United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1978
Wildlife on Federal Lands Trapping Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue such regulations, relating to trapping, as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any type of trap unless such trap utilizes the most humane capture method available for the species concerned, and minimizes the probability of capturing species for which such trap was not intended. Directs the Secretary to undertake a research program to develop such types of traps. Establishes an advisory commission to make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to traps designed or intended for use. Prohibits the Secretary from permitting trapping on Federal lands where such trapping may reduce any species below specified levels. Sets forth a procedure for the application and issuance of trapping permits. Requires the attachment of a shipping certificate to any package containing the fur, hide, skin, horn, or feathers of any mammal or bird captured by any trap within any State or the District of Columbia if such package is transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) engaging in trapping without a permit issued pursuant to this Act; (2) violating any condition of such permit; (3) violating any regulation of the Secretary relating to trapping; (4) selling or transporting in interstate commerce an unapproved trap; or (5) falsifying the shipping certificate. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with States with respect to the imposition of trapping regulations consistent with those prescribed under this Act. Authorizes such appropriations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1978
Solar Global Marketing Survey Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to conduct a global market survey to determine which foreign countries might serve as markets for solar energy equipment manufactured in the United States. Requires such survey be computed by September 1, 1980. Limits the amount which may be authorized to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make urban rehabilitation grants to severely distressed cities and urban counties for the following purposes: (1) to finance the acquisition of real property by private, nonprofit entities for residential rehabilitation; (2) to finance residential rehabilitation through grants, revolving loan funds, mortgage insurance, high-risk mortgage pools, and low interest loans; (3) to make grants to neighborhood groups to carry out residential rehabilitation; and (4) to finance the rehabilitation of publicly owned building when the recipient of the grant participates in such rehabilitation. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations for the purpose of assuring that rehabilitation activities conducted with grants made under this program are primarily moderate rehabilitation activities and that such activities do not displace low- and moderate-income people. Lists information to be included in applications for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from taxation certain contributions to profit sharing plans by employers which would otherwise be taxable to the employee merely because a plan includes an arrangement under which the contribution is made only if the employee elects not to receive such contribution in cash.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow New York State and City employee pension plans to purchase New York City debt up to specified portions of their total assets without losing their status as tax exempt organizations or qualified pension plans.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Voluntary Job Preservation and Community Stabilization Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a continuing investigation to identify those industrial, business, agricultural, and service organizations (1) which are in danger of ceasing operation or of outmigration and (2) whose closing or relocation would result in substantial unemployment and economic dislocation in the community. Provides, through the Secretary, loans for technical assistance and status and operating costs to an employee or employee/community corporation which meets certain requirements in order that it may assume ownership and operation of an organization so identified. Conditions loans, among other factors, upon certification that the corporation will allow new employees to participate and will adopt a method for acquisition of stock of persons no longer associated with the organization for the purpose of making it available to all employees on a nondiscriminatory basis. Authorizes loans of up to $15,000 to an employee who wishes to purchase stock in a purchasing corporation and who is unable to secure financing elsewhere.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that an individual's allowable charitable contributions shall be deducted when determining the individual's adjusted gross income, thereby allowing the deduction to individuals who do not itemize.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide identical income tax rates for single persons and married couples filing joint returns. Limits the earned income that must be reported by a married individual filing a separate return to the amount actually earned by that individual.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Psychotropic Substances Act - Amends the Controlled Substances Act, the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Public Health Service Act to meet obligations under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Economic Redevelopment Area Tax Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an additional five percent investment tax credit for new, depreciable business property placed in high unemployment urban areas. Increases the maximum investment credit allowable to 90 percent of income tax liability exceeding $25,000. Allows employers a limited income tax credit for a portion of the wages paid to certain new employees for services in high unemployment urban areas.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Requires that Federal employees be given compensatory time off to conform to religious requirements of abstention from work during certain periods of time.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Hearing Dog Training Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to give financial assistance to centers which train dogs to assist individuals with hearing disabilities. Directs that grants will be made to one center in each of the ten Standard Federal Regions as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. Establishes requirements for eligibility to receive grants.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Bilingual, Hearing, and Speech Impaired Court Interpreter Act - Establishes, through the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, programs to: (1) compile and make available lists of qualified interpreters for non-English speakers and hearing or speech impaired persons and; (2) provide the services of such interpreters free in criminal actions and civil actions initiated by the United States. Permits, and sets guidelines for, the use of Spanish in actions in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and prohibits the disqualification of potential jurors in such court solely on the ground that they cannot speak English. Revises the Director's administrative duties and powers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that artistic compositions, copyrights, and the like shall not be included in the estate tax valuation of the creator's estate.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow New York State and City employee pension plans to purchase New York City debt up to specified portions of their total assets without losing their status as tax exempt organizations or qualified pension plans. Directs the trustees of each plan to file copies of their New York State Insurance Department annual reports with the Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury until less than ten percent of their plan's assets consists of such debt.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1978
Urges the House Committee on the Judiciary to disapprove S. 1437 (Criminal code revisions), and to conduct hearings regarding the revision of the Federal criminal code.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1978
Requires that Federal employees be given compensatory time off to conform to religious requirements of abstention from work during certain periods of time.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1978
National Infant Screening Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants and contracts to public and private entities to acquire the automated equipment, supplies, and personnel required to conduct multiple screening of blood specimens routinely collected from newborn infants for metabolic disorders. Requires the States to develop plans for the screening, diagnosis, and management of newborn infants for metabolic disorders. States that no entity shall be eligible for a grant under this Act unless it is in compliance with the applicable State plan.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1978
Disapproves the action of the President denying import relief under the Trade Act of 1974 to the high carbon ferrochromium industry, transmitted to Congress on January 27, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the employer's income tax credit for new employees where the new employees are graduates of Opportunities Industrialization Centers.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1978
Solar Energy Bank Act - Creates a Government corporation to be known as the Solar Energy Development Bank to make long-term, low-interest loans to encourage the use of solar energy in commercial and residential structures. Prohibits conflicts of interest on the part of officers or employees of the Bank. Prohibits the Bank or its employees from utilizing the Solar Bank to finance political activities. Imposes criminal penalties for the furnishing of false or misleading information by applicants for loans under this Act. Allows the Solar Bank to make loans directly, or through lending institutions which are entitled to reasonable fees for their services. Sets the annual interest rates on such loans at not more than three percent and limits the loans to a maximum of 30 years duration. Requires that the detailed plans submitted with each loan application include installation, architectural, and design plans and fees, if applicable. Prohibits the approval of loans unless the Solar Bank finds that the proposed equipment and related expenses are appropriate and reasonable and will result in a meaningful reduction in the conventional energy dependence of the user. Requires the Solar Bank to establish guidelines for the distribution of its loans among commercial and residential uses and requires that at least 60 percent of such monies loaned be for residential purposes. Establishes procedures governing the processing and approval of loan applications by the Bank. Provides penalties for the violation of the loan contract or for fraud in the obtaining of such a loan. Exempts the Solar Bank and its assets from taxation, except that the real and tangible personal property of the Bank shall be subject to Federal, State, and local taxation to the same extent as that of private corporations. Directs the General Accounting Office (GAO) to audit the financial transactions of the Bank, and grants the GAO access to all its books, records and accounts. Establishes a Solar Energy Fund in the Treasury of the United States to pay the expenses of the Bank. Authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000,000 to the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1978
Amends Title XXI (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to authorize payments to States for the cost of emergency shelter or services provided to an individual in danger of physical or mental injury, neglect, maltreatment, or exploitation.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1978
Title I: Small Business Act Amendments - Empowers the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make loans to assist any small business concern in financing plant construction and equipment acquisition for the production, installation, or maintenance of solar energy equipment or other energy conservation equipment. Permits the Administration to make grants to non-profit organizations for the establishment of training seminars that teach small business concerns methods of design, installation, and maintenance of solar energy equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Targeted Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow manufacturers planning property eligible for the investment tax credit in designated "labor surplus" areas to take double investment tax credits and depreciation deduction for the property. Doubles the allowable deduction for real property taxes on realty used in connection with this property.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to make phencyclidine (PCP) a Schedule I (most dangerous substances) rather than a Schedule III drug. Sets forth minimum mandatory prison terms for phencyclidine traffic. Revises provisions specifying penalties for sale of controlled substances to persons under 21 to: (1) repeal the requirement that the seller be at least 18 years old; and (2) set forth separate mandatory prison terms for the sale of phencyclidine.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1978
Small Business Development Center Act - Authorizes the Small Business Administration to make grants to universities to assist them in developing centers to provide small businesses with a broad range of advice, information, and assistance. Limits the amount of such grant to no more than 75 percent of the cost of eligible activities in the operation or development of the center, except for grants to regional centers assisting State centers in research or other high cost activities. Establishes a Small Business Management and Technical Assistance Division within the Small Business Development Center program through a Deputy Associate Administrator. Establishes a Small Business Development Center Advisory Board composed of 14 members to advise and confer with the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management and Technical Assistance. Authorizes the Administration to make grants to universities, organizations, and business concerns to support research to solve problems which affect small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation of the House of Representatives of the kidnapping of Aldo Moro. Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) Italy deserves the support of the United States, and (2) the President should instruct the Permanent Representative to the United Nations to press for consideration of solutions to the problem of terrorism in all appropriate forums.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1978
Opportunities Industrialization Centers Skills Training and Private Sector Job Creation Welfare Reform Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to (1) enter into a contract with Opportunities Industrialization Centers, Incorporated, for the creation of jobs and the provision of skills training for hard-core unemployed welfare recipients in urban and rural depressed areas, and unemployed persons in depressed areas whose unemployment insurance has expired, and (2) enter into contracts with other national community-based organizations, such as the National Urban League, for the provision of comprehensive employment services to such persons. Directs the head of each agency administering authority under any of specified Acts or programs, including the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, the Housing and Community Development Act, and public works assistance programs, to take steps to assure that consideration will be given to national community-based organizations for the provision of comprehensive employment services and job opportunities to welfare recipients pursuant to those Acts and programs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation by the Congress of the March 11, 1978, attack on Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the expressed intention of the PLO to continue such attacks and to disrupt the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Requests the President to make the disapproval of the Congress known to governments approving the PLO attack. Expresses Congressional approval of the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Urges other Middle East countries to join such efforts. Declares negotiation to be the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1978
National Academy of Medicine Act - Establishes a National Academy of Medicine to train doctors at no cost to the student. Requires each student to sign a written agreement to serve as a commissioned officer of the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service upon graduation and after completion of residency and internship for a period of six years for general practitioners and nine years for specialists.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Authorizes for fiscal year 1979 a $543,000,000 appropriation for the settlement of unpaid claims for reimbursement asserted by the States for expenditures made with respect to services provided by such States under specified Titles of the Social Security Act. Sets forth criteria for determining the allowable amount of an unpaid claim and procedures and time limitations for making claims for reimbursement.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide graduted income tax rates for corporations with a maximum rate of 45 percent on income in excess of $150,000 and a minimum rate of 18 percent on income not in excess of $25,000.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1978
Reserve Survivors' Benefits Act - Title I: Annuities Under Survivor Benefit Plan - Grants annuities to the survivors of individuals who would have been eligible for retired military pay for non-regular service but who died before reaching the age of 60. Establishes formulae for computing such benefits. Title II: Medical and Dental Care - Entitles such survivors to specified medical and dental benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Amends Title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to increase the ceiling imposed upon payments for services under such Title for the fiscal years 1979, 1980, 1981 and maintains the 1981 level for succeeding years.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) remove the limitation on the amount of the income tax credit allowed employers who hire unemployed individuals; (2) make the credit refundable; (3) limit the types of tax against which the credit may be applied; and (4) restrict its application to the hiring of individuals between the ages of 16 and 19.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1978
SS Life Act - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer to LIFE International for 15 years the hospital ship U.S.S. Sanctuary (AH-17) to furnish health care to developing nations. Renames such ship the "SS LIFE". Authorizes the appropriation of $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 for modification of such ship and for maintenance and operation $494,000 for fiscal year 1979, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1983, and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Better Jobs and Income Act - States that it is the intent of Congress to provide training and job opportunities to principal earners in families with children and to provide income support and supplementation to low-income families and individuals. States that Congress finds it necessary to consolidate and reform Federal and State income assistance programs. Title I: Cash Assistance Program Under The Social Security Act - Amends the Social Security Act to add Title XXI entitled "Income Supplement and Income Support for Families and Individuals". Authorizes appropriations to carry out the programs established by such Title. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), in accordance with the provisions of such Title, to make payments to an eligible household unit (household), as such term is defined in this Act, for any month in which the available income of such household is less than the maximum amount payable according to provisions of this Act, and in which the value of the household's assets does not exceed the allowable amount specified in this Act. Excludes from eligibility for payments as a member of a household: (1) individuals who are not citizens of the United States or aliens not lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; (2) individuals confined in penal or correctional institutions; (3) inmates of public institutions. Directs HEW to assist in the effective implementation of the Employment Opportunities Program established by Title II of this Act and to notify the Secretary of Labor of each adult member of a household with respect to which amounts are payable under this Act. Enumerates exemptions to such reporting requirement based on the need of an otherwise available worker in the home, the disability of such an individual, or status as a full-time student. Directs HEW, in the case of any blind or disabled individual who has not attained age 65 and who is receiving payments under this Act, to provide for referral of such individual to the appropriate State agency administering the State plan for vocational rehabilitation services approved under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Directs the referral of such an individual who is under age 16 to the State agency administering the State plan, required by this Act, for services to disabled children and for review, at least quarterly, of the blindness or disability of such individual and of the need for and utilization of the services made available under such plan. Specifies the amount of payment to a household. States that such amount shall be the "maximum payable amount," as determined by regulations set forth in this Act, reduced by the amount of "available income," as determined under provisions of this Act. Sets forth tables specifying the maximum amount payable to a household according to the number of members and the status of each member as adult, child, or aged, blind, or disabled. Reduces the amount payable for each member who is eligible for subsidized work or training under the Employment and Training Opportunities Program established by Title II of this Act and who is required to be referred to the Secretary of Labor, unless such member is certified as being incapacitated or has not been offered employment or training. Defines "available income" for purposes of determining the amount payable to an eligible household and enumerates exclusions from such available income. Prohibits the payment of benefits under this Act to a household if the value of its assets exceeds $2,250 for households consisting of two or more individuals, or $1,500 for households consisting of only one individual. Excludes from the determination of assets of a household: (1) the home, if it is the residence of such household; (2) the household goods and personal effects, including tools or similar items necessary for a member to engage in gainful employment; (3) separate, identifiable amounts set aside for burial expenses; (4) business assets held for the production of self-employment income; (5) assets of a blind or disabled individual who has an approved plan for achieving self support; and (6) certain stock held by Alaskan Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Directs that the payment to a household in Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands be scaled according to the ratio of the per capita incomes of such territories in fiscal year 1980 to the per capita income of the State having the lowest such income. Exempts household members in such territories from the requirement for subsidized work or training until such time as the Employment Opportunities Program established by Title II of this Act extended to such territories. Authorizes the States to enter into agreements with HEW under which the States will make supplemental payments to households receiving payment from HEW under this Act. Sets forth the method by which the amount of such supplements shall be determined. Requires the States to reimburse HEW for that portion of the cost of such supplements which is not covered by Federal participation. Sets forth directions for the computation of the amount of Federal participation in each State supplemental payment program. Requires each State to pay to HEW a specified percentage of the annual Federal expenditure for payments under this Act in order to assure that each State will continue to share responsibility for meeting the objectives of this Act. Establishes procedures to limit the fiscal liability of the States for participation in the program of State supplemental payments. Sets forth requirements and measures for the administration of the income supplementation program established by this Act. Includes requirements for making application for benefits and for determining eligibility for benefits. Directs HEW to make adjustments in future payments for overpayments and underpayments to households. Requires HEW to establish procedures for the determination of disagreements by an affected individual. Establishes criminal penalties for fraud under this Act. Directs HEW to prescribe criteria for approval of State plans for counseling and services to blind or disabled children. Requires HEW to pay to the State agency administering such plan the costs incurred in each fiscal year. Establishes a new program of grants to States to enable each State to furnish emergency assistance to meet the living expenses of needy families and individuals which are not met under the payments program established by this Act. Directs HEW to pay to each State that has an approved plan for such assistance the total expenditures for the provision of such assistance. Sets limits on the total amount of such payments to any State for a given year. Limits the participation of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands in the emergency assistance program except when the need for emergency assistance arises from a natural disaster or other occurrence of regional or national significance beyond the control of the named territories. Authorizes the President to permit HEW to make payments to States for assistance in meeting living expenses when emergency conditions exist because of a natural disaster. Sets forth steps for the establishment of State plans to administer the emergency assistance program established under this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to increase the amount of the credit against personal income tax to which an individual is entitled based on the individual's earned income. Provides for an earned income certificate permitting a reduction of withholding tax of individuals entitled to the earned income credit. Permits disclosure of income tax return records to HEW and State agencies for purposes of of determining eligibility for benefits under this Act. Establishes a program for grants to States for foster care of dependent children under Title IV of the Social Security Act. Authorizes appropriations and sets forth requirements for the administration of State plans. Repeals Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act and the program of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and the Work Incentive Program for Recipients of AFDC of Title IV of such Act. Directs HEW to grant priority in the hiring of Federal employees to qualified applicants who on the date of enactment of this Act, were State employees whose compensation was paid from funds provided under the work training programs established by certain Titles of the Social Security Act or the Food Stamp Act of 1977. Authorizes HEW to hire specially trained personnel and to procure any real or personal property needed to administer the programs established by this Act. Revises the method for distribution to the State and Federal Government of child support collected under the Child Support and Establishment of Paternity program of Title IV of the Social Security Act. Requires that retroactive disability insurance payments awarded under Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act be reduced by the amount of benefits paid under the cash assistance program established by this Act during the retroactive period. Title II: Employment and Training Opportunities - Establishes an Employment and Training Opportunities program under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 to provide assistance to jobseekers receiving income supplementation in securing employment. Provides for the referral of eligible individuals to employment and training programs and sets forth wage requirements and conditions of employment for individuals referred to such programs. Specifies minimum requirements for job search assistance programs, among them (1) use of a computerized job matching program in cooperation with the State employment security agency, (2) a program of job search assistance services, (3) referral to unsubsidized job opportunities of eligible individuals for an initial eight week period, and continued referrals thereafter, and (4) establishment, by the prime sponsor, of annual goals for placement of eligible individuals. Sets forth conditions under which an individual will not be deemed to have refused work without good cause. Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide financial assistance to prime sponsors conducting an Employment and Training Opportunity program and to the State Governors to be used for the Statewide planning and coordination of approved plans. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make determinations concerning the compliance of individuals participating in the Employment and Training Opportunity program and to withhold payments from any prime sponsor who repeatedly pays wages in excess of the authorized amount. Title III: Establishment of Preschool Education Programs - Provides for the establishment of an In-Home Early Child Development program and a Preschool Development program under the Social Security Act. Sets forth requirements for the establishment of each program.
![Official portrait of Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000053_200.jpg)