United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1979
Calls upon all followers of Islam to prevail upon their brethren to: (1) release the American hostages held in Iran; and (2) until they are released, permit them to worship regularly in accordance with their religious faiths and meet with clergy of their faiths.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits the adoption of any Federal budget in which expenditures exceed receipts unless approved by a rollcall vote of three-fifths of the Members of each House of Congress directed solely to that subject. Prohibits the Congress from passing and the President from signing any appropriation bill which would cause the total expenditures of the Federal Government to exceed its total receipts in any fiscal year. Permits the Congress to waive such provisions with respect to any single year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Prohibits any annual increase in the proportion of Federal receipts to the national income unless approved by a rollcall vote, directed solely to such purpose, of three-fifths of each House.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union should permit Irina Astakhova McClellan and her family to emigrate to the United States to join her husband. Urges the President to: (1) express U.S. support on behalf of Irina Astakhova McClellan; and (2) inform the Soviet Union that the United States will take into account a country's commitment to human rights in evaluating U.S. relations with such country.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1979
Senior Cryptologic Executive Service Act of 1979 - Title I: Senior Cryptologic Executive Service - Authorizes the Security of Defense to establish within the National Security Agency a Senior Cryptologic Executive Service (Service) comparable to the Senior Executive Service created pursuant to the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Authorizes the Director of the Agency: (1) to adopt such administrative and pay provisions of such Act as necessary to administer the Service; and (2) to appoint individuals to the Service without regard to civil service laws. Sets forth provisions governing the awarding of rank, employee sabbaticals, accrual of annual leave, and employee eligibility for civil service annuities for appointees to the Service which are similar to provisions of such Act governing such areas for members of the Senior Executive Service. Directs the Agency to submit to specified congressional committees during each odd-numbered fiscal year a report on the service which includes: (1) the percentage of senior executives at each pay rate; (2) the amount and distribution of performance awards paid during the preceeding year; and (3) the number of individuals removed from the Service for unsatisfactory performance. Title II: Merit Pay and Cash Awards - Authorizes the Director to establish a merit pay and cash awards system for employees of the Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Romania are urged: (1) to release certain political prisoners; and (2) to halt the incarceration and harassment of individuals contrary to the Helsinki Accords.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) reaffirm U.S. commitment to the Helsinki Accords; (2) communicate to the Soviet Union U.S. disapproval of religious harassment of Christians in the Soviet Union and of the restrictions on such Christians' freedom to emigrate; and (3) advise the Soviet Union of U.S. expectation that the Soviet Union honor its commitments under the Helsinki Accords and under international law.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1979
Authorizes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Incorporated, to erect a memorial on public grounds in West Potomac Park in the District of Columbia in honor and recognition of the men and women of the armed forces who served in the Vietnam war.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1979
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) all countries and all people be urged to respond generously to Cambodian relief efforts; (2) Cambodian authorities be encouraged to allow the use of all possible avenues for delivering food and medical supplies; and (3) the United States and the United Nations should express their expectation that the great power supporters of the factions in Cambodia share in international responsibility for averting famine.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to change specified levels of price support loans and price support payments for the 1980 and each subsequent crop of extra long staple cotton. Amends the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938 to require that extra long staple cotton acreage allotments voluntarily surrendered to county committees be so surrendered not later than January 15 of the crop harvest year. Directs (formerly authorized) the Secretary of Agriculture to permit owners or operators of farms for which an extra long staple cotton acreage allotment is established to sell or lease all or part of such allotment for transfer to farms owned or operated by others, or to transfer such allotment to other farms owned by themselves. Stipulates that farms to which such allotments are transferred may be in any State or county. Requires that such sale, lease, or transfer occur not later than January 15 of the crop harvest year. Prohibits the leasing of any such allotment for a total period greater than three years.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1979
Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Act of 1979 - Amends the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 to include in the definitions of the terms "United States" and "State" the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession over which the United States has jurisdiction. Directs the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to implement and administer a national recreational boating safety and facilities improvement program. Authorizes the Secretary to allocate funds to States for accepted State recreational boating safety and facilities improvement programs if sufficient State matching funds are available. Directs the Secretary to accept State programs that include: (1) an approved vessel numbering system; (2) a cooperative boating safety assistance program with the Coast Guard; (3) sufficient patrol to enforce applicable State laws; (4) boating safety education; (5) a State agency to implement or coordinate the program and report to the Secretary; and (6) facilities improvement. Sets forth formulas for the allocation of funds among the States. Establishes in the Treasury a National Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Fund from which the Secretary may allocate funds for accepted State programs. Requires that revenues attributable to the taxes on special motor fuels and gasoline used in motorboats be covered into such Fund. Authorizes appropriations for such State programs of $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1981 through 1984. Amends the Highway Revenue Act of 1956 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer certain amounts from the taxes received from special motor fuels and gasoline used in motorboats to the National Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1979
Federal Firearms Law Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to Gun Control Act - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine: (1) "manufacturer" to mean any person engaged in the "business of manufacturing" (instead of "manufacture" of) firearms or ammunition; and (2) "dealer" to exclude dealers in ammunition and persons engaged in the business of repairing firearms. Adds a new definition "engaged in the business" with respect to manufacturers, dealers, and importers. Includes as a manufacturer of ammunition a person whose gross sales of his own ammunition exceed $1,000 in any calendar year. Includes as a dealer in firearms a person who deals in firearms as a regular course of business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. Replaces the current term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" with a new definition of "disabling crime." Eliminates certain activities regarding ammunition from the coverage of the current prohibitions. Revises current provisions respecting the interstate sale or transfer of firearms. Revises the current prohibition against selling a firearm or ammunition to certain persons (such as persons under indictment for a felony or addicted to drugs) to apply such prohibition only to persons convicted of a "disabling crime." Revises the current prohibition against certain persons transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce to: (1) extend such prohibition to possession or receipt in commerce or affecting commerce of any firearm or ammunition; (2) conform such prohibition to the new "disabling crime" provision; and (3) include as additional categories illegal aliens, persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and persons who have renounced their United States citizenship. Makes the same changes to the current prohibition against certain persons who receive a firearm or ammunition which has been transported in interstate commerce, but applies such prohibition to persons who are employed by the enumerated categories of individuals. Excludes ammunition dealers from the current licensing requirements. Stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury may revoke a license only where the holder of such license has "knowingly" violated a provision of the Act or regulation. Bars the Secretary from denying or revoking a license on the basis of violations under this Act which are alleged in criminal proceedings instituted against a licensee, where such individual is not convicted of such charges. Imposes as a condition for the inspection or examination of records or documents and any firearm or ammunition kept by an importer, manufacturer, or dealer pursuant to this Act that the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred and that evidence may be found on the premises of such persons. Restricts the firearm information obtained from licensees which the Secretary may make available to State or local governments. Establishes a limited recordkeeping requirement for firearms collectors. Stipulates that the general penalty under this Act shall apply to whoever "willfully" violates any provision. Prohibits, with respect to a person's second or subsequent conviction for illegally using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, the granting of parole before completion of the minimum sentence. Amends the forfeiture provision to subject to seizure any firearm or ammunition "involved in or used" in any violation of the Act (instead of "involved in or used or intended to be used"). Requires a court to award attorney's fees to the prevailing party (other than the United States) in an action or proceeding for the return of seized firearms or ammunition. Allows the court to award such fees in any other action upon a finding that the action was initiated in bad faith. Amends the rulemaking authority of the Secretary to provide that no regulation may require the transfer of records required under this Act to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or the establishment of any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions. Requires a 90-day public comment period for proposed regulations (no period is currently specified). Allows one House of Congress to disapprove by resolution any firearms regulation within 90 days of continuous session of the promulgation of such rule. Requires that resolutions of disapproval be immediately referred to only those standing committees having legislative responsibility for this Act. Allows a sponsor of any such resolution to move to discharge from further consideration a committee which does not report out the resolution within 45 days of continuous session of Congress. States that it shall be in order to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution any time after a committee has reported or has been discharged from further consideration. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any rules identical to regulations disapproved by Congress without the enactment of additional legislation respecting his authority. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing regulations which require purchasers of black powder to complete affidavits or forms attesting to their exemption from certain provisions of the Federal criminal code. Makes any law or regulation promulgated by any State prohibiting the transfer of an unloaded and not readily accessible firearm or ammunition null and void. Title II: Amendments to title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Repeals title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (relating to the receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms by felons, veterans dishonorably discharged, mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and persons renouncing their United States citizenship).
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the weeks of January 21 through January 27, 1979, and January 20 through January 26, 1980, as "Junior Achievement Week" in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of Junior Achievement, an organization dedicated to the American enterprise system and service to youth.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1979
Prohibits the salaries of the Vice President, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, the Federal judiciary, the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives from exceeding the rate of pay in effect on September 30, 1978, until the total budget outlays does not exceed Federal revenues for the fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President: (1) insist that the Soviet Union remove its troops expeditiously from Cuba; and (2) not agree to any concessions in exchange for such removal.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should report to Congress: (1) monthly concerning the military capabilities of Soviet troops in Cuba; and (2) annually concerning Soviet military assistance to Cuba and the military capabilities of Cuban troops.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1979
Amends the National Museum Act of 1966 to authorize additional appropriations of $1,000,000 each year for fiscal years 1981, 1982, and 1983 to the Smithsonian Institution to carry out the purposes of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union should, with regard to the 1980 Summer Olympics: (1) permit full participation by athletes, spectators, and journalists; (2) issue visas, admission tickets, and hotel reservations on a nondiscriminatory basis; (3) not interfere with news coverage; and (4) not prevent or punish its citizens for communicating with participants.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1979
Declares that it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider the SALT II Treaty until a Select Committee on Foreign and Defense Policy is appointed and reports to the Senate concerning the level of military capability required to guard U.S. security interests.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend tax-exempt status to veterans' organizations whose membership consists of at least 75 percent past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States (combat or noncombat veterans), with the remaining membership consisting substantially of cadets or spouses, or widows or widowers of Armed Forces personnel or cadets.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1979
Antiquities Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Antiquities Act to define "objects of historic or scientific interest" to include specified items. Stipulates that such objects must be directly associated with human activities. Requires congressional approval of any Presidential proclamation of a national monument before it can effect a reservation of public lands in excess of 5,000 acres. Permits the continuance of uses of public lands within a national monument which were valid uses prior to the designation of such lands as a monument, including hunting, guiding, hiking, boating, and use of motorized vehicles. Stipulates that such uses must not adversely affect the objects sought to be protected by the reservation. Grants such provisions governing the proclamation of national monuments retroactive effect as of October 14, 1978. Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to require congressional approval of withdrawals of public lands in excess of 5,000 acres by the Secretary of the Interior.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1979
Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that any employee who is a member of and adheres to a bona fide religion, body, or sect historically holding conscientious objection to joining or financially supporting a labor organization shall not be required to do so. Allows such employee to be required in an employment contract to pay sums in lieu of and equal to dues and initiation fees to a nonreligious, nonlabor, charitable organization chosen by the employee. Authorizes the labor organization to charge such employee the reasonable cost of any grievance-arbitration procedure instigated by and for such employee's benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1979
Western Lands Distribution and Regional Equalization Act of 1979 - Title I: Short Title; Findings and Declaration of Policy; Definitions - States that the practice of retaining Federal ownership to territory within the borders of States located west of the one-hundredth meridian as a condition precedent to their admission into the Union, has impinged on the sovereignty of such States in derogation of the tenth amendment to the Constitution. Declares that the United States shall hold all such States federally owned, unreserved, and unappropriated lands in trust for such States and shall transfer ownership and administration of such lands to such States when they have adopted legislation which provides a uniformity of State and Federal law relating to land administration, conservation and use. Excludes from transfer in implementing such policy all Federal lands within national parks, national monuments, and national wildlife and migratory bird sanctuaries established prior to January 1, 1979, lands within Indian or military reservations, and lands necessary for the operation of Federal reclamation projects, shipyards docks, defense establishments and other Federal buildings. Title II: Federal Land Transfer Board - Authorizes the Governor of any State seeking to acquire such unreserved and unappropriated lands to petition the President within 60 months of the enactment of this Act to establish a Federal Land Transfer Board for such State. Directs the President to establish such a Board consisting of State and Federal members within 90 days of the receipt of such an application. States that the Board shall serve until all conveyances of such lands within the State are carried out. Requires each Federal Land Transfer Board to coordinate its activities with the State land commission established pursuant to this Act. Directs each Board to carry out the required land transfers within two years of its determination that a State's application meets the requirements of this Act. Empowers the Land Transfer Boards to resolve land claims and disputes arising from the implementation of this Act. Grants any State aggrieved by a decision of a Land Transfer Board on its application the right to a public hearing and review before the Board. Empowers the United States courts of appeals to hear appeals from final orders of the Boards. States that judicial review shall be on the record made before the Board and that the Board's findings shall be conclusive if supported by substantial evidence. States that the judgment of the court of appeals shall be subject to review only by the United States Supreme Court upon a writ of certiorari or certification. Title III: State Land Commissions - Requires each State seeking the conveyance of unreserved and unappropriated land under this Act, to establish a State land commission board to: (1) hold any transferred lands in trust for all people of the United States; (2) manage such lands to maximize conservation and permit compatible land uses; (3) protect the interests of persons who have acquired rights in such land under Federal law; (4) collect fees, rents, and royalties, issue licenses, conduct surveys and perform other administrative functions relating to such lands; (5) transfer to the United States those property interests necessary to continue lawful, Federal activities; and (6) continue to administer lands previously administered by the United States pursuant to a treaty or interstate compact in conformance with the terms of such treaty or compact. Directs each State land commission board to coordinate its activities with the appropriate Federal Land Transfer Board. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Declares that the United States shall retain control over the oceans, seas, navigable rivers, streams, and lakes, and projects of the Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. Directs the President to modify agreements with other nations if necessary to implement this Act. Grants the consent of Congress to any interstate compact relating to the management and use of such lands if it has been approved by the appropriate Federal Land Transfer Boards. Sets forth provisions to assist individuals whose employment is disrupted by implementation of this Act. Authorizes each Federal agency with jurisdiction over lands conveyed to a State under this Act, to extend low interest loans to such State to insure that it is financially able to comply with the provisions of this Act. Limits the amount of such loans to the anticipated mineral, timber, and grazing revenues derived from such transferred lands over a ten-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Airport and Airway Revenue Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the rate of tax imposed on fuel used in noncommercial aviation. Imposes a six percent tax on retail sales of such fuel used by an owner, lessee, or other operator of an aircraft (repealing the current seven cents per gallon tax). Reduces the airline ticket tax for individual travel from eight to two percent. Increases the tax rate for individual travel to five percent after September 30, 1990, and terminates such tax for the transportation of property by air after such date. Revises the tax on the use of civil aircraft for the period beginning on July 1, 1990, and ending on September 30, 1990. Amends the Airport and Airway Revenue Act of 1970 to extend the authorization of such tax levels and the life of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund from October 1, 1980, through October 1, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit against the personal income tax for the amount (not to exceed $2,500) received by the individual as interest on savings accounts. Requires reduction of such credit by five percent of the amount by which the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer exceeds $20,000. Sets a minimum credit amount of $1,000. Requires adjustment of such dollar amounts according to a defined inflation adjustment factor. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations allocating interest credited to joint accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to budget funds for certain specified purposes to assist the Civil Air Patrol. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose. Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to give, sell, or lend to the Civil Air Patrol excess property acquired by the Air Force under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians Act - Establishes the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians to: (1) determine whether a wrong was committed against American citizens and permanent resident aliens who were subjected to relocation or internment as a result of Executive Order Numbered 9066 dated February 9, 1942, and other associated Government acts; and (2) recommend appropriate remedies. Directs the Commission: (1) to hold public hearings in specified cities; and (2) within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to Congress and the President. Terminates the Commission six months after such report is submitted.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Airport and Airway System Development Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to review and revise the existing national airport system plan to provide for the development of public-use airports in the United States. Stipulates that such plan shall include the type and estimate cost of eligible airport development considered by the Secretary to be necessary to provide a safe and efficient system of public-use airports to anticipate and meet the needs of civil aeronautics, to meet requirements in support of the national defense, and to meet the needs of the Postal Service. Directs the Department of Defense to make military airports and airport facilities available for civil use to the extent feasible. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for airport development and planning in the form of project-grants or block-grants. Sets forth the aggregate funding level for such grants for fiscal years 1981 through 1985. Authorizes appropriations out of such fund for fiscal years 1981 through 1985 for: (1) the establishment of air navigation facilities; (2) airport research engineering and development, and demonstration projects; (3) training State and local government employees to carry out the purposes of this Act; (4) costs of services provided under international agreements relating to the joint financing of air navigation services; (5) costs incurred by the Secretary in administering this title; and (6) costs incurred in operating and maintaining the national airspace system in a safe and efficient condition. Sets forth the method for apportioning the funds made available under this title. Sets forth conditions which must be met to be eligible to receive funding under this Act. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with State and local officials in the development of airport plans and programs which are formulated on the basis of overall transportation needs and coordinated with other transportation planning with due consideration to comprehensive long-range land-use and access plans and overall social, economic, environmental, system performance, and energy conservation goals and objectives. Sets forth procedures for the submission of project-grant and block grant airport development applications and requirements which must be satisfied to approve such applications. Requires a sponsor of an airport project to hold public hearings where the project-grant application involves the location of an airport, and airport runway, or a major runway extension. Stipulates that such a grant shall not be made unless the Governor of the State in which the project is to be located certifies in writing to the Secretary that there is a reasonable assurance that the project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated so as to comply with applicable air and water quality implementation plans. Subjects block-grant airport development project applications for States to the same conditions and requirements as those for project-grant applications. Authorizes the Secretary to approve standards (other than standards for safety of approaches) established by a State for airport development at public-use airports which enplane less than .01 percent of the total number of passengers enplaned annually at all commercial service airports. Directs the Secretary, in determining compliance with this Act and other Federal laws, to accept conclusionary certificates from participating States and project sponsors that they have complied or will comply with all of the statutory, regulatory and procedural requirements imposed under this Act or any other Federal law. Stipulates that the United States share of allowable project costs for a project approved under this Act shall not exceed 90 percent of its cost. Establishes lower percentages for such projects under specified circumstances. Stipulates that construction work on projects funded under this Act shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Secretary and shall be in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Stipulates that contracts in excess of $2,000 for such construction projects shall include provisions establishing minimum rates of wages to be predetermined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act. Requires that construction contracts for airport development projects grant employment preferences to Vietnam and disabled veterans. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in the event that a public airport project will require the use of Federal lands, to request the head of the Federal agency or department controlling such lands to transfer the necessary property interests to the public agency sponsoring the project or which owns or controls the airport involved, Requires the head of such an agency or department to notify the Secretary within four months of its decision with respect to such a request. Exempts from such requests lands under the administration of the National Park Service, units of the National Wildlife Refuge System or similar areas under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, or within any national forest or Indian reservation. Sets forth criminal penalties for fraudulent acts committed with respect to projects under this Act. Sets forth recordkeeping and auditing requirements with respect to projects under this Act. Directs the Secretary to take affirmative action to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, or sex, be excluded from participating in any activity conducted with funds received from any grant made under this Act. Stipulates that no obligation for airport development shall be incurred by the Secretary after September 30, 1981, at any airport which enplanes more than .25 percent of the total number of passengers enplaned annually at all commercial service airports. Authorizes other airports after such date to elect not to receive such assistance. Repeals sections of the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 relating to airport development funding.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Fish Restoration Act of 1979 - Title I: Fish Restoration Program - Directs that Federal moneys apportioned to a coastal State for aid in fish restoration and management be equitably allocated by such a State between marine and fresh water fish projects. Amends the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act to: (1) define the term "coastal State" for the purposes of such Act; (2) authorize appropriations in the amount equal to the revenue accruing from taxes relating to sport fishing equipment and certain recreational boats and boating equipment for fiscal year 1980 and each fiscal year thereafter; (3) increase the percentage of the annual appropriation deducted for administrative expenses; (4) eliminate the notification by a State of intent to accept such apportionment funds requirement; (5) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to finance up to 75 percent of the costs of the acquisition of lands or interests therein and the construction of structures or facilities; and (6) permit each State to utilize up to ten percent of its apportionment for an aquatic resource education program. Title II: Tax on Sale of Sport Fishing Equipment and Certain Recreational Boats and Boating Equipment - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to impose a tax on the sale by the manufacturer, producer, or importer of any article of sport fishing equipment, recreational boats, and boating equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the Senate that no office building should be constructed for the Senate after the date on which this resolution is agreed to, other than any office building which is under construction on such date.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1979
Savings and Investment Encouragement Act of 1979 - Title I: Incentives for Individual Saving - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $100 of the interest earned on a savings account. Permits an exclusion of up to $500 for interest which is reinvested in a savings account. Excludes from gross income up to $500 of dividends received which are reinvested in the stock of domestic corporations. Requires that the sum of the adjusted basis of stock in domestic corporations held by the taxpayer plus the amount held in a savings account (investment base) on the last day of a taxable year exceed the investment base of the taxpayer as of the first day of such taxable year, plus the amount of dividends and interest excludible for such taxable year. Title II: Incentives for New Plant and Equipment - Revises the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year. Title III: Incentives for Research and Development - Qualifies research and development expenditures related to a trade or business for the investment tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1979
State Social Security Deposit Act of 1979 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to direct a State to pay to the Secretary of the Treasury, within 30 days following the end of each month, OASDI contributions related to the employment of State employees.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Amends the Department of Justice Appropriation Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1979 to increase the authorization of appropriations for the Federal Bureau of Investigation from $561,341,000 to $564,041,000. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1979 for intelligence-related activities of the FBI in the sum of $2,700,000, in addition to the appropriations authorization under the Intelligence and Intelligence- Related Activities Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the General Crook Trail and the Beale Wagon Road in Arizona and New Mexico as study areas to determine the feasibility of their designation as national historic trails.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1979
Directs the Commissioner of Education to make a grant to Tuskegee Institute to construct a building on the campus in memory of the late General Daniel "Chappie" James. Stipulates that such building shall: (1) contain the papers and memorabilia concerning James; and (2) serve as the Tuskegee Institute Art Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
States that the first 250,000 pieces of an issue of a publication which is eligible for second-class postage shall qualify for a reduced per piece rate currently in effect for presorted mail, regardless of whether such pieces meet weight or volume requirements for the presorted rate (thus extending such rate to small publications).
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Taxpayer Protection and Reimbursement Act - Title I: Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to award reasonable court costs, including attorneys' fees, to the prevailing party (other than the United States or a creditor of the prevailing party) in any civil action in any court of the United States for the determination, collection, or refund of any tax, interest, or penalty imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. Limits the amount of such award to $20,000 for any one civil action. Includes within the definition of "attorneys' fees" amounts paid to an individual who is not an attorney, but who is authorized to practice before the Tax Court. Defines "prevailing party" as a party who recovers all, or all but an insignificant portion of the amount in controversy in a civil tax proceding, or whose position is sustained as to all, or all but an insignificant portion, of the issues involved, and who establishes that the position of the United States in the civil action was unreasonable. Disallows costs and attorneys' fees for certain civil actions involving declaratory judgments. Title II: Amendments to Title 28 - Incorporates into title 28 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the United States Code the amendments set forth in title I of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
United States - Mexico Good Neighbor Act of 1979 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Attorney General to establish a program for the non-immigrant admission of Mexican nationals as temporary workers in the United States. Provides that: (1) the Attorney General shall establish annual and monthly quotas for temporary worker visas; (2) such temporary services or labor shall not exceed 180 days per year; (3) such visas shall not limit the geographic area within which an alien may work unless specific restrictions are requested by the Secretary of Labor in order to protect domestic workers; (4) an alien who violates the 180-day visa limitation or any imposed geographic restriction shall be ineligible for another temporary visa for five years; and (5) an alien who enters the United States illegally shall be ineligible for obtaining a temporary work visa for ten years. Excludes such temporary Mexican workers from the definition of "immigrant" for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Includes such workers within the category of aliens whose non-immigrant status may not be adjusted to that of an immigrant. Prohibits the Attorney General from consenting to the reapplication for admission of any such workers deported from the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish and expand United States Consulates in Mexico in order to implement such temporary worker program. Directs the Secretary of Labor to make the nature of such program known to Mexican nationals residing in the United States. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should establish with Mexico an Advisory Commission on the Mexico-United States Temporary Worker Visa program to advise the Attorney General with regard to such program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that in determining the excess earnings of an individual, any earnings after such individual attains age 65 shall be excluded.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Paperwork and Redtape Reduction Act of 1979 - Title I: Central Management and Control Responsibility - Requires Federal agencies to utilize methods of collecting information which: (1) impose a minimum burden on business; (2) require a minimum cost to the Government; and (3) eliminate any unnecessary duplication of efforts. Establishes, within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Federal Information Management Policy (OFIMP) to have government-wide responsibility for setting policies and coordinating procedures governing the planning, budgeting, management, and control of Federal information management activities and of the measurement of the burdens imposed by such activities on businesses, State and local governments, and individuals. Requires the Administrator of OFIMP to: (1) publish, annually, a report of the burdens imposed by the reporting requirements of each agency; (2) review, at least every three years, the information management activities and the paperwork reduction activities of each agency; (3) establish goals for the reduction of reporting requirements; (4) assist agencies in developing information management programs; (5) recommend policies to Congress, the President, and agencies concerning the confidentiality and security of information; (6) study and develop improved information and paperwork cost accounting and reduction techniques; and (7) promulgate standards concerning recordkeeping requirements imposed on the public. Sets forth procedures which enable the Administrator to designate one agency to collect information for two or more agencies requiring similar data. Prohibits any agency from collecting information which: (1) is collected by a designated agency; or (2) the Administrator determines is unnecessary. Authorizes the Administrator to order the exchange of information among agencies. Requires an agency, before collecting any information, to: (1) eliminate reporting requirements which seek information which is available through another Government source; (2) minimize the compliance burden on respondents; (3) plan the tabulation of the information in a manner which maximizes its usefulness to other agencies; and (4) obtain the Administrator's approval of such collection. Directs the Administrator to approve a collection request within 60 days after its receipt for a period not to exceed two years. Directs the Administrator to report to Congress annually on the activities of OFIMP. Grants access to all records of such Office to the Comptroller General. Requires that formal meetings of OFIMP to establish policies and regulations be open to the public. Specifies conditions under which confidential information may be released from one agency to another. Delegates specified information management duties of the Director of the OMB to the Administrator. Title II: Elimination of Unnecessary Duplication - Establishes, within OFIMP, a Federal 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 for all recordkeeping requirements and all public use, interagency, and intra-agency reports. Directs the Administrator to: (1) design and operate the system; (2) require the head of each agency to insert into the system a synopsis of the questions of each report and the information maintained for each reporting requirement of that agency; (3) compare the information sought by proposed reporting requirements to information in the System; and (4) make available the comparison results to agencies and the public. Requires the Administrator 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 III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the appropriations of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. States that this Act shall take effect 60 days after its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Includes as creditable service for Federal pension purposes, the service of an employee to a Member of Congress during a break in the service of such Member provided: (1) the Member was a presidential candidate and not a congressional candidate at the time the Member was separated from service; (2) such presidential candidate was not elected President; and (3) such employee served such Member for six years before and six years after the break in service and during the entire break.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1979
Fuel Energy Conservation Act of 1979 - Establishes uniform national standards for weight and length of vehicles using the Interstate and Defense Highway System.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Directs that the sorrow and regret felt by the Senate at the announcement of the death of the Honorable Leverett Saltonstall, late a Senator from Massachusetts, be communicated to the House of Representatives and the family of the deceased. Directs the President of the Senate to appoint a committee to attend the funeral. Declares that when the Senate recesses, it does so as a further mark of respect to the deceased.
![Official portrait of Sen. Goldwater, Barry [R-AZ]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000267_200.jpg)