United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual who has attained the age of 62 before the close of the taxable year to exclude up to $3,000 of interest which would otherwise be includible in gross income. Reduces the amount of interest which may be excluded by one-half of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over $5,500.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to select a route for a highway between Kansas City, Missouri, and Houston, Texas. Directs the Secretary, in selecting such a route, to utilize existing Federal-aid highways to the maximum possible extent. Stipulates that the Federal share of the construction costs of any portion of such highway shall be 80 percent of its cost. Stipulates that such highway shall be known as the Sam Houston Memorial Highway. Authorizes appropriations in such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Emergency Food and Agriculture Act - Title I: Wheat - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 through 1981 crops of wheat a price support floor of not less than $3.00 per bushel and a ceiling of not more than 100 percent of parity. Sets a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 60 percent of parity per bushel for a 20 percent set-aside up to 89 percent of parity per bushel for a 50 percent set-aside. Title II: Feed Grains - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 through 1981 crops of corn a price support floor of not less than $2.25 per bushel and a ceiling of not more than 100 percent of parity. Sets a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 60 percent of parity per bushel for a ten percent set-aside up to full parity for a 50 percent set- aside. Title III: Upland Cotton - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 through 1981 crops of upland cotton a loan level floor of not less than 52 cents per pound and a ceiling of not more than 100 percent of parity. Sets a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 64 percent of parity per pound for a 20 percent set-aside up to full parity for a 50 percent set-aside. Title IV: Grain Release Prices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949: (1) to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from providing for the redemption of stored wheat and feed grains loans unless the market price for such commodities is not less than parity; (2) to prohibit the Secretary from calling such loans until the market for wheat and feed grains is at least 105 percent of parity; and (3) to prohibit the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling its stocks of wheat and feed grains for less than the parity price of such commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 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 · 9 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) remove the adjusted gross income limitation on the credit for the elderly; (2) increase the amount of the credit; and (3) provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for research and development programs, construction of facilities, and research and program management.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1978
Botulism Prevention Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture, for a two-year period, from issuing any order or regulation: (1) restricting the use of nitrites or nitrates as preservatives in meat products beyond the degree recommended in the final report of the Department of Agriculture's Expert Panel on Nitrates, Nitrites, and Nitrosamines; or (2) requiring labeling on meat products concerning nitrites or nitrates in addition to the requirements in effect on January 1, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1978
Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to initiate a Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program to study technical problems regarding the viability of the solar power satellite concept. Requires the Secretary to cooperate with the Administrator in the submission to Congress, by September 30, 1978, of a comprehensive plan to implement the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1978
Emergency Food and Agriculture Act - Title I: Wheat - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 through 1981 crops of wheat a price support floor of not less than $3.00 per bushel and a ceiling of not more than 100 percent of parity. Sets a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 60 percent of parity per bushel for a 20 percent set-aside up to 89 percent of parity per bushel for a 50 percent set-aside. Title II: Feed Grains - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 through 1981 crops of corn a price support floor of not less than $2.25 per bushel and a ceiling of not more than 100 percent of parity. Sets a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 60 percent of parity per bushel for a ten percent set-aside up to full parity for a 50 percent set- aside. Title III: Upland Cotton - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 through 1981 crops of upland cotton a loan level floor of not less than 52 cents per pound and a ceiling of not more than 100 percent of parity. Sets a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 64 percent of parity per pound for a 20 percent set-aside up to full parity for a 50 percent set-aside. Title IV: Grain Release Prices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949: (1) to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from providing for the redemption of stored wheat and feed grains loans unless the market price for such commodities is not less than parity; (2) to prohibit the Secretary from calling such loans until the market for wheat and feed grains is at least 105 percent of parity; and (3) to prohibit the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling its stocks of wheat and feed grains for less than the parity price of such commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Agriculture Refinance Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to permit insured loans of up to $1,000,000 to farm owners and operators for refinancing existing indebtedness incurred between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1977. Allows a repayment period for refinancing loans of 40 years for real estate loans, 12 years for equipment loans, and five years for operating loans. Defers the first payment for the interest and principal of such loans for five years for real estate loans, for three years for equipment loans, and for two years for operating loans.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act - Title I: Amendments to Pension Program for Non-service-connected Disability or Death - Revises the list of specified catagories of payments excluded from the determination of annual income for benefit payment purposes. Requires persons applying for a non-service-connected disability pension to report the income and estate of each spouse and child on account of whom added pension is applied for or received. Sets increased flat pension and aid-and-attendance allowance rates, reduced by the amount of a veteran's annual income, and in specified instances, by the amount of a spouse's or child's income which is reasonably available to or for such veteran. Sets increased flat benefit rates, with similar reductions, for the surviving spouses and children of such veterans. Requires annual adjustments in such pension and benefit rates in conjunction with cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions and Effective Dates - Sets the effective dates for provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1978
Expresses the insistence of the House of Representatives that the Government of the Republic of Korea cooperate with a certain investigation of the House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Declares that failure of the Government to cooperate with such investigation will have a negative impact on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, including assistance for the latter country.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1978
Expresses the insistence of the House of Representatives that the Government of the Republic of Korea cooperate with a certain investigation of the House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Declares that failure of the Government to cooperate with such investigation will have a negative impact on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, including assistance for the latter country.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1978
Expresses the insistence of the House of Representatives that the Government of the Republic of Korea cooperate with a certain investigation of the House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Declares that failure of the Government to cooperate with such investigation will have a negative impact on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, including assistance for the latter country.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile, apparel, or fiber products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 1977
Imposes import quotas on beef and veal products entering the United States, a trade zone thereof, an insular possession thereof, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Sets forth the formula for establishment of such quota quantities by the Secretary of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1977
Equal Housing Opportunity Amendments - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to require that loan guarantees from the Farmers Home Administration be under terms and restrictions no less favorable to borrowers than those offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
United States · United States Congress · 22 November 1977
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare should not include in the National Guidelines for Health Planning any guidelines which would directly or indirectly cause the closing of any small, rural hospital which is the only hospital providing primary care services to a local community.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
Small Business Government Contracting Reform Act - Simplifies Government contracting procedures with respect to small businesses. Establishes Government contract arbitration panels within the Small Business Administration to facilitate the resolution of disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Directs Federal agencies to take the apparent low responsive bidder's small business concern subcontracting plan into account in determining the responsibility of such bidder for the award of such contract. Assigns an employee of the Small Business Administration to each Federal agency to monitor compliance with specified small business programs. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1977
Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 to restrict the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to determine the justness or reasonableness of any stockyard service rate or charge to only those rates or charges for services at stockyards which have a certain minimum annual sales volume.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1977
Tuition Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals alternative, limited income tax credits or deductions for the tuition paid for the primary, secondary or higher education of the taxpayer, his spouse, or his dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1977
Expresses the sense of the Congress that any right to, title to, or interest in the property of the United States Government agencies in the Panama Canal Zone or any real property and improvements thereon located in the zone should not be conveyed, relinquished, or otherwise disposed of to any foreign government without specific authorization of such conveyance, relinquishment, or other disposition by any Act of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1977
Administrative Rule Making Reform Act - Requires a Federal agency preparing to hold a rule making session to make a reasonable effort to inform those likely to be affected by the proposed rule making. Requires that if the affected group is large, representatives of such group must be notified. Requires, in addition to present requirements, that the notice of rule making include the projected effective date of the rules, the purpose of the rule making, the text of the proposed rules, and the technical or other studies on which the agency intends to rely in the rule making proceedings. Applies the requirements of this Act to all rule making sessions except (1) those specifically authorized to be kept secret in the interest of national security, and (2) those relating to agency management. Requires public notice and public opportunity for comment of all rule making proceedings under this Act unless the agency finds that the rules to be proposed are emergency rules or are of routine or insignificant impact in which case the rule must be published with reasons for its adoption. Requires Federal agencies to give interested persons at least 45 days to participate in the rule making. Requires the agency to maintain a file of each proceeding to be made available to the courts, Congress, and to the public in connection with review of the rule. Limits the period for public comment to a maximum of 90 days. Requires a copy of all proposed rules to be sent to Congress. States that such rule, other than an emergency rule, shall not become effective if it is disapproved within 90 days by both Houses of Congress, or it is disapproved within 60 days by one House and no action is taken on the disapproval resolution by the other House. Sets forth procedures for adoption of resolutions to approve or disapprove any such rule for both Houses. Requires the Administrative Conference of the United States to study Congressional review of agency rule making under this Act and report the effect of such review on such rule making before July 1, 1982. Authorizes to be appropriated $200,000 to finance such study. Makes this Act effective on the first day of the first session of the Ninety-fifth Congress. Terminates the Congressional review required by this Act at the adjournment of the Ninety-seventh Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1977
Constitutional Amendment - Permits religious observances in governmental institutions and public places. Permits reference to a supreme being in a governmental or public document, activity, place, or on money. Declares that this amendment shall not constitute establishment of religion.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1977
Provides for the distribution, investment, and use of funds appropriated in satisfaction of the judgment awarded to the Seminole Indians in dockets 73 and 151 before the Indian Claims Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1977
Ocean Pollution Environmental Research and Development Act - Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to prepare a comprehensive annual plan for ocean pollution environmental research and development to be submitted to Congress and the President. Establishes procedures for interagency coordination of existing ocean-related programs. Authorizes the Administrator to provide financial assistance in the form of grants and contracts for additional ocean pollution research and development activities. Directs the Administrator to establish an oil spill research and development program. Directs the Administrator and the Commandant of the Coast Guard to conduct a study of the practicality of utilizing oil spill removal technologies developed under such Act by Federal agencies. Directs the Administrator to submit an annual report of activities under this Act to Congress and the President. Authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000 to the Administrator for fiscal year 1979 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1977
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of the United States should maintain its rights and jurisdiction over the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Zone.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1977
Social Security Rights Act - Requires that procedures be established for the expedited replacement of undelivered benefit checks under title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Requires that decisions (and reconsiderations) on initial benefit claims be made within 90 days. Requires that payment of benefits on approved claims begin no later than the day regularly fixed for delivery of benefit checks in the second month following the month in which the claim was approved.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1977
Declares it the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of the United States should maintain its rights and jurisdiction over the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Zone.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1977
Declares that the Federal Power Commission and other Federal agencies with authority over the allocation of natural gas shall give the highest priority to specified agricultural uses, including irrigation, grain drying, and the production of fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1977
Human Resources Development Act - Directs the President or his delegate to carry out, through grants to, or contracts with private and public nonprofit institutions, a program consisting of projects which either (1) involve labor-management cooperation for the improvement of productivity and quality of work life, innovation in a major feature of employment, increased worker participation in decisionmaking, or profit sharing or (2) are designed to establish the efficacy of policies and practices maintaining normal employment levels during periods of cyclical downturns in demand through reassignment of workers to training and other specified types of programs. Directs the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the National Center for Productivity and Quality of Working Life to assist in carrying out such program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1977
National Weatherization Act - Title I: Utility Program - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to promote the voluntary submission by a State to the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration of a residential energy conservation plan for utilities in such State. Requires such plan to direct utilities to implement a program informing residential customers of suggested measures for saving home heating and cooling costs. Permits the Administrator to require a regulated or unregulated utility in a State to offer such program upon the Administrator's determination that such State has not offered such plan for approval or implemented such plan. Title II: Weatherization Grants for the Benefit of Low-Income Families - Amends the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 to permit a raise in the eligible income level for weatherization grants to low-income families. Expands the definition of the term "weatherization materials" in such Act to include additional devices and technologies. Limits the amount of financial assistance available under such Act that may be spent on weatherization materials and specified accompanying costs. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a weatherization program financing the installation of weatherization materials in farm residences occupied by low-income people. Title III: Secondary Financing and Loan Insurance for Energy Conserving Improvements - Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to direct the Federal National Mortgage Association to purchase loans insured under the National Housing Act and made to low- and moderate-income families for the installation of energy conserving improvements in residences owned by such families. Permits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure a loan for the installation of energy conserving improvements. Specifies the eligibility conditions of such loan. Allows the Government National Mortgage Association to have standby authority to purchase loans for energy-conserving improvements. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Permits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enter into annual contributions contracts for low-income projects to finance the installation of energy- conserving improvements. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promote the use of energy saving techniques through minimum property standards established for new rural residential housing assisted under the Housing Act of 1949. Amends the National Housing Act to permit specified increased amounts of assistance if such increase results from increased cost of a residence or project due to the installation of a solar energy system. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a study for determining the necessity of a mandatory Federal requirement that all residential dwelling units meet energy efficient standards.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1977
Indian and Alaska, Native Housing and Community Development Act - Creates, in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, an Office of Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, through which the Secretary of HUD shall carry out functions relating to Indian and Alaska Native Housing and Community Development. Creates the Office of Assistant Secretary for Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Directs the Assistant Secretary to submit certain reports to Congress, and conduct an annual conference on Indian and Alaska Native Housing.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1977
Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to authorize Federal assistance to private, profitmaking agencies and organizations for purposes of conducting research, training, and other activities relating to the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1977
World War I Pension Act - Requires the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay (in addition to any already paid) a monthly pension of $150 to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements, or to the surviving spouse of each such veteran, or when there is no surviving spouse, to the child or children of each such veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1977
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States Postal Services should not reduce the frequency of mail delivery service for any user of the mails below the frequency of such service which was in effect for such user of June 1, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1977
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase from 50 to 90 the percentage of the cost of a water or waste project which the Department of Agriculture may fund by a grant to a local association. Requires that such a grant be in an amount that will leave the average domestic user payment rate in the area served by the project at no more than: (1) one percent of the median family income of the area if such income fails in the lowest 25 percentile of the national median income; (2) one-and-one-half percent, if the median income falls in the 26 to 49 percentile; (3) two percent, if the median income falls in the 50 to 74 percentile; or (4) two-and- one-half percent, if the median income is above the 75 percentile of the national median income. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to seek State and Federal assistance if the maximum amount of a grant will be insufficient to result in the applicable user cost limitation prescribed. Specifies conditions under which the Secretary may increase the amount of a grant. Revises the priorities for recipients of such grants to accord the highest priority to specified municipalities or public agencies which have a hazardous public health situation (currently, such priority is accorded to municipalities or public agencies which already have community water supply or waste disposal systems, when due to unanticipated occurrences such systems are suddenly inadequate to serve the community needs).
United States · United States Congress · 25 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 · 17 May 1977
Energy Conservation Tax Incentives Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow limited, nonrefundable income tax credits for individuals who: (1) install qualified insulation in their residences; (2) install qualified solar heating and cooling equipment in dwelling units used by them, or leased to others as residences; (3) replace the heating system in any dwelling with a reversible, compressible refrigerant system (i.e., a heat pump system); or (4) purchase personal or family electric highway vehicles between 1976 and 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1977
Provides that the income tax treatment of certain transportation expenses between the taxpayer's residence and place of work shall be determined without regard to Revenue Ruling 76-453 or any other ruling, regulation or decision reaching the same result.
![Official portrait of Rep. Watkins, Wes [R-OK-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000194_200.jpg)