United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1973
Extends the time for conducting the referendum with respect to the national marketing quota for wheat under the Agriculture Adjustment Act for the marketing year beginning July 1, 1974 to not later than the earlier of (1) thirty days after adjournment sine die of the first session of the Ninety-Third Congress or (2) October 15, 1973. (Amends 7 U.S.C. 1336)
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1973
Board for International Broadcasting Act - Establishes a Board for International Broadcasting Provides that the Board shall consist of seven members, two of whom shall be ex officio members. States that the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, five voting members, one of whom he shall designate as chairman. Sets forth the terms and compensation of the Board. Authorizes the Board to perform specified functions, including: (1) to make grants to Radio Free Eupope and to Radio Liberty; (2) to review and evaluate the mission and operation of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, and to assess the quality, effectiveness and professional integrity of their broadcasting within the context of the broad foreign policy objectives of the United States; and (3) to encourage the most efficient utilization of available resources by Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty and to undertake, or request that Radio Free Europe or Radio Liberty undertake, such studies as may be necessary to identify areas in which the operations of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty may be made more efficient and economical. Provides for an audit of the books, documents, papers, and records of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty by the Board and the Comptroller General. Authorizes to be appropriated, to remain available until expended, $50,300,000 for fiscal year 1974 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1975 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1973
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that with respect to the right to life, the word "person", as used in this article and in the fifth and fourteenth articles of amendment to the U.S. Constitution applies to all human beings, including their unborn offspring at every stage of their biological development, irrespective of age, health, function, or condition of dependency. Provides that this article shall not apply in an emergency when a reasonable medical certainty exists that continuation of the pregnancy will cause the death of the mother.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1973
Authorizes the Small Business Administrator to grant to any innocent person for any uninsured loss or injury which arose out of, or was caused by, the disturbance at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, or any related disturbance, an amount equal to 100 percent of such loss or injury. Requires the Administrator to report to Congress within 30 days of enactment hereof on the amount and extent of damage resulting from such disturbances. Provides that the Government may be subrogated to any right of action of any person compensated by this Act. Authorizes to be appropriated such funds as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1973
Expands the term "major disaster" as used in the Disaster Relief Act to include acts or accidents caused by man which results in substantial economic injury to an area. (Amends 42 U.S.C. 4402 (1))
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1973
Eliminates Title XIX (Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs) of the Social Security Act those provisions relating to the provision of skilled nursing and intermediate care facility services under State plans approved under such title.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1973
Authorizes specified members of the Armed Forces of the United States who were captured and held by an enemy force during the Vietnam conflict to enter, without charge, certain designated units of the National Park System and national recreation areas.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1973
Declares that on Memorial Day, May 28, 1973, special remembrance be given by a grateful people to the 1,288 members of the Armed Forces of the United States currently listed as missing in action in Indochina. Declares that all American motorists are encouraged to turn on their automobile lights throughout Memorial Day, May 28, 1973, as a symbol of this remembrance. Provides that every effort be made to secure the cooperation of all parties in the Indochina conflict to insure the fullest and most expeditious resolution of the status of members of the U.S. Armed Forces missing in Indochina.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1973
Eliminates the phrase "concentrated animal feeding operation" from being included in the meaning of the term "point source" under the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendment of 1972.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1973
Budget Control Act - Title I: Changes in Rules of House and Senate - Committee on the Budget consisting of 21 members: 7 members from the Committee on Ways and Means, and 7 members appointed by the Speaker of the House. Provides for the selection of the Chairman of the Committee and for the filling of vacancies on the Committee. Refers to the Committee matters relating to (a) the establishment of an overall limitation on budget outlays, and an overall limitation on new budget authority, (b) the determination of the overall level of Federal revenues, (c) the determination of the appropriate level of surplus or deficit in the budget in the light of economic conditions and (d) the allocation of the overall limitation on budget outlays, and the overall limitation on new budget authority. Requires the committee to report during each regular session of Congress at least two concurrent resolutions concerning matters referred to the Committee and to make continuing studies of the effect on budget outlays of existing and proposed legislation and to report the results of these studies to the House of Representatives. Establishes in the United States Senate a Committee on the Budget consisting of 15 members: 5 members from the Committee on Appropriations, 5 members from the Committee on Finance, and 5 members appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate. Grants to the Senate Committee the same matters for consideration and the same duties as the House Committee. Declares that annually, on or before May 1, Congress shall complete action on a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for the fiscal year beginning July 1. States that the concurrent resolution shall include with respect to budget outlays and with respect to new budget authority: (1) a general contingency reserve (for allocation only by a subsequent concurrent resolution on the budget) for possible new legislation (including enlargements of existing programs and activities); and (2) an emergency reserve (in amounts which do not exceed 2 percent of the amount of budget outlays otherwise allocated to the Committees on Appropriations and 2 percent of the amount of new budget authority otherwise allocated to such committees) which shall be available only for allocation by the Committees on Appropriations to specific programs and activities (or to subcommittees) to meet emergencies and other unforeseen contingencies. Provides for other matters which may be dealt with in the concurrent resolution. Sets forth a timetable for the first concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. Requires Congress to adopt a final concurrent resolution on the budget before adjourning and provides for consideration of concurrent resolution to be expedited. Declares that a tax surcharge is required where the budget deficit will be greater, or the surplus will be smaller, than that determined to be appropriate. States the requirements for amendments to concurrent resolutions. Provides that legislation dealing with the congressional budget must be handled by budget committees and that the concurrent resolution on budget must be adopted before appropriations and changes in revenues and public debt limit are made. Sets forth the requirements for legislation and amendments providing new budget authority, and declares that budget authority legislation may be required to contain outlay limitations. Places limitations on new permanent budget authority and on new spending authority. Requires the legislative committees to authorize the enactment of new budget authority before the beginning of the fiscal year. Authorizes the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Appropriations to consider and to report legislation rescinding budget authority. Provides for technical and conforming amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives and to the Standing Rules of the United States Senate, as well as amendments to the Legislative Reorganization Acts of 1946 and 1970. Title II: Legislative Budget Director and Staff - Establishes a Joint Legislative Budget Staff, headed by a Legislative Budget Director appointed by the record vote of a majority of the members of the Committee on the Budget of each House, and provides for staffing and compensation. Authorizes the Legislative Budget Director to secure directly from any executive department or instrumentality of the government, information, data, estimates, and statistics relating to the function of the Joint Legislative Budget Staff. Directs the Joint Legislative Budget Staff to develop methods of using computers and other techniques for the analysis of information to improve not only the quantitative but the qualitative evaluation of budgetary requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1973
Federal Appropriations Reform Act - Title I: Change of Fiscal Year - Provides that beginning June 30, 1974, the fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year. Sets April 15 as the date for the submission to Congress of the President's budget and economic messages and economic reports. Title II: Separate Consideration of Appropriations Measures - Provides that the legislative period of Congress shall open on January 3 for exclusive consideration of legislative matters, August 15, and set a specific date by which all authorizations bills must be enacted. Provides that the fiscal period of Congress shall convene thereafter, at a date set by joint resolution upon the adjournment of the legislative period, for the exclusive consideration of appropriation bills. Provides that the fiscal period can last no longer than December 1. Directs that during both periods, all committees, legislative and appropriation, shall meet to consider matters under their jurisdiction. Allows them to hold hearings and conduct studies, but states only legislative committees can report bills or resolutions to the floor during a legislative period, while only appropriations committees can report bills to the floor during the fiscal period. Provides the following exceptions: (1) Congress can make supplemental or deficiency appropriations during a legislative period; (2) the president of the United States or the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, acting jointly, may notify Congress that the consideration of specific bills is necessary because of a national emergency; and (3) during either the legislative or fiscal period, the Congress may consider overriding a veto by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1973
Retirement Benefits Tax Act - Sets minimum standards relating to funding eligibility and vesting. Defines "minimum funding standard" as the excess of the sum of (1) the normal cost of the plan for such year plus interest on the unfunded liability, computed under the funding method used to determine normal costs, 5 percent of the unfunded liability for nonforfeitable benefits under the plan (computed as the excess of the present value of the then accrued nonforfeitable benefits over the fair market value of the assets), and the total of the amounts determined under clauses (1) and (2) with respect to the plan for each of the preceding plan years beginning after December 31, 1973, over "the total of the amounts determined under clauses (1) and (2) with respect to the plan for each of the preceding plan years beginning after December 31, 1973, over "the total of the amounts contributed to or under the plan for each of the preceding plan years beginning after December 31, 1973. Outlines the criteria which must be met in order for a trust to qualify under this Act and defines the term "employee's accrued benefits". States that a trust has vested when an employee's rights to his accrued benefit derived from his own contributions are nonforfeitable (other than by reason of death), and his rights in at least 50 percent of such accrued benefit derived from employer contributions are nonforfeitable (other than by reason of death) as of the close of the first plan year in which the sum of his age and the period of his active participation in the plan equals or exceeds 35 years, and his rights in the remaining percentage of all of his accrued benefit derived from employer contributions become nonforfeitable (other than by reason of death) not less rapidly than ratably over the next succeeding 5 plan years". Defines those employees who are eligible as: (1) any employee who has not attained the age of 30 years and has a period of continuous service with the employer of 3 or more years; (2) any employee who has attained the age of 35 years but has not attained the age of 35 years and has a period of continuous service with the employer of 2 or more years; and (3) any employee who has attained the age of 35 years and who has a period of continuous service with the employer of 1 or more years. Allows a deduction under the Internal Revenue Code savings where an individual paid cash amounts: (1) to or under a qualified individual retirement account which is exempt from tax, if the individual established such account, (2) to an employees' trust which is exempt from tax for his benefit, (3) for the purchase of an annuity contract for the individual under a plan whichm meets specified requirements of, or (4) to or under a qualified bond purchase plan, for his benefit. Outlines special rules and limitation under this Act for persons over 70 l/2 years of age, married persons; employer contributions and recontributed amounts. Outlines those special rules and definitions applying to trusts qualifying as individual retirement account. Outlines those rules with respect to tax treatment of distribution from individual retirement accounts. Imposes for each taxable year on the assets of a qualified individual retirement account which is exempt from tax a tax equal to 10 percent of an amount which bears the same ratio to the fair market value of the total assets in such account at the beginning of the taxable year as the minimum amount required to be distributed during such year reduced (but not below zero) by the total amount actually distributed during such year by the account to the individual who established such account his or beneficiary bears to the minimum amount required to be distributed during such year. Directs that the tax imposed by this provision shall apply only for taxable years beginning after the taxable year in which the individual who established such account attains the age of 70 l/2 years. Establishes special rules for contributions on behalf of self-employed individuals and share holder-employees of electing small business corporations. Imposes a tax with respect to qualified pension profit sharing and stock bonus plans on each prohibited transaction at the rate of 5 percent of the amount involved with respect to the prohibited transaction for each year in the taxable period. Defines "prohibited transaction" as that term is set forth under the Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act of August 28, 1958, as amended. Makes conforming amendments under this section. Outlines rules applicable to custodial accounts and excess contributions. Specifies those amounts from the employer's contribution which should be included in gross income by the employee.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1973
Revises the standards applicable in determining the basis on which Federal matching will be accorded toward State expenditures for skilled and intermediate care facility services provided under State plans approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act (Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs).
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1973
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to allow participants in the plan B feed grain set-aside program to transfer into the plan A set aside program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1973
Provides for the repeal of subtitle H of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (relating to financing of Presidential election campaigns). Provides that any amount in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund established by the Internal Revenue Code shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury one day after the enactment of this Act. (Repeals 26 U.S.C. 9001-9013)
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1973
Makes the question of whether something is obscene a fact determination which shall be made by the jury without the comment of the court based on the the weight of the evidence relevent to the question. Prohibits judicial review of any determination made by a jury on the question whether something is obscene by any court in the United States. (Adds 18 U.S.C. 1466; 28 U.S.C. 3001)
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1973
Expresses the gratitude of the Congress to the President for attaining an honorable termination of the involvement of the United States in hostilities in Vietnam.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1973
Vocational Rehabilitation Amendments - Authorizes to be appropriated for carrying out the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, $697,482,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and $700,096,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974. Provides for the making of grants to public or nonprofit private agencies for paying part of the cost of planning, preparing for, and initiating programs to provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with spinal cord injuries or to low-achieving deaf individuals. Provides for grants to any State agency designated pursuant to a plan approved under this Act, or to any local agency participating in the administration of such a plan, for paying part of the cost of pilot or demonstration projects for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to handicapped individuals who, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, are migratory agricultural workers, and to members of their families (whether or not handicapped) who are with them, including maintenance and transportation of any such individual and members of his family where necessary to the rehabilitation of that individual. States that whenever the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare determines that any amount of an allotment to a State for any fiscal year will not be utilized by such State in carrying out the purposes of this Act, he may make such amount available for carrying out the purposes of this Act to one or more other States to the extent he determines such other State will be able to use such additional amount during such year for carrying out such purposes. Provides for the inclusion of American Samoa and Trust Teritory of the Pacific Islands in State Programs. States that the State agency plan submitted for approval must provide satisfactory assurance to the Secretary that the State agency designated (or each State agency if two are so designated) and any sole local agency administering the plan in a political subdivision of the State will take into account, in connection with matters of general policy arising in the administration of the plan, the views of, among others, individuals who are recipients of vocational rehabilitation services, individuals who represent citizen groups, individuals who represent professional groups, and individuals who are providers of vocational rehabilitation services. Increases the training allowances under the Act from $25 or $30. Allows State agencies for the blind to act as State evaluation and work adjustment agencies under this Act. Provides that an individual who, as a part of his rehabilitation under a State plan approved under this Act, participates in a program of work experience in a Federal agency, shall not, by reason thereof, be considered to be a Federal employee or to be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal employment, including those relating to hours of work, rates of compensation, leave, unemployment compensation, and Federal employee benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1973
Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to make grants to the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University, Stanford, California, on condition that the funds will be used for the construction of a new building, for the equipment of such building, and for the establishment of a capital fund administered by the Hoover Institution, the income from which shall be used for the purchase and processing of books and other documents for the library of the Hoover Institution. Authorizes to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury for making grants under this Act amounts in which the aggregate will not exceed gifts, bequests, and devises of money, securities, and other property, made to the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace after the date of enactment of this Act, except that the aggregate amount so appropriated shall not exceed $5,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1973
Provides that a person shall be subjected to the penalty of death for any offense prohibited by the laws of the United States only if a hearing is held in accordance with this Act. States that when a defendant is found guilty of or pleads guilty to an offense for which one of the sentences provided is death, the judge who presided at the trial or before whom the guilty plea was entered shall conduct a separate sentencing hearing to determine the existence or nonexistence of the factors set forth in this Act for the purpose of determining the sentence to be imposed. Provides that the hearing shll not be held if the government stipulates that none of the aggravating factors set forth in the Act exists or that one or more of the mitigating factors set forth in the Act exists. Provides that in the sentencing hearing the court shall disclose to the defendant or his counsel all material contained in any presentence report, if one has been prepared, except such material as the court determines is required to be withheld for the protection of human life or for the protection of the national security. Sets forth rules of evidence to be used in such hearing. States that the jury or, if there is no jury, the court shall return a special verdict setting forth its findings as to the existence or nonexistence of each of the factors set forth in this Act. Provides that the jury or, of there is no jury, the court finds by a preponderance of the information that one or more of the aggravating factors set forth in the Act exists and that none of the mitigating factors set forth in this Act exists, the court shall sentence the defendant to death. States that if the jury or, if there is no jury, the court finds that none of the aggravating factors exists, or finds that one or more of the mitigating factors exists, the court shall not sentence the defendant to death but shall impose any other sentence provided for the offense for which the defendant was convicted. States that the court shall not impose the sentence of death on the defendant if the jury or, if there is no jury, the court finds by a special verdict as provided in the Act that at the time of the offense there existed one of the specified mitigating factors. Lists the mitigating factors which the courts are to recognize. Sets forth specified crimes and circumstances which shall be considered aggravating factors for the purposes of this Act. Makes conforming technical amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1973
Animal Health Research Act - Sets forth the purpose of this Act and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate with the several States for the purpose of encouraging and assisting them in carrying out programs of animal health research at eligible institutions. Authorizes the Congress to appropriate such funds as it may determine to be necessary to support such research programs. Specifies the formula by which funds appropriated under this Act shall be apportioned. Authorizes to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to support research on specific national or regional animal health problems. Provides that in developing plans for the use of such funds the Secretary shall consult the Advisory Board created by this Act. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to support costs of providing veterinary medical science research facilities. Provides that such funds shall be apportioned in accordance with the formula set forth in this Act. States that each dean or director of an eligible institution shall submit a brief annual report of research accomplishments on a project-by-project basis. Directs the Secretary to appoint a Veterinary Medical Science Research Advisory Board which shall consist of not less than nine nor more than twelve members. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1973
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that nothing contained in the U.S. Constitution shall prohibit the several States and the District constituting the seat of government of the United States from providing for voluntary prayer in the public schools of that jurisdiction, nor shall it abridge the right of persons lawfully assembled in any public building to participate in voluntary prayer.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1973
Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act - Provides for the recognition of the entire Grand Canyon as a natural feature of national and international significance. Prohibits the transfer of any lands held in trust for any Indian Tribe. Establishes the Grand Canyon Zone of Influence which gives the Secretary of the Interior the authority to coordinate a protective management program for those lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon or affecting the environment of the Grand Canyon. Institutes programs for the recreational, historical and cultural development of the area, and authorizes cooperative agreements between the States, Indian Tribes, and the Federal Government for the regulation of the area. Provides for the Administration of wilderness land under the Wilderness Act. Authorizes those sums as are necessary for the carrying out of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1973
Occupational Safety and Health Amendments - Excludes from the definition "employers," for purposes of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, any nonagricultural employer who employed not more than 7 employees at any time during the preceding calendar year, or a small farmer. Provides that an employer may establish a safety committee for purposes of this Act, without violating the National Labor Relations Act. Provides that the Secretary of Labor shall evaluate as soon as possible after enactment of these amendments, existing Federal standards for occupational safety and health and to determine the applicability of each such standard to employers within each industry or business. Provides that the Secretary shall prescribe the cost per unit to the average employer for compliance with such safety standards, and determine the possibility of performance of required procedures; or if compliance with such standards is impossible, rescind the standard. Provides that failure of an employer or employee to comply with an occupational safety and health standard which has been adopted without compliance with the establishment administrative procedures shall not in itself be used in any civil action as evidence of negligence. Provides that the Secretary's regulations may require physical examinations of employees upon the inception of their employment in industry. Requires that a citation to an employer for violation of this Act specify the action to be taken for abatement of such violation. Provides as affirmative defenses to any proceeding under this Act that the employer furnished adequate notice and exerted all reasonable efforts to obtain compliance of his employees; that the employer had less than 30 days notice of a new standard; and that the standard which is the subject of the violation charged would not have effectively constituted an improvement of occupational safety and health in the circumstances under which the charge is brought. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with an employer to waive or defer penalty provisions under this Act on condition that the employer comply with standards on terms that the Secretary determines appropriate under the circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance to employers with less than 100 employees when it appears necessary to comply with this Act's Standards. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to employers for the cost incurred in complying with a standard adopted without com- pliance with established administrative procedures. Provides that standards under this Act shall be applicable to employers with less than 100 employees only after one year following enactment of this Act. Makes the other amendments of this Act effective two months after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1973
Rolling Stock Utilization and Financing Act - Title I: National Rolling Stock Information Service and Federal Railroad Equipment Obligation Insurance Fund - States that the purposes of this Act is: (1) to improve the utilization and distribution of rolling stock to meet the needs of commerce, users, shippers, the national defense, and the consuming public; (2) to assist railroads in acquiring additional rolling stock to provide fast and expeditious service to meet the increasing demands of the Nation's economy; and (3) to assist in achieving full employment by insuring adequate equipment necessary to transport the products of American industry. Defines the terms used in this Act. Creates a Federal Railroad Equipment Obligation Insurance Fund to be used to insure the interest on, and the unpaid principal balance of, any equipment obligation determined eligible for insurance. Establishes a Board to administer this Fund. Requires the Board before insuring any equipment obligation to determine in writing that specified limitations and conditions are met, including: (1) that the equipment obligation is secured by rolling stock to be financed or refinanced thereby; (2) that the terms of the equipment obligation require full payment within fifteen years from the date thereof; and (3) that the financing or refinancing of the rolling stock is justified by the present and future demand for transportation services to be rendered by the railroad or car-pooling company for which the rolling stock is procured. Authorizes the Board to issue notes or other obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury if at any time the moneys in the fund are not sufficient to pay any amount under an agreement entered into under this section. Allows the Board to consent to the modification of the provisions of an equipment obligation as to rate of interest, time of payment of interest or principal, security, or the terms and conditions or any contract of insurance entered into pursuant to this Act. Requires the transactions of the Board to be audited by the Comptroller General in accordance with such rules and regulations as he may prescribe and requires a report to be made to the Congress. Title II: To Improve Utilization - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to design and assist railroads in establishing a national rolling stock information system. Provides that such system shall facilitate equitable distribution and economic utilization of rolling stock by furnishing information to railroads, shippers, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the public about rolling stock with respect to physical characteristics, origin, destination, location, availability for future loadings, and such other information as determined useful. Requires a semiannual report to Congress on progress under this title. Relieves persons contracting for the design of a national information system or the use of such information from the antitrust laws with respect to such contract. Authorizes an appropriation of $10,000,000 for purposes of this provision. Requires the Secretary to develop an index measuring the degree of utilization of freight cars, and to publish such index at least quarterly together with a report setting forth the changes in such utilization and the causes thereof. Requires the Interstate Commerce Commission to publish a report on utilization of freight cars thirty days after each report by the Secretary. Provides for a study by the Secretary, with legislative recommendations, on the utilization of freight cars and means to improve such utilization. Provides for a study on the use of abandoned railroad trackage and rights-of-way as recreational trails and camp sites. Title III: Rolling Stock Authority - Authorizes the establishment of a corporation known as the Rolling Stock Authority if substantial progress in freight car supply and utilization has not been made within three and one-half years of enactment of this Act. States that the purposes of the Authority shall be to acquire, maintain, and provide rolling stock, to manage a pool of such rolling stock, and to employ innovative concepts for equitable distribution and efficient use of such rolling stock to meet the needs of the national economy. Provides that the Authority shall have a Board of eleven Directors, consisting of the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of the Treasury, and nine members, to be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of specified railroad, labor, shipping, and consumer organizations. Empowers the Authority to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business; sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of its property and assets; build, own, and maintain rolling stock to be operated for the purpose of providing modern, efficient freight transportation of goods; and conduct research and development related to the purposes of this Act. Provides that every railroad shall pay to the Authority a per diem surcharge of fifty cents per car day on each general service freight car for each day that such a railroad incurs a car-hire charge for the use of such car. States that the levy shall continue until the Board of Directors determines that such sum as may be necessary for this Act but not less than $10,000,000 nor more than $30,000,000 will be due or will have been paid as of a certain date, whereupon the levy will cease. Requires the Authority to issue a negotiable interest-bearing debenture to each railroad in the amount of the per diem surcharge paid by such railroad. Empowers the Authority to incur debts for capital purposes. Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase the obligations of the Authority guaranteed by the United States in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000. Authorizes appropriations of $10,000,000 to acquire capital stock of the Authority; and such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the principal and interest on notes or obligations issued as guarantees under this section. Provides for the audit of expenditures under the Government Corporation Control Act. Requires a plan for the public sale of stock in the Authority, including a program to require refinancing, and to assure that the sale of the stock will result in a wide dispersion in the ownership of the stock. Requires the Authority to establish a national rolling stock information system within one year of enactment if such system is not in operation at the date of incorporation. Provides that the Authority shall establish charges for the use of rolling stock supplied by it, and shall establish terms and conditions governing the use of its equipment. States that the Authority shall be subject to the car service provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act, and the orders of the Commission thereunder to the extent applicable. Provides that the Authority may enforce compliance with any obligation owing to it under this Act by an appropriate civil action. Prohibits a railroad from refusing to transport general service freight cars owned by the Authority. Requires an annual report to the President and the Congress by the Authority on its activities under this Act. Title IV: General Provisions - Requires the Authority, in contracts under this Act: (1) to include equitable arrangements to protect the interests of individual employees affected in their employment by any such contract; (2) to conform to prevailing practices of the railroads and nonrailroads with rolling stock building and rebuilding facilities; and (3) to insure provailing wages for construction work.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1973
Exempts from income tax the interest on bonds issued to pay the costs of facilities for furnishing water, whether or not to the general public. Exempts the interest on bond issues totaling less than $5,000,000. Provides that in determining the $5,000,000 total, capital expenditures of $500,000 will not be included. (Amends 26 U.S.C. 103)
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Increases from 50 to 80 percent the amount that may be paid as the Federal Government's share of the costs of any cooperative meat or poultry inspection program carried out by any State under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Employee Strike Vote Act - Provides that it shall be unlawful and an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents to call, continue or resume a strike if a majority of the employees have voted in a secret ballot referendum to accept the employer's current offer or if such a referendum has been requested before the strike begins and the result thereof has not been accepted. Provides that such a referendum may be requested by the involved labor organization and the employer or 10 percent of the members of such bargaining unit. Requires that no such referendum may be held until at least thirty days have elasped following any prior referendum. (Adds 29 U.S.C. 158(b)(8))
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1973
Provides that under the National Labor Relations Act it shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer to refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives of his employees but such refusal will not be an unfair labor practice unless the representative of the employees have been certified as such under the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act. (Amends 29 U.S.C. 158(a)5)
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1973
Provides for the disposition of funds appropriated in docket numbered 153 to pay judgments in favor of the Sac and Fox Indians in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1973
Provides for the construction of wells and other facilities necessary to provide a supplemental water supply to the lands of the Mirage Flats Irrigation District, Mirage Flats project, Nebraska.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1973
Transportation Crisis Prevention Act - Title I: Amendments to the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947 Relating to Emergency Disputes in the Transportation Industry - Provides that the national emergency procedures of the Labor-Management Relations Act shall apply to a strike in the railroad, airline, maritime, longshore, or trucking industries if such strike or lockout imperils the health or safety of a substantial sector of the Nation. States that when a petition to enjoin such strike or lockout is sought it shall be heard by a three judge district court. Empowers the President to use, in additon to the basic emergency dispute provision of the Labor-Management Relations Act, new options for dealing with national emergency disputes in the transportation industries. States that the President may proceed under these options in such sequence as he may deem appropriate until it is certified by the Secretary of Labor that the dispute is settled. Provides that these optional procedures may be used if the transportation national emergency dispute was still unresolved after the 80-day cooling-off period provided in the Labor-Management Relations Act. Authorizes the President to extend the cooling off period, with continued bargaining between the parties, for a period of 15 days. Empowers the President to appoint a special board to determine whether and under what conditions a partial strike or lockout could take place without imperiling the national health or safety, or the health or safety of a substantial portion of the territory or population of the Nation and whether under such condtions, the partial strike would be of sufficient economic impact to encourage resolution of the dispute. Provides that if the special board determines that a partial strike or lockout is feasible, it shall issue an order specifying the extent and conditions of partial operation and if a partial strike or lockout is not feasible, the board shall submit a report to the President. Precludes the parties from interfering, by resort to strike or lockout, with a partial operation ordered by the special board. Provides that the board's order may be effective for up to 180 days. Authorizes the President to appoint a special board and to direct them to review the feasibility of partial operations. Permits any party or any member of the board to present to the board a plan defining the strike or lockout action that would be consistent with the public interest. Authorizes the board, after appropriate hearings in which the Government would be a party, to protect the public interest, and to adopt or modify the plan. Provides that, before approving the plan, the board would have to find that the partial strike or lockout is sufficiently extensive to encourage resolution of the dispute. Requires the parties to submit their final proposals for full resolution of the controversy following the 80-day cooling-off period. Provides that the parties shall be given 3 days in which to submit two final offers and that if any party fails to submit a final offer or offers, the last offer made during bargaining shall be deemed its final offer. Directs that following this submission, to the Secretary of Labor, the parties shall be required to meet and bargain for five days, with or without mediation by the Secretary. Provides that, as a second step, the parties shall be given an opportunity to select a panel to act as "Final Offer Selector" and that if the parties are unable to select the panel, a panel composed of three neutral members shall be appointed by the President. Asserts that the panel shall hold hearings and determine which of the final offers constituted the final and binding resolution of the issues. Provides that, in reaching its determination, the panel may not choose any settlement other than those represented by the final offers. Specifies the criteria to be used by the panel in reaching its decision. Provides that the panel's choice becomes the contract between the parties. Title II: Amendments to the Railway Labor Act - Abolishes the National Mediation Board and states that its functions shall be assumed and carried out by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the National Labor Relations Board. Provides for the discontinuance of the referral of disputes under the Railway Labor Act to the Adjustment Board and provides for their submission to arbitration in accordance with procedures set forth in this Act. States that the parties to a dispute shall have five days to reach a mutual agreement on the selection of an arbitrator and if they can not agree one shall be selected from a list submitted by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service through a process of alternate rejection. Provides that the method of arbitration set forth in this Act shall prevail with respect to disputes under the Railway Labor Act until such time as the collective bargaining agreements between the parties contain no-strike, no-lockout clauses and provisions for grievance machinery terminating in final, binding arbitration. States that the Adjustment Board shall be dissolved after it has processed to completion all of the disputes before it or upon two years from the effective date of this amendment to the Act, whichever first occurs. Provides that if all the disputes before the Board have not been processed to completion by the time of the Board's dissolution date, all such disputes shall be removed to the arbitration process set forth in this Act. Provides that all cases which are being mediated by the National Mediation Board on the effective date of this Act shall be transferred to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service no later than thirty days after the effective date of this Act. States that carriers and representatives shall give sixty days written notice of an intended modification of termination in agreements or arrangements affecting rates of pay, rules, or working conditions. Provides that the party desiring such change or termination shall simultaneously notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service which shall commence appropriate mediation efforts. States that the parties shall continue in full force and effect all the terms and conditions of the existing agreement or arrangements for a period of sixty days after such notice is given or until the expiration date of the agreement, whichever occurs later, without resorting to strike or lockout or other economic coercion. Title III: Special Free Collective Bargaining Study Commission - Establishes the Special Free Collective Bargaining Study Commission to study labor relations in those industries which the Secretary of Labor has determined to be particularly vulnerable to national emergency disputes. Empowers the commission to study all the factors affecting labor relations in these industries and to make recommendations on the weaknesses of collective bargaining in the industries studied, including recommendations for legislation, if appropriate. Authorizes the Commission to study the operation of the revised emergency procedures. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Defines the jurisdictions in which such representatives of employees or carriers may be sued. Repeals the provisions of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act that makes strikers eligible for benefits if the strike is not in violation of the Railway Labor Act or of the rules of the labor organization of which he is a member. Disqualifies railroad workers who strike from unemployment insurance benefits in accordance with criteria in State unemployment insurance laws applicable to other industries. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1973
Provides, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, that exclusive territorial arrangements in any trademarked licensing contract an agreement for the manufacture, distribution and sale of a trademarked food product shall not be deemed unlawful, provided: (1) that such product is in free and open competition with products of the same general class manufactured, distributed, and sold by others; (2) the licensee is in free and open 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 in accordance with the provisions of the Trademark Act. (Amends 15 U.S.C. 41)
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1973
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that each State shall choose a number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which that State may be entitled in the Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be chosen an elector. Provides that one elector shall be elected from each district within a State from which a Member of the House of Representatives is elected, and two electors shall be elected at large from each State. States that each candidate for the office of elector of President and Vice President shall file, with the Secretary of State of the State in which he seeks such office, a declaration under oath of the identity of the persons for whom he will vote for President and Vice President, which declaration shall be binding upon him and any successor to his office. Provides that any vote cast to the contrary shall be counted as a vote cast in accordance with such declaration.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1973
Provides for the trial of unfair labor practice cases in U.S. district courts. Provides that the district courts of the United States, the district court of the Virgin Islands and the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone shall have jurisdiction to prevent any person from engaging in any unfair labor practice affecting commerce. Asserts that any person aggrieved by any such unfair labor practice may, within six months after the date on which such unfair labor practice occured, either: (1) file and prosecute such a complaint in any court having jurisdiction of the parties; or (2) file a charge of such unfair labor practice with the United States attorney for the appropriate district and request him to file and prosecute such a complaint. Directs that whenever a person aggrieved by an unfair labor practice is prevented by reason of service in the Armed Forces from filing a charge or complaint he may do so within six months after the date of his discharge. Provides that such proceedings shall be tried by the court without a jury. Provides that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply in such proceedings. Asserts that, in any case in which the pleadings present issues of fact, the court may appoint a master and the order of reference may require the master to submit with his report a recommended order. Allows the court to grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems appropriate pending final disposition of any proceeding, but only after publicly hearing testimony of witnesses (with opportunity for cross-examination) in support of the allegations of a complaint made under oath, and testimony in opposition thereto, if offered; and only after findings of fact by the court to the effect: (1) that one or more acts constituting an unfair labor practice have been committed and will be continued unless restrained; (2) that substantial and irreparable injury to the complainant will follow; (3) that as to each item of relief granted greater injury will be inflicted by the denial of relief than will be inflicted by the granting of relief; and (4) that complainant has no adequate remedy at law.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1973
Makes it the sense of the Senate that: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture should impose a moratorium on the disposal of grain owned by the Commodity Credit Corporation and that such moratorium should be continued until the Secretary of Agriculture, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the American Association of Railroads jointly determine and notify the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry of the Senate that a termination of the moratorium would not worsen the transportation situation or precipitate a new transportation crises; (2) the option to resale loans on farm-stored wheat and feed grains should be made available to farmers by the Commodity Credit Corporation with respect to the 1970, 1971, and 1972 crops; (3) the President should, and is hereby urged and requested to, immediately appoint a special committee composed of one representative from the Department of Agriculture, one from the Department of Labor, one from the Interstate Commerce Commission, one from the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and one from the American Association of Railroads to conduct a study of the railroad freight car shortage problem and to submit to the President and to the Congress, within thirty days after its appointment, the results of its study together with its recommendations for the most effective and practical means of (A) delivering adequate quantities of feed grains to farmers and stockmen in the United States dependent upon such grain for feeding their livestock, and (B) alleviating the backup at those ports where numerous ships and railroad cars are waiting to be unloaded. Makes it the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Agriculture should notify the Committee on Agriculture and Foresty of the Senate at least seventy-two hours prior to the termination of any moratorium imposed pursuant to the recommendation set forth in this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1973
Provides that for the period beginning April 1, 1973, and ending on March 31, 1974, the price support for milk shall not be less than 85 percent of the parity price therefor. (Amends 7 U.S.C. 1446)
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1973
National Diabetes Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act to expand the authority of the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases in order to advance the national attack on diabetes. Authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Disease, with the advice of the National Advisory Council of the Institute, to develop a plan for a national diabetes program. Sets forth general guidelines for such program and provides that the program shall be coordinated with the other programs conducted or administered by the research institutes of the National Institute of Health. Provides that the plan required to be developed by this Act shall be developed within two hundred seventy days after the effective date of this Act. Requires the Director of the Institute, at the end of each calendar year, to prepare and submit to the President for transmittal to the Congress a report on the activities, progress and accomplishments under the program during the preceding year and a plan for the program for the succeeding five-year period. Authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases to establish programs as necessary in cooperation with other Federal health agencies, State, local, and regional public health agencies, and nonprofit private health agencies, in the prevention, control, and evaluation of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, appropriately emphasizing the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of such diseases in children. Authorizes to be appropriated $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, $35,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30,1975, and $45,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, for the purpose of establishing such programs. States that the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases may provide for the development of not less than fifteen centers for basic and clinical research into, training in, and demonstration of advanced diagnostic, prevention, and treatment methods for diabetics. Outlines a diabetes prevention program for the centers. States that support of such a center may be for a period of not to exceed five years and may be extended by the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases for additional periods of not more than five years each, after review of the operations of the center by a scientific review group established by the Director. Establishes an Interagency Technical Committee on Diabetes which shall be responsible for coordinating those aspects of all Federal health programs and activities relating to diabetes.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1973
Provides that licenses for the operation of a broadcasting station shall be issued for a term of five years (now a period of 3 years). (Amends 47 U.S.C. 307(d))
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1973
Permits an individual to receive retroactive payments of benefits under Old-Age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance if such individual was without fault in failing to make timely application for such benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1973
Provides under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, that where a State has, on or before December 28, 1972, submitted a proposed State occupational safety and health standards plan, the Secretary of Labor may enter into an agreement with the State under which the State may enforce under the provisions of State law standards covering issues contained in such proposed plan pending final approval of such plan, or until December 28, 1973, whichever is earlier. (Amends 29 U.S.C. 667(a))
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1973
Provides that whoever: (1) uses a firearm to commit any felony for which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States; or (2) carries a firearm during the commission of any felony for which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for the commission of such delony, be sentenced for the additional offense defined in this Act to a term of imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years. States that in the case of his second or subsequent conviction under this Act, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than two nor more than twenty-five years. Provides that the execution or imprisonment of any term of imprisonment imposed under this Act may not be suspended, and probation may not be granted. Provides that any term or imprisonment imposed under this Act may not be imposed to run concurrently with any term or imprisonment imposed for the commission of such felony.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1973
Requires that imported meat and meat food products made in whole or in part of imported meat must be labeled "imported" at all stages of distribution until delivery to the ultimate consumer, under the Federal Meat Inspection Act. (Amends 21 U.S.C. 620(a))
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1973
Establishes an eight-member Ad Hoc Senate Committee on Military Oversight for the purpose of keeping abreast of changing military requirements resulting from developments of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Conference on Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction, and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks II in order to ascertain the proper level of our future military security posture. Authorizes to be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee a sum not to exceed $250,000.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1973
Provides, under the Agricultural Act of 1970, that the amount of any wheat stored by a producer, under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, prior to the 1971 crop of wheat may be reduced without penalty of any kind. (Amends 7 U.S.C. 1379c nt)
![Official portrait of Sen. Curtis, Carl T. [R-NE]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c001006_200.jpg)