United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1973
Requires each Member of Congress and each employee of the Congress to file, not later than May 15 of each year or not more than three months after the last day he occupies such office or position (if he leaves such position before May 15), with the Comptroller General, a report containing a full and complete statement of: (1) the amount and source of each item of income, each item of reimbursement for any expenditure, and each gift or aggregate of gifts from one source (other than gifts received from his spouse or any member of his immediate family) recieved by him or by him and his spouse jointly during the preceding calander year which exceeds $100 in amount or value; (2) the value of each asset held by him, or by him and his spouse jointly, which has a value in excess of $5,000, and the amount of each liability owed by him, or by him and his spouse jointly, which is in excess of $5,000 as of the close of the preceding calander year; and (3) any business transaction by him, or by him and his spouse jointly, or by any person acting in his behalf, during the preceding calander year if the aggregate amount involved in such transaction exceeds $5,000 during such year. Provides that the reports required by this Act shall be in such form and detail as the Comptroller General may prescribe. Establishes a penalty of $2,000, or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both for whoever willfully fails to file a report or knowingly files a false report under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1973
Requires, under the Freedom of Information Act, that all information under an agency's possession or control be made available within 30 days to Congress, except where Executive privilege is invoked. Permits Executive privilege to be invoked only by the President and only when disclosure of the requested information will seriously jeopardize the national interest.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1973
Title I: Limiting Freedom of Information Act Exemptions - Authorizes a U.S. District Court, upon a complaint under the Freedom of Information Act, to examine and determine the availability of a Government agency's records which such agency refuses to furnish or disclose because of specified exemptions to the Act. Requires an agency, where records contain both available and exempt portions, to furnish the non-exempt portions unless: (1) there would be a serious distortion of meaning if the portions were read separately; or (2) the available portions are so inextricably intertwined with the exempt portions that disclosure would jeopardize the integrity of the exempt portions. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(5), (a)(3),(b)) Title II: Freedom of Information Commission - Establishes the Freedom of Information Commission composed of 7 members and empowered to hold hearings and subpena witnesses. States that upon request by the Commission, each Federal agency is directed to furnish to the Commission all information, documents (including those classified under law or Executive order), data, and statistics necessary for the Commission's performance of its duties. Authorizes the Commission to initiate an investigation requested by a U.S. court, the Congress, the Comptroller General, a Federal agency, or (upon the vote of three members) by a private citizen concerning an allegation that information in the possession of a Federal agency is being improperly withheld under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a determination of improperly withheld records shall be prima facie evidence against the agency in any court of Congressional proceeding under the Act. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as necessary for purposes of this title. Title III: Improving the Administration of Freedom of Information Act - Requires each agency, upon a request for records, to either comply with or deny the request within 10 days unless such records are unavailable for specified reasons and an additional 20 day extension is sought. Provides for a petition for action from denials of records, and final action on such appeals within 20 days. Requires each agency to submit an annual report to the House and Senate on the number of requests for records, the reasons for denials, and the results of complaints and appeals under the Act. (Adds 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6))
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Endangered Species Conservation Act - States that the purpose of this Act is to provide a program for the conservation, protection, restoration, or propagation of species and subspecies of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds, that are threatened with extinction, or are likely within the foreseeable future to become threatened with extinction. Sets forth the procedure by which the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce (hereinafter "Secretary") shall determine if a species or subspecies of fish or wildlife shall be regarded as an endangered species. Lists the following factors to be considered in determining if a species or subspecies is threatened with extinciton or will likely become threatended with extinction: (1) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (2) overutilization for commercial, sporting, scientific, or educational purposes; (3) disease or predation; (4) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. Provides that the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, a list by scientific and common name or names of species and subspecies determined to be endangered. Provides that the Secretary may, from time to time, by regulation revise such list. States that until such republication an endangered species already listed shall be considered an endangered species presently threatened with extinction pursuant to this Act. Provides that the Secretary shall utilize the land acquisition and other authorities of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, as amended, the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as appropriate, to carry out a program in the United States of conserving, protecting, restoring, or propagating those species and subspecies of fish and wildlife that he lists as endangered species pursuant to this Act. States that it is unlawful for any person to: (1) import into or export from the United States, receive or cause to be so imported, received, or exported; or (2) take or cause to be taken within the United States, the territorial sea of the United States, Federal lands, or upon the high seas; or (3) ship, carry or receive by any means in interstate commerce; or (4) sell or offer for sale any species or subspecies which is listed as an endangered species. Provides that any State law or regulation is void to the extent that it would effectively permit or prohibit imports, exports or transactions in interstate or foreign commerce in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this Act. Allows exceptions from the prohibitions contained in this Act to permit the taking of an endangered species for scientific purposes and for the propagation of such fish and wildlife in captivitiy for preservation purposes. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purpose of this Act. Provides that the Secretary may require any person importing or exporting fish and wildlife to file a declaration stating such information as he deems necessary to facilitate enforcement of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to promulgate such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act. States that the Secretary, through the Secretary of State, shall encourage foreign countries to provide for the protection, conservation and propagation of fish and wildlife, and shall encourage bilateral and multi-lateral agreements with such countries for these purposes. Provides that, in carrying out the program authorized by this Act, the Secretary shall cooperate to the maximum extent practicable with the several States. States that such cooperation shall include consultation before the acquisition of any land for the purpose of conserving, protecting, restoring, or propagating any endangered species. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with the States for the administration and management of any area established for the conservation, protection, restoration, and propagation of endangered species. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Federal Animal Damage Abatement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a program of research which shall concern the control and conservation of predatory and depredating animals and the abatement of damage caused by such animals. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to any State which may annually propose to administer a program for the control of predatory animals. Lists the qualifications for such assistance to the States. Authorizes to be appropriated for such financial assistance such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides that no person shall: (1) make field use of any chemical toxicant on any Federal lands for the purpose of killing predatory animals; or (2) make field use on such lands of any chemical toxicant which causes any secondary posioning effect for the purpose of killing other mammals, birds, or reptiles. Provides that any person convicted of any violation of this section, or of any regulation promulgated under this Act, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1973
Authorizes each Member of the House of Representatives (including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and each Delegate to the House) to hire and pay not more than two additional student congressional interns (to serve as such within or outside the District of Columbia).
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1973
Provides that under the Rules of the House of Representatives each staff member appointed pursuant to a request by miniority party members shall be accorded equal treatment with respect to the fixing of his pay, the assignment of work facilities and the accessibility of committee records, provided that the minority shall be entitled to one-third of all funds authorized for the committee. Prohibits, under such Rules, voting by proxy by the members of committees.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1973
Abolishes the Committee on Internal Security of the House of Representatives. Enlarges the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives to include those activities involving sabotage and other overt acts affecting internal security.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1973
Establishes a Committee on Environment in the House of Representatives, consisting of 25 members. Provides that such Committee shall deal with all measures relating to the quality of the physical environment of the United States and its possessions, including: (1) water quality; (2) air quality; (3) weather modification; (4) waste disposal and management; (5) pesticides and herbicides; and (6) acoustic problems.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1973
Act for Freedom of Emigration in East-West Trade - States that after October 15, 1972, products from any nonmarket economy country shall not be eligible to receive most-favored-nation treatment, such country shall not participate in any program of the Government of the United States which extends credits or credit guarantees or investment guarantees, directly or indirectly, and the President of the United States shall not conclude any commercial agreement with any such country during the period beginning with the date on which the President determines that such country: (1) denies its citizens the right or opportunity to emigrate; (2) imposes more than a nominal tax on emigration or on the visas or other documents required for emigration, for any purpose or cause whatsoever; or (3) imposes more than a nominal tax, levy, fine, fee, or other charge on any citizen as a consequence of the desire of such citizen to emigrate to the country of his choice. Provides that, before any of the aforementioned commercial agreements are entered into with any foreign country, the President shall submit to the Congress a report indicating that such country is not in violation of any of the requirements of the preceding paragraph.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1973
Provides, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, that exclusive territorial arrangements in any trademark licensing contract or agreement for the manufacture, distribution and sale of a trademarked food product shall not be deemed unlawful, provided: (1) that such product is in free and open competition with products of the same general class manufactured, distributed, and sold by others; (2) the licensee is in free and open competition with vendors of other products of the same general class; and (3) the licensor retains control over the nature and quality of such product in accordance with the provisions of the Trademark Act. (Amends 15 U.S.C. 41)
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1973
States that a newsperson shall not be required to disclose before the Congress, or any General court, grand jury, or administrative entity: (1) any information, or written, oral, or pictorial material, if such information or material was obtained by such newsperson or by another individual who is responsible to such newsperson for publication or broadcast; or (2) the source of any such information or material.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1973
Authorizes under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, reduced-rate transportation on a space-available basis for persons aged sixty-two years of age or older. (Amends 49 U.S.C. 1373(b))
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1973
Voluntary Military Special Pay Act - Sets forth special pay rates of officers of the Army or Navy in the Medical or Dental Corps, officers of the Air Force designated as medical officers or dental officers, and medical and dental officers of the Public Health Service. Authorizes a member of a uniformed service who has completed at least 21 months of active duty, who has a critical military skill, and who reenlists in the service to be paid an incentive amount, not to exceed six months of the basic pay to which he was entitled at the time of his discharge or release, multiplied by the number of years of additional obligated service, not to exceed 6 years, or $15,000, whichever is the lesser amount. Provides that a person who enlists in an armed force for a period of at least 3 years, or who extends his initial period of active duty in that armed force to a total of at least 3 years, may be paid an incentive amount of up to $3,000. Grants special incentive pay, not to exceed $12,000 annually, for officers of the uniformed services in critical health professions, who execute written agreements to remain on continuous active duty for a specified number of years. Requires an annual report on this special pay program to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services. Authorizes special incentive pay, not to exceed $4,000 annually, for officers of armed forces who agree to serve on continuous active duty in a critical shortage specialty for a period of between one to six years. Provides for special incentive pay at specified rates for specified periods for participants in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of an armed force. Sets forth conditions participants must meet for eligibility. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 302, 308, 308a, 311, 313, 314)
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Consumer Protection Agency Act - Title I: Office of Consumer Affairs - Creates an Office of Consumer Affairs within the Executive Office of the President. Provides that the office shall be headed by a Director and a Deputy Director, both of whom shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Gives the Director powers to carry out the provisions of this Act. Requires the Director to transmit to Congress and the President in January of each year a report of the activities of the Office during the preceding year including a summary of consumer complaints and recommendations for additional legislation deemed necessary to protect the interests of U.S. consumers. Provides that it shall be the function of the Office to: (1) coordinate the programs and activities of all Federal agencies relating to the interests of consumers in order to achieve effectiveness, avoid duplications and inconsistencies, and to promote the purposes of this title; (2) encourage and assist in the development and implementation of consumer programs and activities in the Federal Government; (3) assure that the interests of consumers are taken into consideration by appropriate Federal agencies both in the formulation of policies with respect to consumers and in the operation of programs that may affect consumer interests; (4) cooperate with and, when requested, provide assistance to the Administrator of the Consumer Protection Agency in carrying out its functions under title II of this Act; (5) advise and make recommendations to all Federal agencies with respect to general policy matters concerning the effectiveness of programs and activities relating to the interests of consumers; (6) submit recommendations to the Congress and the President on the means by which programs and activities relating to the interests of consumers can be improved; (7) conduct conferences and surveys concerning the needs, interests, and problems of consumers which are not duplicative in significant degree to similar activities conducted by other Federal agencies; (8) encourage, initiate, coordinate, and participate in consumer education and counseling programs (including credit counseling); (9) cooperate with and give technical assistance to State and local governments in the promotion and protection of consumer interests; (10) cooperate with and assist private enterprise in the promotion and protection of consumer interests; (11) publish and distribute in a Consumer Register material which will include notice of Federal hearings, proposed and final rules and orders, and other useful information, translated from its technical form into language which is understandable by the public; and (12) keep the appropriate committees of the Congress fully and currently informed of all its activities. Title II: Consumer Protection Agency - Establishes as an independent agency within the executive branch of the Government the Consumer Protection Agency, headed by an Administrator and a Deputy Administrator, both of whom shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Gives the Agency powers to carry out the objective of this Act. States that the functions of the Agency shall be to: (1) represent the interests of consumers before Federal agencies and courts to the extent authorized by this title; (2) encourage and support research, studies, and testing leading to a better understanding of consumer products and improved products, services, and consumer information; (3) submit recommendations annually to the Congress and the President on measures to improve the operation of the Federal Government in the protection and promotion of the consumer interest; (4) publish and distribute material developed pursuant to carrying out its responsibilities under this Act which will inform consumers of matters of interest to them; (5) conduct conferences, surveys, and investigations, including economic surveys, concerning the needs, interests, and problems of consumers which are not duplicative in significant degree to similar activities conducted by other Federal agencies; (6) keep the appropriate committees of Congress fully and currently informed of all its activities; and (7) cooperate with and, when requested, provide assistance to the Director of the Office in the carrying out of his functions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Provides no part of any appropriation and no local currency owned by the United States shall be available for payment of any expenses, nor shall transportation be provided by the United States, in connection with travel outside the fifty States (including the District of Columbia) of the United States of: (1) any Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or member of either House of Congress after he has been defeated as a candidate for nomination, or election, to a seat in the House of Representatives or Senate of the United States in any primary or regular election until such time as he shall thereafter again become a Member of Congress, or (2) any Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Member of either House of Congress after the adjournment sine die of the last session of a Congress if he is not a candidate for reelection in the next Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1973
Truth in Food Labeling Act - Requires the label on all food products to list in the order of their predominance after processing and by their common or usual name all ingredients present in the food, and to include an accurate statement of the amount (stated as a percentage) of each ingredient present in the food. Makes the provisions of this Act applicable to all food products containing any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative. (Amends 21 U.S.C. 343(g),(i),(k))
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1973
Nutritional Labeling Act - Requires any packaged consumer food product to be labeled by the processor in conformity with the following information: (1) with respect to processed food products, an analysis of nutritional contents including fat content, vitamin and protein value, fats and fatty acids, calories, and any other nutritional information deemed appropriate; (2) in the case of any canned or frozen product whose packing medium constitutes a substantial proportion of its total weight, the net weight, and drained weight of the product; and (3) in the case of any combination food item, the major ingredients by percentage weight after processing determined pursuant to the regulations of the appropriate agency. Requires such label to contain a statement of the nutritional value of the food commodity, and to appear in conspicuous and easily legible type on the package. Provides that the label of any packaged consumer product which has been packaged in a container of any given net content (by weight or volume) and which afterwards is packaged in a container of a different net content, shall conspicuously set forth the amount of difference. States that the appropriate Federal agencies shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act, containing such classifications, provisions, and exceptions as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act and to prevent evasion thereof. Provides for injunctions in Federal courts to assure compliance with this Act. Prescribes a civil penalty of not to exceed $1,000 for any willful violation of this Act; such sum to be assessed by the appropriate agency and enforced in a Federal court in the name of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1973
Provides that the recommendations of the President transmitted to the Congress under the Federal Salary Act of 1967 (relating to salaries of members of Congress and certain members of the executive and judicial branches of the Federal government) shall become effective at the beginning of the first pay period which begins after the first period of thirty calendar days of continuous session following the transmittal of such recommendations, unless there has been enacted into law a statute which establishes rates of pay other than those proposed by all or part of such recommendations, or unless between the date of transmittal and the end of the thirty day period either House adopts a resolution disapproving all or part of such recommendations. Provides that if the Committee, to which a resolution has been referred disapproving the recommendations of the President. Provides that the House has not reported the resolution after ten calendar days, it is in order to discharge the committee from further consideration of the resolution. Directs that such motion to discharge may be made only by an individual favoring the resolution and debate thereon is limited to not more than one hour divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. Directs that the motion to discharge may not be renewed, nor may another motion to discharge the committee be made with respect to any other resolution concerning the same recommendations. Specifies that when the committee has reported, or has been discharged from the further consideration of such resolution, it is in order to proceed to the consideration of the resolution. Stipulates that such motion is not debatable and may not be amended. Limits debate on the resolution to not more than two hours to be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. Provides that motions to postpone, motions to proceed to the consideration of other business and appeals from the decisions of the chair shall be decided without debate. Authorizes any part of the recommendations of the President, in accordance with express provisions of such recommendations, to be made operative on a date later than a date on which such recommendations otherwise are to take effect. (Amends 2 U.S.C. 359)
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1973
Provides that all meetings of any Government agency at which any official action is considered or discussed shall be open to the public. Provides that the above provision shall not apply to that portion of any meeting in which the action or proposed action to be taken, considered, or discussed by an agency: (1) relates to a matter affecting the national security; (2) relates solely to the internal management of such agency; (3) might tend to reflect adversely on the character or reputation of any individual who is subject to any proposed or potential sanction by such agency; or (4) might divulge matters required to be kept confidential under specific statutory provisions. Requires each agency subject to the requirements of this Act to establish, through publication in the Federal Register, procedures for providing public notice of meetings required by this Act to be open to the public. Revises the Legislative Reorganization Act to bring the procedures of the Congress into substantial conformity with the above standards. (Amends 2 U.S.C. 190a). Provides that the district courts of the United States shall have original jurisdiction of actions to render declaratory judgments or to enforce, by injunction or otherwise, the provisions of this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Pritchard, Joel [R-WA-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000546_200.jpg)