United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1977
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 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 · 3 August 1977
Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to document the vessel Bomar, owned by a certain individual as a vessel of the United States with the privilege of engaging in the coastwise trade and fishing so long as such vessel is owned by a United States' citizen.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1977
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to develop the Naval Petroleum Reserves numbered 1,2, and 3 to a capacity to produce at a maximum efficiency rate for national defense purposes. Directs the Secretary with respect to such reserves, during the period ending on April 5, 1982, to produce such reserves at the lowest rate sufficient to support the costs of exploration, development, and operation of the reserves and the costs of acquisitions for the reserves. Stipulates that the royalties accruing to the United States from reserve leases shall be determined without regard to Federal, State, or local regulations controlling sales or allocation of petroleum products. Authorizes the Secretary to exercise condemnation authority with respect to the Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 if production agreements are not reached within 90 days after the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1977
Congressional Pay Raise Deferral Act - Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 and the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to provide that any adjustment in the rate of pay for Members of Congress proposed during any Congress shall not take effect earlier than the beginning of the next Congress. States that any such pay adjustment proposed in an even-numbered year of any Congress after the congressional elections and before the beginning of the following Congress, shall be considered as occurring during the first session of the following Congress for the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1977
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 bomb explosions on Japan in August 1945. States that this Act applies only to medical services provided in the United States on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to compute the amount of the deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1977
Removes the present restrictions which prohibit enlisted members of the armed forces on active duty from engaging in a civilian pursuit or business or prohibit members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine bands from receiving, remuneration for furnishing music outside of a military base where such activities are in competition with local civilians.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1977
Prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds for the conversion of highway signs to the metric system unless the Congress specifically authorizes such an expenditure.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1977
Declares it the sense of the Congress that the United States should oppose United Nations membership of Vietnam and deny diplomatic recognition to Vietnam until that country cooperates in securing a satisfactory accounting of Americans missing in action and unaccounted for in the territory under Vietnamese control.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1977
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments used for wire communication, in any case in which such rates, terms, and conditions are not regulated by any State authority. Stipulates that a just and reasonable rate shall assure the utility of recovery of not less than the additional costs of providing pole attachments nor more than the actual capital and operating expenses of the utility attributable to that portion of the pole used by the attachment.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1977
Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Act - Prohibits the development of hard mineral resources of the deep seabed by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States except: (1) as authorized pursuant to this Act: (2) as authorized under a license issued by a reciprocating foreign state: or (3) as authorized by international agreement. Authorizes the issuance of licenses by the Secretary of Commerce to develop deep seabed mineral resources, in accordance with prescribed conditions. Stipulates that licenses shall remain in force for ten years or as long as commercial recovery from the block of land mineral resources continues. Authorizes the Secretary to establish procedures for the issuance of licenses. Requires the establishment of objective environmental standards for operations licensed under this Act. Sets forth a table of minimum annual expenditures per licensed block until commercial recovery from such block is initiated. Requires notification by each licensee to the Secretary after completion of exploration activities prior to the granting of an authorization to the licensee to begin commercial recovery. Requires that such request be made no earlier than six months, and no later that three months, prior to the projected commencement of such activity. Withdraws the following areas from licensing: (1) areas relinquished by the applicant under a license issued under this Act within the prior three years; (2) areas subject to a prior application or outstanding license; and (3) areas which would increase the licensees' holding to more than 30 percent of the deep seabed in a 250-kilometer circular area. Requires that licensees relinquish 75 percent of any block within ten years of the license date. Requires compliance with subsequent international agreements which may supersede the requirements of this Act. Stipulates that licensees suffering a measurable economic loss as a result of any international agreement shall be entitled to compensation from the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to establish reasonable licensing fees, not to exceed $100,000. Stipulates that United States district courts shall have original jurisdiction of cases arising under this Act, without regard to diversity of citizenship or amounts involved. Imposes a civil penalty of $10,000 per day for violations of this Act. Imposes a criminal penalty of $25,000 per day for willful and knowing violation of this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for the administration of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1977
Food Additive Safety Amendments - States that a food additive shall be deemed safe if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1) makes a finding, based on recommendations of an advisory committee, that the public benefit from permitting the use of such additive would exceed the public risk which might result from such use; (2) gives notice in the Federal Register of such a finding and invites public comment thereon; and (3) issues a final order not earlier than 120 days of such publication in the Federal Register of such findings. Specifies factors the Secretary must take into consideration when evaluating a food additive. Deems saccharin a safe food additive unless the Secretary declares it unsafe under the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1977
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 · 11 May 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to contract with health maintenance organizations to provide medical care for members of the armed forces and their dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1977
Credits female members of the armed forces, for purposes of computing years of active service in the armed forces, with service performed during World War I by such individuals as members of telephone operating units of the Army.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1977
Child Exploitation Prevention Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to prohibit the sexual exploitation of children by making it unlawful for any individual to (1) cause or permit a child to be photographed or filmed engaged in a sexual act prohibited under this Act; (2) photograph or film a prohibited sexual act; (3) knowingly transport any film or photograph depicting a prohibited sexual act; or (4) receive for sale or sell any such film or photograph, if such individual knows or should know such film or photograph has or may be transported in such a manner as to affect interstate or foreign commerce. Imposes a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years for a violation of sexual exploitation of children provisions of this Act. Imposes a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 15 years for a violation of the transportation of photographs and films of children engaged in sexual acts provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1977
Authorizes each Member of the House of Representatives, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and the Delegates from Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia, to hire for each year two senior citizen interns to serve within the District of Columbia. Makes available to each Member for the purpose of hiring such interns an annual gross allowance of $400.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1977
Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating to issue permits for the taking, incidental to commercial tuna fishing operations, of specified numbers of certain stocks of marine mammals, during the period beginning May 1, 1977, and ending December 31, 1978. Requires the Secretary to place an observer aboard fishing vessels engaged in fishing for tuna on porpoise until December 31, 1978. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1977
Customs Paperwork Simplification Act - Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to raise the resident tariff exemption on items imported for personal use or gifts to $500.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1977
Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating to issue permits for the taking, incidental to commercial tuna fishing operations, of specified numbers of certain stocks of marine mammals, during the period beginning May 1, 1977, and ending December 31, 1978. Requires the Secretary to place an observer aboard fishing vessels engaged in fishing for tuna on porpoise until December 31, 1978. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1977
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to transfer the responsibility for investigating Communist and subversive organizations affecting the internal security of the United States to a standing Committee on Internal Security established by this Resolution. Confers upon such committee the responsibility for investigating all organizations within the United States aimed at overthrowing or altering the Government of the United States by force, insurrection or other unlawful means or inciting or employing violence to obstruct the authority of the Federal Government with respect to matters of internal security of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1977
Wildlife on Federal Lands Trapping Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue such regulations, relating to trapping, as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any type of trap unless such trap utilizes the most humane capture method available for the species concerned, and minimizes the probability of capturing species for which such trap was not intended. Directs the Secretary to undertake a research program to develop such types of traps. Establishes an advisory commission to make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to traps designed or intended for use. Prohibits the Secretary from permitting trapping on Federal lands where such trapping may reduce any species below specified levels. Sets forth a procedure for the application and issuance of trapping permits. Requires the attachment of a shipping certificate to any package containing the fur, hide, skin, horn, or feathers of any mammal or bird captured by any trap within any State or the District of Columbia if such package is transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) engaging in trapping without a permit issued pursuant to this Act; (2) violating any condition of such permit; (3) violating any regulation of the Secretary relating to trapping; (4) selling or transporting in interstate commerce an unapproved trap; or (5) falsifying the shipping certificate. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with States with respect to the imposition of trapping regulations consistent with those prescribed under this Act. Authorizes such appropriations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Amends the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 to extend through 1980 assistance: (1) to refugees from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos; (2) to State and local public agencies providing assistance for such aliens; (3) for transportation to, and resettlement in, other areas of the United States; and (4) for employment assistance rendered to such aliens. Directs that funds appropriated under this Act be made available to State or local public agencies to reimburse them for the non-Federal share of costs under Titles IV (Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families with Children and for Child Welfare Services) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Limits the amount of assistance to be provided for a State or local public agency in fiscal years 1979, and 1980 for providing cash or medical assistance to aliens from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Requires the President to submit a report to specified Committees of Congress on the states of such refugees at regular intervals until December 31, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Drug Pushers Elimination Act - Increases maximum penalties for distribution, possession with intent to distribute, or domestic or certain foreign manufacture of coca leaves or certain of its derivatives, specified opiates or stimulants, or counterfeits thereof. Imposes mandatory minimum sentences for such violations. Excepts addicted persons from the applicable minimum term of imprisonment specified in this Act. Stipulates that one conspiring or attempting to manufacture, distribute, import, or export certain controlled substances shall be punished the same as one who commits the offense which was the object of the conspiracy or attempt. Directs a judicial officer to consider whether a person charged with an offense under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 poses a danger to himself, the persons or property of others, or the community in setting conditions of release pending trial. Denies release prior to trial to a person charged with an offense for which penalties are increased in this Act, upon a judicial officer making any one of specified findings in a special hearing to be conducted at the time of arraignment. Prohibits persons convicted of certain narcotics crimes, with certain exceptions for addicts, from being released while awaiting sentence or after having filed an appeal or a petition for a writ of certiorari. Permits an addict charged with unlawfully importing, selling, or conspiring to import or sell a narcotic drug to be eligible for civil commitment and rehabilitation in lieu of criminal prosecution if the court determines that such alleged violation was for the primary purpose of enabling the offender to obtain a narcotic drug required for personal use because of the addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Designates service as a Member of the Women's Air Forces Service Pilots as active duty for the purposes of all laws administered by the Veterans' Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Eliminates the provision in the Veterans' Assistance and Employment Act of 1976 which prohibits colleges and universities from receiving Veterans' Administration educational benefits for classes in which more than 85 percent of the enrollment is composed of students having their fees paid either by the Federal Government or the institutions themselves.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1977
Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act - Title I: Procurement - Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for fiscal year 1978 for the procurement of aircraft, missiles, naval vessels, tracked combat vehicles, torpedoes, and other weapons for the armed forces. Prohibits the use of funds authorized under this Act for the DDG-47 guided missile destroyer program for materials or components which are not suitable for use in a nuclear powered strike cruiser until the President has made certain determinations and has reported them to the Congress. Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1978 for military research, development, testing and evaluation for the armed forces, the defense agencies, and the Director of Defense Research and Engineering. Sets forth the purposes for which the Director is required to use such funds. Prohibits the use of funds under this title for the Roland Missile System until the Secretary of the Army notifies the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives that certain conditions have been met. Prohibits the use of funds under this Act for the installation of a 120-millimeter gun on the XM-1 tank until certain conditions have been met. Directs the Secretary of the Army to study the feasibility of deploying the XM-1 tank with integral chemical, biological, and radiological warfare defense equipment and to report the results of such study to the Committees on Armed Services of the House and Senate. Prohibits the Secretary from obligating funds under this Act for the improvement of the M-139 gun as an interim weapon system for use on the Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle or for the integration of the Tube-launched Optical-tracked Wire-guided (TOW) weapon system on such vehicle until the production of such vehicle is initiated. Title III: Active Forces - Prescribes the authorized end strength for active duty personnel in the various components of the armed forces for fiscal year 1978. Title IV: Reserve Forces - Prescribes the average strength for the Selected Reserve components of each of the armed forces. Authorizes the Secretaries of each military department and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard to establish educational assistance programs for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of each of the armed forces. Stipulates that such assistance may equal 50 percent of the educational expenses incurred by a member at an accredited institution and that the maximum amount available shall not exceed $2,000. Establishes eligibility requirements for participation in such program. Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit periodic reports to Congress regarding the number of members receiving such educational assistance. Establishes reenlistment bonuses for members of the Selected Reserve components of each of the armed forces. Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit periodic reports to Congress regarding the number of individuals receiving such bonuses. Title V: Civilian Personnel - Prescribes the authorized end strength for civilian personnel within the Department of Defense. Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress regarding the allocation of such personnel among the military departments and agencies of the Department including a rationale for each such allocation. Authorizes the Secretary to increase the number of civilian personnel prescribed under this Act if such action is necessary in the national interest. Stipulates that such increase shall not exceed one and one-half percent of the level authorized under this Act. Requires the Secretary to promptly notify Congress of any such increase. Title VI: Military Training Student Loads - Prescribes the authorized average military training student load for the various components of the armed forces for fiscal year 1978. Title VII: Civil Defense - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1978 to carry out the provisions of the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950 for programs of the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. Title VIII: General Provisions - Directs the President, beginning with fiscal year 1979, to include in the budget a request for funds sufficient to meet the total operation and maintenance costs of the Department of Defense. Authorizes appropriations in such amounts as may be necessary to pay claims or equitable adjustments arising out of contracts for the construction of naval vessels. Prohibits the paying of such a claim or adjustment arising out of any contract over $5,000,000 unless the Secretary of Defense has certified to Congress that the claim or adjustment has been thoroughly examined. Makes the required length of service for female members of the armed forces the same as males. Removes the present requirement that the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force conduct annual inspections of the Army and Air Force National Guard. Extends the subsistence allowances for members of the Marine Corps officer candidate programs through fiscal year 1978. Extends the President's authority to furnish Israel with aircraft and related equipment through fiscal year 1979. Stipulates that no such transfer may be made unless funds have been previously appropriated for such transfer. Directs the Secretary of Defense to supply a full accounting to the Committees on Armed Services of the House and Senate of all experiments or tests of the Department during the previous year which involved the use of human subjects for the testing of chemical or biological agents. Requires the Secretary to inform such committees of any such experiments or studies at least 30 days before their initiation. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the criteria used in determining whether commercial or industrial type functions of any Department of Defense installation should be performed by Department personnel or by private contractors. Prohibits any further conversion of such work to private contractors before March 15, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1977
Declares that specified persons previously appointed as temporary hearing examiner's under the Supplemental Security Income program of the Social Security Act shall be considered appointed to career-absolute positions as hearing examiners.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Prohibits rules promulgated by any Federal agency (except an emergency rule which must become immediately effective to prevent serious injury or the substantial frustration of legislative policies or intent) from becoming effective until such proposed rules have been submitted to Congress and a 60-day period has lapsed thereafter. Prevents such rules from becoming effective if disapproved by either House of Congress within such 60-day period. Permits disapproved of emergency rules. Prohibits the submission to Congress of any rule identical to one which has been disapproved unless submitted pursuant to new legislative authority which has been enacted affecting the agency's powers with respect to the subject matter of such rule. Renders agency rules dealing with emergency or routine matters or which will have an insignificant impact effective without publication of advance/notice of proposed rule making proceedings in the Federal Register as is currently required. Renders any rule granting an exemption to another rule or which is exempt from public notice and comment requirements effective immediately.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the seizure and forfeiture of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft used to illegally transport aliens into the United States. Sets forth exceptions to such seizure and forfeiture provision, including a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft used as a common carrier unless the owner or other person in charge was at the time of the alleged illegal act a consenting party or privy thereto.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1977
Economic Impact Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to prepare an economic impact statement for each bill or joint resolution reported in Congress, for each amendment proposed in either House, and for each rule proposed by any Federal agency. Requires such statement to contain the direct and indirect effects of such proposed law on employment, production, inflation, and costs to be incurred by the Government for the fiscal year in which it is proposed or reported and each of the five fiscal years following such fiscal year. States that the effects referred to in this Act as they apply to agency rules shall include effects on State and local governments, major industrial sectors of the economy, the availability of consumer goods, low- and middle-income families, and small business. States that such statement applying to an agency rule shall be distributed as soon as possible but not later than 30 days before such rule is to become effective.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engineers, to study the hazardous conditions on the Mission Bay Harbor Entrance Channel, Quivira Basin, and Mariners Cove, California.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1977
Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act to exclude from coverage (1) employers with ten or fewer employees; and (2) employees not employed on a regular basis for 30 or more consecutive days. Requires that a warning rather than a citation be given for a first instance violation, other than a willful or serious violation, to an employer who has not employed more than 25 employees at any time during the 30 days prior to an inspection or investigation. Prohibits the imposition of a civil penalty against an employer for a nonserious violation if (1) such employer has not previously received a citation for the same violation; and (2) the inspection upon which such citation was based resulted in the issuance of citations for ten or or fewer violations of a nonserious nature.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1977
Amends the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act to direct the Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy to require the Administrator of General Services to establish a program (1) to provide for the acquisition of strategic and critical materials from foreign countries through the barter of goods owned by the United States, and (2) to insure the active cooperation and participation of each appropriate department and agency having custody of goods suitable for barter. Requires the annual stock piling report submitted to the Congress by such Secretaries to include a report regarding such barter program. Prohibits the appropriation or obligation of funds under such Act for the procurement of strategic or critical materials unless funds for such procurement have been specifically authorized by law. Makes excess materials in the inventory maintained under the Defense Production Act and in the national and supplemental stockpiles available, where authorized, for transfer at fair market value as payment for expenses in the acquiring, refining, and rotating of materials pursuant to such barter program. Establishes within the Treasury a Strategic and Critical Materials Procurement Fund. Stipulates that all moneys received from the sales of materials under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act shall be placed into the Fund and that moneys from such fund shall be available only, when appropriated, for the procurement, transportation, maintenance, rotation, storage, refining or processing of materials under such Act. Requires the Administrator of General Services to annually report to Congress on the operation of the Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1977
Requires that whoever uses or carries a firearm during the commission of a Federal felony, or whoever is convicted by a State court of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year and used or carried a firearm transported in, or affecting, interstate or foreign commerce during the commission of such crime shall, in addition to the punishment provided for the commission of such crime, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years. Requires in the case of a second or subsequent conviction the imposition of a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years, or to life imprisonment. Stipulates that the execution or imposition of any term of imprisonment under this Act (1) may not be suspended, (2) may not run concurrently; and (3) may not include probation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1977
Title I: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 1977 for use by the various military departments for research, development, test, and evaluation. Title II: Military Construction - Authorizes supplemental appropriations for use by the Secretary of Defense for military family housing, operating expenses, and maintenance of real property in support of military family housing.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1977
Directs the President to appoint a specified number of additional judges to designated United States district courts and courts of appeals. Authorizes the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to place an additional eight positions in grades 16, 17, and 18 of the General Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1977
Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to make its provisions, currently applicable to persons between 40 and 65 years of age, applicable to anyone 40 years of age or older.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1977
Declares that the expenses, not to exceed $787,625, of investigations and studies to be conducted by the Select Committee on Aging shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the House.