United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1978
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to make grants to States for the purposes of (1) supporting a staff person within the State agency responsible for the delivery of legal services to the elderly, and (2) supporting direct legal services by providing funds to area agencies. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to or contract with national resource centers to support organizations providing legal services to the elderly and provide legal advice to the elderly.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Directs the Postmaster General to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, and for a postal card to commemorate Molly Pitcher the heroine of such battle.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) remove the adjusted gross income limitation on the credit for the elderly; (2) increase the amount of the credit; and (3) provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1978
SS Life Act - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer to LIFE International for 15 years the hospital ship U.S.S. Sanctuary (AH-17) to furnish health care to developing nations. Renames such ship the "SS LIFE". Authorizes the appropriation of $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 for modification of such ship and for maintenance and operation $494,000 for fiscal year 1979, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1983, and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1978
Amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Power Commission to hold an evidentiary hearing before approving public utility rate increases due to fuel adjustment clauses. Requires a showing that the clause effectively provides incentives for the economical purchase and use of fuel. Requires further that the clause is necessary to enable the utility to pay for the added fuel costs which are by nature short-term fluctuations and therefore not capable of determination in proceedings before such costs are incurred. Sets a one-year limit on approved fuel adjustment clauses and requires an evidentiary hearing before their renewal. Requires the Commission to examine and, if appropriate, to audit the practices of public utilities using fuel adjustment clauses. Requires relevant utilities to supply information as the Commission may require and makes such information available to the public. Grants to any purchaser of electric energy produced for resale and subject to a fuel adjustment clause, the right to examine the records of the relevant utility to insure compliance with applicable schedules and Commission rules. Requires the Commission, after affording the opportunity for an evidentiary hearing, to order the cessation or modification of any practice which does not constitute the most economical purchase and use of fuel. Amends the National Gas Act to impose similar restrictions on rate increases of natural gas companies pursuant to automatic adjustment clauses. Prohibits State regulated utilities from making rate increases pursuant to an automatic adjustment clause unless such clause has been determined to effectively provide incentives for the economical purchase and use of the fuel involved. Requires further that such clauses be necessary to enable the utility to pay for short-term fluctuations in fuel costs that are not susceptible to determination in proceedings held prior to such costs being incurred. Limits automatic adjustment clauses to one-year in duration, and requires an evidentiary hearing before their renewal. Requires the reviewing authority to examine and, if appropriate, to audit the practices of utilities with respect to fuel adjustment clauses. Requires that utilities supply such relevant information as is required by the State regulatory body and makes such information available to the public. Sets procedures for the certification of State regulatory bodies with respect to this Act. Requires the Commission to enforce the Act in the absence of State certification and upon the request of any State regulated utility. Amends the Federal Power Act to expand the scope of businesses forbidden from having interlocking directorates without Commission approval. Makes such approval no defense to actions under specified provisions of the Clayton Act. Amends the Natural Gas Act to expand the scope of natural gas companies forbidden from having interlocking directorates without Commission approval. Makes such approval no defense to actions under specified provisions of the Clayton Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1978
Middle Income Student Assistance Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a $250 minimum basic educational opportunity grant for college students whose adjusted family income does not exceed $25,000. Sets forth new guidelines for determining the assets of independent students for purposes of eligibility for basic educational opportunity grants. Revises certain provisions regarding Federal payments to reduce student loan interest costs under such Act including raising the maximum allowable adjusted family income requirement to $40,000.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1978
Middle Income Student Assistance Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a $250 minimum basic educational opportunity grant for college students whose adjusted family income does not exceed $25,000. Sets forth new guidelines for determining the assets of independent students for purposes of eligibility for basic educational opportunity grants. Revises certain provisions regarding Federal payments to reduce student loan interest costs under such Act including raising the maximum allowable adjusted family income requirement to $40,000.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to acquire the Museum of African Art. Establishes a Commission for the Museum of African Art to assist the Board in the operation and development of the Museum. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from admission into, and provides for the deportation from, the United States of any alien who engaged or assisted in, or incited or directed others to engage in, the persecution of others on the basis of religion, race, or national origin under the direction of the Nazi government of Germany between March 23, 1933, and May 8, 1945.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates below the level established by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 on employment income for both employers and employees and on self-employment income. Increases Federal contributions to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act by 50 percent. Increases the ceiling on the amount of income that is subject to social security taxation to $100,000 in 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1978
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Memorial Act - Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to provide financial assistance to assist in the development of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Authorizes up to $5,000,000 to be appropriated for such purpose.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Confers jurisdiction upon Federal district courts to enforce a State child custody order against a parent who, in violation of such order, took the child to another State.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Agriculture Refinance Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to permit insured loans of up to $1,000,000 to farm owners and operators for refinancing existing indebtedness incurred between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1977. Allows a repayment period for refinancing loans of 40 years for real estate loans, 12 years for equipment loans, and five years for operating loans. Defers the first payment for the interest and principal of such loans for five years for real estate loans, for three years for equipment loans, and for two years for operating loans.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the District of Columbia be treated as a State for purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President, and Article V of the Constitution of the United States. Repeals the provisions of the twenty-third amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
United States Academy of Peace and Conflict Resolution Commission Act - Establishes a Commission on Proposals for a United States Academy for Peace and Conflict Resolution to study the establishment of such academy and alternative proposals which would assist the Federal Government in promoting peace. Directs the Commission to review the theory and techniques of conflict resolution and the institutions for conflict resolution. Directs the Commission to report its findings to the President and the Congress within one year from the availability of appropriations. Authorizes the appropriation of $500,000 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
White House Conference on the Humanities Act - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on the Humanities. Establishes a Presidentially appointed National Planning Council on the Humanities to conduct the Conference. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council, with Council approval, to make a grant to each State to defray the cost of State participation in the Conference. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
White House Conference on the Arts Act - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on the Arts, to be held by December 31, 1979, to assist in developing a climate wherein the arts can flourish. Establishes a National Conference Planning Council on the Arts to plan and conduct such Conference. Requires the Council to submit a report on such Conference to the President. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council, with the approval of Council members, to make grants to States to defray the costs of participating in the Conference program. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Directs the payment of expenses, not to exceed $860,000, for investigations and studies to be conducted by the House Committee on House Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1978
College Libraries Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with regard to college library assistance to (1) revise the basic grant standards pertaining to the maximum amount and matching funds; (2) define the circumstances exempting an applicant from making the assurances required for funds by such Act; (3) redefine institutions to be given priority for supplemental grants; and (4) redefine matching fund requirements for special purpose grants.
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 · 6 December 1977
Broadens the requirement under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 which directs every person who, pursuant to an agreement with an employer, either: (1) undertakes persuasive activities relating to the right to organize and bargain collectively; or, (2) supplies information on activities in connection with a labor dispute to report to the Secretary of Labor, to include all persons who receive any assistance from an employer to perform any function under (1) or (2).
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Excludes from the Federal law limiting and restricting the corporate powers of national banking associations to deal in and underwrite investment securities specified dealing in and underwriting of all other nongeneral obligations issued or guaranteed by or on behalf of a State or any political subdivision thereof or agency of a State or any political subdivision thereof (except special assessment obligations and industrial revenue bonds) which are at the time eligible for purchase by a national bank for its own account, subject to specified limitations. Requires the Secretary of Treasury to submit an annual report to the Congress showing the extent to which the business of underwriting and dealing in State and local obligations is being carried on by commercial banks as compared with other banking institutions with a view to determining the effect of the amendment made by the first section of this Act on the institutional distribution of such business.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Anwar el Sadat and Menachem Begin be commended for the steps they have taken towards peace in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1977
Professional Nurse Employee Rights Act - Stipulates that professional nurses shall be considered "supervisors" under the National Labor Relations Act only if they exercise the preponderance of specified hiring, work assignment, and grievance adjustment authority.
United States · United States Congress · 11 November 1977
Regional Energy Development Act - Chapter I: Introductory - Declares that energy shortages and the high cost of energy have created economic hardships in the Northeastern States, which would especially benefit from regional cooperation with the United States through an entity capable of financing and otherwise promoting increased energy supply and energy conservation in the "Northeastern States" of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Chapter II: Organization, Management, Powers - Authorizes the creation of a corporation for profit, which will not be an agency or establishment of the Federal government. Directs the President to appoint incorporators who reside in the Northeastern States to serve as the initial Board of Directors of the Corporation, and to take whatever actions are necessary to establish the Corporation. Stipulates that a Northeastern State shall become a member of the Corporation when such State shall subscribe for State stock, contribute initial capital in the amount of $1 per capita, and enact supporting legislation. Allows the Corporation to become operational if at least three States become members before December 31, 1978. Authorizes States that are contiguous to members to join the Corporation in the same manner. Authorizes the Corporation to participate in joint ventures with public or private groups and to operate through subsidiaries. Requires the Corporation to submit annual reports and audits to the President, Congress, Governors and legislatures of Member States. Directs the Governors, on a rotating basis, to designate independent persons to evaluate the performance of the Corporation every two years. Chapter III: Projects and Programs of the Corporation - Authorizes the Corporation to participate in financing any project related to solving the loans, guarantees or equity investments. Stipulates that before any financial assistance is provided, the Board of Directors of the Corporation must find that: (1) the project is expected to have a beneficial impact on the energy problems of the region; (2) the investment together with other Corporation activities will not materially impair the credit of the Corporation; (3) private capital is unavailable or insufficient; and (4) unless this limitation is specially waived, the Corporation will not operate the project on a continuing basis or invest more than 50 percent of the total cost. Authorizes rejection of each project by the Governor of the Member State in which it is located. Charges the Board with reviewing periodically the allocation of Corporation resources among the Member States to assure a measure of equity in the distribution of benefits. Limits the Corporation's investment in any one project to the greater of 10 percent of its borrowing authority or $200,000,000. Chapter IV: Financing - Stipulates that capital subscriptions from the States ($1 per capita initial contribution) and private investors shall determine the borrowing authority of the Corporation according to a formula of $15 borrowing backed by Federal guarantees for each $1 capital contribution. Authorizes the contribution of additional capital by the States after the the initial subscription. Authorizes the issuance of capital securities to States and private investors in a form determined by the Board. Permits the Corporation to issue its own obligations which shall be general obligations payable out of any revenues. Prohibits the Corporation from pledging credit of the United States or the credit of Member States. Chapter V: Guarantee of Obligations - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to guarantee obligations of the Corporation. Permits the Secretary to agree with the Corporation that the United States will purchase the product of its projects, if necessary, in the event market conditions preclude private sale. Chapter VI: State Legislation - Requires Member States, upon joining the Corporation, to enact legislation: (1) assuring decisions within 90 days of application on request for permits required for Corporation projects; (2) exempting the property, income and operations of the Corporation from State and local taxation; and (3) specifying that insofar as the provisions of any State, general, special, or local law may be inconsistent with this Act, the provisions of this Act and the legislation enacted under this Chapter are controlling. Chapter VII: Miscellaneous - Specifies terms of construction and separability of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Independent Local Newspaper Act - Amends the Internal Revenue to promote the survival of independent newspapers by providing for the establishment of tax exempt trusts for paying estate taxes on such papers, and by postponing the payment of estate taxes on such papers.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
White House Conference on the Arts Act - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on the Arts, to be held by December 31, 1979, to assist in developing a climate wherein the arts can flourish. Establishes a National Conference Planning Council on the Arts to plan and conduct such Conference. Requires the Council to submit a report on such Conference to the President. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council, with the approval of Council members, to make grants to States to defray the costs of participating in the Conference program. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
White House Conference on the Humanities Act - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on the Humanities. Establishes a Presidentially appointed National Planning Council on the Humanities to conduct the Conference. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council, with Council approval, to make a grant to each State to defray the cost of State participation in the Conference. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1977
Authorizes the chairman of the Committee on House Administration to employ a special counsel to intervene in the action of Atkins against the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
White House Conference on the Humanities Act - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on the Humanities. Establishes a Presidentially appointed National Planning Council on the Humanities to conduct the Conference. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council, with Council approval, to make a grant to each State to defray the cost of State participation in the Conference. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1977
Directs the payment of funds for standing and select committees of the House of Representatives for the period beginning January 3, 1978, and ending March 31, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1977
Declares it the sense of the Congress that the President direct the United States delegation to the Belgrade Conference to place the issue of the arrest, trial, and conviction of Mykola Rudenko and Oleska Tykhy before the Conference.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1977
Veterans' Educational Equity Act - Provides for payment of a supplemental tuition allowance to each qualified veteran upon application to the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs. Extends the delimiting period for completing a veteran's education program for up to two years if at the close of the ordinary ten-year delimiting period the veteran is enrolled in a program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1977
Amends the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to certain cities or townships for construction of local public works projects. Sets forth limitations on the amount of such grants. Authorizes the appropriation of $196,927,000 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1977
Urges the International Whaling Commission to adopt a ten-year moratorium on the commercial killing of whales, and to undertake the management of unprotected, small cetacean. Encourages specified nations to comply voluntarily with a ten-year moratorium on such killing, as endorsed by the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Labor Reform Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to increase the size of the National Labor Relations Board to seven members and the terms of Board members to seven years. Revises Board quorum requirements to reflect such increased membership. Directs the Board to establish procedures pursuant to which a quorum of a designated three-member group may summarily affirm a decision of an administrative law judge regarding an alleged unfair labor practice. Revises criteria for organizations which may represent guards to allow designation of an organization which represents nonguard employees of other employers. Sets forth procedures for expedited selection of bargaining representatives where an employee, group of employees, or representative thereof files a petition stating that (1) a majority of employees in an appropriate bargaining unit has designated a representative which the employer refuses to recognize and (2) there is no representative currently certified or recognized with respect to any employees in the bargaining unit. Denies for a three-year period, unless there is no alternative source, public contracts to persons willfully violating final orders regarding unfair labor practices. Specifies damages available to employees when (1) there is employer discrimination based on union membership resulting in deprivation of employment during certain periods or (2) there is an unlawful refusal to bargain prior to entry into a first bargaining contract.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited credit against the income tax for contributions of the taxpayer's literary, musical or artistic compositions to certain tax exempt organizations. Limits the credit allowed for any one year to the amount of tax on past gross income attributable to the sale of such compositions. Disallows any credit for letters, memoranda, or similar property relating to the duties of any governmental office held by the taxpayer when they were composed. Limits the credit taken in any taxable year to the greater of $2,500 or 50 percent of the taxpayer's income tax liability for the year. Disallows a credit to the extent that the total value of contribution exceeds $35,000. Allows a five-year carry-over of any credit disallowed by the previous two limitations. Requires that the donee certify to the taxpayer that the contribution is material of literary, artistic or musical significance and its use will be related to the purpose upon which the donee's tax exempt status is based.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Declares that the President should establish a Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition which should: (1) collect and generate information and resources on food, hunger, malnutrition and related concerns; (2) assess current programs affecting domestic and international hunger and malnutrition; (3) analyze and report its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the public; and (4) assist the President and the Congress in implementing its recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1977
White House Conference on the Arts Act - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on the Arts, to be held by December 31, 1979, to assist in developing a climate wherein the arts can flourish. Establishes a National Conference Planning Council on the Arts to plan and conduct such Conference. Requires the Council to submit a report on such Conference to the President. Authorizes the Chairman of the Council, with the approval of Council members, to make grants to States to defray the costs of participating in the Conference program. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1977
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to repeal the duty imposed on articles assembled abroad with components produced in the United States.
![Official portrait of Rep. Thompson, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000200_200.jpg)