United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1975
National Health Care Act - Title I: Findings and Declaration of Purpose - Declares the purpose of this Act to be to improve the organization, delivery, and financing of health care for all Americans by increasing health personnel, promoting ambulatory care, strengthening health planning, establishing national standards of health care benefits, including coverage for medical catastrophes, encouraging provisions of such benefits through comprehensive health care insurance, and by assisting persons of low income or in poor health to secure that insurance. Title II: Provisions to Increase the Supply and Improve the Distribution of Health Care Personnel - Allows a medical student to borrow the lesser of the sum of the full cost of tuition, fees, and reasonable amounts for room, board, books, supplies, and other related costs, or $5,000. Authorizes to be appropriated for the operation of a student loan fund $62,500,000 for the fiscal year 1976, and $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1977. Authorizes to be appropriated for fiscal year 1978 and each of the two succeeding fiscal years such sums as may be necessary to enable students who have received a loan prior to October 1, 1977 to continue their education. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for Federal capital contributions to student loan funds, $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, and such sums for fiscal year 1978 and the two following fiscal years to enable students receiving loans prior to October 1, 1977, to complete their education. Authorizes to be appropriated as grants to public or nonprofit private institutions that train personnel in the allied health professions $12,500,000 for fiscal year 1976, and $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1977. Allows up to 50 percent of a loan for a student in the allied health professions to be cancelled at the rate of 20 percent a year for service in a public or nonprofit institution or agency, and at a rate of 33 1/3 percent a year for appropriate service in an area designated as having a shortage of allied health professionals. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Secretary for student loans $18,750,000 for fiscal year 1976, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, and such sums for fiscal year 1978, and each of the next 2 succeeding fiscal years as is necessary to enable students who have received loans prior to October 1, 1977, to complete their education. Includes in the term "training center for allied health professions" junior colleges, colleges, and universities which offer training in health care center administration or the effective operation of comprehensive ambulatory health care centers or who are affiliated with such a hospital or a comprehensive ambulatory health care center. Establishes a program of special project grants to help educational institutions meet the cost of developing curriculums and training programs to develop the skills needed to administer and staff comprehensive ambulatory health care centers. Authorizes to be appropriated for such grants $12,500,000 for 1976, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1977. Establishes a program of Federal grants to medical personnel in return for service in urban and rural areas of critical need to alleviate the distribution of health care personnel. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to contract with individual health professionals, nurses, or allied health professionals who agree to provide health care services for a period of at least two years in an area designated by the Secretary as having a critical need for those services. Provides that the amount of the grant is that amount which, when added to the recipient's income from providing health care services for each contract year, provides a total income equal to 110 percent of the national annual median income for persons of comparable education and training, or 110 percent of his earnings from providing health care services in the previous year, whichever is greater. Provides that in determining the precise amount of the grant the Secretary may consider such factors as he deems relevant, including: (1) the national median annual income for the applicant's profession; (2) the cost of living in the area of need; (3) the background, training, and education of the applicant; (4) the amount of income the applicant can reasonably expect to receive from service in the area; (5) the number of persons of applicant's profession needed in the area; and (6) where appropriate, cost of equipment, supplies, and facilities. Authorizes to be appropriated for such grants $37,500,000 for fiscal year 1976, and $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1977. Title III: Provisions to Encourage Comprehensive Ambulatory Health Care Centers - Provides grants to comprehensive ambulatory health care centers. Sets up a special category of grants to comprehensive ambulatory health care centers. Revises the declaration of purpose of title VI of the Public Health Service Act to recognize specifically the concept of a comprehensive ambulatory health care center. Provides that for fiscal year 1976 and for each of the next succeeding four fiscal years $200,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for construction and modernization grants. Revises the method of computing the allotment for each State for carrying out construction and modernization under this Act. Requires the Surgeon General to determine the priority of projects by regulation for the construction of comprehensive ambulatory health care centers, to facilities located in densely populated areas where such facilities do not now exist. Adds the requirement that any State desiring to participate must submit a plan setting forth the comprehensive ambulatory health care centers needed to provide adequate ambulatory health care services for patients residing in the State. Permits the United States to recover a specified portion of the funds with respect to which funds have been paid for the construction of a comprehensive ambulatory health care center and which has ceased to serve that function. Defines comprehensive ambulatory health care centers to encompass only facilities which provide a wide range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for ambulatory patients. Title IV: Provisions to Strengthen Health Care Planning - Directs the President to transmit to Congress on July 1st of each year a health report setting forth: (1) the status of the health care system; (2) current trends in the health care needs of the nation; (3) the adequacy of available manpower and physical resources; (4) a review of the health programs of the Federal, State and local governments, and nongovernmental entities; and (5) a program for carrying out the policy of this Act. Creates in the Executive Office of the President a three member Health Policy Board, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Directs the Board to (1) assist the President in preparation of the health report; (2) to review Federal Government health programs; (3) to develop procedures for interagency coordination of Federal health programs; (4) to develop measures to assure adequate manpower, services, and facilities for the Nation's health care. Authorizes to be appropriated $1,000,000 in any fiscal year as may be necessary to enable the Board to carry out its functions under this Act. Directs that all agencies of the Federal Government shall include in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation the positive and negative impact of the proposals on human health and the Nation's health care system. Title V: Provisions to Make Comprehensive Health Care Insurance Available to All - Establishes under the Internal Revenue Code the minimum standard health care benefits for a covered individual. Creates two categories of health expenses. Sets the minimum standard benefits at 80 percent of category I expenses over the deductible and 100 percent of the category II expenses incurred by the individual in that year. Provides for a deductible of $100 prior to January 1, 1978, and $100 times the ratio of the Consumer Price Index for each year commencing after January 1, 1978. Enumerates exemptions for specified injuries and treatments. Prohibits under the Internal Revenue Code any deduction equal to the disallowed percentage for any amount paid or incurred by the taxpayer for medical care of any employee of the taxpayer, employee's spouse, or any dependent of the employee. Exempts amounts paid or incurred by the taxpayer pursuant to a qualified employee health care plan, as a tax imposed by the United States, and as medical care provided directly by the employer. Permits under the Internal Revenue Code an unlimited deduction for the medical insurance expenses of an individual covered by a qualified health care plan. Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to accept the determination of the State insurance regulatory authority that a plan of health care benefits filed with such authority is a plan which qualifies as a qualified employee health care plan. Adds a new title XX to the Social Security Act. Authorizes to be appropriated for each fiscal year a sum sufficient to provide comprehensive health care insurance to needy individuals and families. Defines a qualified State health care plan to be a contract between a State and an administering carrier which provides for payment to physicians and medical institutions the minimum health care benefits. Permits an individual or family to opt for coverage under a plan between a carrier and an approved health maintenance organization. Provides for a variable deductible under the qualified State health care plan. Specifies the requirements for eligibility to enroll in a State health care plan. Declares that the premium rate to be charged under a qualified State health care plan for each policy year shall be actuarially established in each State for: (1) single individual, (2) family of two, and (3) family of three or more. Sets forth the factors which shall be used to determine the premium rate for a given risk category to be charged for the initial policy year and for each subsequent policy year. Requires the State to file the premium rates for each policy year with the chief actuary for the Social Security Administration. Directs the chief actuary to recommend to the Secretary a commensurate reduction in the federal health care percentage if he determines that the rates are unjustifiably high for such State. Requires the appropriate State agency to enroll each Federal cash recipient required under this Act to be made eligible, and to file his application with the administering carrier. Permits all other individuals who provide the family's chief support to enroll in a qualified State health care plan. Requires individuals and families enrolled in such plan to contribute toward the cost of the plan by paying a specified amount determined on the individuals adjusted gross income. Requires the State to pay any contribution for that month of any policy year that an individual establishes that he is a Federal cash recipient. Requires each State which has a qualified State health care plan to make available and pay premiums for Medicare benefits under the Social Security Act to any individual who qualifies. Stipulates a qualified State health care plan shall immediately extend to any child, born to or adopted by, an eligible family member subsequent to the day the application for enrollment was made. Terminates coverage under such plan as of the first day of any calendar month if any contribution due with respect to that month has not been paid by the applicable due date. Declares that there shall be a State health care institutions cost commission designated as a State agency by the Governor of such State. Provides that the commission shall operate with the advice of a council appointed by the Governor. Prohibits reimbursing charges for services rendered or supplies furnished by medical facilities in excess of the rates approved by such commission. Requires the commission to review budgets and charges for the health care institutions in the State to establish prospectively approved charges which shall be applicable to all purchasers of services and supplies from health care institutions. Directs the Secretary to pay to any State which has a qualified State health care plan 75 percent of the reasonable amounts expended by the State each quarter for the administration of the State's health care institutions cost commission and its advisory council. Requires each State commission to file with the Secretary a report of the level of rates charged within such State. Stipulates that, if the Secretary determines that the level of rates approved for a given category of health care is unjustifiably high, he shall order a reduction for that State in the Federal medical assistance percentage and a reduction in the Federal health care percentage. Declares that the qualified State health care benefits poll shall be administered by the administering carrier. Deposits into the pool the premiums collected pursuant to this Act, specified service charges, and the reimbursements for pool losses. Makes available pool funds to: (1) pay health care plan benefit claims; (2) to repay to pool reinsurers their losses, if any; and (3) to pay other charges for which the pool has liability. Requires an accounting to be made of pool funds and submitted to the Secretary, the State, and to all reinsurers. Directs the Secretary to pay to each State which has a qualified State health care plan an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying the total premiums for the qualified State health care plan paid by a State to the administering carrier by the Federal health care percentage. Sets such percentage at 100 percent less the State percentage, which shall not be more than 30 percent. Requires an NHI underwriter, in order to protect against insolvency to have a combined capital and surplus of not less than the greater of: (1) $1,500,000, or (2) 2 percent of the gross premium income of the underwriter for its immediately preceding fiscal year of operation. Permits the underwriter to obtain a performance bond as an alternative. Defines NHI to mean pertaining to one or more qualified health care plans. Specifies the reserve requirements that each NHI underwriter shall maintain. Places responsibility on the State insurance commissioner for assuring the establishment of a facility to underwrite or reinsure minimum standard health care benefits for individuals, families, and groups of employees to whom such benefits would not otherwise be available. Directs such facility to design one form of qualified individual health care plan and one form of qualified employee health care plan.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1975
Provides, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, that exclusive territorial arrangements in any trademark licensing contract or agreement for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of a trademarked soft drink product shall not be unlawful, provided that: (1) such product is in free and open competition with products of the same class manufactured, distributed, and sold by others; (2) the licensee is in free and open competition with vendors of other products of the same general class; and (3) the licensor retains control over the nature and quality of such product in accordance with the provisions of the Trademark Act of 1946.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1975
Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act - States that the current depressed condition of the national economy has had an especially heavy impact upon local governments, making it no longer possible for them to finance needed public facilities, thereby threatening the health, safety, and general welfare of their citizens. Declares it to be needless and unwise public policy for a vast pool of idle manpower to coexist with a backlog of needed and long overdue local public facilities work. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Economic Development Administration to make grants to any State or local government for local public works projects, including but not limited to: (1) those public works projects of State and local governments for which Federal financial assistance is authorized under provisions of law other than this Act; and (2) the architectural design, engineering, and related planning of local public works projects. Provides that the Federal share of any project for which a grant is made under this Act shall be 100 percent of the cost of such project. Directs the Secretary to prescribe those rules, regulations, and procedures necessary to carry out this Act. States factors that the Secretary shall consider in accordance with the relative needs of the various sections of the country. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant for the purpose of increasing to 100 percent the Federal contribution to a public works project for which Federal financial assistance is authorized under provisions of law other than this Act. States that not more than 10 percent of all amounts authorized to carry out this Act shall be granted for local public works projects within any one State. Provides that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on projects assisted by this Act shall be paid wages a rate not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act. Authorizes to be appropriated an amount not to exceed $5,000,000,000 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1975
Veterans Disability Compensation and Survivors Benefits Act - Title I: Veterans Disability Compensation - Increases the rates of disability compensation for disabled veterans. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' affairs to adjust administratively, consistent with the increases authorized by this Act, the rates of indemnity and dependency compensation payble to specified persons receiving veterans benefits. Title II: Survivors Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to widows. Title III: Effective Date: Provides that this Act shall take effect on the first day of the second month which begins after the date of enactment. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 314,315,411,413)
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1975
National Welfare Reform Act - Stipulates that no family shall be eligible for the aid to families with dependent children program (AFDC) under the Social Security Act if its total income, without regard to exclusions, exceeds 150 percent of the family's needs. Provides that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall provide the full cost of AFDC services to needy families who are not U.S. citizens and are lawfully present in the United States. States that unemployed individuals shall be ineligible for AFDC services for specified periods of time if such individual is determined to have, without good cause, refused an offering of bona fide employment or refused to participate under a work incentive program. Provides procedures for the determination of good cause. States that no sanctions will be applied for a ten day period after failure without good cause has been established, if the individual participates in counseling services. Sets forth procedures governing adjustment of AFDC grant overpayments. Prohibits AFDC grant payments where the caretaker relative is unemployed due to participation in a strike or because he has voluntarily terminated his employment. Defines "income" for purposes of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to pay directly to any State up to 75 percent of the costs of investigating and prosecuting complaints of fraud under AFDC program. Requires that recipients of aid be issued a detailed identification card specifying the programs for which the recipient is eligible. Provides that any person who resides in the same household of an eligible family, but is not himself eligible for aid, shall be required to make a contribution to the State in an amount equal to the amount of the standard payment for single person household under the State's plan.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1975
Exempts the first sale of the share of a State or local government or a subdivision thereof in crude oil produced in the United States from the mineral or leasehold estate of any State or local government or subdivision-owned lands for purposes of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1975
Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments - Revises the Appalachian Regional Development Act by authorizing appropriations to the Appalachian Regional Commission of $4,000,000 for fiscal years 1976 and 1977. Authorizes to be appropriated for the Appalachian development highway system $300,000,000 for fiscal year 1977; $300,000,000 for fiscal year 1978; $300,000,000 for fiscal year 1979; and $300,000,00 for fiscal year 1980. Authorizes to be a appropriated to the President to carry out such Act $300,000,000 for fiscal years 1976 and 1977. Extends the termination date of such Act to July 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1975
Allows a taxpayer a deduction from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code for up to $1500 of the expenses paid by him for the education of any of his dependents at an institution of higher learning.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1975
States that the House of Representatives disapproves proposed deferral of budget authority numbered D75-17, relating to funds for Federal aid highways, as transmitted to the Congress in the President's message of September 20, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1975
Disapproves the message transmitted to Congress by the President on October 4, 1974, relating to the deferral of budget authority (D75-60) relating to funds for National Park Service road construction.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1975
Disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority numbered D75-63, as modified by D75-63A, relating to funds for Bureau of Indian Affairs road construction, as transmitted to the Congress in the President's message of October 4, 1974, and January 30, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1975
Disapproves the President's message transmitted to the Congress on October 4, 1974, relating to the proposed deferral of budget authority (D75-24) relating to funds for rail crossing demonstration projects.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1975
Disapproves the Presidents messages of October 4, 1974, and November 13, 1974, relating to the proposed deferral of budget authority relating to funds for public lands development roads and trails.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1975
Disapproves proposed deferral of budget authority numbered D75-24, relating to funds for construction and reconstruction of the Great River Road as transmitted to the Congress in the President's message of October 4, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1975
Disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority relating to funds for Forest Service forest roads and trails and roads and trails for State national forests as transmitted to the Congress in the President's messages of October 4, 1974, and November 13, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1975
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to permit a veteran, who is not a patient in a Veterans' Administration facility, to determine the means whereby such veteran shall be supplied with, or reimbursed for, such drugs or medicines as he may require.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1975
Declares it to be the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Government of the United States should maintain and protect its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the canal and zone, and should in no way cede, dilute, forfeit, negotiate, or transfer any of these sovereign rights, power, authority, jurisdiction, territory, or property that are indispensably necessary for the protection and security of the United States and the entire Western Hemisphere; (2) that there be no relinquishment or surrender of any presently vested United States sovereign right, power, or authority or property, tangible or intangible, except by treaty authorized by the Congress and duly ratified by the United States; and (3) that there be no recession to Panama, or other divestiture of any United States-owned property, tangible or intangible, without prior authorization by the Congress (House and Senate), as provided in article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the United States Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1975
Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to extend the period of time during which seriously disabled veterans may be afforded vocational rehabilitation training. States that such extension shall be for such periods of time as are deemed by the Administrator to be appropriate based on the veteran's disability and need for rehabilitation. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 1503(c))
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1975
Provides a statutory total disability for insurance purposes to any veteran who has undergone kidney or heart transplant or anatomical loss or loss of use of both kidneys. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 714).
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1975
Provides that eligible veterans who, due to complications of a service-connected disability, are required to terminate their programs of education during a school term, shall not have such school period charged against their entitlement. Provides that such veterans shall not be required to make reimbursement for benefits paid to them for such school period.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1975
Grants a preference to veterans with service-connected disabilities for purposes of retention in reductions in force in the Federal service. (Adds 5 U.S.C. 3502(c)).
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1975
Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring, under the Clean Air Act, an indirect source emission review as a part of any applicable implementation plan. States that any rules or regulations with respect to the requirement of such review as a part of any such plan previously promulgated by the Administrator shall be void on the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1975
Provides, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, that exclusive territorial arrangements in any trademark licensing contract or agreement for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of a trademarked soft drink product shall not be unlawful, provided that: (1) such product is in free and open competition with products of the same class manufactured, distributed, and sold by others; (2) the licensee is in free and open competition with vendors of other products of the same general class; and (3) the licensor retains control over the nature and quality of such product in accordance with the provisions of the Trademark Act of 1946.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1975
Provides that the expenses of the investigations and studies to be conducted pursuant to House rule XI, by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, acting as a whole or by subcommittee, not to exceed $460,000, including expenditures for the employment of investigators, attorneys, individual consultants or organizations thereof, and clerical, stenographic, and other assistants, shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the House of Representatives. Stipulates that not to exceed $25,000 of the amount provided by this resolution may be used to procure the temporary or intermittent services of individual consultatnts or organizations thereof.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1975
Requires an annual investigation by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs into the cost of travel by veterans to Veterans' Administration facilities and to set rates therefor.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1975
Allows a tax deduction up to $750 for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by a taxpayer under the Internal Revenue Code in making repairs and improvements to his residence during the taxable year. Allows the owner of rental housing to amortize at an accelerated rate (over a 60-month period) the cost of rehabilitating or restoring such housing. Authorizes the taxpayer to switch from such accelerated amortization to the regular depreciation deduction allowable under the Internal Revenue Code for property used in a trade or business or held for the production of income.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Allows a tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code for the ordinary and necessary expenses paid during the taxable year by a taxpayer for the improvement of the thermal design of the principal residence of the taxpayer, including that amount of the purchase price of a principal residence allocable to any storm door, storm window, or solar heating and cooling equipment (up to $1000 for the period during which such credit is available under the Internal Revenue Code, no more than $250 of which may be allowed as a credit for the purchase of conventional materials). Authorizes the taxpayer to elect a deduction of up to $4000 for the period during which the provisions of this Act are effective (no more than $1,000 of which may be allowed as a deduction for the purchase of conventional materials) in lieu of the credit provided by this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the Federal Energy Administration an analysis of the energy savings achieved through the operation of this Act no later than September 15, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Establishes a forty-five month period maximum for educational assistance in programs administered by the Veterans' Administration for veterans who have served on active duty for 18 months or more since January 31, 1955.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1975
Provides for the preservation of disability ratings by the Veterans Administration for purposes when such ratings have been continuously in force for ten or more years (now twenty or more years) (Amends 38 U.S.C. 110).
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Authorizes medical benefits for the widow or child of any veteran who at the time of death was suffering from a total and permanent service-connected disability.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1975
Establishes the annual pay scale for specified personnel of the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the Veterans' Administration, including the Chief Medical Director, at $49,700. States that in order to attract or retain highly qualified physicians, dentists, and nurses in the Department, such persons may be paid an additional 25 percent of their annual salary. Authorizes the granting of leave with pay for pursuit of studies to such individuals under enumerated circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Uniform Criteria Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act to specify appropriate criteria for the formulation of remedies for the orderly elimination of the vestiges of dual school systems. Title I: Assignment Provisions - States that the assignment by an educational agency of a student to the school nearest his place of residence which provides the appropriate grade level and type of education for such student is not a denial of equal protection of the laws unless such assignment is made for the purpose of segregating students on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin. Provides that the failure of an educational agency to attain a balance, on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, or socioeconomic status of students among its schools shall not constitute a denial of equal protection of the laws. Title II: Remedies - Requires a court, department, or agency of the United States in formulating a remedy for a denial of the equal protection of the laws, to seek or impose only such remedies as are essential to correct particular denials of equal protection of the laws. Provides that in formulating a remedy for a denial of the equal protection of the law, which may involve the transportation of students, a court, department, or agency of the United States shall consider and make specific findings on the efficacy in correcting such denial of specified remedies and shall require implementation of the remedies or on the first combination thereof which would remedy such denial: (1) assigning students to the schools closest to their places of residence which provide the appropriate grade level and type of education for such students, taking into account school capacities and natural physical barriers; (2) assigning students to the schools closest to their places of residence which provide the appropriate grade level and type of education for such student, taking into account only school capacities; (3) permitting students to transfer from a school in which a majority of the students are of their race, color, or national origin to a school in which a minority of the students are of their race, color, or national origin; (4) the creation or revision of attendance zones or grade structures without requiring transportation beyond the next closest school to a student's residence; or (5) the development and implementation of any other plan which is educationally sound and administratively feasible. Prohibits any court, department, or agency of the United States from ordering the implementation of a plan that would require the transportation of any student to a school other than the school closest or next closest to his place of residence which provides the appropriate grade level and type of education for such student. Prohibits any court, department, or agency of the United States from requiring directly or indirectly the transportation of any student if such transportation poses a risk to the health of such student or constitutes a significant impingement on the educational process with respect to such student. Provides that when a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a school system is desegregated, or that it meets the constitutional requirements, or that it is a unitary system, or that it has no vestiges of a dual system, and thereafter residential shifts in population occur which result in school population changes in any school within such a desegregated school system, no education agency shall because of such shifts be required by any court, department, or agency of the United States to formulate, or implement any new desegregation plan or modify or implement any modification of the court approved desegregation plan to compensate wholly or in part for such shifts in school population. States that in the formulation of remedies under this Act, the lines drawn by a State, subdividing its territory into separate school districts, shall not be ignored or altered except where it is established that the lines were drawn for the purpose of segregating children among public schools on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin. Asserts that nothing in this Act prohibits an educational agency from proposing, adopting, requiring, or implementing any plan of desegregation, otherwise lawful, that is at variance with the standards set out in this title, nor shall any court, department, or agency of the United States be prohibited from approving implementation of a plan which goes beyond what can be required under this title, if such plan is voluntarily proposed by the appropriate educational agency. Provides that on the application of an educational agency, court orders, or desegregation plans under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in effect on the date of enactment of this Act and intended to end segregation of students on the basis of race, color, or national origin, shall be reopened and modified to comply with the provisions of this Act. States that any court order requiring the desegregation of a school system shall be terminated, if the court finds the schools of the defendant educational agency are a unitary school system, one within which no person is to be effectively excluded from any school because of race, color, or national origin, and this shall be so, whether or not such school system was in the past segregated de jure or de facto. Title III: Definitions - Defines the terms used in this Act. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals the provision of the Emergency School Aid Act authorizing the construction of integrated education parks. Provides that if any provision of this Act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the provisions of the Act and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Makes it a Federal crime to kill or assault a fireman or law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his duties when the offender travels in interstate commerce or uses any facility of interstate commerce for such purpose. Provides for imposition of a sentence for a term of years up to life or upon the recommendation of the jury, death for the killing of such persons. (Adds 18 U.S.C. 1118)
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring, under the Clean Air Act, an indirect source emission review as a part of any applicable implementation plan. States that any rules or regulations with respect to the requirement of such review as a part of any such plan previously promulgated by the Administrator shall be void on the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Public Works Employment Act - Directs the President to prepare a comprehensive program of public works to include: (1) the construction, repair, and improvement of public property, low-cost housing and slum clearance projects, and hospitals and medical facilities; (2) the conservation and development of natural resources; (3) the control, utilization, and purification of water; (4) prevention of erosion; (5) development and transmission of power; and (6) the construction of river and harbor improvements and flood control projects. Directs the President to execute the program in order to increase employment in those areas of the United States that are suffering from unemployment and authorizes him to make grants to States and political subdivisions to pay up to fifty percent of the cost of each project. Requires that the principal part of the work done on such projects be performed by persons employed for such purpose by the Federal Government, State governments, or the political subdivisions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Repeals, under the Social Security Act, the provisions for the establishment of Professional Standards Review Organizations to review services covered under the medicare and medicaid programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Repeals the Postal Reorganization Act. Re-enacts the former provisions of law pertaining to the Post Office prior to such Act. Reestablishes the Post Office Department.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Student Freedom of Choice Act - States that no department employee of the United States empowered to extend Federal financial assistance to any program at any public school shall withhold, or threaten to withhold, such financial assistance: (1) on account of the racial composition of the student body at any public school or in any class where the school board maintains, in respect to such public school and class, a freedom of choice system: (2) to coerce or induce the school board to transport students to any other public school for the purpose of altering the racial composition of the student body; (3) to coerce or induce any school board to close any public school, and transfer the students from it to another public school for the purpose of altering the racial composition of the student body; and (4) to coerce or induce the school board to transfer any faculty member from the public school in which the member of the faculty contracts to serve to some other public school for the purpose of altering the racial composition of the faculty. Provides that whenever this Act is violated, the school board aggrieved, or the parent of any student affected, or any student affected, or any member of any faculty affected, may bring a civil action against the United States in a district court of the United States. Provides that no court of the United States shall have jurisdiction to make any decision, enter any judgment, or issue any order: (1) requiring any school board to make any change in the racial composition of the student body at any public school or in any class at any public school to which students are assigned in conformity with a freedom of choice system; or (2) requiring any school board to transport any students in order to effect a change in the racial composition of the student body; or (3) denying to any student the right or privilege of attending any public school or class at any public school chosen by the parent of such student in conformity with a freedom of choice system; or (4) requiring any school board to close any school and tranfer the students from the closed school to any other school for the purpose of altering the racial composition of the student body; or (5) precluding any school board from carrying into effect any provision of any contract between it and any member of the faculty of any public school it operates specifying the public school where the member of the faculty is to perform his or her duties under the contract.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Establishes the death penalty for kidnapping if the person has not been liberated unharmed. States that failure of a person, who voluntarily travels with another, to arrive after a ressonable time creates a rebuttable presumption that the person has been decoyed or inveigled.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Allows a tax deduction up to $750 for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by a taxpayer under the Internal Revenue Code in making repairs and improvements to his residence during the taxable year. Allows the owner of rental housing to amortize at an accelerated rate (over a 60-month period) the cost of rehabilitating or restoring such housing. Authorizes the taxpayer to switch from such accelerated amortization to the regular depreciation deduction allowable under the Internal Revenue Code for property used in a trade or business or held for the production of income.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Provides that whoever robs any pharmacy of any narcotic drug shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than twenty years or both. Provides that whoever, in commiting or attempting to commit any offense described above, assaults any person, or puts in jeopardy the life of any person by the use of a dangerous weapon or device, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than twenty-five years or both. Provides that whoever, in committing or attempting to commit any such offense, kills any person shall be imprisoned for not less than ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Emergency Coal Administration Act - Establishes within the Federal Energy Office of the President an Emergency Coal Administration, to be administered by the Administrator of the Federal Energy Office. Authorizes the Administrator to take such action as may be necessary to insure the maximum increase in the production, transportation, and conversion of coal so long as the present energy crisis exists. Sets forth the powers and authority of the Administrator under the provisions of this Act, including the following: (1) to set goals for the production and conversion of coal into energy; (2) to encourage, assist, and take such steps as shall provide for increased production, transportation, and conversion of coal into energy; (3) to issue orders which shall constitute a prior claim upon producers of materials and supplies essential to the increased production, transportation, and conversion of coal into energy; and (4) to afford necessary, reasonable, and proper financial assistance to persons, firms, or corporations converting to the use of coal as a source of energy. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into contracts directly or for the account of any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the production, transportation, and conversion of coal upon terms he deems fair and reasonable for any equipment or parts or other essential articles necessary to increase the production, transportation, and conversion of coal. States that the Administrator may engage in such research and development as he deems necessary, including, but not limited to, the construction and operation of pilot plants and projects relating to the production, transportation, and conversion of coal. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Constitutional Amendment - States that the right and duty of designating which public elementary and secondary school a child or ward will attend belongs jointly to the parents or guardian of each child, or ward, and to the local school board for the district in which the child resides, or other local educational authority. Provides that such right shall not be impaired or denied, either directly or indirectly, by the Constitution or by any law, ordinance, regulation, or action of the United States, or of any State or political subdivision thereof.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1975
Expresses 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. Directs the Department of the Treasury to submit to the Congress within 90 days of passage of this resolution a list and report on the extent of such indebtedness on the part of foreign nations. Requires the Department of the Treasury to begin consultations with foreign governments involved for the purpose of making arrangements for the prompt repayment of those longstanding debts which are delinquent.
![Official portrait of Rep. Roberts, Ray [D-TX-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000312_200.jpg)