United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1977
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior should impose a moratorium with respect to any increase in the charges currently being made for grazing livestock on public lands for such a period as may be necessary to permit the appropriate committees of the Congress a reasonable opportunity to hold hearings on the proposed new formula.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1977
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development should not implement the proposed reorganization of the field and insuring offices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development prior to the time when the appropriate committees of the Congress have had an opportunity to hold hearings on such reorganization.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1977
States that during the year following the enactment of this Act the Secretary of the Interior shall neither withhold water delivery from any beneficiary of a Federal reclamation project nor initiate any proceeding intended to require the sale of privately owned bonds within any project, for purposes of achieving conformity with acreage limitations or residency requirements of reclamation law. Prohibits the Secretary from approving the sale of excess lands during the year following the enactment of this Act unless final excess land regulation become effective.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1977
Directs the President to instruct the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations to initiate negotiations with Japan and the European Economic Community to achieve orderly marketing agreements resulting in a reduction in steel imports.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1977
Designates the South Portal Federal Office Building of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare at 200 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, D. C., as the "Hubert H. Humphrey Building."
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1977
Tuition Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit against an individual's income tax in an amount equal to 50 percent of the sum of the amounts paid by him to educational institutions as tuition (though no more than $500 for any single individual) for the attendance of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or any of his dependents with respect to whom he is entitled to a personal exemption.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) remove the adjusted gross income limitation on the credit for the elderly; (2) increase the amount of the credit; and (3) provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1977
Explosive Materials Taggant Act - Prohibits, after three years following the enactment of this Act, (1) any licensee or permittee from manufacturing importing, or otherwise placing or receiving in commerce any explosive, or (2) any person from placing or receiving in commerce any explosive sold as military surplus, unless such substance contains a material which permits identification of the manufacturer and date of manufacture after detonation and a material which permits detection of the substance prior to detonation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1977
Regulatory Reduction and Congressional Control Act - Requires any rule promulgated by a Federal agency to be submitted to Congress accompanied by: (1) an economic impact analysis disclosing the costs and benefits expected to result from such rule; (2) a paperwork impact analysis disclosing the information-gathering requirements and the nature and number of records persons will be required to keep under such rule; and (3) a judicial impact analysis disclosing the probable consequences of such rule on the operation, work load, and efficiency of the Federal courts. Permits such rules having specified penalties or economic impacts to become effective only if approved by both Houses of Congress. Permits other rules to become effective if not disapproved by either House within 60 days of promulgation. Limits the life of any such rule to five years, after which time it must be rejustified or repromulgated.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1977
Grants survivor benefits to dependents of present or former members of the armed forces who die before becoming entitled to retired pay for non-regular service. Stipulates that such amount be 55 percent of the retired pay to which such member would have been entitled. Adds 10 U.S.C. 1448(e).
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1977
Regulatory Flexibility Act - Requires Federal agencies to: (1) assess the costs of private information collection and compliance which are or would be imposed by existing or proposed agency rules; (2) compare such impositions with the importance of the public policy achieved or to be achieved by such rules; and (3) determine whether such rules should apply to the same extent to individuals, and organizations of various sizes and resources. Requires, in the event that it is determined that such proposed rules, will have a substantial effect on any significant number of small businesses, that such rules be submitted to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Requires such Office to comment on the impact of such proposed rules on smaller enterprises. Requires such comments to be made public and available to Federal personnel responsible for reviewing such rules. Directs that proposed rules be issued in two or more parts when the analysis of such rules indicates the desirability of applying varying requirements for performance or reporting depending on the resources of the organization or individual required to comply with such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1977
Amends Title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require States having agreements for coverage of their employees under the system of insurance established by such Title to make payments and reports on a calendar-quarter basis.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1977
State Cost Control Plan for Hospitals Act - Title I: State Hospital Cost Control Plan - Declares that each State desiring to conduct a hospital cost containment plan shall submit such a plan to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for approval. Directs the Secretary to approve a State plan which meets criteria set forth in this Act including: (1) the establishment of a hospital review commission with the authority to supervise the administration of the plan; and (2) the establishment of an advisory council with the duty of reviewing and commenting on the operation of the hospital review commission and acting on appeals of commission decisions. Directs the Secretary to pay to any State which has a qualified hospital cost control plan which went into effect after July 1, 1977, an amount equal to 100 percent of the reasonable amounts expended by the State for the administration of the State's hospital review commission and its advisory council. Requires each State hospital review commission to file annually with the Secretary a report on the level of rates of institutional reimbursement approved under the State plan. Title II: Coordination with Health Planning and Peer Review Activities - Directs each State hospital review commission to review the expenditures of a health care institution for financing costs and depreciation relating to prior capital expenditures. Requires such a commission to disapprove any such expenditures made for services, equipment, and facilities which required but were denied a certificate-of-need pursuant to the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act. Amends Title XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review) of the Social Security Act to direct that the expenses of Professional Standards Review Organizations be passed on to the providers whose services are reviewed. Title III: Federal Hospital Cost Containment Program - Directs that the average reimbursement paid to a hospital for inpatient services under Titles V (Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Services), XVIII (Medicare), and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, and the average charges imposed by a hospital for inpatient services may not exceed the base inpatient hospital revenue per inpatient admission as established pursuant to this Act, by a specified percentage. Sets forth formulas by which determinations of inpatient care costs shall be calculated for the purposes of this Act. Sets forth conditions under which the Secretary may grant exceptions from the limits established under this Act. Subjects any hospital granted an exception from the cost limits imposed by this Act to an operational review by the Secretary. Grants any hospital which is adversely affected by a determination of the Secretary in connection with the application or granting of an exception the right to a hearing before the Provider Reimbursement Review Board established under the Medicare program if the amount in controversy is $25,000 or more. Directs the Secretary to appoint five additional members to such Board for the purpose of reviewing appeals under this Title. Subjects hospitals or cost payers which receive reimbursement in excess of levels permitted under this Title to : (1) a Federal excise tax established by this Act; and (2) exclusion from participation in any of the programs established under the Medicaid, Medicare, or Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Services programs of the Social Security Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to impose an excise tax on payments received for inpatient hospital services in excess of the limits established by this Act. Directs the Secretary, for the purpose of obtaining information on costs which can be used in planning and measuring the efficiency of various types of health services facilities and organizations, to establish for each such type of organization, a uniform system for the reporting of information. Title IV: Limitation on Hospital Capital Expenditures - Amends Title XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review) of the Social Security Act to assure that Federal funds appropriated under Titles V, XVIII, and XIX of such Act are not used to support capital expenditures for inpatient hospital services, and are used only to support expenditures for other health services which are determined to be necessary through the health service and facilities planning activities in the various States. Title V: Revisions of Title XV of the Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to define as surplus any institutional health service found to be unneeded according to the standards applied in determining whether a proposed new service shall be granted a certificate of need. Declares that any such service declared surplus shall be considered as though it had been denied a certificate-of-need. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions which have discontinued health services pursuant to a determination that such services were surplus. Limits the amount of such grant to the amount of debt incurred by the institution in developing the service declared surplus which remains outstanding.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1977
National Crude Oil Supply and Transportation Act - Expresses the intent of Congress that the continuation of a transportation system to deliver Alaskan crude oil to Northern Tier or inland States be accomplished through expedited administrative procedures. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a time schedule for the completion of required environmental impact statements in order to select a crude oil transportation system by February 1, 1978. Establishes criteria to be considered by the Secretary in selecting a transportation route. Directs the Secretary and other appropriate Federal officials to take all actions necessary to provide rights of way, permits, leases, and other authorizations necessary for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the transportation system approved under this Act. Declares that the actions of Federal officers and agencies under this Act shall not be subject to judicial review by the courts. Allows for claims that: (1) actions under this Act will deny Constitutional rights; and (2) actions taken are beyond the scope of authority conferred by this Act, provided that such claims are filed within 60 days following the date of the challenged action. Vests exclusive jurisdiction to hear such claims in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, acting as a special court. Stipulates that any judicial proceedings should be completed at the earliest possible date. Declares that nothing in this Act shall authorize or imply an exemption from provisions of the antitrust laws.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1977
Employee Bill of Rights Act - Amends the Congressional findings and policies declared in the National Labor Relations Act. Stipulates that only bargaining representatives who are chosen by secret ballot may be deemed exclusive representatives with whom employers have a duty to bargain collectively. Deems it an unfair labor practice for a labor organization to threaten or impose any fine or other economic sanction against any person in the exercise of rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Permits a labor organization, employer, or ten percent of the members of the appropriate bargaining unit to request a referendum regarding a potential or existing strike. Deems it an unfair labor practice for a labor organization to call or maintain a strike if a majority of employees voting in such a referendum vote not strike or if such a referendum is requested before a strike begins and the results have not yet been certified. Provides that if an employer, labor organization, or group of employees submit a dispute to binding arbitration under an existing collective bargaining agreement, or have agreed to submit, arbitration shall be the exclusive forum and no unfair labor practice proceeding involving the same subject matter may be instituted before the National Labor Relations Board unless determinations of such arbitration are inconsistent with rights granted under the National Labor Relations Act. Permits any member of a religion , body, or sect which has traditionally objected to membership in and financial support of labor organizations to refrain from joining or supporting a union. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to prohibit use of any procedure by which union dues and other assessments are deducted from employees paychecks in soliciting and collecting contributions for a segregated campaign fund.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1977
Legal Fees Reimbursement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the reimbursement of all of a taxpayer's reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys' fees, in any legal action commenced by the Government, or any action instituted by a taxpayer contesting the accuracy of a deficiency assessment or claiming a refund, in which the taxpayer substantially prevails, or the Government withdraws.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1977
Amends the Federal Power Act to establish revised procedures for the approval of proposed changes in utility rate schedules or charges by the Federal Power Commission. Directs the Commission to conduct preliminary hearings prior to issuance of temporary orders on the lawfulness of such proposed schedules. Stipulates that increased rates made immediately effective which are later found to be unjustified shall be refunded to customers. Prohibits public utilities from filing proposed schedules for rate increases while similar proposals are pending before the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1977
Federal Officials' Antidefamation Act - Renders a person who with actual malice, makes a false and defamatory communication concerning a Federal official liable for damages in a Federal court defamation suit.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1977
Amends Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to make benefits under such Title payable to a resident alien only if such alien has continuously resided in the United States for at least five years. Exempts from such residency requirement a resident alien whose blindness or disability commenced after the date of his admission.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1977
Postal Reorganization Act Amendments - Changes the organizational structure of the United States Postal Service by: (1) naming the Postmaster General chief executive officer and vesting in the Postmaster General the powers formerly held by the Board of Governors; (2) revising the procedures for adjustment of rates and services whereby the Postal Service is authorized to request the Congress to authorize appropriations to defray the estimated costs of the Postal Rate Commission, or to propose a change in the nature of postal services; (3) requiring that all proposed capital investments by the Postal Service be reviewed by the Post Office and Civil Service Committee of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and (4) requiring the Postal Rate Commission to submit to the President annually a separate budget for its operating expenses. Prohibits reducing the frequency of mail delivery service below the frequency which was in effect on April 21, 1977. Prohibits the closing between March 15, 1977, and December 31, 1979 of specified post offices regularly serving 35 or more families. Permits the closing of smaller post offices during such period only with the written consent of 60 percent of the regular postal patrons at least 18 years of age.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1977
Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to repeal provisions allowing an employer and a labor organization to enter into an agreement to require membership in such organization as a condition of employment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1977
Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act - Prohibits the sexual exploitation of children by making it unlawful for any person to knowingly use or cause any minor to engage in or assist in any sexual act for the purpose of promoting any film, photograph or other visual medium. Makes it unlawful for any parent, guardian or person having control over a minor to knowingly permit such minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Imposes a fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to ten years for a violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1977
Grants a Federal charter to the National Ski Patrol System, Incorporated. Declares that the purpose of such corporation is to promote public safety in skiing.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1977
Authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, and $5,000,000 for each of the four succeeding fiscal years for grants to the States for the establishment and expansion of veterans cemeteries owned by the States. Sets forth the conditions under which grants may be made to the States under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to make payments, for the calendar year 1978 and each calendar year thereafter, to the States for the interment of veterans and for the maintenance of State veterans' cemeteries. Requires the Administrator to conduct biennial surveys to determine the reasonable cost of interment and perpetual care maintenance for the purposes of payment under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1977
Amends the Small Business Act to establish the position of Associate Administrator for Women's Business Enterprise within the Small Business Administration. Lists among the duties of such Administrator: (1) increasing participation of women in Small Business Administration programs; and (2) reporting to the Administrator on proposals for implementing policy objectives.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1977
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Congress to assure that the total outlays of the Government, during any fiscal year, do not exceed the total receipts of the Government during such fiscal year. States that by the fourth fiscal year after the ratification of this amendment the budget shall be balanced. Permits expenditures to exceed national revenues in time of declared emergency, but states that such expenditures shall never exceed receipts by more than ten percent. Provides that during the fifth fiscal year thereafter, the total receipts of the Government shall exceed outlays by an amount equal to five percent of the Federal indebtedness at the beginning of the fifth fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1977
Requires that a separate sentencing hearing be held when a defendant is found guilty of, or pleads guilty to, an offense for which one of the possible sentences is death. Sets forth procedures for such hearings. Directs imposition of the death sentence where the jury or, upon approval by the court and the Government of a defense motion, the court alone finds that aggravating circumstances exist and outweigh any mitigating factors. Includes among mitigating factors (1) significant impairment of capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of the conduct constituting the offense or to conform to the requirements of law; (2) youthfulness; and (3) substantial duress. Includes among aggravating factors (1) commission of the offense during the commission or attempted commission of one of enumerated crimes; (2) previous conviction of a Federal offense or of one of certain State offenses for which a sentence of life imprisonment or of death is authorized; (3) previous conviction of two or more violent felonies; (4) commission of the offense in any usually cruel manner or for consideration, and (5) commission of the offense against one of specified Federal or foreign officials. Prohibits the carrying out of a death sentence on a pregnant woman. Authorizes the imposition of a death sentence upon a person for gathering or delivering defense information to aid a foreign government only when specified weapon or defense systems are involved. Sets forth procedures and standards for court of appeal review of death sentences. Excludes from the procedures set forth in this Act prosecutions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1977
Denies veterans' benefits to an individual whose discharge from military service during the Vietnam era under less than honorable conditions is administratively upgraded, under temporarily revised standards, to discharge under honorable conditions; but only when such veteran's claim for benefits is based solely on such upgraded discharge.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1977
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to prevent any rule or regulation concerning public lands and national forest lands including their management, rise, and protection, from taking effect until the expiration of 90 days after the issuance of such rule and then only if Congress has not adopted a concurrent resolution of disapproval.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1977
Authorizes and directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to develop regulations permitting the payment of up to 50 percent of the amount due the Federal Government from grazing permitees in the form of range improvement work.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1977
Federal Aid in Nongame Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to State nongame fish and wildlife conservation programs. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer personnel, equipment, and scientific information to carry out this Act. Sets forth the formula for the apportionment of revenue to the States and limitations upon administrative expenses of the Secretary and the States chargeable to the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fund. Permits any amount apportioned to a State but not expended or obligated after two fiscal years to be used by the Secretary to assist such programs in other States. Permits any such amount not paid or obligated by the Secretary at the end of two fiscal years to be made available for any nongame fish and wildlife resource project of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Directs all Federal departments and agencies to coordinate their programs with nongame fish and wildlife conservation projects administered by the States. Directs each Federal department and agency with management authority over land and water resources (1) to determine which programs under its authority may be extended to include conservation of nongame fish and wildlife species, (2) to notify the appropriate State agency of any such affirmative determination, and (3) to cooperate with the establishment of conservation agreements with State agencies for such efforts. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 1980 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide that any employer who successfully contests a citation or penalty under such Act shall be awarded a reasonable attorney's fee and other reasonable litigation costs.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the minimum amounts of winnings from bingo, keno and slot machines which entail tax reporting requirements for the payors.
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 · 17 March 1977
Amends Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to decrease from 72 to 65 the age at which earning limitations are no longer applicable. Sets a schedule for such reduction by reducing the applicable age by one year every year through taxable years ending in 1984.
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
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the University of Nevada title of the United States to specified tracts of land to be used for the establishment and operation of a rangeland research station and for the conduct of associated experimental range management and improvement programs. Requires such conveyance to be subject to reservation of the United States of all minerals and prospecting rights.
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 and directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) improve and extend the existing irrigation system; (2) make loans to the Paiute and Shoshone Tribes for land subjugation purposes; and (3) make grants to such tribes for the development and implementation of plans for efficient use of irrigated reservation lands. Declares that all right, title, and interest of the United States in approximately 2,640 acres are hereby held by the United States in trust for the Paiute-Shoshone Tribes of the Fallon Indian Reservation, Nevada. Entitles the Tribes to the revenues reserved by the United States from specified uses of such land. Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer the right to the use of water appurtenant to other lands within the Reservation to the lands held in trust under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1977
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that tax liens shall not be valid unless the fact of filing is entered and recorded in a public index at the State or local office where the notice is filed.
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."
![Official portrait of Sen. Laxalt, Paul D. [R-NV]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/l000148_200.jpg)