United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1977
Authorizes to be appropriated funds for the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to conduct a study of the potential carcinogenic effects of saccharin. Directs the Secretary to submit a report on such study to the President and the Congress not later than 60 days after the study's completion. Prohibits any ban or restriction on saccharin in interstate commerce by the Secretary or any officer in the executive branch of the Federal Government for a period of three years.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1977
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to provide automobile adaptive equipment to any veteran receiving compensation for ankylosis of one or both knees, or one or both hips, which resulted from any injury incurred or disease contracted in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service during World War II or thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1977
Allows a person holding a patent to any lands under the homestead laws to apply to the Secretary of the Interior for the conveyance to such applicant of any minerals in such lands that were reserved to the United States. Requires the Secretary to convey by quit claim deed to such applicant all mineral interests held by the United States in such lands if he determines such minerals were wrongfully denied to such applicant. Stipulates that such rights be conveyed subject to subsisting mining claims under federal mining laws and to outstanding mineral leases executed by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1977
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation: (1) to study opportunities to augment, utilize or conserve water supplies available to Federal reclamation projects and to undertake conservation activities to mitigate damages to such projects from the 1976-1977 drought period; (2) to purchase water supplies and redistribute such water within Federal reclamation projects; (3) to study and evaluate potential facilities to mitigate the effects of a recurrence of drought and make recommendations to the President and to Congress evaluating such facilities; and (4) to make payments to Federal reclamation project landowners who are without irrigation water supplies to carry out soil conservation measures. Authorizes the Secretary to defer without penalty the 1977 and 1978 payments of any installment charges owed to the United States on Federal reclamation projects as he deems necessary because of financial hardship caused by extreme drought conditions. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress by March 1, 1978, on expenditures under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include within the meaning of the term "hospital" under such Title, rural health facilities of 50 beds or less. Sets forth exceptions to staffing, health, and safety requirements set forth for hospitals in the definition of such term.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make payments from any revenues received by the United States from visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park to the appropriate school district or districts serving that Park as reimbursement for educational facilities furnished by such district to pupils who are dependents of persons employed in connection with such Park and living at or near the Park upon real property of the United States not subject to taxation by the State or local agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Authorizes and requests the President of the United States to designate the week beginning on the Sunday preceding the fourth Thursday in November of each year as "National Family Week."
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the President to review Government revenues and expenditures at specified times and to determine a surtax rate when expenditures exceed revenues to insure that receipts will equal outlays. Authorizes a suspension of such measures in the case of a grave national emergency declared by Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1977
Sugar Act Extension - Amends the Sugar Act of 1948 to reinvest, effective January 1, 1978, the Secretary of Agriculture with the powers granted by such Act, which expired December 31, 1974. Reinstates, as of October 1, 1977, the Secretary's authority to determine an annual estimate of sugar consumption requirements for the continental United States and his authority to establish domestic marketing quotas and foreign import quotas in accordance with such estimate. Sets the new termination date for the Sugar Act as March 31 of the year of termination of the sugar tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate the tax on the manufacture or use of sugar or sugar articles as of December 31, 1977, and sets the termination date of such reinstated tax as June 30 of the first year commencing after the effective date of any law (enacted after the enactment of this Act) which limits Federal payments to sugar producers, or which limits payments with respect to unsold sugar held by a manufacturer on such date or articles composed in chief value of sugar held in customs custody or control on such date.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1977
Declares it the sense of the Senate (1) that the President should obtain removal of the trade impairments placed on dried prunes by the European Economic Community and should seek agreement with the European Economic Community that similar restrictive measures will not be imposed in the future, and (2) that the European Economic Community should be placed on notice that retaliatory measures will be taken if restrictive import regulations are placed on walnuts.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase from one-twelfth of one percent to five-ninths of one percent the increment by which an individual's old-age benefits shall be increased because of delayed retirement beyond age 65.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1977
Regulatory Reform Act - Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan recommending reforms with respect to the regulation of: (1) energy, the environment, housing, and occupational health and safety by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1979; (2) transportation and communications by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1981; (3) banking and finance, international trade, and Government procurement by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1983; and (4) food, consumer health and safety, economic trade practices, and labor- management concerns by specified Federal agencies by April 30, 1985. States that each such plan shall include recommendations for reform of such specified agencies and shall report on the cumulative impact of all Government regulatory activity reviewed, up to that date, on specific industry groupings. States that if the President fails to submit such plans by the specified dates, the Senate and House Committees on Government Operations shall draft their own plans to be submitted to Congress for action. Requires the Comptroller General and the Congressional Budget Office, contemporaneously with the development of the President's plan, to submit a report assessing the purpose, effects, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of each agency included in the plans submitted by the President. States that if no comprehensive regulatory reform legislation is enacted by August 1 of the year following the year in which a comprehensive plan has been submitted by the President, then all agencies affected thereby shall have no authority to issue any new rules not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if such reform is not enacted by October 1 of such year, such agency shall have no authority to enforce any rule not essential for preserving the public health and safety; if no such reform is enacted by December 31 of such year, such agency shall be terminated on such date. States that all rules of such terminated agency essential for preserving the public health and safety shall remain effective and shall be enforced by the Department of Justice. Requires the President to submit subsequent plans in the manner and in the order and frequency set forth by this Act every ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1977
Requires that the Congressional Record for the Senate contain an accurate and verbatim account of remarks actually delivered on the floor together with permitted supporting data. Limits revisions of remarks in the Congressional Record to the correction of grammatical and typographical errors which do not change the meaning, content, or substance of those remarks. Entitles Senators to insert in the Record remarks not actually delivered on the floor. Directs that such insertions be clearly distinguishable from verbatim remarks.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1977
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to allow airlines to offer reduced rate transportation for persons 60 years of age or older and for handicapped individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1977
Federal Employees Flexible and Compressed Work Schedules Act - Requires the Civil Service Commission to develop a three-year comprehensive plan to provide for the establishment of flexible and compressed work schedule experiments within executive agencies. Directs the head of each agency to determine whether or not the implementation of such an experimental program would be in the best interest of the agency. Requires the Chairperson of the Commission to take appropriate action to include any requesting agency in the implementation of the comprehensive plan. Title I: Flexible Scheduling of Work Hours - Permits Federal agencies to conduct one or more experiments to test flexible schedules which include: (1) designated hours and days during which an employee on such a schedule must be present for work; and (2) designated hours during which employees on such a schedule may elect the times of their arrival and departure. Empowers the head of an agency, at the request of an employee participating in a flexible hour program, to grant such employee compensatory time off in lieu of payment of such overtime hours. Disallows, with specified exceptions, the payment of premium pay for night-work to an employee working a flexible hour schedule solely because such employee elects to work optional hours at a time of day for which premium pay is otherwise authorized. Limits the number of optional hours which an employee on a flexible schedule may accumulate for carryover from a biweekly pay period to the succeeding biweekly pay period. Title II: Four-day Week and Other Compressed Work Schedules - Permits agencies to conduct one or more experiments to test a four-day workweek or other compressed schedules. Details provisions relating to the payment or overtime pay, Sunday pay, and holiday pay to individuals working such a schedule. Title III: Administrative Provisions - Prohibits the inclusion within any experiment under Titles I or II of this Act of employees within a unit with respect to which an organization of government employees has been accorded exclusive recognition except to the extent expressly provided under a written agreement between the agency and such organization. Prohibits the intimidation or coercion of other employees who are participating in an experiment under Titles I or II with respect to their rights under this Act. Sets forth reporting requirements for the Commission with respect to programs carried out under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1977
Consumer Communications Reform Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the authorization of lines, facilities, or services of specialized carriers which duplicate the lines, facilities, or services of other telecommunications common carriers is contrary to the public interest. Reaffirms the intent of Congress that the complete authority to regulate terminal and station equipment used for telephone exchange service shall rest with the States even though such terminal and station equipment also may be used in connection with interstate services. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that no compensatory charges for or in connection with such communication service may be found to be unjust or unreasonable on the ground that it is too low. Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from holding the charge of a carrier up to a particular level to protect the traffic or revenues from a communication service offered or provided by another carrier if such charge proposed by the carrier is compensatory. Provides that the Commission shall not grant or authorize any construction permit, license, or certificate for the construction, acquisition, or operation of any communication or transmission line or facility, or extension thereof, or any modification or renewal thereof, unless the Commission shall find, after full opportunity for evidentiary hearing on the record, that such permit, license, or certificate, will not result in increased charges or unnecessary duplication of communication lines.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1977
Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for optometric and medical vision care under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1977
Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to make the provisions, formerly applicable to persons between 40 and 65 years of age, applicable to anyone 40 years of age or older.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1977
Youth Employment Act -- Amends the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act to authorize the Secretary of Labor to provide financial assistance to prime sponsors, under the comprehensive manpower services provisions of such Act, certain counties, and Indian tribal groups for comprehensive manpower services for economically disadvantaged, unemployed, and underemployed youths age 14- 24. Makes eligible for a bonus payment prime sponsors which engaged, in the year prior to applying for assistance under this Act, in a cooperative education or training project with a local or State education agency. Repeals provisions under which assistance is presently provided for part time and summer employment of disadvantaged youths.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1977
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act - Title I: National Park System - Designates specified public lands in the state of Alaska to be included as units of the National Park System. Title II: National Wildlife Refuge System - Establishes specified areas in Alaska as units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Title III: National Wild and Scenic Rivers System - Lists rivers in Alaska which shall be wild rivers for purposes of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Title IV: National Forest System - Authorizes the President to add specified lands to the Tongass and Chugach National Forest in Alaska. Title V: National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska in such a manner as to preserve subsistence lands for natives and to promote specified conservation objectives. Title VI: Designation of Wilderness Areas - Designates specified Alaskan lands to be included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Title VII: General Administrative Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to designate subsistence management zones and to establish regulatory subsistence boards to further the preservation of subsistence lands for natives. Makes additional administrative provisions. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1977
Extends up to three years the delimiting period of educational benefits paid by the Veterans' Administration to any veteran who was enrolled as a full-time student pursuing an approved course of education when his eligibility expired, or was enrolled as a part-time student receiving educational benefits, a loan or compensation under a program provided for in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1977
States that no Federal court shall have jurisdiction to enter any decree which would require the transportation of any student or teacher to achieve racial desegregation of any school or school system. Vests the jurisdiction terminated by this Act in the State courts and in the case of the District of Columbia and any territory or possession of the United States in such Federal court exercising essentially local jurisdiction in such area. Grants the United States Supreme Court the power to review any school assignment orders of the highest State court or territorial court exercising jurisdiction over such a case. Sets aside any Federal court order with respect to school assignment to achieve racial desegregation that is in effect on the day before enactment of this Act. Directs the appropriate State or territorial court to assure jurisdiction any such case and enter an order for appropriate remedial relief.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1977
Amends Title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to require the appointment of an optometrist to the National Professional Standards Review Council and the participation by optometrists in the activities of local professional standards review organizations pursuant to the requirements of such title.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1977
Disapproves the recommendations of the President transmitted to Congress pursuant to the Federal Salary Act of 1967 recommending rates of pay for (1) Members of Congress and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, (2) certain positions in the legislative branch, (3) specified judicial personnel, and (4) certain positions under the Executive Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the filing of an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 upon the designation by any Federal department or agency of any areas as critical habitats of endangered or threatened species.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to redefine the term "navigable waters" as it applies to permits for dredged or fill material as required by the Act. Allows the discharge of dredged or fill materials without a permit in waters other than navigable waters and adjacent wetlands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engineers, to enter into agreements with States to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters other than navigable waters and in wetlands other than adjacent wetlands. Exempts farming, silviculture, ranching, forestry and specified construction activities from permit requirements with respect to discharges of dredged or fill material. Stipulates that Federal projects shall be exempt only if the effects of such discharges have been assessed pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engineers, to delegate authority over dredged and fill material in adjacent wetlands to the States.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1977
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to authorize the establishment of citizen advisory committees to advise and make recommendations on additional components to the national wild and scenic rivers system.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Title I: Meat and Meat Products - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to require meat imports to be labeled as imports and to be subjected to tests regarding substances or levels of substances prohibited in any domestically produced animal. Title II: Dairy Products - Prohibits the importation of dairy products unless the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare certifies that such imports originated from pure and wholesome supplies and were manufactured in plants which comply with certain minimum standards of sanitation. Makes such products subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act after entry into the United States. Permits assessments and fees to be prescribed for such tests and inspections and the revocation of import privileges for failure to pay such fees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Makes it unlawful for any individual or entity to solicit to enroll or enroll any member of the armed forces in any labor organization or for any member to encourage others to join or to actively support any military labor organization. Sets forth penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Amends the Wilderness Act to designate the following lands within the National Park System as wilderness: Big Bend National Park, Texas (Title I); Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (Title II); Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico (Title III); Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah (Title IV); Colorado National Monument, Colorado (Title V); Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (Title VI); Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky (Title VII); Death Valley National Monument, California and Nevada (Title VIII); Dinosaur National Monument, Utah and Colorado (Title IX); Everglades National Park, Florida (Title X); Glacier National Park, Montana (Title XI); Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (Title XII); Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina (Title XIII); Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas (Title XIV); Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii (Title XV); Katmsi National Monument, Alaska (Title XVI); Mount Rainier National Park, Washington (Title XVII); North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas, Washington (Title XVIII); Olympic National Park, Washington (Title XIX); Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona (Title XX); Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (Title XXI); Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks, California (Title XXII); Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park, North Dakota (Title XXIII); Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming (Title XXIV); Yosemite National Park, California (Title XXV); Zion National Park, Utah (Title XXVI).
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Disapproves the recommendations of the President transmitted to Congress pursuant to the Federal Salary Act of 1967 recommending rates of pay for (1) Members of Congress and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, (2) certain positions in the legislative branch, (3) specified judicial personnel, and (4) certain positions under the Executive Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1977
Recognizes the outstanding contributions made by President Ford to this Nation and commends him for the manner and integrity with which he carried out his responsibilities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to include in the term "fresh, chilled, or frozen" any meat on which preparation or preservation must be completed in the United States, its territories or possessions.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Extends the time period for certain oil and gas leases committed to a specified development plan until July 23, 1981. Stipulates that such extension shall cease to apply to leases where diligent drilling operations are not diligently prosecuted so as to produce oil or gas in sufficient quantities, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish acreage limitations in excess of 160 acres under Federal reclamation laws for lands of lesser productive potential. Authorizes the Secretary to amend existing contracts to conform to the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Deems service as a member of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots as active duty for the purposes of all laws administered by the Veterans' Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Amends the policy of Congress to restrict to 750,000,000 pounds the annual aggregate importation of fresh, chilled, or frozen beef, goat, or sheep meat after December 31, 1974. Prescribes a formula for adjustment of such quota. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate such quota among supplying countries according to certain criteria.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Comprehensive Health Care Insurance Act - Requires every employer to offer each of his employees and their families qualified health care insurance. States that such coverage shall be optional with the employee. Requires an employer to contribute to the cost of such coverage for the benefit of an electing employee and his family at least 65 percent of the premium, with the employee contributing the balance. Establishes, for low-income employees, a program of certificates of entitlement or income tax credit in the amount by which the portion of the premium payable by such an employee exceeds the premium for which he would be liable under the program of health insurance for the unemployed or self-employed as established by this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring suit to compel an employer to comply with the provisions of this Act. Stipulates that employers experiencing substantial increases in payroll cost due to the provisions of this Act will be entitled to a cash payment by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare or a credit against income tax. States that premiums for employee groups of one to 100 persons and self-employed persons shall not exceed 125 percent of the estimated average in the State of the annual premium for employee groups of more than 100 persons. Sets forth a plan of health insurance providing hospital, medical, dental, and other health care services for non-employed and self-employed individuals and their families. Establishes, as a means of implementing such plan, a program of certificates of entitlement issued by the Secretary and credits against income tax for the premium for qualified health care insurance. States that the amount of Federal participation shall be related to the income of the individual or family, the Secretary to pay the full premium for those whose annual income are insufficient to create income tax liability, and to pay a gradually smaller proportion of the premium for others in relation to increasing amounts of income tax liability. Provides qualified health care insurance for an individual or family with no tax liability for the base year. Stipulates that the premium rate to be charged for a qualified health care insurance policy offered under such plan for any year shall in no case exceed 125 percent of the estimated average of premiums paid in the State for qualified health care insurance for groups of employees with more than 100 members. Excludes from qualified health care insurance coverage payment for stipulated items, including: (1) personal comfort items; (2) eyeglasses, hearing aids, or orthopedic shoes; and (3) private room inpatient hospital accommodations. Limits the aggregate amount of expenditures for catastrophic illness expenses. Sets forth requirements which must be met by qualified health care insurance plans. Establishes the Federal Health Insurance Redemption Fund. Authorizes appropriations to the fund of amounts equal to the aggregate amount of premiums paid under this Act. Requires carriers offering qualified health care insurance policies to participate in an assigned-risk pool which may be established in such State by the State insurance department or by such agency as may be authorized by the State. Establishes a Health Insurance Advisory Board to: (1) prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act; (2) establish minimum Federal standards for the use of State insurance departments in determining whether an insurance company and plan are qualified under this Act; (3) in consultation with carriers, providers of services, and consumers, plan, review, and develop, where necessary, programs whose purposes are to provide for maintaining the quality of medical care; and (4) review the effectiveness of the program established by this Act. Stipulates that individuals collecting unemployment compensation are eligible for coverage under this Act, unless covered through an employed member of his family. Permits an income tax credit for premiums paid for qualified insurance plans under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Amends rule XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate to require that substitute conferees be appointed and that such appointments be announced on the Senate floor and printed in the Senate Calendar of Business before such newly appointed members are permitted to participate or vote in the committee of conference.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Amends rule XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate to require the Presiding Officer, in appointing Senate conferees to a committee of conference on matters which have been considered by more than one Senate committee, to consider the recommendations of the majority leader, minority leader, and the chairman and ranking minority member of each such committee.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Amends rule XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate to establish procedures to permit the conduct of business by the Senate conferees of a committee of conference when the number of such conferees does not constitute a majority of the appointed Senate conferees. States that a majority of the appointed Senate conferees must be present to agree on the final text of a conference report.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Amends rule XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate to require that Senate conferees be furnished with a written text of a motion, or a written explanation of the substantive effect of the motion, prior to consideration of the motion by a conference committee.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1977
Declares it the sense of the Congress that the United States should oppose United Nations membership of Vietnam and deny diplomatic recognition to Vietnam until that country cooperates in securing a satisfactory accounting of Americans missing in action and unaccounted for in the territory under Vietnamese control.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Medicare-Medicaid Anti-Fraud and Abuse Amendments - Amends Titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require that Medicare and Medicaid payments be made directly to the physician or other person providing the service involved. Allows payment in accordance with an assignment from the person or institution providing care or service if such assignment is made to a governmental agency or entity or is established by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction or to an agent of such person or institution if the agency does so pursuant to an agency agreement under which the compensation to be paid to the agency for his services or in connection with the billing or collection of payments due such person or institution under the plan is unrelated to the amount of such payments or the billings thereof, and is not dependent upon the actual collection of any such payment. States that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall by regulation (or by contract provision) provide that any entity (other than a public agency) which is a provider or supplier that furnishes or arranges for the furnishing of items or services with respect to which payment is claimed under Title XVIII, Title V (Maternal and Child Welfare), or under Title XIX of the Social Security Act to a party to an agreement with the Secretary under such titles shall promptly comply with any request, specifically addressed to that entity by the Secretary or the Comptroller General of the United States, for information concerning ownership, control, or costs of such entities. Increases the maximum penalty for defrauding the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Authorizes the Comptroller General of the United States to sign and issue subpoenas for the purpose of any audit, investigation, examination, analysis, review, evaluation, or other function authorized by law with respect to any program authorized under this Act. Requires the Secretary to suspend any physician or practitioner from participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs whenever such individual is convicted of a criminal offense related to their involvement in such programs. Conditions participation in or certification or recertification under the programs established by titles XVIII, XIX, and XX (Grants to States for Services) upon disclosure of the name of any person who: (1) has a direct or indirect ownership or control interest of five percent or more in such provider, institution, organization, or agency; and (2) has been convicted of a criminal offense related to the involvement of such person in any of such programs. Prohibits expenditure under the Medicaid plan to the extent that any agency, organization, or other person (other than a member of the individual's family) would have been obligated by a State law or contract to provide such care or services but for a provision of the State law or contract which limits or excludes such obligation because the individual is eligible for or receives care or services under the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Occupational Safety and Health Amendments - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to exclude from the definition of employer any person engaged in interstate commerce who employs less than 25 man-years of labor. States that the Secretary of Labor shall not propose any rule promulgating a new occupational health or safety standard before he: (1) has, as part of each such proposal, reviewed and published in the Federal Register the financial impact of such proposed standard; and (2) has determined with due regard for that impact that the benefit to be derived from such standard justifies such proposal. Provides that no standard adopted or promulgated shall require any employer to phase out, change, or replace existing equipment or facilities before the normal useful life of that equipment or facility has expired unless failure to so phase out, change, or replace that equipment or facility prematurely would result in a serious violation. Sets forth requirements with respect to notifying an employer of violations of the requirements prescribed pursuant to this Act. States that any employer who has been found to be not in compliance with any rule or standard adopted or promulgated under this Act shall not receive a notice for such violation if he is able to show: (1) that implementing such rule or standard would not materially affect the safety or health of his employees in the facility inspected; (2) that he has employed alternative procedures to protect his employees from the hazards contemplated by the rule or standard which are as effective in protecting the safety and health of his employees; (3) that he has furnished adequate notice and exerted all reasonable efforts, pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, to obtain the compliance of his employees, that such violation was attributable to such employees, and that he could not otherwise have reasonably prevented such violation; or (4) that the condition or process constituting such violation was created or maintained pursuant to a suggestion of the Secretary or his representative made to correct a previous violation. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, to make visits to the work place of any employer, upon the request of the employer, to consult with and advise the employer concerning the obligations of the employer under such Act. Directs the Secretary to give priority to small business and hazardous work places. Stipulates that no consultative visit made under this Act may serve as an inspection or investigation as otherwise provided for by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, except: (1) in the case of an employer who fails to eliminate a danger disclosed during such a visit; or (2) if conditions are found during such a visit which indicate the probability that death or serious harm could result to employees therefrom, the Secretary may notify the employer of such conditions and afford him a reasonable time to eliminate such conditions. Prohibits the transmission of information obtained during a consultative visit to representatives of the Secretary engaged in enforcement except in specified circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to exclude from the definition of employer any agricultural employer who employs less than 12 man-years of compensated agricultural labor during the calendar year. Includes within the term agricultural employer persons employing the operating crews of combine machines used in the harvesting of grain, if such activity affects interstate commerce.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hansen, Clifford P. [R-WY]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000170_200.jpg)