United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1980
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, without regard to whether producers of wheat, corn, and feed grains participated in the 1979 Federal program for such crops, to: (1) make nonrecourse loans available to such producers on their 1979 crops; and (2) make emergency loans to such producers, in conjunction with the Commodity Credit Corporation. Authorizes the Secretary to announce and carry out a cropland set-aside program for the 1980 crops of wheat, corn, and feed grains, upon determination that such action is in the public interest due of the suspension of grain exports to the Soviet Union. Authorizes the Secretary to modify and adjust such program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1980
Animal Damage Control Amendments of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to carry out a program for controlling the damage caused by predators of livestock. Requires the Secretary, in conducting such program: (1) to use and permit the use of lethal and nonlethal animal control devices, methods, and chemical toxicants; (2) to undertake research activities concerning chemical toxicants and other nonlethal control techniques; (3) to use preventive control techniques to manage predator populations; and (4) to establish an ad hoc committee to review biannually the Secretary's animal damage control activities. Directs the Secretaries to submit annually a joint report on the development and implementation of such program to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1980
Nuclear Waste Policy Act - Title I: Findings and Purpose - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to: (1) assume Federal responsibility for acquisition and storage of spent fuel and the disposal of radioactive waste from civilian nuclear activities; (2) establish a Federal policy for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste; (3) authorize the Secretary of Energy to acquire or design and construct facilities for nuclear waste interim storage and disposal, and finance the construction, operation and maintenance of such facilities; and (4) examine alternative technologies for nuclear waste disposal. Title II: Definitions - Defines the terms used in this Act. Title III: Interim Storage of Spent Fuel from Civilian Nuclear Powerplants - Declares it to be the policy of the Federal Government to provide, as soon as possible, an assured and predictable capacity for the interim storage of spent fuel from civilian nuclear powerplants. Requires that such policy provide for: (1) maximizing the storage of such spent fuel at each civilian nuclear powerplant site; and (2) the establishment of a federally owned and operated system for the interim storage of spent fuel at one or more away-from-reactor facilities. Directs the Secretary, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other appropriate Federal officials to take such actions as they consider necessary to expedite the use of available storage at each civilian nuclear powerplant site consistent with specified considerations. Directs the Secretary to enter into contracts which provide that the Federal Government will: (1) take title to spent fuel from nuclear powerplants within the United States; (2) transport and store such spent fuel in Federal facilities; and (3) dispose of waste products associated with such spent fuel. Provides for a one-time payment by such electric utility in an amount adequate to cover the proportionate costs of such transportation, storage, and disposal. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire at least one away-from-reactor facility for the interim storage of such spent fuel. Directs the Secretary to: (1) to contract with private industry to provide for the transportation of spent fuel; and (2) use direct Federal services for such transportation only upon a determination of the Secretary of Transportation that private industry is unable or unwilling to provide such services. Directs the Secretary to take possession of and transport to a designated storage facility any spent fuel covered by specified contracts under this Act when an interim away-from-reactor storage facility is available, within 30 days of written notice by the owner that such spent fuel is available. Requires that specified funds be available for fiscal year 1980 to construct or acquire such interim away-from-reactor storage facilities. Title IV: Disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste Resulting from Civilian Nuclear Activities - Directs the Secretary to transmit to Congress within one year from the date of enactment a proposal for a system of at least one facility for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste resulting from civilian nuclear activities. Sets forth the scope and formulation of such proposal. Disallows the consideration by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of any alternative to the statutorily approved site selection or the design criteria. Directs the Secretary to continue and accelerate programs of: (1) research, development, and demonstration of the geologic disposal in mined repositories of high-level radioactive waste from civilian nuclear powerplants, with the objective of completion of construction and initial operation of at least one demonstration repository by January 1, 1988; and (2) research, development, and investigation of alternative technologies for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste from civilian and national defense activities. Directs the Secretary to report findings and recommendations resulting from such programs to Congress in a specified manner. Title V: Financial Arrangements - Establishes in the Treasury of the United States a separate account to provide for the operation of the interim storage and disposal program. Permits the Secretary to borrow from the Treasury such amounts as may subsequently be provided in Appropriation Acts, but not to exceed $300,000,000. Provides for the terms and repayment of such borrowings. Title VI: Low Level Waste - Directs the President to prepare and submit to Congress, within 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a report which: (1) defines the disposal capacity needed; (2) defines and evaluates the status of all commercial low-level nuclear waste disposal sites, including those at specified locations, with recommendations for remedial actions and regulatory reforms which the Secretary considers appropriate; (3) evaluates the transportation requirements; (4) evaluates the ability of the Department of Energy to provide interim storage; (5) estimates costs of such storage; and (6) recommends additional research and development work concerning low-level waste facilities, as needed. Directs the Secretary, in relation to such report and recommendations, to consult with the Governors of the several States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Transportation, and other appropriate agencies and departments.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Expresses the Senate's support for efforts to win the freedom of the hostages in Iran. Calls upon all nations to join in cooperative efforts to restrict relations with Iran. Declares that: (1) any trial or public exploitation of the hostages would be viewed as added provocation; and (2) the American people will not be diverted from their determination that the hostages be freed.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1979
Occupational Safety and Health Improvements Act of 1980 - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to exempt employers who maintain workplaces which qualify as non-hazardous, according to specified standards, from inspections or investigations, with specified exceptions. Directs the Secretary of Labor to enter into agreements with State workers' compensation or other appropriate State agencies under which such State agency will submit an annual list of all employers having one or more reported occupational injuries resulting in two or more lost workdays during the preceding year. Requires employers wishing to claim qualification for such exemptions to file an affidavit with the Secretary relating to the safety records of their workplaces. Limits the type or the amount of penalties which may be assessed against employers who maintain an advisory safety committee and a regular consultation program. Requires employers who qualify for exemptions from inspections or limitations on penalties to maintain records to which the Secretary has access. Provides for review by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and a U.S. court of appeals of rulings by the Secretary that workplaces do not qualify for exemptions from inspection or limitations on penalties. Prohibits considering consultant or committee reports or recommendations or employee assurances under this Act as evidence of a willful violation of such Act if the employer had a reasonable, good faith belief that the condition involved was not a violation. Prohibits specified liability claims against committees or consultants. Directs the Secretary to: (1) assist State agencies to make necessary procedural modifications; (2) report to Congress on State participation; (3) advise employers and employees of the provisions of this Act; (4) require inclusion of the provisions of this Act, or of similar provisions, for approval of State plans; (5) develop and implement other means to identify workplaces qualifying for exemption, as an alternative to the affidavit process; and (6) explore and report on other means to encourage voluntary self- initiative in workplaces to improve safety and health conditions. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to State agencies to improve their administration of State workers' compensation programs. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts through fiscal year 1985 for such purpose. Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1979
Regulatory Flexibility and Administrative Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: The Management, Planning, and Analysis of Regulatory Functions - Defines the term "major rule" as an agency rule that is estimated will have an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more or otherwise will have a major impact. Establishes the Regulatory Policy Board which shall: (1) publish a semiannual Calendar of Federal Regulations containing information on all major rules to be developed or considered by agencies during the next year; (2) identify overlapping and duplicative agency rules; (3) monitor agency compliance with this Title; (4) organize interagency reviews of selected initial regulatory analyses of major rules; and (5) develop methods to reduce duplicative reporting requirements imposed by Federal, State, and local governments. Requires the Executive Director of such Board: (1) in consultation with the Director of the Federal Register, to develop categories for the classification of all agency rules; (2) to compile the classifications of rules which shall be submitted and updated annually by each agency into a comprehensive index of all agency rules; and (3) to publish in the Federal Register instructions for public access to such index. Directs any agency which collects, prepares, or maintains information pertaining to Federal regulatory activities to supply the Board with such information upon request. Requires each regulatory agency: (1) to publish in the Federal Register a semiannual regulatory agenda containing a list of rules the agency expects to propose or promulgate and a description of the areas of regulatory inquiry which the agency will consider during the next year; (2) to solicit public comment on such agenda; (3) to include in the notice of a rulemaking or judicatory proceeding the date by which the agency intends to complete such proceeding; and (4) to notify the public and the Executive Director of any failure to meet such a deadline, of the new completion date, and of the reasons for such a failure. Directs an agency, whenever it is required to publish general notice of a proposed major rule, to prepare and make available to the public an initial regulatory analysis which: (1) describes the need for the rule; (2) describes compliance requirements of the rule; (3) identifies existing duplicative rules; (4) describes alternative approaches for accomplishing the objective of the proposed rule; and (5) describes the economic, health, safety, and environmental effects of the rule. Requires that each agency prepare for each adopted major rule a final regulatory analysis which includes a summary of public comments received on the initial analysis and a justification of the selection of the final rule. Directs each agency to include in the general notice of any proposed rule an initial regulatory flexibility analysis which: (1) describes any adverse economic impact of the rule on individuals, small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions; and (2) discusses alternative regulatory approaches such as varying compliance requirements depending on the resources of the person affected by the rule. Requires each agency to prepare for each final rule a final regulatory flexibility analysis which summarizes comments received on the initial analysis and justifies the selection of the final rule. Specifies techniques through which the head of an agency promulgating a rule shall assure that persons adversely affected by the rule are provided an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking proceeding. Prohibits any Federal agency from: (1) regulating or licensing entry under a scheme when such entry is limited; (2) setting levels for or otherwise controlling the prices, production, or distribution of goods or services; or (3) controlling the terms of agreements among providers and purchasers of goods or services, unless the agency finds such an action to be the least anticompetitive alternative for achieving a statutory goal. Specifies exceptions to the applicability of such prohibition. Requires each agency to establish procedures for notifying the Attorney General of any plans for such an action. Requires each agency to prepare a list of all major rules promulgated by that agency and to publish in the Federal Register a draft schedule for the review over a five-year period of its rules, policies, and practices. Sets forth guidelines for selecting such precepts to review. Directs each agency to publish a final review schedule within one year of the effective date of this Act. Requires that each agency announce the review date for each major rule upon its publication. Requires each agency to publish an assessment of each precept reviewed including a statement of the benefits, adverse effects, costs of such precept, and a determination as to whether the precept should be rescinded, amended, or continued without change. Directs the President to transmit to Congress: (1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of this procedure for reviewing agency precepts; and (2) legislative recommendations for establishing another five-year review period. Requires the Regulatory Policy Board to report to the President and Congress on the regulatory activities of Federal agencies during each of the five fiscal years after the enactment of this Act. Specifies the contents of such report, including an evaluation of agency compliance with this Act. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, for each of the first three fiscal years after enactment of this Act, to monitor agency compliance with regulatory analyses requirements of this Act. Title II: Improving the Efficiency of Administrative Proceedings - Eliminates the exemption from public notice and comment requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act for agency rulemaking concerning Federal loans, grants, and benefits. Exempts from such requirements emergency rules and rules governed by short term statutory or judicial deadlines, provided that an agency complies with such requirements after publication of such a rule when appropriate. Requires each agency: (1) to include in the general notice of proposed rulemaking statements soliciting alternative approaches to the regulatory objective and describing the paperwork requirements of the proposed rule; (2) to resolve controversies concerning proposed major rules through oral or written procedures including informal public hearings, expert advisory councils, and the presentation of witnesses; and (3) to include a response to issues raised by public comments with the statement of the basis and purpose of a final rule. Requires each agency to maintain a file of information on each rulemaking proceeding. Specifies the contents of such file which include: (1) any information which the agency is required to make public; and (2) a record of the source, recipient, and content of any communication with an agency official regarding a proposed major rule. Reorganizes provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act governing adjudication and rulemaking proceedings required by statute to be determined on the record after opportunity for an agency hearing. Declares that if the presiding employee at such a hearing becomes unavailable, another qualified employee shall conclude the hearing. Enumerates the powers of such a presiding employee. Authorizes such employee to cross-examine witnesses and to request the agency to consider and act on interlocutory appeals when action on such appeals would expedite final agency action. Directs such employee to: (1) oversee the expeditious completion of such hearing; and (2) provide a concise record of the important matters of the proceeding. Provides two levels for conducting such adjudication and rulemaking proceedings. Establishes a "general hearing process" which applies to: (1) any rulemaking, ratemaking, or licensing proceeding except a proceeding to withdraw, suspend, or revoke a license or a proceeding before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (2) a proceeding to determine an initial claim of a party, other than an individual, for a subsidy, right, or other benefit; and (3) any other proceeding which the agency determines does not require a "formal hearing" for a fair disclosure of all material facts. Requires a "formal hearing": (1) for all other proceedings required by statute to be determined on the record; and (2) when there is a genuine and substantial dispute of fact in a general hearing which cannot be resolved without formal cross-examination and upon which the decision of the agency is likely to depend. Requires, in any general hearing proceeding, the conduct of a hearing to afford parties an opportunity to submit written data, and, at the request of any party, an opportunity for oral argument. Prohibits any agency employee who performs investigative or prosecuting functions for the agency in such a proceeding from participating in the decision making process of that proceeding. Authorizes the presiding employee at a formal hearing to: (1) rule on offers of proof and relevant evidence; (2) require written testimony and arguments when oral testimony is not required; and (3) upon request, to issue a decision prior to completion of the hearing if there is no substantial dispute of fact. Prohibits any employee presiding over a formal hearing or participating in any decision or review of a decision of such a hearing from: (1) making ex parte communications; or (2) being responsible to an employee or agent performing investigative or prosecuting functions for an agency. Allows: (1) members of employee boards of review to consult with each other; and (2) persons advising a presiding employee to consult with each other and with the presiding employee. Authorizes each agency to establish employee review boards to review the decisions of presiding employees. Directs each agency to specify the conditions under which it will accept an appeal of the decision of such a board or presiding employee. Authorizes an agency to subpoena any person or evidence as necessary in any general or formal hearing proceeding. Sets forth: (1) the civil penalty for persons who fail to comply with a subpoena; and (2) the judicial procedure for enforcement of such a subpoena. Requires each agency to maintain a public file of significant material concerning the major stages of a proceeding. Permits an action to be brought in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the review of an agency rule if there is no applicable special statutory review proceeding. Requires the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States to recruit for administrative law judge positions among all groups of qualified persons. Directs the Chairman, in cooperation with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to examine, rank, certify, and register eligible candidates for such positions. Requires the Conference to certify the names of the ten highest ranked candidates to an agency requesting candidates for such a position. Limits to 350 the number of administrative law judges which may be appointed to positions in the GS-16, GS-17, and GS-18 levels of the General Schedule. Directs the Chairman to select administrative law judges to be detailed from one agency to another upon the consent of the transferring agency and the judge selected. Establishes the Administrative Law Judge Career Service consisting of judges appointed under this Act. Title III: Review of the Effectiveness of and Continuing Need for Government Regulation - Directs the President to establish a Committee on Regulatory Evaluation to advise the President concerning the reform of regulation by Federal agencies. Specifies the composition of the Committee and the compensation of Committee members. Requires the Committee to meet at least twice a year. Directs Congress to evaluate according to a specified schedule the regulatory functions of certain agencies and any reform legislation or report transmitted by the President concerning each such agency. Requires the Committee to examine each agency scheduled for review and to submit to the President any recommendations for legislation for reforming such agency. Directs the President, prior to the scheduled date for congressional review of an agency, to submit to Congress a report and any proposed legislation concerning the regulatory reform of that agency. Requires that such report: (1) examine the impact of each agency's regulatory activities; (2) compare the agency's regulatory policies to those of other agencies; and (3) explain in detail the proposed regulatory reforms or the reasons for not proposing a regulatory reform bill. Sets forth House and Senate procedure for considering such reform legislation. Title IV: The Administrative Conference of the United States - Changes the term of office of the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States to a four year term which coincides with the term of the President. States that at least one-fourth of the members of the Conference appointed by the Chairman shall be representatives of regulated interests. Directs the Conference to establish a Committee on Administrative Procedure to draft procedural rules for agency rulemaking proceedings and adjudications. Requires that such rules be designed to enhance public participation in agency proceedings. Title V: Miscellaneous - Sets forth the effective dates for provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1979
Calls upon all followers of Islam to prevail upon their brethren to: (1) release the American hostages held in Iran; and (2) until they are released, permit them to worship regularly in accordance with their religious faiths and meet with clergy of their faiths.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make hypodermic needles and syringes devices restricted to sale, distribution, or use only upon the written or oral authorization of a licensed practitioner.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1979
Capital Incentive Rate Act of 1979 - Amends the Interstate Commerce Commission Act to eliminate incentive ratemaking. Permits any rate classification, rule, or practice effective before June 30, 1980, to provide an incentive for capital investment in rail carriers to remain in effect for up to five years under specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set the established price for wheat at $3.63 per bushel for the 1979 crop and at $4.08 per bushel for the 1980 crop. Sets the established price for corn at $2.35 per bushel for the 1979 crop and at $2.64 per bushel for the 1980 crop. Declares that the payment rate for grain sorghums and barley shall be such rate as the Secretary of Agriculture determines fair and reasonable in relation to the payment rate for corn. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to extend to the 1980 and 1981 crops of wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, and rice, the farm and prevented planting disaster payment programs. Denies eligibility for such payments to anyone electing to be covered by crop insurance paid for in part by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. Requires the Secretary to notify producers of such commodities of their right to elect between disaster payments and crop insurance coverage. Authorizes the Secretary to require, as a condition of eligibility for specified loans, purchases, and payments, that producers of wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, and rice not exceed the normal crop acreage for the 1980 and 1981 crops adjusted to be fair and equitable among producers. Authorizes the Secretary, in making such requirement, to increase the established price for any such commodity to compensate producers for participation in such commodity program. Directs the Secretary, in making such increases, to take into account consideration changes in production costs resulting from such participation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union should release Ida Nudel and allow her to emigrate to Israel. Urges the President to: (1) express U.S. opposition to the exile of Ida Nudel to Siberia; and (2) inform the Soviet Union that the United States will take into account the extent to which countries honor their commitments under international law, particularly concerning human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1979
Authorizes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Incorporated, to erect a memorial on public grounds in West Potomac Park in the District of Columbia in honor and recognition of the men and women of the armed forces who served in the Vietnam war.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1979
Venture Capital Investment Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to the Securities Act of 1933 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to include within the private offering exemption from full registration any transaction involving securities bearing a legend stating that such securities may not be sold or transferred except to accredited investors provided all purchasers of such securities are accredited investors or persons the issuer reasonably believes to be accredited investors. Exempts from registration (under the exemption for transactions not involving an issuer, underwriter, or dealer) any resale of a security bearing such a legend if the purchaser is an accredited investor or a person reasonably believed to be an accredited investor. Defines the term "accredited investor" to include: (1) banks, insurance companies, investment companies and their subsidiaries, and any fund, trust or account administered by a bank or insurance company; and (2) persons designated by regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission on the basis of expertise or net worth. Provides that a venture capital company engaging in the distribution of restricted securities (securities acquired in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving a public offering) shall not be considered an underwriter if such a company has been the beneficial owner of the restricted securities for a period of at least five years. Defines "venture capital company" for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 to include only those companies which: (1) primarily engage in activities such as providing capital to industry, financing promotional enterprises, purchasing securities for which no ready market exists, or reorganizing companies; and (2) have at least 80 percent of their assets (excluding Government securities, short-term paper, and cash) in securities obtained in connection with a private offering, resale of restricted securities, or corporate reorganization. Title II: Amendments to the Investment Company Act of 1940 - Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to exempt from regulation under such Act as an investment company: (1) any venture capital company which is a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (2) any venture capital company for a period of 180 days after its securities become beneficially owned by more than 100 persons; and (3) any venture capital company which presently proposes to make a public offering of its securities for 180 days after filing its registration statement and 60 days following its effective date or withdrawal, whichever last occurs. Prohibits a venture capital company from: (1) engaging in any business in interstate commerce in which a majority of its directors would be deemed interested if it were an investment company; and (2) selling or disposing of any securities it owns in any manner or amounts except those permitted under the Securities Act of 1933 for securities acquired in a private offering. Restricts the directors, officers, employees, and controlling shareholders of a venture capital company in owning and purchasing securities of the companies in which the venture capital company invests. Permits a venture capital company to register as an investment company though it would be entitled to an exemption under this Act provided it is not a personal holding company as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to promulgate regulations to implement this Act within 180 days of its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1979
Transfers to the Secretary of Agriculture: (1) all range improvement functions currently carried out by the Department of the Interior; and (2) certain obligations, property, funds, and personnel related to such functions.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1979
Directs the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to stay any order, resulting from a court ordered environmental impact statement, canceling or modifying any permit or lease for grazing livestock on the public rangelands, to enable the permittee or lessee to appeal such order and exhaust all applicable administrative remedies.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1979
Federal Firearms Law Reform Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to Gun Control Act - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine: (1) "manufacturer" to mean any person engaged in the "business of manufacturing" (instead of "manufacture" of) firearms or ammunition; and (2) "dealer" to exclude dealers in ammunition and persons engaged in the business of repairing firearms. Adds a new definition "engaged in the business" with respect to manufacturers, dealers, and importers. Includes as a manufacturer of ammunition a person whose gross sales of his own ammunition exceed $1,000 in any calendar year. Includes as a dealer in firearms a person who deals in firearms as a regular course of business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. Replaces the current term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" with a new definition of "disabling crime." Eliminates certain activities regarding ammunition from the coverage of the current prohibitions. Revises current provisions respecting the interstate sale or transfer of firearms. Revises the current prohibition against selling a firearm or ammunition to certain persons (such as persons under indictment for a felony or addicted to drugs) to apply such prohibition only to persons convicted of a "disabling crime." Revises the current prohibition against certain persons transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce to: (1) extend such prohibition to possession or receipt in commerce or affecting commerce of any firearm or ammunition; (2) conform such prohibition to the new "disabling crime" provision; and (3) include as additional categories illegal aliens, persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and persons who have renounced their United States citizenship. Makes the same changes to the current prohibition against certain persons who receive a firearm or ammunition which has been transported in interstate commerce, but applies such prohibition to persons who are employed by the enumerated categories of individuals. Excludes ammunition dealers from the current licensing requirements. Stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury may revoke a license only where the holder of such license has "knowingly" violated a provision of the Act or regulation. Bars the Secretary from denying or revoking a license on the basis of violations under this Act which are alleged in criminal proceedings instituted against a licensee, where such individual is not convicted of such charges. Imposes as a condition for the inspection or examination of records or documents and any firearm or ammunition kept by an importer, manufacturer, or dealer pursuant to this Act that the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred and that evidence may be found on the premises of such persons. Restricts the firearm information obtained from licensees which the Secretary may make available to State or local governments. Establishes a limited recordkeeping requirement for firearms collectors. Stipulates that the general penalty under this Act shall apply to whoever "willfully" violates any provision. Prohibits, with respect to a person's second or subsequent conviction for illegally using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, the granting of parole before completion of the minimum sentence. Amends the forfeiture provision to subject to seizure any firearm or ammunition "involved in or used" in any violation of the Act (instead of "involved in or used or intended to be used"). Requires a court to award attorney's fees to the prevailing party (other than the United States) in an action or proceeding for the return of seized firearms or ammunition. Allows the court to award such fees in any other action upon a finding that the action was initiated in bad faith. Amends the rulemaking authority of the Secretary to provide that no regulation may require the transfer of records required under this Act to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or the establishment of any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions. Requires a 90-day public comment period for proposed regulations (no period is currently specified). Allows one House of Congress to disapprove by resolution any firearms regulation within 90 days of continuous session of the promulgation of such rule. Requires that resolutions of disapproval be immediately referred to only those standing committees having legislative responsibility for this Act. Allows a sponsor of any such resolution to move to discharge from further consideration a committee which does not report out the resolution within 45 days of continuous session of Congress. States that it shall be in order to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution any time after a committee has reported or has been discharged from further consideration. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any rules identical to regulations disapproved by Congress without the enactment of additional legislation respecting his authority. Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing regulations which require purchasers of black powder to complete affidavits or forms attesting to their exemption from certain provisions of the Federal criminal code. Makes any law or regulation promulgated by any State prohibiting the transfer of an unloaded and not readily accessible firearm or ammunition null and void. Title II: Amendments to title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Repeals title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (relating to the receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms by felons, veterans dishonorably discharged, mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and persons renouncing their United States citizenship).
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1979
Lamb Meat Quota Act of 1979 - Limits the aggregate quantity of lamb meat that may be imported into the United States after 1979 to the smaller of: (1) 24,500,000 pounds; or (2) ten percent of the domestic slaughter of land during the preceding year. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to estimate quarterly whether the domestic price of lamb exceeds the parity price and, on the basis of such estimate, to adjust the aggregate quantity of lamb meat which may enter the United States. Requires the Secretary to estimate annually the quota established, the domestic price of lamb, and any adjustment of the quota. Directs the Secretary to allocate such quotas among supplying countries on the basis of their share of the U.S. market.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1979
Antiquities Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Antiquities Act to define "objects of historic or scientific interest" to include specified items. Stipulates that such objects must be directly associated with human activities. Requires congressional approval of any Presidential proclamation of a national monument before it can effect a reservation of public lands in excess of 5,000 acres. Permits the continuance of uses of public lands within a national monument which were valid uses prior to the designation of such lands as a monument, including hunting, guiding, hiking, boating, and use of motorized vehicles. Stipulates that such uses must not adversely affect the objects sought to be protected by the reservation. Grants such provisions governing the proclamation of national monuments retroactive effect as of October 14, 1978. Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to require congressional approval of withdrawals of public lands in excess of 5,000 acres by the Secretary of the Interior.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1979
Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to stipulate that an individual who is employed by the National Transportation Safety Board shall not lose his or her "current connection with the railroad industry" for purposes of benefit eligibility under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1979
Western Lands Distribution and Regional Equalization Act of 1979 - Title I: Short Title; Findings and Declaration of Policy; Definitions - States that the practice of retaining Federal ownership to territory within the borders of States located west of the one-hundredth meridian as a condition precedent to their admission into the Union, has impinged on the sovereignty of such States in derogation of the tenth amendment to the Constitution. Declares that the United States shall hold all such States federally owned, unreserved, and unappropriated lands in trust for such States and shall transfer ownership and administration of such lands to such States when they have adopted legislation which provides a uniformity of State and Federal law relating to land administration, conservation and use. Excludes from transfer in implementing such policy all Federal lands within national parks, national monuments, and national wildlife and migratory bird sanctuaries established prior to January 1, 1979, lands within Indian or military reservations, and lands necessary for the operation of Federal reclamation projects, shipyards docks, defense establishments and other Federal buildings. Title II: Federal Land Transfer Board - Authorizes the Governor of any State seeking to acquire such unreserved and unappropriated lands to petition the President within 60 months of the enactment of this Act to establish a Federal Land Transfer Board for such State. Directs the President to establish such a Board consisting of State and Federal members within 90 days of the receipt of such an application. States that the Board shall serve until all conveyances of such lands within the State are carried out. Requires each Federal Land Transfer Board to coordinate its activities with the State land commission established pursuant to this Act. Directs each Board to carry out the required land transfers within two years of its determination that a State's application meets the requirements of this Act. Empowers the Land Transfer Boards to resolve land claims and disputes arising from the implementation of this Act. Grants any State aggrieved by a decision of a Land Transfer Board on its application the right to a public hearing and review before the Board. Empowers the United States courts of appeals to hear appeals from final orders of the Boards. States that judicial review shall be on the record made before the Board and that the Board's findings shall be conclusive if supported by substantial evidence. States that the judgment of the court of appeals shall be subject to review only by the United States Supreme Court upon a writ of certiorari or certification. Title III: State Land Commissions - Requires each State seeking the conveyance of unreserved and unappropriated land under this Act, to establish a State land commission board to: (1) hold any transferred lands in trust for all people of the United States; (2) manage such lands to maximize conservation and permit compatible land uses; (3) protect the interests of persons who have acquired rights in such land under Federal law; (4) collect fees, rents, and royalties, issue licenses, conduct surveys and perform other administrative functions relating to such lands; (5) transfer to the United States those property interests necessary to continue lawful, Federal activities; and (6) continue to administer lands previously administered by the United States pursuant to a treaty or interstate compact in conformance with the terms of such treaty or compact. Directs each State land commission board to coordinate its activities with the appropriate Federal Land Transfer Board. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Declares that the United States shall retain control over the oceans, seas, navigable rivers, streams, and lakes, and projects of the Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. Directs the President to modify agreements with other nations if necessary to implement this Act. Grants the consent of Congress to any interstate compact relating to the management and use of such lands if it has been approved by the appropriate Federal Land Transfer Boards. Sets forth provisions to assist individuals whose employment is disrupted by implementation of this Act. Authorizes each Federal agency with jurisdiction over lands conveyed to a State under this Act, to extend low interest loans to such State to insure that it is financially able to comply with the provisions of this Act. Limits the amount of such loans to the anticipated mineral, timber, and grazing revenues derived from such transferred lands over a ten-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
United States Olympic Development Fund Checkoff Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers to designate on their income tax returns that either $1 of any tax refund or $1 of any contribution which the taxpayer forwards with his return shall be payable to the United States Olympic Development Fund. Establishes the United States Olympic Development Fund under the auspices of the Secretary of the Treasury for the receipt of tax contributions and payment to the United States Olympic Development Fund. Directs the United States Olympic Committee to use such funds for a program to expand and improve amateur athletics in the United States. Requires reports on the expenditure of such funds to be submitted by the United States Olympic Committee and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Declares that it is the sense of the Senate that no office building should be constructed for the Senate after the date on which this resolution is agreed to, other than any office building which is under construction on such date.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1979
Savings and Investment Encouragement Act of 1979 - Title I: Incentives for Individual Saving - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $100 of the interest earned on a savings account. Permits an exclusion of up to $500 for interest which is reinvested in a savings account. Excludes from gross income up to $500 of dividends received which are reinvested in the stock of domestic corporations. Requires that the sum of the adjusted basis of stock in domestic corporations held by the taxpayer plus the amount held in a savings account (investment base) on the last day of a taxable year exceed the investment base of the taxpayer as of the first day of such taxable year, plus the amount of dividends and interest excludible for such taxable year. Title II: Incentives for New Plant and Equipment - Revises the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the cost recovery period. Permits taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year. Title III: Incentives for Research and Development - Qualifies research and development expenditures related to a trade or business for the investment tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income a corporate stock distribution to a stockholder based upon the reinvestment of stock dividends in the corporation by such stockholder pursuant to his election to participate in a qualified dividend reinvestment plan, as defined in this Act. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $1,500 per year. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a distribution made by a corporation which purchases its common stock within one year of such distribution shall not be deemed a distribution pursuant to a qualified dividend reinvestment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1979
Venture Capital Company Act of 1979 - Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to exempt any qualified venture capital company from regulation under such Act as an investment company if it has a class of equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Provides a limited exemption to venture capital companies whose securities are owned by more than 100 persons or which proposes to make a public offering of its securities. Defines "established venture capital company" to qualify for such exemptions only those companies which: (1) have been engaged in specified promotional activities for the preceding five continuous years; and (2) have 60 percent of their net assets in securities which were acquired in transactions not involving registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Requires any exempted venture capital company whose securities are owned by more than 100 persons to have a majority of outside, independent directors on its board. Requires any such company to sell or dispose of the securities it owns only in the manner and amounts permitted by the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 governing the sale of securities acquired in transactions not involving a public offering. Restricts the directors, officers, employees and controlling shareholders of any such company in owning and purchasing securities of the companies in which it invests.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1979
Veteran Senior Citizen Health Care Act of 1979 - States the purposes of this Act to be: (1) to provide for the increasing demand for geriatric and extended health care and medical services being placed on the Veterans' Administration (VA) hospital system; and (2) to make the VA hospital system foremost in the area of geriatric health care and the repository of gerontology medical knowledge. Directs that within the Office of the Chief Medical Director of the VA one Assistant Chief Medical Director shall be doctor of geriatrics, and shall be responsible for the VA's geriatric services. Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to designate 15 VA hospitals as demonstration centers of geriatric research, education, and clinical operations. Stipulates that such centers shall operate until September 30, 1983. Directs the Administrator to provide that: (1) each hospital operating as a geriatric center on the date of enactment of this Act be designated as the location for a demonstration center; and (2) such designated hospitals be geographically dispersed across the United States. Directs the Administrator to establish a Geriatrics and Extended Care Task Force within the VA's Special Medical Advisory Group. Stipulates that such Task Force shall assess: (1) the VA's capability to provide geriatric services on a sustained and growing basis to eligible veterans; and (2) the current and projected needs for geriatric and extended health services among eligible veterans. Requires such Task Force to submit a report to the Administrator and the Special Medical Advisory Group within 18 months after the effective date of this Act. Directs the Administrator to transmit such report, (within 90 days of receipt) along with any comments, to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. Requires a final report to be submitted by such Task Force within four years of the effective date of this Act. Authorizes appropriations of: (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1980; (2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1981; (3) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1982; and (4) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the formula for the determination of the basis of the deduction for disaster losses to take into account the replacement cost of the destroyed property. Sets such basis at the sum of the adjusted basis (for determining loss from the sale or other disposition of property), plus the excess of the replacement cost over the unadjusted basis of such property.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1979
Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the President to enter into treaties or other agreements with countries contiguous to the United States for the purpose of air pollution control in border areas. Directs the Secretary of State to take appropriate diplomatic actions to reduce or eliminate air pollution adversely affecting any area of the United States and originating in another country. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the percentage of air pollutants in border areas resulting from foreign sources and to eliminate such percentage in determining compliance with ambient air quality standards by such region.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1979
Directs the Commissioner of Education to make a grant to Tuskegee Institute to construct a building on the campus in memory of the late General Daniel "Chappie" James. Stipulates that such building shall: (1) contain the papers and memorabilia concerning James; and (2) serve as the Tuskegee Institute Art Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits a taxpayer to deduct less the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Amends the Small Business Act to establish interest rates and conditions on the following Small Business Administration disaster loans for disasters occurring between October 1, 1978, and October 1, 1982: (1) homeowner's loans; (2) business loans where the applicant is unable to obtain sufficient credit from non-Federal sources at reasonable terms; and (3) business loans where the applicant is able to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere. Makes any agricultural enterprise ineligible for such business loans prior to October 1, 1982, if it is eligible for emergency loan assistance from the Farmers Home Administration under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish interest rates and conditions for emergency loans to qualified agricultural enterprises.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1979
Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to extend the time periods within which: (1) the regulatory authority is required to process and decide upon permit applications submitted by the operators of surface coal mines in expectation of operating such mines; (2) each State must submit to the Secretary of the Interior a State program which demonstrates that such State has the capability of carrying out the provisions of such Act; (3) the Secretary must prepare, promulgate and implement a Federal program for a State which failed to submit an acceptable program within the specified time; and (4) each State must submit a program covering surface coal mining and reclamation operations. Eliminates the time extension for States which require an Act of the State legislature to achieve compliance with such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1979
Declares that the special allocation of middle distillates for agricultural production shall remain in effect until August 1, 1981, notwithstanding other provisions of law.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the coverage of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act full time students who work for camps for fewer than 13 weeks during the year.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Directs that the sorrow and regret felt by the Senate at the announcement of the death of the Honorable Leverett Saltonstall, late a Senator from Massachusetts, be communicated to the House of Representatives and the family of the deceased. Directs the President of the Senate to appoint a committee to attend the funeral. Declares that when the Senate recesses, it does so as a further mark of respect to the deceased.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1979
Expresses the congressional intention that the President initiate negotiations with other oil importing nations to establish a Council of Oil Importing Nations to negotiate for reasonable oil prices with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Directs the President to develop and submit to such Council a set of appropriate sanctions to be used by such Council to encourage compliance with negotiated oil prices. Requires the President to report to Congress concerning progress with such negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1979
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exclude from its coverage any individual certified by a private nonprofit institution of higher education to be a full-time student at that institution and employed by that institution as a resident assistant or counselor living in a resident hall or dormitory of such an institution.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1979
Amends the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act to exclude from the definition of "employee" any person engaged in the manufacture, repair, servicing, or sale of recreational or fishing boats, unless such person is: (1) so engaged on or over the navigable waters of the United States (as defined prior to the enactment of P.L. 92-576); and (2) not otherwise covered by State workers' compensation law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Allows a person to be sentenced to death for a violation of Federal law only if a separate sentencing hearing is conducted before: (1) the jury which determined such person's guilt; (2) a jury impaneled for such purpose; or (3) the court, upon motion of the defendant and the approval of the court and the Government. Requires the court to disclose all material in any presentence report, except as required to be withheld to protect human life or national security, but prohibits any such information withheld from being considered in determining a sentence of death. Permits any mitigating information to be presented regardless of its admissibility under the rules of evidence, but requires aggravating factors to be governed by such rules. Requires the Government to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that aggravating factors exist. Requires the defendant to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that mitigating factors exist. Requires the jury or court to return special findings setting forth any such factors found to exist. Requires the court to sentence the defendant to death upon a unanimous finding of the jury that such sentence should be imposed. Enumerates the mitigating and aggravating factors to be considered in determining whether to impose the death sentence. Changes the penalty for first degree murder of foreign officials, official guests, or internationally protected persons from life imprisonment to death. Makes kidnapping punishable by death if the death of any person results. Changes the maximum penalty for rape from death or life imprisonment to life imprisonment. Imposes the penalty of death or life imprisonment where in the commission of a bank robbery death results. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to repeal the provision setting forth the procedure for determining the death sentence with respect to aircraft piracy. Prohibits a death sentence from being carried out on a pregnant woman. Allows a defendant to appeal a sentence of death to the court of appeals. Directs such court to affirm the sentence upon its determination that: (1) the sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor; (2) the evidence supports the finding of the existence of any aggravating factor or the failure to find any mitigating factor; and (3) the sentence is not excessive, considering the crime and the defendant. Stipulates that the sentencing procedure established by this Act shall not apply to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1979
Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1965 to stipulate that any person who presents a Medicare card when boarding or paying mass transit fares shall receive the reduced rates for the elderly or handicapped as provided in such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada should meet to discuss energy issues and establish a common economic bond of energy cooperation.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1979
Antiquities Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Antiquities Act to define "objects of historic or scientific interest" to include specified items. Stipulates that such objects must be directly associated with human activities. Requires congressional approval of any Presidential proclamation of a national monument before it can effect a reservation of public lands in excess of 5,000 acres. Permits the continuance of uses of public lands within a national monument which were valid uses prior to the designation of such lands as a monument, including hunting, guiding, hiking, boating, and use of motorized vehicles. Stipulates that such uses must not adversely affect the objects sought to be protected by the reservation. Grants such provisions governing the proclamation of national monuments retroactive effect as of October 14, 1978. Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to require congressional approval of withdrawals of public lands in excess of 5,000 acres by the Secretary of the Interior.
![Official portrait of Sen. Tower, John G. [R-TX]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000322_200.jpg)