United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Amends the Act authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to contract with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District of New Mexico for payment of the operation and maintenance charges on certain Pueblo Indian Lands to make permanent the authorization for appropriations thereunder.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Reclamation Lands Family Farm Act - Title I: Findings, Purposes, Definitions - States the purpose of this Act and defines terms used herein. Title II: Acreage Limitations and Equivalency - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, for purposes of administering the reclamation laws, to change the 160 acre limitation to 160 acres of class one land or its equivalent in lands of lesser productivity, provided that in no case such acreage exceeds 240. Permits each qualified purchaser to purchase 160 additional acres for each dependent. Title III: Excess Lands and Irrigation Rights - States that one year after the date of enactment of this Act water from any reclamation projects may only be delivered to project lands which comprise a family farm or which fall under specified categories. Provides for the disposition of excess reclamation project lands. Title IV: Repayment of Project Costs - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to stipulate in any water right contract that all rates and assessments to be paid by the contracting entity or individual landowners shall be renegotiated every five years. Title V: Leasing of Certain Excess Lands - Authorizes the Secretary to purchase excess lands to be leased to those family farmers unable to purchase lands in reclamation projects and to lease agricultural excess land owned by the Navy at Lemoore Naval Air Station to family farmers. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Adds miscellaneous provisions to this Act including a requirement that explanations of the programs of this Act be freely available to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 29 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 · 27 June 1977
Requires the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force to keep the Secretary of the military department of which such individual is a member, fully and currently informed on matters considered or acted upon by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1977
Waives certain requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of H.R. 4992 (Indian Business Development Program authorizations).
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1977
Waives certain requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of H.R. 4585 (Indian Claims Commission authorizations).
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1977
Waives certain requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of S. 660 (Authorizing agreement to purchase Indian interests in the Arkansas River).
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1977
Rail Passenger Service Authorization Act - Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to extend the authorization for appropriations for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1977
Postal Service Act - Provides for congressional oversight of decisions of the Postal Rate Commission respecting rates and fees for postal service and mail classification. Limits to two percent of its operating expenses the amount of expenditures which the Postal Service may make for contingencies and prohibits the use of such contingency fund for repayment of past losses. Authorizes appropriations to offset any revenue loss caused by a failure of Congress to authorize postal rates proposed by the Commission, to continue post offices which are no longer self sustaining, to pay for research and development, and to continue the frequency of mail delivery service in effect on June 1, 1977. Sets the maximum size and weight for all parcel mail at 100 inches in girth and length combined and 70 pounds. Abolishes the Board of Governors of the Service and transfers the duties and responsibilities of such Board to the Postmaster General. Makes the Postmaster General an officer appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and makes the Deputy Postmaster General an officer appointed by the Postmaster General. Subjects the management and disposal of surplus property by the Service to the same regulations controlling the management and disposal of surplus property applicable to other government agencies. Prohibits the Service from commencing any capital investment project costing more than $200,000,000 until the Service transmits a report on such project to specified congressional committees and has received the recommendations of such committees concerning such project.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1977
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety and Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Authorizations - Title I: Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety - Amends the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1979 in such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of such Act. Title II: Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings - Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1979 in such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1977
Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to establish a grant program designed to support projects which: (1) develop methods for the identification, prevention, and treatment of domestic violence; and (2) provide for family rehabilitation and support, and for emergency shelter and protection for individuals who are threatened by domestic violence. Directs the Director to establish a national information and resource clearinghouse to collect, analyze, prepare, and disseminate information relating to domestic violence. Requires the Director, in cooperation with the Administrator of Law Enforcement Assistance and the head of any other Federal agency involved with domestic violence, to study State laws, practices, and policies relating to domestic violence. Requires the Director to annually review the effectiveness of projects carried out under this Act and to report the findings to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to transmit each such report to the President and to each House of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1977
Exempts ratemaking proceedings from certain procedural requirements which previously pertained to both rulemaking and ratemaking. States that a matter pertaining to a military or foreign affairs function of the United States shall not be exempt from public rulemaking requirements unless the matter is specifically authorized to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and is in fact so properly classified. Makes rulemaking concerning matters of public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts subject to public participation requirements of other rulemaking proceedings. Eliminates the necessity of documenting reasons for finding that public notice and public procedure for any given rulemaking proceeding would be impracticable or contrary to public interest.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1977
States that in the event a Federal employee presiding over the reception of evidence in any agency hearing is unavailable to render the initial decision in such matter, the decision may be made by an employee qualified to preside at such hearing or the entire record may be certified to the agency for a decision. States that the requirement that a presiding employee make the initial decision in a given case shall not apply to applications for initial licenses, decisions concerning the validity of rates or other specified matters pertaining to public utilities, or matters concerning the agency itself. Prohibits agency employees participating in any agency decision involving more than one party from consulting any person or party on a fact in issue unless all parties have been given notice and an opportunity to participate in such consultation. Prohibits such deciding employees from being involved in the performance of investigative or litigating functions in connection with a case subject to his decision or any factually related case. Authorizes each agency to establish one or more agency appeal board to review decisions of presiding employees. Requires such agencies to establish rules under which such agency will (1) entertain appeals to it directly from the decision of a presiding employee, or (2) entertain appeals only after the decision of any agency appeal board. Requires each agency to authorize officers, including presiding officers, to sign and issue subpenas. Authorizes agencies to issue subpenas without any other specific statutory authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1977
Regulates the relocation of Hopi and Navajo individuals pursuant to Public Law 93-531 (An Act to provide for final settlement of the conflicting rights and interests of the Hopi and Navajo Tribes in certain lands).
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1977
Radiation Health and Safety Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to develop and issue to the States criteria and minimum standards for the accreditation of educational institutions conducting programs for the training of radiologic technologists and medical and dental practitioners, hygienists, and assistants. Directs the Secretary to develop and issue to the States criteria and minimum standards for licensure of radiologic technologists. Directs that State and local governments be encouraged to minimize exposure of the public to radiation from all sources and establishes procedures for the adoption of appropriate standards. Allows the Secretary to make grants to States in an amount up to two-thirds of the first year and one-third of the second year costs of planning, developing, or establishing programs to carry out the provisions of this Act. Prohibits conducting activities contrary to this Act and subjects violators to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1977
Postal Reorganization Act Amendments - Changes the organizational structure of the United States Postal Service by: (1) naming the Postmaster General chief executive officer and vesting in the Postmaster General the powers formerly held by the Board of Governors; (2) revising the procedures for adjustment of rates and services whereby the Postal Service is authorized to request the Congress to authorize appropriations to defray the estimated costs of the Postal Rate Commission, or to propose a change in the nature of postal services; (3) requiring that all proposed capital investments by the Postal Service be reviewed by the Post Office and Civil Service Committee of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and (4) requiring the Postal Rate Commission to submit to the President annually a separate budget for its operating expenses. Prohibits reducing the frequency of mail delivery service below the frequency which was in effect on April 21, 1977. Prohibits the closing between March 15, 1977, and December 31, 1979 of specified post offices regularly serving 35 or more families. Permits the closing of smaller post offices during such period only with the written consent of 60 percent of the regular postal patrons at least 18 years of age.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1977
States that an individual or family, whose income is increased by reason of a general increase in monthly social security benefits, will not, because of such general increase suffer a loss of or reduction in the benefits the individual or family has been receiving under certain Federal or federally assisted programs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1977
National Climate Program Act - Requires the President to establish a National Climate Program to: (1) obtain, analyze, and disseminate climate data; (2) perform research to improve understanding of climate and the causes of fluctuations and anomalies in climate, and develop models for predicting climate changes; (3) develop methods to detect and predict such changes, to give early alerts of incipient anomalies, and to evaluate prediction techniques; (4) support and conduct assessments to the impact on human activities of climate changes; and (5) disseminate information on climate predictions. Authorizes the Program to make grants to education institutions for the establishment of climate study centers, and for regional studies programs. Requires the President to designate a Federal agency, referred to as the "lead agency," within which the Program will be administered. Requires the head of the lead agency to establish a National Climate Program Office to administer the Program. Stipulates that the President shall ensure that representatives of Federal agencies, conducting activities relating to the Program, are designated to serve on a Management Council for the Program which shall advise the lead agency, the Office, the State Department, and the President on specified matters relating to climate, and participate in developing the Program's budget. Requires the head of the lead agency, in consultation with the Management Council, to appoint an Advisory Council consisting of representatives of diverse interests relating to the Program to perform certain advisory and reporting functions. Requires the Office to publish a preliminary five-year plan including goals, priorities funding requirements, and the involvement of Federal agencies. Sets forth procedures for budget development. Permits authorized Federal officers or agencies to enter into contract or grant arrangements to exercise functions vested in them under this Act. Sets forth restrictions with respect to patents on inventions made or conceived under such contract or grant arrangement. Authorizes $50,000,000 for appropriation to Federal departments and agencies for fiscal year 1978 for the purpose of conducting the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide heads of households with the same zero bracket amount (i.e., standard deduction) previously available to married persons.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1977
Restores certain Indian benefits and mineral rights to the members of the Pascua Yaqui Association, Incorporated of Arizona. Provides for the establishment of a reservation for the Pascua Yaqui upon the transfer of certain land in trust by the Association to the Secretary of the Interior.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1977
Amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to require that the Administrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration notify legislatures of affected States of plans to explore sites for radioactive waste storage facilities. Prohibits the Administrator from contracting for construction of any such facility at a site where the State legislature has indicated its disapproval.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1977
National Agricultural, Range, and Forest Land Policy Act - Title I: Objectives - Declares that it is the policy of the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and local governments, to use all practicable methods to retain, protect, and improve agricultural, range, and forest land, to reduce its conversion to non-food-and-fiber producing uses, and to limit the encroachment of industrial activities. Title II: Research Program - Establishes an Agricultural Land Review Commission to study: (1) agricultural, range, and forest land in the United States; (2) the effects of industrial development, climate and other factors on the productivity of such land; (3) the acquisition of such land by persons not engaged in agricultural or forestry activities; (4) the impact of Federal, State and local laws and regulations on such land; and (5) methods of protecting and improving such land, and of reducing the amount of it being converted from agricultural and forestry uses to nonvital uses. Authorizes the Commission to make grants to institutes of higher learning to do research pursuant to its study. Requires the Commission to report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and to Congress. Terminates such Commission on September 30, 1982. Title III: Demonstration Programs - Authorizes the Secretary to pay up to 60 percent of the cost and to provide technical assistance to any State pilot project undertaken to demonstrate and test methods of reducing the amount of land being converted from agricultural, range, and forest uses to nonessential uses. Requires all such projects to be completed within five years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report his findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress. Title IV: Funding - Authorizes for Title II programs the appropriation of $8,000,000. Authorizes for Title III programs the appropriation of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1978 through 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1977
Establishes an Antitrust Review and Revision Commission to study the operation and enforcement of the antitrust laws and to recommend revisions to Congress and the President.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1977
Burros Amendments Act - Affords the same protection to wild free-roaming horses and burros found on lands comprising the National Park System as is afforded to such animals found on public lands.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1977
Authorizes appropriations of $2,250,000 for the Indian Claims Commission for fiscal year 1978. Directs the Court of Claims to determine the proper amount of attorney fees for attorneys representing Indian tribes in cases transferred from the Commission to the Court of Claims. Authorizes that Court to exercise the powers of the Commission relating to information from government departments and official records as evidence. Provides Supreme Court review by certiorari or certification for cases transferred to the Court of Claims from the Commission. Authorizes the Court of Claims to appoint up to three additional commissioners for the expeditious determination of cases transferred to it from the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1977
Amends the Indian Financing Act to authorize the appropriation of $14,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1978 and 1979 for the Indian business development program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1977
Grants a Federal charter to the National Ski Patrol System, Incorporated. Declares that the purpose of such corporation is to promote public safety in skiing.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1977
Water Resource Development Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Farmers' Home Administration, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to guarantee specified State, local, or other public agency bonds issued to finance water resource facilities. Limits the aggregate amount of such guarantees to $5,000,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1977
Establishes the Admiralty Island National Preserve in Alaska to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands and water interests within the boundaries of the preserve except for lands owned by specified local cities and organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with Kootznoowoo, Incorporated, representative of the Tlingit community of Admiralty Island to establish research programs for the preservation of cultural resources of Admiralty Island. Requires the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees a plan indicating lands of historic, cultural and scientific interest. Allows the owner of improved property in the preserve to retain, upon its acquisition by the Secretary, a right of use and occupancy. Requires the Secretary to publish rules concerning such uses of the preserve as hunting, fishing, and public modes of transportation. Requires a local advisory committee to be consulted relative to specified regulations. Directs the Secretary to offer first to Kootznoowoo, Incorporated any contract for the establishment of revenue-producing visitor services. Designates as wilderness specified lands in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Provides for an exchange of timber rights between the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior and the Interior and Kootznoowoo, Inc. Allows local native organizations, under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, to either Select lands for their own use which shall then be exempted from the preserve or, in specified cases, receive alternative lands of equal value elsewhere in Southeast Alaska.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1977
Amends the Small Business Act to establish the position of Associate Administrator for Women's Business Enterprise within the Small Business Administration. Lists among the duties of such Administrator: (1) increasing participation of women in Small Business Administration programs; and (2) reporting to the Administrator on proposals for implementing policy objectives.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1977
Declares a certain individual not subject to deportation under the Immigration and Nationality Act by reason of facts known to the Department of State or the Department of Justice before the date of enactment. Prohibits denial of lawful admission for permanent residence to such individual based on the same facts.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1977
Bikeway Transportation Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants for 80 percent of the cost to States and municipalities of bikeway construction projects in urban territories or connecting such areas with national, State, or local parks, seashores or recreational areas. Requires such bikeway projects to be in accordance with a continuing comprehensive transportation planning process carried on cooperatively by States and local communities and in accordance with construction standards established by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1977
Senate Administrative Reorganization Resolution - Establishes within the Senate the Administrative Office of the Senate to be headed by an Administrator of the Senate appointed by the Administrative Council. Establishes an Administrative Council of the Senate to supervise the Administrator and review the plans and recodifications submitted by the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to maintain all administrative and support service and facilities delegated to such individual, and to review existing systems and prepare a recodification of the laws, rules, and standing orders of the Senate relating to administrative services and facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1977
Grand Jury Reform Act - Entitles a witness who is accused of having unjustifiably withheld information in any proceeding before or ancillary to any court or grant jury of the United States to a hearing prior to being held in contempt and confined. Grants the right to counsel to such witness at a contempt hearing. Sets forth guidelines relative to such hearings and any subsequent confinement. Prohibits persons who are confined for refusing to testify before a grand jury about any transaction, from being later confined for a subsequent refusal to testify about such transaction. Establishes as a defense to contempt for refusal to testify or otherwise refusing to produce information, proof that the interrogation is based on, or is directly or indirectly derived from, an improper interception of any wire or oral communication. Specifies criminal penalties for disclosure of evidence introduced, statements made, or other matters occurring before a Federal grand jury by a person present at the grand jury proceedings. Exempts the following from such penalties: (1) disclosure to or by an attorney for the Government in the performance of his duties; (2) disclosure directed or permitted by the court; (3) disclosure by a witness who has appeared before the grand jury, or by his attorney, of any matter concerning which the witness has provided information; and (4) disclosure by any representative of the press acting in his professional capacity. Requires the court to give adequate and reasonable notice to the grand jury and to assure that the grant jury understands specified rights and duties which it possesses. Establishes procedures whereby any person may request to appear before a grand jury and request that the grand jury conduct an independent inquiry pursuant to this Act. Requires that upon the service of any subpena directing a witness to testify or produce evidence before a grand jury the witness be given notice of the following: (1) the right to counsel set forth in this Act; (2) the privilege against self incrimination; (3) the subject matter of the grand jury investigation; (4) whether the witness's own conduct is under investigation; (5) the criminal statutes. violation of which is under consideration, if known; and (6) any other rights which the court deems appropriate. Sets forth jurisdictional and procedural rules regarding motions relative to subpenas to appear before grand juries. Requires upon proper motion, the attorney appointed under this Act to show that: (1) the primary purpose of the information sought is not or will not be to secure testimony for the trial or other information regarding a person already under formal accusation by the United States, a State, or a subdivision thereof for activities relative to testimony sought; (2) the witness has been advised of his rights; (3) the evidence sought is relevant to the grand jury investigation properly conducted within the grand jury's jurisdiction; and (4) compliance with the subpena will not be unreasonable or oppressive. Limits a grand jury's inquiry to offenses committed within the district in which it is convened. Authorizes a court to quash subpoena or to transfer its proceedings upon a finding of hardship to the witness. Prohibits the bringing before a grand jury of any witness who has given advance notice of intention to exercise the privilege against self-incrimination or the bringing to the attention of the jurors the invocation of the privilege by such witness. Prohibits a grand jury investigation into any transaction or event if another jury has failed to return an indictment based on the same occurrence, unless the court finds that additional relevant evidence has been discovered. Empowers any grand jury impaneled before any district court to inquire on its own initiative into offenses against the criminal laws of the United States alleged to have been committed within that district by government employees. Sets the term of grand juries conducting such inquiries. Authorizes a jury conducting an independent inquiry to request by the court at any point to appoint a special attorney in lieu of the attorney for the Government. Entitles every witness subpoenaed to appear and testify or to produce information before a grand jury impaneled by a district court to the assistance of counsel. Limits the role of counsel of a grand jury witness to being present in the grand jury room while his client is testifying and advising him. Prohibits requiring a witness to testify sooner than one week after service of the subpena unless the Court finds special need. Entitles a defendant to examine and copy a transcript or electronic recording of: (1) the grand jury testimony of all witnesses to be called at trial; (2) all statements relating to the defendant's case made to the grand jury by the court and by the attorney for the Government or special attorney; (3) all grand jury evidence which in any manner could be considered exculpatory; and (4) all other grand jury evidence which the court may deem material to the defense. Authorizes the court, upon a showing of good cause to modify or deny such disclosure. Entitles a defendant to a preliminary examination when charged with any offense, other than a petty offense, which is to be tried by a judge of the district court. Directs the Attorney General to annually report to Congress and the Administrative Office of the United States Courts with respect to specified aspects of grand jury proceedings, including: (1) the number of investigations conducted and the nature of each such investigation; (2) the number of requests for witness immunity and the nature of arrests, indictments, trials and convictions which resulted from orders granting such immunity; (3) the number of contempt citations and confinements; and (4) description of the procedures by which grand jury information is processed, stored, and used by the Department of Justice.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1977
Natural Gas Industry Competition Act - Title I: Industry Competition - Makes it unlawful, five years after the date of enactment of this Act, for major producers, transporters, and marketers of natural gas to control any interest in other natural gas assets. Prohibits major producers, marketers, on transporters to own more than 50 percent of the equity in any such prohibited assets within three years of the date of enactment of this Act. Prohibits joint ventures and other agreements or arrangements designed to result in acquisition or retention of prohibited assets. Prohibits major producers, marketers, or transporters from making additional investments in prohibited assets. Requires filing of information and reports with the Attorney General by persons affected by this Act. Imposes criminal and civil penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act. Title II: National Energy Industry Competition Court - Creates a National Energy Industry Competition Court to have exclusive jurisdiction over all actions relating to this Act. Establishes procedures governing the operation of such court. Stipulates that decisions of such court shall be directly appealable to the United States Supreme Court.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1977
United States Customs Court Act - Grants to the Customs Court all the common law and statutory powers of the United States district courts. Confers upon the Court exclusive jurisdiction over petitions for immediate relief brought with respect to a final order or decision of the Secretary of the Treasury or of the United States Customs Service.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received from nonmember telephone companies shall not be used in determining whether mutual and cooperative telephone companies qualify as tax exempt organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1977
Authorizes the Attorney General to institute a civil action for or in the name of the United States in an appropriate district court whenever he has reasonable cause to believe that a State or its agents are subjecting persons involuntarily confined in any correctional facility, juvenile correction center, mental hospital, nursing home, or facility for the chronically ill, retarded, or physically handicapped to conditions which deprive such persons of their Federal Constitutional or Statutory rights. Permits the Attorney General to intervene in any action of public importance commenced in a Federal court in which relief is sought from conditions allegedly depriving involuntarily confined persons in State institutions of their Federal rights.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1977
Authorizes the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to provide for radio and television coverage of proceedings in the Senate Chamber during the second session of the Ninety-fifth Congress. Directs the Committee to maintain videotapes and recordings of such coverage to be made available to public and commercial broadcasting stations. Directs the Committee to compile a daily written summary of Senate proceedings to be made available to the news media and to Senate Members, officers, and committees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1977
Extends the statute of limitations through 1987 for causes of action accruing before 1966 that are brought on behalf of an Indian tribe, band, or group.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1977
Designates as wilderness within the National Wildlife Refuge System specified lands in Alaska, Arizona, California, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia. Provides for the addition of lands to specified wilderness areas in Alaska, Arizona, California and Oregon. Designates as wilderness within the National Forest System specified lands in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1977
Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a nationwide rural source water quality assistance program. Requires affected localities to submit rural source water quality plans to the Secretary for approval. Stipulates that plans developed pursuant to this act shall be consistent with plans and programs under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and other appropriate State programs. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint an advisory board to assist in carrying out the provisions of this Act. Directs the Secretary to prepare annual reports on the program in connection with budget preparation for fiscal years 1979 through 1990. Stipulates that the provisions of this Act shall terminate on September 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1977
Social Security Cost-of-Living Improvement Act - Requires an annual cost-of-living increase in Federal old-age, survivors, and disability benefits under the Social Security Act. Defines the base periods from which the need for such increases shall be determined. Directs the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to develop a special Consumer Price Index for the elderly.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1977
Emergency Food and Agriculture Act - Title I: Payment Limitation For Wheat,Feed Grains, and Upland Cotton - Increases the total amount of payments a person shall be entitled to receive under specified annual programs of the Agricultural Act of 1970 from $20,000 to $30,000. Title II: Dairy - Sets the price support of milk, under the Agricultural Act of 1949, at no less than 90 percent of parity as of the date of enactment, adjusted quarterly, and ending March 31, 1978. Title III: Wool Program - Sets the price support for 1977 wool and mohair under the National Wool Act of 1954, at not less than 100 percent of parity. Title IV: Wheat Program - Sets the loan level for the 1977 crop of wheat, under the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, at not less than 90 percent of the established price. Sets the established price of wheat per bushel at $4.98. Title V: Feed Grain Program - Sets the loan level for the 1977 crop of corn at not less than 90 percent of parity. Sets the established price of corn per bushel at $3.42. Title VI: Upland Cotton Program - Sets the nonrecourse loan level for the 1977 crop of upland cotton, under the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, at not less than 90 percent of the established price. Sets the established price of cotton per pound at 82.84 cents. Title VII: Soybean Program - Sets the loan level for the 1977 crop of soybeans under the Agricultural Act of 1949, at not less than 90 percent of the established price. Sets the established price of soybeans per bushel at $7.54. Title VIII: Rice Program - Sets the established price for the 1977 crop of rice, under the Agricultural Act of 1949, at $13.60 per hundredweight. Sets the loan level at $12.24 per hundredweight. Title IX: Dry Edible Beans - Sets the loan level for the 1977 crop of dry edible beans, under the Agricultural Act of 1949, at not less than 90 percent of the established price. Sets the established price per hundredweight of dry edible beans at $26.40.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1977
Indian Child Welfare Act - Title I: Child Placement Standards - Sets standards concerning the validity of Indian Child placement including: (1) that such placement is made pursuant to an order of a tribal court, or where there is no such court that the Indian Tribe be accorded 30 days notice of such a placement proceeding and the right to intervene as an interested party; (2) that there be overwhelming evidence, including professional testimony, that the continued custody of the child would result in serious emotional harm to the child where there is parental or blood guardian opposition to the loss of such custody, or that there be clear and convincing evidence that such custody will result in serious physical harm to the child; and (3) that the voluntariness or consent to the loss of custody be certified by the witnessing judge. States that these provisions shall not effect temporary placements under circumstances where the physical or emotional well-being of the child is immediately threatened. Requires every nontribal government agency to grant a preference to members of the child's extended Indian family when such child is being offered for adoption. States that, absent good cause shown to the contrary, a nontribal government agency must follow the order of preferences stated in this Act. Grants continuing jurisdiction to a tribal court over placement where the child has not attained the age of 18 and has been placed in a home or institution outside of the reservation of which the child is a resident. Allows an Indian adoptive child who has attained the age of 18, upon application to the court which entered the final adoption decree, to discover the names and last known addresses of his or her natural parents, their tribal affiliation and the ground for the severance of their family relations. Title II: Indian Family Development - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make grants to, or enter contracts with Indian tribes for the purpose of assisting such tribes in the establishment and operation of Indian family development programs and child welfare codes. States that family development programs shall consist of (1) a system for licensing or otherwise regulating Indian foster homes; (2) the construction and operation of family development centers, which may include facilities for counseling Indian families and facilities for the temporary custody of Indian children whose parents or guardians are unwilling or unable to care for them; (3) family assistance such as day and after school care, recreational activities and respite services; (4) a special home improvement program; (5) professional personnel to assist the tribal court in the disposition of domestic relations and child welfare matters; (6) education of Indians in skills relating to child welfare and family assistance programs, and scholarships for such education; and (7) a subsidy program for the increased support of Indian adoptive children. Provides for off-reservation Indian family development programs to be either operated directly by the Secretary or through grants and contracts with local Indian organizations. States that such programs may include features such as: (1) a system for regulating and supporting Indian foster and adoptive homes; (2) family assistance; and (3) an Indian family defense program which provides for representation by an attorney for every Indian child or his parents in child placement proceedings. Directs and authorizes the Secretary to undertake a study of the circumstances surrounding all child placements which have occurred during the 16 years preceding the effective date of this Act, where the child so placed is still under the age of 18. Authorizes the Secretary, in his discretion, to institute a habeas corpus action in the name of the United States on behalf of a parent or blood relative for the purpose of challenging the legality of the placement of a child if such parent or relative so requests. States that such action is to be brought in the United States District Court for the district in which the child resides. Directs the Secretary to disclose to an Indian adoptive child over 18 years of age, upon application, the names and addresses of parents and siblings and to aid such a child in enrolling in the tribe of which he is eligible for membership.
![Official portrait of Sen. Abourezk, James [D-SD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/a000017_200.jpg)