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and provide opportunity for public views and comment on the plan. Designates the first six miles off each coastal refuge, except the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, as a seaward area subject to cooperative management by the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce, and the State of Alaska. Establishes the Seaward Area Management Planning Committee to prepare a comprehensive management plan for each seaward area. Provides that such plan shall set forth procedures and actions to assure that the major purposes of the coastal refuge are achieved within the seaward area and that the marine ecosystem within such area is conserved. Provides that regulations shall be issued by the appropriate authorities, after the adoption by the Committee of any plan. Stipulates that no plan shall affect certain rights of the State, as well as the administration and implementation of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. States that no plan may provide for any procedure or action which is contrary to, or inconsistent with, Federal laws governing the conservation or protection of fish and wildlife. Establishes as units of the National Wildlife Refuge System: (1) Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; (2) Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge; (3) Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; (4) Becharof National Wildlife Refuge; (5) Copper River National Wildlife Refuge; (6) Innoko National Wildlife Refuge; (7) Kanuti Wildlife Refuge; (8) Kenai National Wildlife Refuge; (9) Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge; (10) Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge; (11) North Slope National Wildlife Refuge; (12) Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge; (13) Selawik National Wildlife Refuge; (14) Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge; (15) Togiak National Wildlife Refuge; (16) Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge; and (17) Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Designates the significant fish and wildlife of each refuge. Designates the Izembek National Wildlife Range as a Refuge. Directs the Secretary to undertake to enter into cooperative management agreements with Native Corporations, the State, or persons owning land within or adjacent to a refuge. States that each such agreement shall provide that the land subject to the agreement shall be managed by the owner in a manner compatible with the major purposes of the refuge, and in a manner which will not diminish opportunities for subsistence uses in the refuge. Provides for the preparation and implementation of a comprehensive and systematic cooperative management plan for the Bristol Bay Cooperative Region, for specified purposes. Sets forth the contents of such plan, as well as procedures for Congressional approval for such plan. States that the Congress finds that barren-ground caribou are a migratory species deserving special protection and that the Western Arctic and Porcupine herds of such caribou are of national and international significance. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the barren-ground caribou herds north of the Yukon River, and, acting through the Secretary of the State, to initiate negotiations with the Government of Canada in order to enter into a treaty to protect the Porcupine caribou herd and its habitat. Declares that all Executive orders and other administrative actions which were in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act will remain in force, except to the extent that they are inconsistent with this Act or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Title IV: National Forest System - Provides for the expansion of: (1) Tongass National Forest; and (2) Chugach National Forest. Title V: National Wild and Scenic Rivers System - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by adding to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System the following rivers (or segments thereof) which are outside the boundaries of other conservation system units: Birch Creek, Delta, Fortymile, Gulkana, Alagnak, Killik, Noatak, Nowitna, Unalakleet and Yukon (Ramparts section). Adds to the system the following rivers (or segments thereof) which form the boundary of, or are within, any national preserves in Alaska: Alagnak, Aniakchak, Charley, Chilikadrotna, Chitina, Mulchatna, and Noatak. Adds to the system portions of the following rivers which form the boundary of, or are within, any national wildlife refuge in Alaska: Nowitna, Porcupine, Sheenjek, Andreafsky, Ivishak, Kanektok, Kisaralik, and Wind. Requires that detailed boundaries and development plans be established for such rivers within one to four years of the date of enactment of this Act. Designates the following rivers to be studied for possible inclusion in the system: Colville, Copper (Iliamna), Copper, Etivluk-Nigu, Holitna- Hoholitna, Ikpikpuk, Koyuk, Kuskokwim, Melozitna, Mulchatna, Nelchina-Tazlina, Nuyakuk, Situk, Utukok and Squirrel. Sets forth time requirements for completion of such studies. Authorizes the Secretary to seek cooperative agreements with the owners of non-Federal lands adjoining certain rivers which are newly designated units of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Title VI: Designation of Wilderness and Wilderness Study Within Units or Additions to Units of the National Park, National Wildlife Refuge, and National Forest System - Designates certain lands in the following areas as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation system: (1) Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve; (2) Bering Land Bridge National Preserve; (3) Denali National Park and Preserve; (4) Gates of the Arctic National Park; (5) Glacier Bay National Park; (6) Katmai National Park; (7) Kenai Fjords National Park; (8) Kobuk Valley National Park; (9) Lake Clark National Park and Preserve; (10) Noatak National Preserve; (11) Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve; and (12) Yukon-Charley National Preserve. Directs the Secretary to review the nondesignated wilderness within the boundaries of such units and report to the President and the Congress his recommendations concerning all such units within four years after the date of enactment of this Act. Designates certain lands within the following areas as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System; (1) Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Alaska Maritime Wilderness, Aleutian Islands Wilderness, Unimak Wilderness, and Semidi Wilderness; (2) Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Arctic Wilderness; (3) Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Becharof Wilderness; (4) Innoko National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Innoko Wilderness; (5) Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Izembek Wilderness; (6) Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Kanuti Wilderness; (7) Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Kenai Wilderness; and (8) Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as Selawik Wilderness. Directs the Secretary to review, as to suitability or nonsuitability for preservation as wilderness, certain other areas within the conservation system units. Designates as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) certain lands in the Chugach National Forest, to be known as the Nellie Juan Wilderness and College Fjord Wilderness; and (2) certain lands in the Tongass National Forest, to be known as the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness, the West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness, the Yakutat Wilderness, and Admiralty Island Wilderness. Sets forth provisions relating to the management of Admiralty Island Wilderness. Sets forth special provisions regarding the management of such wilderness areas. Stipulates that such provisions are enacted in recognition of the unique conditions in Alaska, and are not to be applied to lands outside of Alaska. Designates as wilderness areas certain fish hatcheries in Nellie Juan, Stikine LeConte, and West Chichagof-Yokobi Wilderness. Title VII: Subsistence - Declares it the policy of Congress that: (1) management policies on the public lands in Alaska are to cause the least possible adverse impact on subsistence-dependent rural people, and as far as possible, such people are to have the option of continuing a subsistence lifestyle to the extent they choose to do so; (2) nonwasteful subsistence use of wildlife and other renewable resources shall have priority over other consumptive use of such resources on the public lands in Alaska; and (3) Federal land-managing agencies are to cooperate with adjacent landowners and land managers in managing subsistence activities on the public lands and in protecting wild renewable resources in Alaska. Defines "subsistence uses" as the noncommercial, customary and traditional uses in Alaska of wild, renewable resources for direct personal or family use as food, shelter, fuel, clothing, tools, or transportation, for the making and selling of handicraft articles (including clothing) but only out of nonedible by-products of fish and wildlife resources taken for personal or family use or for the customary trade, barter, or sharing among subsistence users for personal or family use. Authorizes the State to regulate the taking of fish and wildlife on public lands for subsistence purposes in a manner consistent with the policies set forth in this Act. Sets forth the required elements of the subsistence management program of the State. Provides for the establishment of not less than five management regions. Requires that there be sufficient number and boundaries of the management regions to assure that regional differences in subsistence uses are adequately accommodated. Provides for the establishment of a system of local and regional fish and wildlife councils within each management region. Sets forth the functions of such councils, including the preparation of recommended subsistence management plans for each region. Directs the Secretary to monitor the State subsistence management program and the implementation of such program. Authorizes the Secretary to close the public lands in an area to all consumptive uses except subsistence uses by local residents, if it is determined that: (1) the State has failed to implement a subsistence management program or, (2) the State has failed to make necessary changes in the program as indicated by the Secretary, and (3) such failure threatens the natural stability and continued productivity of the fish and wildlife populations on public lands in the area concerned, or the ability of subsistence-dependent residents in such area to satisfy their subsistence needs. Authorizes the Secretary to temporarily close any public lands (including those within any conservation system unit) to subsistence uses if necessary for reasons of public safety, administration, or to assure the national stability and continued productivity of one or more fish or wildlife populations. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements or to otherwise cooperate with other Federal agencies, the State of Alaska, Native Corporations, and other appropriate persons and organizations, (including, through coordination with the Secretary of State, other nations) in order to protect subsistence resources and uses. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to prepare and submit to the Congress periodic reports on the uses of those resources on the public lands. Provides that summaries of such reports shall be published in the Federal Register and made available to the public. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to prescribe such regulations as are necessary for them to carry out their responsibilities under such Act. Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse the State wildlife agency 50 percent of the costs of developing and implementing the State's program, providing that such reimbursements do not exceed $5,000,000 in any one fiscal year. Title VIII: Implementation of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and Alaska Statehood Act - Conveys: (1) to the Village Corporations, the surface estate in the "core townships" (towns or townships in which the Native villages are located); (2) to the Village Corporations, lands on the Native reserves which were set aside for the use or benefit of the stockholders or members of such Corporations before the date of enactment of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; and (3) to the appropriate Regional Corporations, the subsurface estate in the "core townships". Permits Native Corporations to utilize an expedited conveyance procedure, and sets forth such procedure. Requires Native Corporations choosing to utilize such procedure to file with the Secretary lists of their conveyance priorities. Sets forth administrative provisions concerning: (1) easements on core township lands, other lands, and acquisition of future easements; (2) status of certain lease offers; (3) extension of the moratorium on State taxation of undeveloped and unimproved lands; and (4) State selection and conveyances. Establishes the Alaska Native Land Bank Program, which will permit a Native Corporation to place its undeveloped and unimproved land holdings into an agreement with the State, or the Secretary if the State declines participation. States that such agreements shall be for ten years, with five year renewal periods. Provides that lands in such programs shall not be sold, transferred, improved or developed; shall be exempt from Federal and State taxation; shall not be subject to adverse possession; and shall not be subject to any action at law or equity to recover sums owed or penalties incurred by any Native Corporation, or any officer, director, or stockholder of any such Corporation. Provides that for three years after the date of enactment of this Act, any appropriate Federal court shall have jurisdiction to hear, consider, and decide any action brought by the State or by a Native Corporation to enforce the provisions of this Title. Title IX: Transportation and Utility Systems on Conservation System Units - Provides that laws which are generally applicable to units of the National Park, Wilderness Preservation, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Wildlife Refuge Systems regarding rights-of-way for transportation or utility systems, shall apply to units of conservation systems in Alaska. Reaffirms the authority of the Secretary to provide access to wilderness areas for the administration of such areas (including emergency measures involving the health and safety of persons within the areas) consistent with the Wilderness Act. Sets forth procedures for the consideration and processing of applications for rights-of-way on public lands within conservation units in Alaska for transportation or utility systems over which the Secretary has no authority. Authorizes the Secretary to grant rights-of-way for certain oil or gas pipelines if he has determined that there is no economically feasible alternative route. Authorizes the Secretary to grant a right-of-way for a transportation or utility system across public lands within a conservation system unit (other than a wilderness area), if an environmental impact statement for that section of the right-of-way crossing such unit would not have been required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Secretary has determined that such right-of-way: (1) would not result in a significant adverse effect on the conservation system unit, and (2) would be compatible with the purposes for which the unit was established and the purposes of this Act. Requires the Secretary to transmit a recommendation to the Congress regarding whether or not the application for a certain right-of-way which the Secretary does not have the authority to grant or deny, should be granted. States that prior to making such recommendation the Secretary must determine: (1) whether the approval of such application is in the public interest; (2) whether there is an economically feasible and prudent alternative to granting the right-of-way; and (3) whether the transportation or utility system can be constructed, operated, and maintained in a manner compatible with the purposes of the affected conservation system unit and this Act. Sets forth other items to be transmitted to the Congress by the Secretary, with such recommendations. Establishes a procedure for Congressional approval of the Secretary's recommendations, as well as a procedure for expedited Congressional review of such applications. Requires the Secretary to issue a use permit for a right-of-way immediately following the enactment of a joint resolution of Congressional approval. Requires payment by the permittee, to the United States, of the fair market value of the right-of-way, unless Congress otherwise directs. Sets forth certain requirements for pipelines which cross wild and scenic rivers. Title X: Coordination - Establishes the Alaska Advisory Coordination Council, composed of the Alaska field directors of the Federal land managing and planning agencies; the Commissioners of the Alaska Departments of Natural Resources, Fish and Game, and Environmental Conservation; and representatives from a Village Corporation and a Regional Corporation, selected by the Governor. Requires that all Council meetings be open to the public, with at least 15 days notice in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in Alaska. Directs the Council to conduct studies and advise the Secretary, other Federal agencies, the State, and Native Corporations regarding land and resource uses in Alaska, including transportation planning, land use designation, fish and wildlife management, tourism, agricultural development, coastal zone management, and preservation of cultural and historical resources. Authorizes the Council, with the concurrence of the concerned members, to recommend cooperative planning and management zones where the management of lands or resources of one member materially affects another. Authorizes Federal members of the Council to enter into cooperative agreements with Federal agencies, with State and local agencies, and with Native Corporations for mutual consultation, review, and coordination of resource management plans within such zones. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and other assistance to landowners whose lands or resources are subject to a cooperative agreement, for fire control, trespass control, law enforcement, resource use, and planning. States that such assistance may be provided without reimbursement if the Secretary determines that doing so would further the purposes of the cooperative agreement and would be in the public interest. Provides that the Council will terminate in ten years, unless it is extended by Congress. Title XI: Administrative Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire by purchase, donation, or exchange any lands within the boundaries of any conservation system unit. Stipulates that land owned by the State, a political subdivision or a Native Corporation may only be acquired with their consent. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to such acquisitions. Directs the Secretary to take actions, including acquiring or providing easements or other interests in lands, which may be necessary to assure: (1) access to subsistence lands; (2) agency access to administer conservation system units; (3) public access to the units; and (4) continued public access to State lands within the units. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to access to such lands. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire up to 7,500 acres of archaeological or paleontological sites outside of the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Kubuk Valley National Park, and the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Requires the Secretary, prior to acquiring any such property in excess of 100 acres to submit notice of the proposed acquisition to the appropriate committees of the Congress, and publish notice of such proposed acquisition in the Federal Register. Authorizes the Secretary to establish an information and education center for visitors to Alaska, on no more than 1,000 acres of land adjacent to the Alaska Highway. Authorizes the Secretary to establish such centers in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish such a center in Juneau, Ketchikan, or Sitka. Sets forth provisions relating to program planning, construction, operation and administration of such centers. Authorizes the Secretary to establish administrative sites and visitor facilities within the conservation units, if compatible, or outside the units. Directs the Secretary to locate such sites and facilities on Native lands where practicable and desirable. Sets forth the authorities of the Secretary in regard to establishing such sites and facilities. Directs the Secretary, under reasonable terms, to permit a person who on or before January 1, 1978, was adequately providing any type of visitor service to a conservation system unit, to continue providing the services if they are consistent with the purposes of the unit. Requires that the Secretary, in selecting persons to provide visitor services, give preference to Native Corporations most directly affected by the conservation system unit, and local residents. Directs the Secretary to establish a local-hire program, under which the Secretary will consider for selection qualified local residents to positions in any of the units, without regard to civil service regulations which require minimum periods of formal training or experience, other preference provisions, or numerical limitations on personnel. Requires the Secretary to submit annual reports and recommendations to Congress on such program. Requires the Secretary to prepare detailed management plans for national park and wildlife refuge units and submit them to Congress within five years of the date of enactment of this Act. Sets forth requirements for such plans, factors which must be considered, public hearings requirements, and requirements for reports to the appropriate committees of Congress. Closes all areas of the National Park System in Alaska to the taking of fish and wildlife, except for authorized subsistence use, fishing, and sport hunting as the Secretary may permit within national preserves. Stipulates that other conservation units will be subject to applicable Federal and State law. Provides for options to certain licensed hunting guides, who would suffer economic hardship if specified parks were closed to sport hunting. Directs the Secretary to allow nonsubsistence licensed trappers to continue trapping within certain areas if he finds that they would suffer economic hardship when those parks are closed to nonsubsistence trapping. Requires that a map and legal description of each conservation system unit be filed with the appropriate committees of the Congress, and be available in the Alaska and Washington, D.C. offices of the Federal land managing offices. Sets forth requirements for the submission to Congress of environmental impact statements and reports on major Federal actions in the units. Requires Congressional review of all regulations issued by the Secretary pursuant to this Act, identical to those contained in section 551 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. Title XII: Miscellaneous - Establishes the Iditarod National Historic Trail, by amending the National Trails System Act. Permits the State of Alaska to donate mineral interests, as well as surface estate lands, to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Provides for the continued use, operation, and maintenance of: (1) existing air and water navigation aids and existing facilities for weather, climate, and fisheries research, where they are located within the conservation system units; and (2) existing facilities for national defense purposes, and related air and water navigation aids, within or adjacent to conservation system units. Permits the establishment, operation, and maintenance within any conservation system unit of new air and water navigation aids and related facilities, facilities for national defense purposes and related air and water navigation aids, and facilities for weather, climate, and fisheries research and monitoring. Withdraws all public lands within the conservation system units in Alaska, subject to valid existing rights, from the mining and mineral leasing laws of the United States. Rescinds all powersite withdrawals which apply to lands within conservation units. Permits the Secretary to grant certain applications for allotment regardless of prior state withdrawals. Directs the Secretary to study the desirability of establishing a Denali Scenic Highway. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act for fiscal years beginning after fiscal year 1978. Title XIII: Minerals Assessments, Exploration, Development, and Extraction on Conservation System Units - Directs the Secretary to continue programs to assess the mineral potential of all public lands in Alaska and authorizes such techniques as side-looking radar imagery and core drilling for geologic information. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) study and conduct assessments of the oil, gas, and other mineral potential of all public lands in Alaska; (2) establish priorities for accelerated assessments with respect to minerals for which there is a high potential on public lands; and (3) enter into contracts with public or private entities to carry out such programs. Requires that such activities be subject to regulations promulgated by the Secretary, in order to ensure that such activities are carried out in an environmentally sound manner: (1) which does not appreciably alter the national character of the area or biological or ecological systems in the area; and (2) which is compatible with the purposes for which such units are established. Directs the President to submit to the Congress, on or before October 1, 1981: (1) a proposal for the establishment of a procedure for evaluating applications by individuals wishing to carry out mineral exploration or extraction on lands within conservation system units in Alaska; and (2) all pertinent public information relating to minerals in Alaska gathered by the Bureau of Mines and any other Federal agency.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow renters of their principal residence an income tax credit for 25 percent of their proportionate share of the State and local real property taxes imposed upon the property on which their residence is located. Stipulates that the amount of the allowable credit may not exceed the amount of rent paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior, subject to the supervision of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission, to construct the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in accordance with the general design approved by the Commission on Fine Arts in West Potomac Park in the District of Columbia. Authorizes appropriations in such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1980, 1981, and 1982 to carry out a cooperative program with the States for the conservation, development, and enhancement of anadromous fish.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Panama Canal Modernization Act - Authorizes the Governor of the Canal Zone, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army, to increase the capacity and improve the operations of the Panama Canal (Third Locks project). Permits the Governor to utilize the services and facilities of the Panama Canal Company to carry out this Act. Establishes a Panama Canal Advisory and Inspection Board to study and review all plans and designs for the Third Locks project and to inspect the construction of such project. Prohibits any construction to begin or modifications to be made without the prior approval of the Board. Requires the Board to report annually to the President and Congress. Stipulates that this Act: (1) will not take effect until Congress is notified that the President will take no further actions for the surrender of the Canal Zone and Panama Canal to Panama; and (2) will remain effective only as long as U.S. rights, pursuant to the 1903, 1936, and 1955 treaties with Panama, remain unaltered. Provides for the repayment to the United States of funds expended under this Act through the toll rates.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1979
Intergovernmental Antirecession and Supplementary Fiscal Assistance Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Public Works Employment Act of 1976 to add to the congressional findings under such Act that both an antirecession fiscal assistance program and a supplementary fiscal assistance program which aid governments requiring fiscal relief are essential elements of a sound Federal fiscal policy. Extends the authorization of appropriations for antirecession fiscal assistance through September 30, 1980. Provides for the suspension of such assistance in certain circumstances if the unemployment rate does not exceed six percent. Amends such Act to require the Secretary of Labor to calculate the unemployment rate for specified units of local governments, within or encompassing standard metropolitan statistical areas, using the population survey methodology used prior to January 1, 1978, if such rates are higher than under the current methodology. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to reallocate any undistributed excess amounts among the States and local governments proportionately. Repeals the requirement that States and local governments file statements with the Secretary containing certain reporting assurances. Authorizes the Secretary to make supplemental payments to local governments whose allocation would be reduced as a result of calculating unemployment rates by a new formula. Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide the Secretary of Commerce with necessary information and to determine unemployment rates for each State and local government. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to pay supplementary fiscal assistance to local governments with unemployment rates above six percent whenever the unemployment rate for the United States is five percent or more. Authorizes appropriations for such assistance through September 30, 1980. Provides for the suspension of such assistance if antirecession fiscal assistance is being paid or U.S. unemployment rates are less than five percent. Specifies the formula to be used in determining payments under this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to combine certain supplementary payments with the general revenue sharing payment and make a single payment to the local governmental unit. Provides for the reallocation of any undistributed excess amounts among the local governmental units proportionately. Requires local governments receiving supplementary fiscal assistance to comply with those provisions applicable to antirecession fiscal assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1979
Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 to authorize appropriations of $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1980, 1981, and 1982 to carry out the purposes of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1979
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to reimburse State and local governments for providing special protection on a regular basis to foreign diplomatic missions or foreign officials in specified circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
National Digestive Diseases Prevention, Cure, and Control Act - Amends title IV of the Public Health Service Act (National Research Institutes) to establish a National Digestive Diseases Education and Information Clearinghouse to collect and disseminate information respecting digestive diseases and to serve as a national educational resource for patients with digestive diseases. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to medical schools for education and training programs in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of digestive diseases. Establishes a 24-member part-time National Digestive Diseases Advisory Board to advise on the coordination of Federal agencies' efforts in the implementation of the long- range plan of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases, among other specified functions. Terminates such Board on September 30, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Redesignates the Canal Zone Code as the Panama Canal Code. Enacts technical amendments in such Code and in the laws of the United States to reflect the administration of the Canal by the Panama Canal Commission and the transfer of the Canal to Panama pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977. Directs the President to submit to Congress proposed legislation to revise laws which are applicable only during the Canal transition period and to incorporate the remaining provisions of the Panama Canal Code into the United States Code. Title I: Panamanian Relations and Security Matters - Directs the President to appoint the United States representatives to the Joint Commission on the Environment and the Consultative Committee between the United States and Panama. Makes the U.S. Ambassador to Panama responsible for coordinating the transfer of functions to be assumed by Panama pursuant to the Treaty. Stipulates that the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission shall not be subject to the direction or supervision of the Ambassador. Repeals security legislation with respect to use of the Canal during a national emergency. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to repeal the applicability of arms export or import licensing requirements to the Panama Canal. Directs the Secretary of State to periodically furnish Panama with a list of persons entitled to the privileges and immunities specified in the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977. Repeals the designation as the Canal Zone of areas specified in the 1903 treaty with Panama. Repeals the President's authorization: (1) to acquire or exchange land for the operation of the Panama Canal and the Canal Zone; and (2) to designate towns and subdivisions of the Zone. Terminates the Canal Zone Government and the position of Canal Zone Governor. Repeals procedures regulating revocable licenses for lands in the Canal Zone. Repeals all provisions in the Panama Canal Code with respect to extradition of fugitives in the Canal Zone to Panama. Authorizes the Panama Canal Commission, other agencies and departments, and the United States courts in Panama, to transfer their records to other agencies, departments, or courts of the United States, and (with the approval of the agency head and the Ambassador) to the Government of Panama. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary of Treasury make annual payments to Panama pursuant to the Treaty of 1955. Title II: Panama Canal Commission - Establishes the Panama Canal Commission as a corporation and agency of the United States to succeed the Panama Canal Company. Repeals provisions of the Panama Canal Code relating to interest payments by the Panama Canal Company on the direct investment of the United States in such company. Revises procedures by which the Panama Canal Commission shall account for its capital surplus and pay dividends on such investment. Requires the Panama Canal Commission to make certain payments from the Canal operating revenues, as required by the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, to Panama. Defines payments by the Commission to Panama for public services as an operating cost of the Commission. Sets forth procedures for the appointments of the Commission Board of Directors and administrative officers. Revises the amenability of the Commission to suits. Makes the powers of the Commission subject to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977. Repeals the subjection of the Commission to other treaties and laws of the United States. Repeals the "deemed acceptance" by the Panama Canal Company of certain property, facilities, and personnel, transferred to the Company by the President. Directs the transfer of certain assets and liabilities of the Panama Canal Company and the Canal Zone Government to the Commission. Transfers from the President to the Commission the authority to prescribe regulations governing Canal navigation. Repeals the authorization for the consolidation of the funds of the Commission and the Canal Zone Government. Directs the Department of Defense to reimburse the Commission for Commission expenditures for the maintenance of defense facilities. Authorizes Federal agencies, as designated by the President, to provide educational and health care services, formerly carried out by the Canal Zone Government. Authorizes the funds of the Commission to be used for reimbursing such agencies for providing such services to employees and other authorized individuals. Prohibits the funds of the Commission to be expended to furnish free health services to Commission employees. Requires Panama to continue to pay for water supplied by the Commission. Authorizes the Commission to utilize funds for disaster relief when a disaster poses hazards to health, safety, security, or property in the Canal Zone. Repeals the authority of the Governor of the Canal Zone to acquire equipment for the Canal Zone. Permits property transfers and cross-servicing agreements between the Commission and the United States departments and agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution. Permits the Commission to prescribe Canal tolls which shall be calculated to cover the maintenance and operation costs of the Canal, subject to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977. Requires United States vessels to pay tolls. Repeals settlement authority with respect to claims against the civil government of the Canal Zone. Revises: (1) the procedures for investigating claims against the Commission; (2) the elements of recognizable claims; and (3) the measure of damages of such claims. Imposes a two-year statute of limitations on such claims. Establishes a Board of Local Inspectors of the Panama Canal Commission to inspect claims against the Commission. Requires an action on such a claim to be brought in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Directs the President to appoint the U.S. representatives to a joint committee with Panama to study the possibility of a sea-level canal. Prohibits construction of such a canal without express congressional authorization. Title III: Employees and Postal Matters - Repeals provisions of the Panama Canal Code relating to the appointment and compensation of Canal Zone Government employees and teachers. Repeals the authorization for deductions from the compensation of Panama Canal Commission employees for amounts due for supplies and services. Repeals restrictions on the hours of work for telegraph operators and train dispatchers of the Commission. Permits the Commission to appoint and compensate its employees. Makes provisions regulating wage and employment practices governing United States employees in the Canal Zone applicable to the Commission. Directs the establishment of a Panama Canal Employment System governing Commission employees and certain United States employees in Panama. Exempts the Commission and its employees from the U.S. Code provisions concerning Federal employee organizations. Directs the President to establish a form of collective bargaining applicable to the Commission's employees. Repeals the extension of additional compensation for tax differentials. Permits the payment of overseas recruitment and retention differentials to certain individuals, including doctors. Permits the transfer of Federal employees to the Commission. Makes the preceding provisions applicable to Federal employees of the Smithsonian Institution. States that conditions of employment, placement, and retirement shall not be affected by the transfer of employees of the Panama Canal Company, or the Canal Zone Government, to the Commission or United States agencies in Panama. Sets forth the rights of such employees with respect to placement, educational travel benefits, insurance, compensation adjustment, and early retirement. Specifies that certain law enforcement officers be treated as employees of the Commission. Excludes Commission employees from the health and life insurance provisions of the U.S. Code if they are not U.S. citizens and were not employed by a Federal agency before the effective date of the Treaty. Directs payment of the Social Security System of Panama funds to purchase retirement equity in that system for certain non-United States citizens retiring under special Treaty provisions. Make provisions for the pay scale of the Administrator of the Commission. Exempts Federal employees whose pay is fixed by the Panama Canal Employment System from the pay provisions generally applicable to Federal employees. Discontinues the postal service established by the Panama Canal Code. Directs the Panama Canal Commission to assume the funds and obligations of the postal service. Title IV: Courts and Related Functions - Continues the applicability of the Panama Canal Code in conformity to the Treaty. Limits court jurisdiction to that prescribed by the Treaty. Permits the continued operation of the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone within Treaty limitations. Repeals the division of such court. Repeals Canal Zone residency for a special district judge. Revises the operational procedures and continuation contingencies of the magistrates courts established by the Panama Canal Code. Vests in the Panama Canal Commission the authority necessary to carry out United States rights and responsibilities specified in Article XI of the Treaty. Redefines "special immigrants" under the Immigration and Nationality Act to include certain employees and retirees of the Panama Canal Company or the Canal Zone Government who are Canal Zone residents on the date of the exchange of Treaty ratification instruments. Waives specified conditions of inadmissibility for such immigrant applicants for 30 months after the Treaty enters into force. Provides for the transfer of custody of all prisoners sentenced to more than one year imprisonment by the U.S. District Court for the Canal Zone to the Attorney General. Provides for the transfer of all prisoners sentenced to less than one year of imprisonment to the Panama Canal Commission. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Deems references to "hospitals," "Health Bureau," and "health director," in the Panama Canal Code to apply to the hospitals operated by the United States in Panama. Authorizes appropriations for the disinterment, transportation, and reinterment of remains of U.S. citizens buried in the Canal Zone.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Amends the Shipping Act, 1916, to expand the jurisdiction of the Federal Maritime Commission to include complaints against shippers, consignors, and consignees. Makes such shippers, consignors, and consignees subject to the rates and charges specified in applicable tariffs on file with the Commission for the transport of property by water.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment for specified services performed by chiropractors, including x-rays and for physical examinations, and for related routine laboratory tests.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to compute the amount of the income tax deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1979
Surplus School Conservation Act of 1979 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to local agencies to convert closed school buildings for educational and social purposes. Stipulates that no more than ten percent of such grants shall go to local agencies in any particular State.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1979
Entitles veterans meeting specified service requirements to 54 instead of 45 months of educational assistance. Eliminates the time limitation within which educational assistance must be used. Restores unused educational assistance benefits to veterans of World War II, the Korean conflict, or the Vietnam era.
![Official portrait of Rep. Murphy, John M. [D-NY-17]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001098_200.jpg)