United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1973
Small Communities Planning, Development, and Training Act - Title I: Community Development Bank - Creates an independent agency known as the Community Development Bank with a board of directors of 14 persons, one of whom shall be the President of the bank. Provides that the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the President of the bank and the directors, no more than three of whom shall be officers or employees of the United States and at least seven of whom shall be identified with or representatives of State or local government. Provides that the president of the bank shall serve at the pleasure of the President. Authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000 to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to pay the initial organizing and operating expenses of the bank. Authorizes the bank to make commitments to purchase, and to purchase, service, or sell on terms and conditions determined by the bank, any obligation of a State or local government which is not exempt from Federal taxation. Makes similar provision for the purchase of evidences of indebtedness making loans to any private nonprofit organization or association representing a community under applicable State or local law. Permits purchases or loans to be made only for the purpose of financing capital expenditures. Provides that priority shall be given to small communities. Limits obligations or loans to 40 year maturities bearing interest at a rate not less than 2/3 of the current average yield or outstanding obligations of the bank for the month preceding the date on which the loan or purchase is made. Authorizes the bank to issue obligations totaling $5,000,000,000 initially with an additional $5,000,000,000 on July 1, 1973, and another $5,000,000,000 on July 1, 1974. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase obligations of the bank by utilizing proceeds of the sale of securities under the Second Liberty Bank Act. Provides that receipts and disbursements of the banks shall be exempt from any annual expenditure and net lending limitations imposed on the budget. Provides for annual reports from the President to the Congress on program and administrative activities of the bank. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make payments to the bank to cover the difference between interest paid and interest received on bank obligations. Authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds for this purpose. Sets forth the powers of the bank including the power to sue or be sued and the power to issue bylaws rules and regulations and to adopt a corporate seal. Authorizes the bank to provide technical assistance to State and local governments in preparing and implementing comprehensive development projects and programs. Permits the charging of fees for such services. Provides for an audit of the bank by the General Accounting Office. Provides that the real and tangible personal property of the bank shall be subject to ad valorem taxes and that the principal and interest of all obligations of the bank shall be taxed to the same extent as the obligations of private corporations. Makes the bank otherwise tax exempt. Makes the obligations of the bank lawful investments which may be accepted as security and exempts such obligations from the laws administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Title II: Public Facility Loan Program Amendments - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as an alternative to existing programs of assistance, to guarantee the bonds and other obligations of political subdivisions or instrumentalities of the States which are not exempt from Federal taxation. Permits annual grants equal to 40 percent of the annual interest on such obligations. Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States to the payment of such guarantees. Authorizes the Secretary to take such steps as he considers reasonable to assure that obligations guaranteed under this section will: (1) be issued to investors approved by, or meeting requirements prescribed by, the Secretary, or if an offering to the public is contemplated, be underwritten upon terms and conditions approved by the Secretary; (2) bear interest at a rate satisfactory to the Secretary; (3) contain or be subject to repayment, maturity, and other provisions satisfactory to the Secretary; and (4) contain or be subject to provisions with respect to the protection of the security interests of the United States, including any provisions deemed appropriate by the Secretary relating to subrogation, liens, and releases of liens, payment of taxes, cost certification procedures, escrow or trusteeship requirements or other matters. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a separate revolving fund to provide for: (A) the timely payment of any liabilities incurred as the result of guarantees or grants; (B) the payment of obligations issued to the Secretary of the Treasury; and (C) any other program expenditures under this section, including administrative and nonadministrative expenses. Provides that such revolving fund shall be comprised of: (A) receipts from fees and charges; (B) recoveries under security, subrogation, and other rights; (C) any other receipts obtained in connection with guarantees made under this section; (D) proceeds of the obligations issued to the Secretary of the Treasury; and (E) such sums as are authorized to be appropriated. Authorizes the Secretary to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury, who is authorized to purchase such obligations, for the purpose of carrying out the above functions. Limits outstanding principal obligations to $200,000,000. Title III: Community Development Block Grants - Makes it the purpose of the title to further the development of a national growth policy by consolidating a number of complex and overlapping programs of financial assistance to communities of varying sizes and needs into a single, consistent system of Federal aid which: (1) is funded in advance on a regular basis upon which communities can rely in their planning; (2) can provide assistance on an annual basis with maximum certainty and efficiency and minimum delay; (3) encourages community development activities which are consistent with comprehensive local and areawide development planning; and (4) furthers the achievement of the national housing goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family. Authorizes the Secretary to make annual grants to units of general local government to help finance approved Community Development Programs. Limits such grants to 90 percent of the cost of the program. Sets forth the requirements for eligibility for such grants. Provides that a Community Development Program assisted under this title may include: (1) the acquisition of real property (including air rights, water rights, and other interests therein) which is: (A) blighted, deteriorated, deteriorating, undeveloped, or inappropriately developed from the standpoint of sound community development and growth; (B) necessary for the preservation or restoration of historic sites, the beautification of land, the conservation of open spaces, natural resources, and scenic areas, the provision of recreational opportunities, or the guidance of development; (C) to be used for the provision of public works, facilities, and improvements eligible for assistance under this title; or (D) to be used for other public purposes; (2) the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or installation of public works, facilities, and site or other improvements-including water and sewer facilities, neighborhood facilities, historic properties, utilities, streets, street lights, foundations and platforms for air right sites, pedestrian malls and walkways, parks, and playgrounds; (3) code enforcement in deteriorated or deteriorating areas in which such enforcement, together with those public improvements to be provided, may be expected to arrest the decline of the area; (4) clearance, demolition, removal, and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements (including financing of the rehabilitation of privately owned properties); (5) payments to housing owners for losses of rental income incurred in holding for temporary periods housing units to be utilized for the relocations of individuals and families displaced by program activities; (6) disposition (through sale, lease, donation, or otherwise) of any real property acquired pursuant to this title or its retention for public purposes; (7) provision of health, social, and similar services where the Secretary deems it necessary to properly support other approved community development activities; and (8) such other projects or activities assisted under a Federal grant-in-aid program as the Secretary approves as part of a community development program. Authorizes the Secretary to make grant agreements for metropolitan areas in amounts aggregating not more than $7,500,000,000. Authorizes the appropriation of $2,000,000,000 prior to July 1, 1973, to liquidate the obligations so incurred. Increases this amount to $4,500,000,000 prior to July 1, 1974 and to $7,500,000,000 thereafter. Authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1973, 1974, and 1975 for grants to States and units of general local government outside metropolitan areas. Provides that distributions to metropolitan areas shall be based on a formula of population, poverty, and overcrowding. Provides that distributions to cities within each metropolitan area shall be based on the same formula. Provides that in making distributions to States and local governments in nonmetropolitan areas the Secretary shall consider plans and ideas for community development programs as well as such factors as population, amount of poverty, overcrowding, and housing deficiencies and other social and fiscal conditions. Title IV: National Community Affairs Institute - Directs the Secretary to establish a National Community Affair Institute which shall have as its purpose the development and revitalization of small communities. Provides that the Institute shall be headed by a board of directors which shall be chaired by the Librarian of Congress. Title V: Fellowships for Small Community Planning and Development - Authorizes the Secretary to provide fellowships for graduate training of professional technicians and specialists in the field of small community planning and development.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1973
Extends the authorizations through fiscal year 1974 for the following programs under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965: (1) grants for public works and development facilities; (2) public works and development facility loans; (3) technical assistance, research and information related to public works and development facilities; (4) financial assistance for projects in economic development districts; and (5) supplemental funds for Federal grants-in-aid programs for economic development regions. Provides that no area designated as a redevelopment area for purposes of the Act shall have such designation terminated or modified before June 1, 1974, unless the qualified local governing body of the county specifically requests the such action.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1973
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in carrying out the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, to make payments or grants of other aid to agricultural producers, including tenants and sharecroppers, in an aggregate amount not less than the sums appropriated therefor during the year with respect to which such payments or grants are made and measured by: (1) their treatment or use of their land, or part thereof, for soil restoration, soil conservation, or the prevention of erosion; (2) changes in the use of their land; (3) their equitable share, as determined by the Secretary, of the normal national production of any commodity or commodities required for domestic consumption; (4) their equitable share, as determined by the Secretary, of the national production of any commodity or commodities required for domestic consumption and exports adjusted to reflect the extent to which their utilization of cropland on the farm conforms to farming practices which the Secretary determines will best effectuate the purposes of the Act; or (5) any combination of the above. (Amends 16 U.S.C. 590h(b))
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1973
National Cemeteries Act - Establishes within the Veterans' Administration a National Cemetery System consisting of all cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict or of service in the Armed Forces may be buried. Establishes an Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials to advise and consult with the Administrator with respect to the administration of the cemeteries. Specifies that the following persons are eligible for interment in any open national cemetery: (1) any veteran; (2) any reservist, whose death occurs under honorable conditions, while undergoing treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease contracted while acting within the scope of his reservist duties; (3) any ROTC member whose death occurs under honorable conditions during his training period; (4) any U.S. citizen, who served in the Armed Forces of an allied government and such service terminated honorably; (5) the wife, surviving spouse, minor child, and the unmarried adult child of the above-mentioned persons; and (6) such other persons as may be designated by the Administrator. Directs the Administrator to make all rules and regulations and conduct whatever business is necessary to establish and maintain such cemeteries. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to acquire needed additional land by purchase, gift, condemnation, transfer from other Federal agencies, or otherwise as he determines to be in the best interest of the United States. Directs the Administrator to conduct a comprehensive study and to submit his recommendations to the 93d Congress within six months after such Congress convenes, concerning the criteria which should govern the development and operation of the National Cemetery System, including the concept of regional cemeteries; the relationship between that system to other Federal burial benefits provided servicement and veterans; and the steps to be taken to conform the existing System to the recommended criteria. Authorizes the Administrator to make necessary rules for the governing of property under his control, and to fix penalties for violations. Provides for the payment of burial costs (up to $250) when an eligible veteran or veteran's relative dies in a VA facility. Stipulates that if the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery or other cemetery under the jurisdiction of the United States, the Administrator, in his discretion, having due regard to the circumstances in each case, may pay a sum not exceeding $150 as a plot or interment allowance to such person as he prescribes. Transfers to the Administrator from the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force the functions and responsibilities of such Secretaries with respect to cemeteries under their jurisdiction. Repeals specified provisions of law dealing with national cemeteries and payment of veterans' burial expenses. Authorizes the burial of an unknown soldier from the Vietnam Conflict at Arlington National Cemetery after the United States has concluded its participation in hostilities in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1973
Fiscal Responsibility Act - Title I: Modification of the Fiscal Year - Provides that the fiscal year of all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States shall be the calendar year. Title II: Establishing Congressional Expenditures Limitations - Provides that the expenditures and net lending of the Federal Government during any fiscal year shall not exceed that amount which the Congress shall fix by concurrent resolution no later than forty-five legislative days after the latest day set by law for the budget message of the President with respect to such fiscal year. Provides for modification of such amount under specified circumstances. Title III: Establishing a Federal Impoundment Procedure - Provides that whenever the President impounds any funds appropriated by law out of the Treasury for a specific purpose or project, or approves the impounding of such funds by an officer or employee of the United States, he shall, within ten days thereafter, transmit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a special message specifying: (1) the amount of funds impounded; (2) the specific projects or governmental functions affected thereby; and (3) the reasons for the impounding of such funds. Provides that the President shall cease the impounding of funds specified in each special message within sixty calendar days of continuous session after the message is received if such impounding shall have been disapproved by either House of Congress by passage of a resolution stating in substance that that House does not favor the impounding. Provides that the President shall not impound any funds from appropriations made by the Congress for any appropriations categories of any department or agency of the Federal Government unless such impoundment is made in all appropriations categories of that department or agency on the basis of equal percentage impoundment among appropriations categories.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1973
Provides that no license granted for a broadcasting station operation under the Communications Act of 1934 shall be for a longer term than five years (now three years). Provides under the Communications Act that the Federal Communications Commission in acting upon the applications for renewal of broadcast licenses may not consider the application of any other person for the facilities for which renewal is sought if the Commissioner finds that the public interest, convenience and necessity would be served by granting the renewal application to the present operator. Provides that if the Commissioner determines that the renewal applicant would not be in the public interest it may deny such application and accept other applications.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Requires the Secretary of Labor, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, to recognize the difference in hazards to employees between the heavy construction industry and the light residential construction industry in promulgating health and safety standards. (Amends 29 U.S.C. 655)
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Provides, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, that where violations are corrected within the prescribed abatement period no penalty shall be assessed. (Amends 29 U.S.C. 659, 660, 666)
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Provides no part of any appropriation and no local currency owned by the United States shall be available for payment of any expenses, nor shall transportation be provided by the United States, in connection with travel outside the fifty States (including the District of Columbia) of the United States of: (1) any Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or member of either House of Congress after he has been defeated as a candidate for nomination, or election, to a seat in the House of Representatives or Senate of the United States in any primary or regular election until such time as he shall thereafter again become a Member of Congress, or (2) any Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Member of either House of Congress after the adjournment sine die of the last session of a Congress if he is not a candidate for reelection in the next Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1973
Provides, under the Rural Electrification Act, that the Administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration is directed (presently "empowered") to fully obligate funds made available for each fiscal year for rural electrification programs provided for in such Act. (Amends 7 U.S.C. 901, 902, 904, 922)
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1973
Provides that the recommendations of the President transmitted to the Congress under the Federal Salary Act of 1967 (relating to salaries of members of Congress and certain members of the executive and judicial branches of the Federal government) shall become effective at the beginning of the first pay period which begins after the first period of thirty calendar days of continuous session following the transmittal of such recommendations, unless there has been enacted into law a statute which establishes rates of pay other than those proposed by all or part of such recommendations, or unless between the date of transmittal and the end of the thirty day period either House adopts a resolution disapproving all or part of such recommendations. Provides that if the Committee, to which a resolution has been referred disapproving the recommendations of the President. Provides that the House has not reported the resolution after ten calendar days, it is in order to discharge the committee from further consideration of the resolution. Directs that such motion to discharge may be made only by an individual favoring the resolution and debate thereon is limited to not more than one hour divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. Directs that the motion to discharge may not be renewed, nor may another motion to discharge the committee be made with respect to any other resolution concerning the same recommendations. Specifies that when the committee has reported, or has been discharged from the further consideration of such resolution, it is in order to proceed to the consideration of the resolution. Stipulates that such motion is not debatable and may not be amended. Limits debate on the resolution to not more than two hours to be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. Provides that motions to postpone, motions to proceed to the consideration of other business and appeals from the decisions of the chair shall be decided without debate. Authorizes any part of the recommendations of the President, in accordance with express provisions of such recommendations, to be made operative on a date later than a date on which such recommendations otherwise are to take effect. (Amends 2 U.S.C. 359)
![Official portrait of Sen. Abdnor, James [R-SD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/a000009_200.jpg)