United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the payment of benefits to any individual for any month in which such individual is confined in a penal institution. Stipulates that benefits withheld from such individuals shall be treated as having been paid to such individuals for purposes of determining the benefits to which other persons are entitled on the basis of the same wages and self-employment income.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1979
Bread Labeling Act - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to require that every loaf of bread in packaged form distributed in interstate or foreign commerce shall bear a label specifying (in cents per pound) the cost to the manufacturer of the farm product ingredients of the bread. Permits the Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, to seek an injunction or restraining order in the appropriate U.S. district court for violations of the labeling requirements imposed by this Act. Provides for civil penalties of up to $1,000 for each violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1979
Ixtoc I Oil Pollution Compensation Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to compensate U.S. claimants for economic losses resulting from oil pollution from the blowout of Ixtoc I in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. Sets forth the procedure for making such claims or settling such claims. Permits a claimant, whose claim is denied or not settled within 60 days of presentation, to commence a district court action against the Secretary in lieu of resubmitting such claim to the Secretary for a decision. Prohibits claimants receiving compensation from recovering under any other Federal or State law for the same injury. Permits States to impose additional requirements or liability. Directs the Secretary to make a grant to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the construction and operation of a saltwater fish hatchery. Stipulates that the amount of compensation payable to Texas shall be reduced by the amount of such grant.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1979
Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to extend to the 1980 and 1981 crops of rice, cotton, feed grains, and wheat the low yield and prevented planting disaster payment programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to change specified levels of price support loans and price support payments for the 1980 and each subsequent crop of extra long staple cotton. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to require that extra long staple cotton acreage allotments voluntarily surrendered to county committees be so surrendered not later than January 30 of the crop harvest year. Directs (formerly authorized) the Secretary of Agriculture to permit owners or operators of farms for which an extra long staple cotton acreage allotment is established to sell or lease all or part of such allotment for transfer to farms owned or operated by others, or to transfer such allotment to other farms owned by themselves. Stipulates that farms to which such allotments are transferred may be in any State or county. Requires that such sale, lease, or transfer occur not later than January 30 of the crop harvest year. Prohibits the leasing of any such allotment for a total period greater than three years.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard mileage rate used in computing the charitable deduction for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle shall be the same as the standard mileage rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury for the business related deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress to review each rule and regulation issued to carry out any law before it may become effective. Permits Congress to approve, modify, or disapprove such rule or regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1979
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the adoption of any concurrent resolution on the budget which sets forth a level of total budget outlays in excess of 21 percent of the gross national product in fiscal year 1981, or 20 percent of the gross national product for each fiscal year thereafter. Establishes procedures to enable the President and the Congress to suspend such limitations on the level of budget outlays.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1979
Federal Firearms Law Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to Gun Control Act - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine: (1) "manufacturer" to mean any person engaged in the "business of manufacturing" (instead of "manufacture" of) firearms or ammunition; and (2) "dealer" to exclude dealers in ammunition and persons engaged in the business of repairing firearms. Adds a new definition, "engaged in the business", with respect to manufacturers, dealers, and importers. Includes as a manufacturer of ammunition a person whose gross sales of his own ammunition exceed $1,000 in any calendar year. Includes as a dealer in firearms a person who deals in firearms as a regular course of business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. Replaces the current term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" with a new definition of "disabling crime." Eliminates certain activities regarding ammunition from the coverage of the current prohibitions. Revises current provisions respecting the interstate sale or transfer of firearms. Revises the current prohibition against selling a firearm or ammunition to certain persons (such as persons under indictment for a felony or addicted to drugs) to apply such prohibition only to persons convicted of a disabling crime. Revises the current prohibition against certain persons transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce to: (1) extend such prohibition to possession or receipt in commerce or affecting commerce of any firearm or ammunition; (2) conform such prohibition to the new "disabling crime" provision; and (3) include as additional categories illegal aliens, persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and persons who have renounced their United States citizenship. Makes the same changes to the current prohibition against certain persons who receive a firearm or ammunition which has been transported in interstate commerce, but applies such prohibition to persons who are employed by specified individuals. Excludes ammunition dealers from the current licensing requirements. Stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury may revoke a license only where the holder of such license has "knowingly" violated a provision of the Act or regulation. Bars the Secretary from denying or revoking a license on the basis of violations under this Act which are alleged in criminal proceedings instituted against a licensee, but for which such individual has not been convicted. Imposes as a condition for the inspection or examination of records, documents, and any firearm or ammunition kept by an importer, manufacturer, or dealer pursuant to this Act that the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred and that evidence may be found on the premises of such persons. Restricts the firearm information obtained from licensees which the Secretary may make available to State or local governments. Establishes a limited recordkeeping requirement for firearms collectors. Stipulates that the general penalty under this Act shall apply to whoever "willfully" violates any provision. Prohibits, with respect to a person's second or subsequent conviction for illegally using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, the granting of parole before completion of the minimum sentence. Amends the forfeiture provision to subject to seizure any firearm or ammunition "involved in or used" in any violation of the Act (instead of "involved in or used or intended to be used"). Requires a court to award attorney's fees to the prevailing party (other than the United States) in an action or proceeding for the return of seized firearms or ammunition. Allows the court to award such fees in any other action upon a finding that the action was initiated in bad faith. Amends the rulemaking authority of the Secretary to provide that no regulation may require (1) the transfer of records required under this Act to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or (2) the establishment of any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions. Requires a 90-day public comment period for proposed regulations (no period is currently specified). Allows one House of Congress to disapprove by resolution any firearms regulation within 90 days of continuous session of the promulgation of such rule. Set forth procedures for such resolutions. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any rules identical to regulations disapproved by Congress without the enactment of additional legislation respecting his authority. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing regulations which require purchasers of black powder to complete affidavits or forms attesting to their exemption from certain provisions of the Federal criminal code. Makes any law or regulation promulgated by any State prohibiting the transfer of an unloaded and not readily accessible firearm or ammunition null and void. Title II: Amendments to title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Repeals title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (relating to the receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms by felons, veterans dishonorably discharged, mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and persons renouncing their United States citizenship).
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should communicate U.S. insistence that the Soviet Union remove its troops from Cuba. Stipulates that ratification of the SALT II Treaty be suspended until such troops are removed.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Lamb Meat Quota Act of 1979 - Limits the aggregate quantity of lamb meat that may be imported into the United States after 1979 to the smaller of: (1) 24,500,000 pounds; or (2) ten percent of the domestic slaughter of land during the preceding year. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to estimate quarterly whether the domestic price of lamb exceeds the parity price and, on the basis of such estimate, to adjust the aggregate quantity of lamb meat which may enter the United States. Requires the Secretary to annually estimate the quota established, the domestic price of lamb, and any adjustment of the quota. Directs the Secretary to allocate such quotas among supplying countries on the basis of their share of the U.S. market.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1979
Requires each importer, producer, refiner, distributor, and supplier of crude oil or refined petroleum products to submit monthly reports to the Secretary of Energy on its total refining capacity, the percentage of such capacity currently utilized, its crude oil supplies, the location of such supplies, and its inventory of refined petroleum products. Directs the Secretary to publish such information.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Farm Credit Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Federal Land Banks and Associations - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize any Federal land bank, under the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions (i.e., Federal land banks, Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks, production credit associations, and banks for cooperatives); (2) participate in loans which the land banks are authorized to make with lenders which are not Farm Credit System institutions; (3) sell interests in loans to such lenders; (4) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance, and nonvoting stock; (5) make other investments; (6) accept contributions to their capital from Federal land bank associations; (7) enter into agreements with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan and other losses; (8) issue nonvoting stock to borrowers as a patronage refund; and (9) make or participate with other lenders in long-term real estate mortgage loans not exceeding 85 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security. Makes producers and harvesters of aquatic products eligible for Federal land bank services. Authorizes Federal land bank associations to make capital contributions to a Federal land bank. States that a member of a Federal land bank association need not make the required purchases of land stock with respect to that part of a loan derived from a lender which is not a Farm Credit System institution. Authorizes the Federal land bank associations to pay dividends on a differential basis between different classes and issues of stock and participation certificates corresponding to the value of such classes and issues to the capital or earnings of the Federal land bank in its district. Permits the Federal land bank associations to agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions. Title II: Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations - Authorizes the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance and nonvoting stock; (2) make other investments; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; (4) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; and (5) issue nonvoting stock to such institutions. Authorizes the Federal intermediate credit banks to discount for, or purchase from other financial institutions loans made to producers and harvesters of aquatic products. Permits any Federal intermediate credit bank to transfer more than 2.5 percent of its net earnings after expenses to its allocated reserve account (presently, not more than 25 percent of such earnings may be transferred to this account). Authorizes each production credit association, subject to the supervision of the intermediate credit bank in its district and the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to any bank in the Farm Credit System interests in loans, other financial assistance extended, and nonvoting stock; (2) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System Institutions; (4) issue participation certificates to eligible borrowers in lieu of nonvoting stock; and (5) issue participation certificates or nonvoting stock to any financial institution outside the Farm Credit System with which the association participates in a loan in satisfaction of the requirement that a borrower own such stock or participation certificates. Requires a borrower to own only that amount of stock or participation certificates which is proportionate to that portion of a loan retained by a production credit association when it participates with another lender in making a loan. Authorizes the production credit association to extend loan assistance to bona fide farmers, ranchers, and producers and harvesters of aquatic products for basic processing and marketing directly related to the borrower's operations. Title III: Banks and Cooperatives - Empowers each bank for cooperatives, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; (2) deposit its securities and current funds with any domestic or foreign financial organization (presently, such deposits must be made at a member bank in the Federal Reserve System); (3) buy and sell bankers acceptances which are obligations of member banks in the Federal Reserve System; (4) buy and sell other obligations including those which arise in the course of transactions which the bank has assisted through loans; (5) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other financial assistance extended and nonvoting stock; (6) make other investments; (7) invest in foreign and domestic business entities to facilitate the obtaining of credit information and the performance of services related to international transactions; (8) maintain credit balances to assist in the transfer of funds between parties to authorized transactions; (9) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; and (10) issue participation certificates to parties who may not be issued voting stock. Requires all participation certificates, voting and nonvoting stock issued by the banks for cooperatives to be retired at par value. Authorizes the banks for cooperative to: (1) offer a currency exchange for eligible cooperative associations; and (2) extend loans, loan participation commitments, and other technical and financial assistance to any domestic or foreign party in which a member cooperative has an ownership interest or which engages with the cooperative in dealings in agricultural or aquatic products, farm supplies or the lease of property, provided such assistance substantially benefits the member cooperative. Enables cooperatives solely engaged in furnishing aquatic business services to borrow from the banks for cooperatives. Reduces the degree of ownership in a cooperative which must be held by farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or other cooperative associations in order to make such a cooperative eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives. Requires a bank for cooperatives to retire any equity held by a borrower in default or dissolution at fair market value not to exceed the par value of the equity interest of the borrower. Prohibits the retirement or cancellation of such an equity interest if the bank's capital structure would be adversely affected. Permits each bank for cooperatives to transfer more than 25 percent of its net annual savings to a surplus account. Authorizes the banks for cooperatives to pay patronage refunds to borrowers in the form of participation certificates. Title IV: Provisions Applicable to Two or More Classes of Institutions of the System - Declares that interest rates established by the Farm Credit Administration for loans made by Farm Credit System institutions shall preempt any interest rate limitation imposed by State law. States that when two or more Farm Credit System institutions participate in a loan as authorized by this Act, the terms of such loan shall be those agreed upon by the institutions. Requires that such factors as borrower eligibility, membership, term, amount, loan security and purchase of stock or participation certificates by the borrower are to be governed by the provisions of law applicable to the institution originating the loan. Exempts credit transactions of Farm Credit System institutions from the provisions of any State statute or any other law or regulation which impose, with regard to a credit transaction, any duty or requirement which had been imposed by the Truth in Lending Act before amendment. Authorizes the institutions of the Farm Credit System to organize corporations to perform non-lending functions and services which such institutions are authorized to perform. Empowers the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration to review and revise the charters of such corporations. States that such corporations shall be subject to supervision and examination by the Administration. Title V: District and Farm Credit Administration Organization - Revises the process for the election of farm credit district directors by reducing from three to two the number of nominees in the election poll. Establishes the rate of compensation for the Federal Farm Credit Board at the daily equivalent of the rate prescribed for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule. Authorizes the Board to fix the salary of the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration at any level not exceeding the maximum rate of basic pay in the Executive Schedule. Authorizes the Governor to appoint Deputy Governors to provide assistance in the functioning of the Farm Credit Administration. Exempts the Administration from provisions of Federal law relating to appointments in the competitive civil service, travel expenses, allowances, procurement, and property disposition. Credits employees of Farm Credit System institutions with specified leave and retirement benefits when they are transferred to Federal service in the Farm Credit Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to establish within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) a program to advance the state of automotive research and technology. Requires such program to achieve one or more of the following goals: (1) preservation and enhancement of personal mobility at reasonable cost; (2) reduction of the Nation's dependence on foreign oil; (3) increased motor vehicle safety; (4) reduction of motor vehicle environmental effects; (5) improvement of motor vehicle reliability; (6) conservation of scarce resources; and (7) enhancement of the international competitive position of the Nation's automotive products. Charges NASA with the overall responsibility for planning and managing activities designed to achieve the goals set forth by this Act. Denies the Administrator of NASA any power to promulgate any regulations concerning the commercial development or use of the automotive products resulting from the research and development programs provided for by this Act. Requires the President to transmit annual reports to Congress setting forth a description of the activities of all Federal agencies in the field of automotive research and technology development and an evaluation of the progress of such agencies in reaching the goals established by this Act. Establishes a Motor Vehicle and Fuels Coordination Committee to advise the Administrator of NASA and the Secretary of Energy on matters relating the conduct of the program of automotive research and technology development and of programs within the Department of Energy to develop alternative fuels for use by motor vehicles. Transfers to the Administrator of NASA: (1) all automotive research and technology development programs currently being conducted by other Federal agencies; (2) all functions, powers, and duties of the Secretaries of Energy and Transportation, and any other officer or employee of the United States which relate to automotive research and technology; and (3) so much of the costs and funding as are allocable to the programs which are transferred to the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to assure that small business concerns will have realistic and adequate opportunities to participate in the automotive research and development programs established by this Act. Requires the Administrator to report to Congress with respect to all activities relating to the research programs established pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Smaller Enterprise Regulatory Improvement Act - Amends the Small Business Act to require each Federal agency to publish semiannually an agenda of those rules which may be proposed during the upcoming six-month period affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and small organizations. Defines "small organizations" to include unincorporated businesses, sheltered workshops, nonprofit enterprises which are not dominant in their fields and such other groups and enterprises as each Federal agency shall establish by rule. Requires each published agenda to be transmitted to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comments. Directs each Federal agency to endeavor to provide notice of each agenda to affected small enterprises by means other than publication in the Federal Register. Directs each Federal agency to publish a written analysis prior to the issuance of any rule affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and organizations which considers: (1) the effect of such rule on small enterprises and competition; (2) whether an exemption could be provided such small enterprises; (3) whether lesser compliance standards could be adopted for small enterprises; and (4) the expected nature of reporting and recordkeeping requirements necessitated by such rule. Requires each Federal agency to issue a rule containing an exemption or differing compliance standards for such small business concerns and organizations if it is lawful, desirable, and feasible to do so. States that such small enterprises shall be given an opportunity to participate in agency rulemaking. Requires each agency to review its existing rules and prepare an analysis for purposes of eliminating those rules which are most burdensome to small businesses and organizations. Permits any agency to perform the analyses required by this Act in conjunction with any other analysis required by law. Declares that such other analysis shall not in itself satisfy the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal of appropriate design to Bryan Lewis Allen, the first aviator to cross the English Channel in a self-powered plane. Authorizes appropriations of up to $15,000 to strike such medal. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike bronze duplicates of such medal for sale to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to permit local distribution companies to provide natural gas service to residential customers for use in outdoor lighting fixtures installed before the enactment of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt from applicable Federal regulations any State having in effect a law, rule, or regulation applicable to underground injection control related to the production or recovery of oil or natural gas unless the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that such law, rule, or regulation fails to protect underground sources of drinking water. Provides that any State for which such finding is made may amend its law, rule, or regulation in order to benefit from such exemption where approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the underground injection well permit requirements any State having in effect such law, rule, or regulation approved by the Administrator. Exempts from the administrative procedure and judicial review requirements of the United States Code any action relating to national interim primary drinking water regulations, revised national primary drinking water regulations, and State underground injection control program regulations, except as expressly provided by this Act. Directs the Administrator to establish a docket for such actions, and sets forth notice and public and agency commenting requirements for any proposed rulemaking. Sets forth procedures and other requirements for promulgating rules concerning drinking water regulations, and establishes procedures for judicial review of such actions. Amends the definition of "primary drinking water regulation". Revises the standard for the promulgation of primary drinking water regulations. Makes technical and conforming amendments to such Act. Requires any State having primary enforcement responsibility to submit notice to the Administrator that its public water system supervision program conforms to any revision or amendment to any national primary drinking water regulation made by the Administrator. States that failure to submit such notice shall be grounds for withdrawal of State primary enforcement responsibility. Amends such Act to authorize a State having such enforcement responsibility to exempt from maximum contaminant level requirements or treatment technique requirements any public water system not having any reasonable alter native source of drinking water available. Revises the dates for compliance by public water systems with contaminant level and treatment technique requirements. Extends the effective date for State underground injection control regulations approved by the Administrator. Authorizes the waiver of the prohibition against State grants being made for any period beginning more than one year after the date of a State's first grant having been made for a period of 18 months after the effective date of any amendment or revision of the national primary drinking water regulations if the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility and is making diligent efforts to comply with such amendment or revision. Prohibits the Administrator from making grants to any State unless the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility within two years after the Administrator promulgates State underground injection control program regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1979
National Energy Self-Sufficiency Act of 1979 - Title I: Duty on Imported Crude Oil - Imposes on imported crude oil an additional duty equal to the amount by which the average synthetic fossil fuel price is greater than the imported crude oil price. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to establish methods for the determination of such prices. Provides for the monthly redetermination of such prices. Title II: Synthetic Fossil Fuel Fund - Establishes the Synthetic Fossil Fuel Fund in the U.S. Treasury. Stipulates that such Fund shall consist of the equivalent of amounts received from the duty imposed under title I, in addition to such other amounts as may be appropriated. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress concerning such Fund. Requires the Secretary to invest the portion of such Fund, not required to meet current withdrawals, in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. Declares that such Fund shall be available for making loans for synthetic fossil fuel production. Establishes the Synthetic Fossil Fuel Board to make loans for the construction of synthetic fuel production facilities. Sets forth the criteria to be used by the Board in making such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Amends the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act to extend for ten years, until December 31, 1991, the period during which the Secretary of Agriculture may enter into contracts under the Great Plains conservation program. Increases the ceiling: (1) on the authorization for the entire Great Plains program from $300,000,000 to $500,000,000; and (2) on the authorization for annual program payments from $25,000,000 to $50,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Congratulates the men and women of the Apollo program upon the tenth anniversary of the first manned landing on the Moon and requests the President to designate the period of July 16 through July 24, 1979, as "United States Space Observance" in honor of such event.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1979
Amends the Agriculture Act of 1949 to extend from March 31, 1979, through September 30, 1981, the price support of milk at not less than 80 percent parity.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963 to exclude from the definition of "farm labor contractor": (1) any nonprofit or charitable organization; (2) any farmer, processor, canner, ginner, packing shed operator, or nurseryman who engages in any such activity for the purpose of supplying migrant workers solely for his own operation, including its planting, cultivating, or harvesting of crops to be grown, processed, canned, ginned, or packed in or diverted from its own operation; and (3) any bona fide full-time or bona fide regular employee of any entity referred to in (1) or (2) above who engages in such activity solely for his employer. Defines "fee" to mean any money or other valuable consideration in excess of the actual cost of providing such services paid or promised to be paid to a person for services as a farm labor contractor. Eliminates from the definition of "agricultural employment" the handling, planting, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, or grading prior to delivery for storage of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state. Defines "migrant worker" to include an individual whose primary employment is in agriculture, as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1939, on a seasonal or other temporary basis, or who performs agricultural labor, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, on a seasonal or other temporary basis and who is transported from and to his or her permanent domicile each work day in a vehicle owned or controlled by a farm labor contractor, or who cannot regularly return to his or her permanent domicile each day after working hours. Defines the terms "transport", "bona fide full-time employee", "bona fide regular employee", and "agricultural cooperative" for the purposes of the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963. Eliminates the payroll records maintenance requirement for any person who is furnished any migrant worker by a farm labor contractor where the contractor pays the worker.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949: (1) to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from providing for the redemption of stored wheat and feed grains loans unless the market price for such commodities is not less than 80 percent of parity; (2) to prohibit the Secretary from calling such loans unless the market price for wheat and feed grains is at least 85 percent of parity; and (3) to prohibit the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling its stocks of wheat and feed grains for less than 100 percent of parity. Sets the crop production loan rate for the 1979 crops of: (1) upland cotton at 55 cents per pound; (2) wheat at $2.57 per bushel; (3) corn at $2.19 per bushel; (4) grain sorghum at $3.71 per hundredweight; and (5) peanuts at $459 per ton. Sets the established prices for the 1979 crops of: (1) upland cotton at 61.74 cents per pound; (2) wheat at $3.64 per bushel; (3) corn at $2.35 per bushel; and (4) grain sorghum at $4.39 per bushel. States that the established prices for subsequent crops of such commodities shall be determined without reference to the established prices of the 1979 crops. Directs the Secretary to require a 30 percent acreage set-aside as a condition of eligibility for cotton and feed grain price supports.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the exportation and transportation of animal semen in order to suppress and extirpate contagious animal diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1979
National Alcohol Fuel and Farm Commodity Production Act of 1979 - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to replace the current program of loan guarantees for pilot project production of industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities with a program under which the Secretary of Agriculture may guarantee payment of 50 percent of loans made by private lenders to persons constructing and maintaining plants for the production of fuel alcohol derived from agricultural commodities. Authorizes the Secretary to sell such commodities to such loan recipients and to acquire and use distilled dried grains plus solubles (DDGS) from them. Specifies conditions for such loan guarantees and sets the maximum cumulative total of outstanding principal and interest during the period from October 1, 1979, through September 30, 1984, at $600,000,000. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the Alcohol Fuel Plant Loan Guarantee Fund, and authorizes the appropriation of $60,000,000 for deposit in such Fund for fiscal year 1980. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set the loan level for corn at $2.10 per bushel, and the established price for the 1982 crop at $2.75 per bushel. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the uses and marketing of the byproducts resulting from the production of alcohol fuel, including, if appropriate, a market promotion program identifying the foreign markets for such byproducts for human consumption.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1979
Amends the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act to extend the period wherein the Secretary of Agriculture may enter into contracts for the conservation of soil in the Great Plains conservation program. Repeals funding limitations placed upon such program.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1979
Producer Elected Farm Policy Advisory Board Act of 1979 - Establishes a Producer Elected Farm Policy Advisory Board to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on issues affecting the production, marketing, transportation, and export of agricultural commodities, and other issues relating to Department of Agriculture policies and programs. Specifies ten regions of the United States from which the 30 members of the Board, all producers of one or more agricultural commodities, shall be elected by members of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation county committees, from among persons nominated by each Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation district. Sets a Board member's term of office at three years, and limits him to not more than two such terms.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the requirement that the income of small business corporations which elect a Subchapter S tax exemption may not consist of more than 20 percent passive income (rents, royalties etc.)
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1979
Crude Oil Production Incentive Act of 1979 - Amends the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 to exempt the first sale of new crude oil and the first sale of market incentive crude oil from the mandatory price and allocation regulations promulgated under such Act. Directs the President to establish ceiling prices applicable to first sales of old crude oil produced in the United States. Exempts from any regulation issued under the mandatory allocation provisions of such Act: (1) deep stripper well crude oil; (2) stripper well crude oil; (3) high water cut crude oil; and (4) marginal offshore crude oil. Exempts the first sale of enhanced recovery crude oil from such regulations. Requires that any applicant for such exemption shall submit an application to the appropriate regulatory body containing such information as required by such regulatory body. Sets forth criteria for approval of such applications. Directs the Administrator of the Economic Regulatory Administration of the Department of Energy, the United States Geological Survey, and State regulatory agencies to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this Act under their appropriate jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to tax income of married individuals filing tax returns separate from their spouses at the same rates applicable to unmarried individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that disability insurance benefits for an individual having a terminal illness shall begin with the first month during all of which such individual has such illness. Defines the term "terminal illness" to mean, a medically determinable physical impairment which is expected to result in death within the next 12 months.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt from pre-slaughter animal examination and post mortem carcass inspection requirements all meat food products processed by a federally inspected establishment and derived from meat which has been slaughtered or processed at a State-inspected establishment in a State whose meat inspection requirements have been determined by the Secretary to be at least equal to the Federal requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Soft Drink Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that exclusive territorial arrangements made as a part of a licensing agreement for the manufacture, distribution, or sale of a trademarked soft drink product are lawful under the antitrust laws provided such product is in substantial and effective competition with other products of the same general class. Prohibits recovery in private actions under the Clayton Act based on territorial provisions in a trademark licensing agreement prior to a final determination that such provisions are unlawful.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the transfer of the Forest Service and the Farmers Home Administration business and industry programs from the Department of Agriculture is unacceptable, and that any reorganization proposal which would diminish the Department's resources is unacceptable.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1979
Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977 to provide that provisions of such Act shall not apply to clay surface mining operations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1979
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation or the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from issuing any rule, regulation, or order relating to specified aspects of the control of navigable airspace.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1979
Authorizes the President to award the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Private First Class William James Tsakanikas for his service during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1979
Extends to former employees of county soil conservation committees who are employed by any Federal agency, specified civil service compensation, leave, and seniority benefits afforded to former employees of such county committees employed by the Department of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the transfer of the Forest Service and the Farmers Home Administration business and industry programs from the Department of Agriculture is unacceptable, and that any reorganization proposal which would diminish the Department's resources is unacceptable.
![Official portrait of Rep. Stenholm, Charles W. [D-TX-17]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000851_200.jpg)