United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1978
Legislative Oversight Act - Title I: Requirements for Authorization Bills - Requires all legislation considered by either House of Congress which authorizes new budget authority or increased tax expenditures to include a statement of objectives of the program to be authorized or established and a requirement that the agencies administering the program report annually to Congress to assist it in determining whether such program should be amended. Requires such agency reports to list the costs and accomplishments of each program. Title II: Requirements for Reports Accompanying Authorization Bills - Requires committee reports accompanying such legislation to identify expected economic and social costs and benefits of new programs authorized or established by such legislation, potentially duplicative programs, and previous efforts to accomplish the objectives of the program being considered. Requires reports to contain, if the legislation continues an existing program, authorization, or tax expenditure, an assessment of the degree to which such program or tax expenditure has met previously stated objectives. Requires the Comptroller General to publish and periodically update a descriptive catalog of interrelated Federal activities which compares program costs and accomplishments and describes program interrelationships, including the extent to which programs are duplicative. Title III: Presidential Budget Recommendations - Requires the President's budget to describe the relationship between the President's recommended program budgets and the program accomplishments reported by Federal agencies under this Act. Title IV: Authorization Time Limit; Certain Obligations not Impaired - Prohibits congressional consideration of any legislation which authorizes new budget authority or provides new or increased tax expenditures, or new spending authority for a period exceeding five years. Exempts from this prohibition national debt service and payments to individuals from Federal trust funds to which such individuals have contributed. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions; Effective Date - Recognizes the authority of either House to amend this Act. Sets the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Agricultural Trade Expansion Act - Amends the Food for Peace Act of 1966 to permit the Commodity Credit Corporation to finance export sales of agricultural commodities on credit terms in excess of three years, but not more than ten years. Exempts such sales from the requirement that exports be transported on privately owned United States - flag commercial vessels.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Human Resources Development Act - Directs the President or his delegate to carry out, through grants to, or contracts with private and public nonprofit institutions, a program consisting of projects which either (1) involve labor-management cooperation for the improvement of productivity and quality of work life, innovation in a major feature of employment, increased worker participation in decisionmaking, or profit sharing or (2) are designed to establish the efficacy of policies and practices maintaining normal employment levels during periods of cyclical downturns in demand through reassignment of workers to training and other specified types of programs. Directs the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the National Center for Productivity and Quality of Working Life to assist in carrying out such program.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Declares that it is the policy of the Congress in the interest of public health to phase out Federal assistance which promotes the production of tobacco and the manufacturing and marketing of tobacco products for human consumption. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to the President and to the appropriate Congressional committees his findings and recommendations regarding the probable economic effects (particularly on family farmers) of the phasing out of specified Federal tobacco assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Tuition Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit against an individual's income tax in an amount equal to 50 percent of the sum of the amounts paid by him to educational institutions as tuition (though no more than $500 for any single individual) for the attendance of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or any of his dependents with respect to whom he is entitled to a personal exemption.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1977
Antiterrorism Act - Title I: Reorganization of Executive Office of the President - Establishes the Council to Combat Terrorism within the Executive Office of the President under the direction of the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Requires the Council to consider the best effective means by which to combat terrorism anywhere in the world, to coordinate Federal activities for the prevention of terrorism, including the collection of worldwide intelligence, and the protection of United States personnel and facilities abroad, and assist the President in duties under this Act. Requires the President to report to Congress every act of terrorism which affects citizens of the United States and to identify the terrorists and any country which aids or gives refuge to such terrorists. Requires the President to establish a List of Countries Aiding Terrorist Enterprises (LOCATE). Requires the President to impose sanctions against countries on the LOCATE. Directs the President to establish a List of Dangerous Foreign Airports, naming each airport, by country, which does not meet the minimum United States safety standards. Permits the President to impose sanctions against such airports. Title II: Policy on International Agreements - Recommends that the President seek international agreements to more effectively combat international terrorism. Requires presidential approval of sales of defense articles to individuals or groups. Title III: Extension of Existing Safety and Security Measures - Directs the President to extend existing air safety and security measures to supplemental means of air transportation and specified airports within the United States not presently covered by such measures. Requires all explosives imported into, exported from, or manufactured in the United States to contain taggants identifying the source and time of manufacture and permitting the detection of concealed explosives. Title IV: Aircraft Sabotage and Piracy - Prohibits and establishes penalties for acts of sabotage, violence, and other specified crimes committed aboard or against any aircraft or against specified air facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1977
Federal Election Campaign Reform Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to (1) permit designated committees to make expenditures for Presidential candidates, (2) exempt from a candidate's contribution limits payments for certain media advertisements by other candidates which advocate election of such candidate, and (3) direct the Federal Election Commission to establish uniform recordkeeping and reporting procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1977
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs in regard to the eligibility for educational benefits of a veteran or other person enrolled in a farm cooperative program, to prescribe for the agricultural employment requirement standards of relevance to the courses taken which allow such veteran or person to work: (1) in establishments engaged in the processing, distribution, or sale of agricultural products; (2) less than full-time; and (3) regardless of whether such employment is expected to be the principal source of income of the veteran or person so employed.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1977
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the people of Egypt and Israel be congratulated and encourages the states of the Middle East to begin direct negotiations for peace in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 1977
Truth in Lending Simplification Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to exempt transactions involving extensions of credit for agricultural purposes. Defines the finance charge as the sum of all charges imposed upon and payable by the consumer for the extension of credit. Requires the itemizing of finance charges except in the case of the sale of a dwelling or a consumer loan secured by a first lien. Amends the Truth in Lending Act by requiring from both consumer and creditor, statements indicating a security interest is taken and general descriptions of any other property which is the subject of or is in connection with extension of credit not under an open end credit plan. Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to provide readily understandable model forms and clauses to facilitate compliance with disclosure requirements. States that no civil or criminal liability applies for failure to make disclosure if the creditor utilized these model forms or clauses in good faith. Redefines the disclosure requirements to comply with the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional excise tax on cigarettes to be paid to States not imposing local cigarette taxes to the extent the taxes collected are attributable to those States. Imposes penalties for bootlegging large amounts of cigarettes and provides for the regulation of interstate cigarette dealers and transporters by the Department of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1977
Declares it the sense of the Congress that the President direct the United States delegation to the Belgrade Conference to place the issue of the arrest, trial, and conviction of Mykola Rudenko and Oleska Tykhy before the Conference.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination against any applicant for credit on the basis of the geographical location of the applicant's residence.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Biennial Budgeting Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish a two-year cycle for the congressional budget process. Requires each standing committee of Congress to review the laws and programs under its jurisdiction every other year and to consider the desirability of new legislation in such areas. Requires separate consideration for authorizing legislation, budget resolutions, and appropriation bills.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Occupational Alcoholism Prevention and Treatment Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, acting through the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, to make grants to employers, labor organizations, consortiums of employees or labor organizations, and to public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations to pay no more than 50 percent of the cost of establishing, and operating occupational alcoholism programs. Authorizes the appropriation of a specified percentage of Federal taxes collected on alcohol to finance such assistance. Allots such fund among the States. Requires any individual or organization desiring to receive funds to submit an annual application for approval by the Secretary. Makes applicants approved by the Secretary eligible to receive grants from the State allotment.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Tallgrass Prairie National Park and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the State of Kansas.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Family Violence Prevention and Treatment Act - Title I: General Provisions - Sets forth the findings of Congress and declares the purposes of this Act. Defines terms used in this Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act in fiscal year 1978 and 1979. Title II: Coordinating Council on Family Violence - Establishes within the executive branch an independent organization known as the Coordinating Council on Family Violence (Council). Specifies the membership of the Council. States that the functions of the Council shall be: (1) to identify, assess, and coordinate all Federal programs related to problems of family violence in order to eliminate duplication of effort, inefficient use of resources, and lack of strategic objectives and priorities; and (2) to stimulate new programs within member agencies of the Council where necessary to fill gaps in services, funding, research, or demonstration programs. Directs the Council to make recommendations to the President and the Congress at least annually with respect to the coordination of overall policy and development of objectives and priorities. Title III: National Center for Community Action Against Family Violence - Directs the Director of ACTION to establish a National Center for Community Action Against Family Violence. States that the purpose of the Center shall be to provide information and technical assistance to local community groups which need assistance with organizing or operating existing or proposed programs dealing with family violence. Describes the functions of the Center including: (1) the development and maintenance of an information clearinghouse for services available for the treatment and prevention of family violence; (2) the establishment of a toll-free telephone number for the provision of information and counseling; (3) the development of a volunteer force to provide service through community centers dealing with family violence; (4) the making of grants to support and train volunteers; and (5) the development of a campaign to educate the public about the problems of family violence and resources available to deal with such problems. Sets forth procedures for the execution of such functions. Title IV: Amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act - Requires State plans under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to include provisions for the reporting of forms of family violence in addition to child abuse and neglect. Title V: Evaluation and Research - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide a specified sum for each of the two years following the enactment of this Act to evaluate the impact of community programs assisted by HEW on the prevention and treatment of family violence.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Aged, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to reduce tax rates below their present level on employment income for both employers and employees and on self-employment income. Increases Federal contributions to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act by 50 percent. Increases the ceiling on the amount of income that is subject to social security taxation to $17,700 by 1978. Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to submit to the Congress a detailed proposal for benefit computation changes of the primary insurance amount under Title II of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1977
Requires, upon application by the insured, waiver of the payment of premiums for National Service Life Insurance during any time after which the insured has attained the age of 70 and has paid premiums on the insurance for not less than 25 years.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1977
Grants a Federal Charter to the Gold Star Wives of America. Stipulates that the purpose of such organization is to honor the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for occupational therapy services under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Psychotropic Substances Act - Amends the Controlled Substances Act, the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Public Health Service Act to meet obligations under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a $5,000 tax exclusion for persons aged 65 or over for amounts received as an annuity, pension, or other retirement benefit, and for all persons receiving retirement benefits under a public retirement system.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
International Emergency Food Reserve Act - Authorizes the President: (1) to enter into negotiations with other nations to develop an international system of food reserves for humanitarian food relief needs; and (2) to establish and maintain an International Emergency Food Reserve as a contribution of the United States toward the development of such a system. Requires for such Reserve minimum stocks of two million tons, allowing an increase up to six million tons pursuant to an international agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1977
Prohibits commerce in contraband cigarettes. Defines "contraband cigarettes" as a quantity of more than 20, with respect to which the applicable State cigarette taxes which have not been paid and which are in the possession of any person other than: (1) a person licensed by the State where the cigarettes are found or by the Internal Revenue Service; (2) a common or contract carrier; or (3) a government agent in the performance of duties. Subjects dealers in cigarettes to such reporting requirements as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile, apparel, or fiber products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1977
Hospital Cost Containment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (Secretary) to submit to Congress by March 1, 1978, recommendations for permanent reforms in the delivery and financing of health care which will replace the transmitted provisions set forth in this Act. Title I: Transitional and Other Hospital Cost Constraint Provisions - Declares it to be the purpose of the transitional hospital cost containment program to constrain the rate of increase in in total hospital inpatient costs beginning January 1, 1978, and continuing until the adoption of permanent reforms established by this Act, by limiting the amount of revenue which may be received by the hospitals involved from Government programs, private insurers, and individuals who pay directly for hospital care. Establishes limits on: (1) the average reimbursement payable per admission to a hospital for inpatient services covered by a "cost payer" as such term is defined in this Act; and (2) the average inpatient charges per admission of a hospital. Sets forth criteria for the determination of such limits for each of the first three accounting years of hospitals subject to this Act. States that the criteria applicable to the third such year shall apply to each subsequent accounting year. Directs the Secretary to develop an economic index that accurately reflects the prices of the items that constitute components of hospital costs, and to report to Congress, not later than March 31, 1979, on the development of such index and on his recommendations as to whether such index should replace the hospital increase index described in this section. Establishes guidelines governing the increase of inpatient admissions and wages of nonsupervisory employees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to impose an excise tax on payments received for inpatient hospital services in excess of the limits established by this Act. Requires hospitals subject to this Act to provide rate, budget, and other financial information at specified times to the health service agency for the area in which such hospital is located. Requires such hospitals to publish their inpatient service rates annually. Establishes a system of incentive payments for hospitals which recognize an increase in the cost per inpatient admission which is less than the limit allowed for such increase. Exempts from the cost containment program established by this Act hospitals in a State which has established such a program which was submitted to and approved by the Secretary and which provides adequate assurances to the Secretary that the program will be conducted in accordance with guidelines set forth in this Act. Prohibits reimbursement under Titles V (Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Services), XVIII (Medicare), and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act for inpatient hospital services to the extent that it exceeds limits established pursuant to this Act or to an acceptable State cost containment plan. Authorizes an exemption from limits established under this Act for hospitals engaged in experiments and demonstrations authorized by the Social Security Act. Establishes guidelines and restrictions under Titles XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review), XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act for the determination of reasonable costs and charges under such Titles. Directs the Secretary, under Title XI, to establish uniform reporting and functional accounting systems for the purpose of accounting for health services provided under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Specifies the elements of such systems. Directs the Secretary to review all Federal regulations which affect hospital facilities and operation with respect to their cost impact. Requires such review to study particularly the lack of coordination in and duplication of audits, inspections, and similar requirements for such facilities. Requires the Secretary to report on such review to Congress by March 31, 1979. Authorizes the Secretary, under the Public Health Service Act, to make grants to medical schools to meet the costs of projects to establish and operate programs for students enrolled in such schools to provide training in the techniques of reducing the cost of delivering health care. Title II: Limitation on Capital Expenditures - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to promulgate: (1) an annual hospital capital expenditure limit; (2) a national ceiling for the supply of hospital beds; and (3) a national standard for the rate of occupancy of hospital beds. Sets forth the criteria to be considered by State health planning agencies when considering applications for certificates of need submitted by health facilities. Prohibits Federal payments under the Medicaid, Medicare, and Maternal and Child Health Services programs of the Social Security Act, to any State that has not entered into an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to the provisions of this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to include within gross income the interest on obligations issued by State or territorial governments to finance an institutional health service or health care facility which would be in excess of the limits established by this Act. Title III: Program to Assist and Encourage the Discontinuance of Unneeded Hospital Services - Directs the Secretary to establish a program of financial incentives for the consolidation of duplicative hospital services and the discontinuance of unneeded hospital services during the 54 month period beginning on the effective date of this Act. Allows a hospital which has been in operation for at least two years and which intends to: (1) discontinue providing inpatient health services; or (2) discontinue an identification unit of the hospital; or (3) which intends to convert an identifiable part of the hospital into a long-term care facility or an ambulatory care facility to apply for an incentive payment under this Title. Sets forth the formula to be used in determining the amount of incentive payments.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1977
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate from the classes of excludable and deportable aliens those aliens who: (1) are anarchists; (2) are opposed to organized government; or (3) are members or advocates of the Communist or a totalitarian party. Amends the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950 to remove the prohibition against the application by a member of a Communist organization for a U.S. passport, and the issuance of a passport to such a member.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1977
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the President of the United States (1) should propose an immediate suspension of underground nuclear explosions to remain in effect so long as the Soviet Union abstains from conducting underground explosions, and (2) should set forth promptly a new proposal to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other nations for a permanent treaty to ban all nuclear explosions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1977
Veterans' Educational Equity Act - Provides for payment of a supplemental tuition allowance to each qualified veteran upon application to the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs. Extends the delimiting period for completing a veteran's education program for up to two years if at the close of the ordinary ten-year delimiting period the veteran is enrolled in a program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1977
Drug Safety Amendments - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require: (1) identification and ingredient information on certain drug labels; (2) drug test recordkeeping; (3) origin certification of imported drugs; and (4) release of information used to determine new drugs' safety. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to: (1) give conditional marketing approval to new drugs; (2) conduct drug studies; and (3) suspend approval of new human or animal drugs. Establishes a drug development protocol for testing and marketing of new drugs. Prohibits the export of misbranded drugs unless they meet safety standards established by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1977
Telephone Privacy Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit unsolicited commercial telephone calls to a telephone subscriber who has notified the telephone company that he does not wish to receive such calls. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe regulations specifying the manner in which a telephone subscriber shall notify the telephone company that he does not wish to receive unsolicited calls. Prescribes criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Excludes from the definition of "unsolicited commercial telephone calls" calls made in response to an express request of the individual called or made in connection with an overdue debt or contractual obligation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1977
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the admission into the United States of an alien who is likely to become a public charge unless a United States citizen posts a $5,000 bond on behalf of such alien. Terminates the liability of the sponsor upon the death of the alien, or three years after such bond is given.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1977
Tuition Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals alternative, limited income tax credits or deductions for the tuition paid for the primary, secondary or higher education of the taxpayer, his spouse, or his dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1977
Amends the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to certain cities or townships for construction of local public works projects. Sets forth limitations on the amount of such grants. Authorizes the appropriation of $196,927,000 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1977
Amends Titles XI, part A (General Provisions) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to increase the dollar limitations on Medicaid payments to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, and to eliminate the 50 percent limitation on the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to the Medicaid programs of such territories and raise such limitation to the same level as that in the States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1977
Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a school of medicine from recovering a capitation grant in fiscal years 1978 and 1979 unless its grant application contains or is supported by assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare that the school will increase by six percent over the number of students currently enrolled in specified classes its enrollment of full time, third-year students in school years 1978-1979 and 1979-1980. Excludes from the determination of the number of full-time, third-year students enrolled in a school those full time, third-year students who were not second-year students in such school and who: (1) are not citizens of the United States; (2) were previously enrolled in a school of medicine which is in a State and which is not accredited by the appropriate bodies; (3) were first enrolled after October 12, 1976, in a school of medicine not in a State; (4) were previously enrolled in a school of medicine to which the requirements of this Act apply; or (5) were previously enrolled in a school of dentistry or a school of osteopathy. Sets forth the reasons for which the Secretary may waive the requirement of increased enrollment established by this Act. Stipulates that a school of medicine which did not comply with such increase requirements shall not be eligible to receive a capitation grant in fiscal year 1980. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to public or nonprofit institutions which provide graduate or specialized training in public health. Allows such funds to be granted to individuals with work experience in health services who are studying preventive medicine or dentistry. Increases the amounts authorized to be appropriated for grants for public health studies from $8,000,000 to $9,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, and from $9,000,000 to $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1980. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to specified committees of the House and the Senate on the quality of training provided by foreign medical schools, the need of this country for personnel trained in such schools, and the effectiveness of licensing conditions in this country in assuring that the health care provided by graduates of such schools is of high quality. Authorizes the Secretary to insure loans for students who have been accepted for enrollment at an eligible institution of health care education. Authorizes the insurance of loans made to individuals who have previously had a Federally insured student loan and who agree to expend such funds solely for the repayment of interest due on such loans. Stipulates that interest payments on such loans may be deferred. Raises the annual interest rate on the unpaid principal balance of such a loan to 12 percent. Authorizes the disbursing agent of Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C., subject to approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, to invest in public debt securities any funds in the hospital's account which are not currently needed.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1977
Amends the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to require all hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and intermediate care facilities which participate in programs under Titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of such Act to adopt and make public a statement of the rights and responsibilities of patients in the care of such facilities. Directs the Secretary to require that such statements establish specified guarantees including guarantees: (1) that the patient's civil and religious liberties will not be infringed; (2) that the patient has the right to private communications with his physician, attorney, or any other person; (3) that the patient has the right to conjugal visits; (4) that the patient has the right to have privacy in treatment in caring for personal needs and confidentiality in the treatment of personal and medical records; (5) that the patient has the right to notice and a hearing before being transferred or discharged from a facility; and (6) that the patient has such other rights as the Secretary deems appropriate. Directs the Secretary to require each facility to provide each patient and staff member with a copy of the statement of rights and the enforcement procedures and remedies available to patients, and requires further that each facility adopt a written plan for implementing such rights. Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for processing patients complaints and for the enforcement of patients' rights. Requires appropriate State agencies to investigate patients' complaints and to file a written report within 20 days disposing of such complaints. Imposes a fine, not to exceed $500 for each violation, upon a facility found in violation of patients' rights. Allows a patient to bring an original action in U.S. district court to enforce guaranteed rights. Authorizes the Attorney General of any State or of the United States to bring an action in U.S. district court or State court to enforce payment of fines imposed upon facilities found in violation of patients' rights. Provides that damages awarded to patients shall not constitute income or resources for purposes of determining eligibility under Medicaid or any Federal or federally-assisted program which conditions eligibility upon income or resources.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Declares that the President should establish a Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition which should: (1) collect and generate information and resources on food, hunger, malnutrition and related concerns; (2) assess current programs affecting domestic and international hunger and malnutrition; (3) analyze and report its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the public; and (4) assist the President and the Congress in implementing its recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1977
Amends the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to guarantee securities and obligations issued by a railroad in reorganization to State and local taxing authorities to secure the railroad's tax obligations when the Consolidated Rail Corporation, the United States Railway Association, or the Federal Government asserts a superior interest in payment out of the estate of such railroad during reorganization or liquidation proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act. Directs the Secretary, if sufficient funds are unavailable to discharge such guarantees, to issue notes or other obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to sell such olbigations. Authorizes appropriations in such amounts as may be necessary to discharge all of the Secretary of Transportation's obligations under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1977
Amends the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to require all hospitals skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, intermediate care facilities, and shared health facilities which participate in programs under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of such Act to adopt and make public a statement of the rights and responsibilities of patients in their care. Directs the Secretary to require that such statement establish specified guarantees including guarantees: (1) that the patient's civil and religious liberties will not be infringed; (2) that the patient has the right to private communications with his physician, attorney, or any other person; (3) that the patient has the right to have privacy in treatment and in caring for personal needs and confidentiality in the treatment of personal and medical records; and (4) that the patient has the right to notice and a hearing before being transferred or discharged from a facility. Directs the Secretary to provide each facility, patient and staff member with a copy of the statement of rights and the enforcement procedures and remedies available to patients, and requires further that each facility adopt a written plan for implementing such rights. Establishes a procedure for the enforcement of patients' rights. Directs the Secretary to prescribe a schedule of statutory money damages for violations of such rights. Requires State agencies responsible for inspection and enforcement of Medicare and Medicaid programs to investigate patients' complaints and to file a written report within ten days disposing of such complaints. Imposes fines upon facilities found in violation of patients' rights payable to the patient or his heirs. Allows a patient or facility to bring an original action in U.S. district court to enforce rights. Awards costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party. Provides that damages awarded to patients shall not constitute income or resources for purposes of determining eligibility under Medicaid or any Federal or federally-assisted State program which conditions eligibility upon income or resources.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1977
Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act to authorize the Administrator of General Services to assign surplus Federal real property to the Secretary of Commerce for disposal of such property at not less than 25 percent of the fair market value to States and local areas threatened by unemployment as a result of the closing of Federal facilities. Requires that such property be used by the transferees for economic development purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1977
Amends Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require payment to States of 90 percent of the total amount expended under State plans for early and periodic screening and diagnosis, (EPSDT) and 100 percent of the total amount for treatment of defects and conditions discovered through such screening and diagnosis. Institutes a program for distribution of coupons to individuals entitled to medical assistance EPSOT which identify services to which an eligible individual is entitled. Requires an annual compilation of providers and institutions which will provide services under EPSDT and further requires such institutions to provide to the maximum extent feasible all authorized services to individuals so entitled.
![Official portrait of Rep. Ottinger, Richard L. [D-NY-20]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/o000134_200.jpg)