United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1974
Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to develop a system for the payment, on a staggered or cyclical basis during each month, of old-age, survivors and disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income benefits under the Social Security Act. Requires that such system shall take effect not later than July 1, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1974
Designates the premises occupied by the Chief of Naval Operations as the official residence of the Vice President, effective upon the termination of service of the incumbent Chief of Naval Operations. Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to provide for the care, maintenance, repair, improvement, alteration, and furnishing of the official residence and grounds. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary from time to time to carry out the foregoing purposes. Expresses the sense of Congress that living accommodations, generally equivalent to those available to the highest ranking officer on active duty in each of the other military services, should be provided for the Chief of Naval Operations. Repeals the Federal law authorizing the planning, design, construction, furnishing, and maintenance of an official residence for the Vice President of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1974
Interim Fisheries Zone Extension and Management Act - Extends the jurisdiction of the United States over specified ocean areas and fish for purposes of protecting the domestic fishing industry. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to conduct research in order to promote the conservation of fish originating in the United States territorial sea and contiguous fisheries zone. Authorizes the appropriation of up to $1,000,000 in any fiscal year to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1974
Arthritis Prevention Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act - Makes it the purpose of this Act to establish: (1) a long-range plan to expand and coordinate the national research, treatment, and control effort against arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases; (2) centers for arthritis prevention, research, screening, early detection, training, treatment, and rehabilitation programs; and (3) programs to develop new and improved methods of arthritis screening and early detection and to establish a central arthritis screening and early detection data bank. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health to establish a National Commission on Arthritis and Related Musculoskeletal Diseases. Specifies the composition, duties, and powers of the Commission. States that the Commission shall formulate a long-range plan to combat arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases with specific recommendations for the utilization and organization of national resources for that purpose. States that the plan shall include a plan for a coordinated research program encompassing existing and proposed Federal, non-Federal and local programs. Enumerates investigations, studies, and programs to be carried out under such plan. Authorizes to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out the above purposes. Establishes within the National Institute on Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases the position of Associate Director for Arthritis and Related Musculoskeletal Diseases. States that the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall establish an Inter-Institute Arthritis and Related Diseases Coordinating Committee to better coordinate research activities relating to arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Provides for the development, establishment, construction, and operation of arthritis research and training centers. Specifies the purposes to be achieved by such research and training programs. Provides for the geographical distribution, operational support, and evaluation of such research and training centers. Authorizes specified appropriations for fiscal years 1975, 1976, and 1977 for the establishment of such centers. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish and support arthritis screening, early detection, prevention, and control demonstration programs. Specifies the purpose of such programs. Authorizes specified appropriations for fiscal years 1975, 1976, and 1977 for the establishment and support of such programs. Requires the Secretary to establish the Arthritis Screening and Detection Data Bank as soon as practicable after the enactment of this Act. Provides that not less than $500,000 of the sums appropriated to the National Institutes of Health to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be obligated for basic and clinical orthopedic research conducted or supported by the National Institute on Arthritis, Rheumatism, and Metabolic Diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1974
Consumer Home Mortgage Assistance Act - Title I: Lending and Investment Powers, Federal Savings and Loan Associations - Revises the Home Owners' Loan Act by making technical changes to modify the lending and investment powers of Federal savings and loan associations so as to increase the availability of mortgage credit for the financing of residential housing. Authorizes loans of $10,000 for property improvement under the Home Owner's Loan Act. Title II: National Banks - Revises the regulations governing real estate, forest tract, construction and commerical loans made by national banking associations. Title III: Federal Credit Unions - Revises the Federal Credit Union Act by setting forth new procedures for the operation of boards of directors of federal credit unions. Allows Federal credit union loans to their own directors provided such loans in excess of $2500 plus pledged shares are approved by the boards of directors. Prescribes changes in the operations of federal credit union credit committees. Specifies the conditions under which an insured credit union may terminate its status as an insured credit union. Authorizes the Administrator of the National Credit Union Administration to make loans to, or purchase the assets of, or establish accounts in, any insured credit union in order to prevent its closing or in order to reopen a closed insured credit union.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1974
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) it most strongly condemns all acts of terrorism in the Middle East; (2) the President and the Secretary of State should and are hereby urged and requested to (a) call upon all governments to condemn this inhuman act of violence against innocent victims; and (b) strongly urge the governments who harbor these groups and individuals to take appropriate action to rid their countries of those who subvert the peace through terrorism and senseless violence; and (3) the President should request the American Ambassador to the United Nations to take appropriate action before that body in order to have introduced a Security Council resolution condemning this brutal act of violence.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1974
Authorizes the payment under the supplementary medical insurance program of Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for regular physical examinations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1974
Prescribes a World War I veterans' pension of $150 for married veterans or veterans with one child or $135 for unmarried veterans, and an extra $125 for those in need of regular attendance. Authorizes hospital, domiciliary, and medical care to such veterans for non-service-connected disabilities, and costs for medical services unavoidably incurred outside Veterans Administration facilities. Authorizes the payemnt of a pension to the widow of a World War I veteran if she is not otherwise entitled to a pension.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1974
Consumer Home Mortgage Assistance Act - Title I: Lending and Investment Powers, Federal Savings and Loan Associations - Revises the Home Owners' Loan Act by making technical changes to modify the lending and investment powers of Federal savings and loan associations so as to increase the availability of mortgage credit for the financing of residential housing. Authorizes loans of $10,000 for property improvement under the Home Owner's Loan Act. Title II: National Banks - Revises the regulations governing real estate, forest tract, construction and commerical loans made by national banking associations. Title III: Federal Credit Unions - Revises the Federal Credit Union Act by setting forth new procedures for the operation of boards of directors of federal credit unions. Allows Federal credit union loans to their own directors provided such loans in excess of $2500 plus pledged shares are approved by the boards of directors. Prescribes changes in the operations of federal credit union credit committees. Specifies the conditions under which an insured credit union may terminate its status as an insured credit union. Authorizes the Administrator of the National Credit Union Administration to make loans to, or purchase the assets of, or establish accounts in, any insured credit union in order to prevent its closing or in order to reopen a closed insured credit union.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1974
Provides for the termination of the Airlines Mutual Aid Agreement as being adverse to the public interest. Provides that such termination shall be effective as of February 1, 1973. (Amends 49 U.S.C. 1382).
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1974
Allows a deduction from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code for social agency, legal, and related expenses incurred in connection with the adoption of a child by a taxpayer. Defines, for purposes of this Act, the term "adoption expense". (Adds 26 U.S.C. 219)
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1974
Includes as creditable service for civil service retirement purposes service as an enrollee of the Civilian Conservation Corps. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 8332(b))
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1974
States that the amount of the tax deduction for specified medical expenses, under the Internal Revenue Code, shall be increased by an amount equal to the medical expense carryovers and carrybacks to such year for persons 65 or over. Allows the excess medical expense for any taxable year to be a medical expense carryback to the 5 preceding taxable years and a carryover to the 5 succeeding taxable years. States that no portion of the excess medical expenses attributable to a taxable year preceding a taxable year in which the taxpayer's tax is determined with regard to the standard deduction may be carried to any suceeding taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1974
Revises the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 by increasing the period of time during which interested members of the public may comment on proposed preliminary railway system plans. Increases the time limit within which the United States Railway Association shall submit a final railway system plan under the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1974
Provides for certification by the State water pollution control agency of treatment projects within such State where the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency determines that such projects will be carried out in accordance with State laws and standards at least equivalent to those established by Federal law.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1974
Provides that interest forfeited by reason of premature cancellation of savings deposits shall not be included in gross income under the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1974
Housing and Urban Development Act - Title I: Community Development Block Grants - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to States and units of general local government to help finance Community Development Programs. Authorizes the Secretary to incur obligations for such grants of up to $8,050,000,000 until July 1, 1977. Authorizes $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1975, 1976, and 1977 for grants to general local government units for urgent community development needs. Requires grant applicants to: (1) formulate community development programs and housing assistance plans; (2) operate such programs in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Public Law 90-284 (relating to fair housing) and (3) inform affected citizens of the various aspects of the program. Requires annual reviews and audits to determine if grantees are carrying out their programs as required by this Act. States that community development programs approved under this title may include: (1) acquisition of real property that is deteriorating or useful for public purposes; (2) installation of public works facilities; (3) rehabilitation of buildings; and (4) provisions for health, social counseling, and training services under activities within this title. Prescribes the allocations of grant funds under this title, including a ratio to determine amounts for individual cities which relates to poverty and housing overcrowding in the city. Requires that 80 percent of the non-urgent grant funds go to metropolitan areas. Prescribes the full "hold-harmless" amount of a metropolitan city or urban county under this title. Prescribes a discretionary grants fund for special projects, including new communities, United States territories, and disaster-caused development needs. Authorizes the guarantee of notes or other obligations of general local government units for acquisition of real property for community development programs. Prohibits discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, or sex under programs funded by this title. Sets wage standards for labor performed under contracts funded by this title. Requires the termination or reduction of funds to grantees failing to comply with this title. Allows judidical review of such actions. Allows 20 percent of the urgent-need grants to be applied toward the payment of principal and interest on temporary loans made to a local government unit under the Housing Act of 1949. Provides for the employment of low-income persons under programs approved by this title. Title II: Assisted Housing - Authorizes assistance, under the United States Housing Act of 1937, to low-income families. Allows public housing agencies to make assistance payments for the use of existing dwelling units. Allows assistance payments for contracts with owners or prospective owners who construct or rehabilitate housing which will be used at least in part for low-income families. Requires such assistance contracts to set a maximum monthly rent, according to prescribed guidelines. Sets forth a time limit on such contracts for assistance payments. Preserves all ownership, management, and maintenance responsiblilities in the owners. Requires 30 percent of families assisted under this title to be "very low-income" families. Requires the Secretary to insure that special projects for the handicapped authorized under the United States Housing Act of 1937 provide quality services and management consistent with the needs of the occupant. Prohibits the approval of a housing assistance plan under the United States Housing Act of 1937, the National Housing Act, or the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 unless the general local government unit certifies that such assistance is consistent with a housing assistance plan approved under title I of this Act. Requires the allocation of assistance under provisions of the above-mentioned laws according to rates of property, overcrowding, and substandard housing. Makes public housing agencies eligible as mortgagors under the National Housing Act's provisions relating to housing for moderate income and displaced families. Specifies minimum rentals for low-rent housing under the United States Housing Act of 1937. Requires the establishment of sound management practices by public housing agencies. Increases the annual contribution to public housing to maintain low rents to $400,000,000 for fiscal year 1973 and $965,000,000 for fiscal year 1974. Extends the home ownership, cooperative and rental mortgage provisions of the National Housing Act until June 30, 1975. Title III: Mortage Credit Programs - Extends the regular FHA insurance programs and the interest rate authority for veterans' home loans. Increases the maximum mortgage amounts under the FHA one to four-family and multifamily mortgage insurance programs. Makes changes in downpayment requirements for regular FHA one to four-family mortgages. Increases the amounts and time limits on home improvement loans. Permits the co-insurance of any mortgage, advance, or loan in addition to co-insurance otherwise provided by this Act. Prohibits the issuance of such insurance until it is determined that such co-insurance demonstration program will not disrupt the mortgage market or reduce the availability of mortgage credit to borrowers who depend upon mortgage insurance under this Act. Prohibits the purchase of mortgages by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation if the outstanding principal balance of the mortgage at the time of purchase exceeds 80 percent of the value of the property, with specifed exceptions. Eliminates the provisions of Federal law concerning the retirement of common and preferred stock in FNMA. Prohibits sex discrimination in Federal mortgage assistance payments under this title. Title IV: Rural Housing - Allows loans for the repair and improvement of rural dwellings to make them safe and sanitary (where the borrower does not otherwise qualify) of up to $500. Extends veterans preference to rural housing programs under the Housing Act of 1949. Authorizes funds for loan programs for rural housing programs. Authorizes direct and insured loans to provide housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas. Authorizes direct and insured loans to provide condominium housing for low-and moderate-income families in rural areas. Title V: Miscellaneous - States that it is the purpose of this part to encourage the formation of State development agencies which have broad and flexibile authority to carry out development activities designed to: (1) provide housing and related facilities for persons and families of low and moderate income, (2) promote the sound growth and development of neighborhoods through the revitalization of slum and blighted areas, and (3) increase and improve employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed through the development and redevelopment of industrial, manufacturing, and commercial facilities. Permits the guarantee of bonds, debentures, notes and other obligations issued by State development agencies to finance development activities described in the purposes of this title. Establishes a revolving fund to provide for timely payment of liabilities incurred as a result of such guarantees. Allows supplementary grants for projects assisted by the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities. Includes waste disposal facilities among eligible land improvements. Authorizes appropriations for comprehensive urban planning.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1974
Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue uniform regulations for the effective control over the use of Government production equipment by private contractors under contracts entered into with the Department of Defense. Requires such regulations to be issued by other heads of other agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1974
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish national parks of at least 500 acres in those States which presently do not have a national park. Provides that each park established under this Act shall contain picnic and playground areas, an outdoor stage, sports facilities, bicycle paths and nature walks. Stipulates that such parks shall be administered by the Secretary through the National Park Service. Directs each park established by this Act to be opened in time for the bicentennial celebration, July 4, 1976. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1974
Food Program Technical Amendment - Provides that the Secretary of Agriculture shall use specified funds, including stocks of the Commodity Credit Corporation, to purchase agricultural commodities and products to maintain the traditional level of assistance for food assistance programs, including school lunch, institutions, supplemental feeding, and disaster relief distribution. Authorizes the Secretary to administer a food stamp program at the request of any tribal government of native Americans to provide eligible households with an opportunity to participate in the food stamp program. Authorizes the Secretary to pay a tribal governments 100 percent of the costs for administration of food stamp programs on Indian reservations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1974
Makes the stealing or breaking and entering with the intent to steal a controlled substance from any establishment authorized by the Attorney General to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance a Federal crime punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years, or a fine of up to $50,000, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1974
Octane Rating Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct tests of a representative sample of motor vehicles for the purposes of determining the lowest average octane rating of gasoline which can be used without knocking in each motor vehicle sold in the United States, beginning with motor vehicles manufactured for the 1965 model year and ending with motor vehicles manufactured for the 1975 model year, and to publish such findings in the Federal Register not later than December 31, 1974. States that beginning with motor vehicles manufactured for the 1976 model year, no new motor vehicle shall be sold or offered for sale in the United States unless the manufacturer has: (1) tested a motor vechicle which is in all respects substantially the same construction as such new vehicle; (2) submitted the results of such tests to the Secretary for publication in the Federal Register; and (3) published in the owners' manual of such new vehicle the lowest average octane rating of gasoline which can be used without knocking in such vehicle based upon such tests. Requires every major refiner to produce and market to the general public, in amounts determined by the Secretary, a gasoline the average octane rating of which is equal to the lowest average octane rating which can be used without knocking in the particular class of motor vehicles. States that such gasoline shall be produced and marketed after such period as the Secretary finds necessary to permit the development and application of the requisite technology. Sets forth penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1974
Older Americans Tax Counseling Assistance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into agreements with private or public nonprofit agencies or organizations for the purpose of providing training and technical assistance to prepare volunteers to provide tax counseling assistance for elderly individuals in the preparation of their Federal income tax returns. Provides for the Secretary to utilize the services of volunteers and to establish the qualifications required and the terms and conditions of service as a volunteer. States that service as a volunteer under this Act shall not be considered service as an employee of the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to direct the attention of elderly individuals to pertinent provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1974
Wheat Export Marketing Control Act - Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, to carry out this Act. Title I: Wheat Export Marketing Stamps - Provides that all persons exporting wheat from the United States (except as otherwise provided under this Act) shall, prior to such export, obtain export marketing stamps from the Commodity Credit Corporation based upon the number of bushels to be exported and the price paid by the exporter for such bushels. Directs that the Commodity Credit Corporation shall issue export marketing stamps without payment if the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of State jointly determine that (1) the exports are to a developing country with a serious balance-of-payments deficit; (2) such action would be in the best interests of the foreign relations of the United States; and (3) such action would not adversely affect the regulatory program provided for under this title. Provides that the Secretary of Agriculture may exempt from the requirements of this Act wheat exported for donations abroad and other noncommercial exports of wheat. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for the issuance of wheat export marketing stamps for wheat and end products. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate such rules as he considers necessary or appropriate to carry out this Act. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the Wheat Export Marketing Trust Fund, to consist of moneys collected by the Commodity Credit Corporation from the sale of export marketing stamps under this Act. Prescribes procedures for administration of the Fund. Title II: National Wheat Council - Establishes a nonprofit organization to be known as the National Wheat Council, which shall not be an agency or establishment of the United States, to be composed of twelve members. Sets forth the procedure and criteria for appointment of Council members. Provides that it shall be the responsibility of the Council to be informed of prices, income and population, and demand for farm products, use of resources in agriculture, statistics for analyses of supply and demand for farm products in foreign countries and their effect on prospects for United States exports. Provides that any organization or agency, public or private, may submit plans to the Council which would (1) promote research and production of wheat; (2) improve quality and yield of wheat; (3) promote distribution and use of wheat; (4) disseminate existing and new product knowledge, uses, and values in nutrition of wheat and end products; or (5) promote our foreign wheat markets or help develop foreign wheat markets and increase our share of such markets. Authorizes the Council to approve and fund any such plan.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1974
Provides that recipients of veterans' pension and compensation shall not have the amount of such pension or compensation reduced, or entitlement thereto discontinued, because of increases in monthly social security benefits resulting from the enactment of Public Law 93-66, Public Law 93-233, and subsequent cost-of-living increases under title II of the Social Security Act. Provides that the provisions of this Act shall apply with respect to annual income determinations made for calendar years after 1972.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1974
Enables the President or his designee to grant an exemption or realignment to a State, if a State, by proclamation of its Governor, makes a finding (that need not be prior to the effective date of the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973) that an exemption or realignment of time zone limits is necessary to avoid undue hardship or to conserve fuel in such State.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1974
Requires, under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, that the President of the United States allocate plastic feedstocks produced from petrochemical feedstocks. Requires the President to report to the Congress on a monthly basis changes made under this Act. Defines the terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1974
Declares that it is the purpose of Congress to: (1) establish a national transportation rate policy for all recovered materials; and (2) eliminate discriminatory transportation rates charged by regulated carriers for the movement in commerce of recovered waste and recycled or recyclable materials. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission to effect such lawful changes in the rate structure of the country as will promote the freedom of movement by common carriers of recovered materials at the lowest possible lawful rates compatible with the maintenance of adequate transportation service. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to take such steps as are necessary to insure that the directives of this Act are carried out as expeditiously as possible, including the initiation of, and intervention in, proceedings before the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission to undertake studies to be completed within two years of the enactment of this Act of the feasibility of establishing a transportation rate policy for all recoverable materials. Specifies areas to be covered in such study and requires that it be submitted to Congress. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Maritime Commission, and the Federal Railroad Administration to establish a transportation research and demonstration program coordinated by the Secretary of Transportation with the objective of facilitating the most efficient movement of recycled materials in commerce. Prohibits any railroad, common carrier by water, or motor carrier in interstate or foreign commerce from charging, demanding or collecting any rate for the transportation of recovered materials which is unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory. Describes procedures for complaints with respect to such alleged discrimination. Provides civil penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1974
National Resource and Energy Conservation Act - Title I: Formal Provisions - Declares it to be the purpose of the Congress to reduce the wasteful allocation of scarce resources by recovering materials and producing energy from waste through an intensive research and development program in the Environmental Protection Agency (with the assistance of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and a program of technical assistance and support to Government agencies and persons producing or using such energy. Title II: Product Standards and Regulation - States that it shall be unlawful for any person to introduce or deliver for introduction in commerce any product which does not conform to the standards or regulations prescribed by the Administrator under this title. Provides that any person, other than a person who commits a criminal violation, who is found by the Administrator after notice and an opportunity for an adjudicative hearing to have committed an act prohibited by this title, shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty of a sum which is not more than $20,000 for each day of violation. Requires that, within one year after the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall promulgate and shall, from time to time, revise such standards regulating the manufacture and distribution of certain products in commerce as he determines necessary to protect health or the environment against unreasonable burdens and risks associated with the disposal of such products. Permits the Administrator or the Attorney General to file an action against any product which constitutes an imminent hazard as prescribed by this title or any product which the Administrator finds is manufactured or distributed in violation of this title for seizure of such product. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study of possible methods of regulating the design, use, reuse, and recycling of certain products to reduce the generation of solid waste, reduce the consumption of virgin materials resources, or to reduce burdens on the environment associated with the manufacture, utilization, or disposal of such products. Directs the Administrator to conduct research, investigations, experiments, surveys, studies and demonstrations of means of reducing waste generation and increasing the recovery of materials and the production of energy from solid, liquid, and semisolid wastes from residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources. Title III: Unsafe Disposal Practices - Provides that, within eighteen months after the date of enactment of this title and from time to time thereafter, the Administrator shall issue regulations in accordance with this title and after consultation with representatives of other appropriate agencies: (1) identifying unsafe disposal practices; (2) identifying hazardous wastes; and (3) establishing standards for the control of unsafe disposal practices, including requirement of a permit for persons generating hazardous wastes and establishment of requirements for permit holders. Provides that, within eighteen months after promulgation of final regulations and in accordance with this title, each State shall establish a State implementation plan to regulate disposal practices and submit such plan to the Administrator for approval. Establishes a $25,000 fine for each day of noncompliance by a violator of this title. Provides that for the purpose of developing or assisting in the development of any regulation or enforcing the provisions of this title, any person who stores, treats, transports, disposes of, or otherwise handles hazardous wastes shall, upon request of any officer or employee of the Environmental Protection Agency or of any State or political subdivision, duly designated by the Administrator, furnish or permit such person at all reasonable times to have access to, and to copy all records relating to such wastes. Requires that, within eighteen months following the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct, and upon completion, report to the Congress and the President the results of, a study of the feasibility of designing a national resource recovery plan to be implemented by the States individually or in cooperation with other States which will encourage the maximum recovery of resources from wastes and the subsequent recovery of energy from those wastes which are not otherwise recoverable. Permits the Administrator to make grants to appropriate State and interstate agencies and general purpose local governments, or combinations thereof, in an amount not to exceed 60 percent of the reasonable costs of such programs, to assist them in the administration, enforcement, planning, implementation, training, manpower development, technical assistance, public information, basic data collection, or analytical services relating to the collection, transport, processing, recovery, and disposal of hazardous waste. Requires the Administrator to conduct, encourage, cooperate with, and render financial, technical, and other assistance to appropriate authorities, agencies, an institutions, in the conduct of, research, development, investigations, experiments, surveys, and studies relating to: (1) any adverse effects on human health or the environment upon the release into the environment of material present in the land disposal solid, liquid, and semisolid waste, and methods to eliminate such effects; and (2) the development and application of new and improved methods of collecting and disposing of solid waste and processing and recovering materials and energy from solid, liquid, and semisolid wastes. Title IV: Federal Procurement and Measurement - Requires that with respect to each purchase and contract for property, the aggregate amount of which exceeds $5,000, no procurement shall be made by any procuring agency in the case of procurement items purchased through advertisement for bids, of any procurement item which in comparison with other competing items offered for sale by suppliers is not composed of the greatest percentage of recovered materials and is not to the greatest extent recyclable or reusable following the use for which it was purchased, whenever a significant difference as to these characteristics exists between such items and competing items. Title V: Material Recovery and Energy Production - Directs the Administrator, alone or in conjunction with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to conduct research, development, investigations, experiments, surveys, studies, and demonstrations of means of increasing the recovery of materials and the production of energy in usable forms, or both, from solid, liquid, and semisolid waste, from residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources; and to develop, within three years from the date of enactment of this title, not less than three major facilities to demonstrate, substantiate, and validate any determinations made pursuant to this title. Directs the Administrator to provide funds by grant or contract to initiate, continue, supplement, and maintain research and development programs or activities which, in his judgment, appear likely to lead to the development of a facility for the recovery of materials or production of energy from waste, or both. Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee and to make commitments to guarantee the payment of interest on and the principal balance of an obligation to initiate, continue, supplement, and maintain research and development of programs leading to a facility for recovery of material or production of energy from waste. Authorizes appropration to the Administrator not to exceed $50,000,000 to pay interest on, and the principal balance of, any obligation guaranteed by the Administrator as to which the obligor has defaulted. Requires each recipient of financial assistance or guarantees under this title, whether in the form of grants, subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, loans, loan or other obligation guarantees, or other arrangements, to keep such records as the Administrator shall prescribe, and that they shall be subject to audit by the Comptroller General. Title VI: Council on Environmental Representation - Environmental Representation Act - Establishes an independent agency to be known as the Council on Environmental Representation for the purpose of providing support for legal representation and assistance in proceedings, for matters relating to the quality of the environment as described in this title. States that the functions of the Council shall be to establish programs, including local offices if necessary, to provide direct legal and other assistance to eligible clients and to make grants to eligible clients for the purpose of securing adequate representation and assistance to such clients before Federal, State, and local legislative bodies, administrative agencies, and courts in matters dealing with the environment of such clients. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council to intervene as a party or otherwise participate for the purpose of representing the interests of eligible clients in any proceeding before any Federal agency in matters affecting the environment of eligible clients, regardless of whether an agreement has been reached between the Council and an eligible client with respect to representing such eligible client's interests. Directs the Chairman to establish a program for disseminating information to eligible clients with respect to the type of services which may be available under this title. Authorizes appropration for the purpose of carrying out the activities of the Council under this title, $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, $50,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, and $75,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1977. Title VII: National Commission on Environmental Costs - Establishes the National Commission on Environmental Costs to conduct a comprehensive study, including field testing and controlled experimentation to the extent possible, of the feasibility, practicality, and value of the establishment of a system of national disposal cost charges on all products, other than consumables; and to examine all feasible methods of environmental disclosure including notices regarding the damage done by polluters, labeling of products to indicate their environmental costs, and other means of effectively informing the public of pollution sources and alternative nonpolluting modes of public and private action. Authorizes appropriation to the Commission of such sums as may be necessary not to exceed a total of $1,500,000. Title VIII: General Provisions - Allows any person to commence a civil action for injunctive relief on his own behalf, whenever such action constitutes a case or controversy: (1) against any person (including the United States or any other governmental instrumentality or agency to the extent permitted by the eleventh amendment to the Constitution) alleged to be in violation of any regulation, order, or permit requirement promulgated pursuant to this Act; or (2) against the Administrator where there is alleged a failure of the Administrator to perform any act or duty under any title of this Act which is not discretionary with the Administrator. Requires each manufacturer of a product to which title II of this Act is applicable to establish and maintain such records, make such reports, provide such information, and make such tests as the Administrator or the Secretary of the Treasury may, at his discretion, reasonably require to enable him to determine whether such manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with such title II. Provides that in addition to specific authorizations for appropriations contained herein, there are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of carrying out this Act such additional sums as are necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1974
Declares that it is the purpose of Congress to: (1) establish a national transportation rate policy for all recovered materials; and (2) eliminate discriminatory transportation rates charged by regulated carriers for the movement in commerce of recovered waste and recycled or recyclable materials. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission to effect such lawful changes in the rate structure of the country as will promote the freedom of movement by common carriers of recovered materials at the lowest possible lawful rates compatible with the maintenance of adequate transportation service. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to take such steps as are necessary to insure that the directives of this Act are carried out as expeditiously as possible, including the initiation of, and intervention in, proceedings before the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission to undertake studies to be completed within two years of the enactment of this Act of the feasibility of establishing a transportation rate policy for all recoverable materials. Specifies areas to be covered in such study and requires that it be submitted to Congress. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Maritime Commission, and the Federal Railroad Administration to establish a transportation research and demonstration program coordinated by the Secretary of Transportation with the objective of facilitating the most efficient movement of recycled materials in commerce. Prohibits any railroad, common carrier by water, or motor carrier in interstate or foreign commerce from charging, demanding or collecting any rate for the transportation of recovered materials which is unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory. Describes procedures for complaints with respect to such alleged discrimination. Provides civil penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1974
Authorizes the Administrator of the General Services Administration to assign to the head of any executive agency for disposal, surplus real property, including buildings, fixtures, and equipment located in: (1) labor areas classified by the Department of Labor as areas of persistent unemployment, areas of substantial unemployment, or sections of concentrated unemployment or underemployment, if the proposed grantee or lessee agrees to employ a proportionate number of disadvantaged persons living in such sections; and (2) areas designated by the Department of Commerce under the Public Works and Economic Development Act as redevelopment areas, upon a determination by the head of such agency that transfer of such property will promote economic development and new employment opportunities. Allows the head of the executive agency to which the property is assigned to dispose of such property to any State or political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality thereof, Indian tribe, nonprofit corporation, organization, or association for the purposes specified in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1974
Consumer Protection Act - Establishes as an independent agency within the executive branch of the Government the Consumer Protection Agency. States that the Agency shall be headed by an Administrator who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires the Administrator to transmit to the Congress and the President in January of each year a report which shall include a comprehensive statement of the activities and accomplishments of the Agency during the preceding calendar year including a summary of consumer complaints received and actions taken thereon and such recommendations for additional legislation as he may determine to be necessary or desirable to protect the interests of consumers within the United States. Directs the Agency, in the performance of its functions, to advise the Congress and the President as to matters affecting the interests of consumers; and to protect and promote the interests of the people of the United States as consumers of goods and services made available to them through the trade and commerce of the United States. States that the functions of the Agency shall be to: (1) represent the interests of consumers before Federal agencies and courts to the extent authorized by this Act; (2) encourage and support research, studies, and testing leading to a better understanding of consumer products and improved products, services, and consumer information; and (3) submit recommendations annually to the Congress and the President on measures to improve the operation of the Federal Government in the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers. Directs the Agency to receive, evaluate, develop, act on, and transmit complaints to the appropriate Federal or non-Federal entities concerning actions or practices which may be detrimental to the interests of consumers. Requires the Agency to maintain a public document room containing an up-to-date listing of all signed consumer complaints of any significance for public inspection and copying which the Agency has received, arranged in meaningful and useful categories, together with annotations of actions taken by it. Directs the Agency to investigate and report to Congress on the desirability and feasibility of establishing a National Consumer Information Foundation which would administer a voluntary, self-supporting, information tag program. Authorizes the Administrator to propose to any Federal agency, for submission to specified persons, written interrogatories or requests for reports and other related information, within such agency's authority. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be required to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1974
Postal Reorganization Act Amendments - Provides that if there is a collective-bargaining agreement in effect for postal service employees no party to such agreement shall terminate or modify such agreement unless the party desiring such termination or modification serves written notice upon the other party to the agreement of the proposed termination or modification not less than ninety days prior to the expiration date. Requires the party serving such notice to notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service of the existence of a dispute within forty-five days of such notice, if no agreement has been reached by that time. Requires that if arbitration is selected by the parties and if they do not agree upon the procedures therefor, an arbitration board shall be established and its decisions shall be binding upon the parties. Provides that in the event the bargaining representatives agree to go on strike if an agreement cannot be reached during the forty-five-day period prior to the termination or modification, the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service shall promptly communicate with the employer and the bargaining representatives and use the service's best efforts, by mediation and conciliation, to bring them into agreement, and shall continue to do so for a period of thirty days after the date of termination or modification of the agreement, during which period of time no lawful strike shall be engaged in. Prohibits reduction in rank or pay or removal from the Postal Service of postal employees because of union membership. States that in any lawful strike declared against the Postal Service by the employees thereof, the Postal Service and the bargaining representatives jointly may determine and agree upon, before the close of the third calendar day after the calendar day on which the strike becomes effective, the number of employees needed to accept, process, dispatch, and deliver specified necessary categories of mail, such as social security checks. Provides for a mandatory delivery of such mail during a strike if the parties cannot agree upon a strike-delivery method.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1974
Defines the term "veteran," for purposes of providing pension benefits for widows and children, as including a person who has completed at least two years of honorable active military, naval or air service, but whose death in such service was not in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1974
Prohibits the exportation of fertilizer from the United States until the Secretary of Agriculture determines that an adequate domestic supply of fertilizer exists.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1974
Authorizes the Small Business Administration to make loans directly or in cooperation with lending institutions to assist small businesses adversely affected by fuel shortages, electrical energy shortages, shortages of energy producing resources, or shortages of raw or processed processed materials resulting from such shortages.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1974
Clean Elections Act - Title I: Federal Elections Commission - Creates a six-member independent Federal Elections Commission: 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2 members appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, and 2 members appointed by the President. Specifies that the Commission shall have full legal powers. Authorizes the Commission to use the personnel and facilities of the General Accounting Office. Requires the Commission to submit its budget directly to Congress along with any recommendations it may have for legislation. Transfers specified functions of the Secretary of the Senate, the GAO, and the Clerk of the House to the Commission. Requires each candidate for Federal office to have a central campaign committee through which all reports must pass. Requires the central committee to file its report with the Commission. Specifies that reports contain all contributions in excess of $100 and that cash contributions of $2,500 or more be reported within 24 hours. Requires a financial report to be filed 10 days before an election. Title II: Federal Matching Payment Entitlement Fund - Establishes on the books of the Treasury of the United States the Federal Matching Payment Entitlement Fund to remain available for expenditure without fiscal year limitation. Entitles candidates for Federal office or an official national party committee or an official congressional campaign committee to payments from the fund, during any calendar year, in an amount equal to the amount of each contribution received by such candidate or committee not in excess of $50. Requires that the candidate or committee submit matching payment entitlement vouchers including the full name of the contributor together with the date, the exact amount of the contribution, and the complete address of the contributor. States that the Secretary of the Treasury shall make a payment from the fund to the candidate or the treasurer of the committee in the amount certified by the Commission. Sets forth the limitations on certification by the Commission. Title III: Limitations on Political Contributions - Declares a limitation on contributions, made by an individual and expenditures of not more than $2,500 in the case of a candidacy for President or Vice President or not more than $1,000 in a congressional campaign. Title IV: Tax Incentives for Contributions to Candidates for Public Office - Allows a maximum credit for a taxable year for contributions to candidates for public office of $50 ($100 for a joint return). Title V: Voter's Time - Provides for a schedule of televised political broadcasts by candidates for Federal office. Requires the television networks to make prime time available to the candidates at rates not exceeding the prevailing unit charge of the station for the same amount of program time in the same time period. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay fully all certified bills for Voter's Time not more than 10 days following receipt from the Registry of Election Finance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1974
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should evaluate the commodity requirements of the domestic economy to determine which commodities should be designated as in short supply for purposes of taxation of Domestic International Sales Corporations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1974
Prohibits the use of United States petroleum products to train commercial airline and military pilots who are nationals of any foreign country which places an embargo on its shipment of petroleum products to the United States. Imposes a ten-dollar per gallon fine on petroleum products used in violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1974
Provides, under title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance), that increases in monthly insurance benefits (whether occurring by reason of increases in the cost of living or enacted by law) shall not be considered as annual income for purposes of the following benefit programs: dependency and indemnity compensation to parents of a deceased veteran, pension for non-service-connected disability or death or for service, and the Veterans' Pension Act of 1959.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1974
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, for reductions in Social Security taxes relating to the rate of tax on self-employment income for purposes of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance. States that such reductions shall apply in the case of taxes imposed with respect to self-employment income for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1974, and with respect to wages paid or received during calendar years after 1974. Provides for Federal participation in the costs of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program under title II of the Social Security Act. Increases the earnings counted for benefit and tax purposes under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1974
Declares that it is the purpose of Congress to: (1) establish a national transportation rate policy for all recovered materials; and (2) eliminate discriminatory transportation rates charged by regulated carriers for the movement in commerce of recovered waste and recycled or recyclable materials. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission to effect such lawful changes in the rate structure of the country as will promote the freedom of movement by common carriers of recovered materials at the lowest possible lawful rates compatible with the maintenance of adequate transportation service. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to take such steps as are necessary to insure that the directives of this Act are carried out as expeditiously as possible, including the initiation of, and intervention in, proceedings before the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission to undertake studies to be completed within two years of the enactment of this Act of the feasibility of establishing a transportation rate policy for all recoverable materials. Specifies areas to be covered in such study and requires that it be submitted to Congress. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Maritime Commission, and the Federal Railroad Administration to establish a transportation research and demonstration program coordinated by the Secretary of Transportation with the objective of facilitating the most efficient movement of recycled materials in commerce. Prohibits any railroad, common carrier by water, or motor carrier in interstate or foreign commerce from charging, demanding or collecting any rate for the transportation of recovered materials which is unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory. Describes procedures for complaints with respect to such alleged discrimination. Provides civil penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1974
National Resource and Energy Conservation Act - Title I: Formal Provisions - Declares it to be the purpose of the Congress to reduce the wasteful allocation of scarce resources by recovering materials and producing energy from waste through an intensive research and development program in the Environmental Protection Agency (with the assistance of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and a program of technical assistance and support to Government agencies and persons producing or using such energy. Title II: Product Standards and Regulation - States that it shall be unlawful for any person to introduce or deliver for introduction in commerce any product which does not conform to the standards or regulations prescribed by the Administrator under this title. Provides that any person, other than a person who commits a criminal violation, who is found by the Administrator after notice and an opportunity for an adjudicative hearing to have committed an act prohibited by this title, shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty of a sum which is not more than $20,000 for each day of violation. Requires that, within one year after the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall promulgate and shall, from time to time, revise such standards regulating the manufacture and distribution of certain products in commerce as he determines necessary to protect health or the environment against unreasonable burdens and risks associated with the disposal of such products. Permits the Administrator or the Attorney General to file an action against any product which constitutes an imminent hazard as prescribed by this title or any product which the Administrator finds is manufactured or distributed in violation of this title for seizure of such product. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study of possible methods of regulating the design, use, reuse, and recycling of certain products to reduce the generation of solid waste, reduce the consumption of virgin materials resources, or to reduce burdens on the environment associated with the manufacture, utilization, or disposal of such products. Directs the Administrator to conduct research, investigations, experiments, surveys, studies and demonstrations of means of reducing waste generation and increasing the recovery of materials and the production of energy from solid, liquid, and semisolid wastes from residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources. Title III: Unsafe Disposal Practices - Provides that, within eighteen months after the date of enactment of this title and from time to time thereafter, the Administrator shall issue regulations in accordance with this title and after consultation with representatives of other appropriate agencies: (1) identifying unsafe disposal practices; (2) identifying hazardous wastes; and (3) establishing standards for the control of unsafe disposal practices, including requirement of a permit for persons generating hazardous wastes and establishment of requirements for permit holders. Provides that, within eighteen months after promulgation of final regulations and in accordance with this title, each State shall establish a State implementation plan to regulate disposal practices and submit such plan to the Administrator for approval. Establishes a $25,000 fine for each day of noncompliance by a violator of this title. Provides that for the purpose of developing or assisting in the development of any regulation or enforcing the provisions of this title, any person who stores, treats, transports, disposes of, or otherwise handles hazardous wastes shall, upon request of any officer or employee of the Environmental Protection Agency or of any State or political subdivision, duly designated by the Administrator, furnish or permit such person at all reasonable times to have access to, and to copy all records relating to such wastes. Requires that, within eighteen months following the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct, and upon completion, report to the Congress and the President the results of, a study of the feasibility of designing a national resource recovery plan to be implemented by the States individually or in cooperation with other States which will encourage the maximum recovery of resources from wastes and the subsequent recovery of energy from those wastes which are not otherwise recoverable. Permits the Administrator to make grants to appropriate State and interstate agencies and general purpose local governments, or combinations thereof, in an amount not to exceed 60 percent of the reasonable costs of such programs, to assist them in the administration, enforcement, planning, implementation, training, manpower development, technical assistance, public information, basic data collection, or analytical services relating to the collection, transport, processing, recovery, and disposal of hazardous waste. Requires the Administrator to conduct, encourage, cooperate with, and render financial, technical, and other assistance to appropriate authorities, agencies, an institutions, in the conduct of, research, development, investigations, experiments, surveys, and studies relating to: (1) any adverse effects on human health or the environment upon the release into the environment of material present in the land disposal solid, liquid, and semisolid waste, and methods to eliminate such effects; and (2) the development and application of new and improved methods of collecting and disposing of solid waste and processing and recovering materials and energy from solid, liquid, and semisolid wastes. Title IV: Federal Procurement and Measurement - Requires that with respect to each purchase and contract for property, the aggregate amount of which exceeds $5,000, no procurement shall be made by any procuring agency in the case of procurement items purchased through advertisement for bids, of any procurement item which in comparison with other competing items offered for sale by suppliers is not composed of the greatest percentage of recovered materials and is not to the greatest extent recyclable or reusable following the use for which it was purchased, whenever a significant difference as to these characteristics exists between such items and competing items. Title V: Material Recovery and Energy Production - Directs the Administrator, alone or in conjunction with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to conduct research, development, investigations, experiments, surveys, studies, and demonstrations of means of increasing the recovery of materials and the production of energy in usable forms, or both, from solid, liquid, and semisolid waste, from residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources; and to develop, within three years from the date of enactment of this title, not less than three major facilities to demonstrate, substantiate, and validate any determinations made pursuant to this title. Directs the Administrator to provide funds by grant or contract to initiate, continue, supplement, and maintain research and development programs or activities which, in his judgment, appear likely to lead to the development of a facility for the recovery of materials or production of energy from waste, or both. Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee and to make commitments to guarantee the payment of interest on and the principal balance of an obligation to initiate, continue, supplement, and maintain research and development of programs leading to a facility for recovery of material or production of energy from waste. Authorizes appropration to the Administrator not to exceed $50,000,000 to pay interest on, and the principal balance of, any obligation guaranteed by the Administrator as to which the obligor has defaulted. Requires each recipient of financial assistance or guarantees under this title, whether in the form of grants, subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, loans, loan or other obligation guarantees, or other arrangements, to keep such records as the Administrator shall prescribe, and that they shall be subject to audit by the Comptroller General. Title VI: Council on Environmental Representation - Environmental Representation Act - Establishes an independent agency to be known as the Council on Environmental Representation for the purpose of providing support for legal representation and assistance in proceedings, for matters relating to the quality of the environment as described in this title. States that the functions of the Council shall be to establish programs, including local offices if necessary, to provide direct legal and other assistance to eligible clients and to make grants to eligible clients for the purpose of securing adequate representation and assistance to such clients before Federal, State, and local legislative bodies, administrative agencies, and courts in matters dealing with the environment of such clients. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council to intervene as a party or otherwise participate for the purpose of representing the interests of eligible clients in any proceeding before any Federal agency in matters affecting the environment of eligible clients, regardless of whether an agreement has been reached between the Council and an eligible client with respect to representing such eligible client's interests. Directs the Chairman to establish a program for disseminating information to eligible clients with respect to the type of services which may be available under this title. Authorizes appropration for the purpose of carrying out the activities of the Council under this title, $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, $50,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, and $75,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1977. Title VII: National Commission on Environmental Costs - Establishes the National Commission on Environmental Costs to conduct a comprehensive study, including field testing and controlled experimentation to the extent possible, of the feasibility, practicality, and value of the establishment of a system of national disposal cost charges on all products, other than consumables; and to examine all feasible methods of environmental disclosure including notices regarding the damage done by polluters, labeling of products to indicate their environmental costs, and other means of effectively informing the public of pollution sources and alternative nonpolluting modes of public and private action. Authorizes appropriation to the Commission of such sums as may be necessary not to exceed a total of $1,500,000. Title VIII: General Provisions - Allows any person to commence a civil action for injunctive relief on his own behalf, whenever such action constitutes a case or controversy: (1) against any person (including the United States or any other governmental instrumentality or agency to the extent permitted by the eleventh amendment to the Constitution) alleged to be in violation of any regulation, order, or permit requirement promulgated pursuant to this Act; or (2) against the Administrator where there is alleged a failure of the Administrator to perform any act or duty under any title of this Act which is not discretionary with the Administrator. Requires each manufacturer of a product to which title II of this Act is applicable to establish and maintain such records, make such reports, provide such information, and make such tests as the Administrator or the Secretary of the Treasury may, at his discretion, reasonably require to enable him to determine whether such manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with such title II. Provides that in addition to specific authorizations for appropriations contained herein, there are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of carrying out this Act such additional sums as are necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1974
Provides that the State in which a money order, traveler's check, or similar written instrument was purchased shall be entitled exclusively to escheat or take custody of the sum payable on such instrument, to the extent of that State's power under its own laws to escheat or take custody of such sum. States that, if the books and records of such banking or financial organization or business association do not show the State in which such money order, traveler's check, or similar written instrument was purchased, the State in which the banking or financial organization or business association has its principal place of business shall be entitled to escheat or take custody of the sum payable on such money order, traveler's check, or similar written instrument, to the extent of that State's power under its own laws to escheat or take custody of such sum, until another State shall demonstrate by written evidence that it is the State of purchase. States that this Act shall be applicable to sums payable on money orders, traveler's checks, and similar written instruments deemed abandoned on or after February 1, 1965, except to the extent that such sums have been paid over to a State prior to January 1, 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1974
Energy Information Act - Expresses the findings of Congress and the purposes of this Act. Sets forth the definitions of terms used in this Act. Title I: Bureau of Energy Information - Establishes as an agency within the Department of Commerce a Bureau of Energy Information to be a main line component of the Social and Economic Statistics Administration, coequal with the Bureau of the Census. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to perform the duties conferred upon the Bureau by this title or delegate any of them. Provides that the Bureau shall be headed by a Director of Energy Information to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. States that the principal function of the Bureau shall be to operate, maintain, and improve the National Energy Information System established by Title II of this Act. Enumerates the work priorities of the Bureau. Title II: National Energy Information System - Establishes a National Energy Information System, to be operated and maintained by the Bureau. Directs that the components of the System shall be: (1) a public library of energy information; (2) a confidential library of energy information for restricted governmental use; and (3) a secret library of energy information for use only in preparing anonymous statistics. Specifies the characteristics of the System. States that the purpose of the public library is to make available to the general public promptly and conveniently as much of the information in the System as can be released consistently with national security and reasonable competitive equities. States that the purpose of the secret library is to serve the Nation's need for accurate statistical information on mineral fuel reserves, natural energy resources, and energy industries. Directs the Director to place in the secret library information obtained under authority of this Act for which either the national security or reasonable competitive equities require that the information be wholly suppressed or be published only in statistical aggregations of a size and type sufficient to prevent any person from learning or inferring the data furnished by any particular establishment or individual. Prescribes the priorities for entry of information into the System. Enumerates the standards for entry of information into the public, confidential, and secret libraries. Imposes penalties on any employee of the Bureau or other employee who, having taken and subscribed the oath of office, publishes or communicates, without the written authority of the Secretary or the Director, any information coming into his possession by reason of his employment from or for entry in the confidential library or the secret library of the System. Penalizes refusal or neglect to provide information, and the providing of false information, under this Act. Title III: Energy Resources Inventories and Inspections by the Department of the Interior - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to compile, maintain, and keep current on not less than an annual basis an inventory of all mineral fuel reserves and natural energy resources in the public lands of the United States, including the Outer Continental Shelf. Specifies the content of such compilation. Title IV: Information on Mineral Fuel Reserves and Natural Energy Resources - Makes it the duty of every substantial energy resources company, foreign or domestic, engaged in commerce to report annually to the Director full and complete details of all mineral fuel reserves and natural energy resources which it, together with its affiliates, owns or controls anywhere in the world. Provides that all reports required by this title and title V shall be entered by the Director, immediately upon receipt, into one of the three libraries of the System. Title V: Information on the Energy Industries - Makes it the duty of every major energy company, foreign or domestic, engaged in commerce, to report annually to the Director on its assets and operations, worldwide, on an establishment basis. Specifies the content of such reports. Authorizes the requiring of additional reports, at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce or the Director. Title VI: General Accounting Office Oversight - Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to review and evaluate the procedures and activities of the Bureau. Title VII: Conformance of and with Other Statutes - Provides that whenever any of the information obtained from any major energy company under this Act is contained in any other report of such company, such report having been filed prior to the effective date of this Act, the Director may excuse such company from filing a report with him, containing the same information. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Freedom of Information Act and the Federal Reports Act. Title VIII: Miscellaneous - Provides that if any provision of this Act or the applicability thereof is held invalid the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior such amounts, as may be requisite to full and efficient performance of the duties imposed upon such Departments by this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. St Germain, Fernand J. [D-RI-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000762_200.jpg)