United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1977
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit the President from designating a country as a beneficiary developing country, for purposes of tariff preferences (under the President's authority to confer such designation when he determines it to be in the national economic interest), when such country has participated, or is participating, in withholding supplies of any vital commodity resource from international trade.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1977
Regulatory Reform Act - Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan recommending reforms with respect to the regulation of: (1) energy, the environment, housing, and occupational health and safety by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1979; (2) transportation and communications by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1981; (3) banking and finance, international trade, and Government procurement by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1983; and (4) food, consumer health and safety, economic trade practices, and labor- management concerns by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1985. States that each such plan shall include recommendations for reform of such specified agencies and shall report on the cumulative impact of all Government regulatory activity reviewed, up to that date, on specific industry groupings. States that if the President fails to submit such plans by the specified dates, the Senate and House Committees on Government Operations shall draft their own plans to be submitted to Congress for action. Requires the Comptroller General and the Congressional Budget Office, contemporaneously with the development of the President's plan, to submit a report assessing the purpose, effects, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of each agency included in the plans submitted by the President. States that if no comprehensive regulatory reform legislation is enacted by August 1 of the year following the year in which a comprehensive plan has been submitted by the President, then all agencies affected thereby shall have no authority to issue any new rules not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if such reform is not enacted by October 1 of such year, such agency shall have no authority to enforce any rule not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if no such reform is enacted by December 31 of such year, such agency shall be terminated on such date. States that all rules of such terminated agency essential for preserving the public health and safety shall remain effective and shall be enforced by the Department of Justice. Requires the President to submit subsequent plans in the manner and in the order and frequency set forth by this Act every ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Social Security Amendments - Revises the method of determining the initial primary insurance amount of an insured individual under Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Requires that, in determining the amount on which an individual's benefits will be based, a worker's earnings be indexed to reflect the cost-of-living increases between the year in which the worker began to work and the year of retirement. Sets forth the formula to be used in indexing an individual's earnings. Sets forth a new formula to be applied to the average of such indexed wages in determining the initial primary insurance amount. Stipulates that if an individual's benefits computed according to the method set forth in this Act should be lower than benefits computed under the previous law, the higher benefit will be paid.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1977
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to permit the Federal Communications Commission to limit the terms of broadcasting licenses to five years and to grant renewal of such licenses for terms not to exceed five years upon a finding of public interest. Sets guidelines for expenditures action on applications for renewal of licenses by limiting material required to be filed. Requires the Commission to examine the renewal process and report within six months on methods of reducing and consolidating filings and supporting documents.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1977
Authorizes the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a bust or statue of Martin Luther King, Junior, and to cause such sculpture to be placed in a suitable location in the Capitol. Authorizes appropriations of not more than $25,000 to carry out this concurrent resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1977
Establishes the overtime hourly rate of pay for an employee of the Animal and Plant Health Service, Department of Agriculture at an amount equal to one and one-half times the hourly rate of basic pay of such employee if the Secretary of Agriculture determines that: (1) the duties of such employee are critical to certain inspection and disease-control services; (2) the operating requirements cannot be met without overtime; and (3) the overtime work is performed at a time not subject to control of the Department or employee, or is required by an emergency disease outbreak.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1977
Displaced Homemakers Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a minimum of 50 Multipurpose Service Centers for displaced homemakers. States that each Center shall provide specified services, including: (1) job counseling; (2) job training and job placement; (3) health education and counseling; (4) financial management; (5) legal counseling and referral; and (6) outreach information with respect to Federal assistance programs. Sets forth factors to be considered by the Secretary in selecting Center sites. Directs the Secretary to designate a public or non-profit private organization to administer a Center once its site has been chosen. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants in accordance with specified guidelines to such organizations for the purpose of establishing and maintaining Centers. Directs the Secretary to prepare and furnish to Congress biennial evaluations which are to include a thorough assessment of each Center and recommendations concerning the administration and expansion of such Centers at the local, State, and Federal levels. Directs the Secretary to prepare and furnish to the Congress a study to determine the feasibility of, and appropriate procedures for, allowing displaced homemakers to participate in: (1) programs established under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973; (2) work incentive programs under the Social Security Act; (3) related Federal employment, education and health assistance programs; and (4) programs established, or benefits provided, under Federal and State unemployment compensation laws.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Title I: Meat and Meat Products - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to require meat imports to be labeled as imports and to be subjected to tests regarding substances or levels of substances prohibited in any domestically produced animal. Title II: Dairy Products - Prohibits the importation of dairy products unless the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare certifies that such imports originated from pure and wholesome supplies and were manufactured in plants which comply with certain minimum standards of sanitation. Makes such products subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act after entry into the United States. Permits assessments and fees to be prescribed for such tests and inspections and the revocation of import privileges for failure to pay such fees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Makes it unlawful for any individual or entity to solicit to enroll or enroll any member of the armed forces in any labor organization or for any member to encourage others to join or to actively support any military labor organization. Sets forth penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Tax-Exempt Private Pension Investment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an excise tax on managers of tax-exempt pension plans with a fair market value exceeding $1,000,000,000, where the manager invests sufficient assets, over which he has discretionary authority, to acquire more than five percent of any class of security of any corporation having a capital account exceeding $150,000,000. Provides pension plan trusts with unlimited authority to invest up to two percent of their assets in any corporation with a capital account of less than $25,000,000, or any securities investment company.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Restricts the importation of fresh, chilled, or frozen beef, goat, and sheep meat to entry under specified tariff classifications, regardless of form, classification as processed, change in tariff classification, executive definition, or entry into the United States through any foreign trade zone and modification in form within the trade zone.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Natural Gas Act Amendments - Amends the Natural Gas Act to terminate Federal Power Commission authority to regulate sales of new natural gas in interstate commerce. Stipulates that emergency sales of natural gas to curtailed customers who qualify as essential users shall not affect such exempt status. Stipulates that contractual provisions prohibiting sales to such customers shall be suspended and unenforceable for the duration of such emergency sale. Stipulates that prices for offshore sales of new natural gas shall not exceed the ceiling price for sales of new natural gas produced from offshore Federal lands. Stipulates that prices paid for natural gas in transactions between a natural gas company and its affiliates shall not exceed prices paid in comparable sales by persons not affiliated with any natural gas company. Directs the Federal Power Commission to conduct studies and make reports regarding the nature and availability of natural gas reserves. Requires that the Commission keep current information available relating to the estimated natural gas reserves for individual fields. Establishes procedures for the establishment of ceiling prices for new natural gas produced from offshore Federal lands through December 31, 1982. Authorizes the Commission to grant exemptions to price ceilings within high-cost production areas. Establishes procedures for adjustments to price ceilings established pursuant to this Act. Directs the Commission to prohibit the curtailment of adequate supplies of natural gas for essential agricultural purposes. Directs the Commission to prohibit the use of natural gas as boiler fuel where adequate alternatives are available. Authorizes exemptions from such prohibition where necessary to comply with pollution control or environmental protection and safety standards. Stipulates that the provisions of the Natural Gas Act shall extend to synthetic natural gas.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Provides that a certain individual and his wife be considered lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence as of June 27, 1969 and July 4, 1967, respectively.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Deems service as a member of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots as active duty for the purposes of all laws administered by the Veterans' Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1977
Specifies additional penalties including death, for members of terrorist organizations who commit certain offenses pursuant to the advocacy, direction, teachings, or encouragement of their respective organization. Requires a separate sentencing hearing in cases where capital punishment is an authorized additional sentence. Sets forth standards and procedures for such hearings.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1977
Requires the President to suspend economic assistance, military assistance, extensions of credits, and guarantees under the Foreign Military Sales Act, government and commercial sales of defense articles and services, and loans and loan guarantees by the Export-Import Bank, to any country that aids or abets terrorism, unless the President transmits to Congress a finding that such action is justified by national security and such finding is not disapproved by a concurrent resolution of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt aircraft used primarily for agricultural operation from the excise tax on civil aircraft. Provides for the refund of the excise tax on gasoline used for farming purposes in an aircraft to the aerial applicator who purchased it.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Medicare-Medicaid Anti-Fraud and Abuse Amendments - Amends Titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require that Medicare and Medicaid payments be made directly to the physician or other person providing the service involved. Allows payment in accordance with an assignment from the person or institution providing care or service if such assignment is made to a governmental agency or entity or is established by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction or to an agent of such person or institution if the agency does so pursuant to an agency agreement under which the compensation to be paid to the agency for his services or in connection with the billing or collection of payments due such person or institution under the plan is unrelated to the amount of such payments or the billings thereof, and is not dependent upon the actual collection of any such payment. States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall by regulation (or by contract provision) provide that any entity (other than a public agency) which is a provider or supplier that furnishes or arranges for the furnishing of items or services with respect to which payment is claimed under Title XVIII, Title V (Maternal and Child Welfare), or under Title XIX of the Social Security Act to a party to an agreement with the Secretary under such titles shall promptly comply with any request, specifically addressed to that entity by the Secretary or the Comptroller General of the United States, for information concerning ownership, control, or costs of such entities. Increases the maximum penalty for defrauding the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Authorizes the Comptroller General of the United States to sign and issue subpoenas for the purpose of any audit, investigation, examination, analysis, review, evaluation, or other function authorized by law with respect to any program authorized under this Act. Requires the Secretary to suspend any physician or practitioner from participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs whenever such individual is convicted of a criminal offense related to their involvement in such programs. Conditions participation in or certification or recertification under the programs established by titles XVIII, XIX, and XX (Grants to States for Services) upon disclosure of the name of any person who: (1) has a direct or indirect ownership or control interest of five percent or more in such provider, institution, organization, or agency; and (2) has been convicted of a criminal offense related to the involvement of such person in any of such programs. Prohibits expenditure under the Medicaid plan to the extent that any agency, organization, or other person (other than a member of the individual's family) would have been obligated by a State law or contract to provide such care or services but for a provision of the State law or contract which limits or excludes such obligation because the individual is eligible for or receives care or services under the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Employment Tax Credit Economic Stabilization Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if the unemployment rate is five percent or more for three consecutive months, an employer is allowed a tax credit equal to five percent of the product of (1) the annual average personal gross earnings (private, nonagricultural) as determined by the Department of Labor, and (2) the increase in the number of full-time employees over the preceeding year. Reduces, for purposes of computation, the number of full-time employees of the taxpayer, should the unemployment rate rise above six percent.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1977
Sunset Act - Title I: Authorizations of New Budget Authority - Sets forth a five-year schedule for review and reauthorization of all Federal programs according to budget function and subfunction as set forth in the Budget of the United States Government for fiscal year 1977. States that no program not specifically reauthorized by Congress pursuant to this Act shall continue to function after the review date set forth in such schedule. Excepts from the requirements of this Act specified programs such as health care services, general retirement and disability insurance, and Federal employment retirement and disability payments. Permits legislation authorizing Federal program review more often than every five years as required by this Act. Requires the Comptroller General to identify for Congress for each program being reviewed the type of budget authority such program has and those inactive programs for which no outlays have been made during fiscal years 1976 and 1977. Title II: Review of Programs - Requires the authorizing committees of the Senate and House of Representatives to conduct "sunset reviews" of all programs prior to the review date applicable to such program and to issue a report on the findings of such review. Sets forth guidelines for the content of such sunset reviews including the identification of programs with duplicative objectives and an assessment of the impact of eliminating the program or funding it at a lower level. Provides the authorizing committees with assistance from the Government Accounting Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service in carrying out such sunset reviews. Title III: Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government - Establishes a Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government to study and make recommendations on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Government. Requires the Commission to submit its final report together with its findings and recommendations no later than September 30, 1980. Requires the Comptroller General to report once a year for two years after submission of the Commission's final report the status of actions taken as a result of the report. Terminates the Commission 90 days after submission of its final report. Authorizes to be appropriated $12,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this title. Title IV: Tax Expenditures - Requires the Joint Committee on Taxation, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Budget Committees of the House and Senate, to prepare a reauthorization schedule for all tax expenditures, similar to the schedule set out in Title I for Federal programs, and to report its recommendations to the Committees on Ways and Means and Finance. Requires the Congress to take final action before the end of the 95th Congress on the schedule for tax expenditures. States that, following the adoption of the schedule, the Committees on Ways and Means and Finance are required to conduct "sunset" reviews of tax expenditures according to the schedule. Sets forth guidelines for such reviews similar to those set out in Title II for such programs. Title V: Miscellaneous - Requires executive department agency heads to submit to Congress (after the President has submitted his budget) a statement of that agency's request for new budget authority as transmitted to the Office of Management and Budget. Requires agency heads to furnish the authorizing committees of Congress information regarding supplemental budget requests and supplemental estimates of outlays. Provides for a one-year grace period for programs which have not been specifically reauthorized by the scheduled time.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1976
Disapproves of the action taken by the President of the United States under the Trade Act of 1974 and transmitted to Congress on August 28, 1976, in which the President declined to grant import relief to domestic producers of honey.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1976
Disapproves of the action taken by the President of the United States under the Trade Act of 1974 and transmitted to Congress on August 28, 1976, in which the President declined to grant import relief to domestic producers of honey.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1976
Government Economy and Spending Reform Act - Title I: Authorizations of New Budget Authority - Terminates all budget authority for Federal programs on specified dates according to the functional or subfunctional category of each program as set forth in the fiscal year 1977 budget. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress by April 1, 1977, on specified programs with respect to the laws under which such program is carried on, the amount of new budget authority received by such program during the four fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977, and to identify programs for which no outlays have been made during the last two fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977. Prohibits providing new budget authority after the applicable review date set forth in this Act unless the provision of such budget authority is specifically authorized by law or the standing rules of either House of Congress. Title II: Zero-Base Program Review - Sets forth a timetable for Congressional zero-base review of new budget authority. Defines "zero-base review" as an evaluation of a given program to determine the merits of its continuation at a level less than, equal to, or more than its existing level. Requires each congressional committee conducting a zero-based program review to adopt tentative and final review plans, receive reports from the Comptroller General and Federal agencies on the program being reviewed, and report to their respective House the results of such zero-base review of the program. Sets forth minimum objectives of inquiry for such reviews. Requires that any committee reporting pursuant to this Act recommend the extent to which any program reviewed should be continued or eliminated. Title III: Continuing Review - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 to require, whenever the Comptroller General issues a report which discloses any substantial deficiency in the achievement of the objectives of any Federal program, the agency conducting such program to report to specified congressional committees 60 days after such report and every six months thereafter to deliniate the actions taken with respect to such deficiency. Requires that such agency continue to issue such reports until such time as the Comptroller General determines that no purpose is served by their submission. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921, to require the inclusion in the Budget of a statement of the specific objectives of each Government program, and a comparison, in each subsequent Budget, of the achievement of such objectives for the last completed fiscal year with the planned objectives of such year. Title IV: Citizens Bicentennial Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government - Establishes the Citizens' Bicentennial Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government, an independent agency of 18 members to study Federal agencies. Directs the Commission to make recommendations to the President and Congress for the restructuring of such agencies to improve their efficiency. Requires the Commission to submit its final report by September 30, 1979, and terminate it 90 days thereafter. Authorizes to be appropriated without fiscal year limitation $12,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this title. Title V: Miscellaneous - Requires the Director of Management and Budget to study the feasibility of zero-base budgeting for Federal agencies. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to study the feasibility of personnel ceilings on employees of the United States and their relationships to alternative methods of carrying out the activities of such employees. Requires that such reports be submitted to Congress. Requires Federal agency heads to report requests for new budget authority to Congress. Requires specified committees to study the effectiveness of the zero-base review procedures required by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1976
Expresses the Senate's gratitude to Mike Mansfield of Montana for his participation in the Government and his service on behalf of the Nation's people.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1976
Medicare-Medicaid Anti-Fraud Act - Establishes within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, an Office of Central Fraud and Abuse Control. Provides that such Office shall have the overall responsibility for directing and establishing policies with respect to the undertaking of activities which are designed to deal with fraud and abuse in the Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Services, Medicare and Medicaid. Specifies that the Office shall also have responsibility for investigating alleged fraud or abuse in any such program, and assisting State agencies, at their request, in the establishment and operation of State antifraud and abuse activities. Directs that no payment for Medicare service may be made to a person claiming such payment under an assignment, including a power of attorney, but may be made to an agent of the person furnishing such service. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare or the Comptroller General to require providers or suppliers of items or services, with respect to which payment is claimed under one of the programs within the jurisdiction of the Office, to furnish specified information including the following: (1) the identity of persons having ownership interest in such entity; and (2) a consolidated certified costs report with respect to its costs and charges, including costs and charges of related organizations. Specifies sanctions which shall be imposed upon entities which fail to comply with requests for information. Increases the penalties for defrauding the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Provides that it shall be a felony (presently misdemeanor) punishable by imprisonment of up to five years for such an offense. States that where a Professional Standards Review Organization is found competent by the Secretary to assume review responsibility with respect to specified types of health care services or specified providers or practitioners of such services and is performing such reviews, such reviews shall constitute the conclusive determination on those issues for purposes of payment under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 1976
Designates the extension of the Senate Office Building presently under construction pursuant to the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973, as the "Philip A. Hart Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 26 August 1976
Establishes within the Department of Defense a Weapons and Munitions Security Office to be responsible for formulating, coordinating, and supervising a continuing program of security and accountability for weapons and munitions of the Department of Defense. Designates the Assistant Secretary of Defense as the head of such Office. Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) review all security and accountability procedures with respect to Department of Defense weapons and munitions; (2) modify existing procedures, or promulgate new procedures to protect weapons and munitions against theft or loss and to provide for the accurate and timely accountability of such weapons and munitions; and (3) conduct periodic investigations regarding compliance with such procedures. Requires a thorough investigation of any weapons or munitions loss by the military department concerned. Requires each military department to submit quarterly reports to the Assistant Secretary including a description of all losses and recoveries of weapons and munitions. Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing such losses and recoveries. (Adds 10 U.S.C. 2686)
United States · United States Congress · 26 August 1976
Urges the President to direct United States Ambassadors abroad to seek the consideration by foreign governments of suspension of their air service to any foreign nation aiding or abetting terrorism. States that the President should undertake international discussions and negotiations which would strengthen the current minimum safety standards established pursuant to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Urges the President to end air transportation between the United States and any foreign nation which violates such act; services violating nations; or does not maintain transportation security sufficient to meet the minimum security standards established pursuant to the Convention.
United States · United States Congress · 24 August 1976
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the current withholding tables as set forth in the Revenue Adjustment Act of 1975 shall remain in effect through December 31, 1976, rather than August 31, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 24 August 1976
National Aquaculture Organic Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a National Development Plan. States that such plan shall: (1) identify each aquatic species which can be cultured on a commercial basis (priority aquatic species); and (2) contain a program of aquaculture development for such priority aquatic species. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to review annually each aquatic species not identified as a priority species and the program established for each priority species. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish and maintain an aquaculture information center; (2) maintain an inventory of public and private aquaculture being carried out in the United States; (3) arrange for the mutual exchange of information relating to aquaculture with foreign nations; (4) provide advisory, educational, marketing, and technical services with respect to aquaculture to interested public and private organizations and individuals; and (5) coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the utilization of aquacultural and other forms of waste water in carrying out the purposes of this Act. Establishes the Interagency Committee on Aquaculture comprised of the heads of various Federal agencies to insure that there is a continuing exchange of information relating to the aquacultural programs and projects of the various agencies and to review on a continuing basis the relevant programs and projects of all Federal agencies. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the Interior to make grants or enter into contracts to carry out the purposes of this Act. Limits the amount of any grant made available under this Act to one-half of the estimated cost of the project for which the grant was made. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to guarantee obligations issued for the financing of any aquaculture facility within the United States. Stipulates that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all such guaranteed obligations shall not exceed $100,000,000. Authorizes the Secretary to collect a fee for guaranteed obligations not to exceed one-half of one percent per annum of the outstanding principal balance of the obligation. Sets forth the allowable interest rate, maturity date, and default procedures relating to such loans. Authorizes the Secretary to issue notes or obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury if the monies in the loan fund are insufficient to pay such a loan in the event of default. Establishes within the Treasury a Federal Aquaculture Assistance Fund for the purpose of guaranteeing loans under this act. Requires the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, to submit an annual report to Congress which shall document and evaluate the success or failure of the facilities for which loan guarantees were made under this Act. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts to each of the Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture and the Interior through fiscal year 1980 to carry out the provisions of this Act except for the purpose of guaranteeing loans. Authorizes appropriations of a maximum of $100,000,000 without fiscal year limitation, to the Federal Aquaculture Assistance Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1976
Fair and Certain Punishment Act - Establishes specified sentencing procedures and specified mandatory sentences for anyone convicted of homocide, assault, kidnapping, rape, Congressional or Presidential assault, assassination, or kidnapping, robbery and burglary, interference with or conversion of specified government property, offenses related to the transportation, sale, and handling of animals for research purposes, and offenses related to the sale and inspection of meat, poultry, and egg products. Requires the judge who presided at the trial of such an offender to conduct a separate sentencing hearing to determine the sentence to be imposed. Directs that such hearing include consideration of specified mitigating and aggravating factors. Specifies the effect on the sentence to be given upon determination of the existence or nonexistence of such factors. Entitles defendants sentenced under this Act, within 60 days following sentence, to appeal to a United States court of appeals for review solely to determine if the sentence was imposed in accordance with law. Requires judges, where sentences have been increased or decreased due to mitigating or aggravating factors, to include in their decisions detailed accounts of their reasons for imposing such sentences. Directs judges, if defendants to be sentenced under this Act have one or more prior felony convictions, to increase their sentences as specified. Establishes procedures for the sentencing hearing required by this Act. Entitles prisoners sentenced under these provisions to specified reductions of sentence for good behavior. (Adds 18 U.S.C. 3581-2)
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1976
Shrimp Import Act - Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to impose a duty on the importation of shrimp. Restricts the importation of shrimp to the amount imported during a specified base period, to be determined by the Secretary of Commerce. Imposes restrictions upon importation of headless shrimp and upon the quantity per month. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to increase or decrease such restrictions in response to consumer demand and the domestic shrimp industry. Establishes and authorizes appropriations for a shrimp marketing research, and food assistance fund. Establishes the Shrimp Food Assistance Account, under the Secretary of Agriculture, to purchase surplus domestic shrimp.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1976
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the American Canal extension at El Paso, Texas. Authorizes the appropriation of $21,714,000 for fiscal year 1978 and thereafter for construction of such project.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1976
Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to authorize the interstate shipment of meat food products which are processed by a federally inspected establishment and which are derived from meat slaughtered or processed at a State-inspected establishment in a State whose meat inspection requirements are at least equal to the Federal requirements.
![Official portrait of Sen. Bentsen, Lloyd M. [D-TX]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000401_200.jpg)