United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1979
Disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority deferral D79-6 to promote and develop fishery products and research pertaining to American fisheries, as transmitted by the President to the Congress on October 2, 1978, pursuant to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1979
Department of Education Organization Act of 1979 - Title I: General Provisions - Declares the purposes of this Act to be to: (1) insure that education receives the appropriate emphasis at the Federal levels; (2) coordinate Federal educational programs; (3) supplement and complement the educational efforts of State, local, and tribal governments, as well as the private sector; and (4) protect the rights of State, local, and tribal governments, and public and non-public educational institutions in the areas of educational policies, administration of programs, and selection of curriculums and program content. Title II: Establishment of Department - Establishes an executive department to be known as the Department of Education to be headed by a Secretary of Education. Establishes, within such Department, offices of Assistant Secretary for: (1) Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; (2) Postsecondary Education; (3) Elementary and Secondary Education; (4) Occupational, Adult, and Community Education; and (5) Educational Research and Development. Establishes within such Department: (1) a Director of the Office of Civil Rights; (2) two additional Assistant Secretaries; (3) an Inspector General; (4) a General Counsel; and (5) an Administrator of Education for Overseas Dependents. Includes, within the functions of such Department, the administration of programs relating to: (1) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education; (2) occupational, adult, and community education; (3) grants; (4) special education and rehabilitative services; (5) schools for overseas dependents of the Department of Defense; (6) enforcement of civil rights; (7) educational research; (8) intergovernmental policies; (9) public information; and (10) congressional relations. Establishes, within such Department, Offices of: (1) Civil Rights; (2) Elementary and Secondary Education; (3) Postsecondary Education; (4) Occupational, Adult, and Community Education; (5) Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; (6) Education for Overseas Dependents; (7) Educational Research and Improvement; (8) Inspector General; and (9) General Counsel. Establishes within such Department an Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Education to assure the effective coordination of Federal programs. Establishes a Federal Interagency Committee on Education to assist the Secretary in coordinating the procedures and actions of the Department with other Federal agencies. Title III: Transfers of Agencies and Functions - Transfers to the Department from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW): (1) the Education Division of HEW, including the National Institute of Education; (2) the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education, including the National Center for Education Statistics; (3) the Institute of Museum Services; (4) any advisory committees primarily concerned with education; and (5) the Office of Information and Resources for Handicapped Individuals; (6) the Rehabilitation Services Administration, except the part of such Administration that administers the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act; (7) the National Institute of Handicapped Research; (8) the Interagency Committee on Handicapped Research; (9) the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults; and (10) the National Council on the Handicapped. Transfers from HEW to the Department of Education educational functions regarding: (1) the General Education Provisions Act; (2) the Emergency School Aid Act; (3) the Higher Education Act of 1965; (4) the Emergency Insured Student Loan Act of 1969; (5) the Act of August 30, 1898; (6) title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (7) certain provisions of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education Act; (8) the International Education Act of 1966; (9) the National Defense Education Act of 1958; (10) the Education of the Handicapped Act; (11) the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act; (12) the Vocational Education Act of 1963; (13) the Career Education Incentive Act; (14) the Office of Civil Rights; (15) the budgetary oversight of certain educational institutions; (16) certain loans and scholarships for students in the medical and health services under the Public Health Service Act; (17) certain provisions under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; (18) the National Institute of Education and the Institute of Museum Services; (19) Gallaudet College, Howard University, the American Printing House for the Blind, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf; and (20) telecommunications grants under the Communications Act of 1934. Transfers to the Department of Education from the Departments of: (1) Defense, the administration and operation of overseas dependents schools; (2) Justice, the student loan and grant programs known as the Law Enforcement and Education Program and the Law Enforcement Intern Program; and (3) Housing and Urban Development, the administration of college housing loans. Transfers to the Department of Education: (1) specified functions of the National Science Foundation; and (2) the Advisory Council on Educational Statistics. Title IV: Administrative Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to appoint and fix the salaries for the Department's employees in accordance with the civil service laws. Allows certain higher level appointments to be made by the Secretary without Civil Service Commission approval if the individual so appointed is transferred to the Department in connection with a transfer of functions under this Act. Stipulates that Congress shall authorize the annual number of personnel for the Department of Education. Establishes guidelines for computing such personnel authorization. Grants rulemaking authority to the Secretary. Requires such rules to be in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act and specified provisions of the General Education Provisions Act. Authorizes the Secretary to (1) employ experts and consultants; (2) enter into contracts with public agencies and private persons and organizations; (3) provide technical advice to participants or potential participants in Departmental programs; (4) maintain, alter, or discontinue field offices; (5) acquire and maintain schools, laboratories, and related facilities; (6) provide and maintain various facilities for employees and their dependents at remote locations; (7) utilize, with their consent, Federal, State, tribal, or foreign facilities; (8) acquire necessary copyrights and patents; (9) accept and utilize gifts and requests of real and personal property; (10) establish a working capital fund for administrative expenses; and (11) transfer funds within the Department. Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Congress concerning the Department's activities. Stipulates that such report include: (1) a statement of goals and priorities; (2) an assessment of progress; (3) an analysis of data concerning changing trends in education and areas of particular educational concern; (4) five-year budget projections; and (5) recommendations made by the Federal Interagency Committee on Education. Requires that public hearings be held as part of the preparation of such report. Directs that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget jointly conduct a study of the administration of Federal Indian education programs, and that such study be submitted to the Congress and the President within six months of enactment of this Act. Stipulates that such study contain; (1) an analysis of problems and recommendations for improvements; and (2) recommendations concerning the proper organizational structure for Indian education programs within the Federal Government. Provides that, except where inconsistent with provisions of this Act, the General Education Provisions Act shall apply to functions transferred by this Act. Title V: Transitional, Savings, and Conforming Provisions - Redesignates the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare as the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Title VI: Effective Date and Interim Appointment - Directs that this Act shall take effect 180 days after the Secretary of Education takes office, or earlier if the President so decides. Authorizes the President to make initial interim appointments to the Department of Education under specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1979
Small Business Depreciation Reform Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the straight line depreciation based on a period of 36 months of business property with a useful life of three years or more and a basis not in excess of $25,000.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
National Ski Patrol System Recognition Act of 1979 - Grants a Federal charter to the National Ski Patrol System. Declares that the purpose of such corporation shall be to promote public safety in skiing.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Sunset Act of 1979 - Title I: Reauthorizations of Government Programs - Sets forth a ten-year schedule for reauthorization of all Federal programs according to budget function and subfunction as set forth in the Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 1979. Sets forth the procedure in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the consideration of any bill, resolution, or amendment which authorizes new budget authority. States that it is not in order for either House to consider any legislation which authorizes the enactment of new budget authority for a program for a period of more than ten years, for an indefinite period, or for any fiscal year beginning after the next reauthorization date applicable to such program. Provides that before the Congress can appropriate funds for any program, after its first reauthorization date, there must be a specific authorization in law to support the appropriation. Requires the committees of the Senate and House of Representatives to conduct a sunset review of programs during the Congress in which such programs are scheduled for review. Requires that the report accompanying such reauthorization contain specified information, and that the report be completed during the Congress in which the program is scheduled for reauthorization. Exempts from the requirements of this Act specified programs such as interest on Federal debts, health care services, general retirement and disability payments, as well as litigation activities which have as their objectives the protection and implementation of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and specified retirement pay and benefits. Allows the reauthorization schedule set forth in this Act to be changed by concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress and sets forth the procedure for such change. Requires all legislation and other matters related to changes in the dates for programs under this Act to be referred to the committee with legislative jurisdiction over any program affected by the proposal and, sequentially, to the Committee on Rules in the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the Senate. Requires such committees to report any concurrent resolution or bill referred to it by a committee of legislative jurisdiction within 30 days, with a statement on each of its recommendations. Makes provisions for any proposed change which has been reported by a committee before June 1, 1980. Title II: Program Inventory - Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs. Declares that the purpose of such program inventory is to advise and assist Congress in carrying out the reauthorization and reexamination requirements and to link such reauthorization and review process with the budget process. Requires the Comptroller General to submit such program inventory to each House of Congress no later than January 1, 1980. Sets forth the contents of the inventory program, including the type of authorization provided for such programs' new budget authority, and the manner in which related program areas may be grouped for evaluation and review. Permits the congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service to review the program inventory and suggest revisions. Requires that the program inventory be revised at the end of each session of Congress, and that such revisions be reported to each House. Requires that periodic reports tabulate the progress of congressional action on bills and resolutions authorizing budget authority for programs in the inventory. Requires the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to submit periodic reports to the Congress on the adequacy of the functional and subfunctional categories for grouping programs of like missions or objectives. Title III: Program Reexamination - Requires each committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reexamine selected programs or groups of programs over which it has jurisdiction. Sets forth procedures for such review, and criteria for selection of program areas for evaluation. Directs each Senate committee to consult with the appropriate committees of either the House of Representatives or the Senate in order to achieve coordination of program reevaluation and inform itself of the related activities of or available assistance from the General Accounting Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, the Office of Technology Assessment, and appropriate instrumentalities in the executive and judicial branches. Requires each Senate committee to deliver a report on the reexamination to the Secretary of the Senate at the date specified in the funding resolution first reported by such committee in 1981, and thereafter reported for the first session of each Congress. Allows two or more committees which have legislative jurisdiction over the same programs or portions of the same programs to examine such programs jointly and submit a joint report. Stipulates that such report: (1) contain the findings, recommendations, and justifications of the program; and (2) include specified information including, but not limited to, an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the program and an identification of any trends, developments, and emerging conditions which are likely to affect the nature and extent of the problems or needs which the program is intended to address. Requires each executive department or agency which is responsible for a program selected for reexamination to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget and to the appropriate committees of the Congress on its findings, recommendations, and justifications of specified aspects of the program. Title IV: Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government - Establishes, as an independent instrumentality of the United States, the Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government to conduct a nonpartisan study and investigation of the organization and methods of operation of all departments, agencies, independent instrumentalities, and other authorities of the executive branch of the Government, and to make such recommendations as it determines are necessary to promote economic, efficient and improved services in the transaction of public business. Requires the Commission to submit interim reports to the President and the Congress, and to submit a final report with its findings and recommendations. Requires the Comptroller General to report once a year for two years after submission of the Commission's final report on the status of actions taken as a result of the report. Specifies the composition of the 15-member Commission and sets forth the duties and powers of the Commission. States that the Commission shall cease to exist 90 days after submission of its final report. Authorizes to be appropriated until September 30, 1984, without fiscal year limitations, $4,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this Title. Title V: Regulatory Impact - Requires the President to submit, at the beginning of each of the five Congresses beginning with the 97th Congress, an analysis of the purpose, function, and efficiency of 16 specified regulatory agencies. Requires the President to submit legislative plans, based on such analyses, for the improvement of operations of such agencies. Establishes a schedule according to which plans for specified agencies will be submitted early in each of the five Congresses for which the required analyses are submitted. Directs the President, with each plan, to submit a report on the cumulative impact of government regulatory activity on specific industry groupings. Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to assess each of the agencies included in the President's plans and to analyze such plans, and submit such information to the Congress. Title VI: Government Accountability - Requires the President, beginning with the first year of the 97th Congress, to submit biennially, as a part of the budget, a report on the management of the executive branch. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to provide an evaluative report on Federal programs to the President to be included with the President's report. Title VII: Miscellaneous - Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to permit the committees of Congress to obtain from the agencies of the government estimates or requests for appropriations or requests for increases in an item of any such estimate or request, and recommendations as to how the revenue needs of the government should be met. Declares that nothing shall require the public disclosure of records which are specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order, or which are otherwise specifically protected by law. Provides that the committees of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall not be required to publicly disclose any such records, except as otherwise provided by the rules of either House. Sets forth administrative procedures and requirements. Directs the President, with the cooperation of the head of each appropriate agency, to submit to the Congress a "Regulatory Duplication and Conflicts Report" for all programs scheduled for reauthorization in the next Congress. Stipulates that each such report identify duplicative or conflicting rules and regulations promulgated by executive departments, independent agencies, and State and local governments and contain recommendations which address such conflicts or duplications. Defines the term "required authorization waiver resolution" for purposes of this Act. Sets forth the procedure which the chairman of the committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives having legislative jurisdiction over programs must follow in order to introduce a required authorization waiver resolution. Makes it the duty of the Committees on Governmental Affairs and on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committees on Government Operations and on Rules of the House of Representatives to review the operation of the procedures established by this Act and to submit a report every five years beginning December 31, 1986. Authorizes to be appropriated through fiscal year 1990 such sums as may be necessary to carry out the review requirements and for the compilation of the inventory of Federal programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Authorizes the Attorney General to institute a civil action for or in the name of the United States in an appropriate district court whenever he has reasonable cause to believe that a State or its agents are subjecting persons confined in any correctional facility, juvenile correction center, mental hospital, nursing home, or facility for the mentally ill, retarded, or disabled to conditions of willful or gross neglect which deprive such persons of their Federal constitutional or statutory rights. Permits the Attorney General to intervene in any action commenced in a Federal court in which relief is sought from conditions allegedly depriving institutionalized persons in State institutions of their Federal rights. Prohibits any retaliation against individuals reporting conditions which may constitute a violation. Requires the Attorney General to report to Congress concerning actions instituted or in which the Attorney General has intervened pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate Federal financing of Presidential elections. Allows the Federal Election Commission or the Secretary of the Treasury to continue to require repayments from candidates. Provides that amounts remaining in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund after December 31, 1979, shall be covered into the general fund of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1979
Presidential Primary Act - Directs that a national primary for the selection of candidates to run for the office of President shall be held in each State on the first Tuesday in August of each year in which a Presidential election is to be held. Allows any voter eligible to vote for the election of electors of the President and Vice President to vote in the Presidential primary election. Requires that a voter desiring to vote for the nomination of a candidate of a party either be a registered member of such party or not registered with any party. Prohibits an individual from being a candidate of a party outside of his registered affiliation. Requires that an individual must file a petition no later than June 30 of the year in which the Presidential primary is to be held in order to have his name appear on the ballot of each State. Directs that a petition be signed by qualified voters equaling at least one percent of the total vote in a State in the previous Presidential election provided that no such signatures can be of members of a political party different than the party whose nomination the candidate seeks. Declares a candidate receiving 50 percent or more of the total number of votes cast to be the candidate of that party for election as President. Authorizes a runoff primary if no candidate receives more than half of the votes. Stipulates that in the case of the death or resignation of the Presidential nominee before the party's nomination of a Vice President, his successor is to be nominated by the convention of that party. Stipulates that if the Vice Presidential nomination process has been completed then the Vice President shall resign the Vice Presidential nomination and become the Presidential candidate of that party. Empowers a national committee to choose the Vice President or both candidates (as the case may be) where the Vice President dies or resigns or if both President and Vice President die or resign. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to prohibit the giving or accepting of a contribution for use in the campaign of a candidate for nomination or for election to Federal office before the first day of January of the year of that election.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1978
Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish an urban park and recreation recovery program to provide financial assistance to local governments for rehabilitation of recreation areas and facilities and for development of improved recreation programs. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) criteria for determining eligibility for assistance under this program; and (2) funding priority criteria for project selection and approval. Requires the Secretary to coordinate this program with the total urban recovery effort and to cooperate with other State and Federal departments and agencies which administer urban programs and policies. Authorizes the appropriation of $170,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979 through 1980 to carry out the purposes of this Act, such sums to remain available until expended. Prohibits the use of such funds for the acquisition of land or interests in land.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1978
Jobs Credit Extension Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the existing tax credit for the employment of new employees through December 31, 1980. Revises the credit to permit a taxpayer election to offset against tax liability 35 percent of the excess of unemployment wages paid during a calendar year over the amount of such wages paid during the previous year. Eliminates the requirements that the credit not exceed 50 percent of the increase in unemployment wages during a calendar year over 105 percent of the wages paid in the previous year and that the credit apply to unemployment wages paid during the calendar year which exced 102 percent of the wages paid in the preceding year. Limits the amount of the tax credit to $25,000. Allows an additional ten percent credit for the employment of physically or mentally handicapped individuals. Extends eligibility for the credit to the maritime industry.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Declares that the District of Columbia, for purposes of representation in the Senate, shall be treated as though it were part of the State of Maryland.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Repeals the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution and retrocedes to the State of Maryland all lands within the District of Columbia except lands owned by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Admits the District of Columbia into the Union as a State of the United States on an equal footing with the other States in all respects, except that the Congress shall exercise exclusive legislation over all lands and property owned by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 August 1978
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that for purposes of representation: (1) in the Senate, the District of Columbia shall be treated as though it were part of the State of Maryland; and (2) in the House of Representatives, the District of Columbia shall be treated as though it were a State.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1978
Small Business Investment Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit equal to ten percent of the cost of small business incentive stock (original issue stock issued by a corporation which has equity capital of $25,000,000 or less) acquired by a taxpayer who holds such stock for more than one year. Limits the allowable amount of such credit to $750 for any taxable year. Denies eligibility for such credit to individuals who are claimed as dependents by another taxpayer for purposes of the personal exemption. Disqualifies stock acquired more than 180 days after issuance, stock acquired by an underwriter, certain redemptions or refinancing issues, and investment company stock from treatment as incentive stock. Renders estates or trusts ineligible for the incentive stock tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1978
Investment Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore part of the pre-1969 tax treatment of capital gains by repealing the capital gains item of tax preference for the minimum tax; lowering the corporate alternative tax to 25 percent of net capital gain; and lowering the alternative individual tax to 25 percent of net capital gain.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1978
Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act: (1) to delete from the definition of fishing any operations at sea in support of or in preparation for catching or harvesting fish; and (2) to delete processing vessels from the definition of fishing vessels. Defines process or processing as any treatment of fish in preparation for commercial use. Defines a processing vessel as any vessel used to process, store, refrigerate or transport fish products. Prohibits any foreign processing fishing vessel from fishing within the fishery conservation zone unless such vessel has a valid permit issued pursuant to the Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to approve any application for foreign processing vessel that proposes to receive fish harvested by vessels of the United States unless United States processing capability is adequate for processing the fish harvested from the fishery involved.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1978
Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to change the redevelopment area loan program to a grant program for economic development.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1978
Expresses the concern of the Senate regarding the slaughter of dolphins in the Sea of Japan by Japanese fishermen. Encourages the Government of Japan to join in international discussions to cooperate in the establishment of an international cetacean commission, and to adopt comprehensive marine mammal protection legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1978
Highway and Public Transportation Improvement Act - 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 and urban Federal-aid systems 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). Stipulates that the Federal share for such a substitute project shall be 90 percent of its cost. 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 States to either submit environmental impact statements on all Interstate projects or to withdraw such projects for substitute projects by September 30, 1982. Authorizes Interstate withdrawal after such date if the project is subject to judicial or administrative constraints on or after such date. 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. 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. 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 implementation plans under the Clean Air Act in areas violating Clean Air Act standards. 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. Requires that new title 23 projects provide for safe and convenient crossing points for pedestrians and bicyclists. 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 tolls on highways 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 result in increased traffic capacity. 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 areas 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. Directs the Secretary to establish construction standards for bicycle projects. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for such grant program for fiscal years 1979 through 1982. Requires States after October 1, 1980, 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 Transportaton 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, 1978. Stipulates that funding for title 23 projects shall be made from the general fund of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1978
Commercial Fisheries Development Act - Title I: Commercial Fisheries Development Fund - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to guarantee the payment of obligations for certain commercial fisheries facilities and fishing vessels. Permits the Secretary to charge a fee for any obligation guaranteed under this Act. Sets forth default procedures. Authorizes the Secretary to make long-term, low interest loans to citizens of the United States to provide capital (1) for fisheries facilities and fishing vessels used for harvesting underutilized species, (2) for fishing vessels and equipment used for experimental fishing, and (3) to enable fisheries facilities to comply with the mandatory fish and fish products inspection program. Authorizes the Secretary to make non- interest-bearing loans to commercial fishermen to alleviate forced economic distress. Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to extend the capital construction fund to fisheries facilities. Establishes within the Treasury of the United States a Commercial Fisheries Development Fund to be available to the Secretary to carry out the purposes of this Act. States that there shall be in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an Office of Commercial Fisheries Development headed by a Director to administer this Act and other laws relating to commercial fisheries designated by the Secretary. Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to abolish the loan program for commercial fishing vessels and gear. Transfers the existing Fishing Vessel Capital Construction Fund program from the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Office of Commercial Fisheries Development. Title II: Fisheries Research and Development Program - Directs the Secretary to establish a fisheries research and development program for commercial fisheries for the purpose of increasing markets for and yields of fish and fish products, and to encourage the marketing and processing of underutilized species. Directs the Secretary to establish a Fisheries Development Board composed of commercial fishermen and producers, handlers, and processors of fisheries products to assist the Secretary in carrying out the fisheries research and development program. Requires the Secretary to establish a long-range plan for the domestic development of underutilized fisheries resources. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study regarding the adequacy of existing Federal and State training programs designed to train individuals in the commercial fisheries industry. Amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to direct that 75 percent of the duties collected on fishery products be appropriated and made available for carrying out the fisheries research and development program created under this Act. Title III: Mandatory Federal Fish and Fish Products Inspection Program - Directs the Secretary to establish a mandatory fish and fish products inspection program. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Title IV: Fisheries Cooperative Service Assistance - Requires the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a pilot program of comprehensive service to assist fishing interests in forming cooperative organizations. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance and advice to fisheries cooperatives. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1978
Small Business Reduction and Stimulation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide graduated income tax rates for corporations with a maximum rate of 46 percent on income in excess of $150,000 and a minimum rate of 15 percent on income not in excess of $25,000.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations corresponding to the principles set forth in a certain private letter ruling relating to the exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred by participants in public deferred compensation plans.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1978
National Aquaculture Organic Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a National Aquaculture Development Plan. Requires that such plan (1) identify each aquatic species which can be cultured on a commercial basis (priority aquatic species), and (2) contain a program of aquaculture development for such priority aquatic species. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to review each aquatic species not identified as a priority species and the program established for each priority species. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to (1) establish and maintain an aquaculture information center, (2) maintain an inventory of public and private aquaculture being carried out in the United States, (3) arrange for the mutual exchange of information relating to aquaculture with foreign nations, and (4) submit an annual report to Congress on the implementation of the provisions of this Act. Establishes the Interagency Committee on Aquaculture comprised of the heads of various Federal agencies to insure that there is a continuing exchange of information relating to the aquacultural programs and projects of the various agencies and to review on a continuing basis the relevant programs and projects of all Federal agencies. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to carry out any function under this Act through grants or contracts. Limits the amount of any grant made available under this Act to one-half of the estimated cost of the project for which the grant was made. Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee obligations issued for the financing of any aquaculture facility. Stipulates that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all such guaranteed obligations shall not exceed $100,000,000. Authorizes the Secretary to collect a fee for guaranteed obligations not to exceed one-half of one percent per annum of the outstanding principal balance of the obligation. Sets forth the default procedures relating to such loans. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to provide insurance against essential stock losses incurred in aquaculture facility operations in any State wherein such insurance is not available at reasonable rates. Sets forth the procedure for determining the premium rate for such insurance. Establishes within the Treasury a Federal Aquaculture Assistance Fund for the purposes of guaranteeing obligations and providing essential stock insurance pursuant to this Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1978
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to enter into a contract with each State for payment of 100 percent of the costs of repairing highways and surface rails of urban mass transportation systems (other than railroads) which were damaged as a result of the winter weather of 1977-1978. Authorizes appropriations of $250,000,000 out of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1978
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to acquire the Museum of African Art. Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution a bureau to be known as the Museum of African Art. Sets forth the functions of such bureau. Establishes a Commission for the Museum of African Art to assist the Board in the operation and development of the Museum. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1978
Flexible Parity Act - Title I: Wheat - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 crop of wheat a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from $3.00 per bushel for a 20 percent set-aside up to $5.04 per bushel for a 50 percent set-aside. Title II: Feed Grains - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 crop of feed grains a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from $2.10 for a ten percent set-aside up to $3.45 for a 50 percent set-aside. Title III: Upland Cotton - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide for the 1978 crop of upland cotton a sliding-scale of established prices, keyed to voluntary five percent increments above the required acreage set-aside level, ranging from 54 cents per pound for a 20 percent set-aside up to 84 cents per point for a 50 percent set-aside. Title IV: Grain Release Prices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949: (1) to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from providing for the redemption of stored wheat and feed grains loans unless the market price for such commodities is not less than parity; (2) to prohibit the Secretary from calling such loans until the market price for wheat and feed grains is at least 105 percent of parity; and (3) to prohibit the Commodity Credit Corporation from selling its stocks of wheat and feed grains for less than the parity price of such commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1978
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a credit against the individual income tax equal to 15 percent of the social security taxes paid by that individual during the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1978
Expresses the insistence of the Senate that the Government of the Republic of Korea cooperate with a certain investigation of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. Declares that failure of the Government to cooperate with such investigation will have a negative impact on relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, including assistance for the latter country.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1977
Authorizes a $543,000,000 appropriation for reimbursing States for expenditures made with respect to services provided by such States under specified titles of the Social Security Act. Sets forth procedures and time limitations for making claims for reimbursement and maximums amounts which a State may receive for providing services under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1977
Authorizes and requests the President to annually designate the Sunday following Fire Service Recognition Day as "Memorial Sunday" for firefighters disabled or killed in the line of duty during the preceeding year.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1977
Declares that there be no reduction of customs duties on textile, apparel, or fiber products and that such products be excluded from the current Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Geneva.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1977
National Manned Undersea Science and Technology Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a national manned undersea science and technology program to enhance the Nation's capability to support marine science and resource development through manned undersea techniques. Authorizes the Secretary to grant funds and enter into contracts with United States citizens to carry out this Act. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1979 through 1983 to carry out the purpose of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1977
Marine Migratory Fish Conservation and Study Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit to the President and Congress a National Migratory Fish Species Conservation and Management Plan to establish a program of conservation and management of migratory fish species of the United States. Sets forth classifications to be used in establishing such conservation and management programs for migratory fish species. Authorizes the Secretary to make Federal grants to coastal States to assist programs to manage migratory fish species within State waters. Directs the Secretary to establish an Office of Migratory Fish to administer this Act. Requires the Secretary to establish a program to conduct comprehensive scientific studies of migratory fish species and their environmental requirements. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties, including forfeiture, for activities prohibited under this Act. Stipulates that this Act shall be enforced by the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, and by the enforcement authorities of individual States within their territorial waters. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1979 through 1983 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1977
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Organic Act - Title I: Declaration of a National Ocean Policy - Declares the policy and purpose of this Act. Title II: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Establishes within the Department of Commerce the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Transfers to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: (1) certain functions of the Department of the Interior relating to commercial fisheries, migratory marine species of game fish, and marine minerals technology; (2) all functions of the National Science Foundation under the National Sea Grant College and Program Act of 1966; and (3) certain functions of the Department of Defense relating to surveys and charting of lakes and connecting waters, and water research. Sets forth the responsibilities of the Administrator with regard to the formulation and implementation of ocean and atmospheric programs. Establishes a working capital fund for the purpose of carrying out the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Requires the Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth the procedure for transfer of personnel, positions, records, and funds to the Administration. Requires a comprehensive review of each Administration program every five years.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1977
Amends the Whale Conservation and Protection Act to urge that attention be given to the utilization and employment of native whaling committees which engage in whale hunting for subsistence. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of the Act for fiscal years 1980 through 1982, and increases appropriations authorization for fiscal years 1978 and 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1977
Designates the South Portal Federal Office Building of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare at 200 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, D. C., as the "Hubert H. Humphrey Building."
![Official portrait of Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000253_200.jpg)