United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Economic Opportunity Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands within the definition of 'State' for the purposes of such Act. Title I: Research and Demonstrations - Permits the Director of the Community Services Administration to provide financial assistance through grants or contracts for research, demonstration, or pilot projects for urban and rural community development. Requires the Director, as a part of the annual report to the Congress on the activities of such office, to submit a description for each fiscal year of the current plan of activities, together with a statement indicating the time and, to the extent feasible, the manner in which the benefits of such activities and findings are expected to be realized. Requires the Director to develop and carry out pilot projects which are designed to: (1) aid low-income elderly persons to achieve greater self-sufficiency; (2) focus upon the problems of rural poverty; (3) develop new techniques and community-based efforts to prevent narcotics addiction or to rehabilitate narcotics addicts; (4) encourage the participation of private organizations other than nonprofit organizations, in programs under such Act; or (5) strengthen and maintain the family unit. Requires the Director to conduct research and pilot projects designed to: (1) assure a more effective use of the human and natural resources of rural America and to slow the migration from rural areas due to lack of economic opportunity; and (2) suggest new programs and policies to achieve economic development of urban and rural low-income areas in such ways as to provide opportunities for employment, ownership, and a better quality of life for low-income community residents. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such programs through fiscal year 1984. Title II: Urban and Rural Community Action Programs - Makes the strengthening and support of the low-income family unit a purpose of such Act. Terminates the "Summer Youth Recreation" program under such Act. Establishes the "Youth and family development" program which shall be designed to strengthen and maintain low-income families and assist economically disadvantaged children and youth. Makes the Northern Mariana Islands eligible for assistance under such Act for the development and implementation of community action programs. Requires the Director to reserve not more than five percent of the sums which are appropriated or allocated for assistance under such Act for allotment in accordance with such criteria and procedures as the Director may prescribe. Directs the Director to utilize the criteria of poverty used by the Bureau of the Census in compiling the 1980 decennial census for the allotment of funds under such Act. Reserves a specified amount of appropriated funds to carry out the national youth sports program. Terminates research for the development of new approaches to the problems of rural poverty. Permits financial assistance under such Act to include funds to provide reimbursement of actual expenses for attendance at meetings of any community action governing board, neighborhood council, or committee meeting. Increases, to $22,275, the amount of financial assistance that an employee engaged in carrying out community action program activities under such Act may receive per year. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1984 to carry out rural community action programs. Title III: Special Programs to Combat Poverty in Rural Areas - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1984 to carry out special programs to combat poverty in rural areas. Title IV: Assistance for Migrant and Other Seasonally Employed Farmworkers and Their Families - Requires the Director of the Community Service Administration to coordinate programs with the Office of Economic Development to assist or serve migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1984 to provide assistance for migrant and other seasonally employed farmworkers and their families. Title V: Head Start and Follow Through - Authorizes appropriations though fiscal year 1986 to carry out the Head Start and Follow Through programs. Extends such program through June 30, 1986. Title VI: Administration and Coordination - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1984 for the National Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity and for programs for the elderly poor. Eliminates the transfer of funds from one program or activity under such Act to any other program or activity. Prohibits the release of any funds to any agency receiving financial assistance for work training, programs to combat poverty in rural areas, employment and investment incentives, administration and coordination, or community economic development until it has submitted to the Director a statement certifying that the assisted agency and its delegate agencies have established an accounting system with internal controls. Requires the Director, within three months after the effective date of a grant to or contract of assistance with an organization, to provide for a preliminary audit survey to review and evaluate the adequacy of such accounting system and internal controls. Requires the Director, not less than every two years, to provide for an audit of each organization receiving grants or contracts of assistance under such Act. Title VII: Community Economic Development - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1984 to carry out community economic development programs. Terminates the requirement of a plan of action for the establishment of a Model Community Economic Development Finance Corporation. Terminates the research and demonstration projects designed to suggest new programs to achieve the purposes of such Act in such ways as to provide opportunities for employment, ownership, and a better quality of life for low-income residents. Title VIII: Native American Programs - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1984 to carry out Native American programs. Title IX: Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1983 for program and project evaluation. Title X: Miscellaneous Provisions - Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to make grants to local educational agencies to administer nutritional services demonstration projects for older persons. States that such projects shall: (1) provide for free lunch for older persons at schools providing such lunches to children under the National School Lunch Act; (2) encourage such persons to remain at the schools to provide counseling and supervisory assistance to the students; and (3) furnish to such persons sufficient food for an evening meal. Requires the Commissioner to submit a report to the Congress based on a study of such projects by September 30, 1983. Extends the authorization for appropriations under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to October 1, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XV111 (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) eliminate the $100 amount in controversy minimum applicable to a carrier with respect to the hearing requirement; (2) provide that the customary and prevailing charge levels shall be updated semiannually; and (3) increase the level for payment of benefits from 80 to 90 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
National Catastrophic Health Insurance Program Act of 1981 - Title I: Catastrophic Health Insurance Program - Establishes title XXI (National Catastrophic Health Insurance Program) of the Social Security Act to provide catastrophic illness insurance benefits to all individuals, their spouses and dependents whose combined resources are less than $50,000 for their most recent previous tax year. Provides for exclusions from resources in determining eligibility. Establishes the Federal Catastrophic Health Insurance Trust Fund to finance payments for health care services under this Act and provides for a board of trustees to manage the fund. Title II: Tax on Removal of Natural Resources from Federal Lands - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to impose a tax upon individuals who remove natural resources from Federal lands of ten percent of such resources removed. Provides that 100 percent of the revenues collected through such tax shall be deposited in the Federal Catastrophic Health Insurance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable income tax credit for 75 percent of the amount paid by deaf or speech-impaired individuals for use of toll telephone service by means of teletypewriters. Allows such individuals an income tax deduction for 50 percent of the purchase and installation of such teletypewriters. Provides that such a deduction shall not exceed $200.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State should recommend to the Attorney General that aliens who are nationals of El Salvador be granted extended voluntary departure status until they can reside safely in El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Commends the peaceful attempts to resolve differences between Poland's workers and government officials and expresses the hope that they will continue to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations. Welcomes to the United States Poland's First Deputy Prime Minister. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States could not remain indifferent to external aggression or internal repression against Poland and that such developments would have serious consequences for East-West relations. Supports efforts to work with other nations to ease Poland's economic difficulties and the U.S. decision to sell surplus food to Poland at concessionary prices and in Polish currency provided neither external aggression nor internal repression occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1981
Military Spouse Retirement Equity Act - Entitles a former spouse of a member of the uniformed services who was married to such member for at least ten years to an annuity based upon a percentage of such member's retired or retainer pay. Allows annuities to be paid to former spouses covered by spousal agreements or court orders which are not inconsistent with provisions of this Act. Provides that the ten-year requirement for the marriage of a former spouse to a member of the uniformed services should not be construed to affect the rights of any such person under applicable State laws. Amends the Survivor Benefit Plan to make such former spouses eligible to receive annuities under such plan.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1981
Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1981 - Title I: Community and Neighborhood Development and Conservation - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to: (1) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for grants to metropolitan areas for Community Development Programs; and (2) to limit the amount of commitments to guarantee notes and other obligations which the Secretary may enter into with respect to community development loan guarantees in fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to increase the amount of funds authorized for rehabilitation loans and to limit the amount of commitments to make such loans for fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing Act of 1954 to reduce the funds authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1982 for grants for activities relating to the development of comprehensive plans for community development, employment, and conservation, and to restrict the use of such funds to carrying out the clearinghouse functions required by OMB Circular A-95. Amends the Neighborhood Self-Help Development Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for grants for community development to neighborhood organizations. Amends the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to authorize appropriations for the Corporation for fiscal year 1982. Title II: Assisted Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937: (1) to increase, on October 1, 1981, the maximum amount of annual contractual contributions which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make to low-income housing; (2) to limit the amount which may be obligated over the duration of such contracts with respect to additional authority provided after October 1, 1981; (3) to allocate such additional authority; and (4) to authorize appropriations to fiscal year 1982 for annual contributions for the operation of low-income housing projects. Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to authorize fiscal year 1982 appropriations for operating assistance for troubled multifamily housing projects, with restrictions on the use of such funds for operating deficits resulting from failures to amend project contracts. Amends the National Housing Act to prohibit the approval of the appropriation of funds for such assistance after September 30, 1982. Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary to provide additional assistance payments of a specified amount per year to lower income families for acquiring home ownership or membership in a cooperative association. Title III: Program Amendments and Extensions - Amends the National Housing Act to extend the Secretary's authority to insure loans for mortgages and home improvement. Extends the Secretary's authority to establish the maximum interest rates for certain mortgage insurance programs. Limits the maximum principal amount of loans and mortgages that the Secretary may insure under such Act in fiscal year 1982. Amends the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act of 1974 to extend the authority of the Secretary to direct the Government National Mortgage Association to purchase mortgages and securities. Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to limit the amount of loans the Secretary may make for the provision of housing for elderly or handicapped families in fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 to authorize appropriations for research for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in fiscal year 1982. Amends the National Housing Act to increase the amount of funds authorized to be appropriated to cover losses sustained by the General Insurance Fund. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to: (1) increase, on October 1, 1981, the limitation on the total amount of commitments authorized for the Government National Mortgage Association; and (2) to limit the aggregate principal amount of mortgages that the Association may purchase and the amount of securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association that the Association may guarantee during fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1975 to direct the President to appoint two of the members of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences selected each year, and to extend the authorization for the Institute through fiscal year 1987. Amends the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 to authorize appropriations for the weatherization program for fiscal year 1982. Title IV: Flood, Crime, and Riot Insurance - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend the national flood insurance program until September 30, 1983, and to authorize appropriations for various insurance studies during fiscal year 1982. Amends the National Housing Act to extend: (1) the Secretary's powers to enter into contracts with respect to the Federal riot reinsurance program and the Federal crime insurance program until September 30, 1983; and (2) the deadline for submitting a plan for the liquidation of such programs to Congress until September 30, 1986. Title V: Rural Housing - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 to the Secretary of Agriculture: (1) to insure and guarantee loans for rural housing, with certain restrictions; (2) to make loans and grants for improvements of rural housing; (3) to provide financial assistance for the provision of low- rent housing for domestic farm labor; (4) to make grants or contract for the development of programs to assist low-income persons in benefiting from housing programs in rural areas; and (5) to insure loans to provide rental housing for persons of moderate income in rural areas. Terminates use of the Rural Housing Insurance Fund for certain rural housing loans as of October 1, 1981. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into contracts to provide: (1) interest credit payments with respect to such loans made during fiscal year 1982; (2) additional assistance payments to low income persons who are unable to afford dwellings with such interest credit payments; and (3) rental assistance payments. Authorizes appropriations for such payments in fiscal year 1982 with annual and aggregate limitations. Authorizes fiscal year 1982 appropriations for: (1) programs of mutual and self-help housing in rural areas; and (2) the Self-Help Housing Land Development Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1981
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to: (1) provide for consumer participation in the administration of agricultural marketing orders; and (2) set forth an agency procedure for the issuance of marketing order rules and regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the: (1) U.S. representative to the World Health Assembly should vote for the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; (2) American infant formula industry should abide by such code; (3) President should encourage other governments to call upon their infant formula industries to comply with this code; and (4) President should cooperate with governments of developing countries to develop health standards and programs to implement this code.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Congress would consider military action by the Soviet Union against Poland a serious breach of international peace; and (2) in the event of such action, the President, in conjunction with the leaders of Japan, Australia, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, should immediately discontinue all credit lines and severely curtail trade and economic relations with the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1981
Proclaims Raoul Wallenberg an honorary citizen of the United States. Requests the President to ascertain his whereabouts from the Soviet Union and to secure his freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Amends the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated as the annual Federal payment to the District of Columbia.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Title I: Transfers of Powers - Declares it to be the policy of the United States: (1) to comply with the sovereign rights of the people of Puerto Rico to decide their political status; (2) to recognize that Puerto Rico constitutes a full-fledged Latin American nation; and (3) that all of the Government's powers and authority over Puerto Rico should be relinquished and transferred to the people of Puerto Rico. Directs the President, 90 days after approval of this Act, to proclaim the intention to withdraw and surrender all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, and control of sovereignty exercised by the United States over Puerto Rico upon the convening of a constituent assembly of the people of Puerto Rico. Title II: The Constituent Assembly - Authorizes an organizing committee to convene a sovereign constituent assembly of the people of Puerto Rico and to transfer to it all the powers currently entrusted to the Puerto Rican government and all powers pertaining to Puerto Rico exercised by the U.S. Government. Title III: The Negotiating Commission - Requires the President to appoint one member and the Constituent Assembly of Puerto Rico to appoint five members to form a commission to negotiate any specific conditions or terms of relations between Puerto Rico and the United States. Directs the United States and Puerto Rico to submit any controversy which cannot be resolved by the negotiating commission to the International Court of Justice of the United Nations for final decision. Title IV: Transition - Declares that the functions of the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Federal Government shall be administered as customary until the moment that the constituent assembly proclaims the establishment of a permanent body politic in Puerto Rico. Authorizes the assembly to institute transitory measures before such moment in crucial areas. Requires all Government funds already appropriated to Puerto Rico, as well as corresponding funds during the transitory period not exceeding five years, to be put in trust for Puerto Rico in the World Bank or another international banking organization to be utilized as directed by the constituent assembly in consultation with the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Maintains all rights and benefits acknowledged to Puerto Rican citizens who are U.S. veterans, retired Federal employees, or social security recipients, regardless of the political status of Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) express to the Soviet Union the United States' deep concern about the Soviet Union's depriving the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families of religious freedom and refusing them permission to emigrate; (2) ensure that such families may reside in the U.S. embassy in Moscow until the Soviet Union authorizes their emigration; and (3) ensure provision of assistance for such families during their residence in the embassy.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Hunger and Global Security Act - Title I: Public Law 480 - Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to require the President to consider the extent to which a developing country is using self-help measures to reduce illiteracy among young farmers and to improve the health of farmers and their families before the President can enter an agreement for the sale of agricultural commodities for foreign currencies and long-term-dollar credit with such country. Requires that the economic development and self-help measures the recipient country agrees to undertake be sufficiently described so that the primary beneficiaries will be needy people with incomes below the level required to prevent malnutrition. Requires such economic development and self-help measures to be in addition to the measures the recipient country had otherwise been planning to take. Directs the President to verify that such measures are being carried out and to report to the appropriate Congressional committees on such verification and on the additional nature of such measures. Title II: Multilateral Development Banks - Amends the Federal provisions for aiding international financial institutions to require the United States to work within certain multilateral development banks to establish a requirement that not less than 50 percent of such bank's lending benefit needy people. Requires the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury to report to Congress annually on establishing such requirement. Title III: World Food Security - Directs the President to encourage other grain exporting countries to establish food security reserves or take other measures that complement the U.S. food security reserve. Directs the President to report to Congress on actions taken with respect to such food security reserves. Directs the President to negotiate the establishment of a global food financing facility and ensure that the benefits of such facility meet basic human needs. Directs the President to report to Congress on the actions taken to implement such facility. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from imposing export controls on food if it is determined that such controls would cause measurable malnutrition in the countries against whom the controls are proposed unless the President determines such controls are necessary to protect U.S. national security. Title IV: Generalized System of Preferences - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit the President from designating as a beneficiary developing country any country that fails to give priority to alleviating malnutrition and poor health and enabling the poor to participate actively in increasing economic productivity, unless the President determines that such designation is required by U.S. national security interests and so reports to Congress. Directs the President to review the possibility of increasing the benefits available to the poorest beneficiary developing countries under such Act's Generalized System of Preferences. Title V: American International Public Health Fund - Establishes within the Agency for International Development (AID) an American International Public Health Fund to provide financial assistance to private and voluntary organizations to support specified public health activities in developing countries. Limits the Fund's financial assistance with respect to the administrative activities of such organizations. Specifies factors to be considered in allocating the Fund's resources. Authorizes the Fund to carry out all AID programs assisting private and voluntary organizations. Directs the Administrator of AID to establish a Board for International Public Health which shall: (1) participate in project proposal review; (2) review documents that detail the terms under which the Fund provides financial assistance to private and voluntary organizations; (3) review the impact of activities supported by the Fund; (4) recommend the allocation of funds; and (5) participate in preparing the annual report. Requires the Director of the Fund to report annually to Congress and the President on the Fund. Authorizes appropriations for such Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Declares that high level officials of South Africa should not be invited to visit the United States until South Africa abandons its policy of apartheid and commits itself to granting social justice and participation in the political process to all South Africans.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1981
Calls upon the President to: (1) demand that El Salvador thoroughly investigate the December, 1980, murders of four U.S. missionaries; (2) instruct, in light of allegations that Salvadorans residing in the United States were involved in those murders, the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assume a more directive role in the investigation and employ all other available U.S. resources in that investigation; (3) report on the investigation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on at least a biweekly basis; (4) demand that El Salvador begin investigating the murders of two U.S. labor representatives, and the disappearance of a U.S. journalist; and (5) warn El Salvador that, if these investigations are not satisfactorily resolved, the United States will consider terminating U.S. assistance to El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Federal Reserve Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to impose reserve requirements on the assets of money market mutual funds in such amounts and under such terms as the Board imposes reserve requirements on the transaction accounts of depository institutions (that is, any deposit or account on or from which the depositor or account holder is permitted to make withdrawals by negotiable instrument or other similar item for the purpose of making payments to third persons). Amends the Depository Institutions Deregulation Act of 1980 to require the Depository Institutions Deregulation Committee to: (1) establish the maximum rate of return payable on funds invested in a money market mutual fund; and (2) establish other limitations and requirements on the terms and conditions on which shares of a money market mutual fund may be purchased. Makes the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission a nonvoting member of the Deregulation Committee. Prohibits any money market mutual fund from: (1) being organized with a liquidity account of less than $2,500,000; or (2) declaring a dividend until its liquidity account exceeds $2,500,000 or 2.5 percent of its total outstanding liabilities, whichever is greater. Sets forth a schedule according to which any money market mutual fund engaged in business on March 1, 1981, may, at its option, establish a liquidity account to satisfy such requirements. Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve to appoint examiners to examine each money market mutual fund at least twice a year, except that the Board may, when it deems advisable, waive one such examination or order additional examinations. Requires the Board, at least once a year, to report to both Houses of Congress regarding the results of such examinations. Requires each money market mutual fund to compile and make available to the public the number and total dollar amount of investments purchased during each fiscal year. Exempts from the reserve and disclosure requirements set forth by this Act money market mutual funds which invest solely in local government general obligation bonds. Sets forth penalties for the violation of any provision of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority (deferral no. D81-36A) for the programs authorized by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, as transmitted by the President to the Congress on March 11, 1981, pursuant to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1981
Federal Financing Bank Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Federal Financing Bank Act of 1973 to include the receipts and disbursements of the Bank in the discharge of its functions in the totals of the budget of the United States Government. Authorizes such Bank, to the extent as may be provided in advance in appropriations Acts, to make commitments to purchase and sell, and to purchase and sell, any obligation which is issued, sold, or guaranteed by a Federal agency. Directs the Bank to make commitments to purchase, and to purchase, any obligation offered to it: (1) which is guaranteed by a Federal agency; (2) which has not previously been issued or sold to any person or governmental entity; and (3) in any case in which the guarantee with respect to such obligation would cease to be effective if such obligation were held by any person or governmental entity (other than such agency or the Bank). Permits any Federal agency, to the extent as may be provided in advance in appropriations Acts, which is authorized to issue, sell, or guarantee any obligation to issue or sell such obligation directly to the Bank. Subjects any guarantee by a Federal agency of an obligation to the condition that if such obligation is held by any person or governmental entity, other than such agency or the Bank, such guarantee shall thereafter cease to be effective, except in the case of any obligation which: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury determines is of a type which is not ordinarily brought and sold in the same markets as investment securities; or (2) which is issued or sold by the Bank.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1981
Select Commission on Voluntary Service Opportunities Act of 1981 - Establishes the Select Commission on Voluntary Service Opportunities to examine: (1) the effectiveness of existing voluntary service opportunities in the public and private sectors; (2) alternative types of national service programs; (3) the impact of potential changes in incentives for service; and (4) the feasibility of incorporating existing and alternative service programs into a comprehensive national service program. Directs the Commission to transmit a final report, with any recommendations for legislative or administrative actions, to the President and to each House of the Congress not later than 15 months after its first meeting. Directs each affected Executive department and agency to submit recommendations to the President for implementing such report. Directs the President to report to each House of Congress on the implementation of the Commission's recommendations. Terminates the Commission 180 days after its final report is transmitted. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Equal Insurance Opportunity and Availability Act - Title I: Nondiscrimination in Insurance Act - Nondiscrimination in Insurance Act - Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in the consideration of applications for, or the granting of, insurance policies and the terms of such policies. Permits insurers who regularly provide insurance solely to persons of a single religious affiliation to continue to do so. Grants to State or local governments having insurance discrimination laws the primary opportunity to enforce this Act. Permits an aggrieved person to file a civil action in State or Federal court against an insurer, if a State or local authority which has received notice of a complaint fails to act within 60 days or with respect to those authorities not having insurance discrimination laws. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in district court when there is reasonable cause to believe that a person or group is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the rights granted by this Act and that such denial raises an issue of general public importance. Title II: Insurance Activities of Bank Holding Companies - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to prohibit bank holding companies and their subsidiaries from selling insurance as principals, agents, or brokers, except: (1) where the insurance secures an extension of credit in the event of death or disability of the debtor; (2) where the insurance is declining balance credit property insurance, sold by a subsidiary finance company, to protect against loss or damage to collateral securing an extension of credit of $10,000 or less (adjusted by the Consumer Price Index with 1980 as the base year); (3) in the case of insurance agency activity in a community of less than 5,000 or which has inadequate insurance agency facilities; (4) in the case of insurance agency activity lawfully engaged in by a bank holding company as of specified dates; (5) in the case of certain supervisory activity over agents who sell insurance covering a holding company's property and employees; and (6) where State law contravenes such prohibitions with respect to bank holding company insurance activities. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to report annually on the availability of insurance in standard metropolitan statistical areas in all States except those qualifying for an exception under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Title III: - Directs the Department of Justice, in consultation with other specified Federal agencies, to report to Congress on the impact of this Act in preventing discrimination in the provision and availability of insurance, including the need to extend the prohibitions of title II to other financial institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Mandatory Sentencing Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1970 to revise and increase the mandatory penalties for using or carrying a firearm during commission of a Federal felony. Extends the scope of such offense to include displaying or offering to use a firearm or a destructive device. Increases the additional penalty imposed for such offense to not less than ten years' imprisonment for a first offense (currently, one to ten years) and not less than 25 years for a second or subsequent offense (currently, two to 25 years). Extends to first offenders the stipulations, currently applicable only to second offenders, that the court not suspend any sentence or impose concurrent sentences. Eliminates the prohibition against granting probation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the export of goods the sales of which are prohibited or restricted in the United States by specified public health and safety laws, unless specified conditions are met. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to issue export licenses permitting the export of such goods if: (1) all statutory requirements are met; (2) the Secretary and the head of the agency regulating the sale of such goods in the United States concur that: (A) the country has requested such export and has been fully informed of any U.S. restrictions and possible hazards; and (B) the potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards; and (3) the sale in the importing country would be subject to restrictions comparable to those imposed in the United States. Requires such exported goods to include all information required by U.S. law. Prohibits the export of such goods if such information is likely to be ineffective. Prohibits the export of any goods to be used in manufacturing prohibited goods.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Federal Firearms Act of 1981 - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit any person licensed under such Act from manufacturing, selling, delivering, or transferring: (1) any concealable handgun; or (2) any revolver or pistol which fails to meet specified requirements. Exempts from such prohibition handguns which are relics or curios as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury and the use of handguns for research or government use. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1970 to revise and increase the mandatory penalties for using or carrying a firearm during commission of a Federal felony. Extends the scope of such offense to include displaying or offering to use a firearm or a destructive device. Increases the additional penalty imposed for such offense to at least ten years' imprisonment for a first offense (currently, one to ten years) and at least 25 years for a second or subsequent offense (currently, two to 25 years). Extends to first offenders the stipulations, currently applicable only to second offenders, that the court not suspend any sentence, grant probation, or impose concurrent sentences.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1981
Child and Family Development Act - Declares that the Congress affirms the right and responsibility of parents to participate in programs involving their children and that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize any public agency or private organization or its representative to intervene in any child-rearing decision of the parents. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a complete study and assessment of child care needs in the United States. Directs the Secretary to take specified factors into consideration and to complete such study and assessment, and transmit the results to the Congress, within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to prepare and promulgate a comprehensive plan and program to provide services to meet the Nation's child care needs (including day care, education, health, and nutrition). Sets forth required provisions for the plan and program. Directs the Secretary to promptly transmit the plan and program, with recommendations, to the Congress. Requires that a specified minimum period of time after transmittal to the Congress pass before the plan or program or later modifications by the Secretary become effective. Sets forth priorities in the distribution of child care funds by the plan and program. Prohibits the plan and program from affecting levels or sources of funding for the Head Start program and specified programs under the Social Security Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Requires that such plan and program provide for strengthened developmental programming for children and parent education and required certification of teachers under such Acts. Requires that the plan and program include: (1) provision of additional Federal funds to improve child care programs; and (2) incentives for development of improved child care facilities. Sets forth administrative provisions and requirements for State plans for the administration of child care programs. Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report, with recommendations, to the Congress on the administration and operation of this Act and of the plan and program. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1981
New Homestead Act of 1981 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require that not less than 40 percent of the real estate loans made under such Act be for the acquisition of family farms by prospective owner-operators. Sets forth the repayment terms for such loans. Directs the Secretary to make or insure at least 500 but not more than 2,000 such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Establishes a presumption of service-connected disability caused by exposure to a phenoxy herbicide (Agent Orange) for veterans who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era. Waives the one-year limitation on claims for compensation for such disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Expresses the grave concern of the House of Representatives at the repression of the Guatemalan people by the Guatemalan Government. Calls upon the President to: (1) recall the U.S. representative; (2) order continued application to Guatemala of statutes limiting access to bilateral and multilateral aid to gross violators of human rights; (3) prohibit the granting of any Export-Import Bank credits or loan guarantees or the granting of export licenses; (4) instruct U.S. Executive Directors on specified international agencies to vote against grants and loans to Guatemala and to urge other governments to implement similar policies within these institutions; (5) actively work within the Organization of American States and the United Nations to pressure the Guatemalan government to cease its violence against the Guatemalan people; and (6) demand that the regime cease its repression and restore to the police and security forces their proper peacekeeping role.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Declares that the President's decision to commit U.S. military personnel to El Salvador requires the President to submit to Congress a specified report required by the War Powers Resolution in order to preserve the integrity of such Resolution and to ensure the full and cooperative judgment of both Congress and the President with respect to the introduction of U.S. military personnel into El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1981
Authorizes appropriations in the amount of $1,500,000 to the city of Atlanta, Georgia, for law enforcement expenses with respect to the recent murders of children.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1981
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for demonstration projects (in at least three States, including a rural area) for the provision of preventive health services to the elderly through traveling health care practitioners (other than a physician). Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the results of the demonstration projects.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1981
Title I: Surplus School Conversion Grants - Surplus School Conversion Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to local educational agencies to provide up to 80 percent of the costs of renovating underutilized school buildings. Directs the Secretary to give priority to grant applications to renovate buildings for educational or social service purposes. Prohibits grants for renovation of buildings which will be used for storage purposes only. Permits the inclusion of planning costs among the expenses which such grants cover. Directs the Secretary to make available planning and technical assistance to agencies utilizing such funds. Sets forth grant application requirements. Directs the Secretary to consider certain factors in approving applications. Provides for the recapture of such payments by the United States. Sets forth reporting requirements. Title II: Amendment to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to include among guidelines which the Secretary of Energy must prescribe for State plans for the implementation of energy conservation projects in schools and hospitals a requirement that State energy agencies in making grants for such projects for school facilities give priority to facilities in local educational agency jurisdictions with a student enrollment during the school year in which the application is submitted is not more than 90 percent of the enrollment for the second preceding school year.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1981
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell commemorative medals honoring Maggie Lena Walker in recognition of her contributions to the banking industry of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1981
Dependent Care Amendments Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the rate of the income tax credit for household and dependent care expenses, based upon family income. Makes such credit refundable. Increases the amount of allowable dependent care expenses eligible for the credit. Permits the dependent care credit for the care of dependents over the age of 14 or handicapped dependents outside of the home, if such dependents return to the taxpayer's household each day. Imputes a minimum level of earned income to individuals engaged in business on a substantially full-time basis (35 hours a week) for purposes of insuring eligibility for the household and dependent care credit in cases where the taxpayer has little or no income for the taxable year. Grants tax-exempt status to organizations providing dependent care services to the general public. Allows an employee to claim a dependent care credit for the value of employer-provided dependent care services if the value of such services are included in the gross income of the employee.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1981
World War I Veterans Service Pension Act of 1981 - Requires the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay (in addition to any pension already paid) a monthly pension of $150: (1) to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements; (2) to the surviving spouse of each such veteran; or (3) when there is no surviving spouse, to the child or children of each such veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1981
Amends title VII (Equal Employment Opportunity) of the Civil Rights Act to 1964 to make it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against any individual who is physically or mentally handicapped.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1981
Cigarette Safety Act - Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate, within 24 months, final performance standards for cigarettes and little cigars ensuring a minimum capacity for igniting smoldering fabric fires. Authorizes the Commission to prohibit manufacturers from stockpiling such products to which such standards apply. Provides for judicial review of such standards in an appropriate U.S. court of appeals. Declares such cigarette safety standards to be subject to all remedial and penalty provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act for the first three fiscal years beginning after enactment.
![Official portrait of Del. Fauntroy, Walter E. [D-DC-At Large]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000046_200.jpg)