United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1980
Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize additional leases of lands to holders of oil shale leases for purposes connected with operations pursuant to an oil shale lease. Limits such additional leases to no more than 6,400 acres. Provides that such land be used for any purposes, except mining, that the Secretary of Interior allows. Prohibits mining oil shale under such leases. Requires the lessee to show to the Secretary's satisfaction that the lessee needs the additional land and has the ability to conduct environmentally safe operations. Requires the Secretary's determination that the additional lease is in the public interest. Establishes guidelines for other lease provisions including rent and duration.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1980
Authorizes the Navajo Tribe to exchange certain lands held in trust by the United States, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, for certain other lands in New Mexico. Directs that such acquired land shall be held in trust by the United States with the same status as the land exchanged.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1980
Proclaims October 19, 1981, a national day of celebration as the two hundredth anniversary of the victory of General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1980
Amends rule XIII and rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish a special calendar to be known as the Budget Calendar, to which shall be referred all bills and joint resolutions of a public character which are reported from committees and which, if considered immediately, would be in violation of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Requires such calendar to set forth: (1) the number and title of such bill or joint resolution, and the date or dates on which it was reported from committee and referred to the appropriate calendar; (2) the particular provisions or requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 which such bill or joint resolution violates; (3) the number of the resolution containing such waiver and the number of the accompanying report, if a waiver of any provision or requirement of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been reported by the Committee on Rules; and (4) a tabulation of the progress of congressional action on bills and resolutions providing new budget authority or changing revenues or the public debt limit for a fiscal year. Stipulates that such tabulation shall be based on a determination of estimates of budget outlays and revenues made by the Committee on the Budget and the most recent periodic report provided by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. Requires the Committee on Rules, whenever it reports a resolution waiving one or more provisions or requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, to include in its report or in an accompanying statement a brief explanation as to why such waiver is necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1980
Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue coal leases on other Federal lands in New Mexico to the owner or owners of specified coal leases upon surrender of such leases.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1980
Sets forth venue provisions applicable to the National Environmental Policy Act or any Act of Congress relating to environmental quality, including Acts relating to nonstatutory Federal water rights, in which the impact or injury alleged is less than nationwide in scope, requiring such actions to be brought only in a judicial district in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs. Requires appeals from any agency decision arising under such Acts to be appealed to the court of appeals for the judicial circuit in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1980
Small Business Equal Access to Justice Act - Title I: Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy - Amends title II of the Small Business Investment Act (Study of Small Business) to direct the Office of Advocacy within the Small Business Administration to assist the Attorney General, Federal agencies, and the Chairman of the Administrative Conference to facilitate relief afforded to small businesses under such Act. Requires the Chief Counsel for Advocacy to submit biennial reports to the President and Congress on awards made to small businesses under such Act. Title II: Small Business Equal Access to Justice - Excludes from the definition of "party" for purposes of this Act: (1) an individual whose net worth exceeds $1,000,000; and (2) any partnership, corporation, association, organization, or sole owner of an unincorporated business whose net worth exceeds $5,000,000, but includes an agricultural cooperative, as defined in the Agricultural Marketing Act, regardless of its net worth. Entitles a prevailing party (other than the United States) to be awarded fees and other expenses, including attorney fees, which were incurred by such party in: (1) an administrative adjudication (excluding ratemaking and license application hearings, but including such actions as suspension or modification of a license); or (2) in any civil action, other than a tort, brought by or against the United States, unless the agency conducting such adjudication, or the court having jurisdiction of such action, finds that the position of the agency or the United States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. Allows the agency or the court to reduce any such award to the extent that the prevailing party unduly and unreasonably protracted the final resolution of the matter in controversy. Stipulates that such awards in administrative adjudication shall be paid by the particular agency over which the party prevails, but prohibits authorization of appropriations to such agency for the specific purpose of such payments. Authorizes a party dissatisfied with such award in an administrative adjudication to petition for leave to appeal the decision in an appropriate Federal court. Authorizes a court to award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in any civil action brought by or against the United States or any agency, including the Post Office, or official of the United States acting in an official capacity, where the court may award such fees in such suits involving private parties (thus applying to Government litigation the common law and statutory exceptions to the "American rule" which requires parties to be responsible for their own attorney fees). Directs the Administrative Conference of the United States and the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to report annually on the amount of fees and expenses awarded during the preceding fiscal year in such agency adjudications and civil actions. Makes this Act applicable to any civil action pending on, or commencing after, the date of enactment, except for civil tax actions, which shall be subject to this Act six months after enactment. Directs the Office of the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States and Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to provide to the Small Business Office of Advocacy the information required to be collected in title I of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1980
Brantley Project, Pecos River Basin, New Mexico, Reauthorization Act of 1979 - Amends the Reclamation Project Authorization Act of 1972 to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for construction of the Brantley project in the Pecos River Basin, New Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Provides for an exemption from the windfall profits tax for independent oil producers for an amount equal to 1,000 barrels of crude oil multiplied by the number of days in the taxable period.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1979
Geothermal Resources Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 by eliminating references to "geothermal steam and byproducts" and replacing them with the term "geothermal resources." Extends the period after which the Secretary of the Interior may readjust the terms and conditions of any geothermal lease issued under such Act to 20 years after the date geothermal resources are produced, and extends the interval of such readjustments to every 20 years. Amends the provision allowing the entitlement to a lease without competitive bidding to include lands within a known geothermal resources area which have been previously offered for competitive bidding at a sale where no bids were received. Directs the Secretary to conduct a competitive bidding procedure for all lands within a known geothermal resources area which have not been the subject of such procedure before the date of enactment of this Act. Provides for determining priority to a lease in the event of conflicts between noncompetitive and competitive bidders. Directs the Secretary of Energy to issue regulations ensuring prompt reoffering of all relinquished, abandoned, and expired geothermal leaseholds. Makes such lands subject to geothermal leasing in accordance with such Act. Expands further the types of lands subject to such leasing to include any lands withdrawn or acquired in aid of the functions of any Federal department. Terminates the application of development requirements upon a demonstration by the lessee that the geothermal resources of a cooperative or unit plan are being produced in commercial quantities. Expands the acreage limitation applicable to holders of interests in Federal geothermal leases to 51,200 acres. Exempts from such limitation any lease containing a well shown to be capable of being commercially productive as determined by the United States Geological Survey. Directs the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal agency or department regarding terms and conditions of leases of lands withdrawn or acquired by such agency or department. Authorizes the Secretary to issue permits for the use of geothermal resources for any noncommercial application without requiring a lease or compensation therefor, upon a finding that such permit issuance is in the public interest. Authorizes Federal agencies to develop for their own use geothermal resources within lands under the jurisdiction of such agencies, so long as such development is in the public interest and would not deter commercial development. Directs the Secretary to establish leasing and operating goals. Authorizes the Secretary to utilize any relevant information in an applicable and available land management plan developed under the Federal Land Management and Policy Act or forest management plan developed under the National Forest Management Act in his preparation of any environmental assessments. Directs the Secretary to identify and publish a list of nationally significant geothermal resources located on national parks, monuments, and recreation areas; fishery hatcheries administered by the Secretary; wildlife refuges, ranges, and management areas; game ranges; waterfowl production areas; lands reserved for the protection of endangered fish and wildlife; and certain Indian lands. Prohibits the issuance of geothermal leases on Federal lands in proximity to such identified resources except to the extent that the Secretary determines that no adverse effects to such resources will occur.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1979
National Forest Multiple-Use Management Act of 1980 - Specifies that lands within the National Forest System considered for wilderness designation under the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE) conducted by the Department of Agriculture, but not recommended for designation as wilderness or identified for further planning during the 96th Congress shall continue to be managed for uses other than wilderness in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Directs that lands within the National Forest System which have been recommended for designation as wilderness during the 96th Congress, but have not been included in the National Wilderness Preservation System prior to January 1, 1984, shall be managed beginning on such date for uses other than wilderness in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Directs that lands within the National Forest System which have been identified for further planning during the 96th Congress, but which have not been included in the National Wilderness Preservation System prior to January 1, 1985, shall be managed beginning on such date for uses other than wilderness. Stipulates that if: (1) an executive communication has been received by Congress recommending the designation of any such lands as wilderness prior to January 1, 1985, and such lands have not been included in the National Wilderness Preservation System prior to January 1, 1987, they shall be managed beginning January 1, 1987, for uses other than wilderness; and (2) at any time a determination is made by the Secretary of Agriculture under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 that any such lands shall not be recommended for designation as wilderness, they shall be managed beginning on the date of such determination for uses other than wilderness in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Directs that lands within the National Forest System recommended for designation as primitive area during the 96th Congress, for termination and management for use other than wilderness, shall be managed after the date of enactment of this Act for uses other than wilderness in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Directs that lands within the National Forest System that have been recommended for designation as primitive area during the 96th, for termination and designation as wilderness, but which have not been included in the National Wilderness Preservation System prior to January 1, 1984, shall be managed beginning on such date for uses other than wilderness in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
San Joaquin del Cannon del Rio de Chama Grant Commission Act - Establishes the San Joaquin del Canon del Rio de Chama Grant Commission to determine the boundaries and interests in land of such Grant in New Mexico. Specified the composition of such Commission. Provides for the appointment of a staff of such Commission. Authorizes such Commission to hold hearings. Requires such Commission to report to the President and Congress within three years with findings and recommendations concerning such Grant.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should terminate all military training of Iranian personnel pursuant to sales under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1979
Sunset Review Act of 1979 - Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to jointly develop and maintain an inventory of all Federal programs and tax expenditures. Requires such inventory to classify all such programs and expenditures according to the jurisdiction of the various legislative committees of the two Houses. Requires the General Accounting Office, before the beginning of the 97th Congress, after consultation with the appropriate legislative committees, to submit a draft inventory to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Requires such Committees to notify each legislative committee of the programs and tax expenditures which are classified within its jurisdiction. Allows any legislative committee to propose revisions of such inventory within 30 days after notification. Requires, after a determination that all programs and tax expenditures are accurately classified, that such inventory be published in a single document. Requires that an update be made of such inventory at the beginning of every Congress. Directs the General Accounting Office to maintain and publish a supplement to the inventory. Requires each legislative committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate, on or before March 1 in the first session of each Congress beginning with the 98th Congress, to develop, adopt, and submit to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committees on Rules and Administration an agenda for the sunset review of selected Federal programs within its jurisdiction or in the case of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance, of selected tax expenditures. Requires the committees of each House to develop their sunset review agenda in consultation with any other committee which has concurrent jurisdiction over any programs or tax expenditures involved. Prohibits either the House or the Senate from considering a primary expense resolution for any legislative committee in any Congress until that committee has developed and submitted its sunset review agenda. Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to incorporate such agendas into a consolidated sunset review agenda and to report such consolidated agenda to its House in the form of a concurrent resolution, within seven legislative days after all committee sunset review agendas have been submitted. Requires the consolidated sunset review agenda to be adopted in the House and in the Senate no later than March 30 in the first session of each Congress. Sets forth the procedures for adoption. Requires each committee of the House or the Senate, not later than May 15 in the second session of each Congress, to report a bill or bills modifying, continuing, or terminating each program or tax expenditure which it has been directed to review under the consolidated sunset review agenda adopted during the first session. Requires such bill to be accompanied by a report setting forth the committee's findings, recommendations, and justifications. Requires each department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch of the Government which is responsible for the administration of a Federal program or tax expenditure selected for sunset review to give assistance to the appropriate Congressional committees. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall affect the authority of any legislative committee to review programs or tax expenditures within its jurisdiction and to report legislation modifying, continuing, or terminating such programs or expenditures at such times and in such manner as it deems appropriate. Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to include the consolidated sunset review agendas and the congressional inventory of Federal programs as part of the House Committee on Rules' functions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1979
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the categories of deportable aliens foreign students who knowingly participated in a political demonstration resulting in, or intending to result in, injury or damage to another's person or property. Permits the Attorney General to suspend deportation of such foreign students.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1979
Provides an alternative eight-year (unless otherwise extended) term of service in the Reserve as one of the requirements for a Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) scholarship. Stipulates that such service may include periods of active duty, active duty for training, and other active or inactive service. Increases the maximum number of such scholarship recipients in the Army program from 6,500 to 12,000. Authorizes additional scholarships to be awarded to eligible students at a military junior college. Defines "military junior college" as a civilian postsecondary educational institution essentially military in nature that does not confer baccalaureate degrees and that meets other requirements as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Army. Establishes eligibility criteria for such scholarship recipients, including: (1) United States citizenship; (2) enlistment in an Army Reserve unit; and (3) service as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve or the National Guard for at least eight years. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to order a scholarship recipient who does not complete the course of instruction, or who refuses to accept a commission upon completion of instruction, to serve on active duty for up to four years. Authorizes the Secretary to delay the commencement of such Reserve service until completion of a graduate or undergraduate degree.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1979
Prohibits the United States Park Service, for any calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, from reducing the number of user days of commercial motorized watercraft travel permitted on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon National Park to less than the number of such days permitted during calendar year 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1979
Pay Continuity Act of 1979 - Appropriates the funds necessary to pay the salaries of employees of the executive branch of Government, Members of Congress, and members of the uniformed services during any period when such funds are not available because the legislation making appropriations to the Government entity responsible for paying such individuals has not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1979
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) no action should be taken to withdraw the one-dollar bill from circulation without congressional approval; (2) no action shall be taken to artificially stimulate the demand for the one-dollar coin; and (3) public demand shall dictate the quantity of United States coins produced.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1979
Requests the President to: (1) publicly condemn Vietnam for violations of the human rights of the people of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos; and (2) request a session of the United Nations General Assembly to impose sanctions on Vietnam for such violations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1979
Rural Cooperative Business Income Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received by a mutual or cooperative telephone or electric company for services to customers or rural telephone or electric companies, and income received from the rental or sale of communications or power facilities, shall not be subject to the tax on unrelated business income.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1979
Amends rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any provision in any appropriation bill or amendment to such bill which changes existing law or has the effect of imposing any limitation not contained in existing law.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1979
Provides an alternative eight-year (unless otherwise extended) term of service in the Reserve as one of the requirements for a Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) scholarship. Stipulates that such service may include periods of active duty, active duty for training, and other active or inactive service. Increases the maximum number of such scholarship recipients in the Army program from 6,500 to 12,000. Authorizes additional scholarships to be awarded to eligible students at a military junior college. Defines "military junior college" as a civilian postsecondary educational institution essentially military in nature that does not confer baccalaureate degrees and that meets other requirements as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Army. Establishes eligibility criteria for such scholarship recipients, including: (1) United States citizenship; (2) enlistment in an Army Reserve unit; and (3) service as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve or the National Guard for at least six years. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to order a scholarship recipient who does not complete the course of instruction, or who refused to accept a commission upon completion of instruction, to serve on active duty for up to four years. Authorizes the Secretary to delay the commencement of such Reserve service until completion of a graduate or undergraduate degree.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1979
Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to extend to the 1980 and 1981 crops of rice, cotton, feed grains, and wheat the low yield and prevented planting disaster payment programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to change specified levels of price support loans and price support payments for the 1980 and each subsequent crop of extra long staple cotton. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to require that extra long staple cotton acreage allotments voluntarily surrendered to county committees be so surrendered not later than January 30 of the crop harvest year. Directs (formerly authorized) the Secretary of Agriculture to permit owners or operators of farms for which an extra long staple cotton acreage allotment is established to sell or lease all or part of such allotment for transfer to farms owned or operated by others, or to transfer such allotment to other farms owned by themselves. Stipulates that farms to which such allotments are transferred may be in any State or county. Requires that such sale, lease, or transfer occur not later than January 30 of the crop harvest year. Prohibits the leasing of any such allotment for a total period greater than three years.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress to review each rule and regulation issued to carry out any law before it may become effective. Permits Congress to approve, modify, or disapprove such rule or regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1979
Small Business Innovation Research Act of 1979 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop an information program to assure that each qualified small business concern has the opportunity to participate in the Federal agency Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs. Requires the SBA to report annually to the appropriate committees of Congress on the SBIR programs. Requires each Federal agency having an annual research and development budget of more than $100,000,000 to establish an SBIR program where one-half of one percent of its 1980 research and development budget and one percent of its subsequent budgets would be reserved for contract awards to small business firms specifically in connection with the SBIR program. Sets forth responsibilities of each such Federal agency with respect to the administration of an SBIR program as follows: (1) determine categories of projects; (2) issue SBIR solicitations; (3) receive and evaluate proposals; (4) select awardees for SBIR contracts; (5) administer such contracts; (6) make payments to SBIR contractors; and (7) make quarterly reports on the SBIR program to the SBA. Requires each Federal agency with a research and development budget in excess of $20,000,000 to establish goals specifically for awards of contracts for research and development to small business concerns. Allows such agencies to include the value of SBIR contracts in determining whether such goals are met. Prohibits contract awards to small business concerns for research and development which result from competitive or single source selections other than under an SBIR program to be counted as meeting any portion of the percentage requirements established pursuant to this Act. Directs the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, in conjunction with the SBA and the National Science Foundation, to issue regulations which shall: (1) provide a simplified acquisition process for the program with SBIR requests for proposals being standardized throughout the Federal Government; and (2) include uniform requirements for patent rights and rights in data.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1979
Federal Firearms Law Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to Gun Control Act - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine: (1) "manufacturer" to mean any person engaged in the "business of manufacturing" (instead of "manufacture" of) firearms or ammunition; and (2) "dealer" to exclude dealers in ammunition and persons engaged in the business of repairing firearms. Adds a new definition, "engaged in the business", with respect to manufacturers, dealers, and importers. Includes as a manufacturer of ammunition a person whose gross sales of his own ammunition exceed $1,000 in any calendar year. Includes as a dealer in firearms a person who deals in firearms as a regular course of business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. Replaces the current term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" with a new definition of "disabling crime." Eliminates certain activities regarding ammunition from the coverage of the current prohibitions. Revises current provisions respecting the interstate sale or transfer of firearms. Revises the current prohibition against selling a firearm or ammunition to certain persons (such as persons under indictment for a felony or addicted to drugs) to apply such prohibition only to persons convicted of a disabling crime. Revises the current prohibition against certain persons transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce to: (1) extend such prohibition to possession or receipt in commerce or affecting commerce of any firearm or ammunition; (2) conform such prohibition to the new "disabling crime" provision; and (3) include as additional categories illegal aliens, persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and persons who have renounced their United States citizenship. Makes the same changes to the current prohibition against certain persons who receive a firearm or ammunition which has been transported in interstate commerce, but applies such prohibition to persons who are employed by specified individuals. Excludes ammunition dealers from the current licensing requirements. Stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury may revoke a license only where the holder of such license has "knowingly" violated a provision of the Act or regulation. Bars the Secretary from denying or revoking a license on the basis of violations under this Act which are alleged in criminal proceedings instituted against a licensee, but for which such individual has not been convicted. Imposes as a condition for the inspection or examination of records, documents, and any firearm or ammunition kept by an importer, manufacturer, or dealer pursuant to this Act that the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred and that evidence may be found on the premises of such persons. Restricts the firearm information obtained from licensees which the Secretary may make available to State or local governments. Establishes a limited recordkeeping requirement for firearms collectors. Stipulates that the general penalty under this Act shall apply to whoever "willfully" violates any provision. Prohibits, with respect to a person's second or subsequent conviction for illegally using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, the granting of parole before completion of the minimum sentence. Amends the forfeiture provision to subject to seizure any firearm or ammunition "involved in or used" in any violation of the Act (instead of "involved in or used or intended to be used"). Requires a court to award attorney's fees to the prevailing party (other than the United States) in an action or proceeding for the return of seized firearms or ammunition. Allows the court to award such fees in any other action upon a finding that the action was initiated in bad faith. Amends the rulemaking authority of the Secretary to provide that no regulation may require (1) the transfer of records required under this Act to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or (2) the establishment of any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions. Requires a 90-day public comment period for proposed regulations (no period is currently specified). Allows one House of Congress to disapprove by resolution any firearms regulation within 90 days of continuous session of the promulgation of such rule. Set forth procedures for such resolutions. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any rules identical to regulations disapproved by Congress without the enactment of additional legislation respecting his authority. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing regulations which require purchasers of black powder to complete affidavits or forms attesting to their exemption from certain provisions of the Federal criminal code. Makes any law or regulation promulgated by any State prohibiting the transfer of an unloaded and not readily accessible firearm or ammunition null and void. Title II: Amendments to title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Repeals title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (relating to the receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms by felons, veterans dishonorably discharged, mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and persons renouncing their United States citizenship).
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1979
Department of Energy Reorganization Act of 1979 - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to establish in the Department of Energy the position of Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy Resources in order to consolidate all energy conservation, solar energy, and energy research, development, demonstration, and commercialization activities currently under the jurisdiction of different Assistant Secretaries of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Sets forth venue provisions applicable to the National Environmental Policy Act or any Act of Congress relating to environmental quality, including Acts relating to nonstatutory Federal water rights, in which the impact or injury alleged is less than nationwide in scope, requiring such actions to be brought only in a judicial district in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs. Requires appeals from any agency decision arising under such Acts to be appealed to the court of appeals for the judicial circuit in which a substantial portion of the impact or injury occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Allows the parties in the case of New Mexico vs. Aamodt to have access to those records of the House of Representatives Committee on Indian Affairs for 1932 and 1933 which relate to: (1) H.R. 7535, introduced on January 12, 1932; (2) H.R. 9071, introduced on February 9, 1932; or (3) the Act of May 31, 1933, enacting H.R. 4014, introduced on March 22, 1933.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Postmaster General and the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee should give favorable consideration to the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Americans of Italian descent and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Philip Mazzei on December 25, 1980, or as soon as possible thereafter. States that the Postmaster General and the Committee should honor other foreign-born contributors to the revolutionary cause, from countries which have not yet been commemorated, prior to the conclusion of the American Bicentennial celebration in 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Appropriates $513,000,000 to the Administrator of General Services for fiscal year 1980 for purchasing silver for stock piling under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Navajo and Hopi Settlement Amendments Act - Declares it to be: (1) the policy of the United States to oppose the forced relocation of Native Americans from their homeland; and (2) the purpose of this Act to stop the forced relocation of the Navajo and Hopi Indians and to reduce the expense of the Navajo and Hopi Settlement Act. Amends such Act to eliminate all provisions relating to the appointment of a Federal Mediator and tribal negotiating teams to agree on land settlement. Eliminates other provisions relating to: allotments in severalty to Paiute Indians now located on certain lands; a Navajo-Hopi Relocation Commission report on relocation; authorization of relocation; relocation housing payment of rental value by one tribe to another for post- partition use of lands; nonmandatory relocation of Federal employees; claims for damages to land; and the reduction of grazing livestock. Changes certain guidelines for the District Court for the District of Arizona in its final adjudication of the Navajo-Hopi land settlement case, Healing v. Jones. Directs the District Court to partition any lands in which the Navajo and Hopi tribes or Navajo or Hopi individuals have a joint or undivided interest to the tribe of which the customary user of such land is a member. Requires that the United States compensate the Navajo Tribe for certain lands partitioned to the Hopi Tribe. Designates certain Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) offices to exercise jurisdiction over partitioned lands. Stipulates that tribal ordinances shall apply to land partitioned to such tribe. Vacates any judgment, order, or decree issued by the District Court upon referral and recommendations from the former negotiating teams and Mediator. Allows individuals or families relocated under such Act to return to the land they formerly occupied. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide all necessary assistance for such return.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Defense Production Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to authorize the President to allow the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority to guarantee loans for the purpose of expediting deliveries or services with respect to national defense contracts. Increases the maximum loan which any Federal agency may guarantee under such Act without the approval of Congress from $20,000,000 to $38,000,000. Requires notification to specified Congressional committees of any proposed obligation above such limit. Authorizes the agency involved to guarantee such a loan if neither House of Congress disapproves of such action within a specified time. Authorizes the President to provide loans to private business enterprises for the production of energy. Increases the ceiling for loans made to private enterprises pursuant to such Act from $25,000,000 to 48,000,000. Extends the President's power under such Act to purchase raw materials for the national defense through fiscal year 1995. Directs the President to attempt to achieve a national production goal of at least 500,000 barrels per day crude oil equivalent of synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks within five years. Authorizes and directs the President to require fuel and chemical feedstock suppliers to provide synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks in any case where the President deems it practicable and necessary to meet national defense needs. Authorizes the President, in carrying out these objectives, to: (1) contract for purchases or commitments to purchase synthetic fuels and synthetic chemical feedstocks which may be for Government use or resale; and (2) encourage the development and production of such synthetic fuels and feedstocks for national defense preparedness. Terminates the President's authority to enter into such contracts at the end of fiscal year 1995. Sets forth procedures for the awarding and performance of such contracts. Authorizes the President to organize corporations to meet the production goal for synthetic fuels and feedstocks as set forth in this Act. Sets forth Congressional oversight measures with respect to the formation of such corporations. Authorizes appropriations of $2,000,000,000 for synthetic fuel and feedstock contracts as authorized pursuant to this Act. Extends specified provisions of such Act through fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt from applicable Federal regulations any State having in effect a law, rule, or regulation applicable to underground injection control related to the production or recovery of oil or natural gas unless the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that such law, rule, or regulation fails to protect underground sources of drinking water. Provides that any State for which such finding is made may amend its law, rule, or regulation in order to benefit from such exemption where approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the underground injection well permit requirements any State having in effect such law, rule, or regulation approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the administrative procedure and judicial review requirements of the United States Code any action relating to national interim primary drinking water regulations, revised national primary drinking water regulations, and State underground injection control program regulations, except as expressly provided by this Act. Directs the Administrator to establish a docket for such actions, and sets forth notice and public and agency commenting requirements for any proposed rulemaking. Sets forth procedures and other requirements for promulgating rules concerning drinking water regulations, and establishes procedures for judicial review of such actions. Amends the definition of "primary drinking water regulation". Revises the standard for the promulgation of primary drinking water regulations. Makes technical and conforming amendments to such Act. Requires any State having primary enforcement responsibility to submit notice to the Administrator that its public water system supervision program conforms to any revision or amendment to any national primary drinking water regulation made by the Administrator. States that failure to submit such notice shall be grounds for withdrawal of State primary enforcement responsibility. Amends such Act to authorize a State having such enforcement responsibility to exempt from maximum contaminant level requirements or treatment technique requirements any public water system not having any reasonable alter native source of drinking water available. Revises the dates for compliance by public water systems with contaminant level and treatment technique requirements. Extends the effective date for State underground injection control regulations approved by the Administrator. Authorizes the waiver of the prohibition against State grants being made for any period beginning more than one year after the date of a State's first grant having been made for a period of 18 months after the effective date of any amendment or revision of the national primary drinking water regulations if the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility and is making diligent efforts to comply with such amendment or revision. Prohibits the Administrator from making grants to any State unless the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility within two years after the Administrator promulgates State underground injection control program regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Establishes the Legionville National Historic Site in the State of Pennsylvania to preserve and protect the site of the first United States military training camp. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire specified lands for such purpose and to administer such property pursuant to applicable law. Directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities for the management, development, and interpretation of such property.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Congratulates the men and women of the Apollo program upon the tenth anniversary of the first manned landing on the Moon and requests the President to designate the period of July 16 through July 24, 1979, as "United States Space Observance" in honor of such event.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Farm Water Act of 1979 - Replaces the existing acreage limitation of 160 acres of reclaimed land per individual with a limitation of 320 acres. Permits larger acreages where the land is less productive or other factors make it less valuable for agriculture. Lists specified lands to which the acreage limitations shall not apply including land within a water district which has paid construction charges of the reclamation project relating to the delivery of water to such landholding. Prevents the delivery of water to irrigable land in excess of 320 acres held in private ownership by a single landowner if such landowner refuses to execute a valid contract for the sale of such excess land. States that the provisions of this Act shall not effect existing contracts between the United States and excess landowners relating to the disposal of such excess lands. Permits the delivery of project water to excess land after the effective date of this Act only if the title to such land is made subject to a condition that the land shall not be sold at a price greater than the landowner's costs increased only by the rate increase of the consumer price index for the period between the dates of purchase and sale. Abolishes the requirement that a qualified recipient must reside on or near a landholding in order for such landholding to be eligible to receive water. Permits charitable or religious nonprofit organizations to continue to receive water supplies under contracts executed prior to January 1, 1978. Waives the sovereign immunity of the United States to State law claims and other contractual actions brought in the Federal district courts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada should meet to discuss energy issues and establish a common economic bond of energy cooperation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1979
Amends the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to divide any lands subject to such Act classified for coal leasing into leasing tracts which will permit the mining of all coal which can be economically extracted from such tracts. Permits the Secretary to negotiate the sale at fair market value of Federal coal.
![Official portrait of Rep. Runnels, Harold L. [D-NM-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000510_200.jpg)