United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1979
Department of Education Organization Act - Title I: Findings and Purpose - Declares the purpose of this Act to be: (1) to strengthen the Federal commitment ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for every American; (2) to support more effectively States, localities and public and private institutions in carrying out their responsibilities for education; (3) to promote improvements in the quality and usefulness of education through federally supported research, evaluation, and the sharing of information; (4) to improve the management and efficiency of Federal education activities; (5) to increase the accountability of Federal education programs to the President, the Congress, and the public; (6) to encourage the involvement of the public, parents, and students in Federal education programs; (7) to improve the coordination of Federal education programs; and (8) to prohibit Federal control of education. Title II: Establishment of the Department - Establishes an executive department to be known as the Department of Education to be headed by a Secretary of Education. Establishes within such Department: (1) a position of Under Secretary of Education; (2) six Assistant Secretary positions; (3) an Office for Civil Rights headed by an Assistant Secretary; (4) an Office of Postsecondary Education headed by an Assistant Secretary; (5) an Office of Elementary and Secondary Education headed by an Assistant Secretary; (6) an Office of Educational Research and Improvement headed by an Assistant Secretary; (7) an office to administer functions relating to the education of overseas dependents of Department of Defense personnel; (8) a General Counsel; (9) an Office of Inspector General; (10) an Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Education to provide an educational forum and to promote better intergovernmental relations; and (11) an Interdepartmental Education Coordinating Committee to assure effective coordination of Federal educational programs and practices. Title III: Transfers - Transfers from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) educational functions and offices vested in: (1) the Assistant Secretary for Education; (2) the Education Division; (3) the Office for Civil Rights; (4) any statutory advisory committee or authority giving advice primarily concerning functions transferred under this Act; (5) the Institute of Museum Services; (6) the Advisory Council on Education Statistics; (7) the Federal Education Data Acquisition Council; and (8) certain functions of the Office of Inspector General. Transfers from HEW educational functions vested in the Secretary under: (1) the General Education Provisions Act; (2) the Emergency School Aid Act; (3) the Higher Education Act of 1965; (4) the Education Amendments of 1978; (5) the Act of August 30, 1898; (6) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (7) the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education Act; (8) the Environmental Education Act; (9) the National Defense Education Act of 1958; (10) the Education of the Handicapped Act; (11) the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act; (12) the Vocational Education Act of 1963; (13) certain provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964; (14) certain parts of the Public Health Service Act regarding student aid; (15) the Model Secondary School for the Deaf Act; (16) certain telecommunications grants under the Communications Act of 1934; and (17) certain provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. Transfers from HEW educational functions relating to Gallaudet College, Howard University, the American Printing House for the Blind, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Transfers to the Department of Education from the Departments of: (1) Labor, certain functions regarding migrant and seasonal farmworker employment and training programs under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973; (2) Defense, the administration and operation of overseas dependents schools under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978; (3) Justice, the student loan and grant programs known as the law enforcement education program and the law enforcement intern program under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; and (4) Housing and Urban Development, the administration of college housing loans under the Housing Act of 1950. Transfers to the Department of Education specified science education programs of the National Science Foundation. Title IV: Administrative Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to appoint and fix the salaries for the Department's employees in accordance with the Civil Service laws. Allows certain higher level appointments to be made by the Secretary without Civil Service Commission approval if the individual so appointed is transferred to the Department in connection with a transfer of functions under this Act. Grants rulemaking authority to the Secretary. Requires such rules to be in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act and specified provisions of the General Education Provisions Act. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) employ experts and consultants; (2) enter into contracts with public agencies and private persons and organizations; (3) provide technical advice to participants or potential participants in Departmental programs; (4) establish, maintain, alter, or discontinue field offices; (5) acquire and maintain schools, laboratories, and related facilities; (6) provide and maintain various facilities for employees and their dependents at remote locations; (7) utilize, with their consent, Federal, State, or foreign facilities; (8) acquire necessary copyrights and patents; (9) accept and utilize gifts and requests of real and personal property; (10) establish a working capital fund for administrative expenses; and (11) transfer funds within the Department. Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Congress concerning the Department's activities. Stipulates that such report include a statement of goals and priorities and an assessment of progress. Authorizes the appropriations of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act and additional functions that may be vested in the Department, to remain available until expended. Title V: Transitional, Savings, and Conforming Provisions - Redesignates the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare as the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Title VI: Effective Date and Interim Appointment - Directs that this Act shall take effect 180 days after the Secretary of Education takes office. Allows the President to make initial interim appointments to the Department of Education under specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1979
University and Small Business Patent Procedures Act - States that it is the objective of this Act to amend existing patent procedures to promote the marketing of inventions developed under federally supported research and development projects by nonprofit organizations and small business firms. Permits any such organization or firm to elect, within a reasonable amount of time, to retain title to such inventions. Permits Federal agencies which have supported such projects to retain title to inventions through their funding agreements in specified circumstances. Requires review of agency determinations that such circumstances exist by the Comptroller General and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the implementation of this Act by Federal agencies. Enumerates provisions which must be included in funding agreements between a Federal agency and a small business firm or nonprofit organization including provisions: (1) to insure the rights of the Federal Government under this Act; (2) to provide that the agency shall have a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable and paid-up license to use the invention; (3) to prohibit a nonprofit organization from assigning rights to the invention without the approval of the Federal agency; (4) to prohibit such an organization from granting exclusive rights from the earlier of five years from the first commercial use of the invention or eight years from the date of invention; and (5) to require such organizations to use their royalties and earnings to support scientific research or education. Authorizes a Federal agency to transfer or assign its rights, acquired from an agency employee as coinventor, to an inventor electing to acquire title to an invention. Empowers any Federal agency to require inventors or their assigns to grant licenses in order to: (1) achieve practical application of the invention in its field of use; (2) fulfill health or safety needs; (3) meet requirements for public use specified by Federal regulations; or (4) achieve participation by United States industry in the manufacture of an invention. Entitles the government to collect up to 50 percent of all net income above specified amounts received by a patent holder until government research funds have been repaid. Restricts the assignment and licensing of rights by patent holders to foreign owned or controlled firms unless such persons agree that any products embodying the subject invention or produced through the use of the subject invention will be manufactured substantially in the United States. Authorizes Federal agencies to withhold information on inventions from public disclosure. Specifies the authority of Federal agencies with respect to obtaining patents, promoting licensing of inventions, granting licenses, conducting market surveys, transferring custody of patents, and receiving funds. Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to promulgate regulations specifying the terms upon which any federally-owned invention may be licensed. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate a program for assisting Federal agencies in protecting and licensing federally-owned inventions. Sets forth the procedure whereby Federal agencies may grant exclusive or partially exclusive licenses in any invention covered by a federally-owned domestic patent or patent application. Prohibits licensing which lessens competition. Directs that small business firms be given preference in exclusive or partially exclusive licensing. Enumerates provisions which must be contained in any grant of a license by a Federal agency. Declares that this Act shall take precedence over any other Act in the disposition of inventions.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1979
Directs the determination and award by the court of all reasonable expenses incurred by the Klamath Indian Tribe because of a condemnation action brought by the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire all of such tribe's forest lands which such tribe's trustee is required to sell by the terms of its trust agreement and which are to become part of the Winema National Forest, Oregon.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
International Sugar Stabilization Act of 1979 - Title I: International Sugar Agreement, 1977 - Authorizes the President to implement the International Sugar Agreement by (1) regulating the entry of sugar from any country not a member of the International Sugar Organization and (2) requiring records and reports concerning the entry of sugar. Establishes criminal penalties for violating such regulations. Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report on the Agreement. Title II: Import Restrictions on Sugar - Establishes 15.25 cents per pound, raw value, as the price objective for domestic sugar during the 1978 sugar supply year. Sets forth the formula for determining the price objective for succeeding years. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to monitor the average daily price of sugar imports. Directs the Secretary to pay up to one-half cent per pound, raw value, to domestic producers and processors of sugar beets and sugarcane to assure a return of 15.75 cents per pound, raw value, during the 1978 sugar supply year (to be readjusted in succeeding years as the price objective is readjusted). Imposes a special import duty in the amount by which the average daily price for sugar imports is less than the price objective. Provides for the readjustment of such duties. Authorizes the President, on the recommendation of the Secretary, to: (1) impose special import duties on sugar-containing products; and (2) make any necessary adjustments in any special import duties. Requires the President to request an investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission to determine whether the entry of sugar-containing products is adversely affecting the achievement of the price objective before imposing any special import duty on such products unless it is an emergency. Requires the Secretary to impose quotas on sugar imports whenever the Secretary determines that the price objective will not be achieved by the special import duties alone. Directs the Secretary to periodically review and readjust such quotas. Prohibits the importation of more than 100 pounds of sugar annually into the Virgin Islands. Prohibits the exportation of certain sugar. Establishes penalties for violations of such regulations. Exempts certain sugar or sugar-containing products from this title. Specifies that certain sugar entered for subsequent export shall not be charged against any proclaimed quota. Authorizes the President to suspend the operation of this title in a national emergency. Provides penalties for violations of this section. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to permit the President to proclaim special import duties and quotas on sugars, syrups, and molasses in order to carry out this Act. Terminates the authority under this title at the end of the 1982 sugar supply year. Title III: Farm Labor Provisions - Requires every producer of sugar beets and sugarcane to pay each employee a specified minimum wage. Requires producers to pay such wages for employees who cannot be located to the Secretary to be held for three years. Authorizes actions against producers failing to pay the specified wages in any Federal or State court. Authorizes the Secretary to supervise the payment of unpaid wages owing to any employees. Requires actions to be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued. Prohibits any producer from discriminating against any employee who has participated in an investigation or proceeding under this title. Prohibits any producer from charging more than the reasonable costs of furnishing customary goods or services to employees. Requires producers to furnish workmen's compensation insurance to employees. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Vests jurisdiction for enforcing this Act in U.S. district courts. Requires all persons engaged in the manufacturing, marketing, transporting, or industrial use of sugar and other sweeteners to furnish the Secretary with necessary information. Prohibits officials engaged in the administration of this Act from investing or speculating in sugar. Establishes penalties for violating these regulations. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct surveys and investigations to carry out this Act. Requires the Secretary to conduct studies on the cost of producing sugar beets, sugarcane, sugar, and other sweeteners. Authorizes the Secretary to waive part of the interest and/or principal to encourage repayment of Commodity Credit Corporation loans with respect to the 1977 and 1978 crops of sugar beets and sugarcane.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to increase the temporary public debt limit by $436,000,000,000 until September 30, 1979. Increases the face amount of bonds with interest rates exceeding four and one-half percent which may be outstanding at any time to $40,000,000,000. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approval of the President, to increase the investment yield on any United States savings bonds above five and one-half percent provided such yield does not exceed six and one-half percent per annum compounded semi-annually.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Disability Insurance Amendments of 1979 - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to reduce the maximum amount of monthly benefits payable under such title on the basis of wages and self-employment income to the smaller of: (1) 75 percent of an individual's average indexed monthly earnings; or (2) 150 percent of an individual's primary insurance amount. Amends the procedure for computing the primary insurance amount of an individual to reduce the number of years of low earnings which must be discarded in determining the number of an applicant's benefit computation years in cases in which an individual ceased earning income before attaining age 45 because of a disability. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to develop and carry out experiments and demonstration projects designed to compare various methods of treating the work activity of disabled beneficiaries under title II, including reductions in benefits based on earnings designed to encourage disabled beneficiaries to work. Requires the Commissioner to report to Congress on such projects. Excludes from an individual's earnings, in determining whether an individual can engage in gainful activity, an amount equal to the cost of any attendant care services, medical devices, and similar items and services necessary to enable such individual to work, whether or not such assistance is needed to enable such individual to carry out such individual's normal daily functions. Provides "trial work periods" for disabled widows and widowers. Provides, in the case of children, widows, and widowers, that the period of time to which such individuals are entitled to disability insurance benefit payments may extend to the 15th month following the end of an individual's "trial work period." Entitles individuals who have had "trial work periods" to hospital insurance benefits under title XVIII (Medicare) for a period of 24 months following such period where such individuals have had disability benefits under title II terminated due to work. Eliminates the requirement that the 24 months which an individual must be disabled in order to qualify for hospital insurance benefits under the Medicare program be consecutive. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in addition to previously designated State agencies, to determine whether or not an individual is disabled and the date on which the disability began or ceased. Directs the Secretary to review specified percentages of such determinations made by States so that at least 80 percent of such determinations are reviewed after fiscal year 1981. Requires the Secretary to provide specified information on which a decision concerning the rights of an applicant for title II benefits may be made. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project to determine the feasibility of simplifying and strengthening the initial disability determination process under title II. Requires the Commissioner to report to Congress on such project. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress a report recommending the establishment of appropriate time limitations governing decisions on benefit claims. Authorizes the transfer from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund of such sums as may be necessary to reimburse the general fund in the U.S. Treasury for the Federal share and the State for twice the State share of the costs of vocational rehabilitation services furnished certain disabled individuals under a State plan for vocational rehabilitation services which result in a cessation of such an individual's disability. Directs the Secretary to study alternative methods of financing vocational rehabilitation services to disabled beneficiaries under title II to the end that maximum savings will result to the Trust Funds. Authorizes the continuation of disability insurance benefit payments to an individual whose impairment has ceased if such individual is participating in an approved vocational rehabilitation program and the Commissioner of Social Security determines that the completion of such program, or its continuation for a specified period, will increase the likelihood that such individual may be permanently removed from the disability benefit rolls. Requires, in any case in which an individual is determined to be under a disability, unless such disability is found to be permanent, that the case be reviewed for the purposes of continuing eligibility at least once every three years.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1979
Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 - Authorizes the Secretary of any Department or head of any agency of the United States to issue a permit for excavation and/or removal of any archaeological resource located on land owned or controlled by the United States pursuant to regulations set forth by the Secretary of the Interior. Directs the Secretary to whom such application is made to determine that: (1) the applicant is qualified to carry out the activity; (2) the activity furthers archaeological knowledge; and (3) the resources, records, and data involved in the excavation will be preserved for a period of time by a suitable university, museum, or other scientific or educational institution. Allows the Secretary to refuse to issue a permit or suspend a permit to any applicant against whom a civil penalty has been assessed or who has been convicted of a violation of any prohibited act as set forth in this Act. Prohibits any person from: (1) injuring any such resource except to the extent necessary in connection with excavations or removal; and (2) selling, purchasing, exchanging, transporting, receiving, or possessing any archaeological resource removed from land owned or controlled by the United States in violation of any provision, rule, regulation, or permit in effect under State or local law. Sets forth the penalties for the violation of any prohibition contained in this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay an amount, not to exceed $2,500, to any person who furnishes information leading to the finding of civil violation or conviction of criminal violation of the prohibitions set forth in this Act. Subjects all archaeological resources and vehicles and equipment used in violation of this Act to forfeiture to the United States. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study and report to Congress concerning the regulation of excavation and removal of archaeological resources from Indian lands. Specifies that information concerning the location of any archaeological resource for the excavation or removal of which a permit is required shall be confidential. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to repeal, modify or interfere with the mining and mineral leasing laws of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Authorizes the expenditure of funds not to exceed $2,890,000 for investigations and studies to be conducted by the House Committee on Ways and Means. Declares that no part of these funds shall be available for expenditure in connection with the study of any subject which is being investigated by any other House committee. States that the authorization granted by this resolution shall expire on January 3, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1979
Relieves a named individual of liability for the payment to the United States of a specified sum. Directs Secretary of the Treasury to pay such individual any part of such sum which has been received or withheld from such individual in connection with such liability.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1979
Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977 to provide that provisions of such Act shall not apply to stone mining or sand and gravel mining operations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Title I: Improvements in Adjustment Assistance for Workers - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of Labor to reconsider any denial of adjustment assistance for workers separated from employment up to 18 months before a petition for such assistance was granted. Authorizes workers separated from employment between October 31, 1974, and November 1, 1977, who previously did not file a petition for certification of eligibility for adjustment assistance, to file such a petition for consideration by the Secretary. Authorizes the filing of such petitions by the Secretary on behalf of any group of workers, as well as by a group of workers or their representative. Requires the Secretary to certify a group of workers as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance if: (1) sales or production at their place of employment decrease or threaten to decrease due to increased imports; or (2) (a) at least 25 percent of the total sales or production of their firm consists of providing articles or services to an import-impacted firm, and (b) a significant number of workers have been or may be separated due to a decrease or threatened decrease of sales or production of articles or services for such an import-impacted firm. Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide information to the Secretary of Commerce regarding petitions for adjustment assistance filed by workers when the workers' firm has also filed for such assistance. Stipulates that no adjustment assistance shall be provided a worker until sales or production at the worker's firm have decreased absolutely. Provides for trade readjustment allowances to be made to workers who: (1) had been employed at least 26 weeks in the year prior to separation or 40 weeks in the two years prior to separation; and (2) were part of a group certified as eligible for such assistance. Extends the time during which certain workers can continue to receive readjustment allowances. Directs the Secretary to establish experimental training programs for workers displaced by import competition. Requires the Secretary to report with recommendations to Congress by March 1, 1982, concerning the effectiveness of such training programs. Authorizes appropriations for such programs through fiscal year 1981. Increases the job search allowances and relocation allowances provided adversely affected workers. Revises the conditions for such allowances. Title II: Improvements in Adjustment Assistance to Firms - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to certify firms, whose sales or production decrease or threaten to decrease due to increased imports, as eligible for adjustment assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to certify as eligible for such assistance those firms where at least 25 percent of their sales go to an import-impacted firm and significant numbers of workers have been or may be separated due to a decrease or threatened decrease of sales or production of articles or services for such an import-impacted firm. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to share information provided by firms petitioning for certification with the Secretary of Labor. Prohibits any assistance to firms until sales or production have decreased absolutely. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide technical assistance to firms preparing proposals for adjustment assistance. Increases the proportion of the cost the Secretary will bear for technical assistance furnished to firms through private individuals, firms, or institutions. Authorizes the Secretary to contract to pay to, or on behalf of, a borrower an amount to reduce the interest such borrower must pay on financial assistance loans guaranteed pursuant to this Act. Revises the conditions for financial assistance to adversely affected firms. Title III: General Provisions - Establishes a Commerce-Labor Adjustment Action Committee to coordinate the economic adjustment responsibilities of the Departments of Commerce and Labor and other Federal agencies. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants to unions and employee organizations concerning the design of an effective program of trade adjustment assistance for workers. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) make grants for industry-wide programs designed to improve economic efficiency; and (2) study those industries threatened by import competition.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to waive the imposition of countervailing duties until the date of enactment or defeat of legislation implementing a multilateral trade agreement or agreements governing the use of subsidies or (2) October 20, 1979 (whichever occurs first).
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Entitles any local government to payments by the Secretary of the Interior based on the amount of land located within its jurisdiction which is utilized as a bombing range primarily by aircraft stationed out of State.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Ratifies contracts between water users and the Secretary of the Interior which acknowledge that upon repayment of allocated construction costs the acreage limitations and cultivation requirements of the Reclamation Act of 1902 shall cease to apply to such water users. Directs the Secretary to issue a certificate upon repayment to certify that such water users are free from such requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1978
Expresses the agreement of the House of Representatives to the Senate amendments to H.R. 8533 (a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to provide that income from certain bingo games conducted by tax-exempt organizations will not be taxable).
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1978
Expresses the House of Representatives' agreement to a certain Senate amendment and disagreement to another Senate amendment to H.R. 10161 (A bill for the relief of Eastern Telephone Supply and Manufacturing, Incorporated).
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1978
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 by extending the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to waive the imposition of countervailing duties. Requires the President, upon the recommendation of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations, to determine and notify Congress that the Multilateral Trade Negotiations have been substantially completed and that international agreement(s) governing the use of subsidies: (1) have been completed; (2) would be jeopardized by a failure to extend the Secretary's authority; (3) adequately protect United States trading interests; and (4) contain effective provisions for resolutions of disputes.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1978
Resolves that the bill H.R. 112 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to reduce the excise tax on the investment income of private foundations from four percent to two percent, with Senate amendments, be taken from the Speakers table, and that certain Senate amendments be disagreed to, and other Senate amendments be agreed to with an amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 17 August 1978
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act - Directs the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration to develop and maintain comprehensive programs to insure widespread public involvement in formulating regional electric power programs and policies. Establishes a Bonneville Consumers' Council and a Bonneville Utilities Council with whom the Administrator is directed to consult, together with the Governor of the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, and the general public, in preparing a regional power planning and conservation program. Exempts such councils from the purview of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and exempts their members' actions from constituting potential violations of Federal or State antitrust laws. Directs the Administrator to offer to sell electric power to specified customers at rates to be established and periodically modified, in accordance with specific criteria, and establishes amounts of power such customers are to receive. Directs the Administrator to implement feasible and cost-effective measures to conserve electric power, and to assist governmental authorities in promoting conservation of electric power. Authorizes the Administrator to acquire additional electric power resources where regional electric power obligations cannot be met by employing conservation measures, but specifically directs the Administrator to give priority to, developing renewable energy resources where additional resources are needed. Authorizes acquisition or the construction and operation of other types of electric power resources where needed to assure transmission system reliability. Sets forth the procedural instructions for such acquisitions. Amends the Federal Columbia River Transmission System Act to authorize expenditures as are necessary to implement this Act. Amends such Act further to authorize the issuance of bonds and other debt obligations for the purpose of financing activities arising from the implementation of this Act. Stipulates that such obligations bear interest at a rate not to exceed the rate applicable to such obligations if purchased by the Federal Financing Bank. Increases the aggregate principal amount of obligations incurred under such Act which are outstanding at any one time to include the principal amount of obligations incurred and outstanding which were issued to assist in financing the activities of this Act. Extends the definition of "Pacific Northwest" to include the entire State of Idaho. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into such agreements and contracts as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Exempts from the provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act any "person" or "company," as therein defined, connected with electric generating facilities which sell 75 percent or more of their power to the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1978
Revenue Act - Title I: Provisions Primarily Affecting Individual Income Tax - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce income taxes for individuals and estates and trusts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1978. Increases the zero bracket amount to $3,400 for certain surviving spouses and married individuals filing joint tax returns, to $2,300 for unmarried individuals, and to $1,700 for a married individual filing a separate return. Increases for single individuals, surviving spouses, and married individuals filing joint tax returns the minimum income level at which an income tax return must be filed. Adjusts withholding amounts to reflect such increases. Increases the personal exemption from $750 to $1,000. Makes permanent the earned income credit. Repeals tax deductions for State and local taxes on the sale of gasoline, diesel fuel, and other motor fuels. Revises the tax deduction for medical and dental expenses to permit the taxpayer to deduct all expenses relating to medical care, medical insurance, and prescription drugs which exceed three percent of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Repeals special provisions allowing itemized deductions for one-half the cost of medical and hospitalization insurance premiums (up to $150) and for medicine and drug expenses which exceed one percent of adjusted gross income. Defines "prescribed drug" to mean a drug or biological requiring a prescription of a physician for its use by an individual. Repeals the tax deduction for contributions to candidates for public office and to political newsletter funds. Requires the inclusion of certain amounts of unemployment compensation in gross income if gross income otherwise exceeds certain prescribed levels for any taxable year. Provides that compensation paid to a State or local government employee which is deferred under an eligible State deferred compensation plan will be includible in the gross income of the participant or beneficiary of such a plan only in the year in which the compensation is paid to the participant or beneficiary. Permits the deferral of the lesser of $7,500 or one-third of such employee's compensation in any taxable year. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of State deferred compensation plans which do not meet the requirements for an eligible State deferred compensation plan. Provides that the year in which deferred compensation shall be included in the gross income of a participant in a private deferred compensation plan shall be determined in accordance with judicial decisions and tax regulations in effect on February 1, 1978. Allows tax deductions for deferred payments for services performed by independent contractors on the same basis as such deductions are allowed for employees. Title II: Tax Shelter Provisions - Extends to small business corporations and personal holding companies the rule which limits deductions for business losses to amounts which such enterprises actually have at risk. Extends the range of activities subject to the "at risk" rule to all activities engaged in for the production of income, except those relating to real estate. Requires the recapture of "at risk" deductions where the taxpayer withdraws the amount originally placed at risk. Imposes additional civil fines upon partnerships which fail to file timely or accurate partnership returns. Extends the statute of limitations for assessing income tax deficiencies of partnerships required to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to four years after the partnership return is filed. Title III: Provisions Primarily Affecting Business Income Tax - Reduces the maximum corporate income tax rate to 46 percent of taxable income in excess of $100,000. Establishes graduated income tax rates for corporations, ranging over five brackets, from a 17 percent rate on the first $25,000 of corporate income to a maximum 46 percent rate on income over $100,000. Excludes mutual savings banks conducting life insurance business, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, and foreign corporations from the new rates. Makes permanent the ten percent investment tax credit and the $100,000 limitation on used property eligible for the credit. Increases over a four-year period the maximum allowable investment tax credit to $25,000 plus 90 percent of an individual's tax liability which exceeds $25,000. Sets forth alternative limitations on the investment tax credit allowable for taxpayers investing in public utilities, railroads, and airlines. Allows the full investment tax credit for pollution control facilities which are eligible for the 60 month amortization election (presently, only 50 percent of such credit may be offset against tax liability), except to the extent that such facilities are financed by tax-exempt industrial development bonds. Establishes for taxable years beginning in 1979 or 1980 a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the unemployment insurance wages paid by an employer to: (1) individuals who have registered for the work incentive (WIN) program under Title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act; (2) mentally or physically disabled individuals referred to the employer under a State plan for vocational rehabilitation; or (3) individuals of ages 18 through 24 who are members of households receiving food stamps. Limits the amount of wages to which the credit is applicable to the first $6,000 of an eligible individual's wages reduced by the amount of such individual's wages paid by the employer in the preceding calendar year. Provides that the amount of unemployment insurance wages eligible for the tax credit cannot exceed 20 percent of the total amount of such wages paid by an employer to all his employees. Increases to $10,000,000 the amount of tax-exempt industrial development bonds which may be authorized as a small issue. Increases from 10 to 15 the number of shareholders a small business may have without losing Subchapter S corporate status. Treats a husband and wife owning stock in a Subchapter S corporation as one stockholder for purposes of determining the number of stockholders in such a corporation. Treats the grantor of a trust owning stock in a Subchapter S corporation as the stockholder. Extends the time period for making a Subchapter S election to the first 75 days after the beginning of the taxable year and allows such an election at any time during the preceding taxable year. Treats any election made after the 75 day period as an election made for the following taxable year. Increases to $1,000,000 the amount of small business corporation stock which a corporation may issue as potentially subject to ordinary loss treatment. Increases to $50,000 ($100,000 for married individuals filing joint tax returns) the amount of loss on small business corporation stock which may be treated as ordinary, rather than capital loss. Repeals the requirement that a corporation issue small business corporation stock pursuant to a plan developed by the corporation. Increases the amount of allowable first year additional depreciation for small business property to 25 percent of the first $20,000 of such property ($40,000 for married individuals filing joint tax returns). Extends eligibility for such depreciation allowance to only those taxpayers whose depreciable property has an aggregate adjusted basis of less than $1,000,000. Exempts from the rule requiring accrual accounting and capitalization of expenses incurred in preproductive periods certain two and three family farm corporations. Exempts farmers, nurserymen, and florists who use an accrual method of accounting and who are not required to capitalize preproductive period expenses from the requirement of taking an inventory of growing crops in computing taxable income. Permits such individuals to change to a cash method of accounting until 1981. Title IV: Capital Gains - Repeals the alternate 25 percent tax rate on the first $50,000 of long term capital gain individual taxpayers. Removes capital gains of individuals and corporations as an item of tax preference for purposes of computing the minimum or maximum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1978
Provides that where two or more Members of the House of Representatives pay the basic pay of an individual from the clerk-hire allowance of each such Member, such individual shall be considered to be on the payroll of only one such Member for purposes of determining the number of individuals employed by such Members under the clerk-hire allowance. Requires such Members to designate who shall be considered the employer for the month involved and to report such designation to the Office of Finance.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1978
Increases the temporary public debt limit until March 31, 1979 by $414,000,000,000. Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to increase from $27,000,000,000 to $32,000,000,000 the face amount of bonds with a rate of interest exceeding 4 1/4 percent issued pursuant to such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $5,000 the jurisdictional ceiling on taxpayer disputes involving deficiencies or overpayments to which small tax case procedures will be applied in the United States Tax Court. Authorizes the chief judge of the Tax Court to assign small tax cases ($5,000 or less) to commissioners of the court. Authorizes a commissioner of the Tax Court to administer oaths and to procure the testimony of witnesses.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1978
Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from issuing any regulation between May 1, 1978, and October 1, 1979, providing for the inclusion of any fringe benefit in gross income for the purposes of taxation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1978
Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to increase, by $10,000,000,000, the amount of bonds which may be issued at a rate above four and one-half percent. Permits the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approval of the President, to increase the interest rates and the investment yields on any offerings of United States savings bonds for any interest accrual period.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1978
Corrects the map of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area to specify that the boundary between Saulsberry and Freezeout Saddles is the hydrologic divide.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the coverage of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act agricultural hand-harvest labor performed by full-time students under the age of 16 years, which is remunerated solely on a piece rate basis.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the coverage of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act agricultural hand-harvest labor performed by full-time students under the age of 16 years.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Tuition Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals an income tax credit for 25 percent of the tuition paid for the postsecondary, nongraduate education of the taxpayer, his spouse and his dependents. Allows up to $100 to be credited per student for 1978, $150 for 1979 and $250 for 1980, after which the credit expires. Forbids any construction of this Act as granting the government additional authority to examine the books or activities of any church school except to the extent necessary to determine whether it is a postsecondary educational institution. Provides that educational institutions enrolling students for whom this credit is claimed shall not thereby be considered recipients of Federal assistance. Provides for the immediate certification of any judicial action brought in a United States district court concerning the constitutionality of this Act to the appropriate circuit court of appeals. Authorizes direct appeal to the Supreme Court of any decision by a circuit court. Directs the expedited consideration of such a case at both judicial levels. Disallows any consideration of this credit when determining an individual's eligibility for Federally funded government educational assistance benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Revenue Act - Title I: Short Title, Etc. - Sets forth the short title of this Act and the table of contents, and provides that amendments made by this Act shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1978. Title II: Tax Treatment of Individuals - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce income taxes for individuals and estates and trusts in 1978. Reduces marginal tax rates for such individuals and estates and trusts to a range of 12 to 68 percent in 1979 and succeeding years. Eliminates deductions for personal exemptions. Establishes a $240 personal tax credit for a taxpayer, spouse and dependents, and additional credits if the taxpayer or spouse is blind or has attained age 65. Revises requirements for the withholding of income tax to reflect the substitution of the personal tax credit for personal exemptions. Increases the miniumum income levels of individuals who are required to file tax returns. Defines the concept of a uniform tax base and establishes the order of credits deductible from such tax base. Permits a deduction for combined medical expenses and casualty losses to the extent that they exceed ten percent of a taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Disallows deductions for State and local personal property taxes, sales taxes, and gasoline taxes. Eliminates deductions for contributions to candidates for public office and to political newsletter funds. Repeals preferential tax treatment of the capital gains of noncorporate taxpayers. Requires real estate depreciation deductions on buildings or replacement building components acquired after 1979 to be computed according to the straight line method. Permits the use of alternate methods of computing depreciation for (1) low income new housing (2) multi-family residential rental property acquired before 1983; (3) low-income housing, the original use of which does not commence with the taxpayer and which is acquired before 1983; and (4) rehabilitated historic structures. Disallows deducteds in excess of $10,000 from preference income of individuals for purposes of determining minimum tax liability. Exempts capital gain on the sale of a personal residence from the minimum tax. Extends to closely held corporations and personal holding companies the rule which limits deductions for business losses to amounts which such enterprises actually had at risk. Extends the range of activities subject to the "at risk" rule to all activities engaged in for the production of income, except those relating to real estate. Treats an unincorporated organization (other than an estate or trust) as a corporation if it has more than 15 limited liability members. Specifies those members of an unincorporated organization that count, and do not count, as limited liability members. Exempts organizations formed before 1979 and certain housing organizations from such treatment. Authorizes the Internal Revenue Service to carry out tax audits of partnerships and establishes procedures for notifying a partnership of the commencement of administrative proceedings for the review of partnership returns and tax liability. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make a final administrative determination within three years of the filing of the tax return, or within six years if the return contains a false statement or substantial omission. Permits an authorized representative of a partnership to request an administrative adjustment of partnership tax liability. Sets forth rules for judicial review of final administrative determinations in the tax court and the United States district courts or Court of Claims and rules governing a request for an administrative adjustment of partnership tax liability. Prescribes fines for the failure of the partnership to file a timely tax return. Requires the owner of a nonqualified deferred annuity to include in his gross income the yearly earnings of such annuity in the year they are earned. Allows an exemption from this requirement for a single nonqualified deferred annuity contract which is designated by the taxpayer and which does not permit yearly premium payments in excess of $1,000. Requires qualified retirement plans which are integrated with social security coverage to include workers whose wages fall below the social security wage base. Specifies that one percent in contributions or benefits will be required under a qualified plan on compensation below the social security wage base for every 1.8 percent in such contributions or benefits provided under a plan for compensation above the wage base. Prohibits tax exclusions for the first $50,000 of employer paid group life insurance premiums or for benefits received under health, accident, and disability plans established by an employer for officers, shareholders, or highly compensated employee of a corporation unless such benefits are received under a qualified employee welfare plan, a qualified retirement plan, or a plan established pursuant to a valid collective bargaining agreement. Eliminates the $5,000 tax exclusion for death benefits paid to the estate or beneficiary of a deceased employee by an employer. Requires the inclusion of unemployment compensation received by taxpayers whose income exceeds $20,000 ($25,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly). Specifies that 50 cents of such compensation will be included in gross income for each dollar which the taxpayer earns in excess of $20,000 (25,000 if married and filing jointly). Disallows deductions for entertainment, amusement, or recreation expenses directly related to, or associated with, the active conduct of a taxpayer's trade or business. Permits partial deductions for business meals and facilities for providing such meals. Permits deductions for meals furnished by an employer to an employee. Disallows deductions for first class air fare as a traveling expense to the extent that such fare exceeds coach fare for the same flight. Permits deductions for business-related expenses in attending a foreign convention if the Secretary determines that it is reasonable to hold the convention outside the United States. Title III: Tax Exempt Financing - Grants to State and local govenments an election to issue either bonds which yield tax-exempt interest to the holder or taxable bonds eligible for a subsidy from the Treasury for a fixed percentage of their interest costs. Authorizes a subsidy of 35 percent of the interest costs on bonds issued in 1979 and 1980 and 40 percent on bonds issued after 1980. Eliminates the tax exemption for interest on industrial development bonds issued for pollution control facilities and industrial parks. Permits the issuance of tax-exempt industrial development bonds in an amount of $1,000,000 or less which are used for facilities constructed in an economically distressed area (as defined by the National Development Bank Act of 1978). Prohibits tax exemptions for interest on bonds issued by State and local governments to finance hospital construction for private nonprofit institutions, unless the State certifies that a new hospital is needed. Title IV: Tax Treatment of Business - Reduces the corporate tax rate on taxable income of $25,000 or less to 18 percent and to 20 percent on income in excess of $25,000. Reduces the surtax to 24 percent of taxable income in excess of $50,000, effective in 1980. Makes permanent the ten percent investment tax credit. Extends the investment tax credit to the construction of new industrial buildings and to investments made to rehabilitate existing industrial buildings, if such construction or investment occurred after December 31, 1977. Limits the investment tax credit to a maximum 90 percent offset against tax liability for any taxable year. Permits carryover and carryback of work incentive program expenses for purposes of computing the work incentive program tax credit. Extends the full ten percent investment tax credit to pollution control facilities amortizable over a five year period. Increases from 10 to 15 the number of shareholders a small business may have without loosing Subchapter S corporate status. Sets forth rules for qualifying certain individuals and trusts as Subchapter S sharholders, for making an election to qualify as a Subchapter S Corporation, and for terminating or revoking such election. Sets forth rules for computing depreciation expenses of small businesses. Requires the Secretary to prescribe a table of useful lives for depreciable business property which will permit small businesses to deduct larger depreciation expenses earlier in the useful life of the property. Increases the amount of loss on small business stock that may be treated as ordinary, rather than capital, loss. Repeals provisions which confer preferential tax treatment on domestic international sales corporations (DISC). Increases, during the years 1978 to 1981, the percentage of DISC dividends taxable to its shareholders until 100 percent of such dividends are taxable. Sets forth rules for the taxation of accumulated DISC income to shareholders and for the allocation of gains and losses incurred by shareholders of a terminated DISC. Eliminates, over a three year period, provisions which allow a U.S. controlled foreign corporation to defer payment of taxes on earnings. Treats the gross income, deductions, and taxes which are eligible for the foreign tax credit as earned or incurred directly by the U. S. shareholder. Provides that the earnings of the controlled foreign corporation will be taxed currently whether or not such earnings are paid to U. S. shareholders as dividends. Eliminates the percentage method for determining additions to bad debt reserves of commercial banks. Requires bonks to base future additions to bad debt reserves on their actual experience in the current and succeeding five years. Requires mutual savings banks and savings and loan associations to reduce bad debt deduction percentages over a five year period. Eliminates the tax exempt status of credit unions. Requires farm corporations to use the accrual method of accounting unless such corporations elect Subchapter S corporate status or have less than $1,000,000 of gross receipts in taxable years beginning in 1976. Title V: Excise Taxes - Repeals the excise tax on communications services as of October 1, 1978. Imposes an unemployment tax on employers equal to 3.2 percent of the total wages paid by such employers after December 31, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation of the House of Representatives of the kidnapping of Aldo Moro. Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) Italy deserves the support of the United States, and (2) the President should instruct the Permanent Representative to the United Nations to press for consideration of solutions to the problem of terrorism in all appropriate forums.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation by the Congress of the March 11, 1978, attack on Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the expressed intention of the PLO to continue such attacks and to disrupt the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Requests the President to make the disapproval of the Congress known to governments approving the PLO attack. Expresses Congressional approval of the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Urges other Middle East countries to join such efforts. Declares negotiation to be the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1978
Title I: Increases in Public Debt Limit Through March 1, 1979; Improvement of Debt Management - Increases the public debt limit by $424,000,000,000 during the period beginning on April 1, 1978, and ending on March 1, 1979. Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to increase, by $6,000,000,000, the amount of bonds which may be issued at a rate above four and one-quarter percent. Removes the limitation which prevents the increase of interest rates and investment yields on any offering of United States savings bonds by more than one-half of one percent for any interest accrual period to be paid as a bonus either on redemption or maturity. Title II: Establishment of Public Debt Limit Pursuant to Congressional Budget Procedures - Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to limit the public debt to the amount specified in the concurrent resolution on the congressional budget most recently adopted.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Permits a taxpayer to elect to include certain crop payments received in 1978 in 1977 income, if such payments are either: (1) cash payments under the Agriculture Act of 1949 for crop disaster losses sustained in 1977, providing it is established that, under the taxpayer's practice, income from the lost crops would have been reported in 1977 income; or (2) deficiency (or "target price") payments under such Act for any 1977 crop, and the fifth month of such crop's marketing year ended before December 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Permits a taxpayer, who has received cash payments under the Agricultural Act of 1949 in 1978 for crop disaster losses sustained in 1977, to elect to include such payments in his 1977 income, if he establishes that, under his practice, income from the lost crops would have been reported in his 1977 income.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Welfare Reform Act - Title I: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Increases the earned income credit to equal 20 percent of the individual's first $5,000 in earned income, with a phaseout between the first $7,500 and $15,000 in adjusted gross or earned income, whichever is greater. Makes the earned income credit permanent. Requires employers to make advance payments of this credit to employees certified as qualifying for the credit during the current year. Treats payments of this advance credit as payment of the employer's FICA and withholding amounts, with parallel treatment of any failure to pay the employee the advance credit. Provides for the transfer of funds from the general fund of the Treasury to the FICA trust funds to cover for revenues paid by employers to employees as an advance credit instead of to the Government as withholding taxes. Imposes administrative changes on government forms and reporting requirements on employees certified for the advance credit. Includes unemployment compensation in gross income. Imposes reporting requirements on persons making unemployment compensation payments. Provides for the disclosure of requested tax return information to the Departments of Agriculture; and Health, Education, and Welfare to the extent the information is necessary for auditing beneficiaries' eligibility for AFDC benefits under the Social Security Act. Includes welfare and food stamp benefits in gross income to the extent they exceed the individual's "tabular amount" when combined with adjusted gross income. Prescribes "tabular amounts" ranging from $5,470 for individuals with one personal exemption to $14,650 for persons with seven or more exemptions. Limits the credits which can be taken against this portion of an individual's income tax liability to the credits for excess withholding taxes, certain uses of gasoline, special fuels and lubricating oil, and earned income. Allows employers to take an additional jobs credit for a portion of the unemployment insurance wages paid for new employees who are hired under a Work Incentive (WIN) Program and who are eligible for certain AFDC benefits under the Social Security Act. Restricts this credit to premiums paid before 1979. Title II: Amendments to Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Amends Title IV, part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to establish a formula for determining the amount of monthly cash benefits payable to families under such program. Provides that such monthly payments equal the difference between the monthly cash needs standard of an eligible family and the actual monthly income of such a family as determined in accordance with this Act. Sets forth criteria for determining the monthly cash needs standard. Permits States to increase the monthly cash need standard above levels established by this Act, but within specified limits. Requires the inclusion of family income from all sources in determining the actual monthly income of a family for the purpose of calculating the amounts of monthly cash benefits to which a family is entitled under the program of aid to families with dependent children. Enumerates items of income which are excludable. Prohibits payments to any family whose resources exceed $1,750, or $3,000 if such family includes an individual age 60 or over. Enumerates those resources which are excludable. Provides for the reduction of benefits for any family which includes a physically or mentally fit individual who refuses to register for or participate in State work incentive (WIN) programs or who quits any job without good reason or refuses employment when offered. Exempts certain classes of parents, students, and part time workers from participation in work incentive programs. Requires a State to establish and operate a statewide management information system to assist in the management and administration of the State's program of aid to families with dependent children. Requires a State to report the amount each family under the program receives to the Internal Revenue Service and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Requires a State to certify the names of unemployed parents of dependent children to the State work incentive (WIN) sponsor within 30 days after such parent receives benefits for a dependent child. Denies aid to parents who refuse participation in work incentive programs or who are receiving unemployment compensation. Establishes a formula for determining the amount of cash benefits payable to unemployed parents of dependent children and limits payment of such benefits to a period of 17 weeks per year. Authorizes quarterly payments to States, accordingly to specified percentages, for aid and services under the program of aid to families with dependent children. Eliminates incentive adjustments to the amount of Federal participation in such program where payment error rates are less than four percent of all payments made. Repeals provisions for emergency assistance to needy families with dependent children and provisions authorizing payment and distribution of food stamp coupons under the program of aid to families with dependent children. Title III: Amendments to Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exclude from household income training incentive payments, the earnings of individuals under age 21, and loans, grants, and scholarships for secondary education. Lowers the standard deduction, in computing household income, from $60 to $30. Eliminates from such computation the 20 percent additional earned income and excess deductions. Revises the formula for the dependent care deduction. Excludes from the asset determination of a household's financial resources the fair market value of all of a family's licensed vehicles up to $6,500. Requires registration and compliance with the State work incentive (WIN) program sponsor of all physically and mentally fit household members between the ages of 16 and 60. Revises the formula for computing a household's coupon allotment to provide that the monthly cost to a household of the thrifty food plan (currently reduced by 30 percent) shall be reduced to an amount equal to 20 percent (15 percent for a one-person household) of the household's monthly income under $596, plus 40 percent of such income $596 or over. Requires the State food stamp agency to provide the Secretary of the Treasury with the name and social security number of each individual in each household receiving coupons, and the value of the coupons so received. Authorizes the State agencies to establish automated statewide management information systems to control and account for all the factors in the total eligibility determination process. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to pay any State agency: (1) up to 100 percent of the costs of administering the food stamp program on Indian reservations; (2) up to 75 percent of the costs of personnel training; and (3) up to 75 percent of the costs of developing or installing statewide mechanized claims processing and information retrieval systems. Replaces the current allowance for an increase in the federally funded share of administrative costs to State agencies having a less than 50 percent error rate, with an authorization to reduce such share by up to 50 percent of the amount of such costs attributed to specified kinds of errors. Title IV: Amendments to Work Incentive (WIN) Program - Limits the amount of appropriation that may be authorized for the Work Incentive (WIN) Program. Directs the Secretary of Labor to estimate, prior to each quarter of each fiscal year, the amount required by each State for its WIN programs and to pay such amount to each State. Requires the expenditure of 66 2/3 percent of WIN funds for an on-the-job training and 15 percent of such funds for institutional and work experience training. Establishes formulae for the allotment of WIN program funds to each State. Changes the priorities for placement of unemployed parents of dependent children under the WIN program. Prohibits placement of an individual in a WIN program unless such individual has registered for the program with the State and has lived with an aid to families with dependent children family for not less than 112 days. Places responsibility for the establishment and operation of work incentive (WIN) programs with the State. Requires the Governor of each State administering a WIN program to report annually on the operation of such program to the Secretary of Labor. Allows payment of State or Federal minimum wage (whichever is higher) for work performed under the WIN program. Permits the payment of extra compensation for outstanding work performance of WIN employees, not to exceed five percent of the total amount paid to such employees. Increases the permissible rate of incentive pay from $30 a month to $30 a week. Limits the amount of employer overhead compensation to 20 percent of the wages paid to WIN employees. Title V: Supplemental Security Income Payments - Increases the dollar amounts on allowable income of certain aged, blind, or disabled individuals seeking benefits under Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act. Increases the amount of cash benefits under such Title. Renders recipients of supplemental security income benefits ineligible for food stamp assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1978
Public Grazing Lands Improvement Act - Requires that an inventory of rangeland conditions and trends be taken in 11 contiguous western states and Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage and improve public rangelands so that they become as productive as feasible in accordance with the rangeland management objectives established through the land use planning process prescribed in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. Provides for the funding of such improvements. Announces the formula to be used by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior in setting fees for domestic livestock grazing on public lands. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue ten year grazing leases or permits except when he has determined, on a case-by-case basis, that the establishment of a shorter term is in the interest of sound land management policy. Allows for private adoption of excess wild horses or burros when rangeland inventories indicate overpopulation of such animals in an area where a demand for private adoption exists. Permits the donation of adopted burros and horses to individuals who have provided humane conditions and care for such animals for a period of one year.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to allow continuation and completion of construction on Federal reclamation projects and Indian irrigation projects to mitigate the effects of the 1976-77 drought for a reasonable period of time where certain unanticipated and unavoidable circumstances prevented completion before January 31, 1978. Directs the Secretary to report to the President and Congress on emergency actions taken to mitigate the effects of the 1976-77 drought no later than May 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1978
Directs the payment of expenses, not to exceed $3,264,000, out of the contingent fund of the House, for investigations and studies to be conducted by the House Committee on Ways and Means.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Amends the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968 to establish a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in Social and Political Thought at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian Institution. Establishes the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Trust Fund in the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
States that during the year following the enactment of this Act the Secretary of the Interior shall neither withhold water delivery from any beneficiary of a Federal reclamation project nor initiate any proceeding intended to require the sale of privately owned lands within any project, for purposes of achieving conformity with acreage limitations or residency requirements of reclamation law.
![Official portrait of Rep. Ullman, Al [D-OR-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/u000004_200.jpg)