United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Soft Drink Bottlers' Protection Act of 1979 - Declares that exclusive territorial arrangements made as a part of a licensing agreement for the manufacture, distribution, or sale of a trademarked soft drink product are lawful under the antitrust laws provided: (1) such product is in substantial and effective competition with other products of the same general class; (2) the licensee is in substantial and effective competition with vendors of other products of the same general class; and (3) the licensor retains control over the nature and quality of such product pursuant to the Trademark Act of 1946.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to issue a social security card made of banknote paper to each individual at the time of issuing a social security account number to such individual.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1979
Authorizes the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment to head the Department of Labor's, Veterans' Employment Service in place of the existing Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1979
Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1979 - Prohibits anyone from directly or indirectly accessing or causing to be accessed for fraudulent purposes a computer system operating in interstate commerce or having a connection with the Federal Government or any financial institution.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject nonresident aliens, estates, trusts, partnerships, and foreign corporations to a tax on the gain from the sale or exchange of farm or rural lands situated in the United States. Requires foreign corporations which hold United States farm lands comprising 20 percent of their assets to make reports on such holdings as the Secretary of the Treasury may require.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1979
Department of Education Organization Act of 1979 - Title I: General Provisions - Declares the purposes of this Act to be to: (1) insure that education receives the appropriate emphasis at the Federal levels; (2) coordinate Federal educational programs; (3) supplement and complement the educational efforts of State, local, and tribal governments, as well as the private sector; and (4) protect the rights of State, local, and tribal governments, and public and non-public educational institutions in the areas of educational policies, administration of programs, and selection of curriculums and program content. Title II: Establishment of Department - Establishes an executive department to be known as the Department of Education to be headed by a Secretary of Education. Establishes, within such Department, offices of Assistant Secretary for: (1) Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; (2) Postsecondary Education; (3) Elementary and Secondary Education; (4) Occupational, Adult, and Community Education; and (5) Educational Research and Development. Establishes within such Department: (1) a Director of the Office of Civil Rights; (2) two additional Assistant Secretaries; (3) an Inspector General; (4) a General Counsel; and (5) an Administrator of Education for Overseas Dependents. Includes, within the functions of such Department, the administration of programs relating to: (1) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education; (2) occupational, adult, and community education; (3) grants; (4) special education and rehabilitative services; (5) schools for overseas dependents of the Department of Defense; (6) enforcement of civil rights; (7) educational research; (8) intergovernmental policies; (9) public information; and (10) congressional relations. Establishes, within such Department, Offices of: (1) Civil Rights; (2) Elementary and Secondary Education; (3) Postsecondary Education; (4) Occupational, Adult, and Community Education; (5) Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; (6) Education for Overseas Dependents; (7) Educational Research and Improvement; (8) Inspector General; and (9) General Counsel. Establishes within such Department an Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Education to assure the effective coordination of Federal programs. Establishes a Federal Interagency Committee on Education to assist the Secretary in coordinating the procedures and actions of the Department with other Federal agencies. Title III: Transfers of Agencies and Functions - Transfers to the Department from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW): (1) the Education Division of HEW, including the National Institute of Education; (2) the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education, including the National Center for Education Statistics; (3) the Institute of Museum Services; (4) any advisory committees primarily concerned with education; and (5) the Office of Information and Resources for Handicapped Individuals; (6) the Rehabilitation Services Administration, except the part of such Administration that administers the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act; (7) the National Institute of Handicapped Research; (8) the Interagency Committee on Handicapped Research; (9) the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults; and (10) the National Council on the Handicapped. Transfers from HEW to the Department of Education educational functions regarding: (1) the General Education Provisions Act; (2) the Emergency School Aid Act; (3) the Higher Education Act of 1965; (4) the Emergency Insured Student Loan Act of 1969; (5) the Act of August 30, 1898; (6) title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (7) certain provisions of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education Act; (8) the International Education Act of 1966; (9) the National Defense Education Act of 1958; (10) the Education of the Handicapped Act; (11) the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act; (12) the Vocational Education Act of 1963; (13) the Career Education Incentive Act; (14) the Office of Civil Rights; (15) the budgetary oversight of certain educational institutions; (16) certain loans and scholarships for students in the medical and health services under the Public Health Service Act; (17) certain provisions under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; (18) the National Institute of Education and the Institute of Museum Services; (19) Gallaudet College, Howard University, the American Printing House for the Blind, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf; and (20) telecommunications grants under the Communications Act of 1934. Transfers to the Department of Education from the Departments of: (1) Defense, the administration and operation of overseas dependents schools; (2) Justice, the student loan and grant programs known as the Law Enforcement and Education Program and the Law Enforcement Intern Program; and (3) Housing and Urban Development, the administration of college housing loans. Transfers to the Department of Education: (1) specified functions of the National Science Foundation; and (2) the Advisory Council on Educational Statistics. Title IV: Administrative Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to appoint and fix the salaries for the Department's employees in accordance with the civil service laws. Allows certain higher level appointments to be made by the Secretary without Civil Service Commission approval if the individual so appointed is transferred to the Department in connection with a transfer of functions under this Act. Stipulates that Congress shall authorize the annual number of personnel for the Department of Education. Establishes guidelines for computing such personnel authorization. Grants rulemaking authority to the Secretary. Requires such rules to be in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act and specified provisions of the General Education Provisions Act. Authorizes the Secretary to (1) employ experts and consultants; (2) enter into contracts with public agencies and private persons and organizations; (3) provide technical advice to participants or potential participants in Departmental programs; (4) maintain, alter, or discontinue field offices; (5) acquire and maintain schools, laboratories, and related facilities; (6) provide and maintain various facilities for employees and their dependents at remote locations; (7) utilize, with their consent, Federal, State, tribal, or foreign facilities; (8) acquire necessary copyrights and patents; (9) accept and utilize gifts and requests of real and personal property; (10) establish a working capital fund for administrative expenses; and (11) transfer funds within the Department. Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Congress concerning the Department's activities. Stipulates that such report include: (1) a statement of goals and priorities; (2) an assessment of progress; (3) an analysis of data concerning changing trends in education and areas of particular educational concern; (4) five-year budget projections; and (5) recommendations made by the Federal Interagency Committee on Education. Requires that public hearings be held as part of the preparation of such report. Directs that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget jointly conduct a study of the administration of Federal Indian education programs, and that such study be submitted to the Congress and the President within six months of enactment of this Act. Stipulates that such study contain; (1) an analysis of problems and recommendations for improvements; and (2) recommendations concerning the proper organizational structure for Indian education programs within the Federal Government. Provides that, except where inconsistent with provisions of this Act, the General Education Provisions Act shall apply to functions transferred by this Act. Title V: Transitional, Savings, and Conforming Provisions - Redesignates the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare as the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Title VI: Effective Date and Interim Appointment - Directs that this Act shall take effect 180 days after the Secretary of Education takes office, or earlier if the President so decides. Authorizes the President to make initial interim appointments to the Department of Education under specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1979
(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Armed Services with amendment, S. Rept. 96-226) Amends the Military Selective Service Act to direct the President to commence registration of male citizens in accordance with provisions of such Act by January 2, 1980. Authorizes the President to suspend such registration only for the purpose of revising or instituting new procedures. Stipulates that such suspension shall not exceed 90 consecutive days nor occur more than once in any one-year period. Prohibits the President from classifying or examining any person registered under the provisions of such Act after the date or enactment and before January 1, 1981, unless he determines that it is in the national interest to do so. Directs the President to submit a written report on the Military Selective Service Act to Congress by July 1, 1980, containing recommendations for: (1) revisions of categories and standards for deferment or exemption; (2) the revision of registration and classification procedures; and (3) revisions he determines necessary to improve the fairness and effectiveness of such Act. Requires that the President include in such report a certification to the effect that such Act, including any changes recommended by him, is in his judgment equitable and capable of providing the means necessary to effectively meet the military manpower needs of the United States. Directs the Secretary of Defense to include in the annual manpower requirements written report an assessment of the capability of mobilizing military manpower to meet national security requirements during national emergencies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend for one year, until October 1, 1979, the period of time during which the services of physicians in teaching hospitals will be included as inpatient hospital services under that title.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1979
Establishes a Joint Committee on National Health Insurance to make continuing studies of a national health insurance plan. Refers all Senate and House of Representatives bills and resolutions pertaining to national health insurance to the joint committee and directs the joint committee to make recommendations on such matters. Authorizes the joint committee to hold hearings and investigations in order to carry out its duties under this resolution. Directs the joint committee to keep a complete record of all committee actions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment for specified services performed by chiropractors, including x-rays and physical examinations, and related routine laboratory tests.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Sunset Act of 1979 - Title I: Reauthorizations of Government Programs - Sets forth a ten-year schedule for 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 1979. Sets forth the procedure in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the consideration of any bill, resolution, or amendment which authorizes new budget authority. States that it is not in order for either House to consider any legislation which authorizes the enactment of new budget authority for a program for a period of more than ten years, for an indefinite period, or for any fiscal year beginning after the next reauthorization date applicable to such program. Provides that before the Congress can appropriate funds for any program, after its first reauthorization date, there must be a specific authorization in law to support the appropriation. Requires the committees of the Senate and House of Representatives to conduct a sunset review of programs during the Congress in which such programs are scheduled for review. Requires that the report accompanying such reauthorization contain specified information, and that the report be completed during the Congress in which the program is scheduled for reauthorization. Exempts from the requirements of this Act specified programs such as interest on Federal debts, health care services, general retirement and disability payments, as well as litigation activities which have as their objectives the protection and implementation of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and specified retirement pay and benefits. Allows the reauthorization schedule set forth in this Act to be changed by concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress and sets forth the procedure for such change. Requires all legislation and other matters related to changes in the dates for programs under this Act to be referred to the committee with legislative jurisdiction over any program affected by the proposal and, sequentially, to the Committee on Rules in the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the Senate. Requires such committees to report any concurrent resolution or bill referred to it by a committee of legislative jurisdiction within 30 days, with a statement on each of its recommendations. Makes provisions for any proposed change which has been reported by a committee before June 1, 1980. Title II: Program Inventory - Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs. Declares that the purpose of such program inventory is to advise and assist Congress in carrying out the reauthorization and reexamination requirements and to link such reauthorization and review process with the budget process. Requires the Comptroller General to submit such program inventory to each House of Congress no later than January 1, 1980. Sets forth the contents of the inventory program, including the type of authorization provided for such programs' new budget authority, and the manner in which related program areas may be grouped for evaluation and review. Permits the congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service to review the program inventory and suggest revisions. Requires that the program inventory be revised at the end of each session of Congress, and that such revisions be reported to each House. Requires that periodic reports tabulate the progress of congressional action on bills and resolutions authorizing budget authority for programs in the inventory. Requires the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to submit periodic reports to the Congress on the adequacy of the functional and subfunctional categories for grouping programs of like missions or objectives. Title III: Program Reexamination - Requires each committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reexamine selected programs or groups of programs over which it has jurisdiction. Sets forth procedures for such review, and criteria for selection of program areas for evaluation. Directs each Senate committee to consult with the appropriate committees of either the House of Representatives or the Senate in order to achieve coordination of program reevaluation and inform itself of the related activities of or available assistance from the General Accounting Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, the Office of Technology Assessment, and appropriate instrumentalities in the executive and judicial branches. Requires each Senate committee to deliver a report on the reexamination to the Secretary of the Senate at the date specified in the funding resolution first reported by such committee in 1981, and thereafter reported for the first session of each Congress. Allows two or more committees which have legislative jurisdiction over the same programs or portions of the same programs to examine such programs jointly and submit a joint report. Stipulates that such report: (1) contain the findings, recommendations, and justifications of the program; and (2) include specified information including, but not limited to, an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the program and an identification of any trends, developments, and emerging conditions which are likely to affect the nature and extent of the problems or needs which the program is intended to address. Requires each executive department or agency which is responsible for a program selected for reexamination to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget and to the appropriate committees of the Congress on its findings, recommendations, and justifications of specified aspects of the program. Title IV: Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government - Establishes, as an independent instrumentality of the United States, the Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government to conduct a nonpartisan study and investigation of the organization and methods of operation of all departments, agencies, independent instrumentalities, and other authorities of the executive branch of the Government, and to make such recommendations as it determines are necessary to promote economic, efficient and improved services in the transaction of public business. Requires the Commission to submit interim reports to the President and the Congress, and to submit a final report with its findings and recommendations. Requires the Comptroller General to report once a year for two years after submission of the Commission's final report on the status of actions taken as a result of the report. Specifies the composition of the 15-member Commission and sets forth the duties and powers of the Commission. States that the Commission shall cease to exist 90 days after submission of its final report. Authorizes to be appropriated until September 30, 1984, without fiscal year limitations, $4,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this Title. Title V: Regulatory Impact - Requires the President to submit, at the beginning of each of the five Congresses beginning with the 97th Congress, an analysis of the purpose, function, and efficiency of 16 specified regulatory agencies. Requires the President to submit legislative plans, based on such analyses, for the improvement of operations of such agencies. Establishes a schedule according to which plans for specified agencies will be submitted early in each of the five Congresses for which the required analyses are submitted. Directs the President, with each plan, to submit a report on the cumulative impact of government regulatory activity on specific industry groupings. Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to assess each of the agencies included in the President's plans and to analyze such plans, and submit such information to the Congress. Title VI: Government Accountability - Requires the President, beginning with the first year of the 97th Congress, to submit biennially, as a part of the budget, a report on the management of the executive branch. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to provide an evaluative report on Federal programs to the President to be included with the President's report. Title VII: Miscellaneous - Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to permit the committees of Congress to obtain from the agencies of the government estimates or requests for appropriations or requests for increases in an item of any such estimate or request, and recommendations as to how the revenue needs of the government should be met. Declares that nothing shall require the public disclosure of records which are specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order, or which are otherwise specifically protected by law. Provides that the committees of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall not be required to publicly disclose any such records, except as otherwise provided by the rules of either House. Sets forth administrative procedures and requirements. Directs the President, with the cooperation of the head of each appropriate agency, to submit to the Congress a "Regulatory Duplication and Conflicts Report" for all programs scheduled for reauthorization in the next Congress. Stipulates that each such report identify duplicative or conflicting rules and regulations promulgated by executive departments, independent agencies, and State and local governments and contain recommendations which address such conflicts or duplications. Defines the term "required authorization waiver resolution" for purposes of this Act. Sets forth the procedure which the chairman of the committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives having legislative jurisdiction over programs must follow in order to introduce a required authorization waiver resolution. Makes it the duty of the Committees on Governmental Affairs and on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committees on Government Operations and on Rules of the House of Representatives to review the operation of the procedures established by this Act and to submit a report every five years beginning December 31, 1986. Authorizes to be appropriated through fiscal year 1990 such sums as may be necessary to carry out the review requirements and for the compilation of the inventory of Federal programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Federal Acquisition Reform Act - Title I: Regulatory Guidance - Authorizes and directs the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) to promulgate a single, simplified uniform regulation implementing this Act and to establish procedures for assuring compliance with this Act within two years of its enactment. Authorizes and directs the Administrator to establish and oversee a program to reduce agency use of detailed product specifications. Requires the OFPP, after consulting the Office of Personnel Management, to establish a code of conduct for contracting officers employed by executive agencies. Directs the Inspector General of each agency to: (1) investigate any allegations of code violations; (2) refer criminal violations to the Attorney General; and (3) refer other violations to the agency head. Requires each agency to report on such investigations to the OFPP which shall report to Congress. Title II: Acquisition by Competitive Sealed Bids - Sets criteria for use of the competitive sealed bid method of acquisition. Stipulates that the time prior to opening bids be sufficient to permit competition and that invitation for sealed bids be accessible to all interested bidders. States that eligibility to participate in the bidding may be limited to concerns eligible to participate in small business set-asides, or other authorized programs. Requires the invitation forbids to describe purchases, to the extent practicable, in functional terms in order to permit a variety of distinct products or services to qualify. Requires agency head approval in the event that specific product or service descriptions are to be included in such bids. Provides for instances where the use of functional or performance specifications make it impractical to plan for award primarily on the basis of price. Requires all bids to be opened publicly at the time and place stated in the invitation. States that contracts shall be awarded to the responsible bidder whose bid conforms to the invitation and is most advantageous to the Government. Permits the rejection of all bids when, for cogent and compelling reasons, it is in the Government's interest to do so. Title III: Acquisition by Competitive Negotiation - Permits the use of the competitive negotiation method of procurement when the competitive sealed bid method is inappropriate under criteria set forth in this Act or rules promulgated by the Office. Requires solicitations for offers issued by the Government to interested or potential sources in competitive negotiations to: (1) be obtained from a sufficient number of qualified sources; (2) include the evaluation methodology and the relative importance of all significant factors used during competitive evaluation and for final selection; (3) state broadly agency purchase requirements; (4) clarify agency intent to all offerors in a timely and equitable manner, where inadequacies in the solicitation have been identified; and (5) be subject to prior approval by an agency head, when using detailed product specifications. Establishes standards for written and oral communications with all responsible offerors in a competitive range. States that such discussions shall generally be limited to obtaining any needed clarification, substantiation, or extension of offers. Declares that auction techniques are strictly prohibited. Requires, when awards are made for alternative approaches selected on the basis of the factors contained in the solicitation, that the contractors be sustained in competition to the maximum extent practicable until sufficient test or evaluation information becomes available to narrow the choice. Prohibits disclosure of information concerning a contract award to any person not having source selection responsibilities. Permits the notification of offerors who have been eliminated from competition. Requires prompt notification of award to all unsuccessful offerors. Continues the use of multiple award schedules under competitive methods which: (1) limit the number of items on such schedules which meet the same need; and (2) obtain the lowest competitively priced items which meet the minimum needs of the government. Authorizes the use of noncompetitive acquisition methods: (1) if the contract to be awarded stems from acceptance of an unsolicited proposal; or (2) if the agency head determines that it is in the best interest of the Government to enter into a noncompetitive contract. Requires the contracting officer to use price analysis techniques to evaluate the reasonableness of a negotiated prime contract price or a price adjustment to a contract modification where the price is expected to be $500,000 or less and is based on an established catalog or market price of a commercial item, and where there has been a recent comparable competitive acquisition. Extends such price analysis to subcontracts. Requires that cost data be obtained and cost analysis techniques used whenever the price of a contract, subcontract, or price adjustment pursuant to a modification is expected to exceed $500,000. Permits the contracting officer to obtain cost data and use cost analysis techniques when authorized in regulations issued by the Administrator. Requires contractors and subcontractors to submit in writing such price data or cost data as are required to be obtained pursuant to this Act. Permits regulations issued by the Administrator to authorize identification in writing of price data and cost data in lieu of actual submission. Authorizes the Government to adjust a contract price downward when reliance on inaccurate, incomplete, or noncurrent data increased significantly such price. Waives submission requirements to certain contracts and subcontracts with reasonable negotiated or established prices. Gives agencies the power to inspect plants and records of a contractor up to three years after final payment has been made under a contract to ascertain the accuracy of price and cost data submitted under this Act. Title IV: Acquisition by Simplified Small Purchase Method - Permits the use of the competitive small purchase procedures method of procurement when contracts valued at not more than $10,000 are involved. Directs the Administrator to issue simplified procedures for small purchases. Title V: General Provisions - Prohibits the use of cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost system of contracting under this Act. Requires competitive negotiation contracts and technical proposal awards to contain a warranty by the contractor that no person or selling agency has been employed or retained to solicit or secure the contract for a commission or a contingent fee. Disallows the making of any contract for a period of more than five years unless an exception has been made by the Office under this Act. Permits any executive agency to make advance, progress, partial, or other payments under contracts. Requires adequate security for partial and progress payments made pursuant to a Government contract. Prohibits any such payment of over $25,000,000 without Congressional review. Authorizes the Comptroller General, upon recommendation of the Agency head, to remit sums due the Government under contract terms providing for the assessment of liquidated damages for a delay performance. Requires agency employees who have reason to believe that a bid, proposal, or offer may be in violation of the criminal or antitrust laws to refer the matter to the Justice Department. Makes the Federal Bureau of Investigation responsible for the investigation of improper conduct under this Act. Allows contractors who conduct 75 percent of their business activity under commercial and/or competitive Government contracts to obtain a waiver from certain reviews of internal contractor operations. Requires in every Government awarded contract a provision that interest be paid by the Federal Government to the contractor on any amount due after 30 days. States that no amount shall be considered due until receipt by the Government of a proper invoice and any substantiating documentation required. Makes it the duty of, and empowers, the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) obtain notice of all proposed acquisitions above $10,000 from any executive agency; and (2) publicize such notices in "United States Department of Commerce Synopsis of the United States Government Proposed Procurement, Sales, and Contract Awards". Requires the Administrator to review the prevailing costs of labor and materials at least every three years. Permits the Administrator, where costs have varied by at least ten percent, to revise specified dollar thresholds stated in this Act. Requires all specifications to be reviewed at least every five years and be cancelled, modified, revised, or reissued as determined by such review. Directs the Administrator to attempt through review of acquisition programs to make minority business participation in Government contracting more effective, and to assure that such businesses have full opportunity to compete for Government contracts. Limits the time in which a claim may be made by an executive agency against a contractor to six years from the date of final payment under the contract. Title VI: Delegation of Authority - Permits agency heads to delegate specified authority conferred under this Act. Permits one agency to delegate acquisition functions to another agency to facilitate joint acquisition. Title VII: Protests - Grants authority to the Comptroller General to decide any protest submitted by an interested party or referred by any agency. Requires the Comptroller General to provide inexpensive, informed, and expeditious resolution of protests. Authorizes the Comptroller General to declare whether any protested solicitation or award, comports with law and regulation. Title VIII: Applicability of Subsequent Laws - Declares that any law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act may not be construed as amending this Act unless it explicitly so states. Title IX: Amendments and Repeals - Makes technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Meat Import Act of 1979 - Limits the maximum aggregate quantity of specified meat articles which may be entered, or withdrawn from warehouses, for consumption in the customs territory of the United States in any calendar year after 1978 to 1,204,600,000 pounds, adjustable according to a specified formula. Excludes from the domestic commercial production factor in such formula the carcass weight of live cattle specified in certain Tariff Schedules. Requires a further adjustment of such annual aggregate quantity by multiplying it by a ratio of: (1) the average annual per capita production of domestic cow beef during a calendar year (as estimated) and the four preceding calendar years; to (2) the average annual per capita production of domestic cow beef in the calendar year (as estimated) and the preceding calendar year. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, for each calendar year after 1978, to estimate and publish the aggregate quantity of meat articles prescribed for such year as well as the quantity that would be entered into the United States but for the limitations. Directs the President to limit by proclamation, upon giving 30 days notice in the Federal Register, the total quantity of meat articles entered into the United States, whenever such quantity equals or exceeds 110 percent of the Secretary's estimate; but prohibits any limitation below 1,200,000,000 pounds. Requires the termination of any limitation as of the first day of a calendar quarter, under most circumstances, if before such quarter the aggregate quantity is less than 110 percent of the Secretary's estimate. Permits the President, upon giving 30 days notice in the Federal Register, to suspend any proclamation or increase any amount proclaimed as required by the preceding provision if: (1) require, economic or national security interests; (2) supplies are inadequate to meet domestic demand at reasonable prices; or (3) trade agreements ensure the execution of the policy. Prohibits the President from increasing the total quantity of meat imports if the above ratio is less than 1.0 unless: (1) a period of national emergency is declared or (2) supplies are inadequate because of a natural disaster to meet demand at reasonable prices. Prohibits such suspension or increase from extending beyond the termination of the national emergency. Requires the Secretary to allocate the entry quota of meat articles proclaimed by the President among supplying countries on the basis of their respective shares of the United States market for meat articles during the representative period, taking into account any special factors. Directs the Secretary to study the regional economic impact of imports of meat articles and report any recommendations to the appropriate committees of Congress by December 31, 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1978
Waives certain requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of an amendment to H.R. 3882 (a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code).
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject to capital gains taxation the gain from the sale or exchange of farming property and undeveloped real property by a nonresident alien.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1978
Federal Records Management and Disposition Information Act - Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration to include the following information in the annual reports to Congress on the management and disposition of records by Federal agencies: (1) the total number of recommendations made by the Administrator to each agency concerning records management and disposition; and (2) the total benefits lost due to the failure of an agency to implement those recommendations during the current year and prior years.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1978
Amends the Miller Act which requires performance bonds on specified Federal construction contracts by increasing the dollar amount of contracts to which such Act applies from $2,000 to $25,000.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1978
Expresses the support of the Senate for the nomination of the Public Groups to Promote Observance of the Helsinki Agreement in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1978
Federal Information Centers Act - Requires the General Services Administration to establish a nationwide network of Federal Information Centers for the purpose of informing the public of programs and procedures of the Federal Government and for other appropriate and related purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1978
Disapproves the suspension of the quota on imported meat and the President's announced intention of permitting the import this year of 200,000,000 pounds of meat in excess of the established limit before imposing new quotas.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1978
States that the President should, pending removal of Cuban military forces from Africa, (1) recall the United States Interests Section from Cuba and expel the Cuban Interests Section from the United States, (2) deny any license for commercial trade with or export to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1969, (3) reverse any other action toward the normalization of relations with Cuba, and (4) defer any further official actions toward normalization of United States relations with Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1978
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of any veteran who was rated totally and permanently service-connected disabled for at least ten years as though the cause of death were service-connected.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1978
Contract Disputes Act - Declares that this Act applies to any contract entered into by the United States for the procurement or disposal of personal property, the construction or maintenance of real property, the use, construction, or repair of vessels and navigational aids, and to any other contract which by its terms is expressly made subject to the provisions of this Act. Requires all contract dispute claims to be submitted to the appropriate executive agency in writing. Authorizes each such agency to compromise any claim or dispute with a contractor. Requires the contracting officer of such agency to issue a final and binding decision on each dispute which is not settled by compromise. Requires that each contractor be afforded an opportunity to have informal conferences with the agency involved for the purpose of considering the possibility of disposing of the claim by mutual consent after a contracting officer's decision has been issued. Authorizes executive agencies to establish agency boards of contract appeals to which appeals from decisions of contracting officers may be taken. States that if the volume of procurement of any agency does not justify a full-time appeals board, such agency may agree with another agency to permit appeals to be taken by such other agency's appeals board. Requires each appeals board to include a simplified procedure for the expedited disposition of small claims. Authorizes the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority to establish a board of contract appeals over which the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy shall have no authority in establishing or terminating such board. States that the decision of such appeals board may be appealed to any United States district court or to the United States Court of Claims. Permits a contractor to bring a de novo suit in any such court in lieu of appealing the decision of a contracting officer, except that in an action involving the Authority the contractor is limited to the district court. Requires the payment of interest to a prevailing contractor from the date a claim was received by a contracting officer until a final decision by an appeals board, a court of competent jurisdiction, or until a prior settlement.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1978
Small Business and Capital Ownership Development Act - Amends the Small Business Act to revise procedures of the Small Business Administration (SBA) governing financial aid for projects providing technical or management assistance to small business concerns. Expands firms eligible for such assistance to include those under the SBA Federal procurement c contracting program. Establishes an advisory committee to facilitate the achievement of the SBA's programs: (1) to encourage placement of subcontracts by private business with small business concerns located in areas of high concentration of unemployed or low-income individuals, with small businesses owned by low-income individuals, and small businesses eligible to receive Federal procurement contracts; and (2) to provide incentives to such businesses to aid in the training of potential subcontractors. Requires the General Accounting Office (GAO) to evaluate SBA activities in such areas. Requires that GAO (previously SBA) evaluate the managerial assistance and other minority business development programs provided by SBA. Establishes within the SBA a Small Business and Capital Ownership Development Program to provide assistance exclusively to small businesses eligible to receive contracts under the Federal procurement contracting program. Details the nature of the development program, including provision of assistance in financial counseling, accounting, performance monitoring, and procuring of surety bonds. Prohibits small business concerns from receiving procurement contracts unless the program is able to provide such management, technical and financial services as necessary to promote the competitive viability of the concern within a reasonable period of time.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1978
Hidden Tax Reduction Act - Title I: Elimination of Unnecessary Reports to Congress - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 to require the Comptroller General to submit to each Congress within four months of its start a list of such recurring reporting requirements imposed by law or administrative requirements which are transmitted to either or both Houses of Congress which have been determined to be no longer useful, together with recommendation for elimination, or modification thereof. Requires the Comptroller General to identify any reports from the public which could be discontinued if the report to the Congress is eliminated or modified. Title II: Paperwork Assessments of Legislation - Directs that each public bill or joint resolution reported by any committee of the House or Senate shall contain: (1) a determination of the amount of additional paperwork that will result from the regulations to be promulgated pursuant to the bill or joint resolution; or (2) in lieu of such evaluation, a statement of the reasons why compliance by the committee with the requirements in paragraph (1) is impracticable. Requires departments and agencies, in commenting on bills relating to their respective areas of responsibility, to include in their comments the determinations required by this Act. Title III: Central Management and Control Responsibility - Directs the Office of Management and Budget to have Government-wide responsibility for setting policies and coordinating procedures governing the budgeting, management, and control of Federal information management activities and of costs imposed by Federal programs on individuals, organizations, and other institutions. Directs the Office to annually review the paperwork reduction activities of each Federal agency to ascertain their adequacy. Directs the Office to publish such regulations and guidance relating to program organization, operations, and information activities as it deems necessary to simplify Federal programs, to make such programs more responsive and understandable, and to eliminate unnecessary costs and burdens on others resulting from Federal programs. Directs such Office to exercise Government-wide controls over Federal information requests under such regulations as it may establish. Requires the Office of the Federal Register, General Services Administration, to set minimum readability standards and issue such guidelines on the development of readable regulations as it deems appropriate to assure that Federal regulations are understandable to those who must comply. Establishes within the Office of Management and Budget an Office of Privacy and Confidentiality Review. States that such Office shall be responsible for developing and recommending to the President and the Congress policies and standards on information disclosure, confidentiality, and safeguarding the security of information collected or maintained by Federal agencies or in conjunction with Federal programs. Directs each Federal agency to establish a regulatory review program to provide planning and oversight of the regulatory activities of the agency in the interest of developing simpler, less costly, and more understandable regulations. Amends the Records Management Act of 1950 to authorize and direct the National Archives and Records Service to conduct studies and promulgate standards, procedures, and guidelines with respect to records retention requirements imposed on the public by Federal agencies. Title IV: Regulatory Flexibility - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish guidelines and regulations to provide for: (1) less costly reporting and recordkeeping requirements on persons and organizations with a record of regulatory compliance or achievement of program objectives; and (2) less costly regulatory requirements for small business, small local governments, other small organizations, individuals, and small transactions where such requirements would allow the accomplishing of Federal objectives without unnecessarily burdening such organizations, persons, or transactions. Title V: Elimination of Unnecessary Duplication - Establishes a Federal Information Locator System composed of an information locator, a data element dictionary, and an information referral service. Directs the System to serve as the authoritative register of all public use reports. Establishes within the General Services Administration a Federal Information Locator Office. Requires the Director of such Locator Office to: (1) prepare a data profile for each public use report; and (2) register all approved new reports and other information holdings in the Federal Information Locator System. Requires data profiles for planned new requirements to be matched against existing profiles in the information locator. Directs the results of such matching to be made available to Federal agencies and the general public. Requires the Director to establish procedures and to insure that at a minimum all data items in public-use reports are registered in the Federal Locator System. Requires the Director to insure that no actual data is contained within the locator system, except descriptive data profiles necessary to identify duplicative data or to locate information. Requires that any information holding which contains a data element of a personal or proprietary nature within the meaning of the Privacy Act of 1974 be identified as such and restricted in access and use. Title VI: Improving Federal, State, Local Government Regulations - State and Local Government Paperwork Relief Act - Requires the President to appoint an officer to be responsible for advising the President on matters affecting Federal, State, and local relations and overseeing the resolution of such issues. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to: (1) monitor proposed legislation and regulations to determine how Federal, State, and local operations may be coordinated and simplified; (2) propose administrative reform plans; (3) establish cognizant or head agencies in program areas to reduce administrative overlap and confusion; and (4) establish administrative guidelines and regulations which Federal agencies follow, and void agency requirements not in accord with such regulations. Authorizes and directs the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to prepare a report with recommendations for criteria to establish the degree of Federal involvement and imposed cost appropriate in State and local assistance. Title VII: Administrative Reform - Authorizes the President, upon the request of an agency head, to issue an Executive order delaying for a period not to exceed one year the effective date required by law for the promulgation of rules or regulations or nonsubstantive administrative provisions of law. Requires such order to include a finding that the effective date or administrative provisions by law are impracticable. Title VIII: Improving the Rulemaking Process - Declares it to be the policy of Congress that existing and future regulations of departments and agencies shall be as simple and clear as possible. Directs the Office of Management and Budget to insure that departments and agencies adopt procedures to achieve such goals. Requires that upon publication in the Federal Register of proposed rulemaking such notification shall include an estimate of the projected paperwork burden on all affected parties involved in complying with the rule. Title IX: Improving Government Responsiveness to Citizens - Authorizes and directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish a program and set agency responsibilities to provide the public with information about Federal programs and procedures, to set standards for the handling by Federal agencies of public complaints and suggestions, to coordinate the handling of complaints or suggestions involving more than one agency, and to monitor executive branch responsiveness. Title X: Federal Information Centers - Federal Information Centers Act - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to require the Administrator of General Services Administration to establish a nationwide network of Federal Information Centers to provide the public with information about the programs and procedures of the Federal Government. Title XI: Miscellaneous Provisions - States that if any provision of this Act is held invalid, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected thereby.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1978
Commends the heroism of tugboat captain Glen E. McDonald and crewman Bill Kenney for their actions in saving the lives of many of the survivors of the crash of National Airlines Flight 193 in Escambia Bay, Florida.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1978
Establishes the President's Commission on the Victims of the Holocaust for the purpose of considering and developing plans for the design, construction, and location of a permanent memorial in the United States to the victims of the Holocaust. Terminates the Commission within one year after the submission of its final report. Requires that such report be submitted to the Congress and the President within 18 months after the effective date of this resolution. Authorizes appropriations of $750,000 to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1978
Sugar Stabilization Act - Sets forth the policy of the Congress with respect to foreign trade in sugar. Title I: International Sugar Agreement - Authorizes the President to prohibit the importation of sugar from any country not a member of the International Sugar Organization, and to otherwise regulate foreign trade in sugar to implement the International Sugar Agreement. Establishes civil penalties for the violation of such regulations. Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report on the Agreement. Title II: Domestic Sugar Program - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make an annual estimate of the sugar consumption needs of the United States. Establishes a formula for determining the price objectives of domestic sugar. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a quota for the importation of sugar, and to adjust such quota. Authorizes the Secretary to impose an import fee in order to attain the price objective for sugar. Prohibits the established quota from being filled by direct-consumption sugar, except in specified circumstances. Permits the Secretary to suspend such quota and fees under specified circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to impose a quota on the importation of "sugar-containing products. Prohibits the importation of sugar, liquid sugar, or "sugar-containing products" after the import quotas have been filled. Prohibits the importation of certain sugar or liquid sugar into the Virgin Islands in excess of 100 pounds annually. Prohibits the exportation of certain sugar from the United States. Regulates the exportation of sugar. Sets forth items to which the sugar quota shall not apply. Title III: General Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations to carry out this Act. Establishes penalties for the violation of such regulations. Requires certain information to be furnished to the Secretary by persons engaged in the manufacture, marketing, transport, or industrial use, of sugar. Prohibits officials engaged in the administration of this Act to invest in sugar. Establishes penalties for the violation of such prohibition. Authorizes the President to suspend the operation of Title II of this Act in a national emergency. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (1) to conduct surveys and investigations to carry out this Act, and (2) to announce a "daily spot price" for raw sugar in specified circumstances. Terminates the authority of the Secretary under this Act on December 31, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Older Americans Act Amendments - Title I: Amendments to the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for the National Information and Resource Clearing House for the Aging. Authorizes a recipient of a grant under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to enter into an agreement with a profitmaking organization to carry out the provisions of such Act. Declares it to be the purpose of Title III of such Act (Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging) to encourage and assist State and local agencies to concentrate resources to serve older persons by entering into new cooperative arrangements with providers of social or nutrition services, multipurpose senior centers, or legal services, for the planning and provision of social services, nutrition services, multipurpose senior centers, or legal services. Defines terms used in such Title. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1979, 1980, and 1981 for grants approved under such Title. Requires each State, to be eligible to receive a grant under such Title, to designate a State agency as the sole State agency: (1) to develop and administer a State plan formulated pursuant to this Act; and (2) to divide the State into areas and to designate as a planning and service area any unit of general purpose local government which has a population of 50,000 or more individuals aged 60 or over which contains 15 percent or more of the State population aged 60 or over. Requires each such area agency on aging to prepare and develop an area plan. Sets forth specified material to be included in such plan. Requires each State, in order to be eligible for grants under such Title, to submit to the Commissioner on Aging a State plan. Sets forth specified material to be included in such plan. Requires the Commissioner to make grants to States for any of the following social services: (1) health, continuing education, welfare, informational, recreational, homemaker, counseling, or referral services; (2) transportation services to facilitate access to social services or nutrition services, or both; (3) services to assist older persons to use the services available to them; (4) services to assist older persons to obtain adequate housing; including residential repair and renovation projects; (5) services designed to assist older persons in avoiding institutionalization, including preinstitution evaluation and screening and home health services, homemaker services, shopping services, escort services, reader services, letter writing services, and other services to assist independent living in a home environment; (6) services to provide legal and counseling assistance; (7) services to enable older persons to attain and maintain physical and mental well-being through programs of regular physical activity; or (8) any other services meeting standards prescribed by the Commissioner and necessary for the general welfare of older persons. Requires the Commissioner to make grants to States for: (1) the establishment and operation of nutrition projects for older persons which, five or more days a week, provides, in a congregate setting, at least one meal per day each of which assures a minimum of one- third of the daily recommended dietary allowances; (2) the establishment and operation of multipurpose senior centers for the organization and provision of a broad spectrum of social services or nutrition services, or both, for older persons; (3) the provision of legal services for the elderly; and (4) the conduct of projects under which a State long-term care ombudsman receives and investigates complaints made by or on behalf of older persons who are residents of long-term care facilities relating to administrative action which may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, or rights of such residents. Declares that, under the Act, a national manpower policy shall be developed for the field of aging which will reflect the present and future needs for training personnel in all programs serving the elderly. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants for the purpose of conducting studies on: (1) the utilization of services under this Act and other programs for the elderly, with special attention to accessibility to low-income and minority elderly; (2) the problems of State and area agencies on aging and other service providers in operating transportation services, (3) the impact of this Act and other programs in meeting the long-range needs of the elderly population; and (4) the differences in unit costs, service delivery and access between rural areas and urban areas for services assisted under this Act and the special needs of the elderly residing in rural areas. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to develop and operate statewide, regional, metropolitan area, county, city, or community model projects which will demonstrate methods to expand or improve social services and promote the well-being of older persons. Requires the Commissioner in making such grants to give special consideration to projects designed: (1) to assist in meeting the housing needs of older persons; (2) to provide continuing education to older persons; (3) to provide preretirement education information; (4) to provide services to assist in meeting the particular needs of physically and mentally impaired older persons; (5) to meet the special needs of, and improve the delivery of services to older persons who are not receiving adequate services under other provisions of this Act; and (6) to assist older persons to remain within their communities and out of institutions. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to and enter into contracts with appropriate bodies to support programs of legal services and ombudsman programs established under provisions of this Act. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to support the development of comprehensive, coordinated systems of community long-term care for older persons. Requires such grants to be used for the development of programs which provide a full continuum of services supporting alternatives to institutional living, including: (1) adult day health; (2) individual assessment of need, service plan development, monitoring, and evaluation of service effectiveness; (3) supported living in public and private, nonprofit housing; (4) family respite services; (5) preventative health services; (6) home health, homemaker, and other rehabilitative and maintenance in-home services; (7) geriatric health maintenance organizations; and (8) other services which the Commissioner determines are appropriate. Redesignates Title IV (Training and Research) of the Act "Training, Research, and Demonstration. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for multidisciplinary centers of gerontology. Redesignates Title V of the Act "Grants for Indian Tribes. Authorizes the Commissioner, under the Act, to make grants to eligible tribal organizations, as defined in this Act, to pay all of the costs for the delivery of social and nutritional services for Indians who are older persons. Sets forth criteria for applications for such grants. Authorizes the Commissioner to delegate to the Secretary of the Interior or to the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs any functions under this title. Redesignates Title VI of the Act "Community Service Employment for Older Americans." States that such Title may be cited as the Older American Community Service Employment Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to estabLish an older American community service employment program to promote part-time opportunities in community service activities for unemployed, low-income persons 55 years old who have poor employment prospects. States that eligible individuals employed in such projects shall not be considered to be Federal employees. Provides that in awarding grants or contracts for such projects the Secretary shall give special consideration to national organizations which have a proven ability to provide older persons with employment. Sets forth the definitions of terms used in this Title. Title II: White House Conference on Aging - States that this Title may be cited as the 1981 White House Conference on Aging Act. Declares it the policy of the Congress that the Federal Government should work with the States and citizens to develop recommendations and plans to meet the needs of older persons. Requires that programs developed under this Act place emphasis upon the right of older persons to free choice and self-help in planning their futures. Authorizes the President of the United States to call a White House Conference on Aging in 1981 to develop recommendations for research and action in the field of aging. Requires the Conference to include representatives of Federal, State, and local governments, professional and lay people working in the field of aging including older persons. Directs that a final report of the White House Conference, containing a comprehensive statement of a coherent national policy on aging and the recommendations of such Conference, be submitted to the President and Congress within a specified time. Sets forth the responsibilities and duties of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in administering this Act. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory committee to the Conference and such other technical committees as may be necessary to carry out such Conference. Title III: Study of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in Programs for Older Americans - Directs the Commission on Civil Rights: (1) to undertake a comprehensive study of discrimination based on race or ethnic background in any federally assisted programs and activities which affect older persons; and (2) to identify any federally assisted activity in which persons or organizations who are otherwise qualified being, on the basis of race or ethnic background, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, refused employment or contracts with, or subject to discrimination under, such activity.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965: (1) to require the Council on Aging to undertake a study to make a full assessment of the adequacy of current manpower supplies and training in the noninstitutional long-term care field and the adequacy of current programs in the noninstitutional long-term care field; and (2) to make grants to support the development of comprehensive, coordinated systems of community long-term care for older persons. Requires such grants to be used for the development of programs which provide a full range of services designed to support alternatives to institutional living. States that such services may include but are not limited to: (1) adult day health; (2) individual assessment of need; (3) supported living in nonprofit housing; (4) family respite services; (5) preventive health services; (6) rehabilitative and in-home services; and (7) geriatric health maintenance organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1978
Declares that certain proposed regulations of the Department of the Treasury regarding centralized firearms sales recordkeeping and other firearms control measures exceed the Department's authority, and directs that the regulations be withdrawn.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1978
Beef Import Act - Subjects specified kinds of preserved beef and veal products to the policy of Congress related to the restriction of beef imports. Revises the formula for the determination of beef and veal import quotas. Directs the President to limit beef imports at any one port of entry in order to insure the geographical distribution of such imports. Revises the criteria under which the President may suspend a proclamation limiting beef and veal imports to permit such suspension only during a national emergency or when the supply of such products are inadequate to meet domestic supply at reasonable prices.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1978
Lee Metcalf Fair Employment Relations Resolution - Title I: Fair Employment Relations Board - Establishes as an office of the Senate, the Senate Fair Employment Relations Board to (1) establish and publish policies and guidelines for the implementation and enforcement of rule L of the Standing Rules of the Senate, (2) supervise the actions of the Director and the operations of the Senate Fair Employment Relations Office, and (3) hear and determine complaints. Title II: Senate Fair Employment Relations Office - Establishes as an office of the Senate, the Senate Fair Employment Relations Office which shall develop procedures to implement the policies of the Board, gather information relating to Senate employment practices, and review procedures for the hearing and settling of complaints. Title III: Complaints of Violations of Equal Employment Opportunity - Provides for counseling and assistance through the office, to any individual who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in violation of rule L. Sets forth the procedure for filing informal complaints based on employment discrimination, and for the informal settlement of such claims. Sets forth the procedure for filing formal complaints, and for conducting hearings on such claims. Provides for an appeal to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics from an adverse decision or order of the Board. Sets forth remedies available to individuals who have been discriminated against in violation of rule L.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1978
Comprehensive Employment and Training Amendments - Restructures and generally revises the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973. Consolidates most administrative provisions of such Act into a separate title. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, as a first recourse when an area is not being served by a prime sponsor, to designate a public agency to serve. Authorizes the Secretary to directly make payments to public and private entities under this Act in an area not served by a prime sponsor only when no suitable substitute agency is found. Revises requirements for comprehensive prime sponsor plans to limit them to (1) a prime sponsor program plan for all grants made by formula under this Act, (2) annual individual program supplements for nonformula programs in which the prime sponsor desires to participate, and (3) assurances that the prime sponsor will comply with the provisions of the Act, the regulations of the Secretary, and the plan. Stipulates that the prime sponsor program plan shall serve as the basic long-term agreement between the Secretary and the prime sponsor and shall be submitted every three years. Details information to be included in the program plan. Requires each prime sponsor to develop for each participant in a program under this Act an assessment of employment and advancement barriers and to attempt to provide for each former participant a followup assessment and appropriate additional services. Amends procedures for review of comprehensive plans. Requires States seeking financial assistance under the Act to submit a Governor's coordination and special services plan. Specifies conditions applicable to all programs under this Act and those applicable to public service employment programs. Focuses the primary programs under the Act on the easing of structural unemployment through the establishment of separate specified mission objectives and activities for different age groups of socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Includes among the mission objectives relative to youth employment: (1) programs, such as on-the-job training, job sampling, and bilingual training to develop basic skills; (2) programs, such as outreach, counseling, and job restructuring, to better enable youth to function within the private labor market; (3) programs, incorporating public service and community improvement activities along with private employment subsidized through tax vouchers, to provide transitional job opportunities for unemployed youth; (4) programs, such as training allowances, child care services, and transportation assistance, to reduce financial barriers to labor force participation; and (5) programs to provide summer employment and training opportunities for economically disadvantaged youth. Requires that a youth be between the ages of 16 and 21, inclusive, and unemployed or underemployed in order to participate in employment and training programs. Requires that a youth be unemployed for at least 15 weeks to participate in public service employment and community improvement activities or in subsidized private employment. Directs that at least 70 percent of participating youths be economically disadvantaged. Sets a 12-month limit on public service employment and a 24-month limit for subsidized private employment. Directs the Secretary to enter into arrangements with selected prime sponsors to demonstrate the efficacy of guaranteeing otherwise unavailable part-time employment during the school year and part-time and full-time employment during the summer for economically disadvantaged youths ages 16-21 who resume or maintain attendance in a secondary school. Lists alternative forms for such projects and specifies criteria for the selection of participant prime sponsors. Stipulates that sums available for the youth employment and training programs and the youth incentive pilot projects shall be allocated as follows: (1) 90 percent to prime sponsors; (2) five percent to State Governors for special statewide youth services; and (3) five percent to State vocational education boards for the coordination, provision, and upgrading of vocational education services. Retains the Job Corps and the Young Adult Conservation Corps. Authorizes to be appropriated for youth programs under this Act $2,800,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979-84. Sets forth mission objectives designed to overcome employment barriers faced by unemployed and underemployed adults, including: (1) programs, such as concentrated skills training in occupations with available employment, on-the-job training, and bilingual training, to develop skills for labor force entry, continuation, and advancement; (2) programs, such as relocation subsidies, job restructuring, and counseling, to provide displaced workers maximum flexibility within the labor force and labor market areas; (3) programs providing transitional public service employment opportunities; (4) programs, such as child care, training allowances, and transportation assistance, to reduce financial barriers to labor force participation; and (5) programs to develop strategies for linking employment and training activities under this Act with efforts to stimulate local private economic development. Encourages each prime sponsor to additionally develop experimental programs designed to coordinate employment and training programs with programs under the Economic Development Administration, the Small Business Administration, and State and local public and private efforts to stimulate economic growth. Makes eligible for participation in activities under (1) and (2) above persons between age 21 and 55, exclusive, who are unemployed, underemployed, or facing imminent unemployment due to a decline in a particular industry and are members of households with income less than the lower living standard budget. Restricts participation in activities under (3), (4), and (5) to eligible persons who have been unemployed for at least 15 weeks. Gives such individuals priority consideration for all services. Limits adult public service employment under the structural unemployment program to 12 months. Authorizes the appropriation of $3,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979-84 for adult employment and training programs. Establishes mission objectives and programs similar to those created for adult workers for unemployed or underemployed workers age 55 and older who are members of low income households. Authorizes the appropriation of $500,000,000 for activities for older workers for each of fiscal years 1979-84. Requires prime sponsors to involve private employers to the greatest extent possible in planning and implementing various employment and training programs. Incorporates most present research, training, and evaluation provisions. Authorizes specified experimental programs, including an expanded program to test the efficacy of various forms of wage subsidy and a program to link the employment and training activities of prime sponsors to strategies for stimulating local private economic development and replacing declining industries. Directs the Secretary and prime sponsors to give special consideration in carrying out youth and experimental programs to community-based organization such as SER-Jobs for Progress, the National Urban League, and Opportunities Industrialization Centers. Authorizes the appropriation of $400,000,000 to carry out research, evaluation, and experimental projects for each of fiscal years 1979- 84. Retains, with certain modifications, special programs for offenders, persons of limited English-speaking ability, Native Americans, and migrant and seasonal workers. Authorizes job search and relocation assistance on a permanent, rather than demonstration, basis. Continues the National Commission for Manpower Policy as the National Commission for Employment and Training Policy. Authorizes agreements for the employment of participants under this Act by executive agencies, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Rate Commission, AMTRAK, and ConRail. Sets forth a separate temporary public service employment program for persons from low-income households who have been unemployed for at least 15 weeks. Authorizes the appropriation for such program of $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 and for any succeeding fiscal year through 1982 in which the average unemployment rate for the last two quarters of the preceding fiscal year equals or exceeds 5.5 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit against an employer's liability for his employees' withholding tax, in the amount of certified hourly employment benefits (between $.50 and $1.00 per hour) attributable to the employment of eligible youth certified by a prime sponsor under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973, as amended by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Amendments of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1978
Contract Disputes Act - Declares that this Act applies to any contract entered into by the United States for the procurement or disposal of personal property, the construction or maintenance of real property, the use, construction, or repair of vessels and navigational aids, and for any other contract which by its terms is expressly made subject to the provisions of this Act. Requires all contract disputes claims to be submitted to the appropriate executive agency in writing. Authorizes each such agency to compromise any claim or dispute with a contractor. Requires the contracting officer of such agency to issue a final and binding decision on each dispute which is not settled by compromise. Requires that each contractor be afforded an opportunity to have informal conferences with the agency involved for the purpose of considering the possibility of disposing of the claim by mutual consent after a contracting officer's decision has been issued. Authorizes executive agencies to establish agency boards of contract appeals to which appeals from decisions of contracting officers may be taken. States that if the volume of procurement of any agency does not justify a full-time appeals board, such agency may agree with another agency to permit appeals to be taken by such other agency's appeals board. Requires each appeals board to include a simplified procedure for the expedited disposition of small claims. States that the decision of such appeals board may be appealed to any United States district court or to the United States Court of Claims. Permits a contractor to bring a de novo suit in any such court in lieu of appealing the decision of a contracting officer. Requires the payment of interest to a prevailing contractor from the date a claim was received by a contracting officer until a final decision by an appeals board, a court of competent jurisdiction, or until a prior settlement.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1978
Community Schools and Comprehensive Community Education Act - Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to make grants to State and local educational agencies to pay the Federal share of establishing community education programs. Defines "community education program" as a program operated by a local educational agency providing educational, recreational, health care, cultural, and other related services for the community. Establishes a Community Education Advisory Council to advise the National Institute of Education concerning community education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1978
Congregate Housing Services Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enter into contracts with public housing agencies for the establishment of congregate housing projects which are supplemented by supportive services for frail and physically impaired residents. Requires assisted public housing authorities to maintain any financial effort they were making in furtherance of congregate services prior to contract authority approval, unless the Secretary waives such requirement. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to permit the provision of congregate services in existing public housing. Makes provisions for the administration of services and requires assisted public housing agencies to employ elderly and physically disabled residents to the maximum extent practicable. Sets forth application procedures, requirements for eligibility for services, and rules for the setting of fees for congregate services. Directs assisted public housing agencies to review this program with eligible residents and with the professional assessment committee within the 12 month period prior to the submission of an application for renewed funding.
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