A joint resolution designating February 1980 as "American History Month".
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1979
Designates February, 1980, as "American History Month."
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United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1979
Designates February, 1980, as "American History Month."
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1979
Franchise Reform Act - Requires a franchisor to notify a franchisee at least 90 days in advance of the franchisor's intention to terminate the franchise and to state the reasons for termination. Prohibits a franchisor from cancelling a franchise or failing to renew a franchise unless the franchisor is effecting a market area withdrawal or the franchisor has good cause for failure to renew and has given proper notice. Makes any franchisor who has violated the requirements of this Act civilly liable to the aggrieved franchisee.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1979
Designates the week of April 27 through May 1, 1979, as "Appropriate Technology Week."
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Congressional Award Program Act - Establishes the Congressional Award Program in the United States and its territories to recognize and promote youth leadership and excellence in the areas of expedition fitness, personal creative development, and public service. Creates a Congressional Award Board with a Director to supervise such program. Authorizes the appointment of State award directors under this Act. Exempts the Board, its property, and its income from present and future Federal, State, and local taxation, with specified exceptions. Creates three Congressional Award Medals to be awarded under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Terminates the Dickey-Lincoln School hydroelectric power project on the Saint John River, Maine.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
National Fuel Alcohol and Farm Commodity Production Act of 1979 - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to replace the current program of loan guarantees for pilot project production of industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities with a program under which the Secretary of Agriculture may guarantee payment of 50 percent of loans made by private lenders to persons constructing and maintaining plants for the production of fuel alcohol derived from corn and other agricultural commodities. Authorizes the Secretary to sell corn to such loan recipients and to acquire and use distilled dried grain from them. Specifies conditions for such loan guarantees and sets the maximum cumulative total of outstanding principal and interest during the period from October 1, 1979, through September 30, 1984, at $600,000,000. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the Fuel Alcohol Plant Loan Guarantee Fund, and authorizes the appropriation of $60,000,000 for deposit in such Fund for fiscal year 1980. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set the loan level for the 1980 crop of corn at $2.10 per bushel, and the established price at $2.50 per bushel. Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to require that at least 25 percent of the amount appropriated in any fiscal year for grants for research in the production of industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities be reserved for research relating to the identification and development of agricultural commodities which are usable in the production of agricultural chemicals and fuel alcohol. Removes the $50,000 limit from the total amount of payments which a person shall be entitled to receive for annual feed grains programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow farmers an income tax deduction for the greater of the wholesale market value or the most recent sale price of crops which are not economically feasible for harvesting and are harvested and donated for charitable organizations for use in the organizations' charitable work.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Designates the week of May 14 through May 20, 1979, as "National Diabetes Week."
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1979
Declares the policy of the United States: (1) to renounce the first use of all nuclear weapons; and (2) to conclude treaties renouncing the first use of all nuclear weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1979
Sports Antitrust Reform Act of 1979 - Applies the antitrust laws to any organized professional sport, including baseball. Prohibits any exclusive territorial right to conduct or exhibit professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey, or soccer games except in a team's home territory if such territory has fewer than 2,000,000 residents.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1979
Federal Bicycle and Physical Fitness Facilities Act - Requires the head of each Federal department and agency to provide safe bicycle parking facilities at all buildings under the jurisdiction of such department or agency within one year after the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Civil Rights Amendments Act of 1979 - Authorizes the Attorney General to institute a civil action when an individual is denied use of a public facility because of the individual's affectional or sexual orientation. Prohibits the discrimination on the basis of an individual's affectional or sexual orientation in Federally assisted programs, employment, or housing. Authorizes the Attorney General to intervene in actions charging such discrimination. Prescribes penalties for interfering with an individual's right to housing on the basis of the individual's affectional or sexual orientation. Prohibits: (1) the use of statistical differences in determining whether such discrimination exists; or (2) requiring quotas as a remedy .
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for optometric and medical vision care under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Public Disclosure of Lobbying Act of 1979 - Requires organizations which expend more than $2,500 per quarter year or which employ at least one individual who spends all or part of each of 13 days or more per quarter year for lobbying purposes to register with the Comptroller General and to update annually such registration. Requires the identification of any such person retained for such lobbying purposes. Requires such organization to file quarterly reports concerning such lobbying activities including: (1) listing of total lobbying expenditures including each expenditures over $35 made to or for the benefit of any Federal officer, congressional employee, or Member of Congress; (2) the identification of retainees of an organization or certain employees making lobbying communications and the disclosure of certain expenditures; (3) a description of the issues for which such an organization has lobbied; (4) the identification of the means of communicating an advertisement intended to solicit over 500 people; (5) known business contacts with the person whom such organization is attempting to influence; and (6) the disclosure of any lobbying communication made on the floor of either House of Congress. Requires that the final quarterly report identify by amount each organization which contributed $3,000 or more to the reporting organization. Requires the Comptroller General to make copies of each registration and report required by this Act available for public inspection and copying. Makes it the duty of the Attorney General to investigate alleged violations of any provision of this Act or regulations promulgated thereunder. Requires the Attorney General to attempt to correct any violation by informal methods of conference or conciliation. Authorizes the Attorney General to institute civil or criminal actions in appropriate circumstances. Grants to the United States district courts jurisdiction for actions brought under this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to transmit reports to the President and each House of the Congress no later than March 31 of each year concerning activities under this Act. Provides a Congressional veto of rules and regulations promulgated by the Comptroller General pursuant to this Act. Makes any person or organization who knowingly fails to comply with the registration, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements of this Act, or regulations promulgated thereto, subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each such violation. Provides criminal penalties of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than two years, for knowing and willful violations of this Act, and for knowingly and willfully making misstatements or omitting material facts. Repeals the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act and specified provisions of the Legislative Reorganization Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Regulatory Flexibility Act - Requires Federal agencies to include the following information in the general notice of a proposed rule: (1) the goals and purpose of the rule; (2) the estimated number of individuals, businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions affected by the rule; (3) a statement that the agency seeks alternative proposals which could achieve the goal of the proposed rule at a lower cost to individuals, small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions; and (4) a list of the measures necessary for compliance with any reporting requirement affecting more than ten persons. Requires Federal agencies to accept and consider alternative proposals to a proposed rule and to publish those proposals with justification of the selection of the final rule. Defines a small business, small organization, small governmental jurisdiction, and an individual as used in this Act. Directs each agency to publish a plan for reviewing its rules within 180 days after enactment of this Act. Requires each agency to determine whether such rules are efficiently achieving the goals of the implementing legislation. Directs each agency to publish annually a list of the rules to be issued and reviewed during the next year.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Freestone Peach Research and Education Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a plan for financing and carrying out a research and education program with respect to freestone peaches. Requires that such plan: (1) establish a National Freestone Peach Research and Education Board to administer it; (2) fix the rate of assessments levied upon producers of freestone peaches (and collected for the Board by handlers) for research and education programs; (3) provide for the pro rata return of up to 50 percent of the net proceeds of such assessments to the States, for State projects; and (4) permit any freestone peach producer not in favor of the programs so supported to receive a refund of his or her assessment. Specifies permissive terms in such a plan. Prescribes civil penalties for handlers who violate this Act. Grants investigative and subpena powers to the Secretary for the enforcement of any plan the Secretary issues. Requires the Secretary to conduct a referendum of producers to ascertain approval of the plan issued. Denies effect to such plan if it fails to receive the approval of at least two-thirds of the producers voting in such a referendum, provided at least 50 percent of the registered producers cast votes. Provides a procedure for the suspension or termination of such a plan.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Amends title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to reallot unused social services funds to States which will use such funds during the succeeding year in preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care, or other forms of less intensive care. Allocates additional Federal matching funds for multipurpose senior center programs. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to clarify and standardize the eligibility requirements to the provision of assistance to multipurpose senior centers.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to increase from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000 the amount of a proposed loan to a Communist nation that must be reviewed by the President. Prohibits the Export-Import Bank from having more than $2,000,000,000 in outstanding loans or guarantees to Communist nations. Repeals the provision requiring the Board of Directors of the Bank to approve loans or guarantees in excess of $25,000,000 to the Soviet Union for energy related exports. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the President to determine whether a foreign nation seeking most-favored-nation treatment is permitting its citizens the right or opportunity to emigrate. Authorizes the President to grant a waiver of provisions prohibiting most-favored-nation status, credits, and commercial agreements to countries denying freedom of emigration for: (1) one year to countries not previously granted a waiver; or (2) five years to countries previously granted a waiver. Stipulates that either House may disapprove such waiver within 60 days. Authorizes the President to recommend to the Congress a five-year extension (presently one year extension) of the waiver of provisions prohibiting most-favored-nation status, credits, and commercial agreements to countries denying freedom of emigration. Repeals the limitation on credit to the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Requires the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay a monthly pension at a rate not to exceed $150 to: (1) each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements and whose annual income does not exceed $10,000; (2) certain qualified surviving spouses of each such veteran (whose own annual income does not exceed $10,000); or (3) the child or children of each such veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Beginning Farmers Entry Assistance Act - Title I: Findings - States the findings of Congress and the purposes of this Act. Title II: Establishment of Farm Entry Assistance Program - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to provide financial assistance to individuals who are seeking to establishing and operate full-time family farms. Prescribes the general criteria for State programs. Title III: Application for the Program - Limits qualification for such assistance to applicants who: (1) are seeking to operate a family farm; (2) are entering farming on a full-time basis for the first time during the ten years prior to the date of application; (3) have been denied credit on reasonable terms from a commercial source and the Farmers Home Administration, and could not obtain credit with the program's assistance; (4) demonstrate they are qualified to operate a family farm on a full-time basis; and (5) have net worths of less than $75,000 in 1979 dollars. Title IV: Federal Assistance to Applicants through State Agencies - Directs the Secretary to make available to qualified applicants guarantees of no more than 90 percent of the principal and interest of certain loans, nor more than 90 percent of payments due under certain leases or contracts. Subjects to the specified guidelines of this program: (1) loans for the purchase of farmland, for operating purposes, or for both; (2) payments on a land purchase contract with a ten-year repayment period; and (3) payments on leases of not more than ten years. Requires the availability of guarantees for other State programs consistent with specified requirements. Prescribes the general procedures the Secretary is to follow in the event of defaults by any beneficiary on such guaranteed loans, contract obligations, or leases. Title V: Funding - Authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds. Directs the Secretary to make available not more than $400,000,000 in guarantees for each of the four fiscal years following the first fiscal year commencing at least one year after enactment. Prescribes a general allocation formula for distribution of such guarantees among participating States. Creates a Farm Entry Assistance Fund for the discharge of the obligations of the Secretary under contracts guaranteeing loans or leases under this Act. Title VI: Reports - Requires the Secretary to report annually on the operation of the program to the appropriate committees of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1979
Fisheries Resource Control Act of 1979 - Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 to prohibit a vessel of the United States which is licensed or registered for a fishery to perform any of the following transactions without the approval of the Secretary of Commerce: (1) lease, charter, mortgage, deliver, or in any manner transfer such vessel to any foreign person; (2) sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer to any foreign person for any period exceeding one year a substantial portion of the fish available from the operation of such vessel; or (3) issue to any foreign person a bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness secured by a mortgage of such vessel. Sets forth the procedure for application to the Secretary of Commerce for any person seeking to engage in such transactions. Directs the Secretary to transmit such application to each Fishery Council which has authority over a fishery in which the vessel is engaged. Directs the Council to submit to the Secretary a written evaluation of the effect of an approval or disapproval on the fisheries involved. Allows the Secretary to approve such application upon a determination that it is consistent with the purpose and policy of this Act, and to exempt particular types of transactions from required approval. Sets forth penalties for false statements of a material fact to a Council, or any officer, attorney, or agent of a Council, or to the Secretary or any delegate of the Secretary. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress an annual report regarding foreign investment in the United States fishing industry, and details the requirements of such report. Allows the Secretary to require any person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to furnish information necessary to complete such report.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1979
Directs the Federal Communications Commission to examine the use of the AM radio broadcasting band and to assign such spectrum and distribute licenses so as to ensure that each community, regardless of size, is provided with the maximum local full-time radio broadcasting service.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1979
Requests the President not to propose to the Congress the exemption of motor gasoline from petroleum price control regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Small Business Regulatory Relief Act - Amends the Small Business Act to direct each Federal department, agency, and instrumentality engaged in rulemaking to prepare a written analysis of whether it is legal, feasible, and desirable to exempt small businesses (or classes thereof) from a rule or whether the agency should promulgate a rule with lesser compliance standards for small businesses. Sets forth information which must be present in such analysis.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Amends the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to require public notice by manufacturers of tire defects should he determine it necessary in the interest of motor vehicle safety. Stipulates under what conditions such notice may be required for any defects occurring before the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment for specified services performed by chiropractors, including x-rays and for physical examinations, and for related routine laboratory tests.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the special tax treatment of church agency pension plans as qualified church plans. Provides that plans maintained by groups or associations of churches include individuals "substantially all" of whom are qualified beneficiaries. Allows such plans to retain accrued benefits, according to their terms, or to continue receiving contributions for up to five years for separated employees. Allows any plan which is determined to have failed to meet church plan requirements a grace period of 270 days, or any other period specified by the Secretary of the Treasury or a court in an adjudication of such an issue, to bring itself into compliance without becoming disqualified. Applies these provisions retroactively to 1974.
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 · 29 January 1979
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to make permanent the special tax treatment of church agency pension plans as qualified church plans. Provides that plans maintained by groups or associations of churches include individuals "substantially all" of whom are qualified beneficiaries. Allows such plans to retain accrued benefits, according to their terms, or to continue receiving contributions for up to five years for separated employees. Allows any plan which is determined to have failed to meet church plan requirements a grace period of 270 days, or any other period specified by the Secretary of the Treasury or a court in an adjudication of such an issue, to bring itself into compliance without becoming disqualified. Applies these provisions retroactively to 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to compute the amount of the income tax deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Provides that each State entitled to more than one Representative in the 99th Congress or any subsequent Congress shall establish a number of districts equal to the number of Representatives to which that State is entitled. Directs the districts to be established as soon as practicable after the latest decennial census, but in no case later than three years. Sets forth the standards for establishing districts in order to insure fair and effective representation in the House of Representatives. Declares that any State legislature may establish by law standards for establishing fair and effective districts. Sets forth judicial procedures to insure compliance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Foster Care and Adoption Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Child-Welfare Services Program - Amends part B of title IV (Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to: (1) revise procedures for the payment to States for child-welfare service programs; and (2) prohibit payment to any State for such programs unless that State has in effect an action plan to assure foster care protection. Title II: Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Amends part A of title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) to require States receiving payments under part A to make adoption support payments. States that parents of adopted children are eligible for such payments while the adopted child is either under the age of 18, or is under the age of 21 and is a student.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1979
Entitles veterans meeting specified service requirements to 54 instead of 45 months of educational assistance. Eliminates the time limitation within which educational assistance must be used. Restores unused educational assistance benefits to veterans of World War II, the Korean conflict, or the Vietnam era.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the last Friday in April of each year as "National Arbor Day."
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1979
Parental Kidnapping Act of 1979 - Requires appropriate State authorities to give full faith and credit to a child custody determination by a court of another State which has jurisdiction and meets specified conditions. Authorizes a State court with jurisdiction to modify a custody determination of another State court which no longer has or has declined to exercise jurisdiction. Amends title IV (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of the Social Security Act to include as a function of the Parent Locator Service the provision of information to authorized persons about any absent parent or child for the enforcement of a child custody determination or with regard to parental kidnapping. Prohibits the intentional restraint of a child in violation of any other persons' right of custody or visitation arising from: (1) a State custody determination; (2) a valid written agreement between the child's parents, foster parents, or guardians; or (3) a parental or guardian relationship. Specifies (1) the jurisdictional basis for such offense, including the willful transportation of a child in interstate commerce, and (2) Federal investigation procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for the installation of a wood or peat burning stove.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to pay for medical services and treatment for any physical illness suffered by a United States citizen or permanent resident, which is directly attributable to the atomic explosions on Japan in August, 1945. Limits such assistance to medical services provided in the United States on or after the date of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Permits taxpayers to designate on their income tax returns whether they wish to contribute any portion of their income tax refund or make any additional contribution to the support of either the arts or the humanities. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to amend income tax return forms to provide a notice to taxpayers of their option to contribute. Authorizes the payment of 50 percent of taxpayer refunds or contributions designated for the arts to the National Endowment for the Arts and 50 percent to State Art Agencies. Specifies purposes for which such funds may be used and imposes restrictions on the use of such funds for administrative purposes or for research projects. Treats payments of funds to State agencies as donations from private persons and not as Federal assistance. Authorizes the payment of 80 percent of taxpayer refunds or contributions designated for the humanities to the National Endowment for the Humanities and 20 percent to State Humanities Entities. Specifies purposes for which such funds may be used and imposes restrictions on the use of such funds for administrative purposes or for research projects. Treats payments of funds to State Humanities Entities as donations from private persons and not as Federal assistance. Prohibits any Endowment or agency to which funds are paid under this Act from requiring any applicant for funds to raise additional funds or meet any matching requirements. Prohibits the use of funds raised by this Act to make grants to any institutions which hold such funds for investment. Limits the amount of funds which any institution may receive under this Act according to a specified percentage of the institution's operating budget.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Toxic Tort Act - Title I: Federal Cause of Action - Creates a Federal cause of action for damages to any person physically injured by the negligent manufacture of a toxic pollutant by a manufacturer. Stipulates that this action shall not preempt any other rights or causes of action existing under State or Federal law. Establishes a two-year statute of limitations for actions brought under this title, such period to commence on the date that the Environmental Protection Agency determines the requisite nexus exists between the physical injury complained of and the toxic pollutant alleged to be the cause of such injury. Authorizes the award of exemplary damages upon a finding by the trier of fact that the conduct of the defendant constituted a gross and wanton disregard for public safety. Sets forth certain rules regarding rebuttable presumptions and jurisdiction for any action pursuant to this title. Title II: State Worker's Compensation Law Amendments - Preempts any provision of State law contrary to the provisions, purposes, or intents of this title. Declares that the worker's compensation law of any State shall not deny benefits to any injured person solely for the untimely filing of a claim for benefits where such claim would have been timely under the provisions of this Act. Title III: Toxic Pollutant Compensation Agency - Establishes within the Environmental Protection Agency the Toxic Pollutant Compensation Agency (TPCA). Sets forth the powers and duties of the TPCA, including the power to subpoena any person to provide information deemed relevant to a claim; to promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act; to employ experts and consultants; and to perform any other administrative activities necessary for the effective fulfillment of its powers and duties under this Act. Outlines the procedure for certification of victims of toxic substance pollution and sets forth criteria upon which the TPCA shall determine whether the toxic pollutant caused the physical injury. Entitles certified victims to benefits not to exceed $50,000 per victim for medical expenses, costs of rehabilitation, and lost wages, where such claims are not provided for by insurance. Directs the TPCA to promulgate, through rules and regulations, appropriate forms and procedures for the filing of claims for benefits. Entitles persons other than the victim to payment of benefits if necessary to secure payment of alimony, maintenance or child support, to insure satisfaction of authenticated claims by those who furnished the victim with products or services constituting medical or rehabilitation benefits, or to insure satisfaction of claims for reasonable attorney's fees. Establishes the Toxic Pollutant Revolving Fund to provide for the payment of benefits. Directs the TPCA to prepare and submit to the Congress and the President annual reports of the activities of the TPCA. Vests jurisdiction for review of any compensation award or other final determination of the TPCA in the United States district court for the district in which the injury, disease, or death allegedly occurred. Authorizes the court to grant appropriate relief to persons petitioning for a review of a TPCA award or order. Title IV: Environmental Protection Agency - Sets forth powers and duties of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in administering this Act. Authorizes the EPA to make studies and investigations to determine whether physical injuries are caused by toxic pollutants, and sets forth procedures for conducting such studies and investigations. Requires the EPA to publish in the Federal Register for public comment any tentative findings of requisite nexus between a physical injury and an allegedly toxic pollutant, and to make and publish a final determination upon a finding of requisite nexus. Authorizes judicial review in the United States district court of such finding upon petition praying that the finding be set aside or modified.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Family Farm Antitrust Act of 1979 - Finds that vertical integration of the agricultural industry by corporations engaged in the processing, distributing and retail industries, and other conglomerate corporations, tends to create monopolies in the agricultural industry and produce unfair competition for family farms, contributing to the decline of rural populations and the consequent crowding of metropolitan centers. Declares it to be the national policy to restore competition to the agricultural industry and to provide for the continuance of the family farm. Provides that no person engaged in commerce in a business other than farming, whose nonfarming business assets exceed $3,000,000, shall engage in farming or the production of agricultural products, or participate in farming by any means of acquisition or control of another person who is engaged in farming. Specifies exceptions including charitable, educational, or nonprofit institutions, and farmer-owned and controlled cooperatives. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire at fair market value any property or interest of which a person is required to divest himself under the provisions of this Act, if the person is otherwise unable to divest himself of such property.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Radioactive Waste Management Act of 1978 - Requires the Secretary of Energy, before investigating any site for construction of a radioactive waste storage facility, to notify each chamber of the concerned State legislature and publish notice of such investigation in the Federal Register. Requires notice to State legislatures of decisions and contracts for the construction of such facilities. Allows a 120-day period for disapproval of construction by the affected State's legislature or by statewide referendum.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Tax Equity Act of 1979 - Provides that the Secretary of the Treasury shall, within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Ways and Means a draft of any technical and conforming changes in the Internal Revenue Code which should be made to reflect the substantive amendments made by this Act. Provides that every amendment made by this Act shall apply notwithstanding that its application may be contrary to the provisions of some treaty in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. Title I: Capital Gains and Losses - Repeals the alternative tax on long term capital gains for individuals, corporations, and life insurance companies. Provides, in lieu of the present 60 percent tax deduction for net long term capital gains, an exclusion from gross income of so much of the gain as does not exceed one half of one percent of the adjusted basis of property (capital assets or property used in a trade or business) at the time of its sale or exchange times the number of months such property is held over 12 months. Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code related to the preferential tax treatment of long term capital gains. Allows the deduction of capital losses for corporations only to the extent of the gains which such corporations realize from the sale or exchange of capital assets and property used in its trade or business. Allows the deduction of capital losses for other taxpayers only to the extent of gains realized by such taxpayers plus the taxable income of the taxpayer or $3,000, whichever is smaller. Permits a one year carryover of net capital losses which exceed the limitations on deductibility in the current or preceding taxable years. Permits a three year carryback of such losses which are in excess of $10,000. Limits the deduction for net capital losses to the amount of the net capital gain in the year in which the loss is carried back. Allows a carryback of net capital losses without regard to the $10,000 limit for a decedent who sustains a capital loss in the year of his death. Allows the executor of a decedent's estate to include in the gross income of a decedent for his last taxable year any unrealized capital gains on a capital asset held by the decedent at the time of his death, if the decedent had a net capital loss during such year. Requires the amount of gain included in the decedent's gross income to be added to the adjusted basis of the property for purposes of computing the basis of property passing to the heirs. Provides that periodic income from the sale or exchange of patent rights shall be treated as royalties (ordinary income) rather than as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. Title II: Income Derived from Extraction of Minerals - Repeals the percentage depletion allowance for taxable years beginning after 1979. Allows an income tax deduction for expenditures (including intangible drilling costs) incurred in the exploration and development of mineral properties (including geothermal deposits), but only to the extent of taxable income derived from such properties. Terminates the income tax deductions for expenditures for the development of mines or other natural deposits (other than an oil or gas well) and for expenditures for mining exploration after 1979. Provides an exclusion from gross income of amounts derived from foreign mineral properties, provided that such income is not derived from: (1) a nonoperating mineral interest; (2) distributions received with respect to the stock of a corporation; and (3) amounts includible in gross income as undistributed profits of controlled foreign corporations. Limits the losses allowable from the disposition of mineral property to the extent of the gains from the sale or exchange of such properties during the taxable year. Title III: Reform Measures Affecting Primarily Individuals - Revises the income tax rates for individuals to limit the maximum rate to 50 percent. Provides, in lieu of certain itemized personal income tax deductions, an income tax credit equal to 30 percent of the itemized deductions which the taxpayer would normally take for the taxable year. Specifies those deductions which qualify as personal deductions. Limits to $10,000 the amount of interest and taxes paid on a personal residence which may qualify for the 30 percent credit. Allows a standard credit allowance (in lieu of the zero bracket amount) for taxpayers who do not itemize income tax deductions. Authorizes the President to increase or decrease by not more than two percent the amount of the credit if he determines that such action is in the public interest. Provides that either House of Congress may disapprove Presidential action to increase or decrease the credit. Requires a taxpayer who is claiming a child for purposes of the 30 percent income tax credit, to include in his gross income any income received by the child during the taxable year from a trust created by the taxpayer, and also any dividends, interest, or royalties received by the child from any property given to him by the taxpayer. Provides that shareholder-employees of closely held corporations must include in gross income: (1) that part of contributions paid by an employer-corporation (and deductible by it) to trusts, annuities, or bond purchase plans for the benefit of the shareholder-employee in excess of (a) the lesser of 15 percent of his compensation; or (b) $7,500, unless 75 percent of the contributions made during the year by the corporation under the plans are for the benefit of employees who are not shareholder-employees; (2) payments to an accident or health plan for the benefit of a shareholder- employee unless employees who are not shareholder-employees received 75 percent or more of all such payments made by the employer-corporation during the taxable year; and (3) the value of lodging and meals furnished by the employer-corporation. Repeals the $100 exclusion from gross income for dividend income. Requires a taxpayer who claims a business expense deduction for attendance at a foreign convention that such convention was: (1) directly related to the active conduct of his trade or business; and (2) more properly held outside the United States than within it, considering all the circumstances. Disallows any deduction for the expenses of attending a convention held on a cruise ship. Revises the formula for computing the income tax deduction for the maintenance of a vacation home to lower the amount of the allowable deduction. Limits the amount of the allowable income tax deduction attributable to farming to the gross income derived from the business of farming for a taxable year plus, in the case of an individual, the greater of $10,000 or the amount of the special deductions (taxes, interest, casualty or theft losses, drought losses, and capital losses) attributable to farming, or in the case of other taxpayers, the amount of the special deductions for the taxable year. Provides that the earnings and profits of a parent corporation, for the purpose of paying taxable dividends, shall not be less than the earnings and profits of the consolidated group for the taxable year. Provides for the recognition of gain from the transfer of appreciated property to a controlled corporation by a related corporation to the extent that such transfer qualifies as the payment of a dividend. Provides that stock options granted to officers and employees of a corporation will not have an ascertainable fair market value at the time they are granted unless such options are traded on a stock exchange or over the counter. Provides that an individual who establishes a trust for his minor children and retains an interest in such trust which will revert to him after ten years will be taxed on the interest which is distributed to his children during the ten year period. Extends to business enterprises formed to invest in real estate the rule which limits income tax deductions for business losses to amounts which such enterprises actually have at risk. Prohibits an individual from basing his estimated tax payments on the prior year's tax (or at the current year's rates applied to the prior year's facts) if in any one of the three preceding taxable years the tax shown on his return was in excess of $100,000. Treats a partnership which is required to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission or a comparable State agency after July 1, 1979, as a corporation for taxable years ending after the date of the filing of the registration statement. Title IV: Reform Measures Affecting Primarily Corporations - Repeals the investment tax credit with respect to property placed in service on or after January 1, 1980. Repeals the asset depreciation range system of computing the allowance for depreciation. Reinstates the reserve ratio test for determining the useful life of property subject to the allowance for depreciation. Prohibits a corporation from claiming an income tax deduction for depreciation which is greater than the amount of depreciation carried on its books for purposes of reporting earnings to shareholders. Limits the business expense deduction for repairs to the amount which a corporation reports on its books as current expenses. Limits the amount of the income tax deduction for dividends received by corporations to 85 percent of its taxable income computed without regard to the operating loss deduction or any capital loss carryback. Permits a carryover of any amount disallowed due to such limitation to the following taxable year. Provides that any dividend received by a corporation from an unaffiliated corporation shall be reduced, for purposes of the dividends received deduction, by the amount of any interest costs incurred to purchase or carry the stock of the unaffiliated corporation. Disallows the dividends received deduction for dividends received from an unaffiliated corporation to the extent that such dividends exceed the amount of dividends paid by the receiving corporation during the taxable year. Permits the nonrecognition of gain in the case of a corporation which distributes appreciated property in redemption of its stock pursuant to a court proceeding under the antitrust laws, if such stock was acquired before January 1, 1970. Repeals provisions permitting the nonrecognition of gain from the bulk sale of inventory in a 12 month corporate liquidation. Imposes a tax at the corporate level on a portion of the gain from the distribution of property by a corporation to tax-exempt shareholders pursuant to a 12 month liquidation. Permits the nonrecognition of gain from a distribution of corporate property pursuant to a plan of complete liquidation, if , at the time of the adoption of the plan, the corporation has more than 15 shareholders. Disqualifies as a tax free reorganization a transaction in which share-holders of a merging corporation own, as a result of such transaction, less than 20 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the surviving corporation. Terminates the special treatment of bad debt reserves of financial institutions after December 31, 1979. Taxes, on a current basis, the undistributed profits of a controlled foreign corporation to its domestic shareholders based upon each shareholder's pro rata share of such undistributed profits. Terminates the tax exemption for a domestic international sales corporation (DISC) after December 31, 1979. Reduces the basis of property owned by a corporation which is similar or related in service or use to property which has been involuntarily converted by the amount of gain which is not recognized as a result of the purchase of stock in such corporation. Prohibits a corporation from basing its estimated tax payments on the prior year's tax (or on the basis of the prior year's facts and the current year's rates) if in any one of the three preceding taxable years the tax shown on the corporation's return was in excess of $300,000. Disallows the income tax deduction for interest paid by banks and other financial institutions to depositors and other creditors to the extent that their investments in tax exempt bonds constitutes a percentage of their total assets. Title V: Reforms Affecting Individuals and Corporations - Repeals provision which permits the deduction of an individual's or corporation's income tax liability from the sum of the items of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Repeals provisions designating reserves for bad debts of financial institutions, percentage depletion, and capital gains as items of tax preference. Designates tax exempt interest on State and local bonds and the foreign tax credit as items of tax preference. Requires the inclusion in the gross income of a corporation the difference between the value on the open market of the use of the corporation's property or money and the amount charged to a shareholder for the use of such property or money. Treats such amount as a dividend to the shareholder. Disallows an income tax deduction for depreciation of a rental building to the extent that such depreciation would reduce the adjusted basis of the building below the unpaid balance of the mortgage on the land and building. Reduces the allowable amount of the charitable deduction for the contribution of appreciated property to a charitable organization by the amount of gain which would have been realized if the property contributed had been sold by the taxpayer at its fair market value. Requires the capitalization of expenditures attributable to the planting, cultivation, maintenance, or development of any fruit or nut grove, or any vineyard, and which is incurred before the time when the productive stage is reached. Repeals the tax exemption of foreign individuals or corporations which operate ships documented under the laws of a foreign country which grant an equivalent tax exemption to United States citizens or corporations. Empowers the Internal Revenue Service to conduct all civil proceedings involving the enforcement of the internal revenue laws in any court (including the United States Supreme Court). Title VI: Reforms Affecting Private Foundations and Estate and Gift Taxes - Provides that a trust shall not be treated as a public charity if the trustees have discretion to distribute as they see fit more than 50 percent of the trust income between two or more organizations named in the trust instrument as permissible beneficiaries. Treats an individual's contribution to a private foundation as public support only to the extent that such contribution does not exceed one-half of one percent of the foundation's support. Eliminates the five percent reversionary interest test for determining whether the value of trust property passing to its beneficiaries upon the death of the grantor will be included in the estate of the grantor. Requires the inclusion in the gross estate of a decedent the value of an annuity or other plan of compensation receivable by a beneficiary under an agreement of the decedent's employer which arose out of services rendered by the decedent, whether or not the beneficiary has an enforceable right to receive the compensation. Provides that the exclusion from the gross estate of a decedent of annuity payments attributable to employer contributions shall apply only if such payments go to the decedent's surviving spouse. Requires the inclusion of life insurance proceeds in the gross estate of a decedent in the proportion that the premiums paid by the decedent or his spouse bears to all premiums paid for the insurance. Limits the charitable estate tax deduction to the greater of $1,000,000 or 50 percent of the gross estate minus expenses for administration and payment of the decedent's debts. Excludes from the gross estate any transfer made by the decedent during his lifetime for which an estate tax charitable deduction is permitted. Permits the donor of property to a charitable organization a gift tax deduction for the value of such property even if he retains an interest in the property donated. Title VII: State and Local Obligations - Repeals the income tax exclusion for interest on State and local bonds issued after December 31, 1979. Provides that the Federal Government will pay 35 percent of the interest yield on State and local bonds, other than industrial development bonds, issued after December 31, 1979. Title VIII: Withholding of Income Tax on Dividends and Interest - Requires the withholding of income tax on interest and dividends equal to ten percent of such interest or dividends. Defines "interest" and "dividends" for purposes of this Title.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Provides that recipients of veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation to parents and non-service connected death, disability, or certain other service pensions will not have the amount of such pensions reduced or discontinued because of increases in monthly social security benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Gasohol Motor Fuel Act of 1979 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to promote the development and use of alcohol-blended fuels in the United States. Directs the Secretary to study the most suitable raw materials for the production of alcohol-blended fuels. Requires that such study emphasize alternative fuel sources to petroleum and natural gas, and evaluate the efficiency of various production and distribution systems. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress within six months after the enactment of this Act concerning the results of such study. Directs the Secretary to set production goals for alcohol-blended fuel development within six months after the completion of the study. Directs the Secretary to require that motor fuel sold in 1981 be one percent alcohol-blended. Sets increasing percentage requirements for succeeding years ending in 1990 where motor fuel shall be ten percent alcohol-blended. Empowers the Secretary to enforce the provisions of this Act and enumerates the enforcement procedures and penalties. Requires that all facilities constructed to distill alcohol for motor fuel use shall use fuel sources which are renewable. Directs the Secretary to establish, within six months after the enactment of this Act, procedures for the certification of alcohol distilling facilities. Requires the Secretary to give first priority for fuel sources to operate such distillation facilities to renewable energy resources. Grants last priority for fuel sources to petroleum, petroleum derivatives and natural gas. Empowers the Secretary to waive the preference for renewable resources upon a finding that they are economically or technically infeasible for use as fuel sources to power distillation facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate May 1, 1979, as "National Bicycling Day."
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the new Department of Labor health and safety training regulations for miners places an undue burden on small store, sand, and gravel surface mining operations and should not apply to operations with 35 or fewer employees.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Provides that remarriage of a veteran's surviving spouse after age 60 shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Solar Energy Bank Act - Establishes a Government corporation in the Department of Housing and Urban Development to be known as the Solar Energy Development Bank to make long-term, low-interest loans to encourage the use of solar energy in commercial and residential structures. Sets forth requirements for loan eligibility concerning the term and amount of the loan and necessary warranties for the solar energy systems covered by such loan. Prohibits conflicts of interest on the part of officers or employees of the Bank. Imposes criminal penalties for the furnishing of false or misleading information by applicants for loans under this Act. Establishes a seven-member Advisory Board to make annual reports to Congress and the President on the operation of the program established by this Act. Prohibits subsidy payments under this Act to any person who has received other Federal assistance for purchase and/or installation of energy systems similar to the solar systems assisted under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Nuclear Incident Liability Reform Act of 1978 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require that licensees for nuclear facilities obtain the maximum amount of liability insurance available from private sources. Requires that such licensees participate in an industry retrospective rating plan in addition to maintaining such insurance. Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish rules specifying the rates for deferred premiums charged to licensees under such plan in the event of any nuclear incident resulting in public liability which exceeds or appears likely to exceed the level of a licensee's primary financial protection and the amount otherwise available from such licensee for the satisfaction of such liability. Authorizes the Commission to loan to a licensee, at prescribed interest rates, the amount by which an assessment of deferred premiums exceeds the amount which the licensee is able to pay within a reasonable time following any nuclear incident without impairing its ability to provide electric utility service. Repeals the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 relating to indemnification of licensees from liability which is in excess of the level of financial protection required of the licensee. Eliminates the $500,000,000 ceiling on indemnification of contractors of the Commission against claims for liability, arising out of contractual activities, which are above the amount of financial protection required of contractors. Repeals provisions of such Act relating to: (1) the $560,000,000 maximum aggregate liability for a single nuclear incident; (2) the collection of fees for indemnification agreements, and (3) compensation to private insurance organizations for services connected with handling indemnifications. Eliminates the exemption from the requirements of financial protection of nonprofit, educational institution licensees. Repeals the Commission's authority to indemnify persons engaged in activities relating to the Nuclear Ship Savannah from liability for nuclear incidents. Terminates the Commission's authority to enter agreements with other indemnitors with respect to emergency assistance payments. Makes technical and conforming amendments to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $1,000 ($1,500 for joint returns, $750 for married individuals filing separately) of the interest earned from savings accounts. Reduces the amount of such exclusion, dollar for dollar, by the amount the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $10,000 ($15,000 for joint returns, $7,500 for married individuals filing separately).