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United States · Official source
742 records where Rep. Pattison, Edward W. [D-NY-29] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Declares it the sense of Congress that coffee containers used for the retail distribution of coffee should be labeled with the percentage of coffee contained which was purchased from Uganda.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants for research and development of new methods of research, experimentation, and testing which minimize the use of and the pain inflicted upon, live animals. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1978
National Credit Union Central Liquidity Facility Act - Establishes the National Credit Union Central Liquidity Facility to provide funds to meet the liquidity needs of credit unions. Vests management of the Facility in the National Credit Union Administration. Declares the initial capitalization of the Facility shall be by stock subscription consisting of shares having par value of $50 each. Entitles any member of the Facility to apply on a form prescribed by regulations for advances. Authorizes the Administration to deny or grant any application upon such terms as it may prescribe by regulations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to lend the Facility up to $500,000,000 to enable it to meet the obligations arising under this Act. Directs the Administration to prepare and submit to the President and to the Congress annually a full report on the activities of the Facility for the previous year. Directs the Comptroller General to audit the Central Liquidity Facility.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to initiate a Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program to study technical problems regarding the viability of the solar power satellite concept. Requires the Secretary to cooperate with the Administrator in the submission to Congress, by September 30, 1978, of a comprehensive plan to implement the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional excise tax on cigarettes to be paid into a Cigarette Tax Trust Fund in the Treasury and disbursed to States which do not impose more than a three-cent special tax on a pack of cigarettes.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Social Security Refinancing Act - Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to finance the payment of disability insurance benefits and hospital insurance benefits through general tax revenues, rather than through employment and self-employment tax revenues. Reduces employment and self-employment tax rates below the rates established by the Social Security Financing Amendments of 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Title I: Establishment of Park - Establishes, in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, the Lowell National Cultural Park, consisting of a preservation zone and an intensive use zone, to preserve sites and structures through implementation of the plan of the Lowell Historic Canal District Commission. Title II: Role of the Secretary - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit a park management plan to Congress. Provides for consultation with the Lowell city manager and the Lowell National Cultural Park Commission, established by this Act, in setting preservation, restoration, and use standards. Sets requirements for acquisition of property within the preservation zone. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance in preservation, restoration, and other use of park properties. Permits withholding of park management plan funds by the Secretary if the city of Lowell fails to meet specified criteria. Title III: Role of the Commission - Establishes within the Department of the Interior the Lowell National Cultural Park Commission to administer the preservation zone. Requires the Commission to submit management plans and an index of Federal Register and other potentially significant historic cultural or architectural properties. Directs the Commission to make loans, grants, and technical assistance for the preservation, restoration, or development of the park. Provides for the acquisition and disposition of property by the Commission. Enumerates the powers of the Commission, including the holding of hearings, and provides for the staff of the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Power Commission to hold an evidentiary hearing before approving public utility rate increases due to fuel adjustment clauses. Requires a showing that the clause effectively provides incentives for the economical purchase and use of fuel. Requires further that the clause is necessary to enable the utility to pay for the added fuel costs which are by nature short-term fluctuations and therefore not capable of determination in proceedings before such costs are incurred. Sets a one-year limit on approved fuel adjustment clauses and requires an evidentiary hearing before their renewal. Requires the Commission to examine and, if appropriate, to audit the practices of public utilities using fuel adjustment clauses. Requires relevant utilities to supply information as the Commission may require and makes such information available to the public. Grants to any purchaser of electric energy produced for resale and subject to a fuel adjustment clause, the right to examine the records of the relevant utility to insure compliance with applicable schedules and Commission rules. Requires the Commission, after affording the opportunity for an evidentiary hearing, to order the cessation or modification of any practice which does not constitute the most economical purchase and use of fuel. Amends the National Gas Act to impose similar restrictions on rate increases of natural gas companies pursuant to automatic adjustment clauses. Prohibits State regulated utilities from making rate increases pursuant to an automatic adjustment clause unless such clause has been determined to effectively provide incentives for the economical purchase and use of the fuel involved. Requires further that such clauses be necessary to enable the utility to pay for short-term fluctuations in fuel costs that are not susceptible to determination in proceedings held prior to such costs being incurred. Limits automatic adjustment clauses to one-year in duration, and requires an evidentiary hearing before their renewal. Requires the reviewing authority to examine and, if appropriate, to audit the practices of utilities with respect to fuel adjustment clauses. Requires that utilities supply such relevant information as is required by the State regulatory body and makes such information available to the public. Sets procedures for the certification of State regulatory bodies with respect to this Act. Requires the Commission to enforce the Act in the absence of State certification and upon the request of any State regulated utility. Amends the Federal Power Act to expand the scope of businesses forbidden from having interlocking directorates without Commission approval. Makes such approval no defense to actions under specified provisions of the Clayton Act. Amends the Natural Gas Act to expand the scope of natural gas companies forbidden from having interlocking directorates without Commission approval. Makes such approval no defense to actions under specified provisions of the Clayton Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1978
Federal Regulatory Expediting and Efficiency Act - Requires any Federal agency receiving a petition to issue, amend, or repeal any rule administered by the agency, to grant or deny such petition within 120 days. Permits any person to enforce this Act by civil suit in any United States court of appeals. Requires agencies to promulgate timetables for general classes of proceedings begun by petition which shall be subject to a one-house veto in Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1978
Small Business Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small businesses to compute taxable income under the cash method and without regard to inventories. Increases the corporate surtax exemption and reduces the corporate tax rates. Provides for limited recognition of the gain from the sale or exchange of a sole proprietorship prior to the age of 55, and non-recognition after age 55. Allows the amortization over a 36-month period of expenses of a business for property acquired to put the business in compliance with Federal law and which does not have any economic usefulness to the business. Increases the additional first year depreciation allowance for small businesses. Increases the investment tax credit for investments in certain small manufacturing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Amends rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the inclusion in any appropriation bill or amendment thereto of a provision which changes existing law or imposes any limitation not contained in existing law.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1978
Designates May 3, 1978, as "Sun Day."
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates below the level established by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 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, the Federal Disability 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 $100,000 in 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Small Business Capital, Investment, and Business Opportunity Act - Title I: Amendments of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 - States that the interest rate on loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to small business investment companies shall be three percent per annum. Authorizes the Small Business Administration to guarantee up to 75 percent of the funds advanced by small business investment companies to start small business concerns. Limits such guarantees to not more than 20 percent of the private paid-in capital of the small business investment company. Makes the Associate Administrator for Investment of the SBA responsible for the administration of the small business investment program and removes any other duties. Title II: Amendments to the Securities Act of 1933 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to permit the sale of restricted securities without registration under specified circumstances. Requires issuers to report only material information with respect to transactions not involving any public offering. Title III: Amendment of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to provide that the prudence requirement under such Act is not violated solely by an investment in a small business, provided investments of this nature do not exceed in value five percent of the market value of all assets in a defined benefit plan fund. Title IV: Tax Provisions - Increases the surtax exemption from tax on the income of a corporation for any taxable year to $100,000. States that the gain from the sale of an interest in a small concern qualifies as a non-taxable exchange provided such gain is reinvested within 18 months of the sale in another eligible small concern. Repeals the amendments pertaining to qualified stock options under section 442 of the Code as enacted by the Tax Reform Act of 1976 and reinstates the former law. Changes the allowable deduction for any taxable year with respect to the issuance of small business stock. Makes small business investment companies eligible to be shareholders of subchapter S corporations. Provides for reserves for losses on equity investments of small business investment companies.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Declares it the sense of the Senate and House jointly that no new national water resources management policy shall be implemented without Congressional concurrence. Sets forth a procedure whereby States shall be given an opportunity to participate in the formulation of such policy.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the District of Columbia be treated as a State for purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President, and Article V of the Constitution of the United States. Repeals the provisions of the twenty-third amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Small Business Tax Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the corporate income tax rates with a graduated, five-tier rate schedule, imposing the uppermost (48 percent) marginal rate upon income in excess of $100,000.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction of up to $1,500 for household expenses to any taxpayer who maintains a household in which a dependent aged 65 or over resides.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1978
Establishes an 11-member Commission on the Humane Treatment of Animals to study the treatment of animals. Requires that the membership include zoologists, veterinarians, and representatives from humane societies. Requires the Commission to determine if animals are caused needless pain or suffering as a result of their treatment on farms and in laboratory experimentation. Requires Commission investigation into domestic pet growth rates and the effectiveness of existing laws regarding the treatment of animals. Excludes the study of the treatment of animals occurring in connection with the exercise of any religion. Directs the Commission to report its findings to the Congress and the Commission 60 days after it submits its final report. Authorizes appropriations of $750,000 per year to carry out the provisions of this Act.
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
Amends the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968 to establish a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in Social and Political Thought at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian Institution. Establishes the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Trust Fund in the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Corporate Tax Reduction Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to lower the corporate normal taxes and increase the surtax exemption.
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
Omnibus Anti-Terrorism Act - Title I: Aircraft Piracy - Authorizes civil penalties for carrying an accessible weapon aboard an aircraft and for imparting or conveying information known to be false regarding one of specified crimes aboard an aircraft. Specified criminal penalties for threatening to commit air piracy or any other of certain crimes aboard an aircraft. Title II: Findings and Purposes - States Congressional findings relative to the purpose of this Act and defines specified terms used therein. Title III: Reorganization of Executive Office of the President - Establishes a Council to Combat Terrorism in the Executive Office of the President. Includes among the council's functions: (1) assisting the President to implement this Act; (2) assisting in the preparation of lists of countries aiding terrorist enterprises and of dangerous foreign airports, and (3) coordinating Federal efforts to combat terrorism. Directs the President to: (1) report to Congress on each act of terrorism which involves or affects United States citizens; and (2) impose sanctions against countries on the list of countries aiding terrorists and against airports on the list of dangerous foreign airports. Title IV: Reorganization of the Department of State - Establishes a Bureau for Combating International Terrorism in the Department of State. Urges the President to seek international agreements which assure cooperation in combating terrorism. Lists provisions which should be given priority in negotiating such agreements. Requires the President to: (1) develop programs to insure full implementation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation; (2) approve all defense article sales and credit made to any individual or group; and (3) include the names of all types of explosives on the United States Munitions List. Title V: Reorganization of the Department of Justice - Establishes an office for Combating Terrorism in the Department of Justice. Directs the President to extend existing safety and security requirements to supplemental means of air transportation. Requires all explosives to contain identification and detection taggants. Title VI: Aircraft Sabotage and Piracy - Amends provisions of title 18 of the U.S. Code that specify prohibited acts regarding the destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities to, among other revisions, set forth penalties for committing violence against a passenger which is likely to endanger an aircraft in service, and for communicating false information which result in endangering the safety of an aircraft in flight. Sets forth penalties for a person found in the United States who has committed against or aboard a foreign aircraft an offense in violation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Declares that the President should take steps to discourage activities by the United States which benefit the Government of Uganda; including closing the Ugandan embassy in the District of Columbia; restricting the movement of officials of the Ugandan mission to the United Nations; supporting legislation to prohibit imports to or exports from Uganda; prohibiting the entry of individuals on scholarships from Uganda; prohibiting the training of Ugandans in areas having military application; revoking the landing rights of Ugandan aircraft in the United States; and prohibiting maintenance in the United States of equipment having police or military application.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to pay for medical services and treatment for any physical illness suffered by a United States citizen or permanent resident, which is directly attributable to the atomic bomb explosions on Japan in August 1945. States that this Act applies only to medical services provided in the United States on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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 · 29 November 1977
Excludes from the Federal law limiting and restricting the corporate powers of national banking associations to deal in and underwrite investment securities specified dealing in and underwriting of all other nongeneral obligations issued or guaranteed by or on behalf of a State or any political subdivision thereof or agency of a State or any political subdivision thereof (except special assessment obligations and industrial revenue bonds) which are at the time eligible for purchase by a national bank for its own account, subject to specified limitations. Requires the Secretary of Treasury to submit an annual report to the Congress showing the extent to which the business of underwriting and dealing in State and local obligations is being carried on by commercial banks as compared with other banking institutions with a view to determining the effect of the amendment made by the first section of this Act on the institutional distribution of such business.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare should not include in the National Guidelines for Health Planning any guidelines which would directly or indirectly cause the closing of any small, rural hospital which is the only hospital providing primary care services to a local community.
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
National Cultural Park Act - Establishes the Cultural Park Advisory Commission to study and formulate recommendations for the creation of a National System of Cultural Parks. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make grants for the purpose of assisting States in the preservation and use of cultural historic, natural, and architectural urban resources through a cultural park management program. Sets requirements for entitlement to such grants. Directs the Secretary to coordinate activities with other interested Federal agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1977
National Educational Opportunities Act - Title I: Definition and Guarantee of a Unitary School System and Equal Educational Opportunity - Establishes procedures and guidelines for the establishment of equal education opportunities for students in elementary and secondary schools. Title II: State Equal Educational Opportunities Plans - Requires that States submit equal education opportunities plans to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for approval. Establishes criteria for approval of such plans and eligibility for Federal assistance. Title III: General Provisions and Definitions - Defines the terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Public Buildings Water Conservation Act - Amends the Public Buildings Act of 1959 to require the Administrator of General Services: (1) to establish a water conservation program for public buildings; (2) to prescribe minimum water efficiency standards for new public buildings; (3) to require, during building construction or repair, the installation of water supply and removal equipment which meets certain water efficiency standards; (4) to promulgate, after consultation with the Director of the National Bureau of Standards, minimum efficiency standards for each type of water supply and removal equipment; (5) to survey existing public buildings to determine the priority for needed water efficient equipment, and (6) to replace existing water equipment in such buildings. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Water Conservation in Homes Act - Amends the National Housing Act to provide guaranteed loans for housing improvement including water conservation equipment and systems which are designed to reduce the total water requirements of the structures and are in conformity with specified standards.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Water Conservation Amendments Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to declare it national policy that the Federal Government shall encourage methods to reduce the total flow of sewage and to reduce unnecessary water consumption. Requires each planning agency receiving a grant for the development of a comprehensive water pollution control program to develop a plan which promotes the reduction of unnecessary water consumption and of the total flow of sewage. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research in cooperation with State and local government agencies in areas in which drought conditions or threat of drought conditions exist. Directs the Administrator to study methods of irrigation which will result in a reduction of the total flow of sewage and of unnecessary water consumption as part of the agricultural pollution control program. Directs the Administrator to study new methods for the installation of devices to reduce unnecessary water consumption and the total flow of sewage in rural areas. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into contracts and make grants for certain research and demonstration projects relating to the reduction of total sewage flow and unnecessary water consumption. Directs the Administrator to encourage waste treatment management resulting in the reduction of total sewage flow or of unnecessary water consumption, and to reduce grants for treatment works construction where the applicant has failed to demonstrate that methods for such reduction have been studied and adopted when feasible. Makes construction grants for treatment works contingent upon the fulfillment of certain requirements relating to the reduction of unnecessary water consumption. Requires any organization responsible for areawide waste treatment management planning processes to include in such plans a process to identify sources of unnecessary water consumption that contribute to water quality problems and to set forth methods for reduction of such consumption. Permits any State to identify any area in such State where there is a drought, threat of drought, or other condition occurring as a result of unnecessary water consumption, and to request the Administrator to assist in reducing such consumption. Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the making of certain loans for the purpose of installing devices to reduce unnecessary water consumption by small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Water Supply Act - Declares development of new water supplies to be in the national interest. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a comprehensive water supply program, to survey water supply capacities, to propose methods of increasing water supplies, and to prepare drought contingency plans. Directs the Administrator of General Services to survey: (1) all federally controlled water storage projects to determine unnecessary water storage capacity; and (2) all federally controlled lands to determine any unnecessary area on which water storage facilities could be constructed. Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to construct water storage projects specifically authorized after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Consumer Product Water Efficiency Act - Prohibits any person from distributing in commerce any covered product unless it meets either the improvement targets or final water efficiency standards established by the Federal Trade Commission in accordance with this Act. Includes under the requirements of this Act any product which is partially or wholly dependent on the consumption or flow of water for its operation or which is designed to consume or to depend wholly or in part on the consumption or flow of water, and which is distributed in commerce to a significant extent, for personal use or consumption by an individual. Includes household appliances, bathroom fixtures, water softeners and water recirculation system within the meaning of the term "covered product. Prohibits the distribution in interstate commerce of covered products unless the product bears a label stating ratio of water consumed by the product to the amount of water to be consumed by the product upon achievement of the final water efficiency standards. Directs the Commission to prescribe water efficiency improvement targets for each type of covered product. Authorizes the Commission, upon the introduction of any new product, to set water efficiency improvement targets, which shall become the minimum mandatory water efficiency standard for such product. Requires the Commission to direct the National Bureau of Standards to develop tests to determine: (1) the actual water efficiency level of the covered product; (2) reasonable water efficiency improvement targets for each covered product; and (3) minimum mandatory water efficiency standards for each covered product. Requires manufacturers of covered products for which any regulation is prescribed to: (1) notify the Commission of any model manufactured to which such regulation applies; (2) conduct any test required in the regulation; (3) provide a label which meets the prescribed regulations; and (4) supply a reasonable number of such covered products to the Commission for testing. Stipulates that any covered product which is offered for importation into the customs territory of the United States and which does not comply with the requirements of this Act shall be refused admission. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize the importation of any covered product under terms and conditions set by the Secretary. Imposes civil penalties for violations of this Act. Prescribes procedures for civil actions against manufacturers, distributors, or retailers alleged to be in violation of this Act and against Federal agencies which have allegedly failed to perform nondiscretionary duties under this Act. Makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of the Federal Trade Commission Act to violate the distribution provisions of this Act. Defines the terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Federal Water Authorities Reorganization Act - Title I: The Office of Water Management - Establishes within the Executive branch an Office of Water Management to which is transferred specified functions of the Secretary of the Interior, the Water Resources Council, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency with respect to water resources. Abolishes the Water Resources Council. Requires the Office to develop a comprehensive water policy and to coordinate Federal water authorities. Title II: The Independent Water Project Review Board - Establishes within the Executive Branch the Independent Water Project Review Board to establish a system for the evaluation of water resource construction projects proposed by Federal agencies and to coordinate such construction projects.
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
Water Efficiency Labeling Act - Prohibits the distribution in commerce of any product covered by this Act unless it is labeled with respect to its water consumption rates, under regulations promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission. Prohibits the advertisement of such product which is not consistent with tests prescribed by this Act. Requires the Commission to direct the Director of the National Bureau of Standards to develop water consumption tests for covered products. Directs the Commission to prescribe regulations for the conduct of such tests. Permits the Commission to exempt a product from such tests if water consumption comparisons between different models of such product are not feasible. Requires manufacturers of covered products to conduct water consumption tests and to comply with specified reporting and testing requirements. Requires the Commission to direct the Director of the National Bureau of Standards (1) to determine the minimum amount of water required to operate any type of covered product and (2) to publish these findings in the Federal Register. Requires covered products which are imported to comply with labeling and advertising requirements of this Act. Directs the Commission to conduct a public information program with respect to the use of water consumption labeling. Imposes a civil fine for knowing violation of the requirements of this Act. Establishes a civil cause of action against violators of this Act or any Federal agency allegedly failing to carry out its nondiscretionary responsibilities under this Act. Declares a violation of this Act to be an unfair or deceptive trade practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act. Defines terms used in this Act, including "covered products" which means any article which is designed to be dependent on the consumption or flow of water.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act with respect to emergency and disaster loans to define the "reasonable rates" of sufficient credit which loan applicants cannot find locally, as rates which, at the time of application, do not exceed by more than two percent the average discount rate in effect at Federal Reserve banks. Sets the interest rate for the portion of a loan in excess of the amount of actual disaster loss at the average annual interest rate on all interest-bearing obligations of the United States then forming a part of the public debt as computed as of a certain date and adjusted according to a specified formula. Sets the repayment term for such a loan at no more than 30 years. Provides for an initial five-year suspension of principal payments by the borrower of an insured loan. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to make such payments on behalf of the borrower during such suspension period, and requires the borrower, without charge of interest, to reimburse the Secretary for such payments at any time within the 30-year repayment period. Declares the sense of Congress that, in carrying out the provisions of such Act, the Secretary shall insure: (1) that only officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture who are adequately prepared to understand the particular needs and problems of farmers in an area be assigned to such area; and (2) that a high priority is placed on keeping existing farm operations operating.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Independent Local Newspaper Act - Amends the Internal Revenue to promote the survival of independent newspapers by providing for the establishment of tax exempt trusts for paying estate taxes on such papers, and by postponing the payment of estate taxes on such papers.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to not consider specified housing benefits available to veterans in determining eligibility of veterans for housing financing from sources other than the Farmers Home Administration.
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 · 2 November 1977
Alcohol Fuel Encouragement Act - Requires all gasoline stations, within three years of the passage of this Act, to sell a mixture of gasoline and alcohol in the same manner as they sell gasoline. Imposes a civil penalty for violations of such requirement. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow rapid amortization of facilities producing alcohol for use as a fuel in motor vehicles. Amends the Clean Air Act with respect to the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the use of alcohol as a fuel additive.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1977
Forbids the Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy from prohibiting the assignment of any female personnel to any duty for which such a member has volunteered and is otherwise qualified.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1977
Federal Disclosure and Accountability Act - Prohibits any Federal employee from coercing any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right of such individual to disclose any illegal or otherwise improper Government action to the Review Board on Improper Government Actions, established by this Act and from taking any adverse personnel action against such individual who is a Federal employee in retaliation for such disclosure. Requires the Board to investigate any such disclosure and, in the event further investigation or action is warranted, to notify the person, the head of the agency in which such person is employed, and, if appropriate, the Attorney General and/or the Comptroller General.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1977
Competitive Energy Development Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to establish criteria to measure the level of competition in alternative energy source markets as such markets are defined in this Act. Requires the Commission to conduct monitoring studies of the energy industry by applying such criteria in order to isolate any violations thereof. Permits the Commission to exercise its authority to remedy an anticompetitive situation where a person is deemed responsible for any violation after a show cause hearing.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional excise tax on cigarettes to be disbursed 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 · 26 October 1977
Pledges Congressional support to the President in efforts to advance the cause of human rights. Urges the President to inform other nations that the United States will take cognizance of the extent to which such nations protect human rights.