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United States · Official source
2,949 records where Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1980
Designates the week of September 21 through 27, 1980, as "National Cystic Fibrosis Week."
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1980
Federal Nuclear Operations Management and Safety Corps Act - Establishes an independent agency to be known as the Federal Nuclear Operations Management and Safety Corps to be headed by a presidentially-appointed Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to appoint and employ officers and employees as are necessary to perform functions vested in him and to establish advisory boards to advise with and make recommendations on policies and other matters. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish, direct, manage, and provide for the Corps; (2) establish an academy and to develop and maintain a training program for all Corps personnel and their supervisors charged under terms and conditions of this Act with responsibility for nuclear facility operation and safety; (3) provide for staffing each nuclear facility, including facilities for the production, utilization, transport, or storage of nuclear source material, fuels, or waste, with Corps or Corps-trained staff; (4) carry out a research and problem analysis program relating to the Corps; and (5) provide for the dissemination of information on nuclear facility operations, management, safety, efficiency, design changes, and other matters among and between Corps field staff, design groups of appropriate vendor companies, architectural engineering firms, standards and licensing groups at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other responsible agencies. Directs the Administrator to develop plans and policies relating to the operation and control of: (1) the fission or fusion process in nuclear powered electric generating stations by Corps resident inspectors under emergency situations; and (2) reprocessing facilities, waste storage and disposal sites, and transportation systems. States that such policy shall be implemented as part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, or the Department of Transportation, licensing procedures. Directs the Administrator to order and carry out changes in standard operational procedures under emergency procedure directives where safety to facility personnel and the general public warrant. Requires that the Administrator submit an annual report to the Congress on the activities of the Administration and sets forth the components of such report. States that nothing in this Act is to be construed as affecting the: (1) regulatory and licensing authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or successor agencies, or the Departments of Energy or Transportation over the design, construction or operation of nuclear facilities or transportation, except to modify relevant standards to require, as part of the license application and compliance, that each facility have such Corps or Corps trained staff as determined under this Act; or (2) requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Directs the Administrator to develop a plan for implementing the duties and responsibilities of the Corps and to submit such plan to the Congress for its approval. Transfers to the Corps all of the functions, personnel, and funds of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission relating to nuclear facility personnel training, inspection programs, and plant observer programs. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1980
Designates the week of September 21 through 27, 1980, as "National Cystic Fibrosis Week."
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1980
Fair Commercial Reporting Practices Act of 1980 - Sets forth rights and procedures applicable to businesses which are the subject of commercial credit reports. Excludes from the coverage of this Act any consumer reporting agency, consumer report, or user of information which is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Delimits the circumstances in which a commercial reporting agency may furnish a commercial report. Requires a user of a commercial report to notify a person in writing whenever credit, insurance, or other benefits have been denied (or charges increased) based on a commercial report. Requires such notification to include: (1) the identity of the commercial reporting agency; and (2) such person's right to request a copy of the report and to correct an erroneous report. Requires a commercial reporting agency, upon request of any person, to: (1) disclose all information in its files on such person; (2) permit all such information to be copied; (3) disclose to such person the sources of all information; and (4) disclose the names of all recipients of any commercial report which the agency has furnished within a six-month period. Directs a commercial reporting agency to reinvestigate the status of information which is disputed by any person (unless it has reasonable grounds to believe such dispute is frivolous or irrelevant), and to delete promptly inaccurate or unverifiable information. Entitles a business to file a brief statement of disagreement if such reinvestigation does not resolve the dispute. Requires a commercial reporting agency to maintain reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible accuracy of its information. Prohibits any such agency from: (1) furnishing adverse information which antedates the commercial report by more than ten years (except with respect to credit transactions or life insurance underwriting involving $500,000 or more); (2) obtaining information by implying that failure to do so will result in adverse consequences; (3) furnishing negative information or recommending that credit not be extended because of a business' failure to cooperate with the reporting agency; (4) furnishing a report which indicates that a business has been denied credit, if the sole reason for such denial is lack of sufficient information, unless the report so states; and (5) lowering the credit rating of a business unless that business is notified of such action in writing within 30 days of such action. Makes a commercial reporting agency or user of information which willfully or negligently fails to comply with the requirements of this Act civilly liable to the person affected in any appropriate Federal district court without regard to the amount in controversy, or in any court of competent jurisdiction. Establishes criminal penalties for any person who willfully and knowingly obtains information on a person from a commercial reporting agency under false pretenses.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1980
Congratulates the members of the 1980 U.S. Winter Olympic team, its coaches and officials for a job well done. Recognizes the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee and the people of the Lake Placid area for their successful efforts in organizing and producing the XIII Winter Olympic Games.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1980
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of May 11 through 17 as "National Small Business Week."
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1980
Condemns the use of lethal chemical agents against the Hmong tribespeople in Laos and any such use in Kampuchea (Cambodia) and Afghanistan. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should: (1) take action to bring about the cessation of such poison gas use; (2) direct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Committee on Disarmament to express strong concern over such use and reach agreement with the Soviet Union on a general prohibition of chemical warfare; and (3) report to the Congress concerning actions taken.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1980
Public Prosecutor Act of 1980 - Title I: Judicial Code Amendments - Establishes within the Department of Justice the Office of the Public Prosecutor under the direction of the Public Prosecutor appointed by the President. Directs the Public Prosecutor to exercise the powers granted by this Act independent of supervision by the President or Attorney General. Requires the President to appoint a Deputy Public Prosecutor who is not of the same political party as the Public Prosecutor. Provides that the Public Prosecutor and Deputy Public Prosecutor shall hold office for single six-year terms. Sets forth the qualifications for such officials and the circumstances under which they may be removed from office. Grants jurisdiction to the Public Prosecutor to exercise the power specified by this Act, concurrent with those of the Attorney General, with respect to any matter for which there is reasonable cause to believe involves the violation of any Federal criminal law (other than a petty offense) by the following individuals: (1) the President or Vice President; (2) a Member of Congress; (3) the Director or Deputy Director of Central Intelligence; (4) the Commissioner of Internal Revenue; (5) individuals working in the Executive Office of the President who are compensated at least at the level IV rate; (6) individuals working in the Department of Justice who are compensated at least at the level III rate; (7) individuals working at level I and II positions of the Executive Schedule; (8) employees of Congress compensated at least at the annual rate of $35,000; (9) the administrative assistant, chief legislative assistant, and press secretary for each Member of Congress; (10) employees of Congress designated to handle campaign funds; and (11) a national campaign manager of a presidential campaign. Directs the Attorney General, upon notice from the Public Prosecutor that an investigation is pending, to refrain from any investigation or prosecution with respect to the same subject matter. Authorizes the Public Prosecutor, upon notice from the Attorney General that an investigation is likely to involve the Public Prosecutor's jurisdiction, to assume sole responsibility for the investigation, participate in such investigation with the Attorney General, or defer to the Attorney General's supervision. Enumerates the powers of the Public Prosecutor, including all those with respect to criminal investigations, prosecutions, civil proceedings, and appeals which would otherwise be vested in the Attorney General. Directs the Public Prosecutor to report annually to the congressional judiciary committees with respect to implementation of this Act, including legislative recommendations to insure ethics within the Government. Title II: Criminal Code Amendments - Amends the Federal criminal code to include the Public Prosecutor, the Deputy Public Prosecutor, and their staff members among those to whom specified crimes relating to conflicts of interest are applicable. Extends the current prohibition against the disclosure of confidential information by Government employees to include the disclosure of information or evidence obtained by the Public Prosecutor. Title III: Miscellaneous - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should implement the objectives of the International Year of Disabled Persons (1981).
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 60 percent to 80 percent the income deduction allowed to individuals with respect to net capital gain from equity investment to small business.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1980
Imported Oil Reduction Act of 1980 - Directs the President to prohibit the importation of 30 percent or more of current U.S. imports of crude oil and petroleum products from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Requires the President to increase such prohibited amount monthly after January 1, 1981, until imports from OPEC members are eliminated. Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to redefine a "severe energy supply interruption" necessary for purposes of implementing a rationing plan to be a daily shortfall of five percent (presently 20 percent) or more of projected daily demand for gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1980
Prohibits the direct or indirect importation of products from the Soviet Union, until the President certifies to Congress that Soviet troops have been withdrawn from Afghanistan. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit exports from the United States, or by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, to the Soviet Union, until the President certifies to Congress that Soviet troops have been withdrawn from Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should not participate in the 1980 summer Olympics, unless Soviet troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan; and (2) further economic restrictions against the Soviet Union should be imposed, including an embargo of exports from the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Authority Amendments of 1979 - Amends the National Housing Act to remove the specific dollar limitations on the original principal obligation of a mortgage which may be purchased by the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) under the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act. Limits such purchasing authority to mortgages in an amount which would make a residence or project eligible for mortgage insurance under the applicable Federal insurance program. Permits such amounts to be raised by up to ten percent in high cost areas determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Limits the sales price of a principal residence covered by a mortgage which may be purchased under the emergency authority of the GNMA to 105 percent of such maximum mortgage amount which may be raised an additional ten percent in high-cost areas. Eliminates the 7 1/2 percent interest rate limitation on mortgage loans eligible for purchase. Permits the Secretary to establish the maximum interest rate at a level consistent with market conditions provided it does not exceed the maximum rate on mortgages eligible for Federal insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to direct the Federal National Mortgage Association, when specified economic conditions exist, to make commitments to purchase, and to purchase mortgages to promote the construction of multifamily rental housing. Eliminates the requirement that such a mortgage purchase involve an original principal obligation not to exceed a specified dollar amount limitation. Stipulates that, in the case of a one-to four-family dwelling, such mortgage may be purchased only if it involves a principal residence the sales price of which does not exceed 120 percent of the appropriate mortgage dollar amount limitation set forth in such Act, except that the Secretary may increase any such dollar amount limitation by an amount not to exceed 25 percent in any geographical area where he finds that cost levels require such action.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to establish a Presidential Commission on National Service to examine the need and feasibility of establishing a comprehensive national service program. Requires the Commission to submit to Congress and the President interim reports and a final report on its examination accompanied by any legislative recommendations. Directs the President or an agency head designated by the President: (1) upon submission of such report, to ascertain the views of agencies affected by the Commission's recommendations; (2) to report to Congress on the feasibility and cost of implementing such recommendations; and (3) to submit a final report to Congress detailing the actions taken by executive agencies with respect to such recommendations. Terminates the Commission 180 days after the submission of its final report.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate June 27, 1980, as "Helen Keller Day."
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to proclaim the week of October 5 through October 11, 1980, as "National Diabetes Week."
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of April 6 through April 12, 1980, as "National Medic Alert Week."
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate May 1, 1980, as "National Save the Children Day."
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
Northeast Corridor Completion Act of 1979 - Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to extend the time period within which (1) regularly scheduled and dependable intercity rail passenger service is to be established between Boston and New York and New York and Washington, D.C.; and (2) the National Railroad Passenger Corporation must submit to the President and to Congress an updated, comprehensive report on the financial and operating results of such service. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated to effectuate the establishment of such service. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire any real property which the Secretary deems necessary to effectuate such service. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts with cost- sharing parties to permit the Secretary to incur obligations to carry out improvements in anticipation of reimbursement from such parties. Permits the Secretary to transfer to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation excess real or personal property from the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project. Establishes a goal of self- sufficiency for such intercity passenger service within five years of the completion of such Project. Amends the Department of Transportation Act to authorize the Secretary to establish a working capital fund for financing the activities of the Transportation Systems Center, including research and analysis.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 1979
Small Business Tax Reduction Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the tax on corporate income: (1) from 17 percent to 15 percent of the first $25,000; (2) by increasing the range of the 30 percent rate from $50,000-$75,000 to $50,000-$100,000; (3) by increasing the range of the 40 percent rate from $75,000-$100,000-$100,000-$150,000; and (4) by including the minimum threshold for the 46 percent rate from $100,000 to $150,000.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1979
Georges Bank Protection Act - Provides measures for the protection of fishery resources on the Georges Bank from environmental degradation due to oil and gas well drilling activities. Establishes a biological task force composed of specified Federal agency appointees to make recommendations for the protection of such resources to the Secretary of the Interior. States that such task force shall exist during the entire period of oil and gas activity on the Georges Bank. Requires the President to direct the appropriate agencies to: (1) expedite the promulgation of regulations concerning safety, enforcement, and the Fishermen's Contingency Fund, under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978; and (2) complete the reports relating to at-sea spill cleanup and mitigation mandated by the requirements of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Control Plan.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1979
Small Business Export Development Act of 1979 - Title I: Small Business Administration Export Development Programs - Amends the Small Business Act to establish within the Small Business Administration (SBA) an Office of International Trade. Directs the Office to promote sales opportunities for small business goods and services overseas by: (1) providing small businesses with access to current and complete export information; (2) providing assistance to States and other entities through the small business export development grant program; (3) promoting greater small business participation with programs under the Department of Commerce; and (4) providing technical advice to SBA personnel involved in granting loans and other forms of assistance to small businesses engaged in exports. Requires the Office to assign export development specialists to each SBA regional office to assist small businesses: (1) in obtaining export information and assistance from other Federal departments; (2) by maintaining a current directory of all programs pertaining to exports within the region; (3) by encouraging financial institutions to expand and develop programs for export financing; and (4) by providing counseling pursuant to export sales. Authorizes the SBA to make grants to any State government or other entity (applicant) which has established an overseas office to assist such applicant in operating its small business export development program. Provides that such grants shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of such program (limited to $150,000 in any one calendar year). Declares that such grants shall be limited to one applicant in each region during the two fiscal years following enactment of this Act. Sets forth terms and conditions for an applicant to participate in such program. Directs the SBA to develop a plan to evaluate such grant program by: (1) determining its impact on small business; (2) determining the amount of export sales generated; and (3) making recommendations concerning its continuation or expansion and possible improvements. Requires such evaluation to be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees by October 1, 1982. Authorizes specified sums to the SBA to carry out programs promulgated under this title. Title II: Commercial Ministers, Commercial Counselors and Commercial Attaches - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to appoint commercial ministers, counselors, and attaches (who shall be employees of the Department of Commerce) for service in the United States and abroad to carry out the purposes of this title. Requires commercial attaches to participate in training sessions designed by the Secretary in cooperation with the Department of State, the Foreign Service Institute, and other Federal agencies. Declares that such training shall include the study of export and import programs pursuant to the needs of United States businesses for export information and assistance. Declares that such commercial employees shall be accorded the same rank and privileges as other comparable employees posted in United States embassies and consulates abroad. Directs the Secretary of State to attach such commercial employees to the diplomatic mission in the country to which they are assigned by the Secretary of Commerce, and to obtain such diplomatic privileges and immunities enjoyed by comparable Foreign Service personnel. Sets forth the functions and duties of such commercial employees, including all areas of trade and commercial services and export promotion relative to United States interests within their districts. Requires such employees to report semiannually to the Secretary of Commerce on the following information within their districts: (1) market conditions, commercial developments, and economic climate; (2) implementation of and compliance with multilateral and bilateral trade agreements; (3) specific industry and commodity conditions; (4) foreign law and business practices affecting United States interests; and (5) trade opportunities on an industry by industry basis. Directs such employees to maintain and make available current data on the commercial standing and capacity of foreign firms within their districts and any other functions and duties prescribed by the Secretary. Allows any officer or employee assigned to a post abroad to be assigned for duty in the continental United States, at the discretion of the Secretary, for a period of not more than three years. Directs the Secretary of State, at the request of the Secretary of Commerce, to provide office space, equipment, and administrative and clerical personnel deemed necessary for commercial employees to carry out their functions and duties. Authorizes each Federal agency, at the request of the Secretary, to make available its services, personnel, and facilities to such employees. Directs such commercial employees to make available any reports and dispatches to the Department of State, the Small Business Administration, and any other interested Government agencies. Makes available to such employees representative allowances, allowances and benefits, advance payment for rent and other services, and funds for courtesies to foreign representatives. Title III: National Export Council - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President a National Export Council and sets forth its membership and functions. Declares that the Council shall serve as a national advisory body on matters relating to United States export trade. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide the Council with administrative and staff services, and support and facilities deemed necessary in the performance of its functions. Provides travel and per diem assistance as authorized by law. Directs the Council to report to Congress by March 31 of each year on its activities. Appropriates sums as may be necessary to carry out this title.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of the Senate, effective October 1, 1979, to make payment out of the Senator's Official Expense Account to a Senator or employee in his or her office whenever such Senator or employee has incurred an expense for which reimbursement may be made out of such account. Subjects such payment to the existing terms and conditions that apply to such accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1979
Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation. Prohibits: (1) the use of statistical differences in determining whether such discrimination exists; or (2) requiring quotas as a remedy.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1979
Incorporates the results of specified reports and the revised National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan into Georges Bank oil lease operations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1979
Amends the Small Business Act to increase the loan limitations to small business concerns for the following: (1) plant construction, or residential or commercial construction; (2) organizations for the handicapped and such concerns established, acquired, or operated by the handicapped; (3) such concerns located in urban or rural areas of high unemployment or low-income individuals, or those concerns owned by low-income individuals; and (4) solar energy and energy conservation measures.
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 · 8 November 1979
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) all countries and all people be urged to respond generously to Cambodian relief efforts; (2) Cambodian authorities be encouraged to allow the use of all possible avenues for delivering food and medical supplies; and (3) the United States and the United Nations should express their expectation that the great power supporters of the factions in Cambodia share in international responsibility for averting famine.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1979
Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Act of 1979 - Amends the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 to include in the definitions of the terms "United States" and "State" the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession over which the United States has jurisdiction. Directs the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to implement and administer a national recreational boating safety and facilities improvement program. Authorizes the Secretary to allocate funds to States for accepted State recreational boating safety and facilities improvement programs if sufficient State matching funds are available. Directs the Secretary to accept State programs that include: (1) an approved vessel numbering system; (2) a cooperative boating safety assistance program with the Coast Guard; (3) sufficient patrol to enforce applicable State laws; (4) boating safety education; (5) a State agency to implement or coordinate the program and report to the Secretary; and (6) facilities improvement. Sets forth formulas for the allocation of funds among the States. Establishes in the Treasury a National Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Fund from which the Secretary may allocate funds for accepted State programs. Requires that revenues attributable to the taxes on special motor fuels and gasoline used in motorboats be covered into such Fund. Authorizes appropriations for such State programs of $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1981 through 1984. Amends the Highway Revenue Act of 1956 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer certain amounts from the taxes received from special motor fuels and gasoline used in motorboats to the National Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1979
Equal Access to Communications Act of 1979 - Title I: Access to Government - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, after consultation with specified organizations with special knowledge of the problems of deaf persons, to select at least five Federal agencies with which deaf persons have the greatest need for communication and have installed in each such agency and its regional offices a device which permits two-way communication of textual messages in alphanumeric form by telephone lines. Directs the Secretary to select an additional 100 locations for installation of such devices which shall be available to deaf people for their use in communicating with the agencies selected under this Act and with Members of Congress who choose to install such a device. Directs the Secretary to disseminate information about the availability of such devices as widely as possible to local organizations of the deaf. Directs that at least one employee be available during normal working hours at each location where such devices are located for use by deaf persons to assist such persons in the use of such devices. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to any State or local government for installing telecommunications devices for the deaf in government agencies and other locations in a program to be identical to the Federal program established by this Act. Sets the level of such grants at 75 percent of the cost of installing and operating such devices. Authorizes annual continuing grants for such purposes to be made after assurances have been received that the requirements of this Act have been and will continue to be met during the ensuing year. Requires the Secretary to seek the cooperation of the Administrator of General Services in having transferred to States any telecommunications devices for the deaf categorized as Federal surplus property. Requires that any Member of Congress making a written request for a telecommunications device for the deaf be provided with one. Directs the Architect of the Capitol to install at the central switchboard in the United States Capitol a telecommunications device for the deaf and requires at least one employee trained in the use of such device to be available during normal working hours to provide assistance to deaf persons. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress within two years after the installation of the first telecommunications device under this Act describing the effectiveness of the programs established by this Act and making recommendations on the continuation and expansion of such programs. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow refundable income tax credits for: (1) an amount equal to 75 percent of the expenses paid by blind, deaf, or speech-impaired individuals for use of toll telephone service by means of teletypewriters; and (2) amounts incurred for television subtitle equipment for use by hearing-impaired individuals. Allows an income tax deduction for 50 percent of the expenses of purchasing or installing a teletypewriter which are incurred by blind, deaf, or speech-impaired individuals. Limits the amount of such deduction to $200 for each teletypewriter.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1979
Small Business Innovation Act of 1979 - Title I: Research and Development Contracts - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to advise, assist, and monitor Federal agencies in meeting the small business research and development set-asides required under this Act. Directs the SBA to develop an information program to assure that each qualified small business concern has the opportunity to participate in the Federal agency Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs. Requires the SBA to report annually to the appropriate committees of Congress on the activities of Federal agencies in meeting and development set-asides and on the SBIR programs. Directs each Federal agency to set-aside for award to small business concerns a specified percentage of its budget for prime research and development contracts. Sets forth the percentage for fiscal year 1980 and each succeeding fiscal year until such percentage equals ten percent of the total dollar amount of such contracts. Stipulates that such set-asides apply to basic and applied research and development. Requires each Federal agency having an annual research and development budget of more than $100,000,000 to establish an SBIR program where one percent of its 1980 research and development budget and of its subsequent budgets would be reserved for contract awards to small business firms specifically in connection with the SBIR program. Sets forth responsibilities of each such Federal agency with respect to the administration of an SBIR program as follows: (1) determine categories of projects; (2) issue SBIR solicitations; (3) receive and evaluate proposals; (4) select awardees for SBIR contracts; (5) administer such contracts; (6) make payments to SBIR contractors; and (7) make quarterly reports on the SBIR program to the SBA. Allows such agencies to include the value of SBIR contracts in determining whether such goals are met. Prohibits contract awards to small business concerns for research and development which result from competitive or single source selections other than under an SBIR program to be counted as meeting any portion of the percentage requirements established pursuant to this Act. Directs the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, in conjunction with the SBA and the National Science Foundation, to issue regulations for conduct by Federal agencies which shall: (1) provide a simplified acquisition process for the program with SBIR requests for proposals being standardized throughout the Federal Government; and (2) include uniform requirements for patent rights and rights in data. Requires the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, in cooperation with the SBA, to establish simplified regulations for all Federal agencies for the award of research and development contracts to small business concerns. Directs the Administrator to insure that such regulations shall: (1) eliminate provisions of research contracts which require businesses to absorb expenses of performance of such contract and require Federal agencies to negotiate fees for all services and expenses relative to awarded contracts; (2) prohibit Federal agencies from excluding any small business concern from competition for such contracts on the same terms and conditions as any other business concern; (3) require each agency to consider and review unsolicited research and development proposals from small business concerns; (4) require agencies to consider small businesses on an equal basis with any other business concern in the award of sole source research contracts; (5) require that independent research and development costs and the bid and proposal costs incurred by small businesses shall be attributable to the contract in the fiscal year such expenses are incurred; (6) require agencies to evaluate the feasibility of dividing large scale proposed contracts into small segments to facilitate participation of small businesses; (7) require agency staff and consultants to provide fair and equal opportunity to small businesses owned by women and minorities and to provide guidance and counseling to such businesses; (8) require Federal agencies to evaluate personnel engaged in the awarding of research contracts; and (9) establish the responsibility of Federal agencies to identify the agency procedures in awarding research contracts which discriminate against small business concerns and take appropriate action to eliminate such procedures. Title II: Patents - States that it is the objective of this title to amend existing patent procedures in order to promote the marketing of inventions developed under federally supported research and development projects. Permits any organization or firm to elect, within a reasonable amount of time, to retain title to such inventions. Permits Federal agencies which have supported such projects to retain title to inventions through their funding agreements in specified circumstances. Requires review of agency determinations that such circumstances exist by the Comptroller General and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the implementation of this Act by Federal agencies. Enumerates provisions which must be included in funding agreements between a Federal agency and a small business firm or nonprofit organization including provisions: (1) to insure the rights of the Federal Government under this Act; (2) to provide that the agency shall have a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable and paid-up license to use the invention; (3) to prohibit a nonprofit organization from assigning rights to the invention without the approval of the Federal agency; (4) to prohibit such an organization from granting exclusive rights from the earlier of five years from the first commercial use of the invention or eight years from the date of invention; and (5) to require such organizations to use their royalties and earnings to support scientific research or education. Authorizes a Federal agency to transfer or assign its rights, acquired from an agency employee as coinventor, to an inventor electing to acquire title to an invention. Prohibits funding agreements with small business firms or nonprofit organizations from containing provisions allowing a Federal agency to require licensing to third parties of inventions which are not inventions conceived or first actually reduced to practice under a Federal contract or grant without written justification from the head of such agency. Allows such licensing upon a determination by the agency head that such action is necessary to achieve the practical application of the subject invention or work object. Empowers any Federal agency to require inventors or their assigns to grant licenses in order to: (1) achieve practical application of the invention in its field of uses; (2) alleviate health or safety needs; (3) meet requirements for public use specified by Federal regulations; or (4) achieve participation by United States industry in the manufacture of an invention. Entitles the government to collect up to 15 percent of all net income above specified amounts received by a patent holder until government research funds have been repaid. Restricts the assignment and licensing of rights by patent holders to foreign owned or controlled firms unless such persons agree that any products embodying the subject invention or produced through the use of the subject invention will be manufactured substantially in the United States. Authorizes Federal agencies to withhold information on inventions from public disclosure. Specifies the authority of Federal agencies with respect to obtaining patents, granting licenses, and transferring custody of patents. Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to promulgate regulations specifying the terms upon which any federally-owned invention may be licensed. Sets forth the procedure whereby Federal agencies may grant exclusive or partially exclusive licenses in any invention covered by a federally-owned domestic patent or patent application. Prohibits licensing which lessens competition. Directs that small business firms be given preference in exclusive or partially exclusive licensing. Enumerates provisions which must be contained in any grant of a license by a Federal agency. Declares that this Act shall take precedence over any other Act in the disposition of inventions. Directs the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to establish regulations governing: (1) the citation to the Patent and Trademark Office of prior art patents or publications which are pertinent to a later patent; and (2) the reexamination of a patent to determine whether such a prior patent or publication has any bearing on the patentability of any claim of such patent. Authorizes any individual to: (1) cite to the Office any such prior patent; and (2) request such a reexamination. Requires the Commissioner within 90 days of such a request to make a determination as to whether the cited prior patent raises a new question of the patentability of any claim of the later patent. Authorizes the Commissioner on his or her own initiative to make such a determination at any time. States that a determination that no new question is raised shall be final. Directs the Commissioner, upon determining that there is a new question of patentability, to order and conduct a reexamination. Requires that the patent owner be provided at least two months to file a statement on such question and that the person making the reexamination request be provided two months to respond to such statement. Declares that the patent owner shall be provided an opportunity in any reexamination to amend any claim of the patent in order to distinguish the claim from the prior patent cited, or in response to a decision adverse to the patentability of the claim. Authorizes the owner to appeal any adverse decision. Directs the Commissioner, upon the conclusion of any reexamination or appeal proceeding, to issue and publish a certificate cancelling any unpatentable claim, confirming any valid claim, and incorporating any amended claim in the patent. Declares that no prior patent or publication may be relied upon as evidence of nonpatentability in a civil action involving the validity or infringement of a patent unless: (1) the prior patent or publication was cited by or to the Office regarding application or reexamination proceedings for the patent; or (2) the court concludes that consideration of the prior patent or publication in such proceedings is unnecessary for adjudication. Sets forth circumstances under which a court may stay the proceedings of a civil action involving the infringement or validity of a patent to enable either party to such action to secure a determination on a request for reexamination of the patent by the Patent and Trademark Office. Provides the moving party in such action the right to dismiss the complaint commencing such action. Title III: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Small Business Research and Development Tax Incentive Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers who sell small business stock to recognize the gain from such sale to the extent such gain exceeds the cost of the purchase of other small business stock within 18 months after such sale. Sets forth definitions and special rules applicable to such nonrecognition of gain. Provides procedures for the reduction of basis of small business stock purchased during such 18-month period. Provides, upon notification to the Secretary of the Treasury, a three-year statutory period for the assessment of any deficiency attributable to any such gain. Sets forth the procedure for determining the period for which the taxpayer has held small business stock which resulted in nonrecognition of gain on the sale of such stock. Allows a taxpayer, other than a corporation, to deduct a specified percentage of his net small business capital gain from his gross income applicable to stock acquired after December 31, 1979. Declares that in the case of a qualified small business concern, a net operating loss in any taxable year after December 31, 1979, shall be a net operating loss carryover to each of the ten taxable years following such loss. Allows a qualified small business concern to treat research and experimental expenditures for the acquisition or improvement of property as expenses not chargeable to its capital account. Allows such concerns to treat such expenditures for any property subject to a depreciation or depletion allowance as deferred expenses, and in the case of a building such deferred expense shall be allowed ratably over a period of 120 months. Allows a tax exclusion for small business concerns engaged in a trade or business other than real estate, for deposits made into a reserve for research and development with specified limitations. Disallows a deduction for amounts paid from a reserve for research and development which is used by the taxpayer for research and experimental expenditures, if such expenditures may be taken into account by the taxpayer under other provisions of the Code. Specifies the percentage the taxpayer must include in gross income for amounts from the reserve not used for research and development. Specifies that a contribution to such reserve may be made only in cash for purposes of this Act. Sets forth requirements and procedures for treatment of such reserve when the taxpayer ceases to be a small business concern. Sets forth the definition of qualified stock options and requirements under which employees may use such granted stock options. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow small business corporations to include 100 shareholders, provided such corporations are not venture capital corporations. Makes amendments under this title applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1979. Title IV: Regulatory Flexibility - Regulatory Flexibility Act - Requires Federal agencies to include the following information in the general notice of a proposed rule: (1) the goals and purpose of the rule; (2) the estimated number of individuals, businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions affected by the rule; (3) a statement that the agency seeks alternative proposals which could achieve the goal of the proposed rule at a lower cost to individuals, small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions; and (4) a list of the measures necessary for compliance with any reporting requirement affecting more than ten persons. Requires Federal agencies to accept and consider alternative proposals to a proposed rule and to publish those proposals with justification of the selection of the final rule. Defines a small business, small organization, small governmental jurisdiction, and an individual as used in this Act. Directs each agency to publish a plan for reviewing its rules within 180 days after enactment of this Act. Requires each agency to determine whether such rules are efficiently achieving the goals of the implementing legislation. Directs the agency to publish, annually, a list of the rules to be issued and reviewed during the next year.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the weeks of January 21 through January 27, 1979, and January 20 through January 26, 1980, as "Junior Achievement Week" in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of Junior Achievement, an organization dedicated to the American enterprise system and service to youth.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1979
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to prepare a comprehensive plan and program of research, development, and demonstration of ocean thermal energy conversion systems. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive commercialization plan designed to realize the goal of producing 10,000 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent from ocean thermal energy conversion systems by the year 1999. Sets forth criteria for the selection of programs and the establishment of priorities concerning ocean thermal energy conversion systems. Establishes an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Advisory Committee to study and advise the Secretary on the implementation and conduct of the programs established under this Act and on other matters concerning ocean thermal energy conversion. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress an annual report on the activities undertaken pursuant to this Act. Authorizes appropriations for plant and capital equipment for specified ocean thermal energy conversion demonstration plants.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1979
Residential Energy Efficiency Program of 1979 - Amends the State residential energy conservation plan provisions of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to authorize the Secretary of Energy to institute an alternative home energy efficiency program in any State, political subdivision, utility service area, or geographical area thereof. Exempts persons subject to such program from the requirements and prohibitions contained in the utility program established under such Act. Sets forth requirements for such alternative home energy efficiency program, including: (1) a requirement that the Secretary designate a Federal, State, or local agency to negotiate a contract with an energy conservation company to undertake a home energy retrofit program in a specified geographic area for a specified per unit price to be paid by such agency; (2) a requirement that such energy conservation company comply with specified criteria concerning such home energy retrofit program; and (3) a requirement that the designated agency establish accurate normalized measurements of energy use by type of energy before and after the installation of such retrofit measures to determine the saving produced by such energy conservation company. Directs the Secretary to provide funds to designated agencies to pay energy conservation companies for energy actually saved. Requires public utilities to make periodic payments to the Secretary not to exceed the value of the savings in a given year realized by such utilities as a result of the energy actually saved. Authorizes such utilities to sell any energy available to it as a result of a home energy retrofit program to willing nonresidential buyers. Authorizes the Secretary to issue notes or other obligations in order to finance such energy retrofit programs in the event the moneys received from public utilities under this Act are insufficient to finance such programs. Places limitations on the Secretary's authority to enter into such contracts depending on the amount of payments received from public utilities pursuant to this Act. Requires the Secretary, prior to instituting any program authorized by this Act, to provide for public comment. Expands the definition of "residential buildings" for the purposes of this Act to include buildings having more than four dwelling units.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1979
Home Energy Assistance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to States to assist eligible low-income households to meet increasing home energy costs. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1980 through 1984 to carry out this Act. Sets forth allotments from such appropriations for such grants to States and specified American territories and possessions for energy crisis related activities under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and for emergency energy disaster assistance to States. Stipulates that such grants may be used for making payments to home energy suppliers on behalf of eligible households and directly to such households in specified cases. Sets forth application procedures and requirements for such grants. Authorizes States receiving such grants to make grants to eligible households for meeting excessive cooling costs where such cooling is medically necessary under standards established by the Secretary. Requires States to comply with the uniform data collection standards established by the Secretary concerning home energy consumption, cost and type of fuels used, use by which income groups, and other information determined to be necessary to carry out this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to withhold payments under this Act for failure to comply with approved application provisions. Sets forth provisions for the administration of this Act. Stipulates that payments received by members of participating households are not to be considered income for determining eligibility for other Federal assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1979
Health Care for All Americans Act - Establishes a comprehensive "national health insurance system" (defined as the programs established by this Act and Medicare for the financing of health-care services). States the findings and purposes of this Act. Enumerates the rights of eligible individuals, providers, insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Requires that such individuals and entities have their views considered with respect to actions under this Act affecting them. Gives such an individual the right to: (1) choose any participating provider with respect to a covered service; (2) the prompt and accurate making of decisions under this Act; (3) be heard on any grievance related to benefits under this Act; and (4) confidential treatment and use of information collected under this Act. Gives such a provider the right to: (1) decide whether or not to participate in the system; (2) the prompt and accurate payment for services; and (3) choose the mode and place of practice (with respect to a physician provider). Gives such an insurer and HMO the right to: (1) decide whether or not to participate in the system; and (2) carry on a supplemental health insurance business. Defines terms used in this Act. Title I: Eligibility, Entitlement, and Enrollment - Extends eligibility for the benefits of this Act to: (1) U.S. citizens; (2) aliens lawfully admitted or permanently residing in the U.S. under color of law, including refugees; (3) aliens admitted to the U.S. as employees of a foreign government or international organization which has entered into an agreement with the U.S.; and (4) aliens admitted as temporary visitors from a foreign government which has entered into such an agreement. Directs the National Health Board (established by this Act), after consultation with the Secretary of State, to recommend to the President that executive agreements be entered into: (1) with foreign governments and international organizations to make their employees and officers eligible for health benefits in return for a payment of the national community-rated premium plus an amount equal to what would otherwise be payable as the Medicare hospital insurance payroll tax, if such employees were so taxed; and (2) with foreign governments upon a determination that it is in the national interest to make nationals or citizens of such nations who visit the U.S. eligible for benefits in return for comparable treatment of U.S. citizens abroad. Entitles each eligible individual to: (1) enroll in a qualified plan offered by an insurer or HMO and to change enrollment during certain periods; (2) have payment made on such individual's behalf and not be charged any fee for basic covered services; and (3) be issued a health insurance enrollment card. Stipulates that such a card shall not identify the category or basis for the individual's enrollment. Requires enrollment information to be available and provided: (1) by employers to employees; (2) by or through the Board to Medicare-eligible individuals; (3) by the Secretaries of Defense, Transportation, Commerce, and HEW to active-duty uniformed service personnel under their jurisdiction; (4) by the Social Security Commissioner to Supplemental Security Income (SSI)- eligible individuals; (5) by managers of Federal and State institutions to residents; (6) by State welfare agencies to Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)-eligible persons; and (7) by or through State health boards to other individuals. Directs the Board to notify State health boards of the identity of eligible individuals who, in certain Federal information returns, have failed to indicate enrollment under a qualified plan. Requires providers to transmit to their respective health boards requests for payment for eligible persons who did not indicate enrollment at the time of receiving services. Directs State health boards to make special efforts to locate such persons and provide for their enrollment. Defines "first general open enrollment period", "general open enrollment period", and "special enrollment period" for purposes of the program. Stipulates that all members of a family (other than those who are Medicare or SSI-eligible or residents of a Federal or State institution) be enrolled at any time in only one qualified plan. Requires employers to offer qualified employees during specified enrollment periods the choice of enrollment under: (1) at least one plan offered by an insurer belonging to (A) the Blue Cross-Blue Shield consortium or (B) the commercial insurance consortium; and (2) at least one plan offered by an HMO belonging to (A) the individual group practice HMO consortium or (B) the prepaid group practice HMO consortium (if such a plan is available in the area in which the employees obtain health care services). Allows the employer to also offer enrollment in plans offered by a self-insurer. Requires an offer of enrollment to be made first to a collective bargaining representative or other employee representative designated under law. Requires each employee to elect a plan in accordance with procedures established by the Board. Directs the employer to enroll such employee in a plan in accordance with procedures in the absence of such an election. Requires any employer offering in conjunction with a qualified plan a plan with benefits supplemental to basic services to provide employees with written information regarding additional employee costs for such supplemental plan. Limits a family which is offered a choice of plans to enroll under only one qualified plan. Subjects an employer who knowingly fails to comply with these requirements to a civil penalty which may be assessed by the Board and collected by civil suit in a district court. Requires active-duty members of the uniformed services to enroll in a plan from among such health plans offered by or through the Department of Defense as the Secretary of Defense, after consultation with the Secretaries of HEW, Transportation, Commerce, and the Board, finds are consistent with the statutory requirements regarding uniformed services medical care and with policy requiring provision of basic and other covered health services to such members and their families. Requires Medicare-eligible individuals to enroll with the Board or a participating HMO in accordance with the Medicare program. Allows SSI-eligible individuals, residents of Federal or State institutions not otherwise enrolled, AFDC-eligible individuals, or other individuals not otherwise enrolled to enroll during specified periods in any qualified health plan available to such individuals. Provides for the mandatory enrollment of such individuals who fail to enroll in a plan, in accordance with regulations of the Board and rules and procedures of the State health boards. Title II: Benefits and Providers - Includes as basic covered services: (1) inpatient and outpatient hospital services (and inpatient mental health services up to (A) 150 consecutive days for Medicare-eligible individuals, or (B) 45 consecutive days for other eligible individuals, during certain periods of treatment as determined under Medicare); (2) physicians' services, including hospital-based physicians (and services for the treatment of mental illness and outpatient mental health services to the extent that expenses for such services do not exceed the fee-equivalent of 20 psychiatric visits per year, as determined under Medicare); (3) post-hospital extended care services up to 100 days during any spell of illness; (4) the following preventive health services: (A) basic immunizations; (B) pre-and post-natal maternal care; (C) well-child care (including periodic physical examinations, hearing and vision screening, and developmental screening and examinations) for persons up to the age of 18 years; and (D) such other services as the Board may add on a year-by-year basis after consultation with appropriate experts and a determination by the Board that such services will be cost-effective (but limits the expenditure for such additional preventive services to $500,000,000 for the first effective year (defined as the third year after the year of enactment) and for subsequent years an increase tied to the average annual rate of increase in the gross national product). Includes as additional basic services: (1) outpatient physical therapy services, outpatient speech pathology services, and outpatient occupational therapy services, and outpatient occupational therapy services; (3) home dialysis supplies; (4) diagnostic X-ray tests and other diagnostic tests; (5) X-ray therapy; (6) durable medical equipment used in the patient's home; (7) ambulance service, to the extent provided by regulations; (8) prosthetic devices (other than dental), including lens after cataract surgery and replacements; (9) leg, arm, back, and neck braces, and artificial legs, arms, and eyes, including replacements; (10) insulin and outpatient prescription drugs for treatment of chronic conditions (but for Medicare-eligible individuals only to the extent provided under such program); (11) one audiological examination per individual per year and the provision of one hearing aid per individual for any three-year period; and (12) mental health day care services to the extent of two days for each day of inpatient mental health services permitted by this program. Excludes as basic services: (1) items and services for which payment may not be made under Medicare; and (2) for other than Medicare-eligible individuals payment for (A) orthopedic shoes or other supportive devices for the feet, (B) certain physician services described under Medicare, and (C) certain inpatient hospital services described under Medicare. Authorizes the Board, after consultation with the Commission on Health-Care Benefits and the Commission on Quality of Health Care (established by this Act), to exclude payment for an item or service under a plan under this program and Medicare on the basis of cost-effectiveness, notwithstanding any other provision. Makes specified provisions of title XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review) and title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act applicable to basic services provided under qualified plans to the same extent as they apply under Medicare. Authorizes the Board, after consultation with the Commissions on Health-Care Benefits and Quality of Health Care, to establish a list of high-risk, high-cost, elective, or overutilized items or services for which payment may be made only if one or more of the following conditions are met: (1) the provider is board-certified in the relevant specialty; (2) the diagnosis and recommended service are supported by a second opinion or specific objective findings; (3) the provider-institution is adequately equipped and staffed; (4) the specialist or institution is providing care upon referral by a primary-care physician; or (5) the provider has demonstrated through statistical services that it provides high-quality services and properly uses appropriate methods and technologies. Title III: Financing and Planning - Part A, Budget and Planning Process - Specifies the annual timetable for the budget process for the national health insurance system as follows: (1) by January 15th proposed annual State budgets are to be prepared by the State Health Boards, in accordance with regulations and after consultation with specified interests, and submitted to the Board; (2) the Board shall transmit for inclusion without change in the Budget presented by the President an estimate of the anticipated Federal expenditures related to the appropriate Annual Budgets; (3) by March 1st a comprehensive Annual Budget is to be prepared and adopted by the Board and transmitted to the President, Congress, the States, and the public; (4) the Congressional Budget Office shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees as soon as practicable after receipt of the Annual Budget an analysis of its impact on the Federal Budget; (5) by July 1st the annual State budgets are to be adopted by the State Health Boards, taking into consideration the State Health Care Improvement Plan mandated by this Act, and transmitted to the Board; and (6) on the following January 1st the budget year begins. Specifies the contents of the Annual Budget and annual State Budgets, including enumerated items in the following categories: (1) anticipated expenditures; (2) anticipated revenues; (3) separate schedules, including Medicare and other public programs; (4) premium rates, including the national community-rated and group-rated premium amounts and national premium rate; and (5) five-year projections. Places the following limitations on expenditures under this program: (1) total anticipated expenditures for a year may not exceed the amount of the estimated expenditures by more than the average annual rate of increase in the gross national product for the three-year period ending with the year before the year in which the Annual Budget is adopted; (2) the amounts budgeted for covered health- care services for the U.S. and for any State are the maximum amounts that may be expended for such services (except for costs associated with uniformed service members); (3) a State Health Board may not provide for total expenditures for items covered in the budget in excess of those contained in the Annual Budget with respect to the State; (4) the total anticipated expenditures for the U.S. and for any State for the provision of basic services within a category of services or of providers are the maximum amounts that may be expended for such purposes (within percentage variations that the Board may permit); and (5) the percentage increase in the anticipated expenditures per capita for covered health-care services over the actual expenditures for such services for the previous year are limited according to specified formulas. Directs the Board, in consultation with the President's Commission on the Health of Americans, to prepare and annually revise, before the adoption of each Annual Budget, a National Health Care Improvement Plan which describes: (1) needs over a five-year period relating to the accessibility, quality, and cost of health care; (2) the effect of the provisions of this program on meeting such needs; and (3) recommendations. Directs the Governor of each State to prepare and annually revise a State Health Care Improvement Plan in accordance with Board standards and guidelines which describes: (1) needs over a five-year period relating to the accessibility, quality, and cost of health care; and (2) specific actions for meeting such needs. Requires such State Plan to include to the extent appropriate the objectives of: (1) the State health plan in effect under title XV of the Public Health Service Act (National Health Planning and Development); (2) the State medical assistance plan in effect under Medicaid; and (3) any plan submitted by the State to receive assistance under the Public Health Service Act and the Community Mental Health Centers Act. Title III - Part B, Payments to Providers - Provides for payment to providers as follows: (1) insurers and HMOs shall make payments to providers furnishing services to (A) their respective enrollees and (B) individuals not enrolled at the time of services but who are subsequently enrolled; (2) the Board shall make payments to providers furnishing services to a Medicare-eligible individual who is not enrolled in a plan offered by a HMO; and (3) the Secretary of Defense shall pay for services furnished to a member of the uniformed services on active duty. Requires each insurer or HMO to provide for payments of such allocated portion of the approved prospective budget (required under this Act) of the provider as reflects, in accordance with Board regulations, the proportion of the costs in the budget used to provide such services to such enrollees. Prohibits payment for expenditures by an institutional provider for covered services it furnishes to the extent such expenditures are not included in such approved prospective budget. Requires Board regulations to provide for methods of cost apportionment among insurers and HMOs in accordance with specified criteria. Allows such methods to include apportionment based on: (1) the number of treatments of particular conditions or diagnoses; (2) the relative value of the health-care services furnished (with respect to indices of relative values to be established by the Board); or (3) the number of admissions, patient days, diagnoses, or other easily determinable factor that may fairly allocate costs. Allows a State health board, when regulations provide for more than one apportionment method, to select and require the use of one such method. Requires each institutional provider in a State with an approved prospective budget to transmit annually to the State Health Board an experience report which shows the differences between the actual expenditures and services provided by the provider and those allowed for in its approved prospective budget. Directs the State Health Board to provide for: (1) the retention by the provider of one-half of savings produced by actions which lowered expenditures below those predicted; and (2) adjustments, to the extent appropriate, in the amounts of payments made by insurers and HMOs or in the prospective budget for the following year to correct unintended differences in the amount or source of payments to a provider. Provides for payment to a provider, other than an institutional provider (defined as including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, community health centers and clinics, and, to the extent provided by the National Health Board, HMOs), for covered services (other than drugs, hearing aids, durable medical equipment, or laboratory services) in accordance with the lowest of: (1) the fee charged by the provider; (2) the fee agreed upon between the provider and the insurer or HMO; or (3) the applicable maximum fee schedule for the service (established by this Act). Allows the National Health Board, upon the recommendation of a State Health Board, to increase the payment to a physician provider on an individual basis to recognize performance of unusual merit by such physician. Allows such a provider to elect to be paid on a salary or fee-for-time basis if the total amount payable in a year is not greater than the total amount payable for the equivalent amount of services as computed by the applicable maximum fee schedule. Provides for payment to a provider for: (1) durable medical equipment and laboratory services in accordance with the lowest of: (A) the charge for such service; (B) the charge agreed upon between the provider and the insurer or HMO; or (C) maximum reasonable cost for such service; and (2) drugs and hearing aid; (B) the charge agreed upon between the provider and insurer or HMO; or (C) the highest fee permitted under the applicable fee schedule. Provides for payment to a provider for other covered services in accordance with the lowest of: (1) the charge for the service; (2) the charge agreed upon between the provider and the insurer or HMO; or (3) the maximum reasonable cost of the service, as established by the State Health Boards in accordance with national guidelines and standards. Allows the National Health Board to permit experimental or demonstration methods of reimbursement which will further the purposes of this Act. Provides for periodic review of reimbursement methods. Sets forth procedures with respect to the budget limitations, including the following: (1) monitoring by the State Health Boards, the consortia (all the clearinghouses certified under this Act with respect to the financing of covered services), insurers, and HMOs of payment made to providers; (2) reporting by insurers and each consortium of excessive payments; (3) investigation and corrective actions by the State Health Boards; (4) shifting of funds among categories of services or providers and use of contingency funds for excess expenditures due to unforeseen circumstances; (5) modification of reimbursement methods; (6) additional certifications by State Health Boards of the need for particular services; and (7) requiring insurers and HMOs to make payments for services during certain periods. Allows philanthropic contributions and supplemental payments by State and local governments to finance services additional to those reimbursed under this Act. Stipulates that capital expenditures assisted by such assistance shall not be recognized by a State Health Board in its review of prospective budgets and maximum fee schedules. Requires each institutional provider to submit to the State Health Board its proposed prospective budget for the subsequent year which covers all medical services (not merely covered services) and includes the following: (1) anticipated costs, broken down by schedules for specified costs; (2) the proportion of such costs associated with covered services; and (3) anticipated revenues, broken down by source with respect to each class of items of anticipated costs. Authorizes the National Health Board to require accompanying documentation relating to specified factors for purposes of review. Specifies the manner in which certain costs shall be treated in such prospective budgets, including the following provisions: (1) the costs of all physicians' services under contract with the provider shall be included and the amount budgeted for such services shall be reasonable in relation to the cost of obtaining such services on a salaried or other basis, whichever is less; (2) the total cost of wages and fringe-benefits for nonsupervisory employees shall be included and shall reflect any existing collective-bargaining agreement; (3) the costs of furnishing basic services to ineligible individuals shall be included if no other reimbursement is obtained by the provider; (4) depreciation costs shall not be included, except for certain capital costs, debt repayments, and costs associated with the closing of a facility; and (5) a reasonable rate of return on equity capital with respect to certain proprietary institutions shall be included. Directs the National Health Board, after appropriate consultation, to establish guidelines respecting review and approval by State Health Boards of proposed prospective budgets of institutional providers. Requires such guidelines to include: (1) standards to determine which budgets and budgetary elements may be approved without individual scrutiny; and (2) the detailed review of a random sample. Specifies standards which may be included with respect to providers of inpatient services. Requires the guidelines to provide for the collection and reporting of data in such uniform manner as the Board may set. Establishes procedures for the review and approval of prospective budgets by the State Health Boards, including the following provisions: (1) each review shall be made public and shall (A) assess whether changes in services or capital expenditures conform to the current plan of the health systems agency in the area (mandated under title XV of the Public Health Service Act) and the most recent State Health Care Improvement Plan; (B) review the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of provider services, taking into consideration any relevant findings of professional standards review organizations (PSROs) and of any national provider accreditation organization for that category of provider; (2) a provider shall be given the opportunity to comment on any pending disapproval; (3) the State Health Board shall consider any timely recommendations submitted by consumer groups, the provider, and employee organizations, including negotiated recommendations; (4) a State Health Board may delegate its review functions to an independent entity; and (5) such budgets may not provide for any capital acquisition or expenditure unless the provider has participated in a planning process in accordance with regulations. Requires a State Health Board to approve a budget without modification, taking into account the following factors: (1) total limits on anticipated expenditures; (2) the health systems agency plan; (3) demographic factors; (4) the impact of inflation on budget costs; (5) the effects of any approved capital expenditure or reduction, service modification plans, or future wage increases; and (6) certain other efficiency and cost-effectiveness objectives. Requires resubmission of a budget to the State Health Board if a modification is required for excess expenditures. Disallows payments to an institutional provider for covered services not included in its approved prospective budget. Requires each State Health Board to develop maximum fee schedules for covered services (other than durable medical equipment and laboratory services) after opportunity for negotiations with participating providers. Directs the National Health Board to develop guidelines for such schedules which: (1) establish the relative value of particular services, taking into account specified factors; (2) provide for geographical variations in fees, taking into consideration certain criteria; (3) set the maximum fee for a service which can be provided by two or more categories of health personnel at the lowest of the maximum fees authorized for such categories; and (4) include a formula for allowing annual changes in such schedules. Requires payment for the provision of: (1) durable medical equipment and laboratory services to be the lower of (A) the charge, or (B) the reasonable cost of the equipment or service; and (2) drugs and hearing aids to be the lower of (A) the charge, or (B) the reasonable cost of the drug or aid, plus a reasonable professional fee. Directs the National Health Board to establish guidelines for the reasonable cost of durable medical equipment, laboratory services, drugs, and hearing aids which shall be the lowest cost at which any such item of comparable quality is (or could be made) generally available in an accessible area. Provides for the computation of the professional fee with respect to drugs and hearing aids. Outlines procedures for the use of negotiations to determine the amounts of payments to providers. Directs the National Health Board to establish criteria for the selection of the negotiating groups for each of the following groups of providers: (1) hospitals; (2) skilled nursing facilities; (3) home health care agencies; (4) other institutional providers, including community health centers, migrant health centers, and health clinics; (5) physicians; (6) other non-institutional providers, such as pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists; and (7) hospital employees. Sets forth requirements for representation within such groups. Requires that the selection guidelines by the National Health Board shall provide for: (1) differences in the sizes of the various negotiating groups; (2) proportional representation for each type of health- care provider; (3) three-year terms for each representative; and (4) nomination and election methods. Provides that such negotiations shall concern: (1) limitations with respect to payments made to institutional providers on the basis of approved prospective budgets; (2) maximum-fee schedules; (3) reasonable cost levels with respect to durable medical equipment, laboratory services, drugs, and hearing aids; and (4) other cost control methods. Allows a State Health Board to incorporate within its annual State budget the provision of any agreement reached as the result of such negotiations which would keep expenditures within the budgetary limits. Title III- Part C, Determining Amounts of Premiums and Incentive Payments and Benefits - Directs the National Health Board to establish, in conjunction with the adoption of the Annual Budget and after negotiations with consortia, participating insurers, and HMOs: (1) a national community-rated premium; and (2) a national premium rate. Requires the national community-rated premium to be set so that, if such amount were paid by the members of each family enrolled through an employer plan, the total premiums paid would equal the anticipated expenditures under the Annual Budget, including payments to providers for basic services and administrative costs, but excluding administrative costs for the National and State Health Boards, PSROs, contingency funding, and the costs of covered services to persons who are Medicare-SSI-AFDC-eligible, residents of Federal or State institutions, or members of the uniformed services on active duty. Requires that the national premium rate be set so that the sum of all wage-related and non-wage related premiums, the government payment for unpaid private premiums, and the voluntary premiums under international agreements equals the anticipated expenditures for covered services to Medicare-eligible, SSI-eligible, and AFC-eligible individuals, and residents of Federal and State institutions. Directs the Board to establish a group-related premium for SSI-eligible individuals and for residents of Federal and State institutions who are enrolled in a qualified plan. Requires that: (1) such premium be set so that the total amounts paid on behalf of such individuals equals the expenditures for furnishing care to such persons; and (2) such premium be adjusted annually to reflect the actual cost experience with respect to such expenditures. Provides that the national community-rated premium and the national premium rate are to apply as the State community-rated premium and the premium rate for each State, unless a State is able to provide for reduced premiums by negotiating a lower level of approved expenditures than would otherwise be provided for in the national budget. Requires each State to establish a group-rated premium for AFDC-eligible individuals and residents of State institutions. Requires that such premium: (1) be set so that the total amounts paid on behalf of such individuals equals the expenditures for furnishing care to such persons; and (2) be adjusted annually to reflect the actual cost experience with respect to such expenditures. Permits a participating insurer or HMO to offer eligible individuals (other than Medicare eligibles) an incentive to enroll in a qualified plan by providing additional services or by paying dividends or cash rebates on premiums. Permits an HMO to offer such incentives to Medicare-eligible persons. Sets forth requirements with respect to such dividend and cash rebates, including that: (1) in the case of employed enrollees, they be divided between the employees and employer in accordance with Board procedures; and (2) they not be treated as taxable income to individuals or income under federally-assisted welfare programs, nor reduce any credit relating to a limit on the amount of private premium payments. Sets a limit on the amount of premiums paid with respect to members of a family unit as employees and by members of the family unit. Provides for a refund to families of amounts in excess of such limit. Title III-Part D, Payment and Collection of Premiums - Requires each employer to pay to the applicable consortium on behalf of each employee for each payroll period an amount equal to the product of the wages paid during such period and the applicable State premium rate. Permits an employer (subject to any collective-bargaining agreement) to require employees to pay up to 35 percent of such amount. Requires an employer to pay any voluntary contributions such employee may wish to have made on his behalf. Permits an employer to obtain certification from the Board as an impacted employer and so qualify for: (1) a payment from the Board if such employer is a State employer or nonprofit employer; or (2) a tax credit with respect to other employers. Specifies the formula for determining such payment or credit. Defines terms for the purposes of this section. Requires all persons (with specified exceptions) to pay to the applicable consortium an amount equal to the product of one-half the State premium rate and the amount of non-wage-related income of such persons' family units. Requires such persons to file quarterly information returns in accordance with Board regulations. Authorizes the Board to impose a collection surcharge for untimely payments. Prescribes the payment procedure for premiums under executive agreements. Requires: (1) the Board to make monthly premium payments to consortia on behalf of SSI-eligible individuals and residents of Federal institutions; and (2) each State to make monthly premium payments to consortia on behalf of AFDC-eligible individuals and residents of State institutions. Sets forth rules regarding Government compensation to consortia for certain uncollected premiums and an assessment against State or local governments which fail to make a required employer payment. Title III-Part E Distribution of Premiums - Requires the consortia to: (1) compute for each capitation individual an amount equal to the average anticipated expenditure in the State budget for the individual, including certain administrative costs and funds for the contingency fund, but excluding the administrative costs of the State health board; and (2) report such amounts to the Board for review. Requires each consortium to adjust capitation amounts to reflect for a specific capitation individual: (1) the relative actual costs of providing covered services in the area of such person's residency; and (2) the actuarial risk associated with the individual's characteristics. Requires that such risk adjustment be made to eliminate financial incentives for insurers or HMOs to practice risk selection or experience rating. Requires that the total of capitation amounts and adjusted capitation amounts for enrollees in a State be equal to the total expenditures in the State budget for the provision and administration of covered services, excluding State health board administrative expenses. Requires each consortium to apportion to its members an adjusted capitation amount for each capitation individual and a group-rated premium for each group-rated individual. Requires these amounts to be paid to members in installments consistent with Board guidelines. Directs the Board to provide supplementary payments from the Health Resources Distribution Fund to participating HMOs in operation for less than five years. Requires consortia to provide, in accordance with Board guidelines, for redistribution of collected premiums to assure that each consortium is provided an adjusted capitation amount for each capitation individual, and a group-rated premium for each group-rated individual. Directs each consortium to maintain a contingency fund for expenditures for unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of insurers or HMOs. Authorizes the Board, in any year when premiums collected are less than amounts provided in the annual budget, to guarantee the principle and interest of loans issued by the consortia to assure adequate revenues. Sets forth requirements with respect to such loans. Directs the Board, in any year when premiums collected are greater than provided for in the annual budget, to provide for the consortia to distribute such excess funds, including appropriate adjustments in subsequent national and State budgets. Title IV: Administration-Part A, National Health Board and State Health Boards Establishes an independent, five-member National Health Board, to be appointed by the President, to (among other specific functions): (1) establish commissions, bureaus, divisions, offices, and other entities required by this Act or deemed appropriate; (2) perform the functions of a participating insurer, HMO, or consortium with respect to any area or group of insurers for which there is no certified insurer or consortium; (3) perform the functions of a State health board with respect to any State in which such a board has not been established; (4) establish administrative procedures with respect to consumer and provider appeals from State health board decisions; (5) be responsible for the general implementation of this Act; and (6) study and evaluate on a continuing basis the operation of this Act. Transfers to the Board all functions of the Secretary of HEW relating to specified provisions of: (1) the Social Security Act (including Maternal and Child Health Services, Professional Standards Review Organizations, Medicaid, and Medicare); (2) the Public Health Service Act (but excluding, among other provisions, certain provisions of title III (Administration), title IV (National Research Institutes), title V (Miscellaneous), title X (Population Research), and title XIV (Safety of Public Water Systems)); (3) the Community Mental Health Centers Act; (4) the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970; (5) the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972; and (6) the provision of health care services to Indians (Public Law 94-437). Requires the Board to have: (1) an Ombudsman, to investigate complaints about program operation; (2) an Advocate, to assist consumers in determining and protecting their rights to services; (3) an Inspector General, to direct the auditing and investigative activities of the Board. Directs the Board to establish the following Commissions: (1) Commission on Benefits, to review and make recommendations with respect to the provision of basic covered services under qualified plans and determine their cost and effectiveness in improving public health; (2) Commission on Quality, to review and make recommendations with respect to the quality of health services provided under this Act; (3) Commission on Access, to review and make recommendations with respect to the utilization of covered services by the different categories of eligible individuals; and (4) Commission on Health Care Organization, to review and make recommendations with respect to the cost and effectiveness of methods for the delivery of services. Requires at least one-half of the members of each Commission to be consumers or representatives of consumers and to include appropriate representation of health care providers and other participants. Establishes: (1) a nine-member Commission on the Health of Americans, to be appointed by the President, to conduct an ongoing review of the health status of the U.S. population and to review a broad range of proposals for improving such health status, including research, environmental programs, highway safety, public health programs, and personal health services programs; and (2) under the direction of the National Health Board, a National Institutes of Health Care Research which shall be composed of (A) an Institute of Health Statistics, (B) an Institute of Health Services Research, and (C) an Institute of Health Technology Evaluation. Transfers to such Institutes certain functions of the Secretary under the Public Health Service Act. Requires each State to charter as a public corporation a State health insurance corporation in accordance with Board guidelines. Directs each State health board (that is, the board of directors of the State corporation) to establish an ombudsman, an advocate, and such advisory commissions as are appropriate to carry out its functions. Delineates the duties of such boards. Title IV - Part B Participating Insurers, Health Maintenance Organizations, and Consortia - Directs the Board to certify an insurer or HMO when certain conditions are met, including a participation agreement between the Board and the insurer or HMO containing specified provisions. Requires the insurer or HMO to: (1) become a member of the appropriate consortium; (2) offer enrollment in at least one qualified health plan which provides basic services without a charge other than the premium; (3) accept during open enrollment all eligible persons in the order they apply without restriction, up to its capacity (but permits the Board to provide for enrollment limits to reflect needs for cost-effective services and for special characteristics of self-insurers); (4) issue an enrollment card for each enrolled person; (5) pay participating providers in amounts no greater than permitted under this Act; (6) report to the State health board and its consortium on payments made and expenses incurred; (7) maintain and afford access to records by the consortium, State health boards, and the Board and provide confidential treatment of individually-identifiable records; (8) offer any rebates or other benefits to all enrollees on the same basis; (9) establish hearing procedures for an enrollee or provider who is dissatisfied with respect to certain services or payments; and (10) comply with other reasonable regulations respecting marketing and customer service practices which the Board establishes. Directs the Board to agree that, in return for agreed-upon services and understandings, the insurer or HMO is to be paid by its consortium for each enrollee in a qualified plan. Requires the Board to certify in each State one consortium for each of the following types of insurers or HMOS: (1) a Blue Cross-Blue Shield consortium, representing nonprofit State- chartered medical/hospital service corporations; (2) a commercial insurance carrier consortium, representing profit-making commercial insurers not directly furnishing health care services; (3) a prepaid group practice HMO consortium; (4) an individual practice association HMO consortium; and (5) a self-insurer consortium. Permits an insurer or HMO to serve as a member of a different consortium with the approval of the Board and the consortium. Sets forth requirements with respect to these consortia including: (1) a participation agreement between the Board and the consortium containing specified provisions; (2) that the consortium provide for premium collection and reallocation and pay members for each enrollee; (3) that a contingency fund be maintained; (4) that certain information be reported regularly to the Board; (5) that the consortium negotiate with provider groups in establishing prospective budgets and maximum fee schedules in areas where its members offer plans; (6) that certain review procedures be established for dissatisfied enrollees and providers; and (7) that other regulations be followed. Establishes as a defense in any civil or criminal antitrust action brought with respect to actions by a participating insurer or HMO or consortium that such actions were taken in the course of performing duties required under agreements entered into under this Act. Directs the Board, after consultation with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission, to prescribe standards and procedures for the conduct of insurers, HMOs, and consortia which is consistent with the promotion of competition. Directs the Board to investigate complaints by a participating insurer or HMO that another participating organization has engaged in anticompetitive activity. Title V: Health Care Improvement Program - Directs the National Health Board to establish a program to improve the distribution of health care resources in the United States in order to promote the improvement in the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of services provided under this Act. Establishes in the Treasury the Health Resources Distribution Fund. Directs the Board to make grants to the State health boards from the Fund for projects to achieve the purposes of the program, including: (1) the conversion or closure of health care facilities; (2) the provision of health care services in health manpower shortage areas; (3) renovations of institutional health care facilities; (4) HMO and other delivery systems; (5) educational programs for health professionals to meet projected needs; and (6) continuing professional education programs. Requires that the Board allocate an amount to each State health board based on the State's needs as reflected in the National Health Care Improvement Plan. Requires that each State health board provide for a program for the education of consumers concerning health and their rights and privileges under this Act. Directs the Board to: (1) study the impact of this Act on, and means of improving, the Medicaid programs, and report appropriate recommendations to Congress within five years of enactment; (2) provide for the development and demonstration of methods to improve (A) the coordination of services by different providers, (B) the provision of services, and (C) peer review and control of utilization and quality in the provision of drugs, laboratory services and other services under this Act and Medicare; (3) provide for demonstration projects to evaluate the feasibility of providing hospice services as part of basic covered health-care services; (4) provide for an analysis of provider malpractice and the provision of malpractice insurance, and report recommendations to Congress within two years of enactment. Directs the Board to provide for the conduct of a demonstration project in the organization, delivery, and financing of personal care services to groups likely to require such services. Requires that the Board make grants for establishing and maintaining programs to provide personal care services for a substantial population of persons residing in their homes who would otherwise be required to reside in an institution providing personal care services. Sets forth requirements with respect to such program. Directs the Board to transmit to Congress a comprehensive report with appropriate recommendations within five years of enactment. Title VI - Part A, Effective Dates, Transition Provisions, Amendments for a special national premium rate for the period between October 1 and December 31 of the Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act. Provides year before the first effective year. Directs the Board to establish for localities within each State maximum fee schedules applicable to services reimbursed under Medicare Part B for the period between July 1 and January 1 of the first effective year. Requires the Board to establish regulations, guidelines, standards, and procedures providing for the orderly administration of the Act, and to report to Congress within 18 months of enactment its progress in establishing implementation procedures. Directs the General Accounting Office to report to Congress within 18 months of enactment on the Board's progress. Provides that this Act does not alter or affect any contractual or other nonstatutory obligation of an employer to pay for or provide health services to present or former employees if the effect shifts the obligation in any part to such persons. Sets forth provisions relating to transfer of functions. Title VI - Part B, Medicare-Related Amendments - Amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare) to conform such Act with the Health Care for All Americans Act. Eliminates the prohibition against Federal supervision or control over the practice of medicine and the compensation of employees and officers of health care providers. Includes the following changes among those relating to eligibility: (1) broadens Medicare entitlement to include citizens of the U.S., persons legally admitted for permanent residence, and certain other persons aged 65 and over; (2) deletes the 24-month waiting period for eligibility for the disabled; and (3) entitles individuals to enroll in a participating HMO. Changes Medicare Part B from a voluntary insurance program to an entitlement program financed by premium payments and Federal funds. Includes the following among the changes relating to the scope of benefits: (1) deletes the limitation on inpatient hospital days; (2) adds mental health day care services; (3) replaces the existing limitation on inpatient psychiatric hospital services with a 150 consecutive day limit for Medicare purposes and a 45 consecutive day limit for purposes of the Health Care for All Americans Act. Limits payment for outpatient psychiatric services and services related to the diagnosis or treatment of mental illness to an annual amount equal to 20 times the fee set forth in the maximum fee schedule for a psychiatrist's visit. Limits to $100 payment for certain outpatient therapy services in the therapist's office or beneficiary's home. Conforms coverage for end-stage renal disease with the provisions of the Health Care for All Americans Act. Includes the following among the changes relating to exclusions from coverage: (1) extends the applicability of exclusions to the Health Care for All Americans Act; (2) stipulates that preventive services are not excluded; (3) excludes hearing aids and related examinations only if they exceed one every three years, and one per individual; (4) eliminates the exclusion relating to orthopedic shoes; (5) permits the waiver, under certain conditions, of the foot care exclusions for persons with diabetes mellitus; and (6) adds a new exclusion for insulin or outpatient prescription drugs for chronic conditions exceeding maximum amounts established by the Board. Makes technical and conforming amendments to Medicare Parts A and B relating to: (1) requirements for certification and requests for payment; (2) agreements with participating providers; (3) the use of State agencies to determine compliance with conditions of participation; (4) PSROs; and (5) payments to HMOs. Requires providers prescribing outpatient prescription drugs to use only generic or other names and specify such amounts as the Board may provide to insure quality and efficiency. Makes certain revisions with respect to payments to institutional and other providers and the administration of benefits. Repeals the deductible and coinsurance provision of the Medicare Part A program and the existing definition of "reasonable cost." Expands the definition of employment subject to the Medicare hospital insurance tax to include employment with Federal, State, and local governments, service performed for charitable organizations, service performed by certain employee representatives, certain students, and other organizations. Repeals provisions relating to the establishment of the Health Insurance Benefits Advisory Council. Applies certain procedural provisions of title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) to Medicare and to the Health Care for All Americans Act. Amends title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid) to establish a new arrangement for the determination of the Federal Medicaid payment, by which payment is to be equal to "excess State payments" according to a specified formula. Increases the Federal share of certain State Medicaid expenditures, including: (1) the training and compensation of skilled professional personnel (from 75 to 90 percent); (2) operation of management information systems (from 75 to 90 percent); and (3) general administration (from 50 to 90 percent). Establishes certain additional State Medicaid plan requirements including that States: (1) continue to provide services (other than those covered under the Health Care for All Americans Act) in the amount, duration, and scope as were covered by the States in the quarter before the first effective year of the program; (2) pay premiums on behalf of AFDC-eligible recipients; and (3) reimburse providers in a manner consistent with methods established by the Board. Requires any State not having a Medicaid program to enter into an agreement with the Board by which the State agrees to pay premiums on behalf of AFDC-eligible recipients and receives financial assistance from the Board. Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (General Provisions and PSROs) to: (1) extend the provisions for uniform reporting and disclosure of ownership and related information to the Health Care for All Americans Act; and (2) repeal the provisions relating to limitations on capital expenditures and programs for determining the qualifications of certain health care personnel. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the present deduction for health insurance payments. Permits a deduction for amounts of medical expense not compensated for by insurance, in excess of three percent of adjusted gross income. Adds a new excess health insurance credit for impacted employers. Establishes special rules for computing such credit with respect to controlled groups of corporations and employees of partnerships and proprietorships which are under common control. Amends title XIII of the Public Health Service Act (Health Maintenance Organizations) to make conforming and certain other revisions with respect to the organization and operation of HMOs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1979
All Savers Tax Incentive Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable income tax credit for up to $250 of the interest income earned by a taxpayer from a savings account on deposit in a residential finance institution during a taxable year. Defines "residential financial institution" as a bank, savings association, or credit union which provides mortgage financing for the purchase of residential housing. Allows an exclusion from gross income of interest income, in lieu of the credit provided by this Act. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $1,000.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1979
Highway and Public Transportation Improvement Act of 1979 Title I: Amendments to Title 23, United States Code - Amends Title 23, United States Code (Highways), to revise specified definitions contained in such title. Modifies the definition of "construction" to include highway maintenance (thereby allowing States to use Federal system funds for maintaining projects constructed on a Federal system) and to include construction of public transportation projects within the scope of such title. Eliminates the secondary Federal-aid system. Establishes a "small urban and rural" Federal-aid highway system. Stipulates that funds apportioned to each State for the primary Federal-aid system may be spent for any project on the urban system or the small urban and rural system to the extent that such apportionment is attributable to urbanized areas, and small urban and rural areas. Expands the urban system to include all transportation projects in urbanized areas except Interstate highway projects. Stipulates that the Secretary of Transportation may withdraw approval of an Interstate highway within a State upon request of the Governor and local governments concerned (previously such requests were to be made by the State highway department). Stipulates that, upon the joint request of the Governor and the local governments concerned, the Secretary may approve substitute projects for Interstate projects for other areas within a State (previously substitute projects were limited to the corridor or area from which the route was withdrawn). Directs the Secretary, in determining cost estimates for withdrawn Interstate routes, to increase or decrease such cost in accordance with the increase or decrease in construction materials and labor to construct such a substitute project in the local market where the project is located. Requires that all Interstate segments be under construction by September 30, 1986, unless sufficient Interstate funds are unavailable or unless such construction has not commenced due to judicial or administrative restraint. Stipulates that any Interstate segment or substitute project which is not constructed by September 30, 1986, shall become a separate and individual project requiring separate authorizations and appropriations. Ends Interstate apportionments as of such date. Increases the Interstate apportionments which may be set aside by the Secretary for transportation planning. Stipulates that the Governor of a State or the designated planning organization shall submit a single program of proposed projects to the Secretary for funding under either title 23 or the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 as soon as practicable after apportionments have been made for such Acts. Removes the requirement that projects be selected with the concurrence of the State highway department. Stipulates that in approving programs of projects, priority be given to the reconstruction of hazardous highways. Authorizes the use of funds under title 23 for the acquisition of rights-of-way for all Federal-aid systems (previously such funds could be used only to acquire rights-of-way for highway systems). Requires the Secretary to promulgate guidelines to assure that possible adverse economic, social, and environmental effects relating to proposed projects under title 23 or the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 are minimized. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to issue regulations to reduce noise levels at existing Federally funded transportation facilities. Requires an area not meeting such standards to utilize at least five percent of its apportionment under title 23 and five percent of its apportionment under the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to retrofit such facilities to meet such standards. Requires the Secretary and the Administrator to issue regulations to assure that all federally funded transportation projects (previously only highways) are consistent with air quality implementations plans under the Clean Air Act. Prohibits the Secretary from approving transportation projects unless all reasonable alternatives have been considered and the proposed project minimizes specified adverse environmental, health, and economic effects. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any highway project which would increase the vehicular or weightbearing capacity of any highway unless it conforms with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Repeals the provision which allows the Secretary to discharge any responsibilities under title 23 to the States. Authorizes any State or designated recipient of title 23 funds to impose highway tolls only for the purpose of managing peak load demand on vehicular traffic. Prohibits the use of funds from such tolls for highway purposes (except for the operation and maintenance of the toll facilities). Sets forth the apportionment formula for small urban and rural transportation assistance under title 23. Requires that States formulate five-year as well as long-range transportation plans to be eligible for Federal funding under title 23. Requires approval by the Secretary of such plans for project eligibility. Sets forth determinations to be made by the Secretary in approving such plans. Sets forth judicial review procedures with respect to final actions of the Secretary regarding transportation projects or plans. Authorizes the Secretary to approve as a project eligible for funding under title 23 or the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, the construction of exclusive or preferential bus lanes, highway traffic control devices, bus passenger loading areas and facilities, and fringe and transportation corridor parking facilities to serve bus and other public transportation passengers. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a bridge safety rehabilitation or replacement project which would increase the traffic capacity of the road adjacent to the bridge. Stipulates that urban system funds are to be allocated directly to urbanized areas having a population of 50,000 or more. Stipulates that urban system funds attributable to urban of more than 5,000 but less than 50,000 population shall be allocated in accordance with a fair and equitable formula developed by the State. Stipulates that funds allocated to an urbanized area may, upon approval of the local elected officials of the area and the Secretary, be transferred to the allocation of another such urbanized area in the State or to the State for use in any urbanized area. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States and designated recipients for the construction or improvement of bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. Directs the Secretary to establish construction standards for bicycle projects. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for such grant program for fiscal years 1980 through 1983. Requires States after October 1, 1981, to have a single State transportation agency to discharge the duties required by title 23 and the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 and which shall have authority for the development of multi-modal transportation programs, planning, and policy in such State. Directs the Secretary to make grants to States and urbanized area planning organizations for projects for the development of transportation plans and programs required under title 23 and the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964. Stipulates that the Federal share of the development of such a plan shall be 80 percent of its cost unless the Secretary determines that the interests of the Federal program would be better served without matching funds. Title II: Termination of Highway Trust Fund - Terminates the Highway Trust Fund as of September 30, 1980. Stipulates that funding for title 23 projects shall be made from the general fund of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
National Fishery Development Act - Amends the Act of August 11, 1939, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer moneys made available to encourage exportation and domestic consumption of agriculture products to the Secretary of Commerce in amounts equal to 30 percent of the gross receipts from duties collected under custom laws on fishery products. Declares that such funds shall be maintained in a separate fund and used by the Secretary of Commerce to carry out a national program of fisheries research and development which promotes the free flow of domestically produced fishery products in domestic and international commerce by conducting fishery educational, technological, biological, and related research programs, and to provide financial assistance for fisheries development projects. Allows any person, regional fishery development foundation, or organization involved with the commercial fishing industry to make application to the Secretary of Commerce for such funds. Requires the person or organization obtaining such funds to submit periodic project status reports to the Secretary. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to include as part of the annual report to the National Marine Fisheries Service an analysis and evaluation of all programs funded under this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to transmit to specified House and Senate committees, 60 days in advance of each fiscal year, a list of projects and a budget for each project which is proposed under this Act. Requires that not less than 50 percent of the moneys in the fund shall be made available annually to fund the projects and programs, and that the remainder of such moneys be made available to implement the national fisheries research and development program. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to appoint not fewer than six officers who shall, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, serve abroad to promote United States fishing interests. Requires the Secretary of State, upon the request of the Secretary of Commerce, to officially assign the officers to the diplomatic mission of the United States in the country in which such officers are placed, and to obtain for them diplomatic privileges and immunities. Transfers any balance of funds remaining in the fisheries loan fund created by the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as of September 30, 1980, to the Federal Ship Financing Fund established under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide for the guarantee of obligations relating to fishing vessels engaged in developing fisheries which might not otherwise meet the normal economic soundness criteria established under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936.
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 · 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 · 30 July 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of September 16 through September 22, 1979, as "National Lupus Week."
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1979
Designates the week of October 8 through October 14, 1979, as "National Diabetes Week."
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 · 11 July 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer a credit against the income tax (not to exceed $5,000 per year, or $10,000 in the case of a joint return) for investment in small business participating debentures. Specifies a formula for the computation of such credit. Provides for a carryover of the excess for up to seven years. Disallows such credit for debentures: (1) issued by a small business in which the taxpayer has a defined interest; or (2) disposed of within the same taxable year in which they are acquired, and before the deadline for filing of the tax return. Limits qualified small businesses to those whose equity capital does not exceed $25,000,000. Applies long-term capital gains treatment to amounts actually paid to a taxpayer in respect of a small business participating debenture, which constitute the distribution of a share of the earnings of the issuer. Treats losses on such debentures as ordinary losses. Allows an interest deduction for interest and share-of-earnings payments made on such a debenture. Provides for complete or partial disallowance of the tax credit in specified circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1979
Requires the President to implement within 60 days after the enactment of this Act a program to ration the purchase of gasoline by the issuance of coupons under procedures specified in the Standby Gasoline Rationing Plans Numbered 1 and 6, which were submitted by the President to Congress pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
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.