(e) Authorizes and directs the Institute to make grants and enter into contracts with individuals and public and private agencies and organizations to study such subjects as activities to reduce inflationary pressures resulting from full employment; the identification of hidden human potentials, education and training programs necessary to help persons take advantage of employment opportunities; policies and programs necessary to eliminate substandard working conditions; measures to improve the quality of public and private employment; activities necessary to assist independent and small businesses to benefit from this act; alternative forms and organizations of local planning councils; criteria by which councils would monitor and evaluate programs under this act; special problems of priority individuals and groups; integration of existing human service programs; improved methods for conducting studies in all such areas; full employment and comprehensive programs for social and economic indicators for monitoring economic and social groups in American society.

(f) Requires the Institute to encourage divergent approaches to each area of policy study, to regularly consult with local planning councils, and to publicize research findings. SECTION 10.-GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) Prohibits discrimination under any program or activity made possible by this act. (b) Requires that all laborers and mechanics employed under this act be compensated at wages comparable to prevailing localities in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended; requires that the Job Guarantee Office ensure that all agreements provide appropriate health and safety standards, workmen's compensation protection and protection of employed workers against displacement.

SECTION 11.-DEFINITIONS

Defines the terms used in this act: Adult Americans, Full Employment, Able and Willing To Work, Opportunity, Fair Rates of Compensation, and Secretary.

SECTION 12.-AUTHORIZATIONS

Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as are needed to carry out the provisions of this act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1977, and for each succeeding fiscal year.

THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FULL EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1976 The Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Act of 1976 would establish a comprehensive structure for guaranteeing nationwide full employment and equal opportunity. The bill qualitatively alters, expands and implements the mandate of the Employment Act of 1946. It guarantees the right for useful and meaningful employment to every adult American able and willing to work. The impact of this legislation would also drastically change the present welfare, manpower training, unemployment compensation and other social benefit programs.

The personal right to paid employment at fair rates of compensation is implemented through utilizing existing structures and frameworks, adding to them new functions and responsibilities which in turn would provide them with new vitality and purpose. In addition, through a new and decentralized national network, these basic rights are ensured through a full employment and production program. The program is implemented by a five year staged process which provides for continuing and objective studies of its impact upon the nation's social and economic scene.

Specifically the bill has eight major provisions :

Full employment is re-defined as "a situation under which there are useful and rewarding employment opportunities for all adult Americans willing and able to work," in contrast to the current practice of setting a tolerable level of official unemployment for a narrowly-defined labor force.

Local reservoirs of public and private employment projects are developed by Local Planning Councils in cooperation with community job boards.

A Job Guarantee Office is created within the re-named U.S. Full Employment Service which would fund these public and private employment projects. Priority is given to job development through the private sector.

A Standby Job Corps, in which qualified job seekers may be temporarily placed if no suitable jobs are available, is created.

The President is required to develop a national full employment and production program, covering all areas of economic activity, which is designed to promote sufficient employment opportunities through normal channels so that the activities of the U.S. Full Employment Service and the Standby Job Corps are reduced to a minimum.

An expanded role is provided for the Congressional Joint Economic Committee in reviewing and initiating the implementation of the Full Employment and Production Program, by mandatory bi-annual consideration of its funding.

A National Commission for Full Employment Policy Studies is created to conduct studies of the many changes in governmental policies and programs which must be more closely geared to the maintenance of genuine full employment without inflation.

The opportunity to seek redress, by suing through the U.S. District Court, is afforded to any person who feels deprived of his or her job rights.

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FULL EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1976 Co-SPONSORS