United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Alcohol Fuel Encouragement Act - Requires all gasoline stations, within three years of the passage of this Act, to sell a mixture of gasoline and alcohol in the same manner as they sell gasoline. Imposes a civil penalty for violations of such requirement. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow rapid amortization of facilities producing alcohol for use as a fuel in motor vehicles. Amends the Clean Air Act with respect to the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the use of alcohol as a fuel additive.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 1978
Urban Redevelopment Tax 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 during 1978-82. Allows employers an income tax credit during 1978-82 for a portion of the wages paid to certain new employees between the ages of 17 and 25 for services in an urban redevelopment area.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction of up to $1,500 for household expenses to any taxpayer who maintains a household in which a dependent aged 65 or over resides.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates below the level established by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 on employment income for both employers and employees and on self-employment income. Increases Federal contributions to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act by 50 percent. Increases the ceiling on the amount of income that is subject to social security taxation to $100,000 in 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the District of Columbia be treated as a State for purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President, and Article V of the Constitution of the United States. Repeals the provisions of the twenty-third amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the President should make maximum use of his authority to halt trade between the United States and South Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1977
Prohibits the sale or licensing for export to South Africa of defense articles or services under the Arms Export Control Act. Prohibits the exportation to South Africa of articles controlled under the Export Administration Act of 1969 if such articles could be used for military, law enforcement, or internal security purposes. Prohibits the issuing of licenses for export to or distribution within South Africa of any source material, special nuclear material, by-product material, production facility, utilization facility, or restricted data, under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Prohibits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from approving any application for rental increases in federally assisted housing unless the amount of such increase is permitted under State and local law.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1977
Amends the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act of 1975 to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from permitting the transportation of radioactive materials in areas containing a population density greater than 12,000 persons per square mile, except when such materials are to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment purposes in such area or during a national emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
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 · 25 October 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include within the services to be provided under such Act medically required outpatient rehabilitation services. Defines the terms "outpatient rehabilitation facility," and "outpatient rehabilitation services" for purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile, apparel, or fiber products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1977
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to make grants to assist older persons adversely affected by a major disaster or emergency declared by the President in accordance with the Disaster Relief Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1977
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to deem any article of wearing apparel assembled abroad and imported under the relevant section of the Tariff Schedules of the United States to be an article of foreign origin. Requires such article to be marked with the English name of the country in which it was assembled.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1977
Provides for the arbitration of disputes between the Postal Service and recognized organizations of Postal Service managerial personnel other than officers, postmasters, and employees engaged in personnel work in Postal Service headquarters. Identifies as subject to arbitration under this Act issues relating to pay policies, fringe benefits, and the determination of whether or not a matter is subject to participation by such organization. Establishes an arbitration board to consider a dispute upon the request of the Postal Service or such recognized organization.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to postpone from 1978 to 1980 the termination of the 60-month, straight line depreciation deduction for rehabilitating low-income rental housing.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1977
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a certain individual a sum representing life insurance benefits under the Veterans' Administration policy of her deceased husband.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1977
Prohibits the sale or licensing for export to South Africa of defense articles or services under the Arms Export Control Act. Prohibits the exportation to South Africa of articles controlled under the Export Administration Act of 1969 if such articles could be used for military, law enforcement, or internal security purposes. Prohibits the issuing of licenses for export to or distribution within South Africa of any source material, special nuclear material, by-product material, production facility, utilization facility, or restricted data, under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the United States should support free elections in Namibia and Southern Rhodesia under the supervision of the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1977
Establishes procedures for taking the decennial census. Establishes a decennial census period beginning two years prior to the decennial census date and ending three years after such date. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce during this period to conduct a trial census which shall be the final test of all the procedures to be used in taking the decennial census. Requires the Secretary to submit a report regarding such trial census to specified committees in Congress prior to conducting such a census. Stipulates that no changes may be made in the content or procedures to be used in taking a decennial census after four months following the date of a trial census. Stipulates that the decennial census shall consist only of: (1) an enumeration of the population; (2) sample surveys of the characteristics of the population and housing of the United States; and (3) supplemental surveys necessary to meet the needs of the Federal, State, or local government for economic and social data. Sets forth restrictions regarding the collection of such data. Allows employees conducting the enumeration of population access to the records of the Federal Government and of State or local governments which are necessary to insure that all individuals and households are counted. Stipulates that such employees may obtain only names and addresses from such records and that such information may only be used for purposes of the enumeration. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct special surveys in a State for the purpose of clarifying the findings of decennial supplemental surveys. Directs the Secretary to prepare a plan specifying procedures to be used for correcting errors in census counts and to submit such plan to specified committees in Congress. Directs the Secretary, beginning in 1985, to conduct a mid-decade census of population. Requires the use of the most recent data, either from the decennial or mid-decade census, in determining eligibility for benefits under Federal programs in which census data is a factor. Requires the Secretary to submit specified reports to Congress prior to the taking of a decennial or mid-decade census. Directs the Secretary to insure that the language and categories of questions used on census forms take into account the needs and preferences of the public and to establish a program to provide information to the public regarding the need for, and operation of, the decennial census. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a program for the training and selection of supervisory employees engaged in decennial census activities. Directs the Secretary to prepare a plan for conducting censuses other than the decennial or mid- decade census and to submit such plan to Congress at least 60 days before the census is begun. Authorizes the Secretary to issue "determination estimates," defined as estimates derived from any data which (1) is not produced as an activity of the decennial census period and (2) is produced to enable the executive branch of the Federal Government to determine the amount of benefit received under a Federal law by a State or local government. Sets forth procedures by which a State or local government may challenge such an estimate. Directs the Secretary to establish a Division of Evaluation within the Bureau of the Census to evaluate censuses and to submit the results of such evaluation to the Secretary and the Director of the Census. Directs the General Accounting Office to review evaluations made by the Division every three years. Directs the Secretary in 1979, in 1983, and in every fifth year thereafter, to conduct a census of agriculture. Directs the Secretary to conduct a census of irrigation and drainage in 1979, 1983, and every tenth year after 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1977
Directs the Department of Labor, in cooperation with the Department of Commerce, to develop methods for improving and expanding the collection, analysis, and publication of labor force characteristics relating to Americans of East Asian or Pacific origin or descent for those States containing significant populations of such individuals. Directs the Departments of Commerce, Labor, Agriculture, and Health, Education, and Welfare to collect and publish statistics regarding the social, health, and economic conditions of such individuals. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in conjunction with the heads of other data- gathering Federal agencies, to develop a Government-wide program for the collection and publication of data regarding such individuals. Requires the Department of Commerce to implement an affirmative action program within the Bureau of the Census for the employment of personnel of East Asian or Pacific Island origin or descent. Requires the Department to submit a report to Congress within one year after the enactment of this Act on the progress of such program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the President should (1) urge the Soviet Union to release Rudenko and Tykhy from prison and permit them to emigrate, (2) urge the Soviet Union to release and drop charges against other members of groups monitoring the Helsinki Agreement, and (3) make it known that the United States expects all signatories of the Helsinki Accord to fulfill that agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1977
Establishes within the Department of Energy an Office of Minority Economic Development to study the impact of national energy programs upon racial minorities and to encourage minority participation in energy programs and contract activities. Establishes a Minority Economic Development Trust Fund financed with one percent of the revenue collected under the taxing provisions of the National Energy Act to support activities and programs of minority institutions which conform to the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1977
Unemployment Compensation Cost Equalization Act - Entitles, under the Social Security Act, states whose rates of insured unemployment is at least six percent to partial reimbursement on an ascending sliding scale of unemployment compensation costs incurred above a certain amount.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1977
Public Housing Security Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to monitor the planning and implementation of public housing construction, rehabilitation, or modernization projects to assure that crime prevention is taken into account in the design of such housing. Directs the Secretary to make funds available for citizen crime prevention programs.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1977
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include rescue squad members in the group of persons eligible for public safety officers' death benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1977
Prohibits the shipment in interstate or foreign commerce of any fur or leather, raw or in finished form, from animals trapped in any State or foreign country which has not banned the manufacture, sale, or use of such traps. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to publish a list of such States and foreign countries. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1977
Olympic Summer Games Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for the planning and construction, under the supervision of the Department of Commerce, of sports facilities related to the Olympic summer games of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1977
Displaced Homemakers Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a minimum of 50 Multipurpose Service Centers for displaced homemakers. States that each Center shall provide specified services, including: (1) job counseling; (2) job training and job placement; (3) health education and counseling; (4) financial management; (5) legal counseling and referral; and (6) outreach information with respect to Federal assistance programs. Sets forth factors to be considered by the Secretary in selecting Center sites. Directs the Secretary to designate a public or nonprofit private organization to administer a Center once its site has been chosen. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants in accordance with specified guidelines to such organizations for the purpose of establishing and maintaining Centers. Directs the Secretary to prepare and furnish to Congress biennial evaluations which are to include a thorough assessment of each Center and recommendations concerning the administration and expansion of such Centers at the local, State, and Federal levels. Directs the Secretary to prepare and furnish to the Congress a study to determine the feasibility of, and appropriate procedures for, allowing displaced homemakers to participate in: (1) programs established under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973; (2) work incentive programs under the Social Security Act; (3) related Federal employment, education, and health assistance programs; and (4) programs established, or benefits provided, under Federal and State unemployment compensation laws.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1977
Amends the Clayton Antitrust Act to entitle the United States, natural persons, and State attorney generals acting as parens patriae for persons residing within the State to bring civil actions under such Act for injury in fact, whether direct or indirect. States that this amendment shall apply to any civil action pending on June 9, 1977, or filed thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1977
Civil Rights Amendments Act - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based of affectional or sexual preference in: (1) public accommodations; (2) public facilities; (3) public education; (4) federally assisted opportunities; (5) equal employment opportunities; (6) housing; and (7) educational programs receiving Federal assistance. Prohibits quotas, or determinations of discrimination based upon statistics.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1977
Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize States to unilaterally revise clean air implementation plans to suspend or eliminate provisions which curtail motor vehicle parking in urban areas.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Handgun Control Act - Makes it unlawful for any person to import, manufacture, sell, buy, transfer, receive, transport, own, or possess any handgun or handgun ammunition. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to exempt from this prohibition handguns: (1) required for the operation of licensed pistol clubs; (2) utilized by Federal, State, and local agencies or by licensed security guard services; or (3) manufactured prior to 1890 which are unserviceable and outdated for use as collector's items. Requires a pistol club desiring to be licensed to file an application with the Secretary. Conditions approval of such an application on the club's meeting specified requirements. Provides for administrative and judicial review of a license denial or revocation. Imposes criminal penalties on persons violating the provisions of this Act, including those persons making misrepresentations in required records or in license applications. Subjects to seizure and forfeiture any handgun used, or intended to be used, in any act which violates this Act or other Federal criminal law. Establishes procedures for the reimbursement of persons voluntarily delivering handguns to a law enforcement agency. (Adds 18 U.S.C. 1091-1101)
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1977
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States Postal Services should not reduce the frequency of mail delivery service for any user of the mails below the frequency of such service which was in effect for such user of June 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1977
Mandatory Automotive Fuel Economy Act - Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to establish mandatory minimum motor vehicle fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles of 19 miles per gallon for model year 1982, 21 miles per gallon for model year 1983, 23 miles per gallon for model year 1984, and 25 miles per gallon for model year 1985. Empowers the limited States district courts to prohibit introduction of passenger automobiles in interstate commerce which do not meet such minimum fuel economy standards.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1977
Horizontal Divestiture in the Energy Industries Act - Revises the Clayton Act to make it unlawful, after a specified date, for any corporation or association affecting commerce to control mineral deposits in two or more of the following classes: (1) coal; (2) petroleum and natural gas; or (3) uranium and other fissionable minerals. Requires any corporation or association that would be in violation of this Act, but for the specified compliance date, to submit plans to the Federal Trade Commission for compliance by such date.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1977
Urban Grant University Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for, and establish a program of grants to, urban universities for (1) development of urban-oriented educational, research, or service programs; and (2) assistance in carrying out such programs. Establishes a five year comprehensive grant to a university qualifying as an "urban grant university" and establishes criteria for such designation. Creates an Urban University Advisory Council to (1) review, along with the Commissioner of Education, "urban grant university " applications; (2) advise the Commissioner; and (3) make recommendations to the President and to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1977
Electric Utility Act Title I: Improving Efficiency of, and Preserving Competition in, Generation and Transmission of Electricity - Amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Power Commission to take additional action to increase the transmission capacity of electric generating facilities. Requires the use of central dispatch generating systems in all areas where technologically and economically feasible. Directs the Commission to require utilities to report anticipated shortages of electric energy and to accommodate such shortages in a manner designed to insure continuity of service to retail and wholesale customers. Establishes preliminary proceedings on proposed new utility rate schedules to allow the Commission to authorize such schedules on an interim basis. Prohibits utilities from proposing rate increases while the Commission has pending before it a schedule filed by the same utility, except under extraordinary circumstances. Prohibits increases or automatic adjustments resulting in increases in rate schedules without consideration of such increases in an evidentiary hearing. Requires review of legitimate automatic adjustment clauses by the Commission at least every two years. Authorizes the Commission to issue orders prohibiting unfair methods of competition by public utilities. Authorizes the Commission to review plans for operation of bulk power facilities and to require that such facilities be constructed in a manner consistent with antitrust laws. Directs the Commission to prescribe standards of electric utility reliability. Directs the Commission to prescribe rules encouraging the cogeneration of electric energy with other forms of energy. Revises the prohibition against interlocking directorates contained in such Act to include additional occupations which may not be held by officers or directors of public utilities without approval by the Commission. Title II: Coordination of Planning of Bulk Power Facilities - Requires that electric utilities which control bulk power facilities prepare an annual long-range plan for the use of each such facility. Establishes areawide planning councils to review such plans and submit area plans for bulk power facilities to the Commission. Title III: Improving Efficiency of Use of Electricity - Limits the applicability of the provisions of this title to sales of electric energy by electric utilities for purposes other than resale. Establishes national minimum standards for State-regulated electric utility rates. Stipulates that such rates shall reflect actual costs of providing electric service to each consumer class. Authorizes lower rates for electric energy for essential needs of residential electric consumers, as defined by the State regulatory authority. Stipulates that promotional, political, or institutional advertising costs incurred by public utilities, with specified exceptions, shall not be chargeable to electric consumers. Authorizes electric utilities to recover reasonable costs incurred for pollution control facilities from electric consumers. Prohibits increases or automatic adjustments resulting in increases in State-regulated electric utility rates without consideration of such increases in an evidentiary hearing. Stipulates that automatic adjustment clauses shall be subject to review by the State regulatory authority at least every two years. Requires State regulated electric utilities to promptly implement alternative load management techniques which have been determined to be practicable and cost-effective. Requires such utilities to inform electric consumers of existing rate schedules on and annual basis. Requires notification within 30 days of any proposed changes in rate schedules. Requires such utilities to furnish data on amount of actual electric energy consumption upon request by a specific consumer. Imposes minimum procedures upon such utilities to be followed prior to termination of electric service. Stipulates that nonregulated utilities shall be subject to the same requirements imposed by this title upon State-regulated utilities. Prohibits any rate increases by electric utilities except in accordance with such requirements. Establishes procedures for administration and enforcement of the provisions of this title. Authorizes State regulatory agencies or electric consumers to intervene in any proceeding under this title. Title IV: Consumer Representation and Assistance to State Agencies - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to authorize the Federal Energy Administrator to make grants to State utility regulatory commissions to: (1) improve staffing; (2) encourage the development of innovative rate structures; and (3) to provide for programs to meet requirements with respect to participation in proceedings. Authorizes the appropriation of $40,000,000 per fiscal year for improved staffing. Authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000 per fiscal year for each of the remaining purposes of this title. Establishes procedures for equitable allotment of sums appropriated under this title among the States in accordance with prescribed guidelines. Amends the Federal Power Act to establish an independent Office of Public Counsel in the Federal Power Commission to represent consumer interests in proceeding before the Commission. Authorizes the appropriation of the following sums to the Office: $500,000 for fiscal year 1978; $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1979; $2,200,000 for fiscal year 1980; and $2,400,000 for fiscal year 1981. Authorizes compensation of other parties in Commission proceedings whose views might not otherwise be adequately represented without such assistance. Stipulates that the total amount of such assistance shall not exceed $2,000,000 to all persons in any fiscal year.
![Official portrait of Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000053_200.jpg)