United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1975
Regulatory Reform Act - States Congress' finding that Government economic regulation has become a burden to American business, consumers, and the economy. Requires the President to submit at least once a year a plan designed to eliminate regulation which has led to inflationary consumer prices or a reduction of competition. Directs that each plan establish more efficient organizational and administrative forms for the regulation of commerce, and include provisions necessary to modify or abolish existing agencies and functions so as to eliminate overlapping regulatory jurisdictions, and anticompetitive and duplicative regulations. Defines terms as used in this Act. Provides that the President shall submit each plan required by this Act to the Congress for review by the Committees on Government Operations of the House of Representatives and Senate. Requires such committees to review the plan and report a bill approving or disapproving such plan in whole or in part, with such amendments as are deemed appropriate. Directs that in the event no regulatory reform legislation has been enacted with respect to any area covered by this Act, all rules of any agency described in the President's plan shall be of no force or effect after the last day of June in the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such plan was submitted.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 1975
Food Industry Antitrust Reports Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Agriculture to submit to the appropriate House and Senate committees a report on actions with respect to the enforcement of the antitrust laws in the various sectors of the food industry. Requires that such report be made not later than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, and yearly thereafter. Provides that no later than five years after the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Congress a comprehensive report on the market structure and State of competition in the food industries. Requires the Commission and the Department of Justice to provide to the Congress an analysis of the adequacy of available data on which any study is based. Authorizes the appropriation to the Commission of $1,000,000 for each of the next five fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 1975
Dedicates the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park to Justice William O. Douglas in grateful recognition of his long and outstanding service to the people of the United States as a teacher, writer, jurist, and naturalist. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to have the words " Dedicated to Justice William O. Douglas" prominently displayed on all signs bearing the name of the park and to take other actions to call to the attention of the public the fact that such park has been so dedicated. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1975
Provides for the designation, at the Department of the Treasury and in the Congress, (as part of the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation), of experts on long-range tax simplification and tax reform for small business.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1975
Establishes the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the acts of the signatories which reflect compliance with the articles of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Provides that the Commission shall be composed of 11 members to be appointed as specified in this Act. Gives the Commission the power to subpena witnesses and records as necessary to carry out the responsibilities imposed by this Act. Requires the Commission to make periodic reports to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 November 1975
Condemns the resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations which equates Zionism with racism. Opposes participation by the United States Government in the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. Calls for reconsideration of the Zionism resolution. Directs the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Foreign Relations to begin hearings immediately to reassess the United States' further participation in the United Nations General Assembly.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1975
Veterans and Survivors Pension Reform Act - Title I: Reform of the Non-Service-Connected Pension Program for Veterans and Their Survivors - Creates a pension system within the Veterans' Administration applicable to all veterans, widows of veterans, and dependent parents who, subsequent to October 1, 1976, are or become eligible for a Veterans' Administration non-service-connected pension. Provides for a restructuring of the need-based pension program of the Veterans' Administration. Provides for a level of income for veterans and their survivors which is above the minimum subsistence level. Establishes a basic minimum level of income for all eligible veterans and dependents at $2,700 for single pensioners and $3,900 for pensioners with dependents. Provides for a method of computing a pension for those veterans with little or no income. Title II: Adjustments in Current Statutory Pension Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act. Revises the catagories of spouse, widow, and surviving spouse for purposes of the changes in rates in this Act. Presents a schedule by month for such rates. Title III: Reform of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Parents - Revises the schedule for determining dependency and indemnity compensation rates under the Veterans' Administration. Title IV: Adjustments in Current Statutory Provisions Relating to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Parents - Sets forth schedules for the payment of monthly dependency and indemnification compensation to the parents of veterans. Title V: Miscellaneous and Effective Dates - Makes the effective date of this Act October 1, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1975
Revises the criteria for payment by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs for the care and treatment of veterans in State veterans' homes. (Amends 38 U.S.C. 641)
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1975
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the current violence in Lebanon is deplorable. Disapproves any unilateral intervention of any nation in the conflict. Declares that the United States should provide, through the United Nations, on request of the Government of Lebanon, humanitarian aid.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1975
Dairy and Meat Import Inspection and Identification Act - Establishes labeling and sanitation requirements for imported meat and dairy products. Title I: Dairy Products - Defines terms as used in this title. Directs that no dairy products shall be imported into the United States unless the Secretary of Agriculture first certifies that such products are wholesome and pure. Requires the Secretary to establish standards comparable to standards imposed upon domestic dairy products. Provides that such imports must comply with United States packaging and labeling requirements. Requires that the package or container of any food product made in whole or in part of imported dairy products shall be labeled "imported" or "imported in part". Establishes criminal penalties for violation of the requirements of this Act. Title II: Meat and Meat Products - Imposes the same labeling requirements on meat products as those imposed by title I of this Act. Requires that such products meet the same health standards as imposed upon domestically produced meats. Requires that inspectors employed by the Department of Agriculture supervise the testing of imported meats. Directs that periodic tests of imported meats shall be conducted in the United States by the Department of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1975
Encourages appropriate Federal agencies to insure that neither the quality nor quantity of over-the-air broadcasting shall be impaired by pay television. Calls for pay television to develop in a way complimentary to free broadcasting.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1975
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make financial assistance available to agricultural producers who suffer losses as the result of having their agricultural commodities or livestock quarantined or condemned because such commodities or livestock have been found to contain toxic chemicals dangerous to the public health. Directs that the amount of each such loan shall be limited to $100,000. Provides that such loans shall not be available to any producer who has been fully compensated for the loss for which the loan is requested. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1975
Displaced Homemakers Equal Opportunity Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a maximum of 30 model program centers for outreach, counseling, information and referral, and other services for displaced homemakers, with at least 2 such centers in each of the 10 Federal geographic service regions of the United States. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct an evaluation and study of the model program centers established by this Act; and (2) conduct a feasibility study with respect to participation by displaced homemakers in specified employment, unemployment, education, and health service programs. Authorizes to be appropriated specified sums for each of fiscal years 1976 and 1977 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1975
Express the sense of the Congress that the observance of Thanksgiving include the practice of "Thankful Giving". Invites Americans to share with the hungry of the world.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1975
Revises the formula for determination of the amount of tax to be imposed on charitable foundations upon their failure to distribute income by changing the method of calculation of the minimum investment return for any private foundation for any taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1975
Provides for annual payments to be made to State or local governments by the Secretary of the Interior in the amount of 75 cents per acre for public lands within the boundaries of such State or locality.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1975
Provides that the inpatient hospital deductible under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act shall be increased from $40 to $92 in the case of any spell of illness beginning before 1977. Sets forth a formula for adjusting the impatient deductible for subsequent years, equal to $92 multiplied by the ratio of the current average per diem rate for inpatient hospital services for the preceding year to the current average per diem rate for such services for 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1975
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, that an individual who is an active participant in a retirement plan may claim the deduction for retirement savings for amounts contributed by him to an individual retirement account, for an individual retirement annuity, or for a retirement bond, to the extent that the amounts paid by him or on his behalf under the retirement plan does not equal the maximum amount of the retirement savings deduction to which he would be entitled if he were not an active participant in such plan.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1975
Establishes the Joint Congressional Task Force on Federal Small Business Impact to be composed of one majority and one minority Member from the House Small Business Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Small Business, and the Joint Economic Committee. Directs the task force to establish subject matter priorities and assignments for the committees of the House and Senate in order to coordinate and assign to such committees areas for investigations to be undertaken. Provides that such investigations shall examine Federal programs and laws that affect small business in America. Requires the task force, upon completion of such investigations, to prepare a report and make recommendations for legislation based upon information by the committees. Provides that expenses of the task force shall be apid from the contingent fund of the Senate and House. Authorizes the appropriation of no more than $50,000 for expenses incurred by any committee during such investigations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1975
Expresses the sense of Congress that every person has a right to an adequate diet. Provides that recognition of this right should guide United States policy. Seeks to have all who are in need receive help through food assistance programs. Calls for this country to increase its assistance for self-help development among the world's poorest nations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1975
Provides, under the Internal Revenue Code, that income from specified public entertainment activities conducted by charitable or nonprofit organizations shall not be unrelated trade or business income and shall not affect the tax exemption of the organization.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1975
Prohibits, under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code, the reduction of disability payments under employer-maintained disability compensation plans whenever qualified benefit payments under the Social Security Act are increased.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1975
Increases the amount of the estate tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code from $60,000 to $150,000. Provides that farmland included in the gross estate be valued according to its use as farmland.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1975
Fairness in Franchising Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a continuing review and study of the substantive and procedural law applicable to franchises and franchising. Provides that no franchisor who is doing business in or affecting interstate commerce shall cancel, fail to renew, or otherwise terminate a franchise unless he furnishes prior notice of at least 90 days to each franchise affected thereby. States that a franchisor who is doing business in or affecting interstate commerce shall not cancel or terminate a franchise unless: (1) such franchisor has good cause for such cancellation or termination or (2) such franchisor is effecting a marketing area withdrawal. States that a franchisor who is doing business in or affecting interstate commerce shall not terminate a franchise by failure to renew unless: (1) such franchisor has good cause for such failure to renew; (2) such franchisor has a legitimate business reason for such failure to renew if the term of the agreement which is not being renewed was five years or more; or (3) such franchisor is effecting a marketing area withdrawal upon the expiration of the terms of the franchises outstanding in the area involved. Provides that a franchisor who fails to renew for a legitimate business reason shall pay to the franchise involved a reasonable compensation for the value to the latter's business, including, but not limited to, goodwill. Authorizes franchisees to maintain civil actions against franchisors for conduct prohibited under this Act. Authorizes Federal district courts to grant such equitable relief as is necessary to remedy the effects of conduct which it finds to exist and which is prohibited under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1975
Suspends various provisions of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act relating to development of a standard form for the statement of settlement costs in all transactions involving federally related mortgage loans; requiring advance disclosure of settlement costs to prospective borrowers; and requiring the disclosure of the previous selling price of existing real property.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1975
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare should withdraw its proposed Consolidated Procedural Rules for Administration and Enforcement of the Department's statutory responsibilities. States that if additional positions are required for enforcement of Civil Rights laws such need should be brought to the attention of the Senate. Directs the Office of Civil Rights to continue to make efforts to detect systematic discrimination including those areas relating to discrimination based on sex and handicap.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1975
Broadcast License Renewal Act - Permits the Federal Communications Commission to extend three-year broadcast licenses for an additional two years upon a finding of public interest. Requires in making such determination, considerations of whether diffferent term lengths for radio and television stations and for different categories of licensees are in the public interest. Limits other class licenses to a five-year maximum, prescribing the renewal procedures for such licenses and the criteria to be considered in renewal, including responsiveness and lack of serious deficiencies. Sets guidelines for expenditious action on applications for renewal of broadcasting station licenses by limiting material required to be filed. Requires the Commission to examine the renewal process and report within six months on methods of reducing and consolidating filings and supporting documents.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1975
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the National Park Service not phase out overnight lodging in national parks. Emphasizes the importance of such facilities in enabling all of the citizens to use and enjoy their national parks.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1975
Directs the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, 1975, to organize and convene a national conference to be known as the National Women's Conference. Sets forth the composition and goals of the Conference. Grants the Commission powers necessary to carry out this Act. Requires that the Commission submit a report to the President and each House of Congress not later than 120 days after the conclusion of the Conference. States that such report shall include findings and recommendations of the Conference. Authorizes the appropriation of not more than $10,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1975
Rural Manpower Service Act - Provides for job development, training and placement service programs for eligible residents of each State with rural subdivisions of 10,000 population or less. Establishes within the Department of Labor a Rural Manpower Service to guarantee equitable manpower and employment services to rural people. Sets forth administrative controls to be adhered to by the Secretary of Labor. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress annually on the activities of the Department and its affiliated State employment service agencies in carrying out this Act. Directs the Secretary to estimate the funds necessary for the administration of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1975
Revises the Housing and Community Development Act: (1) to provide that 70 percent of the amount appropriated for grants to help finance Community Development Programs be allocated to metropolitan areas; (2) to provide that 30 percent of the amount appropriated for such grants be allocated to units of local government and areas of States outside of metropolitan areas; (3) to set aside a portion of such grants for use by Indian tribes; and (4) to increase from $8,400,000,000 to $8,825,000,000 the amount of obligations which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized to incur in the form of grant agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1975
Combined Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance - Income Tax Reporting Amendments - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make available specified tax returns to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Empowers the Secretary of HEW and the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into an agreement for the processing of information contained in such returns. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to provide to the Secretary of HEW any documents they agree are necessary for such processing. Directs the Managing Trustee of the Trust funds established pursuant to the Social Security Act, including the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, to pay into the Treasury the amounts he and the Secretary of HEW estimate will be expended from the general fund of the Treasury by the Departments of HEW and Treasury for the administration of (1) titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act, and (2) specified chapters and subchapters of the Internal Revenue Code. Requires the Secretary of HEW to apportion (between each trust fund and the general fund in the Treasury) the costs of administrating titles II, XVI and XVIII of the Social Security Act and its costs in carrying out specified functions of this Act. Revises the formula by which the adjustment to the contribution and benefit base is to be computed following an increase in social security benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1975
Provides that, subject to the approval by the United States, the Mariana Islands District Legislature and the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, this covenant shall establish the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. States that the commonwealth shall be in political union with and under the sovereignty of the United States of America. States that the people of the Northern Mariana Islands will formulate and approve a Constitution subject to United States approval. Requires that the Constitution provide for a republican form of government with separate executive, legislative and judicial branches, and that it contain a bill of rights. Provides that all persons, citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands, shall become citizens of the United States entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States of the United States. Establishes within the Commonwealth the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Defines the jurisdiction of the court. Specifies certain laws and provisions of the United States Constitution which shall apply to the Commonwealth. Directs the President to appoint a seven-member Commission on Federal laws to make recommendations to the United States Congress as to which laws should be made applicable to the Commonwealth. Provides that with limited exceptions the Northern Mariana Islands will be deemed to be a part of the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Makes the income tax laws in force in the United States applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands as a local territorial income tax. Provides that references in the Internal Revenue Code to Guam will be deemed also to refer to the Northern Mariana Islands. States that the Commonwealth shall not be included within the customs territory of the United States. Directs that the Trust Territory Social Security Retirement Fund attributable to the Northern Mariana Islands will be transferred to the Treasury of the United States, to be held in trust as a separate fund to be known as the "Northern Mariana Islands Social Security Retirement Fund." Provides that the fund will be administered by the United States in accordance with the social security laws of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Exempts all bonds and other obligations issued by the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands from taxation by the United States. Establishes a program of direct grant assistance by the Government of the United States to the Commonwealth in its efforts to achieve a higher standard of living. States that such assistance shall continue for seven fiscal years. Provides $8,250,000 million for budgetary support, $4 million for capital improvements projects and $1,750,000 million for an economic development loan fund. Makes available to the Commonwealth the full range of Federal programs and services available to the territories of the United States. Directs that the proceeds of all customs duties and Federal income taxes derived from the Northern Mariana Islands shall be paid into the Treasury of the Commonwealth, to be expended to the benefit of the people thereof. Transfers all right, title and interest of the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in and to real property in the Northern Mariana Islands to the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands. Specifies property within the Commonwealth which shall be made available to the Government of the United States by lease for defense purposes. States that such lease shall be for a term of 50 years with an option to renew for an additional 50 years. Provides that the United States shall pay a total of $19,520,600 in full settlement of such lease. Provides that the Commonwealth may regulate the alienation of permanent and long term interests in real property so as to restrict the acquisition of such interests to persons of Northern Mariana Islands descent. Provides that such regulation is allowed for a period of 25 years after the termination of the Trusteeship Agreement. Recognizes the importance and scarcity of land in the Northern Mariana Islands. States that the United States shall acquire additional land in the Commonwealth only to the extent necessary to accomplish a public purpose. Authorizes the creation of the position of President Representative to the United States. Establishes requirements for such post. Provides for consultations between the Governments of the United States and the Commonwealth. Directs that such consultations shall be held at the request of either Government but not less frequently than every 10 years. Establishes procedures for acceptance of the covenant.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1975
Requires any gasoline rationing plan to take into consideration area or regional differences in the availability of public transportation and driving distances, and to ration based on such differences.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1975
Makes it a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison, or a $5,000 fine, or both, to take a controlled substance, as defined by the Controlled Substances Act, from a registered pharmacy by force or intimidation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1975
Directs that during fiscal year 1976 not less than 70 percent of the value of government-to-government commodity grants and of funds expended under title I of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 shall be allotted to countries designated by the United Nations as "Most Seriously Affected". Establishes priorities for such distribution. Establishes procedures whereby the President may, subject to congressional approval, provide commodity assistance in excess of the limitations specified in this resolution if such assistance is for humanitarian purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1975
Prohibits the utilization of funds appropriated for the use of the Department of Defense for purposes of conducting any research, testing, or evaluation in which dogs are used if such research, testing, or evaluation is conducted for the purpose of developing or improving any radioactive, chemical, or biological warfare agent. Restricts Department of Defense appropriated funds use in the area of dog procurement. Directs the Department of Defense to develop new research methods for its research projects, where feasible, to complement or eliminate current methods involving the direct or indirect use of animals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1975
Authorizes payment under the supplementary medical insurance program of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Secuirty Act for optometric and medical vision care.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1975
Coal Mining Technology and Manpower Development Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act to advance the technology and training of technologists needed to increase the production of coal in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. Defines terms used in this Act. Authorizes and directs the Director of the National Science Foundation: (1) develop improved curricula for use by community colleges in programs for training of technologists needed to increase the production of coal in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner; (2) to conduct, by contract or other arrangement, demonstration projects applying the curricula developed under this Act; and (3) to conduct research designed to identify the manpower goals and needs of the United States for increasing the production of coal in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. States that curricula developed under this Act shall include the training of technologists in the fields of: (1) the extraction, preparation, and the transportation of coal; (2) the reclamation of coal mined land; (3) the disposal of coal mine wastes; (4) the chemical and physical analysis of coal and materials, such as water and soil, that are involved in the coal mining process; and (5) the improvement of health and safety of coal mine employees. Establishes an Advisory Council on Coal Mining Technology Education. States that the Council shall advise the Director of the National Science Foundation with respect to the general administration of this Act. Requires the Council to report its findings and recommendations to the President annually. States that the President shall transmit such report to Congress. Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to make grants to community colleges to carry out programs for the training of technologists in the field of coal mining and technology. States that the Commissioner shall give priority in making such grants to community colleges located in States having abundant coal reserves and having training programs implementing curricula developed under this Act. Sets forth the requirements for applications for grants made available under this Act. Authorizes to be appropriated: (1) for the development of improved curricula, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, and $8,000,000 for fiscal years 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980; (2) for the operation of the Advisory Council, such sums as are necessary; (3) for the provision of fiscal assistance to community colleges, not to exceed $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, and not to exceed $10,000,000 for fiscal years 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1975
Provides for the recomputation of military retirement benefits. Provides that a member or former member of a uniformed service: (1) who is 60 years of age or older, and is retired for reasons other than physical disability, whose disability is finally determined to be of a permanent nature and less than 30 percent under the disability rating system, and is entitled to retired pay computed under the rates of basic pay in effect before January 1, 1972; or (2) who is entitled to retired pay for physical disability, whose disability was finally determined to be of a permanent nature and at least 30 percent under the schedule of rating disabilities, and whose retired pay is computed under rates of basic pay in effect after October 11, 1949, and before January 1, 1972, is entitled to have that pay recomputed upon the rates of basic pay in effect on January 1, 1972.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1975
Provides that volunteers in foster grandparent programs administered pursuant to the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 may furnish supportive services to mentally retarded individuals regardless of the age of such individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1975
Wild Horses and Burros Amendments Act - Authorizes the capture and sale or donation of wild horses and burros whenever the Secretary of the Interior determines that such action is necessary to maintain an ecological balance on public lands. Prohibits the donation or sale of such animals unless the Secretary first determines that they will receive humane treatment. Authorizes the Secretary to return, without payment, any horse or burro to any person claiming ownership thereof.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1975
Requires the continued application of the minimum nursing salary cost differential of 8 1/2 percent which is presently allowed in determining the reasonable cost of inpatient nursing care for purposes of reimbursement to providers under the Medicare program of the Social Security Act.
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