United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1973
States that the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia shall appoint a Special Prosecutor of the United States who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of the Congress. Grants the Special Prosecutor complete and exclusive authority to investigate and prosecute any offense against the United States arising out of any campaign with respect to the election in 1972 for the office of President, or any act committed by Richard M. Nixon or any person acting on his behalf with respect to the conduct of the office of President by Richard M. Nixon. Provides that the Special Prosecutor shall not be subject to the supervision or control of any officer or employee of the executive branch of the Government. Provides that the Special Prosecutor may be removed from office by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, with the concurrence, by majority vote, of both Houses of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1973
Requires, under the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, the advice and consent of the Senate for future appointments to the offices of Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1973
Authorizes appropriations of $150,000,000, $175,000,000, and $200,000,000 for fiscal years 1975-1977, respectively for the nutrition program for the aged under title VII of the Older American Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1973
States that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that no United States combat troops be introduced, committed, or involved in any way or manner, directly or indirectly, in the present armed conflict in the Middle East without prior congressional authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1973
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations within sixty days of the date of enactment of this Act prohibiting any motor vehicle from being equipped with any starter interlock system associated with seatbelts or upper torso restraints.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1973
Provides that the Secretary of Defense, after consulting with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, may contract with health maintenance organizations as identified by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. States that the provisions of such a contract may deviate from the cost-sharing arrangements prescribed and the types of health care authorized under title 10 of the United States Code when the Secretary of Defense determines that such a deviation would serve the purpose of that title. Provides that such a contract, however, may not provide for annual payments per beneficiary, by the Government and a beneficiary, of any amount greater than the estimated average annual cost for comparable amounts of care of similar quality provided under the cost-sharing arrangements prescribed in that title. (Adds 10 U.S.C. 1809)
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1973
Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act - States that the purpose of this Act is to grant to the President of the United States specific temporary authority to deal with shortages of crude oil and refined petroleum products or dislocations in their national distribution system. Directs the President, not later than ten days after the date of enactment of this Act, to promulgate a regulation providing for the mandatory allocation of crude oil and refined petroleum products in amounts and at prices determined under such order. States that to the maximum extent practicable such regulations shall provide for (1) protection of public health, safety, and welfare, and the national defense: (2) maintenance of all public services and of all essential agricultural operations: and (3) preservation of an economically sound and competitive petroleum industry. Authorizes the President to delegate all or any portion of the authority granted to him under this Act to any officer or employee of the Federal Government he deems appropriate. Provides that the authority to issue, amend and enforce regulations under this Act expires at midnight February 28, 1975. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to monitor the actions taken by the President pursuant to this Act during the forty-five period beginning on the effective date of the regulation first issued under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1973
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that nothing contained in the U.S. Constitution shall abridge the right of persons lawfully assembled, in any public building which is supported in whole or in part through the expenditure of public funds, to participate in voluntary prayer.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1973
Authorizes the Librarian of Congress to establish and conduct seminars for freshman members of the Congress in two similar series. Schedules the first one for November 15 until Thanksgiving in each year that a general election for the House of Representative is held. Schedules the second series for between December 1 and December 15. Authorizes the Librarian of Congress acting through the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare a curriculum for the series of seminars under this Act. Allows each person attending seminars expenses for travel, accomodations food. Authorizes necessary appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1973
Provides, under the Merchant Marine Act, that the appropriate agencies take steps to assure that at least 20 per cent of the gross tonnage of all petroleum and petroleum products imported into the United States on ocean vessels be transported on privately owned United States flag commercial vessels. Requires that the quantity to be carried in United States-flag commercial vessels be at least 25 per cent after June 30, l975, and at least 30 per cent after June 30, l977. (Amends 46 U.S.C. 1241))
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1973
Provides that future appointments to the offices of Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1973
Provides under the Internal Revenue Code that no Federal agency or instrumentality may inspect any income tax return except upon an order of the President which identifies by name the person who filed such return.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1973
Creates a non-legislative Select Committee on Aging, consisting of fifteen members of the House of Representatives, and directs the Committee to conduct a full investigation on all matters pertaining to problems of older people, including problems of maintaining health, of assuring adequate income, of finding employment, of engaging in productive retirement activity, of securing proper housing, and when necessary, of assuring adequate care or assistance. Authorizes such committee to hold hearings and subpena witnesses and the production of records in carrying out its duties. Directs the Committee to report to the House the results of its study, together with legislative recommendations, as soon as practicable during the 93rd Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1973
Creates a non-legislative Select Committee on Aging, consisting of fifteen members of the House of Representatives, and directs the Committee to conduct a full investigation on all matters pertaining to problems of older people, including problems of maintaining health, of assuring adequate income, of finding employment, of engaging in productive retirement activity, of securing proper housing, and when necessary, of assuring adequate care or assistance. Authorizes such committee to hold hearings and subpena witnesses and the production of records in carrying out its duties. Directs the Committee to report to the House the results of its study, together with legislative recommendations, as soon as practicable during the 93rd Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1973
Federal Legal Aid Corporation Act - Declares that the purpose of Congress is to make the institutions of justice available to all regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or personal health. Establishes as a nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia the Federal Legal Aid Corporation, to be brought into being by a board of directors, composed of seven members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. States that the purpose of the Corporation shall be: (1) to render financial assistance to the States to enable the provision of legal assistance to qualified individual citizens who are indigent and in need of professional legal services; (2) to assist in the provision of legal services to eligible clients by obtaining and making available information of a technical nature to those rendering legal services to eligible clients; and (3) to, consistent with provisions of this Act, set forth such procedures and regulations governing the use of Federal funds as may be authorized for expenditure by the Corporation. Establishes the following powers of the Corporation: (1) to assign and disburse appropriated funds to the several States; and (2) to contract with a private or public group, association, or organization for the purpose of doing research into special legal problems encountered by eligible clients. Requires the Corporation to use appropriated funds only for the purpose of making legal assistance available to individual eligible clients and to pay authorized expenses. Prohibits the Corporation from using appropriated funds or from commingling such funds with other funds being used for the following purposes: (1) to initiate, organize, support, represent, or assist any training program, workshop, seminar, school, publication, newsletter, club, association, group, organization, demonstration, boycott, meeting, rally, march, strike, or any other activity, group, or institution; (2) to support or oppose, directly or indirectly, any candidate for public or party office, or any political party; (3) to represent any person less than eighteen years of age without formal written consent of one of said person's parents or guardian; or (4) in a manner which tends to discriminate in favor of or against individual attorney, employees, or clients, on grounds of race, religion, sex, or national orgin; Requires that the Corporation shall not: (1) initiate or defend litigation on behalf of clients other than the corporate entity itself; (2) seek to influence, nor shall any funds appropriated or disbursed by it be used to influence the passage or defeat of any legislation by the Congress or State or local legislative bodies or otherwise support any group or association advocating or opposing any legislative proposals, ballot measures, initiatives, referendums, executive orders, or similar enactments or promulgations. Prohibits the use of Corporation funds for any of the following purposes: (1) to provide legal services with respect to any criminal proceeding or, in the case of juveniles, proceedings which would be criminal if involving adults; or (2) for any of the political activities described in this Act, or to contribute to or in any way assist any group or association participating in such activities; (3) to maintain any action at law until such time as any and all administrative remedies provided for in applicable contracts have been exhausted; or (4) to represent any person who fails to meet eligibility standards established in accordance with this subsection. Requires the Corporation to evaluate annually the program for provision of legal services to eligible clients. Authorizes the Corporation to terminate disbursal of funds to any State whose program involves discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national orgin in the provision of legal services to eligible clients. Sets criminal penalties for violation of any provision of the Corporation's powers, requirements and prohibitions. Sets forth procedures for qualifying states for assignment of funds from the Corporation. Prohibits the Corporation from interfering with any attorney in carrying out his professional responsibility to anyone who has become his client, or from abrogating the authority of a jurisdiction to enforce adherence by any attorney to applicable standards of professional responsibility. Authorizes the Corporation to require reports form the States, and to prescribe the keeping of records of funds. Requires the Congress to publish an annual report to the President and to the Congress. Requires an annual audit of the accounts of the Corporation. Requires that the report of such audit shall be available for public inspection.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1973
Transfers to the Attorney General all intelligence, investigative, and law enforcement functions relating to the suppression of illicit narcotics traffic, which are presently vested in the Secretary of the Treasury, except to the extent that such functions relate to searches and seizures or to the apprehension and detention of persons at regular inspection locations along the U.S. borders. Abolishes the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Establishes in the Department of Justice the Drug Enforcement Administration. Provides that the personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations and other funds used, employed, or available in connection with the transferred functions shall be transferred to the Department of Justice.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1973
Prohibits the inspection of income tax records by the Department of Agriculture. Allows limited information from such records concerning farming operations to be furnished to the Department. (Adds 26 U.S.C. 36103(g))
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1973
States that no provision of law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act authorizing or otherwise relating to the collection of special recreation use fees for the use of sites, facilities, equipment, or services furnished at Federal expense, shall have any application to public recreation areas located at lakes and reservoirs under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1973
Makes it the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) continue in operation the programs and activities authorized under the provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and in accordance with the provisions of that Act, utilizing fully funds appropriated by the Congress for such purposes, until and unless Congress determines otherwise; and (2) submit a revised budget requesting appropriations for economic opportunity programs and their administration under and in accordance with the provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1973
Creates a non-legislative Select Committee on Aging, consisting of fifteen members of the House of Representatives, and directs the Committee to conduct a full investigation on all matters pertaining to problems of older people, including problems of maintaining health, of assuring adequate income, of finding employment, of engaging in productive retirement activity, of securing proper housing, and when necessary, of assuring adequate care or assistance. Authorizes such committee to hold hearings and subpena witnesses and the production of records in carrying out its duties. Directs the Committee to report to the House the results of its study, together with legislative recommendations, as soon as practicable during the 93rd Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1973
Makes it the sense of Congress that it shall be the policy of the United States to require repayment of the longstanding debts which are delinquent in nature. Makes it the sense of Congress that the Department of the Treasury submit to the Congress within ninety days of passage of this resolution a list and report on the extent of such indebtedness on the part of foreign nations. Declares that it is the sense of Congress that the Department of the Treasury, through the appropriate departments and agencies, should, immediately after the filing of this report, begin consultations with foreign governments involved for the purpose of making arrangements for the prompt repayment of those longstanding debts which are delinquent.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1973
Employment and Inflation Act - States that the purpose of the Act is to so control administrative inflation so that fiscal and monetary measures can bring about full employment without an excessive rise in prices, rates of pay, interest rates, or rents; and to adopt 4 percent unemployment as the interim goal for calendar year 1973, and 3.8 percent unemployment as the interim goal for calendar year 1974. Establishes a Price-Wage Board, composed of five members, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of one year. Authorizes the Board to issue orders and regulations to stabilize prices and rates of pay at levels not less than those prevailing on January 10, 1973. Requires the Board to issue standards and guidelines for noninflationary price and pay adjustments. Authorizes the Board to make such exceptions with respect to price and pay adjustments as are necessary to foster orderly economic growth and to prevent gross inequities, hardships, serious market disruptions, domestic shortages of raw materials, localized shortages of labor, and windfall profits. Authorizes the President to issue orders and regulations to stabilize rents, interest rates, corporate dividends, and similar transfers at levels not less than those prevailing on May 25, 1970. Requires the President to issue fair and equitable standards to serve as a guide for determining such levels of rents, interest rates, and corporate dividends. Extends the authority to issue regulations under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 through April 30, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1973
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to gather and compile information with respect to the financial cost of assisting taxpayers to comply with tax laws of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1973
Makes it the sense of the House of Representatives that should United States gold be offered for public sale, the sale of such gold must be restricted to the domestic market and American citizens for a period of 30 days before being offered on the world market.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that no public school student shall, because of his race, creed, or color, be assigned to or required to attend a particular school. Grants Congress the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1973
Food Supplement Amendment - Defines the term "food supplement" for purposes of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act to mean food for special dietary uses, and defines the meaning of "special dietary uses" as particular uses of food for man which meets specified requirements. Provides that in administering such Act the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare: (1) shall not limit the potency, number, combination, amount, or variety of any synthetic or natural vitamin, mineral, substance, or ingredient of any food supplement unless such article is intrinsically injurious to health in the recommended dosage; and (2) shall not require a warning label on any food supplement unless such article is intrinsically injurious to health in the recommended dosage.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1973
Provides that appointments to the Offices of Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate. Declares that the Director and Deputy Director shall be appointed for a term of four years, to coincide with the term of the President, except individuals: (1) first appointed under this Act; and (2) appointed to fill a vacancy. States that nothing contained in this Act shall impair the power of the President to remove the occupants of such offices.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1973
Provides that in the determination of the annual income of recipients of vetetans' pensions and dependency and indemnity compensation the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall not reduce the amount of such pension or compensation because of increases in monthly social security benefits under Public law 92-336. (Adds 38 U.S.C. 415(g)(4) 503(d))
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1973
Provides that there be printed with illustrations as a House document the eulogies and encomiums of the late President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, as expressed in the House of Representatives and the Senate, including the text of the funeral service held in Independence, Missouri, as well as the prayers and scriptural selections delivered at the memorial service on January 5, 1973, at the Washington Cathedral; and that thirty-two thousand five hundred additional copies shall be printed, of which twenty-two thousand one hundred and fifty shall be for the use of the House of Representatives and ten thousand three hundred and fifty shall be for the use of the Senate. Provides that the copy shall be prepared and bound in such style as the Joint Committee on Printing may direct.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1973
Provides, under the Rural Electrification Act, that the Administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration is directed (presently "empowered") to fully obligate funds made available for each fiscal year for rural electrification programs provided for in such Act. (Amends 7 U.S.C. 901, 902, 904, 922)
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1973
Title I: Airline Passenger Right to Travel Act - Provides for the implementation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. Authorizes the President to suspend air service to any foreign nation which he determines is encouraging aircraft hijacking by acting in a manner inconsistent with the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, or which he determines is used as a base of operations or training or as a sanctuary for terrorist organizations using the illegal seizure of aircraft as an instrument of policy. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to revoke, with the approval of the Secretary of State, the operating authority of foreign air carriers who fail to meet the minimum standards set by the Convention to effectively maintain the security measures relating to the transportation of persons in foreign air transportation covered by the Convention. Title II: Air Transportation Security Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to prescribe regulations requiring that all passengers and property intended to be carried in the aircraft cabin be screened by weapon-detecting devices operated by the air carrier's employees. Requires the Administrator to acquire and furnish for the use by air carriers sufficient devices necessary for the purpose of this Act. Requires the Administrator to establish and maintain an air transportation security force of sufficient size to provide a law enforcement presence and capability at airports in the United States adequate to insure safety from criminal violence and air piracy of persons traveling in air transportation. Sets forth criminal penalties for carrying a weapon aboard an aircraft. Sets forth penalties for the willful and malicious imparting or conveying of false information concerning an attempt to carry out any prohibited act contained in the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1973
Employee Retirement Benefit Security Act - Declares it to be the policy of this Act to protect interstate commerce, and the equitable interests of participants in private pension plans and their beneficiaries, by improving the scope, administration, and operation of such plans; to prevent the loss of employees' earned credits resulting from change of or separation from employment; and to protect vested benefits of employees against loss due to plan termination. Sets forth definitions of terms used in this Act. Title I: Portability Program for Vested Pensions - Establishes a portability program for vested pensions to effect the transfer of vested credits between all employee plans. Requires employee plans to apply for membership in the portatiliby program. Authorizes the Secretary to issue a certificate of membership to approved plans. Creates a Protability Program Fund. Requires a member plan to pay, upon request of the participant, to the fund a sum of money equal to the current discounted value of the participant's vested rights under the plan, when such participant is separated from employment covered by the plan before the time prescribed for payments to be made to him or to his beneficiaries under the plan. Directs the Secretary of Labor to administer the fund and to report to the Congress not later than the first day of April of each year on the operation and the status of the fund during the preceding fiscal year and on its expected operation and status during the current fiscal year and the next two fiscal years. Requires the Secretary to review the general policies followed in managing the fund and to recommend changes in such policies, including the necessary changes in the provisions of law which govern the way in which the fund is to be managed. Directs the Secretary to establish an account in the fund for each participant. Provides that the Secretary shall give technical assistance to employers, employee organizations, trustees, and administrators of pension and profit-sharing-retirement plans in their efforts to provide greater retirement protection for individuals who are separated from employment covered under such plans. Title II: Plan Termination Insurance - Establishes the Private Pension Plan Termination Insurance Program to insure participants and beneficiaries of those plans registered under this Act against loss of benefits derived from vested rights which arise from the termination of such plans. Enumerates conditions to insure the right to participants and beneficiaries of a registered pension plan. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe a uniform assessment to cover the administrative costs of the insurance program and to establish an annual premium for insurance at uniform rates based upon the amount of unfunded vested liabilities subject to insurance. Provides that no plan insured under this title shall terminate without the approval of the Secretary. Provides that where the employer or employers contributing to the terminating plan or who terminated the plan are not insolvent, such employer or employers shall be liable to reimburse the insurance program for any insurance benefits paid by the program to the beneficiaries of such terminated plan. Creates within the Treasury a separate fund for pension benefit insurance to be known as the Pension Benefit Insurance Fund which shall be available to the Secretary without fiscal year limitation for the purposes of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1973
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in carrying out the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, to make payments or grants of other aid to agricultural producers, including tenants and sharecroppers, in an aggregate amount not less than the sums appropriated therefor during the year with respect to which such payments or grants are made and measured by: (1) their treatment or use of their land, or part thereof, for soil restoration, soil conservation, or the prevention of erosion; (2) changes in the use of their land; (3) their equitable share, as determined by the Secretary, of the normal national production of any commodity or commodities required for domestic consumption; (4) their equitable share, as determined by the Secretary, of the national production of any commodity or commodities required for domestic consumption and exports adjusted to reflect the extent to which their utilization of cropland on the farm conforms to farming practices which the Secretary determines will best effectuate the purposes of the Act; or (5) any combination of the above. (Amends 16 U.S.C. 590h(b))
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1973
Employee Benefit Security Act - Declares it to be the policy of this Act to protect interstate commerce and the interests of participants in employee benefit plans and their beneficiaries, by requiring the disclosure and reporting to participants and beneficiaries of financial and other information with respect thereto, by establishing standards of fiduciary conduct, responsibility, and obligation upon all persons who exercise any powers of control, management, or disposition with respect to employee benefit funds or have authority or responsibility to do so, or have authority or responsibility in the administration of employee benefit plans, and by providing for appropriate remedies, sanctions, and ready access to the Federal courts. Title I: Fiduciary Responsibility and Disclosure - Provides that this title shall apply to any employee benefit plan if it is established or maintained by any employer engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce, or by any industry or activity affecting commerce. participate, or both. Provides that the administrator of an employee benefit plan shall cause to be published in accordance with this Act to each participant or beneficiary covered thereunder a description of the plan and an annual financial report. States that such description shall be published within ninety days after such plan is established and shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average plan participant. Provides that an annual report shall be published with respect to any employee benefit plan to which this title applies. Sets forth the information that shall be contained in such report. Provides that the administrator of any employee benefit plan subject to this Act shall file with the Secretary of Labor a copy of the plan description and each annual report. States that the Secretary may reject any such filing after notice, hearing, and determination by the Secretary that such filing is incomplete for the purpose of this title. Sets forth criminal penalties for intentional violations of this title. Provides that civil actions may be brought under this title by a participant or beneficiary: (1) for personal liability to such participant or beneficiary for failure to provide information required under this Act; or (2) to recover benefits due him under the terms of his plan or to clarify his rights to future benefits. Authorizes such actions by: (1) the Secretary, or by a participant, beneficiary or fiduciary, for appropriate relief under the fiduciary responsibility provisions of this Act; or (2) by the Secretary to enjoin any act or practice which appears to him to violate any provision of this title. Provides that the contents of the descriptions and regular annual reports filed with the Secretary pursuant to this title shall be public information. Provides for the bonding of persons who have fiduciary responsibilities under this title and of persons who handle funds or other property of an employee benefit plan. Sets forth the fiduciary responsibilities of the administrators of plans covered by this Act. Establishes an Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans to advise the Secretary with respect to the carrying out of his functions under this title. Title II: Vesting - Provides that this title shall apply to any employee pension benefit plan if it is established or maintained by an employer engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce or by such employer together with any employee organization representing employees engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce; or if such plan is established or maintained by any employer or by any employer together with any employee organization and if, in the course of its activities, such plan, directly or indirectly, uses any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or the mails. Excludes from the coverage of this title any employee pension benefit plan if: it is administered by the Federal Government or by an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government; it is established and maintained outside the United States primarily for the benefit of persons who are not citizens of the United States; or it provides contributions or benefits for a sole proprietor or, in the case of a partnership, a partner who owns more than 10 percent of either the capital interest or the profits interest in such partnership. Specifies that no pension plan subject to this title may provide as a condition of eligibility a period of service longer than 2 years or age higher than 30 years. Establishes certain nonforfeitable rights on the part of employees to receive benefits. Stipulates that in computing the period of service under a plan, the employee's entire service with the contributing employer must be considered, except in specified instances. Allows the Secretary to require a certificate of approval with respect to the vesting provisions of any pension plan. Title III: Funding - Provides that this title applies to the same employee benefit pension plans as does title II and excludes from coverage, in addition to those plans excluded under title II, any plan which has a fixed contribution rate and does not provide an amount expected to be paid as a fixed benefit and any plan which is a profit-sharing plan providing benefits at or after retirement. Requires pension plans subject to this title to provide for contributions to the plan in amounts necessary to meet an amount equal to the normal cost since inception of the plan plus interest on any unfunded past service costs and to maintain a minimum ratio of assets to vested liabilities according to a certain schedule. Requires the administrator of a plan to, at certain intervals, file with the Secretary a statement containing the following information: (1) the amount of normal cost since inception of the plan plus interest on any unfunded past service costs; (2) the total amount of the plan's vested liabilities at the close of its preceding fiscal year; (3) the assets held by the plan as of the close of its preceding fiscal year valued at market value or by any other method approved by the Secretary pursuant to regulation; (4) the number of years the plan has been in effect; (5) a statement of the amount, if any, by which the assets held by the plan either exceed or fall below the amount of assets required in order for the plan to meet the required funding ratio; and (6) such other information determined by the Secretary by regulation to be necessary for adequate disclosure of a plan's funding status. Provides that when the contributions to a pension plan fall below amounts necessary to meet the normal cost of the plan plus interest on past costs, the Secretary shall require by order, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that the administrator take necessary steps to guarantee that the rights of each participant to benefits or to the amounts credited to his account are nonforfeitable in the event of the participant's termination. Provides that when a plan's ratio of assets to vested liabilities falls below the funding ratio required, the plan's vested liabilities shall not be increased by an amendment until the plan's required ratio is attained. Specifies that when a plan's ratio of assets to vested liabilities falls below the required ratio for 5 consecutive years, the Secretary shall require that the administrator take steps to suspend further accumulation of vested liabilities.
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
Provides that the President shall appoint, by and with the consent of the Senate, one additional district judge for the southern district of Florida one additional district judge for the northern district of Indiana, one additional district judge for the western district of Missouri, and one additional district judge for the northern district of Texas.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Consumer Protection Act - Title I: Office of Consumer Affairs - Creates an Office of Consumer Affairs, within the Executive Office of the President, to coordinate Federal consumer protection activities, serve as a clearinghouse for complaints, and publish Government consumer information. Provides that the office shall be headed by a Director appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and gives the Director powers to carry out the objectives of this Act. Requires the Director to transmit to the Congress and the President an annual report of the activities of the office during the preceding year including a summary of complaints and the need for additional legislation to protect the interest of the U.S. consumer. 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 and avoid duplications and inconsistencies; (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 effect consumer interests; (4) cooperate with and, when requested, provide assistance to the Administrator of the Consumer Protection Agency; (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, surveys, and investigations 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) encourage, report, and coordinate research and studies leading to improved products, services, and consumer information; (10) cooperate with and give technical assistance to State and local governments in the promotion and protection of consumer interests, including programs relating to the arbitration of disputes between consumers and businessmen and producers; (11) cooperate with and assist private enterprise in the promotion and protection of consumer interests; (12) publish and distribute in a Consumer Register material which will include notices 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 (13) keep the appropriate committees of the Congress fully and currently informed of all its activities, except that this paragraph is not authority to withhold information requested by individual Members of Congress. 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 appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, to advise the Congress and the President as to matters concerning consumer interests and to protect the interest of consumers. Gives the Agency powers to carry out the objectives of this Act and sets out specific functions for the Agency. Asserts that the functions of the Agency shall be to: (1) represent the interests of consumers in proceedings before Federal agencies and courts; (2) encourage and support research, studies and testing leading to a better understanding of consumer products and to 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 interests; (4) publish and distribute material developed pursuant to carrying out its responsibilities which will inform consumers of matters of interests 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, except that this paragraph is not authority to withhold information requested by individual Members of Congress; and (7) cooperate with and, when requested, provide assistance to the Director of the Office in the carrying out of his functions. Allows the Agency to intervene and represent the interests of consumers in Federal agencies investigations or hearings where the interests of such consumers would not otherwise be adequately protected. Authorizes the Agency to intervene as a party in a proceeding in a court of the United States involving the review of Federal agency action in a rulemaking proceeding in which the Agency had participated in or an adjudicatory proceeding in which the Agency had intervened, and to the extent that a right of judicial review is otherwise accorded by law. Authorizes the Agency to institute a proceeding in a competent court of the United States to secure such a review. Authorizes the Administrator to request the Federal Agency concerned to initiate such proceedings or to take such other action as may be authorized by law with respect to such agency, when the Administrator determines it to be in the interests of consumers. Authorizes the Office of Consumer Affairs and the Agency to receive information disclosing a probable violation of any law, administrative order, Federal judgment, or other trade practice affecting consumer interests and to take action to prohibit any further violation. Requires the Agency and Office to develop and disseminate data concerning the function and duties of the Agency and Office, consumer problems, and trade practices detrimental to the interests of consumers. Authorizes the Agency to encourage and support development and application of methods and techniques for testing consumer products, to recommend to other Federal agencies with respect to such information within their authority which would be useful and beneficial to consumers, and to investigate and report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a National Consumer Information Foundation. Authorizes the Agency to conduct studies and investigations of the scope and adequacy of measures employed to protect consumers against unreasonable risk of injuries which may be caused by hazardous household products. Provides for limitations on disclosures to the public of information collected by any instrumentality created by or under this Act. Title III: Consumer Advisory Council; Protection of Consumer Interest In Administrative Proceedings; Miscellaneous Amendments - Establishes a Consumer Advisory Council consisting of 15 members to advise the Director and Administrator on matters concerning consumer interests and to review the effectiveness of Federal programs relating to consumer interest. Requires every Federal agency taking any action affecting consumer interests to provide notice of such action to the Office or Agency and to take action to consider the interests of consumers. Authorizes necessary appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Health Care Insurance Act - Provides, under the Social Security Act, for medical, dental, and hospital care through a system of voluntary health insurance financed in whole for low-income groups through issuance of certificates, and in part for all other persons through allowance of tax credits. Adds to the Social Security Act a new title entitled Federal Financing of Voluntary Health Insurance. Provides that, for the purpose of providing assistance on behalf of the individuals and their dependents whose income and resources are insufficient to meet the costs of necessary medical, dental, and hospital services, there is established a program of hospital, dental, and medical benefits for any eligible beneficiary and his dependents through the issuance of health insurance certificates, in full payment of allowable premium on a qualified health care insurance policy of his choice. Asserts that health insurance certificiates of entitlement will be redeemable by the carrier by payment from the Federal Health Insurance Redemption Fund. Includes as eligible beneficiaries under this title any husband and wife both under age 65 and living together and any unmarried person under age 65 who is not a dependent beneficiary. Defines a dependent beneficiary as any child of an eligible beneficiary receiving more than 50 percent of his support from the eligible beneficiary, which child is under 21, or if a student, under age 23. Provides that every individual who is an eligible beneficiary whose income results in no individual income tax liability during his base year, whose dependent beneficiaries have no such liability for their taxable years which end during his base year, and who is not eligible to receive military medical care, shall be eligible to receive a health insurance certificate of entitlement. Asserts that such certificates shall be applicable in full payment of allowable premiums for a qualified health care insurance policy or plan. Requires that such policy or plan shall provide protection for the eligible beneficiary and his dependent beneficiaries for a 12-month period beginning during his benefit year against the expenses of health care, including catastrophic expenses of illness. Allows tax credits for health care insurance. Asserts that every individual who is an eligible beneficiary who has not elected, where eligible, to receive benefits under the provisions for fully-paid health care insurance for the low-income group and who is not eligible to receive military medical care, shall be allowed at his election a credit against his income tax liability for his taxable year which ends during his base year; or a health insurance certificate of entitlement acceptable by a qualified carrier in payment toward a premium, under a qualified health care insurance policy. Specifies the amount of the tax credit or the value to be assigned to the health insurance certificate on the basis of allowable premiums. Provides that a health insurance certificate of entitlement means a certificate issued by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare upon application to him by an eligible beneficiary to apply toward payment of premium on a qualified health care insurance policy or plan. Specifies that a qualified health care insurance policy or plan shall be a contractual agreement specifying benefits under a program offered by a qualified carrier which has been registered by a State Agency and which provides basic institutional and medical coverage and catastrophic expense coverage. Declares that each such qualified health care insurance policy or plan shall be noncancellable and guaranteed renewable so long as the carrier continues to offer to the public one or more qualified health care insurance policies or plans, shall provide protection against the expense of health care without regard to any pre-existing conditions, and shall provide for payment under this title of usual and customary charges for services covered under the policy or plan. Stipulates what costs shall be included under basic coverage and under catastrophic expense coverage. Establishes deductibles for each of the two types of coverage. Creates a Health Insurance Advisory Board which shall consist of eleven persons including the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Directs that the remaining members, not otherwise in the employ of the Government, shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointment in the competitive service. Asserts that the Secretary of HEW shall serve as Chairman. Provides that the members shall be selected from persons who are specifically qualified to serve on such Board by virtue of their education, training, or experience. Provides that the Health Insurance Advisory Board shall perform such functions as: (1) prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act; (2) establish minimum Federal standards for the use of State insurance departments in determining whether an insurance company and plan are qualified under this Act; (3) in consultation with carriers, providers of services, and consumers, plan and develop programs whose purposes are to provide for maintaining the quality of medical care; and (4) review the effectiveness of the tax credit program and file an annual report. Grants the States the power to decide which carriers are qualified. Forbids any Federal officer or employee to exercise any supervision or control over the practice of medicine or dentistry or the manner in which medical or dental services are provided, or over the selection, tenure, or compensation of any officer or employee or any institution, agency, or person providing health services; or to exercise any supervision or control over the administration or operation of any such institution, agency, or person. Creates in the Treasury a trust fund to be known as the Federal Health Insurance Redemption Fund to consist in part of an amount equal to the aggregate amount of premiums paid under this title through the redemption of health insurance certificates.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Comprehensive Older Americans Services Amendments - Title I: Declaration of Objectives - States that the general purpose of this Act is to make available comprehensive health, education, and social service programs to our older citizens. Title II: Administration on Aging - Establishes in the office of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, an Administration on Aging to carry out this Act. Declares that the Commissioner on Aging shall be the principal officer of the Administration. Establishes within the Administration on Aging a National Information and Resource Clearing House for the Aging to collect, review, operate, publish, and disseminate information and data related to the particular problems caused by aging, including information describing measures which are or may be employed for meeting such problems. Establishes the Federal Council on the Aging to advise and assist the President as he may direct on matters relating to the special needs of Older Americans: to assist the Commissioner on Aging in carrying out his functions under this Act; to review and evaluate programs of the Federal Government; and to make recommendations to the President, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Commissioner, and Congress on policies and programs for the aged. Provides that, not later than one hundred and twenty days after the close of each fiscal year, the Commissioner shall prepare and submit to the President for transmittal to the Congress a complete report on the activities carried out under this Act. Title III: Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging - Prescribes standards and procedures for the establishment by the several States of State and area social service programs to concentrate resources in order to develop a greater capacity and foster development or comprehensive systems to serve older persons, to include services designed to assist older Americans in avoiding institutionalization. Authorizes appropriations totalling $600,000,000 for such programs for fiscal years 1973, 1974, and 1975. Provides that the Commissioner shall not finally disapprove any State plan, or any modification thereof, without first affording the State reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing. Title IV: Training and Research - Directs the Commissioner to make grants to State agencies and educational institutions for the purpose of: (1) publicizing available opportunities for careers in the field of aging; (2) encouraging qualified persons to enter or re-enter the field of aging; (3) encouraging persons from other professions to undertake assignments on a parttime bais in the field of aging; and (4) assisting in covering the cost of courses of training or study. Authorizes the Commissioner to conduct a study of the transportation problems of older Americans, with emphasis upon solutions that are practicable and can be implemented in a timely fashion. Authorizes the appropriation of $7,500,000 for fiscal year 1973, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, and $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1975 for purposes of such transportation studies and demonstration projects. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants for the purpose of: (1) establishing multidisciplinary centers of gerontology to recruit and train personnel; (2) conducting basic research on the problem of the aged; (3) providing consultation to public and voluntary organizations; and (4) creating opportunities for research projects with respect to aging. Authorizes appropriations of $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1973, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, and $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, for the purposes of attracting personnel to, and training personnel in, the field of aging; and for research and development projects. Authorizes appropriations for $20,000,000 for the fiscal year 1973, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, for establishing multidisciplinary centers of gerontology. Title V: Multipurpose Senior Centers - Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to units of general purpose local government or other public or nonprofit private agencies to pay not to exceed 75 percent of the cost of leasing, altering, or renovating existing facilities to serve as multipurpose senior centers. Establishes standards to be followed by the Commissioner in making such grants and authorizes appropriations of $35,000,000 annually for fiscal years 1973-1975 to carry out the provisions of this section. Creates a Multipurpose Senior Center Insurance Fund to be administered by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to insure mortgages on multipurpose senior centers. Authorizes appropriations of $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1973, and for each of the next two succeeding fiscal years for the purpose of making grants to meet the costs of compensation of professional and technical personnel for the initial operation of multipurpose senior centers. Title VI: National Older Americans Volunteer Program - Provides that no compensation paid to individual volunteers under the Retired Senior Volunteer Program under the Older Americans Act shall be considered income for any purposes. Authorizes appropriations for such program in the amount of $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1973, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1975. Authorizes appropriations of $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1973, $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, and $55,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, for the continuation of the Foster Grandparent Program under the Older Americans Act. Title VII: Nutrition Programs - Provides, under the Older Americans Act of 1965, that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commodity Credit Corporation may donate specified products acquired by them to a recipient of a grant or contract for providing nutritional services for the elderly. Title VIII: Amendments to Other Acts - Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to States which have submitted a long-range program and an annual program for library services for older persons. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to institutions in planning, developing, and carrying out programs specifically designed to apply the resources of higher education to the problems of the elderly. Directs the Commissioner to make grants to State and local educational agencies or other public or private nonprofit agencies for educational programs for elderly persons whose ability to speak and read the English language is limited and who live in an area with a culture different from their own. Title IX: Community Service Employment for Older Americans - Older Americans Community Service Employment Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to establish an older American community service program in order to promote useful part-time work opportunities in community service activities for unemployed low-income persons 55 years old or older who have poor employment prospects. Makes provisions for allotment of funds to State, local, and private organizations to further the purposes of the program. Authorizes appropriations of $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1973 and $150,000,000 for fiscal year 1974 to carry out this title. Title X: Middle-Aged and Older Workers Training - Middle-Aged and Older Workers Training Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, through the Manpower Administration, to make loans and grants for manpower training, including on-the-job, institutional, residential, and other training, designed to upgrade the work skills and capabilities of middle-aged and older persons. Authorizes the Secretary to make such studies, rules and provisions as necessary to carry out this title. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out this title in fiscal year 1973 from funds otherwise available for similar programs. Authorizes appropriations in fiscal year 1974 of $100,000,000 for the purposes of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1973
Allows a tax deduction under the Internal Revenue Code of not more than $750 for ordinary and necessary expenses paid during the taxable year for the repair or improvement of property used by the taxpayer as his principal residence. Permits any person who is the owner of rental housing and who rehabilitates or restores such housing to deduct the cost of such restoration, with respect to the amortization of the adjusted basis of such housing as so restored, based on a period of 60 months. Entitles any person who acquires rehabilitated or restored rental housing from a taxpayer who elected the amortization deduction and who did not discontinue the amortization deduction, to a deduction with respect to the adjusted basis of such facility based on the remaining amount of the 60 month period taken by the person who rehabilitated the house. Provides procedures for the election and termination of the amortization deduction and defines the terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1973
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that no public school student shall, because of his race, creed, or color, be assigned to or required to attend a particular school. Grants Congress the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1973
Requires the President to notify within ten days each House of the Congress by special message of every instance in which he impounds funds or authorizes such impoundment by any officer of the United States. States that such message must specify the amount of impounded funds, the specific programs affected, and the reasons for the impoundment of funds. Provides that the President shall cease the impounding of funds set forth in each special message within sixty days of continuous session after the message is received by the Congress unless the specific impoundment shall have been ratified by the Congress by the passage of a resolution in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1973
Provides that in the determination of the annual income of recipients of vetetans' pensions and dependency and indemnity compensation the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall not reduce the amount of such pension or compensation because of increases in monthly social security benefits under Public law 92-336. (Adds 38 U.S.C. 415(g)(4) 503(d))
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1973
Authorizes the payment of 6 percent interest under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 on amounts withheld from wages and on estimated payments of tax for purposes of the Federal income tax imposed under such code. (Amends 26 U.S.C. 31(a), 6315)
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1973
Provides that the exemption from the antitrust laws with respect to agreements between persons engaging in the professional sports of baseball, football, basketball, and hockey for the purpose of television contracts shall cease to apply with respect to any game when tickets for admission to such game are no longer available to the general public forty-eight hours before the scheduled beginning time of such game. (Amends 15 U.S.C. 1292)
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1973
Provides that any individual who, for the month of September 1972, was determined to be eligible for medical assistance under a State plan approved under title XIX medicaid of the Social Security Act and who for such month was entitled to monthly insurance benefits under title II (Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance) of such Act shall be deemed to be eligible for such assistance for any month thereafter if and to the same extent as such individual would have been eligible for such month had the increase in monthly insurance benefits under title II of such Act resulting from the enactment of the 20 percent increase in title II benefits under Public Law 92-336 not be applicable to such individual.