United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1979
Tax Reduction Act of 1979 - Reduces individual income tax rates for taxable years 1979, 1980, and 1981. Makes the 1981 rate reduction permanent. Reduces the corporate income tax rates. Increases the corporate surtax exemption to $100,000.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Sets forth venue provisions applicable to the National Environmental Policy Act or any Act of Congress relating to environmental quality, including Acts relating to nonstatutory Federal water rights, in which the impact or injury alleged is less than nationwide in scope, requiring such actions to be brought only in a judicial district in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs. Requires appeals from any agency decision arising under such Acts to be appealed to the court of appeals for the judicial circuit in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Lamb Meat Quota Act of 1979 - Limits the aggregate quantity of lamb meat that may be imported into the United States after 1979 to the smaller of: (1) 24,500,000 pounds; or (2) ten percent of the domestic slaughter of land during the preceding year. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to estimate quarterly whether the domestic price of lamb exceeds the parity price and, on the basis of such estimate, to adjust the aggregate quantity of lamb meat which may enter the United States. Requires the Secretary to annually estimate the quota established, the domestic price of lamb, and any adjustment of the quota. Directs the Secretary to allocate such quotas among supplying countries on the basis of their share of the U.S. market.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Tax Relief Act of 1979 - Title I: Individual Income Tax Reductions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce individual and estate and trust income tax rates for 1979 and to make permanent reductions for succeeding years. Provides for cost-of-living adjustments to individual income tax brackets and to the amount of the personal exemption. Provides that the amount of the personal exemption and the zero bracket amount applicable to a taxpayer shall determine whether such taxpayer is required to file an income tax return. Title II: Capital Cost Recovery - Revises the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits a taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year. Title III: Reduction of Payroll Taxes and Long-Range Financial Strengthening of the Social Security System - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to repeal the special increases in the contribution and benefit base, for purposes of determining amount of tax liability, for 1979 through 1981. Limits contribution and benefit bases to a maximum $22,900 in 1979 and 1980. Makes reductions in the social security tax rate and sets forth the tax rate through year 2010. Provides for the partial funding of title XVIII (Medicare), part A (Hospital Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of the Social Security Act from general revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1979
Veterans' Administration Administrative Procedure and Judicial Review Act - Repeals provisions permitting the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to determine and pay fees to agents or attorneys representing veterans' claims under laws administered by the Veterans' Administration (VA). Provides for judicial review of certain administrative decisions made by the Administrator. Applies the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act to all VA rules, regulations, and determinations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1979
Title I: Purposes and Definitions - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to provide for a coordinated, simplified, and prompt process for Federal approval of nonnuclear energy facilities which are determined to be in the national interest. Title II: Priority Projects - Authorizes the President to establish an Energy Mobilization Board to be composed of members appointed by the President. Sets forth the general duties and powers of such Board. Stipulates that any action by the Board in designating a priority energy project shall not be considered as a "major Federal action" for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Directs the Council on Environmental Quality to determine whether any Federal action relating to the Priority Energy Project, after it has been so designated and prior to establishing the Project Schedule, will be a "major Federal action" for purposes of compliance with NEPA. Directs the Board to designate Priority Energy Projects, based on specified criteria, and to publish a Project Decision Schedule containing deadlines for all Federal actions relating to such projects. Directs the President to make any decisions or perform any actions in the event that an agency or department fails to meet its deadline. Stipulates that nothing in this Act shall prohibit any agency from making a negative determination with regard to such projects if it is within the agency's authority to do so, and provides that in the event a negative decision is rendered, the Priority Energy Project designation shall be terminated. Limits to 24 the number of Priority Energy Projects to be designated in any one year. Provides for coordination of the actions of Federal, State, and local governments. Directs the Board to recommend to any State Governor and to the Congress actions to alleviate or prevent any delays in a priority project created or threatened by any State or local government. Authorizes waivers of Federal, State, or local law upon the Board's determination that any Federal, State, or local time requirement for agency action is unreasonable and would impede the making of any agency decision. Specifies the procedure for obtaining such waivers. Title III: Judicial Review and Miscellaneous Provisions - Limits judicial review to cases of absolute necessity involving alleged denial of rights under the United States Constitution or violations of statutory jurisdiction, authority, limitations, or rights. Sets time limits for filing claims arising out of actions taken pursuant to this Act, and bars any claims filed thereafter. Stipulates that such claims shall be brought in the district court of the district in which the Priority Energy Project would be located, and grants exclusive original jurisdiction to such court in such matters. Directs such court to give precedence to such matters over all other matters on the court's docket, to the greatest extent practicable. Authorizes the Supreme Court, exclusively, to review interlocutory judgments or orders of the district court pursuant to this title, and directs the Supreme Court to give precedence to such matters. Terminates the Board's authority to designate priority projects seven years after the date of enactment of this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1980 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1979
Limousine Limitation Act of 1979 - Prohibits the purchase, hiring, or operation by the Government of a motor vehicle of a type not generally available on the date of the enactment of this Act in motorpools of the Federal Government. Prohibits the employment of chauffeurs and the use of Government motor vehicles for transporting any Government official between his dwellings and his place of employment. Exempts from the provisions of this Act: (1) medical officers on outpatient medical service; (2) an employee engaged in fieldwork; (3) the President and Vice President; (4) the head of each executive department; (5) the Chief Justice of the United States; (6) specified officers of Congress; and (7) the U.S. Representative of the United Nations. Prohibits the issuance of a Government motor vehicle for the exclusive use of any official or employee not mentioned in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1937 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to issue marketing orders respecting olive development projects which provide: (1) for any form of marketing promotion including paid advertising; and (2) for crediting the pro rata expense assessment obligations of a handler with all or any portion of his direct expenditures for such promotion.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Postmaster General and the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee should give favorable consideration to the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Americans of Italian descent and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Philip Mazzei on December 25, 1980, or as soon as possible thereafter. States that the Postmaster General and the Committee should honor other foreign-born contributors to the revolutionary cause, from countries which have not yet been commemorated, prior to the conclusion of the American Bicentennial celebration in 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require the Secretary of Transportation to appoint Type Certification Boards comprised of individuals knowledgeable in the fields of aeronautics and aviation safety to participate in the aircraft type certification process.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 to establish a ninth Regional Fishery Management Council, the California Pacific Council, which shall consist of the State of California and have authority over the fisheries in the Pacific Ocean seaward of such State.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Declares that it is the sense of Congress that the Department of Energy take necessary steps to provide a set-aside of middle distillate fuels equal to eight percent to each of the States. Declares that the Department of Transportation should establish, on an emergency basis, a uniform national minimum truck weight standard of not less than 80,000 pounds, and a length standard of not less than 60 feet for single trailers and 65 feet for dual trailers. Declares that the Interstate Commerce Commission should further modify its diesel fuel recovery program to assure that pass-through provisions of the freight rate surcharge be passed to subhaulers. Declares that the Governors of the respective States and the President should delay unnecessary summer training programs by National Guard and United States Army and Marine Reserve units, or restrict their movements to the nearest appropriate training center, and to add the middle distillate fuels thereby saved to State set-aside programs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal of appropriate design to Bryan Lewis Allen, the first aviator to cross the English Channel in a self-powered plane. Authorizes appropriations of up to $15,000 to strike such medal. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike bronze duplicates of such medal for sale to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of Education to enter into agreements with credit bureau organizations providing for the exchange of information concerning defaulting student borrowers. States that such agreements: (1) shall provide for disclosure by the Commissioner to such credit organizations; and (2) may provide for the disclosure, by such credit organizations to the Commissioner, of information concerning the defaulting borrower's address and other relevant information. Directs the Commissioner, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to establish a system for the prompt notification to a defaulting borrower of any disclosure made under this Act. Includes notice of such system of disclosure to credit organizations among the terms of the written agreement evidencing: (1) a federally-guaranteed student loan made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (2) subsidy payments for such loans to State and nonprofit private institutions made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (3) Federal contributions to an institution for direct student loans; and (4) a direct student loan to an eligible student from his or her institution made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for costs incurred for enrollment in or attendance at classes designated primarily to help individuals stop smoking cigarettes.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1979
Requires the President to insure the satisfactory resolution of the certified claims of United States nationals against the Cuban Government before considering normalizing relations with Cuba. Requires the provision of tax credits to United States certified claimants should the President enter into any agreement involving counterclaims made by the Cuban Government. Directs the President to urge the Cuban Government to establish a fund for the payment of claims of U.S. nationals to be administered by the International Monetary Fund or some similar international agency.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1979
Small Community Library Services Assistance Act - Directs the Commissioner of Education to provide funds to any county submitting an application (as set forth in this Act) for the purposes of providing library facilities and services, or constructing or expanding libraries, in small communities. Defines "small community" to be: (1) any city or village of less than 50,000 people; and (2) any city of between 50,000-70,000 people if the adjacent areas of that city have a population density of not more than 100 persons per square mile.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1979
Directs the President to furnish to the House of Representatives certain information related to the current oil situation, including data on: (1) shortages, supplies, demand, and allocation of crude oil; and (2) refinery yield reductions and capacity utilization.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1979
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Department of Energy must expedite and strengthen its efforts to verify energy information in order to be fully independent of industry statistics and become the primary energy information data bank.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Farm Water Act of 1979 - Replaces the existing acreage limitation of 160 acres of reclaimed land per individual with a limitation of 320 acres. Permits larger acreages where the land is less productive or other factors make it less valuable for agriculture. Lists specified lands to which the acreage limitations shall not apply including land within a water district which has paid construction charges of the reclamation project relating to the delivery of water to such landholding. Prevents the delivery of water to irrigable land in excess of 320 acres held in private ownership by a single landowner if such landowner refuses to execute a valid contract for the sale of such excess land. States that the provisions of this Act shall not effect existing contracts between the United States and excess landowners relating to the disposal of such excess lands. Permits the delivery of project water to excess land after the effective date of this Act only if the title to such land is made subject to a condition that the land shall not be sold at a price greater than the landowner's costs increased only by the rate increase of the consumer price index for the period between the dates of purchase and sale. Abolishes the requirement that a qualified recipient must reside on or near a landholding in order for such landholding to be eligible to receive water. Permits charitable or religious nonprofit organizations to continue to receive water supplies under contracts executed prior to January 1, 1978. Waives the sovereign immunity of the United States to State law claims and other contractual actions brought in the Federal district courts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada should meet to discuss energy issues and establish a common economic bond of energy cooperation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to engage in feasibility studies concerning: (1) enlarging Shasta Dam and Reservoir, California, or replacing such dam; and (2) using the Sacramento River for conveying water downstream from such enlarged dam and reservoir. Requires State participation in the studies and the costs of the studies.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1979
Suisun Marsh Preservation and Restoration Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, to enter into a cooperative agreement with California to mitigate the adverse effects of the Central Valley project on the fish and wildlife resources of the Suisun Marsh and for the preservation and restoration of such resources. Specifies the requirements of such agreement and stipulates that the Federal share of the costs of implementing such agreement shall be 50 percent. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for the Federal share of the construction and the initial operation and maintenance of facilities in the Marsh.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1979
Amends the Social Security Act to stipulate that a Professional Standards Review Organization shall not be considered to be an agency of the Federal Government by reason of the functions performed by such organization under the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the exportation and transportation of animal semen in order to suppress and extirpate contagious animal diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an alien may be deported as a public charge regardless of whether such alien is legally liable to repay any public support received, or whether any demand has been made for such repayment. Authorizes the Attorney General to waive such public charge deportation if the Attorney General determines an alien has become a public charge due to a mental or physical disability which arose after such alien's entry into the United States. Prohibits the Attorney General and any consular officer from considering any document as evidence that an immigrant seeking admission into the United States is not inadmissible as a public charge unless the document: (1) provides that such immigrant's financial status will be guaranteed by a sponsor for five years; and (2) is signed by such sponsor in the presence of an immigration officer. Provides that the Attorney General or the sponsored immigrant may bring a civil suit against a sponsor who fails to make payments pursuant to a statement of sponsorship. Amends title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to require a State plan under such program to include a quarterly report to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare containing the names and addresses of aliens applying for, or receiving, such assistance. Directs the Secretary to transmit to the Attorney General the names of such aliens, as well as those applying for, or receiving, supplemental security income. Directs the Attorney General to investigate whether such aliens are deportable as public charges.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1979
Legal Fees Reimbursement Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Federal Government to reimburse taxpayers who prevail in tax litigation initiated by the Government or by the taxpayer contesting a tax deficiency assessment for all reasonable litigation expenses incurred by such taxpayer. Includes within the meaning of "reasonable litigation expenses" all actual attorneys' fees, court costs, expert witnesses, clerical assistance, travel expenses, preparation of documents, and other related and necessary expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1979
Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to make benefits under such title payable to a resident alien only if such alien has continuously resided in the United States for at least five years. Exempts those aliens who are blind or disabled and whose blindness or disability arose after the date on which the permanent residence of such alien in the United States began.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1979
Affirms that farmer cooperatives are a vital and necessary element in maintaining and promoting the family farm system of food production. States that the Department of Agriculture and all appropriate budget appropriation review groups should recognize the need to reinforce and expand programs of cooperative research, service, education, and other cooperative assistance. Declares that the Department should: (1) establish an Office of Farmer Cooperatives as an independent agency within the Department to coordinate such programs; and (2) take other aggressive leadership toward expanding resources for cooperative work.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act of 1979 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act to require the Congressional Budget Office, for every bill or resolution reported in the House or Senate, to prepare and submit (along with its regular estimate of the Federal cost involved) an estimate of the costs which would be incurred by State and local governments in carrying out or complying with such bill or resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to tax income of married individuals filing tax returns separate from their spouses at the same rates applicable to unmarried individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Soft Drink Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that exclusive territorial arrangements made as a part of a licensing agreement for the manufacture, distribution, or sale of a trademarked soft drink product are lawful under the antitrust laws provided such product is in substantial and effective competition with other products of the same general class. Prohibits recovery in private actions under the Clayton Act based on territorial provisions in a trademark licensing agreement prior to a final determination that such provisions are unlawful.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Prohibits the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from promulgating a proposed rule applicable to vitamin and mineral products for over-the-counter human use published on March 16, 1979, or from taking any other action which would have the same effect as such proposed rule.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1979
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation or the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from issuing any rule, regulation, or order relating to specified aspects of the control of navigable airspace.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1979
Exempts the landholdings of United States citizens and current permanent resident aliens within the Kings River and Tulare Lake basin flood control project, California, from the acreage limitations of Federal reclamation laws. Requires specified successors in interest to such exempted land to pay interest annually on that part of the unpaid balance of the project's indebtedness for costs which is allocable on a pro rata basis to such land.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1979
Expresses the disapproval of the House of Representatives with respect to the Secretary of Transportation's recommendations designating the basic route system of Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, as submitted to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1979
Expresses the disapproval of the House of Representatives with respect to the Secretary of Transportation's recommendations designating the basic route system for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation as submitted to the Congress on January 31, 1979.