United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1978
Anti-Dumping Enforcement Act - Amends the Antidumping Act, 1921, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to notify the International Trade Commission upon the publication of a finding that the price of imported products is less than the foreign market or construction value. Eliminates the requirement that the Secretary postpone publication of such a finding pending a determination by the Commission on whether "dumping" is occurring. Decreases the time periods during which the Secretary must complete the investigation of "dumping" allegations. Imposes liquidation deadlines upon imported merchandise upon which a special "dumping" duty has been imposed. Requires the establishment of a task force for each investigation of "dumping" allegations to serve as an intermediary between the Secretary and the industrial and labor groups interested in the investigation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1978
Truth-in-Regulation Act - Requires the Environmental Protection Agency and all Federal regulatory agencies to prepare with respect to each rule promulgated by such agencies: (1) a statement comparing the private costs of such rule with the benefit such rule would have on the environment; and (2) an environmental impact statement. Establishes standing task forces in each community affected by proposed agency rules to assess the economic and employment impact of each such rule. Requires Congressional approval of any such rule which will cause an increase in unemployment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that total appropriations shall not exceed estimated revenues. Authorizes the suspension of such prohibition in time of war or national emergency. Prohibits any increase in the national debt as it exists on the date this article is ratified. Sets forth a schedule for repayment of the national debt.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1978
National Honey Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Commodity Credit Corporation, to support the price of honey marketed between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 1982, at a level to be determined according to a specified formula. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into or approve agreements under which honey producers will conduct information dissemination and advertising and sales promotion programs. Authorizes prorata deductions subject to approval by a producer referendum, from price support payments to producers in a certain area in order to defray the expenses of such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits Congress from causing Federal taxation to exceed 15 percent of the gross national product. Prohibits the making of appropriations in excess of the total estimated revenues of the United States in any fiscal year except in time of war or national emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1978
Requests the President to (1) instruct the Department of State to report to Congress on the violations of human rights in Cambodia, (2) instruct the International Communications Agency to disseminate such information, and (3) instruct the Ambassador to the United Nations to introduce a resolution in the General Assembly condemning these atrocities.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1978
Provides that no highway construction or improvement project which (1) essentially follows an existing street or highway alignment, and (2) does not require the acquisition of any land other than that required for minor alterations in the interest of safety (such as for the revision of grades and the flattening of curves), may be deemed to be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 relating to the requiring of environmental impact statements.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1978
Anti-Inflation Tax Reduction and Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide cost-of-living adjustments for the individual income tax rates and withholding tables.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1978
Federal Information Centers Act - Requires the General Services Administration to establish a nationwide network of Federal Information Centers for the purpose of informing the public of programs and procedures of the Federal Government and for other appropriate and related purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1978
Sugar Stabilization Act - Sets forth the policy of the Congress with respect to foreign trade in sugar. Title I: International Sugar Agreement - Authorizes the President to prohibit the importation of sugar from any country not a member of the International Sugar Organization, and to otherwise regulate foreign trade in sugar to implement the International Sugar Agreement. Establishes civil penalties for the violations of such regulations. Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report on the Agreement. Title II: Domestic Sugar Program - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make an annual estimate of the sugar consumption needs of the United States. Establishes a formula for determining the price objectives of domestic sugar. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a quota for the importation of sugar, and to adjust such quota. Authorizes the Secretary to impose an import fee in order to attain the price objective for sugar. Prohibits the established quota from being filled by direct-consumption sugar, except in specified circumstances. Permits the Secretary to suspend such quota and fees under specified circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to impose a quota on the importation of "sugar-containing products. Prohibits the importation of sugar, liquid sugar, or "sugar-containing products" after the import quotas have been filled. Prohibits the importation of certain sugar or liquid sugar into the Virgin Islands in excess of 100 pounds annually. Prohibits the exportation of certain sugar from the United States. Regulates the exportation of sugar. Sets forth items to which the sugar quota shall not apply. Title III: General Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations to carry out this Act. Establishes penalties for the violation of such regulations. Requires certain information to be furnished to the Secretary by persons engaged in the manufacture, marketing, transports, or industrial use, of sugar. Prohibits officials engaged in the administration of this Act to invest in sugar. Establishes penalties for the violation of such prohibition. Authorizes the President to suspend the operation of Title II of this Act in a national emergency. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (1) to conduct surveys and investigations to carry out this Act, and (2) to announce a "daily spot price" for raw sugar in specified circumstances. Terminates the authority of the Secretary under this Act on December 31, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1978
Provides that where two or more Members of the House of Representatives pay the basic pay of an individual from the clerk-hire allowance of each such Member, such individual shall be considered to be on the payroll of only one such Member for purposes of determining the number of individuals employed by such Members under the clerk-hire allowance. Requires such Members to designate who shall be considered the employer for the month involved and to report such designation to the Office of Finance.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1978
Expresses the sense of the House that the exchange of the Panama Canal Treaty instruments of ratification should not occur earlier than March 31, 1979, unless implementing legislation has been enacted prior to such exchange. Requires specific Congressional authorization by an Act of Congress prior to any conveyance, relinquishment, or disposition of U.S. property in the Panama Canal Zone to any foreign government.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1978
States that if the proposed route of a pipeline, powerline, or telephone line crosses privately owned land and crosses any area within the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Secretary of the Interior shall permit the use of, or grant easements for, the passage of such line across such area.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1978
Postpones until January 1, 1979, the effective date of the provision of the Social Security Amendments of 1977 which eliminates the monthly retirement earnings exemption under which an individual who earns less than a specified exempt amount in any month may receive full social security benefits under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program for that month regardless of the amount of such individual's total earnings for the year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1978
Economic Recovery Act - Title I: Production and Sale of Agricultural Commodities - Directs the National Board of Agricultural Governors (created by Title II of this Act) to establish, on a monthly basis for each agricultural commodity, a parity price and a comprehensive cost of production price, taking into account for the latter: (1) machinery ownership costs; (2) farm overhead costs; (3) a value for the management services contributed by the producer; (4) labor costs; and (5) a value for the land utilized. Directs the Board to establish for each commodity a national production goal based on estimated domestic and export requirements, and levels of production consistent with established agricultural conservation or soil management programs. Directs the Board to allocate acreage allotments or marketing quotas based upon the production history of each farm during three out of the five preceding calendar years. Limits such allocations to individual farmers and farmer-owned or controlled cooperatives and corporations. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans available to producers of Board-selected commodities. Requires the Board to establish a program to acquire reserve stocks of agricultural commodities. Directs the Board to establish quotas for each agricultural commodity imported into the United States. Establishes in the United States Treasury the Agricultural Export Fund for the deposit of any tariff revenues received from a foreign country in which an agricultural commodity was produced, for use in the purchase of any United States products. Prohibits the sale of any United States agricultural commodity for export at less than 100 percent of the established price. Requires the Board to conduct, upon petition, producer referendums on proposed regulations. Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to make it an unfair or deceptive trade practice for any person engaged in the retail sale of food to sell any food product without a sign at the point of sale stating the amount received by farmers for the agricultural commodities which were used to produce the food product involved. Authorizes the Secretary to make payments to any producer who reduces, during 1978, by more than 50 percent either his normal crop acreage or the number of acres planted to any agricultural commodity (compared to 1977). Prescribes civil penalties for anyone who buys, sells, or trades any agricultural commodity at a price less than a specified percent (increasing from 85 percent in 1979 to 100 percent after 1981), or more than 110 percent, of the established price. Title II: National Board of Agricultural Governors - Establishes a National Board of Agricultural Governors composed of 57 members appointed by the President. Title III: General Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act and sets the effective date.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1978
Sugar Stabilization Act - Sets forth the policy of the Congress with respect to foreign trade in sugar. Title I: International Sugar Agreement - Authorizes the President to prohibit the importation of sugar from any country not a member of the International Sugar Organization, and to otherwise regulate foreign trade in sugar to implement the International Sugar Agreement. Establishes civil penalties for the violations of such regulations. Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report on the Agreement. Title II: Domestic Sugar Program - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make an annual estimate of the sugar consumption needs of the United States. Establishes a formula for determining the price objectives of domestic sugar. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a quota for the importation of sugar, and to adjust such quota. Authorizes the Secretary to impose an import fee in order to attain the price objective for sugar. Prohibits the established quota from being filled by direct-consumption sugar, except in specified circumstances. Permits the Secretary to suspend such quota and fees under specified circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to impose a quota on the importation of "sugar-containing products. Prohibits the importation of sugar, liquid sugar, or "sugar-containing products" after the import quotas have been filled. Prohibits the importation of certain sugar or liquid sugar into the Virgin Islands in excess of 100 pounds annually. Prohibits the exportation of certain sugar from the United States. Regulates the exportation of sugar. Sets forth items to which the sugar quota shall not apply. Title III: General Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations to carry out this Act. Establishes penalties for the violation of such regulations. Requires certain information to be furnished to the Secretary by persons engaged in the manufacture, marketing, transports, or industrial use, of sugar. Prohibits officials engaged in the administration of this Act to invest in sugar. Establishes penalties for the violation of such prohibition. Authorizes the President to suspend the operation of Title II of this Act in a national emergency. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (1) to conduct surveys and investigations to carry out this Act, and (2) to announce a "daily spot price" for raw sugar in specified circumstances. Terminates the authority of the Secretary under this Act on December 31, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Declares that certain proposed regulations of the Department of the Treasury regarding centralized firearms sales recordkeeping and other firearms control measures exceed the Departments' authority, and directs that the regulations be withdrawn.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1978
Fair Rights for Women Act - Title I: Discrimination In Public Places, In Federally Assisted Programs, and In Federal Employment - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit sex discrimination with respect to (1) public accommodations, (2) federally assisted programs, and (3) discrimination purportedly required by State law or regulation. Authorizes the Attorney General to institute legal proceedings for the relief of sex discrimination in the public facilities of a state, other than schools or colleges. Requires Federal agencies to apply any employment right or benefit equally to both sexes. Empowers the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission to enforce such requirement. Title II: Discrimination in Military and Veterans' Affairs - Prohibits the establishment of any requirement with respect to the dependency of a female member of an armed force, or a female veteran, which is not applied to the spouse of a male member of an armed force, or a male veteran. Redefines "dependent," for purposes of armed forces benefits, to repeal the requirement that husbands and unremarried widowers of armed forces personnel, receive or did receive at least one half support from their spouse. Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports to Congress on the status of women in the armed forces. Title III: Social Security Act Amendments - Amends Titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and IV, part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to eliminate gender-based distinctions in awarding certain benefits under such Titles. Extends social security benefits under Title II of such Act to divorced husbands, surviving divorced husbands, and widowers with minor children on the same bases that such benefits are presently extended to similarly situated females. Reduces the monthly insurance benefits payable to husbands and parents of minor children under Title II by the monthly amounts such individuals receive from a Federal or State retirement plan. Defines "divorced wife" or divorced husband" for purposes of this Act and reduces from 20 to 10 the number of years a divorced spouse must have been married to claim benefits under the former spouse. Permits payment of social security benefits to a husband and wife on the basis of their combined average indexed monthly earnings. Establishes a formula for determining the amount of such benefits and limits that amount to no more than the amount payable to an individual with a maximum benefit and contribution base. Amends Title IV, part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to eliminate gender-based distinctions in determining exclusions from the requirement that recipients of aid under such program register for manpower services, training, and employment programs established by such Title. Title IV: Discrimination in Certain Income Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow married individuals to base their deduction for contributions to an individual retirement account upon their spouse's compensation if the spouse's compensation is greater than their own earnings. Title V: Study and Review of Sex Discrimination - Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to study and make recommendations to Congress concerning women's social security and civil service retirement benefits, Federal assistance to "non-public assistance" child care services, and tax deductions for child and disabled parent care services.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to furnish Federal financial assistance for construction projects to separate rail-highway crossings where the rail facilities have incurred a substantial increase in use as a result of coal transportation activities with the result of substantial delays in highway travel. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall not exceed 90 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 1979 through 1981 for such projects.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1978
Clean Lakes Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act: (1) to transfer authority to approve a State plan for fresh water lake pollution control and to financially assist such plan from the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to the Secretary of the Army acting through the Chief of Engineers; and (2) to authorize the Secretary to enter into agreements with any State or public agency to carry out one or more projects to demonstrate methods and techniques for the elimination or control of pollution within lakes. States that Federal participation in such projects shall be 100 percent of the cost.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1978
Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Requires the Secretary of Energy to develop research, development, and demonstration programs concerning the use of solar photovoltaic energy systems. Authorizes the Secretary to provide up to 75 percent of the purchase and installation costs of selected systems used for research purposes. Requires the Secretary to formulate definitive performance criteria concerning solar photovoltaic systems and to develop a system certification for conforming systems. Directs the Secretary to consult with relevant Federal agencies concerning the use of solar photovoltaic systems in Federal facilities. Requires the Secretary to set up a development and demonstration program of prototype photovoltaic systems at the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado. Directs the Secretary to establish a solar energy data bank at the Golden facility. Requires relevant Federal officials to ensure that small business concerns are granted realistic and adequate opportunities to participate, to the maximum extent possible, in the programs under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1978
Requires the Administrator of General Services to submit prospect uses approval before acquiring any building required in connection with the relocation of personnel because of the establishment of the Department of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1978
Small Business Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small businesses to compute taxable income under the cash method and without regard to inventories. Increases the corporate surtax exemption and reduces the corporate tax rates. Provides for limited recognition of the gain from the sale or exchange of a sole proprietorship prior to the age of 55, and non-recognition after age 55. Allows the amortization over a 36-month period of expenses of a business for property acquired to put the business in compliance with Federal law and which does not have any economic usefulness to the business. Increases the additional first year depreciation allowance for small businesses. Increases the investment tax credit for investments in certain small manufacturing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1978
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1970 to require exporters of agricultural commodities to report to the Secretary of Agriculture contracts involving exportation of a into the United States by foreign subsidiaries and affiliates of such exporters.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to furnish Federal financial assistance for construction projects to separate rail-highway crossings where the rail facilities have incurred a substantial increase in use as a result of coal transportation activities with the result of substantial delays in highway travel. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall not exceed 90 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 1979 through 1981 for such projects.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1978
Rural Community Development Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to nonmetropolitan units of local government to help finance specified community development programs including: (1) the acquisition of real property which is blighted, deteriorating, undeveloped or inappropriately developed from the standpoint of sound community development or which is to be used for public works or other public purposes; (2) the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or installation of public works or other improvements including neighborhood facilities, historic properties, and recreation facilities; and (3) special projects to remove material or architectural barriers which restrict the mobility of elderly and handicapped persons. Sets forth application and review requirements. Lists factors, including population growth or decline rates and unemployment rates, which the Secretary shall consider in allocating funds to States and units of general local government. Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee local government notes or other obligations where such entity is carrying out comprehensive community development programs, and public agency obligations for purposes of financing the acquisition of real property. Permits the Secretary to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury in an amount outstanding at any one time sufficient to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out his obligation under guarantees authorized by this Act. States that obligations guaranteed by this Act shall be subject to Federal taxation. Prohibits discrimination in the administration of this Act. Provides a procedure to be followed where the Secretary finds that a recipient of assistance under this Act has failed to substantially comply with any provision of this Act. Permits interstate agreements with respect to community development planning and programs. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development to conduct a study of the feasibility and desirability of meeting the community development needs of units of general local government which are located within a metropolitan area having a population of 20,000 or less and are rural in character under the provisions of this Act rather than under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to prohibit the making of any grant to a unit of local government which is located outside of a metropolitan area and has a population of 20,000 or less.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to deny eligibility for food stamps to any household including a person participating in a strike or labor dispute which the President determines is causing or substantially contributing to: (1) a critical shortage of any essential resource or strategic material; or (2) unemployment in an industry not directly involved in such strike or labor dispute.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Refuge Revenue Sharing Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to make additional refuge revenue sharing payments, on a fiscal year basis, to each local government unit in which entitlement lands are located. Sets forth the method for computing such payments based on the acreage of the National Wildlife Refuge System within such unit. Directs the Secretary to make additional payments to counties wherein certain lands acquired by the United States for the National Wildlife Refuge System, which were subject to local real property taxes, are located. Requires such counties to distribute such payments to local government units which have incurred losses of such taxes due to the acquisition.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1978
Agriculture Emergency Act - Title I: Agricultural Export Expansion - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish abroad between six and 25 United States Agricultural Trade Offices, for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities. Changes the title of Agricultural Attaches to Agricultural Counselors, and requires each Counselor to submit to the Secretary an annual report detailing the social, political and economic factors affecting agriculture and agricultural trade in the country or area to which such Counselor is assigned. Establishes in the Department of Agriculture: (1) an Assistant Secretary for Commodity Programs, to perform duties related to agricultural stabilization and conservation; and (2) an Under Secretary for International Affairs to perform duties related to foreign agriculture. Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to direct the Secretary to provide Corporation financing to exporters of agricultural commodities who wish to extend deferred payment terms, not to exceed three years, to foreign buyers in order to meet foreign competition and to make additional export sales. Title II: Agricultural Credit - Subtitle A: Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide loans to any farm owners or tenants for the purposes of meeting Federal, State, or local requirements for agricultural, animal, or poultry waste pollution abatement and control facilities. Establishes a low-income farm ownership loan program for owners or operators of small or family farms, and extends eligibility for real estate and operating loans to private domestic corporations and partnerships primarily engaged in farming or ranching. Extends eligibility for operating loans to farm cooperatives. Increases the maximum allowable total principal indebtedness for real estate loans which may be outstanding by any one borrower to $200,000, or $300,000 in the case of a guaranteed loan. Removes the $500,000 ceiling from the aggregate principal of loans made using the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Increases the amount of indebtedness which may be outstanding for operating loans for an individual from $50,000 to $100,000, or in the case of a guaranteed loan, $200,000. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase the guaranteed portion of any rural development loan using funds from the Rural Development Insurance Fund and the guaranteed portion of all other loans with funds from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. Replaces the current provision for an up to five-year renewal of an operating loan with a provision for the consolidation or rescheduling of outstanding loans for payment over a period not to exceed seven years from the date of such consolidation or rescheduling. Authorizes the Secretary to make loans and grants, and approve transfers and assumptions under such Act in connection with property securing a loan made, insured, or held by the Secretary notwithstanding the fact an area ceases to be eligible for assistance under the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a procedure for appeal and review of determinations by a county committee that a loan applicant is able to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance his actual needs at reasonable rates and terms. Increases from $15,000 to $25,000 the amount of claims that can be compromised without approval of the Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration. Authorizes the Secretary to grant a moratorium upon the payment by an individual of interest and principal on a loan, upon a showing of temporary inability to continue making payments, beyond the individual's control. Subtitle B: Emergency Agricultural Credit Adjustment Act - Directs the Secretary to insure, guarantee, or make direct loans for the purpose of making payment of principal and interest installments or refinancing, in whole or in part, equipment or operating loans, giving preference to owners or operators of small or family farms. Requires the Secretary to guarantee 100 percent of the principal and interest of any such loan. Limits the total principal balance outstanding on insured or guaranteed loans to $200,000. Allows the total outstanding principal indebtedness of any borrower to reach $150,000 without approval of the senior State official of the Farmers Home Administration. Limits the total principal amount of all outstanding loans under this title during 1978 to $1,500,000,000, and during 1979 to $3,000,000,000. Terminates such program on December 31, 1979. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Extends the Emergency Livestock Credit Act through September 30, 1979. Title III: Wheat, Feed Grains, and Cotton Price Supports, Set-Aside and Release Prices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 and 1979 crops of the following commodities a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging: (1) for wheat, from $3.00 per bushel for a 20 percent set-aside up to $5.00 per bushel for a 50 percent set-aside; (2) for corn, from $2.10 for a ten percent set-aside up to $3.49 for a 50 percent set-aside; and (3) for upland cotton, from 54 cents per pound for a 20 percent set-aside up to 85 cents per pound for a 50 percent set-aside. Sets the 1979 established price for a 50 percent set-aside of all three commodities at the January, 1979 parity price for the 1979 crops. Prohibits: (1) the Secretary from providing for the redemption of stored wheat and feed grains loans unless the market price for such commodities is not less than parity; (2) the calling of such loans until the market price for wheat and feed grains is at least 105 percent of parity; and (3) the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling its stocks of wheat and feed grains for less than the parity price of such commodities. Title IV: Sugar - Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to increase the price support for the 1978 through 1980 crops of sugar beets and sugarcane to a minimum of 65 percent of parity, but not less than 17 cents per pound raw sugar equivalent. Title V: Meat Imports - Sets formulae for quotas on the importation of specified meat products as of January 1, 1979. Prohibits the annual importation of specified kinds of cattle in excess of the smaller of either: (1) the average number of such livestock imported during the period January 1, 1973, through December 31, 1977; or (2) 960,000 head. Title VI: National Farmer and Rancher Board - Establishes the National Farmer and Rancher Board, composed of bona fide farmers and ranchers from eight agricultural regions of the United States who shall be elected to such Board by agricultural producers according to specified procedures. Limits the duties of such Board to advising, consulting with, and making written recommendations to the President, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretaries and Administrators of other specified departments and agencies on matters pertaining to the family farm and/or the production and marketing of agricultural commodities. Title VII: Congressional Review of Embargoes or Sale Suspensions - Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to require notification of Congress of any embargo or suspension of a commercial export sale of specified commodities, and to permit Congress to halt such embargo by adoption of a resolution of disapproval within 60 days after notification. Title VIII: Government Purchases - Declares that it is the sense of Congress that all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of all three branches of the United States Government use their resources and facilities to the maximum extent practicable to purchase agricultural products produced in the United States. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1964 to exclude from food stamp coverage any food labeled imported. Title IX: Agricultural Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an investment tax credit for buildings and structural components used in the business of farming. Grants an exemption from the excise tax for any trailer or semitrailer used for farming purposes or for transporting horses or livestock, whose gross vehicle weight is 10,000 pounds or less. Entitles aerial applicators to a refund of gasoline and special fuels taxes. Repeals the carryover basis provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 which provide that beneficiaries receiving property from a decedent's estate will retain the decedent's basis in the property. Restores prior law which "stepped up" or "stepped down" the property's basis to its market value at the time of death without imposing tax consequences on the appreciation or depreciation the property underwent while held by the decedent. Allows a deduction from income for State estate taxes in the case of income in respect of a decedent. Title X: Natural Gas for Essential Agricultural Purposes - Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to prohibit curtailment by a natural gas company of natural gas for essential agricultural, food processing, and food packaging purposes for which natural gas is necessary. Requires the Secretary to determine the purposes for which natural gas is necessary. Title XI: Increase Farm Storage Loan Ceiling - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to increase the farm storage loan ceiling from $50,000 to $100,000. Title XII: Regulatory Reform - Authorizes either House of Congress by resolution to disapprove, in whole or in part, any rule or regulation prescribed by the head of any Federal department or agency. Requires the heads of all Federal departments and agencies to submit a comprehensive review and evaluation of their programs and activities so that the Congress may determine if the merits of each program or activity support its continuation or diminution rather than its termination.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from controlling the location of utility facilities on the right-of-way of any highway on the Federal-aid system.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Small Town Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to small public water systems for the purpose of enabling such systems to meet national primary drinking water regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in determining whether any right-of-way on any Federal-aid system highway should be used for accommodating a utility facility, to: (1) evaluate the environmental and economic effects of any loss of productive agricultural land or any impairment of the productivity of any agricultural land which would result from the disapproval of such a facility; and (2) consider such effects together with any interference with the use of the highway in such right-of-way if such facility were approved.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Botulism Prevention Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture, for a two-year period, from issuing any order or regulation: (1) restricting the use of nitrites or nitrates as preservatives in meat products beyond the degree recommended in the final report of the Department of Agriculture's Expert Panel on Nitrates, Nitrites, and Nitrosamines; or (2) requiring labeling on meat products concerning nitrites or nitrates in addition to the requirements in effect on January 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1978
Federal Aviation Act Amendments - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to direct the Civil Aeronautics Board in the performance of its functions to consider safety as the highest priority in air commerce and to consider the development of an air transportation industry which allows responsible new air carriers to enter the industry as being in the public interest. Establishes time limitations during which the Board must act on applications for certificates to engage in air transportation. Authorizes any air carrier to petition the Board to have granted to it the authority of another air carrier to provide nonstop scheduled interstate or overseas air transportation where the previous authority has not been exercised to a specified extent. Establishes time limitations during which the Board must act on an application by an air carrier for the removal or modification of a term attached to a certificate to engage in air transportation. Directs the Board to establish simplified procedures for the disposition of applications for certificates or permits to engage in air transportation and for applications to amend or modify such certificates. Stipulates that such procedures need not provide for oral evidentiary hearings. Establishes time limitations during which the Board must act on applications to approve consolidation agreements, pooling agreements, or exemptions from air carrier economic regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1978
Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from controlling the location of utility facilities on the right-of-way of any highway on the Federal-aid system.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1978
Authorizes the placement of signs or displays advertising seasonal recreational activities in areas adjacent to the Interstate Highway System and the primary system.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to furnish Federal financial assistance for construction projects to separate rail-highway crossings where the rail facilities have incurred a substantial increase in use as a result of coal transportation activities with the result of substantial delays in highway travel. Stipulates that the Federal share of such a project shall not exceed 90 percent of its cost. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 1979 through 1981 for such projects.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Economic Recovery Act - Title I: Production and Sale of Agricultural Commodities - Directs the National Board of Agricultural Producers (created by title II of this Act) to establish a parity price, according to specified guidelines, on a monthly basis for each agricultural commodity. Directs the Board to establish for each commodity a national production goal based on estimated domestic and export requirements, and levels of production consistent with established agricultural conservation or soil management programs. Directs the Board to allocate acreage allotments or marketing quotas based upon the production history of each farm during the three preceding calendar years. Limits such allocations to individual farmers and farmer-owned or -controlled cooperatives and corporations. Requires the Board to establish a program to acquire reserve stocks of agricultural commodities. Directs the Board to establish quotas for each agricultural commodity imported into the United States. Establishes in the United States Treasury the Agricultural Export Fund for the deposit of any tariff revenues received from a foreign country in which an agricultural commodity was produced, for use in the purchase of any United States products. Requires a 100 percent of parity price for any United States agricultural commodity sold for export. Requires the Board to conduct, upon petition, producer referendums on proposed regulations. Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to make it an unfair or deceptive trade practice for any person engaged in the retail sale of food to sell any food product without a sign at the point of sale stating the amount received by farmers for the agricultural commodities which were used to produce the food product involved. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make payments to any producer who reduces, during 1978, by more than 50 percent either his normal crop acreage or the number of acres planted to any agricultural commodity (compared to 1977). Prescribes civil penalties for anyone who buys, sells, or trades any agricultural commodity at a price less than 100 percent, or more than 115 percent, of parity. Title II: National Board of Agricultural Producers - Establishes a National Board of Agricultural Producers composed of 50 members, one from each State, elected by the agricultural producers in each State, and appointed by the President. Title III: General Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Legislative Oversight Act - Title I: Requirements for Authorization Bills - Requires all legislation considered by either House of Congress which authorizes new budget authority or increased tax expenditures to include a statement of objectives of the program to be authorized or established and a requirement that the agencies administering the program report annually to Congress to assist it in determining whether such program should be amended. Requires such agency reports to list the costs and accomplishments of each program. Title II: Requirements for Reports Accompanying Authorization Bills - Requires committee reports accompanying such legislation to identify expected economic and social costs and benefits of new programs authorized or established by such legislation, potentially duplicative programs, and previous efforts to accomplish the objectives of the program being considered. Requires reports to contain, if the legislation continues an existing program, authorization, or tax expenditure, an assessment of the degree to which such program or tax expenditure has met previously stated objectives. Requires the Comptroller General to publish and periodically update a descriptive catalog of interrelated Federal activities which compares program costs and accomplishments and describes program interrelationships, including the extent to which programs are duplicative. Title III: Presidential Budget Recommendations - Requires the President's budget to describe the relationship between the President's recommended program budgets and the program accomplishments reported by Federal agencies under this Act. Title IV: Authorization Time Limit; Certain Obligations not Impaired - Prohibits congressional consideration of any legislation which authorizes new budget authority or provides new or increased tax expenditures, or new spending authority for a period exceeding five years. Exempts from this prohibition national debt service and payments to individuals from Federal trust funds to which such individuals have contributed. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions; Effective Date - Recognizes the authority of either House to amend this Act. Sets the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Expresses the sense of the House that the national motto, "In God We Trust," shall continue to be engraved and printed on the currency of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Expresses the insistence of the House of Representatives that the Government of the Republic of Korea cooperate with a certain investigation of the House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Declares that failure of the Government to cooperate with such investigation will have a negative impact on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, including assistance for the latter country.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Omnibus Anti-Terrorism Act - Title I: Aircraft Piracy - Authorizes civil penalties for carrying an accessible weapon aboard an aircraft and for imparting or conveying information known to be false regarding one of specified crimes aboard an aircraft. Specified criminal penalties for threatening to commit air piracy or any other of certain crimes aboard an aircraft. Title II: Findings and Purposes - States Congressional findings relative to the purpose of this Act and defines specified terms used therein. Title III: Reorganization of Executive Office of the President - Establishes a Council to Combat Terrorism in the Executive Office of the President. Includes among the council's functions: (1) assisting the President to implement this Act; (2) assisting in the preparation of lists of countries aiding terrorist enterprises and of dangerous foreign airports, and (3) coordinating Federal efforts to combat terrorism. Directs the President to: (1) report to Congress on each act of terrorism which involves or affects United States citizens; and (2) impose sanctions against countries on the list of countries aiding terrorists and against airports on the list of dangerous foreign airports. Title IV: Reorganization of the Department of State - Establishes a Bureau for Combating International Terrorism in the Department of State. Urges the President to seek international agreements which assure cooperation in combating terrorism. Lists provisions which should be given priority in negotiating such agreements. Requires the President to: (1) develop programs to insure full implementation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation; (2) approve all defense article sales and credit made to any individual or group; and (3) include the names of all types of explosives on the United States Munitions List. Title V: Reorganization of the Department of Justice - Establishes an office for Combating Terrorism in the Department of Justice. Directs the President to extend existing safety and security requirements to supplemental means of air transportation. Requires all explosives to contain identification and detection taggants. Title VI: Aircraft Sabotage and Piracy - Amends provisions of title 18 of the U.S. Code that specify prohibited acts regarding the destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities to, among other revisions, set forth penalties for committing violence against a passenger which is likely to endanger an aircraft in service, and for communicating false information which result in endangering the safety of an aircraft in flight. Sets forth penalties for a person found in the United States who has committed against or aboard a foreign aircraft an offense in violation of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1978
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate the adequacy and appropriateness of Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 121 (49 CFR 571.121) with particular attention to whether the antilock braking requirement is practicable and meets the needs of motor vehicle safety. Requires the Secretary to submit the results of such evaluation to Congress within 12 months. Suspends the implementation of any antilock braking requirement until three months after the Secretary submits such report.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Amends the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968 to establish a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in Social and Political Thought at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian Institution. Establishes the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Trust Fund in the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Petitions the President and the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) increase price supports to bring commodity prices up to parity; (2) provide diversion payments for devoting land to conservation practices; (3) implement the critical lands and graze-out programs; (4) prevent Government dumping of surplus grain and dairy products into already depressed markets; (5) re-implement fully the summer-fallow provisions of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973; and (6) maximize agricultural exports.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1977
Authorizes the use of Federal-aid highway funds for the construction or reconstruction of interstate or intrastate access spurs crossing the Mississippi River to scenic, historical, recreational, or archeological features on the other side of the river from the Great River Road. Stipulates that such access spurs shall be the most direct feasible route and shall not include the construction of bridges across the Mississippi River.
![Official portrait of Rep. Stangeland, Arlan [R-MN-7]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000795_200.jpg)