United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Regulatory Reduction and Congressional Control Act - Requires each Federal agency upon publication of each proposed and final rule to prepare, publish, and submit to Congress and the Comptroller General: (1) a statement of the need of the rule; and (2) a preliminary analysis of the economic impact of the rule. Requires, with respect to proposed major and final rules, as such rules are defined in this Act: (1) an economic impact statement disclosing the costs and benefits expected to result from the rule; (2) estimates of the paperwork requirements imposed by the rule; (3) estimates of the effects of the rule on the operation, workload, and efficiency of the Federal courts; and (4) an index of all other rules pertaining to the same subject matter. Makes it the responsibility of the Administrator of General Services to enforce prompt publication of such material. Authorizes the appropriate committees of Congress to review any such rule to determine whether it is economical and consistent with existing law and congressional intent. States that any such rule shall not become effective if it is disapproved within 60 days by one House of Congress and no action is taken on the disapproval resolution by the other House. Provides that either House of Congress may, by resolution, require any agency to reconsider and resubmit any rule to which this Act applies. Requires that such proposed rule be repromulgated anew in accordance with all the provisions of this Act unless it is reconsidered and resubmitted to Congress within 210 days after the adoption of the resolution requiring such reconsideration. Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) determine whether benefits of each rule exceed the costs; (2) determine the accuracy of each economic impact statement; (3) report its findings to Congress; and (4) develop, in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the methods of preparing the preliminary analysis and economic impact statement. Requires each agency to transmit to Congress an annual report of the total costs of the public of complying with that agency's rules.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual and corporate taxpayers to elect to treat certain reforestation expenditures as not chargeable to capital account in order to qualify them as an income tax deduction, limited to $10,000 annually. Denies such deduction for any amount reimbursed under specified Federal reforestation and timber stand improvement cost sharing programs. Establishes in the United States Treasury a Reforestation Trust Fund, whose moneys shall be paid to the Secretary of Agriculture in order to meet obligations incurred in eliminating and preventing a backlog in the reforestation of the National Forest System, but only to the extent such obligations exceed amounts appropriated under any other provision of law. Authorizes the annual appropriation of not to exceed $30,000,000 for such Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Save Our Schools Act of 1979 - Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from implementing a proposed revenue procedure entitled, "Proposed Revenue Procedure on Private Tax-Exempt Schools," or any other guidelines for determining whether private schools have forfeited their tax-exempt status through the adoption of racially discriminatory policies, during the period beginning with the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment for specified services performed by chiropractors, including x-rays and physical examinations, and related routine laboratory tests.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain individuals to compute the amount of the income tax deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1979
Provides that, in accordance with the separation of powers under the Constitution, the President should not unilaterally take any action abrogating or affecting the validity of any of the security treaties comprising the post-World War II complex of treaties, including mutual defense treaties, without the advice and consent of the Senate or approval of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
National Ski Patrol System Recognition Act of 1979 - Grants a Federal charter to the National Ski Patrol System. Declares that the purpose of such corporation shall be to promote public safety in skiing.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Sunset Act of 1979 - Title I: Reauthorizations of Government Programs - Sets forth a ten-year schedule for reauthorization of all Federal programs according to budget function and subfunction as set forth in the Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 1979. Sets forth the procedure in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the consideration of any bill, resolution, or amendment which authorizes new budget authority. States that it is not in order for either House to consider any legislation which authorizes the enactment of new budget authority for a program for a period of more than ten years, for an indefinite period, or for any fiscal year beginning after the next reauthorization date applicable to such program. Provides that before the Congress can appropriate funds for any program, after its first reauthorization date, there must be a specific authorization in law to support the appropriation. Requires the committees of the Senate and House of Representatives to conduct a sunset review of programs during the Congress in which such programs are scheduled for review. Requires that the report accompanying such reauthorization contain specified information, and that the report be completed during the Congress in which the program is scheduled for reauthorization. Exempts from the requirements of this Act specified programs such as interest on Federal debts, health care services, general retirement and disability payments, as well as litigation activities which have as their objectives the protection and implementation of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and specified retirement pay and benefits. Allows the reauthorization schedule set forth in this Act to be changed by concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress and sets forth the procedure for such change. Requires all legislation and other matters related to changes in the dates for programs under this Act to be referred to the committee with legislative jurisdiction over any program affected by the proposal and, sequentially, to the Committee on Rules in the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the Senate. Requires such committees to report any concurrent resolution or bill referred to it by a committee of legislative jurisdiction within 30 days, with a statement on each of its recommendations. Makes provisions for any proposed change which has been reported by a committee before June 1, 1980. Title II: Program Inventory - Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs. Declares that the purpose of such program inventory is to advise and assist Congress in carrying out the reauthorization and reexamination requirements and to link such reauthorization and review process with the budget process. Requires the Comptroller General to submit such program inventory to each House of Congress no later than January 1, 1980. Sets forth the contents of the inventory program, including the type of authorization provided for such programs' new budget authority, and the manner in which related program areas may be grouped for evaluation and review. Permits the congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service to review the program inventory and suggest revisions. Requires that the program inventory be revised at the end of each session of Congress, and that such revisions be reported to each House. Requires that periodic reports tabulate the progress of congressional action on bills and resolutions authorizing budget authority for programs in the inventory. Requires the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to submit periodic reports to the Congress on the adequacy of the functional and subfunctional categories for grouping programs of like missions or objectives. Title III: Program Reexamination - Requires each committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reexamine selected programs or groups of programs over which it has jurisdiction. Sets forth procedures for such review, and criteria for selection of program areas for evaluation. Directs each Senate committee to consult with the appropriate committees of either the House of Representatives or the Senate in order to achieve coordination of program reevaluation and inform itself of the related activities of or available assistance from the General Accounting Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, the Office of Technology Assessment, and appropriate instrumentalities in the executive and judicial branches. Requires each Senate committee to deliver a report on the reexamination to the Secretary of the Senate at the date specified in the funding resolution first reported by such committee in 1981, and thereafter reported for the first session of each Congress. Allows two or more committees which have legislative jurisdiction over the same programs or portions of the same programs to examine such programs jointly and submit a joint report. Stipulates that such report: (1) contain the findings, recommendations, and justifications of the program; and (2) include specified information including, but not limited to, an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the program and an identification of any trends, developments, and emerging conditions which are likely to affect the nature and extent of the problems or needs which the program is intended to address. Requires each executive department or agency which is responsible for a program selected for reexamination to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget and to the appropriate committees of the Congress on its findings, recommendations, and justifications of specified aspects of the program. Title IV: Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government - Establishes, as an independent instrumentality of the United States, the Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government to conduct a nonpartisan study and investigation of the organization and methods of operation of all departments, agencies, independent instrumentalities, and other authorities of the executive branch of the Government, and to make such recommendations as it determines are necessary to promote economic, efficient and improved services in the transaction of public business. Requires the Commission to submit interim reports to the President and the Congress, and to submit a final report with its findings and recommendations. Requires the Comptroller General to report once a year for two years after submission of the Commission's final report on the status of actions taken as a result of the report. Specifies the composition of the 15-member Commission and sets forth the duties and powers of the Commission. States that the Commission shall cease to exist 90 days after submission of its final report. Authorizes to be appropriated until September 30, 1984, without fiscal year limitations, $4,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this Title. Title V: Regulatory Impact - Requires the President to submit, at the beginning of each of the five Congresses beginning with the 97th Congress, an analysis of the purpose, function, and efficiency of 16 specified regulatory agencies. Requires the President to submit legislative plans, based on such analyses, for the improvement of operations of such agencies. Establishes a schedule according to which plans for specified agencies will be submitted early in each of the five Congresses for which the required analyses are submitted. Directs the President, with each plan, to submit a report on the cumulative impact of government regulatory activity on specific industry groupings. Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to assess each of the agencies included in the President's plans and to analyze such plans, and submit such information to the Congress. Title VI: Government Accountability - Requires the President, beginning with the first year of the 97th Congress, to submit biennially, as a part of the budget, a report on the management of the executive branch. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to provide an evaluative report on Federal programs to the President to be included with the President's report. Title VII: Miscellaneous - Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to permit the committees of Congress to obtain from the agencies of the government estimates or requests for appropriations or requests for increases in an item of any such estimate or request, and recommendations as to how the revenue needs of the government should be met. Declares that nothing shall require the public disclosure of records which are specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order, or which are otherwise specifically protected by law. Provides that the committees of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall not be required to publicly disclose any such records, except as otherwise provided by the rules of either House. Sets forth administrative procedures and requirements. Directs the President, with the cooperation of the head of each appropriate agency, to submit to the Congress a "Regulatory Duplication and Conflicts Report" for all programs scheduled for reauthorization in the next Congress. Stipulates that each such report identify duplicative or conflicting rules and regulations promulgated by executive departments, independent agencies, and State and local governments and contain recommendations which address such conflicts or duplications. Defines the term "required authorization waiver resolution" for purposes of this Act. Sets forth the procedure which the chairman of the committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives having legislative jurisdiction over programs must follow in order to introduce a required authorization waiver resolution. Makes it the duty of the Committees on Governmental Affairs and on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committees on Government Operations and on Rules of the House of Representatives to review the operation of the procedures established by this Act and to submit a report every five years beginning December 31, 1986. Authorizes to be appropriated through fiscal year 1990 such sums as may be necessary to carry out the review requirements and for the compilation of the inventory of Federal programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Reclamation Reform Act of 1979 - Replaces the existing maximum Federal reclamation law acreage limitation of 160 acres of reclaimed land per individual with a maximum farm size limit of 1,280 acres, owned or leased by any combination of persons. Restricts the number of persons who may join in such combination to 25 or fewer. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to limit the number of landholdings that any person, firm, or business may manage for the benefit of a qualified recipient. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to designate by rule appropriate increases in the acreage limitation for lands of lessor productive potential. Abolishes the requirement that a qualified recipient reside on or near a landholding in order for such landholding to be eligible to receive water. Prohibits any qualified recipient from leasing a landholding acquired after January 1, 1978, unless he or she has derived nonrental income from such landholding for agricultural production for a period of not less than ten years. Provides for the removal of acreage limitations upon repayment of construction charges of the reclamation project required under contracts with the Secretary relating to the delivery of water supplies to such landholding for agricultural use. Prohibits the delivery of water to landholders whose lands do not comply with the Federal reclamation law acreage limitation one year after the passage of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Requires that whoever uses or carries a firearm during the commission of specified Federal crimes of violence, or whoever is convicted by a State court of specified State crimes of violence and used or carried a firearm transported in, or affecting, interstate or foreign commerce during the commission of such crime of violence shall, in addition to the punishment provided for the commission of such crime, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years. Requires in the case of a second or subsequent conviction the imposition of a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years, or to life imprisonment. Stipulates that the execution or imposition of any term of imprisonment under this Act: (1) may not be suspended; (2) may not run concurrently; and (3) may not include probation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Tax Reduction Act of 1979 - Title I: Individual Tax Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the income tax rates for individuals for the taxable years 1980 through 1982. Title II: Inflation Adjustment - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, not later than December 15 of each calendar year beginning in 1982, to prescribe individual income tax rate tables: (1) by increasing the maximum dollar amount on which no tax is imposed under each table, and the minimum and maximum dollar amounts for each rate bracket for which a tax is imposed, by the cost-of-living adjustment for such year; (2) by not changing the rate applicable to any rate bracket as adjusted; and (3) by adjusting the amounts setting forth the tax to the extent necessary to reflect the adjustments in the rate brackets. Declares the cost-of-living adjustment for any calendar year as the percentage by which the Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the preceding calendar year exceeds the Consumer Price Index for calendar 1981. Requires cost-of-living adjustments in zero bracket amounts, exemptions and withholding taxes. Sets the minimum gross income for which an income tax return is required from certain individuals at an amount less than the sum of the exemption plus the applicable zero bracket amount.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate Federal financing of Presidential elections. Allows the Federal Election Commission or the Secretary of the Treasury to continue to require repayments from candidates. Provides that amounts remaining in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund after December 31, 1979, shall be covered into the general fund of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Sugar Act of 1979 - Subchapter I: Definitions - Defines terms used in this Act. Subchapter II: Quota Provisions - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to determine annually the amount of sugar needed to meet consumer requirements and to attain the price objective for sugar. Sets forth the formula for determining the price objective. Requires the Secretary to establish or revise sugar quotas based on such determinations. Apportions 6,820,000 short tons of raw value sugar according to specified percentages among domestic beet sugar, mainland cane sugar, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Permits 1,210,000 short tons of raw value sugar to be imported from the Philippines. Apportions the remaining amount of raw sugar determined necessary among specified countries according to specified percentages. Permits the President to suspend any sugar quota if such importation would be contrary to U.S. national interests. Prohibits any importation of sugar from Cuba until diplomatic relations are resumed by the United States. Stipulates that reductions or deficiencies in a sugar quota shall be prorated among the other foreign countries under enumerated circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to limit the importation of sugar on only a quarterly basis through the first quarter of 1980; and thereafter only on a yearly basis. Stipulates procedures for making adjustments in determining consumer requirements in order to attain the price objective. Prohibits the Secretary from restricting the importation, shipment, or storage of sugar to one or more geographical areas. Requires sugar quotas for foreign countries to be filled only with sugar beets or sugarcane grown in that country. Directs the Secretary to establish quotas for sugar which may be marketed for local consumption in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Provides for domestic sugar producers to fill any deficits in such quotas. Authorizes the Secretary to make allotments of quotas to persons marketing sugar to assure an orderly and adequate flow of sugar or liquid sugar. Limits such allotments to 25,000 short tons of raw value sugar for sugar beet processors and to the effective inventory of sugar of a sugarcane processor as of January 1st of the year the allotment is made. Permits any person aggrieved by such decision to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Permits the Secretary to limit the importation of sugar- containing products or beet sugar molasses if it is determined such importation will substantially interfere with the objectives of this Act. Sets forth the amount of quota for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Ireland, and Panama which may be filled by direct-consumption sugar. Sets forth the amount of liquid sugar which may be imported from foreign countries. Prohibits the importation, transportation, or marketing of sugar in excess of the established quota or allotment. Exempts from the quota provisions the first ten short tons of raw value direct-consumption or liquid sugar imported for religious, sacramental, educational, or experimental purposes. Subchapter III: Conditional Payment Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to make payments to producers who have not marketed sugar in excess of their proportionate share for the farm and to processors who have paid fair and reasonable prices for sugar beets or sugarcane. Directs the Secretary to establish proportionate shares for farms in those areas where the production of sugar is estimated to be greater than the quantity needed to enable the area to meet its quota and provide a normal carryover inventory. Requires the Secretary to protect the interests of new producers. Authorizes the Secretary to make payments for bona fide abandonment of planted acreage or for crop deficiencies due to natural disasters. Establishes the base rate of payment at 80 cents per hundred pounds of raw value sugar. Sets forth a graduated scale of reductions for sugar in excess of specified amounts. Stipulates that the Secretary's determinations are final and conclusive. Subchapter IV: Administrative Provisions - Authorizes appropriations necessary for the payments specified in Subchapter III. Authorizes the Secretary to make such orders or regulations as may be necessary to carry out this Act. Grants jurisdiction to the appropriate U.S. district courts to enforce this Act. Sets forth the fines or forfeitures imposed for violations of this Act. Authorizes the President to withhold or suspend any quota or to levy a duty on sugar imported from any foreign country which nationalizes or effectively expropriates, without compensation, any property at least 50 percent owned by U.S. citizens. Authorizes the Secretary, under specified circumstances, to study labor contracts and the methods of accomplishing most effectively the purposes of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to issue the necessary regulations to carry out the International Sugar Agreement. Provides for the termination of the provisions of this Act on December 31, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Meat Import Act of 1979 - Limits the maximum aggregate quantity of specified meat articles which may be entered, or withdrawn from warehouses, for consumption in the customs territory of the United States in any calendar year after 1978 to 1,204,600,000 pounds, adjustable according to a specified formula. Excludes from the domestic commercial production factor in such formula the carcass weight of live cattle specified in certain Tariff Schedules. Requires a further adjustment of such annual aggregate quantity by multiplying it by a ratio of: (1) the average annual per capita production of domestic cow beef during a calendar year (as estimated) and the four preceding calendar years; to (2) the average annual per capita production of domestic cow beef in the calendar year (as estimated) and the preceding calendar year. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, for each calendar year after 1978, to estimate and publish the aggregate quantity of meat articles prescribed for such year as well as the quantity that would be entered into the United States but for the limitations. Directs the President to limit by proclamation, upon giving 30 days notice in the Federal Register, the total quantity of meat articles entered into the United States, whenever such quantity equals or exceeds 110 percent of the Secretary's estimate; but prohibits any limitation below 1,200,000,000 pounds. Requires the termination of any limitation as of the first day of a calendar quarter, under most circumstances, if before such quarter the aggregate quantity is less than 110 percent of the Secretary's estimate. Permits the President, upon giving 30 days notice in the Federal Register, to suspend any proclamation or increase any amount proclaimed as required by the preceding provision if: (1) require, economic or national security interests; (2) supplies are inadequate to meet domestic demand at reasonable prices; or (3) trade agreements ensure the execution of the policy. Prohibits the President from increasing the total quantity of meat imports if the above ratio is less than 1.0 unless: (1) a period of national emergency is declared or (2) supplies are inadequate because of a natural disaster to meet demand at reasonable prices. Prohibits such suspension or increase from extending beyond the termination of the national emergency. Requires the Secretary to allocate the entry quota of meat articles proclaimed by the President among supplying countries on the basis of their respective shares of the United States market for meat articles during the representative period, taking into account any special factors. Directs the Secretary to study the regional economic impact of imports of meat articles and report any recommendations to the appropriate committees of Congress by December 31, 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Repeals the Credit Control Act which authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to regulate the interest rate and the volume of credit transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Tax Equalization Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require annual cost-of-living adjustments to personal income tax brackets and the personal exemption.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Spending Limitation Act - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to limit the total Federal outlays agreed to in the second or any further concurrent resolution on the Budget to the following percentages of the gross national product: 21 percent in fiscal year 1980; 20 percent in fiscal year 1981; 19 percent in fiscal year 1982; and 18 percent in the fiscal year 1983. Authorizes the Congress to waive such limitations by a two-thirds vote of each House.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Federal Reserve Act to terminate the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to require the delivery of all gold coins, gold bullion, and gold certificates held in the private sector to the Treasurer of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the excess of the eligible net savings (net savings in excess of certain types of debt) of a taxpayer for the taxable year over a specified percentage of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Specifies types of savings accounts which qualify for the credit. Increases taxpayer liability (except for individuals who attain age 65) if the taxpayer's eligible net saving is less than zero for a taxable year. Provides for an inflation adjustment to the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for purposes of determining the allowable amount of credit.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Directs Congress to assure that the total outlays of the Government during any fiscal year (except for repayment of debt) do not exceed 33 1/3 percent of the average national income for the three prior calendar years. Authorizes the suspension of such measure in the case of national emergency or war.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits Federal expenditures from exceeding receipts during any fiscal year. Makes an exception to such prohibition, for a period not to exceed one year, if approved by two-thirds of the Members of both Houses of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1978
Prohibits the President from taking any action that would affect the validity of any post-World War II security and mutual defense treaties without the advice and consent of the Senate, or the approval of both Houses of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1978
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with interested organizations, to take necessary action to provide for the protection and maintenance of the Johnny Sack Cabin and associated structures in the Targhee National Forest, in the State of Idaho. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with, or to issue a special use permit to an appropriate person or organization which shall provide such protection and maintenance. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1978
Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to set forth a method for computing the average fleet fuel economy standards for motor vehicle manufacturers which include electric vehicles in their fleets.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1978
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research and education programs with regard to the development of: (1) new agricultural commodities with commercial potential; (2) commercially sound nonfood uses for agricultural commodities; and (3) commercially sound uses for the byproducts of agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1978
Amends the venue provisions of Federal law to provide that a civil action in which a defendant is the United States, a United States agency, or an officer or employee thereof acting in an official capacity, or an appeal from a final order of the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Maritime Commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Maritime Administration must be brought in a judicial district or circuit in which it has been determined that a substantial portion of the impact or injury exists.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the excess of the eligible net savings (net savings in excess of certain types of debt) of a taxpayer for the taxable year over a specified percentage of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Specifies types of savings accounts which qualify for the credit. Increases taxpayer liability (except for individuals who attain age 65) if the taxpayer's eligible net saving is less than zero for a taxable year. Provides for an inflation adjustment to the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for purposes of determining the allowable amount of credit.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Declares that the District of Columbia, for purposes of representation in the Senate, shall be treated as though it were part of the State of Maryland.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Repeals the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution and retrocedes to the State of Maryland all lands within the District of Columbia except lands owned by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Admits the District of Columbia into the Union as a State of the United States on an equal footing with the other States in all respects, except that the Congress shall exercise exclusive legislation over all lands and property owned by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that for purposes of representation: (1) in the Senate, the District of Columbia shall be treated as though it were part of the State of Maryland; and (2) in the House of Representatives, the District of Columbia shall be treated as though it were a State.
United States · United States Congress · 23 August 1978
Authorizes the President to enter into one or more trade agreements with feeder and slaughter cattle exporting countries to limit the quantity of such cattle exported by them to the United States. Imposes a quota on the importation of such cattle. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to establish a system of equitable distribution among importers of cattle subject to such quota.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 1978
Permits any person, association, partnership or corporation in adverse possession of public lands to obtain a patent to such lands from the Secretary of the Interior. Sets forth the information to be included in a petition for such a patent. Directs the Secretary to grant a patent to public lands if the petitioner, the petitioner's ancestors, or grantors have held such lands: (1) under color of title, meaning the semblance or appearance of title; (2) in good faith at the time of acquisition of color of title; (3) peacefully for at least 20 years; and (4) have improved or cultivated such lands. Establishes procedures for the review of such petitions. Directs the Secretary, upon a determination that the petition is sufficient, to issue a patent for the interest claimed in an area of public land 50 acres or less upon the payment of $1.25 or less per acre. Grants the Secretary the option of issuing a patent for more than 50 acres upon the payment of the required fee. Requires the Secretary to obtain the consent of other Federal agencies to a patent award if a claim under this Act interferes with functions of such agencies. Authorizes the Secretary to issue a patent to a comparable tract of land or to pay the fair market value of the interest in the land claimed if such consent is not obtained. Permits the petitioner to elect compensation in lieu of substitute land. Reserves to the United States all mineral interests in any land to which a patent is issued under this Act. Prohibits the issuance of any patent if there is an unadjudicated claim adverse to the petitioner. Establishes jurisdiction in the United States Courts of Appeals for the review of all final actions of the Secretary under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 1978
Congressional Award Program Act - Establishes the Congressional Award Program in the United States and its territories to recognize and promote youth leadership and excellence in the areas of expedition fitness, personal creative development, and public service. Creates a Congressional Award Board with a Director to supervise such program. Authorizes the appointment of State award directors under this Act. Creates three Congressional Award Medals to be awarded under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 1978
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act - Directs the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration to develop and maintain comprehensive programs to insure widespread public involvement in formulating regional electric power programs and policies. Establishes a Bonneville Consumers' Council and a Bonneville Utilities Council with whom the Administrator is directed to consult, together with the Governors or the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, and the general public in preparing a regional power planning and conservation program. Exempts such councils from the purview of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and exempts their members' actions from constituting potential violations of Federal or State antitrust laws. Directs the Administrator to offer to sell electric power to specified customers at rates to be established and periodically modified, in accordance with specified criteria, and establishes amounts of power such customers are to receive. Directs the Administrator to implement feasible and cost-effective measures to conserve electric power, and to assist governmental authorities in promoting conservation of electric power. Authorizes the Administrator to acquire additional electric power resources where regional electric power obligations cannot be met by employing conservation measures, but specifically directs the Administrator to give priority to developing renewable energy resources where additional resources are needed. Authorizes acquisition or the construction and operation of other types of electric power resources where needed to assure transmission system reliability. Sets forth procedural instructions for such acquisitions. Amends the Federal Columbia River Transmission System Act to authorize such expenditures as are necessary to implement this Act. Amends such Act further to authorize the issuance of bonds and other debt obligations for the purpose of financing activities arising from the implementation of this Act. Stipulates that such obligations bear interest at a rate not to exceed the rate applicable to such obligations if purchased by the Federal Financing Bank. Increases the aggregate principal amount of obligations incurred under such Act which are outstanding at any one time to include the principal amount of obligations incurred and outstanding which were issued to assist in financing the activities of this Act. Extends the definition of "Pacific Northwest" to include the entire State of Idaho. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into such agreements and contracts as are deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Exempts from the provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act any "person" or "company," as therein defined, connected with electric generating facilities, which sell 75 percent or more of their power to the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1978
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide transportation to the Girl Scouts of the United States to international world friendship events or troops on foreign soil meetings which occur outside the United States. Requires the Girl Scouts to reimburse the Government for the actual cost of such transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1978
Repeals provisions of existing law which: (1) prohibit religious or charitable corporations or associations from holding real estate in any territory of a value greater than $50,000; and (2) authorize religious societies to hold, through trustees, territorial real property for churches, parsonages, and burial grounds.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1978
Provides for payments by the Secretary of the Treasury to any State which places on the ballot in the general election of November, 1978, a question concerning the opinion of the voter on the subject of a balanced Federal budget.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1978
Public Range Lands Improvement Act - Requires that an inventory of rangeland conditions and trends be taken in 11 contiguous western States and Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage and improve public rangelands so that they become as productive as feasible in accordance with the rangeland management objectives established through the land use planning process prescribed in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. Provides for the funding of such improvements. Sets forth the formula to be used by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior during the grazing years 1979-1985 in setting fees for domestic livestock grazing on public lands. Requires the allotment of at least $10,000,000 for yearly grazing fees to the range betterment fund. Authorizes the Secretaries to develop an experimental program to use grazing fees and other incentives to reward grazing permittees and lessees for good range stewardship. Requires the Secretaries to report to Congress on the results of such program. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue ten year grazing leases or permits except when he has determined, on a case-by-case basis, that the establishment of a shorter term is in the interest of sound land management policy. Requires the removal, in a humane manner, of excess wild horses and burrows to restore the ecological balance to an area in which rangeland inventories indicate an overpopulation of such animals. Provides for the adoption and donation of such animals to individuals who have provided humane conditions and care for them for a period of one year. Permits the Secretary of the Interior, upon completion of a satisfactory environmental impact statement and consultation with interested parties, to develop an allotment management plan, as defined by this Act. Requires that the plan be tailored to the specific range conditions of the area covered and that such plan be reviewed periodically for its effectiveness and continued feasibility. Limits the authority for entering into cooperative agreements and making payments under this Act to the extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance appropriation Acts. Authorizes the establishment of grazing district advisory boards for national forest lands in South Dakota.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1978
Expresses the support of the Senate for the nomination of the Public Groups to Promote Observance of the Helsinki Agreement in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1978
Expresses the sense of the Congress that (1) the trials of Antoly Shcharansky, Viktoras Petkus, and Aleksandr Ilyich Ginzburg are matters of deep concern to the American people that adversely affect Soviet-American relations; and (2) the U.S.S.R. Supreme Soviet should seek a humanitarian resolution to these cases and work toward improving such relations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1978
Regulatory Cost Reduction Act - Requires the head of each executive department or independent agency to submit an annual report of the costs of compliance with the rules and regulations of that agency or department (hereinafter referred to as "compliance costs") to Congress, the President, and the Comptroller General. Stipulates that such report must include a list of the measures taken and to be taken to reduce compliance costs by five percent each year or an explanation of any failures to do so. Directs the President to formulate the criteria for determining compliance costs and to submit such criteria for review by the public and selected offices. Requires the President and the head of each independent agency to transmit to Congress and the Comptroller General recommendations for reducing compliance costs by five percent for each of the next five years, and to implement those recommendations 60 days after transmittal unless Congress passes a concurrent resolution stating disapproval of the recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Directs Congress to assure that the total outlays of the Government during any fiscal year (except for repayment of debt) do not exceed 33 1/3 percent of the average national income for the three prior calendar years.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1978
States that the President should, pending removal of Cuban military forces from Africa, (1) recall the United States Interests Section from Cuba and expel the Cuban Interests Section from the United States, (2) deny any license for commercial trade with or export to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1969, (3) reverse any other action toward the normalization of relations with Cuba, and (4) defer any further official actions toward normalization of United States relations with Cuba.
![Official portrait of Sen. McClure, James A. [R-ID]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000346_200.jpg)