United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1979
Entitles a widow or widower of a person drawing a civil service pension to any survivor annuity to which such widow or widower would have been entitled but for the fact that he or she married the pensioner after his or her retirement from Federal service.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to add Title V: Financing of General Election Campaigns for the House of Representatives. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to maintain, in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, the House of Representatives Election Campaign Account. Sets forth eligibility requirements to be met by candidates for election to the House of Representatives seeking payments from such Account. Limits expenditures from personal funds which may be made by candidates meeting such eligibility requirements. Entitles eligible candidates to matching payments and sets forth the procedure for determining the amounts of these payments. Stipulates that the aggregate payments to all candidates in an election shall not exceed three times the maximum amount payable in matching funds. Suspends certain expenditure limitations on eligible candidates if any candidate not eligible to receive payments pursuant to this Act makes expenditures or receives contributions in excess of specified amounts. Sets forth the procedure for requesting matching payments. Sets forth procedures to be followed by the Secretary of the Treasury in maintaining the House of Representatives Election Campaign Account. Directs the Federal Elections Commission to conduct examinations and audits of the campaign accounts of ten percent of the eligible candidates. Provides for the participation of the Commission in judicial proceedings arising under this Act. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Adopts the Rules of the House of Representatives of the 95th Congress as the Rules of the House of the 96th Congress except as amended by this Resolution. Allows a demand for a vote on the Speakers approval of the Journal of the proceedings of the last day's sitting. States that it shall be in order to offer one motion that the Journal be read only if the Speakers' approval is not agreed to. Declares that such motion shall be decided without debate. Allows the Speaker to postpone further proceedings on the question of passing bills, resolutions, or agreeing to conference reports to a designated time in the legislative schedule or within two days. Directs that the postponed consideration of proceedings shall be in the order in which that question was considered. Allows the Speaker to reduce to not less than five minutes the period of time within which a rollcall vote by electronic device on the question may be taken without any intervening business. States that if the House adjourns before all questions on which proceedings were postponed are determined then they will be determined on the next legislative day. Directs the Speaker of the House to take immediate action to implement a system for the audio and video broadcasting of House floor proceedings. Directs that broadcasts be made available to commercial and public broadcasters. Prohibits such broadcasting coverage from being used for any political purpose. Declares that no Member other than the representative from the leadership of the majority and minority parties shall serve on the Committee on the Budget during more than three (presently two) Congresses in any five successive Congresses, except that an incumbent chairman who has served on the committee for three Congresses and as chairman for one Congress may be reelected as chairman for one additional Congress. Prohibits information on testimony received by any committee from being publicly disclosed unless specifically authorized by a vote of the full committee. Allows the Speaker to appoint the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and Delegates to the House to any select or conference committee which is considering legislation reported from a committee they serve on. Authorizes a committee to close a hearing for the sole purpose of discussing whether evidence to be received would endanger the national security or would defame, degrade, or incriminate any person. Declares that whenever it is asserted that certain testimony or evidence at an investigatory hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person such testimony shall be presented in executive session. Requires copies of any measure or matter reported by any committee to be available to the Members for at least three calendar days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays during which the House is not in session, before the beginning of consideration of such measure (presently must be available for at least two hours before consideration). Authorizes the Speaker to postpone further proceedings on resolutions from the Committee on Rules if a recorded vote or the yeas and nays are ordered or if the vote is objected to. Allows the Speaker to reduce to not less than five minutes the period of time in which a rollcall vote will be taken if the question on final passage or adoption of the bill, resolution, or conference report follows without intervening business the vote on the question of recommittal. Declares that it shall be in order for a Member to move for a call of the House when recognized for that purpose by the Speaker, and when a quorum has been established. Sets forth the procedure for determining in the Committee of the Whole that a quorum is present. States that in the Committee of the Whole, the Chair may order a recorded vote on request if supported by at least 25 Members. Declares that in order for an amendment to a concurrent resolution on the budget to be considered, the resolution as amended must be mathematically consistent. Declares that a second motion is not required to suspend the rules if printed copies of the measure proposed have been available for one legislative day. Allows for a 40 minute debate on a proposition when a motion to suspend the rules has been submitted. Directs that any conference report and Senate amendment in disagreement that has been made available pursuant to House rules shall be considered as having been read and called up for consideration. Directs that a Member shall not allow a non- House individual to use any combination of words that would indicate Congressional membership on any letterhead or envelope. Directs the Clerk of House to compile all financial disclosure reports sent by Members and have them printed as a House document.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Instructs the Clerk to inform the President that the House of Representatives has elected Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., a Representative from Massachusetts, Speaker, and Edmund L. Henshaw, Jr., of Virginia, Clerk of the House of Representatives of the 96th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Informs the Senate that a quorum of the House of Representatives has assembled, that Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., a Representative from Massachusetts, has been elected Speaker and Edmund L. Henshaw, Jr., from Virginia, has been elected Clerk of the House of Representatives for the 96th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Declares that the compensation of the Chaplain of the House of Representatives shall be equivalent to the Highest rate of basic pay as in effect from time to time of level IV of the Executive Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Requires the Speaker of the House to appoint a committee of three Members of the House of Representatives to join with a committee on the part of the Senate to notify the President that a quorum of each House has been assembled and that Congress is ready to receive any communication that he may be pleased to make.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1978
Declares that the first regular session of the Ninety-sixth Congress shall begin at 12 o'clock meridian on January 15, 1979. Requires the President to transmit to the Congress the budget for 1980 and the Economic Report not later than January 22, 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate of an individual the value of an annuity under a qualified State judicial plan or any benefits payable thereunder. Defines "qualified State judicial plan" as a compulsory defined benefit plan for the exclusive benefit of elected judges or their beneficiaries. Provides that the designation of a beneficiary under a State judicial plan shall not be considered a transfer of property for purposes of the gift tax.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1978
Commends President Carter, President Sadat, and Prime Minister Begin for their efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. Expresses the sense of Congress that the agreements reached at the Camp David Summit: (1) provide the basis for peace treaties among the parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict; and (2) the United States should continue to pursue further direct peace talks among parties in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1978
Declares a certain individual to have satisfied the residence and physical presence requirements for naturalization, under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1978
Modifies the project for the Trinity River and tributaries, Texas, authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1965, to direct the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to include estimates of net regional income benefit for the region surrounding the Trinity River and to use such net regional benefits on an equal basis with national economic development benefits in computing the economic justification of the project.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1978
Requires that, until further Congressional action is taken, the determination of whether an individual is an employee for purposes of social security taxation, unemployment taxation, and income tax withholding shall be made in accordance with audit practices and regulations in effect December 31, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1978
Expresses the sense of Congress that (1) the Congress intended the National ambient air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the Clean Air Act and subsequent amendments to be reasonable and attainable; (2) the EPA reconsider and revise the national ambient air quality standards for photochemical oxidants; and (3) resonable air pollution control measures be applied during such reconsideration.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1978
Economic Recovery Act - Title I: Production and Sale of Agricultural Commodities - Directs the National Board of Agricultural Governors (created by Title II of this Act) to establish, on a monthly basis for each agricultural commodity, a parity price and a comprehensive cost of production price, taking into account for the latter: (1) machinery ownership costs; (2) farm overhead costs; (3) a value for the management services contributed by the producer; (4) labor costs; and (5) a value for the land utilized. Directs the Board to establish for each commodity a national production goal based on estimated domestic and export requirements, and levels of production consistent with established agricultural conservation or soil management programs. Directs the Board to allocate acreage allotments or marketing quotas based upon the production history of each farm during three out of the five preceding calendar years. Limits such allocations to individual farmers and farmer-owned or controlled cooperatives and corporations. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans available to producers of Board-selected commodities. Requires the Board to establish a program to acquire reserve stocks of agricultural commodities. Directs the Board to establish quotas for each agricultural commodity imported into the United States. Establishes in the United States Treasury the Agricultural Export Fund for the deposit of any tariff revenues received from a foreign country in which an agricultural commodity was produced, for use in the purchase of any United States products. Prohibits the sale of any United States agricultural commodity for export at less than 100 percent of the established price. Requires the Board to conduct, upon petition, producer referendums on proposed regulations. Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to make it an unfair or deceptive trade practice for any person engaged in the retail sale of food to sell any food product without a sign at the point of sale stating the amount received by farmers for the agricultural commodities which were used to produce the food product involved. Authorizes the Secretary to make payments to any producer who reduces, during 1978, by more than 50 percent either his normal crop acreage or the number of acres planted to any agricultural commodity (compared to 1977). Prescribes civil penalties for anyone who buys, sells, or trades any agricultural commodity at a price less than a specified percent (increasing from 85 percent in 1979 to 100 percent after 1981), or more than 110 percent, of the established price. Title II: National Board of Agricultural Governors - Establishes a National Board of Agricultural Governors composed of 57 members appointed by the President. Title III: General Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act and sets the effective date.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1978
Reaffirms that the North Atlantic Alliance is a vital commitment of the United States. Recognizes the success of the Alliance. Declares Congressional support for strengthening the defensive capabilities of the Alliance and for lessening tensions with the Warsaw Pact countries through arms control agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1978
Expresses the sense of the House that until the testimony of Kim Dong Jo is made available under oath to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, the transfer or anything of value to the Republic of Korea for nonmilitary purposes should be made only where the refusal to do so would imperil the national security of the United States or the territorial integrity of the Republic of Korea; and that refusal of the United States to make such transfers would not, under present circumstances, imperil the national security of the United States or the territorial integrity of the Republic of Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1978
Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that, until such time as Kim Dong Jo is made available for examination under oath, authorization for the transfer of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to the Republic of Korea and appropriation of funds for transfer, directly or indirectly, to the Republic of Korea for nonmilitary purposes should be approved by the House of Representatives only where the refusal to so approve such authorization or appropriation would imperil the national security of the United States or the territorial integrity of the Republic of Korea. Declares it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the refusal of the United States to transfer things of value or funds to the Republic of Korea for nonmilitary purposes would not, under present circumstances, imperil the national security of the United States or the territorial integrity of the Republic of Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 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, after consultation with the Administrator, to submit to the Congress, by January 3, 1979, a comprehensive plan to implement the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1978
Declares that the Congress: (1) joins the President in condemning Cambodia for its atrocities and disregard for human rights; (2) requests the President to call upon governments having diplomatic relations with Cambodia to use their good offices to influence the Cambodian authorities to rectify this situation; and (3) urges the President to cooperate with other nations to bring such human rights violations to an end.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1978
Declares a certain individual to have satisfied residence and physical presence requirements for naturalization, under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1978
Amends the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out such Act to $10,000,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
States that when the House of Representatives adjourns on March 22, 1978, it shall stand adjourned until April 3, 1978. States that when the Senate recesses on March 23, 1978, it shall stand in recess until March 29, 1978 or April 3, 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1978
Title I: Establishment of Park - Establishes, in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, the Lowell National Historical Park. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1979 for development of such Park. Title II: Role of the Secretary - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit a park management plan to Congress. Provides for consultation with the Lowell city manager, the Lowell National Historical Park Commission, established by this Act, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in developing such plan. Sets requirements for acquisition of specified properties for the Park. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance in preservation, restoration, and other use of park properties. Provides for agreements with park property owners for provision of exhibits and programs. Permits withholding of park management plan funds by the Secretary if the city of Lowell fails to meet specified criteria. Title III: Role of the Commission - Establishes within the Department of the Interior the Lowell National Historical Park Commission to administer the preservation zone. Requires the Commission to file park preservation plans with the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to publish notice of the approval of park preservation plans in the Federal Register. Directs the Commission to make loans, grants, and technical assistance for the preservation, restoration, or development of specified park property. Provides for the acquisition and disposition of property by the Commission. Enumerates the powers of the Commission, including the holding of hearings, and provides for the staff of the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Legislative Oversight Act - Title I: Requirements for Authorization Bills - Requires all legislation considered by either House of Congress which authorizes new budget authority or increased tax expenditures to include a statement of objectives of the program to be authorized or established and a requirement that the agencies administering the program report annually to Congress to assist it in determining whether such program should be amended. Requires such agency reports to list the costs and accomplishments of each program. Title II: Requirements for Reports Accompanying Authorization Bills - Requires committee reports accompanying such legislation to identify expected economic and social costs and benefits of new programs authorized or established by such legislation, potentially duplicative programs, and previous efforts to accomplish the objectives of the program being considered. Requires reports to contain, if the legislation continues an existing program, authorization, or tax expenditure, an assessment of the degree to which such program or tax expenditure has met previously stated objectives. Requires the Comptroller General to publish and periodically update a descriptive catalog of interrelated Federal activities which compares program costs and accomplishments and describes program interrelationships, including the extent to which programs are duplicative. Title III: Presidential Budget Recommendations - Requires the President's budget to describe the relationship between the President's recommended program budgets and the program accomplishments reported by Federal agencies under this Act. Title IV: Authorization Time Limit; Certain Obligations not Impaired - Prohibits congressional consideration of any legislation which authorizes new budget authority or provides new or increased tax expenditures, or new spending authority for a period exceeding five years. Exempts from this prohibition national debt service and payments to individuals from Federal trust funds to which such individuals have contributed. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions; Effective Date - Recognizes the authority of either House to amend this Act. Sets the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1978
Urges the Secretary of Defense not to include within the competitive rate program (under which services are procured for the movement of the household goods of Department of Defense employees) the movement of household goods of Department personnel who are being transferred between the continental United States and Alaska or Hawaii.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1978
Expresses the condemnation by the Congress of the March 11, 1978, attack on Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the expressed intention of the PLO to continue such attacks and to disrupt the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Requests the President to make the disapproval of the Congress known to governments approving the PLO attack. Expresses Congressional approval of the peace efforts between Israel and Egypt. Urges other Middle East countries to join such efforts. Declares negotiation to be the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Permits the United States Capitol Historical Society to take official pictures of the House in actual session for inclusion in the new edition of "We the People."
![Official portrait of Rep. Wright, James C., Jr. [D-TX-12]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000763_200.jpg)