United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide identical income tax rates for single persons and married couples filing joint returns. Limits the earned income that must be reported by a married individual filing a separate return to the amount actually earned by that individual.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to transfer the responsibility for investigating Communist and subversive organizations affecting the internal security of the United States to a standing Committee on Internal Security established by this Resolution. Confers upon such committee the responsibility for investigating all organizations within the United States aimed at overthrowing or altering the Government of the United States by force, insurrection or other unlawful means or inciting or employing violence to obstruct the authority of the Federal Government with respect to matters of internal security of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1977
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to extend the coverage of such Act to individuals 65 or over, and to make unlawful seniority systems and employee benefit plans which require the retirement of individuals 40 or over.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1977
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives: (1) that the Soviet Union permit free emigration of Soviet Jews and others, (2) that the Soviet Union permit the free exercise of religious beliefs and cultural expression, and (3) that the Congress supports "Solidarity Sunday."
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1977
Child Abuse Prevention Act - Prohibits the sexual exploitation of children by making it unlawful for any individual to (1) cause or permit a child to be photographed or filmed engaged in a sexual act prohibited under this Act; (2) photograph or film a prohibited sexual act; (3) knowingly transport any film or photograph depicting a prohibited sexual act; or (4) receive for sale or sell any such film or photograph, if such individual knows or should know such film or photograph has or may be transported in such a manner as to affect interstate or foreign commerce. Imposes a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years for a violation of the sexual exploitation of children provisions of this Act. Imposes a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 15 years for a violation of the transportation of photographs and films of children engaged in sexual acts provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1977
Child Abuse Prevention Act - Prohibits the sexual exploitation of children by making it unlawful for any individual to (1) cause or permit a child to be photographed or filmed engaged in a sexual act prohibited under this Act; (2) photograph or film a prohibited sexual act; (3) knowingly transport any film or photograph depicting a prohibited sexual act; or (4) receive for sale or sell any such film or photograph, if such individual knows or should know such film or photograph has or may be transported in such a manner as to affect interstate or foreign commerce. Imposes a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years for violation of the sexual exploitation of children provisions of this Act. Imposes a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 15 years for a violation of the transportation of photographs and films of children engaged in sexual acts provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Veterans' Administration Administrative Procedure and Judicial Review Act - Provides that the decisions of the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs on any question of law or fact under any law administered by the Veterans' Administration providing benefits for veterans and their dependents or survivors shall be subject to judicial review. Subjects all rules regulations, orders and any other determination of any kind made by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. Repeals the requirement that the Administrator determine and pay fees to agents or attorneys in allowed claims for monetary benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Directs district courts to award court costs to prevailing individual parties in civil actions where (1) an action is brought by the United States or agent thereof and the court finds that bringing of the action constituted harassment or (2) the court finds that the conduct of the United States or agent thereof which gave use to the action constituted harassment. Directs the Tax Court to award costs to individual taxpayers who substantially prevail in a proceeding for redetermination of a deficiency.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to extend the coverage of such Act to individuals 65 or over, and to make unlawful seniority systems and employee benefit plans which require the retirement of individuals 40 or over.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to prohibit any cost-of-living adjustments to the salaries of Senators and Representatives which take effect before October 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Internal Revenue Administration Act - Establishes the Internal Revenue Administration in the executive branch of the Federal Government for the purpose of administering and enforcing the Internal Revenue Code. Prescribes the terms and conditions of office for the Administrator of the Internal Revenue Administration. Transfers all present functions, instructions, rules, or regulations which were promulgated or administered by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate with respect to the enforcement of the Internal Revenue Code, to the Internal Revenue Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act by removing the limitation upon the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase from one-twelfth of one percent to five-ninths of one percent the increment by which an individual's old-age benefits shall be increased because of delayed retirement beyond age 65.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1977
Title I: Survey and Certification, Rate-Setting and Audit, and General Regulation of Long Term Care Facilities Under Medicaid Programs - Directs that State plans under Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act must provide that no skilled nursing facility may receive payments under such plan unless and until it is approved to receive payments under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Requires the State plan to give the State agency the power to terminate reimbursement to a skilled nursing or intermediate care facility which such agency has found has violated its provider agreement. States that payment of the skilled nursing facility and intermediate care facility services shall be based upon a prospective cost based method of computation in which the audited costs of rendering service in such facilities in a prior year is updated through the use of economic indices to the year in which payment is made. Requires that any skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility receiving payments under such plan be required to maintain with the State agency a bond in such amount, under such terms, and in such form as the State agency may direct. Title II: Medical, Psychological, and Social Assessment of Patients In Need of Long Term Care under Medicare and Medicaid Programs - Directs that payments for services furnished an individual may be made only to eligible providers of services and only if a physician certifies that such services are necessary, based on such patient assessment criteria as the Secretary may require.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1977
National Home Health Care Act - Broadens the coverage of home health services under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and removes the 100-visit limitation presently applicable to the home health service program. Extends the coverage of posthospital home health services to include payment for items and services which the individual could otherwise obtain in a skilled nursing facility. Amends Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require the inclusion of home health services in a State's Medicaid program and permit the payment of rent under such program for elderly and handicapped persons who would otherwise require nursing home care. Provides expanded Federal funding for congregate housing for the displaced and the elderly by increasing the amount available for such housing under the low-income housing program. Establishes, in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a Home Health Patient Ombudsman, who shall be appointed and provided with adequate staff and facilities by the Secretary. Makes it the duty and responsibility of the ombudsman to monitor specified programs under the Social Security and the various medical assistance programs under the State plans approved pursuant to such Act, and to maintain such oversight of those programs and their operation and administration as may be necessary to: (1) assure that home health patients under such programs are receiving the care to which they are entitled: (2) provide safeguards against over-charging for home health services; (3) identify abuses against home health patients; (4) receive, handle, and expedite complaints by home health patients; (5) recommend to the Secretary any changes in the regulations affecting home health services which may appear necessary or desirable; and (6) take appropriate action (including the transmission of findings to the Attorney General) with respect to abuses and violations of law affecting the provision or receipt of home health services under such programs. Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to conduct a study and report to the Congress on the feasibility of extending to the Medicare program the prospective cost-related method of computing payments to nursing homes and home health agencies which is currently provided under the Medicaid program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Grants to the Administrator of the Federal Grain Inspection Service, under the United States Grain Standards Act, discretion as to the subjects and processes about which he shall require appropriate agencies and persons to maintain complete and accurate records with respect to the official inspection and official weighing of grain. Repeals the requirement that the State and other official and State agencies designated to perform inspection or weighing functions pay fees to the Administrator to cover the costs of the direct supervision of personnel of such agencies by the field office personnel of the Federal Grain Inspection Service. Authorizes appropriations to cover such costs. Establishes a 12 member advisory committee to advise the Administrator with respect to the implementation of the United States Grain Standards Act of 1976. Requires such committee to terminate 18 months after the enactment of this Act. Makes numerous technical amendments to the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended by the United States Grain Standards Act of 1976, including: (1) deleting the general exception to the provision limiting the number of official agencies for inspection or weighing to one for any geographic area; (2) authorizing the Administrator to make exceptions to the general prohibition against the official inspection of grain samples not physically located within the geographical area assigned to an official agency; and (3) limiting the performance of appeal weighing to employees of the Federal Grain Inspection Service. Prohibits any person from knowingly making any false representation that any weighing service under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended, has been performed with respect to grain. Prohibits any person acting under a license or authorization to perform official functions under the United States Grain Standards Act from certifying or stating in writing or performing any analysis to determine: (1) the subclass of Hard Red Winter wheat on the basis of color or on the basis of the dark, hard, and vitreous kernel content; or (2) the percentage of dark, hard, and vitreous kernels in Hard Red Winter Wheat.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit any expenditure to an individual to the extent to which an entity (other than a member of the individual's family) would be liable for payment for such care and services but for a provision of a contract or a State law which has the effect of limiting or excluding such liability because the individual is eligible or entitled to receive care or services under the plan. Provides that a lien may be imposed by the State against the estate of a deceased individual after the death of his surviving spouse, on account of medical assistance paid or to be paid on his behalf under Title XIX.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment under the supplementary medical insurance program for one comprehensive physical examination a year, dental care including dentures, eye examinations including eyeglasses, hearing aids including examination, treatment of foot conditions. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to take steps to eliminate unnecessary or excessive medical appliance expenditures under the Medicare program by implementing appliance leasing, auditing of medical appliance manufacturers and providers, and by cross-referencing prevailing medical appliance rates. Includes under the term "medical appliance" hearing aids, eyeglasses, dentures, and similar health aids. States that the Federal Trade Commission should continue and increase scrutiny of the medical appliance industries in the interest of consumer protection. States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare should provide increased assistance to encourage the continuing education and training of hearing specialists, clinical audiologists, and physicians to improve the quality of hearing care, and to encourage the provision by State local governments of more and better hearing care for the elderly, including a network of examination and treatment sites.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Health Revenue Sharing and Health Services Act to permit the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants and loans for the initial costs of establishing and operating home health agencies and for expansion of their services. Permits the Secretary to make grants to educational institutions and other public and nonprofit private entities for programs for the training of guidance counselors, social workers, nurses, geriatric specialists, and other home health services personnel. Authorizes the appropriation of specified amounts for fiscal year 1977 for the purpose of making such grants. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include within its medical coverage: (1) preventive health care, including an annual comprehensive physical examination of older individuals, and diagnostic services; (2) hearing aids, foot care, dental care, and vision aids (including hearing and vision examinations for older individuals); (3) care and services provided by outpatient clinics for the elderly; (4) nutritional counseling; (5) professional guidance and counseling for aged and disabled individuals living alone at home; (6) periodic chore services; and (7) hospital outreach services. Revises such Act to require State comprehensive medical plans to include provisions for intermediate care facility services. Charges the Professional Standards Review Organization with the same responsibility for review of health care services in the case of skilled nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, and other long-term care providers as now required with respect to hospitals. Permits the Secretary to make grants to States to assist them in funding specified demonstration and pilot projects to determine the effectiveness of various home health and supportive services. Permits the Secretary to make grants to political subdivisions of States to enable them to conduct annual health fairs through which individuals over age 60 would be provided free medical checkups. Authorizes the Secretary to make demonstration grants to help meet the cost of establishing and operating private nonprofit entities to provide community care to persons over age 65. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to political subdivisions of States to enable them to establish and operate programs to provide mobile health facilities to persons over age 60. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require that a minimum of $20,000,000 be obligated for grants and contracts for emergency medical services systems for the elderly.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to provide that any patient of a nursing home or intermediate care facility which is participating in the hospital insurance program under Title XVIII (Medicare) or Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act shall have the right to terminate any contract entered into for his or her care in such a facility upon giving the facility at least 30 days written notice. Prohibits such a facility from requiring any patient to turn over to it any periodic benefit check or other income received after the patient has given such notice.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Long-Term Care Services Act - Amends Title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to authorize the establishment of an experimental program to provide in-home care for elderly individuals. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to subsidize families who agree to care for their dependents who are 65 years of age or older and who would otherwise require, because of physical or mental infirmities, the services of a skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility, in their own homes. Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for elderly day care center services under the supplementary medical insurance program. Directs the Secretary to institute a program under which qualified organizations, public and private, will submit plans for the development of carefully conceived and innovative projects to meet the special health care, housing, and related needs of elderly persons in a campus-type setting. Authorizes the Secretary to make interest subsidy payments to holders of mortgages covering such projects. Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure mortgages secured by properties in projects built pursuant to this Act. Amends Title XVIII to provide payment for extended and intermediate care services under the supplementary medical insurance program. Amends Title XVIII to provide for the creation of an alternative reimbursement formula which will allow participating hospitals with less than 100 beds and less than 60 percent average occupancy to provide long-term care without applying proportional allocation of overhead costs to all patients in such facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Appropriates $7,000,000 out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated as an additional amount for carrying out the home health services provisions of the Health Revenue Sharing and Health Services Act. Appropriates specified sums, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for making multipurpose senior center grants under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Geriatric Health Personnel Training Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act (Health Research and Teaching Facilities and Training of Professional Health Personnel) to authorize the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to grant $500,000 for each of six schools of medicine to assist in the establishment and operation of departments of geriatrics. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to assist schools of medicine in the establishment and operation of continuing education programs in geriatrics for physicians. Authorizes the appropriation of $2,500,000 for fiscal year 1978, and $5,000,000 for each of the next three fiscal years to enable the Secretary to make grants to schools of medicine to assist in developing and conducting training programs designed to prepare armed forces veterans, with appropriate experience as paramedical personnel, to serve as medical assistants in long-term health care facilities. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts with public or nonprofit colleges and universities for the development of graduate programs for nurses in geriatrics and gerontology. Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice for an employer to discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee who has testified before any congressional committee or any governmental agency or department.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Older Americans Health Services Act - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to specify the amounts authorized to be appropriated in fiscal year 1978 for purposes of informational exchange on the subject of retraining programs for older Americans. Allows the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants under such Act to cover the cost of administering and operating multipurpose senior centers. Declares the sense of Congress that any Federal legislation establishing a national health insurance program should include specified provisions relating to the availability of home health services for older persons.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Nursing Home Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize a deduction for amounts paid during the taxable year by the taxpayer for nursing home expenses for an individual if such individual is a dependent of the taxpayer in all respects except the receipt of at least half of his support from such taxpayer. Permits the payment of supplemental security income to residents in nonmedical shelter care facilities in any State if such State certifies that the residents are ambulatory, needing only minimum supervision, and that the amount of State supplementation is not less than $100 per resident per month. Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to redefine the term "skilled nursing facility" to require that such facilities, in order to qualify under Title XVIII, provide the services set forth in this Act. Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to conduct a review of State plans approved under Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act at least once a year to determine each State's compliance with and the quality of the administration of its plan. Directs the Secretary to establish a rating system for nursing homes participating in the programs under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act. States that whoever shall offer, solicit, receive, or accept any consideration as compensation or inducement for referring patients, clients, or customers to any person for purposes of Titles XVIII and XIX shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Requires nursing facilities to provide a program to insure the integrity of patients' accounts, moneys, or valuables and to insure that they are not mingled with those belonging to the facility. Specifies that the Secretary shall pay to the States an amount equal to 100 percent of the sums expended in the enactment of, conversion to, and enforcement of, new enforcement tools short of nursing home licensure revocation. Allows beneficiaries to bring suit for specific performance in any Federal district court without reference to the $10,000 jurisdictional amount. Authorizes the Secretary to make loans to any nonprofit organization, church, or association of churches to meet all or a part of the cost of construction or rehabilitation of a home which will be owned and operated by such church, organization, or association. Authorizes the Secretary to make interest reduction payments under specified circumstances with respect to a mortgage covering repair or rehabilitation of a nursing home in order to correct physical deficiencies and comply with Federal minimum standards. Establishes a program of grants to any church, association of churches, or other nonprofit organization to meet all or part of the cost of planning, developing, constructing, or rehabilitating a nursing home owned by such entity in black and other minority areas where there is a demonstrated shortage of nursing home beds. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President submit to the Congress an action plan which would provide a suitable multiagency plan for dealing with nursing home abuses. Authorizes the President to call a White House Conference on Long-Term Care in 1978, in order to develop recommendations for action in establishing a national policy with respect to the needs of disabled Americans with primary emphasis on the physically and mentally impaired aged.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Removes the limitation on the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving benefits under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Authorizes a tax deduction, under the Internal Revenue Code, for any taxpayer who contributes the right to use any real property owned by the taxpayer to a tax-exempt organization for use by a multipurpose senior citizen center or outpatient geriatric clinic. Limits such deduction to 50 percent of the lesser of (1) the fair market rental value of such property or (2) the amount of State or local property taxes which are paid or incurred by the taxpayer and which are allocable to such property.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the charitable deduction allowed for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle shall include the depreciation, operation and maintenance costs allocable to such operation and shall be determined in the same manner as for a business related deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the National Housing Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to give special emphasis to insuring mortgages covering group practice facilities or medical practice facilities which are to be used primarily for the purpose of providing preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services to elderly outpatients. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act to entitle a grant recipient to an additional grant for the construction or maintenance of a senior center providing recreational, health, and nutritional services, regardless of whether such centers offer housing facilities. Directs the Secretary to prescribe eligibility requirements for block grants for senior centers. Redefines the term intermediate care facilities for purposes of the National Housing Act to include facilities that permit day health care services to the extent necessary to serve the needs of elderly persons served by the facility.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the excise tax, buses purchased by tax exempt organizations or by other persons for exclusive use in furnishing transportation for a State or local government or a tax exempt organization (currently, transportation must be limited to students and employees of schools).
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Medicare Long-Term Care Act - Repeals existing provisions for post-hospital home health services under Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Establishes, within the hospital insurance program of such Title, a program of long-term care benefits to be provided for aged and disabled individuals including all recipients of supplemental security income benefits and to be financed without additional cost to such individuals, through the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, from funds appropriated by the Federal Government. States that the benefits provided to an individual by such program shall consist of: (1) home health services; (2) homemaker services; (3) nutrition services; (4) long-term institutional care services; (5) day care and foster home services; and (6) community mental health center outpatient services. Requires that, to the maximum extent possible, such benefits shall be provided by or through community long-term care centers, as defined in this Act; and, in any case where a State has an agency which performs the functions of planning and developing such centers and overseeing their operation the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall make grants to the State or State agency to reimburse it for expenses incurred in the performance of such functions. Directs the Secretary to pay 75 percent of the amount expended by a State for the operation of a State long-term care agency. Enumerates the functions of such an agency. Declares that a community long-term care center shall: (1) provide the items and services listed in this Act to each individual (i) who is eligible for benefits under this part, (ii) who resides in the area served by such center and (iii) who is certified as requiring such services; (2) evaluate and certify the long-term care needs of an individual for whom such care may be required in order to maintain such individual in an independent living arrangement which is reasonable given such individual's state of health and other circumstances (but not including such individual's economic circumstances); (3) maintain a continuous relationship with (and periodically evaluate not less than annually) each individual who is receiving any of the items and services listed in this Act; (4) provide full opportunity for such individual and his family to participate in the determinations and functions under this Act; (5) provide an organized system for making its existence and location known to all individuals in its service area who are eligible for benefits under this part, and for making known to such individuals the method or methods by which they may most efficiently obtain and use the services which it makes available; and (6) perform such other functions as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may by regulation prescribe in order to have such center most effectively carry out the purposes of this Act. Defines terms used in this Act, including the services to be provided by community long-term care centers. Directs the Secretary to develop and promulgate to community long-term care centers one or more methods of obtaining payment for the benefits covered under this Act. Requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations setting forth the standards of care for homemaker and nutritional services. Establishes the Federal Advisory Council on Long-Term Care. Sets forth the qualifications of the five members of such Council. States that it shall be the duty and function of the Council to provide advice and recommendations for the consideration of the Secretary on regulations under this Act and on matters of general policy with respect to this Act. States that no regulations of the Secretary under this Act shall become effective unless they have first been approved by the Council. States that the determination of whether an individual is entitled to benefits under this shall be made by the Secretary in accordance with regulations prescribed by him. Authorizes the appropriation to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund of such sums as the Secretary considers necessary for any fiscal year for the purposes of the program created by this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts with institutions to meet the cost of training programs in the techniques and methods of providing long-term health care.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require automatic sprinkler systems in all skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities certified for participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs unless a waiver of such requirement is granted in accordance with conditions set forth in this Act. Establishes a program of low-interest Federal loans to assist such facilities in constructing or purchasing and installing automatic sprinkler systems.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to reallot unused social services funds to States which will use such funds during the succeeding year in preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care, or other forms of less intensive care. Allocates additional Federal matching for multipurpose senior center programs. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to clarify and standardize the eligibility requirements applicable to the provision of assistance to multipurpose senior centers.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to add the following new title: Title VI - Legal Assistance for the Elderly in Connection with Home Health Services. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to make grants to public or nonprofit private agencies or organizations for the purpose of providing legal assistance to individuals who are 60 years of age or older and who are unable to afford legal assistance in connection with their eligibility for home health care pursuant to Title XVIII (Medicare), Title XIX (Medicaid), and Title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act. Directs that preference in awarding grants under this title shall be given to national organizations of proven ability in providing legal services to individuals 60 years of age or older.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Establishes within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare a Home Health Clearinghouse. Directs such Clearinghouse to establish and maintain a computer system to gather information on services and benefits available to the elderly through public and private agencies. Directs the Clearinghouse to publish and keep current a publication describing services and benefits available to the elderly under Federal law. Creates in the Department an Assistant Secretary for Elderly Health, to perform specified duties, including the coordination of Department policy relating to the health of the elderly and coordination of the interagency task force on long-term home and institutional care of the elderly.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to remove the limit of 100 visits which applies to post-hospital home health services. Drops the requirement that the home health care provided be of the same kind as provided in prior hospitalization. Eliminates the requirement that a physician review the home health care plan and that the patient be under the care of a physician. Requires that such functions be done by the appropriate health professional under regulation of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Extends Medicare coverage to include periodic chore services, hospital outreach services, nutritional counseling, health and supportive services furnished in elderly day care centers, and expansion of professional standard review organization review functions. Requires the Secretary to establish a review plan which is adapted to meet the non-institutional nature of home health services. Extends Medicare coverage only to those outpatient rehabilitation services which are certified by a physician as being required.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1977
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to eliminate age limitations with respect to the requirement that all personnel actions affecting employees or applicants for employment in Federal agencies, the United States Postal Service, or the District of Columbia government be taken without regard to such employees' or applicants' age.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1977
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act - Authorizes the appropriation of designated sums to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for research and development programs, construction of facilities including land acquisition, and research and program management. Permits utilization of research and development appropriations for (1) items of a capital nature which may be required at locations other than installations of the Administration for the performance of research and development contracts, and (2) grants to nonprofit institutions of higher education, or to nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is the conduct of scientific research for purchase or construction of additional research facilities. Sets forth guidelines regarding the use and availability of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act. Specifies that certain authorizations for appropriations to the Administration under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act 1976 and 1977, for which appropriations have not been made, shall expire on the date of enactment of this Act. Specifies procedures whereby amounts designated for specific programs may be varied upward, and whereby up to one half of one percent of the funds appropriated for research and development may be combined with $10,000,000 of funds appropriated for facility construction to construct or modify laboratories or other installations deemed by the Administration to be immediately needed. Prohibits utilization of sums appropriated pursuant to this Act for (1) any research or management program in excess of the amount specifically authorized for that program, (2) any program deleted by Congress for requests originally made, or (3) any program which has not been presented to either the House Committee on Science and Technology or the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences unless each such Committee has been given notice of any such proposed action and transmits written notice to the Administration that it has no objection. Directs the Administration to consider geographical distribution whenever feasible in allocating its research and development funds. Authorizes the Administration, when so provided in appropriation Acts, to enter into and to maintain a contract for tracking and data relay satellite services.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1977
Establishes a two-year, seven-member advisory committee to advise the Administrator of the Federal Grain Inspection Service with respect to the implementation of the United States Grain Standards Act of 1976. Amends such Act to repeal the requirement that the State and other official agencies designated to perform inspection or weighing functions pay fees to the Administrator to cover the costs of the direct supervision of personnel of such agencies by the field office personnel of the Federal Grain Inspection Service. Authorizes appropriations to cover such supervisory costs. Amends such Act relative to recordkeeping. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, within six months of the effective date of this Act, to review certain recordkeeping provisions of Federal law and the regulations of the Commodity Credit Corporation as they apply to grain elevators, warehouses or other grain storage and handling facilities. Directs the Secretary, on the basis of such review, to establish a single system for recordkeeping by such facilities that will meet the requirements of such regulations and the law.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1977
Privacy Protection for Rape Victims Act - Amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to prohibit in cases of rape or assault with intent to rape the introduction of reputation or opinion evidence of a person's past sexual behavior. Permits the introduction of evidence of specific instances of a person's past sexual behavior only if such evidence is offered by the accused and is either: (1) on the issue of whether the accused was the source of pregnancy, disease, semen, or injury; or (2) on the issue of whether the alleged victim consented to the sexual behavior with respect to which the crime is alleged and restricted to the victim's past sexual relations with the defendant. Requires an accused who intends to introduce any such evidence to make a written motion to the court accompanied by a written offer of proof. Directs the court to hold a hearing on any such motion in chambers to determine admissibility.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1977
Entitles all veterans of the Mexican border period and of World War I, and their widows and children, to pensions on the same basis as veterans of the Spanish-American War and their widows and children, regardless of whether a veteran was disabled or receiving disability compensation, and regardless of income level.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1977
National Climate Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate the establishment and operation of a Federal climate program for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data concerning climatic States and the influence of human activities on climatic dynamics. Empowers the Secretary to establish advisory committees to be composed of experts in climatology and related fields and of representatives of interested Federal departments to more effectively carry out the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to coordinate the activities of the climate program with related Federal programs and with climate research programs of international organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer funds and make grants to governmental bodies and educational and nonprofit institutions to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires the Secretary to prepare and submit each year to the Office of Management and Budget an updated five-year plan and request for appropriations thereunder for the climate program for such fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to annually prepare and submit to the President for transmittal to the Congress a report on the administration of this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of funds to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1977
Export Administration Amendments - Title I: Export Administration Improvements and Extension - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to extend the authority granted by such Act to September 30, 1978. Requires that appropriations to carry out the Export Administration Act of 1969 be specifically authorized by Congress for each fiscal year after October 1, 1977. Authorizes the appropriation of $8,000,000 to the Department of Commerce to carry out this Act. Revises the criteria for imposition of export controls for national security purposes. Eliminates the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to assign priority to such controls. Revises the authority of the President to impose export controls for national security purposes without regard to the availability of the controlled articles from sources other than the United States in order to require the President to predicate the imposition of controls on articles available from other sources upon a determination that absence of such a control would be detrimental to the national security of the United States. Revises the policy for control of exports for national security purposes under such Act to redefine "controlled country" as a country to which exports are restricted for national security or foreign policy purposes. Amends such Act to permit agricultural commodities purchased by or for a foreign country to remain in the United States free of quantitative limitations on exports relating to domestic supply and inflationary impact, upon approval by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, and under regulations for such export which the Secretary of Commerce is herein authorized to issue. Permits Congressional disapproval of any action by the President under such regulations to prohibit or curtail agricultural exports. Specifies that any export license application under such Act shall be deemed approved within 90 days of its receipt unless disapproved or unless the applicant is notified that additional time is required for the decision. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to require persons agreeing to transfer technical data or other information to any controlled country to furnish information with respect to such agreement to the Secretary of Commerce, under regulations promulgated to monitor the effects of such transfers. Directs the Secretary to study technical data exports and their effects upon the national security or foreign policy of the United States, and to submit a report of such study to Congress. Amends such Act to exclude petroleum products refined in United States foreign-trade zones, or Guam, from foreign crude oil export controls to prevent excessive drain of scarce materials except if the Secretary of Commerce finds that such products are in short supply and issues regulations herein authorized to limit such exports. Prohibits the exportation of horses by sea for slaughter. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to account for technical assistance and technical advisory committees in semiannual reports to Congress under such Act. Requires the Secretary to review regulations under such Act in order to report to Congress on simplification of such regulations. Increases the terms of persons on such committees. Increases the fine for violations of such Act to $25,000 for the first offense and to $50,000 for a subsequent offense. Increases the fine for prohibited exports to Communist-dominated nations to $50,000. Increases the civil penalty for such violation of such Act to $10,000. Permits suspension of the payment of export licensing penalties for a probationary period. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to stipulate that such Act shall not be construed as authority for withholding information from Congress. Requires the President to make every reasonable effort to reduce aid to international terrorists before resorting to export controls for that purpose. Amends the requirements for reports to Congress and to the President under such Act by appropriate departments or agencies to specify information to be included in such reports and to require semiannual rather than quarterly reports. Requires a special report to Congress by the President on multilateral export controls, and a special report to Congress by the Secretary of Commerce with respect to modification of unilateral and multilateral export control lists. Requires any employee of the Department of Commerce performing functions under the Export Administration Act to disclose interests affected by such Act. Imposes civil penalties for violation of this requirement. Title II: Foreign Boycotts - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to direct the President to promulgate regulations: (1) to prohibit any United States person from supporting any boycott by a foreign country against any country friendly to the United States; and (2) to require the reporting of requests for such compliance to the Secretary of Commerce. Permits the suspension or revocation of the authority of any United States person to export as a penalty for violation of such regulations. Title III: Exports of Nuclear Material and Technology - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to regulate the export of nuclear material, equipment, and devices. Requires any agreement for such export to meet specified criteria with respect to reprocessing provisions and inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Directs the Secretary of State to seek inclusion of such requirements in agreements made prior to this Act and to seek periodic reports on the status of inventories of plutonium, U-233, and enriched uranium possessed under such agreements by non-nuclear weapons parties which are not subject to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Prohibits issuance of nuclear export licenses unless the recipient country has agreed that such export will not be used for any nuclear explosive device. Specifies conditions under which nuclear materials, exported under such agreements, may be reprocessed. Declares the sense of Congress that the President should seek international agreements regulating the use and transfer of nuclear materials. Requires the President to study the extent to which United States training of foreign nationals in nuclear engineering and related fields contributes to nuclear proliferation. Prohibits the use of funds authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for the construction, operation, or supply of nuclear powerplants.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1977
Amends Titles XVIII (Medicare) and II (Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that eligible drugs, requiring a physician's prescription or certification, shall be included among the items and services covered under the hospital insurance program for the aged at a specified amount of payment. States that the reasonable allowance for eligible drugs furnished an individual pursuant to any one prescription and purchased by such individual at any one time shall be reduced by an amount equal to the applicable prescription copayment obligation which shall be $1. Establishes, within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a Medicare Formulary Committee to compile and publish a Formulary listing the drugs deemed qualified for benefits under this Act, together with maximum allowable costs and additional information concerning such drugs. Makes provisions for selecting drugs for the Formulary.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1977
Foreign Boycotts Act - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to repeal the authority of the President to allocate a portion of export licenses on factors other than exportation history to effectuate the United States policy against foreign boycotts. Declares it the policy of the United States: (1) to oppose foreign restrictive trade practices or boycotts against domestic concerns; and (2) to prohibit participation of domestic concerns in such boycotts. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate regulations which: (1) require a domestic concern requested to participate in such boycott to so notify the Secretary; (2) prohibit furnishing information regarding race, religion, sex, or national origin of a concern's employees or shareholders where such information will effectuate such a boycott; and (3) prohibit refusing to do business with a domestic concern or country friendly to the United States or national thereof pursuant to such restrictive trade practice or boycott. Imposes a civil penalty of $10,000 for violation of this Act. Authorizes any person aggrieved by violation of this Act to bring a civil action for treble damages. Requires reports to the President and Congress under the Export Administration Act of 1969 to describe the impact of such boycotts upon the American economy. Excludes certain provisions of this Act from the termination of the Export Administration Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1977
Older Persons Comprehensive Counseling Assistance Act - Title I: General Provisions - Directs the United States Commissioner on Aging, through the National Information Resource Clearing House for the Aging, to collect, analyze, and disseminate information related to counseling services for older persons. Title II: Counseling Assistance Programs - Requires each State desiring a grant under this Act to submit a comprehensive State plan for providing counseling assistance to the elderly, such plan to conform to specified criteria. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to States having approved plans, such grants to be distributed to area agencies on aging for counseling assistance programs for the elderly on the basis of statewide needs and priorities. Permits the use of grants to fund counseling assistance outreach programs, preretirement counseling programs, career counseling assistance programs, referral services, community activities, and counseling for families of sick and disabled senior citizens. Enumerates requirements for State programs and for State training and retraining programs for counseling personnel. Directs the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to contract with postsecondary education institutions and area agencies on aging for the purpose of providing needed training and retraining of counseling personnel. Directs the Commissioner on Aging to carry out a program of demonstration and evaluation for specified purposes, including: (1) identification of existing effective practices in counseling older persons; (2) identification of areas where further development is needed; and (3) development of model training programs for professional counselors.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1977
Regulatory Reform Act - Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan recommending reforms with respect to the regulation of: (1) energy, the environment, housing, and occupational health and safety by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1979; (2) transportation and communications by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1981; (3) banking and finance, international trade, and Government procurement by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1983; and (4) food, consumer health and safety, economic trade practices, and labor- management concerns by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1985. States that each such plan shall include recommendations for reform of such specified agencies and shall report on the cumulative impact of all Government regulatory activity reviewed, up to that date, on specific industry groupings. States that if the President fails to submit such plans by the specified dates, the Senate and House Committees on Government Operations shall draft their own plans to be submitted to Congress for action. Requires the Comptroller General and the Congressional Budget Office to, contemporaneously with the development of the President's plan, submit a report assessing the purpose, effects, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of each agency included in the plans submitted by the President. States that if no comprehensive regulatory reform legislation is enacted by August 1 of the year following the year in which a comprehensive plan has been submitted by the President, then all agencies affected thereby shall have no authority to issue any new rules not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if such reform is not enacted by October 1 of such year, such agency shall have no authority to enforce any rule not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if no such reform is enacted by December 31 of such year, such agency shall be terminated on such date. States that all rules of such terminated agency essential for preserving the public health and safety shall remain effective and shall be enforced by the Department of Justice. Requires the President to submit subsequent plans in the manner and in the order and frequency set forth by this Act every ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a refundable income tax credit for 50 percent of the wages paid new employees during the taxable years for work done in the United States. Limits the credit taken to $80,000. Limits the number of employees for whom credit may be taken to ten new employees, or the maximum number of employees paid by the taxpayer during the calendar quarter ending the previous June 30th, whichever number is less. Directs the Secretary to submit reports to Congress, in 1978 and 1980 assessing the impact of this credit.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1977
National Condominium Act - Establishes requirements for federally assisted condominium housing loans, including a statement by the developer to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development containing information concerning the nature of the project, and the owner's estimated operating costs and assurances of warranty, completion date, developer's responsibility for structural defects, and of owners' rights to form an association. Requires that recreation fees be stated separately from any other fees charged purchasers of dwelling units in the project. Establishes requirements to protect tenants in a leased-unit structure to be converted to condominium use, including assurances that tenants have received prior notice, a period of at least three months to decide whether or not to purchase their units and for those tenants renting under a lease, specific protection from eviction and abridgment of the lease. Requires developers to disclose to new purchasers operating costs, service benefits, and planned structure alterations. Requires a 15-day cancellation period. Requires the Secretary to publish a form for developers embodying provisions for all of the information required in such statement. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to State and local governments to help establish or expand offices or agencies to administer similar requirements and procedures. Sets forth penalties for the violation of this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Tonry, Richard A. [D-LA-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000310_200.jpg)