United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to grant tax-exempt status to a physicians' and surgeons' mutual protection association established to provide malpractice insurance to its members. Characterizes payments for malpractice insurance made to such an association by its physician or surgeon members as deductible business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Clean Campaign Act of 1983 - Adds a new title to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971: "Title V: Financing of General Election Campaigns for the House of Representatives". Establishes eligibility criteria entitling candidates to receive campaign payments on a matching basis. Establishes formulae to determine such sums. Limits expenditure of personal funds to $20,000 per election. Waives spending limits for eligible candidates whose opponents have spent sums exceeding the limit imposed upon such candidates. Requires specified independent expenditures to be reported to the Commission and to each candidate within specified time-frames. Permits additional payments to certain candidates who have waived specified broadcasting rights. Requires the Federal Election Commission to certify the eligibility of candidates to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall disburse funds to such candidates. Directs the Secretary to establish a separate United States House of Representatives Election Campaign Account in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and to deposit certain sums in such account in accordance with specified guidelines. Directs the Commission to audit campaign accounts. Requires repayment of excess payments and unexpended payments. Penalizes the use of funds for other than campaign purposes. Authorizes the Commission to institute repayment actions in U.S. district courts. Delineates the administrative authority of the Commission in carrying out this Act. Requires the Commission to make certain reports to the House of Representatives. Authorizes appropriations. Limits to $90,000 in any calendar year the amount of contributions which congressional candidates or their authorized political committees may accept from non-party multicandidate political committees. Specifies exceptions for candidates in general and special elections. States that any extension of credit for advertising on broadcasting stations, in newspapers or magazines, or by direct mail, or for other types of public political advertising shall be considered a contribution, if such credit is: (1) in excess of $1,000; and (2) for a period exceeding 30 days.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that a taxpayer whose spouse earns less than $250 of compensation shall not be disqualified from having a spousal individual retirement account.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Requests the President to grant posthumous citizenship to William Penn, founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and his wife, Hannah Callowhill Penn.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1983
Prohibits the implementation of certain regulations proposed by the Office of Personnel Management (published in the Federal Register on March 30, 1983) that change the administration of the civil service system by establishing a performance management system and revising regulations concerning reductions-in-force, pay administration under the Fair Labor Standards Act, bargaining policy in labor-management relations, and the prevailing rate pay system. Voids any such regulations which became effective before enactment of this Act. Prohibits the implementation of any other regulations that would have the same effect.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1983
Labor Management Racketeering Act of 1983 - Amends the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 (Taft-Hartley Act) to increase penalties for specified violations of restrictions on financial transactions. Makes violations involving more than $1,000 felonies punishable by up to $15,000 fines and/or five years' imprisonment. Adds intent to benefit a person not permitted to receive payments, loans, or delivery of money or other thing of value to a labor organization in payment of membership dues, to a joint labor-management trust fund, or to a plant, area, or industry-wide labor-management committee as an element of violations involving those transactions. Grants civil jurisdiction to U.S. district courts over suits brought by: (1) the United States alleging a violation involving those transactions; or (2) any person directly affected by violations of restrictions on financial transactions under such Act. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to revise prohibitions against persons guilty of criminal offenses holding specified offices or positions involving employee benefit plans, labor organizations, or labor relations consultation to employer organizations. Increases the types of positions from which an individual is barred upon conviction of enumerated crimes. Requires immediate removal of such individual upon conviction (rather than after appeal) of enumerated crimes and crimes relating to the position. Increases, from five years to ten years, the time during which a convicted individual is prohibited from holding such offices or positions, but permits a lesser period to be set by the sentencing court under specified circumstances. Prohibits any person from knowingly hiring, retaining, employing, or otherwise placing any other person to serve in a capacity in violation of such prohibitions. Raises, from one year to five years, the maximum time of imprisonment for violations of such prohibitions. Provides that any salary payable but for such prohibitions shall be placed in escrow pending final disposition of any appeal. Sets forth the responsibility of the Secretary of Labor to detect and investigate violations of ERISA and other provisions for protecting employee benefit rights, without precluding such detection and investigation by other appropriate Federal agencies. Makes any conviction entered prior to the enactment of this Act effective on the date of such conviction if a right of appeal from such conviction is pending on the date of enactment of this Act. (i.e., Makes retroactive the provisions of the Act which bar convicted union officials from office immediately upon conviction).
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1983
Deep-Draft Navigation Act of 1983 - Title I: Findings and Purposes; Definitions - Declares the findings of Congress and the purposes of this Act. Title II: Creation of Trust Fund to Administer Accounts for Operations and Maintenance, Improvement Projects, and Local-Share Credits - Establishes the Deep-Draft Navigation Trust Fund in the Treasury, consisting of: (1) the Operations and Maintenance Account; (2) the Navigation Improvement Account; and (3) the Special Credit Account. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to be the trustee of the Trust Fund and to make an annual report to Congress on the operation and status of the Fund. Sets forth the certain and the authorized uses for each Fund account. Title III: Tax on Deep-Draft Commercial Vessels Using Deep-Draft Commercial Channels, Harbors, and Navigational Facilities; Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the use of any deep-draft commercial channel or harbor within the United States by a deep-draft commercial vessel (vessel). States the rate of such tax. Declares that such tax shall not apply to intraport transfers. Imposes a tax on any vessel using any Great Lakes navigation improvement which is operated or maintained by the United States. States the rate of such tax. Imposes a tax on the use of any deep-draft commercial channel or harbor within the United States for a purpose other than the loading or unloading of commercial cargo (including convenience, bunkering, refitting, or repair). States the rate (including the maximum rate) of such tax. Requires the master of a vessel to report the value of all qualified commercial cargo loaded onto, unloaded from, or contained in such vessel to the U.S. Customs Service upon the loading or unloading of any such cargo or upon passage through any Great Lakes navigation improvement, operated or maintained by the United States. States the powers of the Secretary of the Treasury, with regard to making investigations and requiring record keeping, for determining whether any person is in violation of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the U.S. Customs Service or any other designated agency, to assess and collect the taxes imposed under this title. Requires that the liability for the payment of such taxes shall be imposed on the owner of such vessel and shall constitute a valid lien against said vessel in favor of the United States until paid. Sets forth provisions concerning violations and enforcement of this title, including: (1) findings of violations by the Secretary; (2) actions by the Attorney General; (3) jurisdiction and venue of actions under this title; (4) unlawful departure of vessels without paying all taxes; and (5) the unlawful diversion of taxable cargo for tax avoidance purposes. Grants the consent of Congress to the levying by the States of taxes on cargo to be exported from a State's deep-draft commercial channels and harbors. States conditions concerning the imposition of such taxes, and the rates of the taxes. Directs the Comptroller General to audit the deep-draft commercial harbor operations of States that have not authorized the U.S. Customs Service to accept payment of the tax levied under this title. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress concerning such audits. Amends the Act establishing the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to authorize the Corporation to accept certain amounts for the operation and maintenance of authorized deep-water navigation works in the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Waives that portion of the toll levied on a vessel for use of the Seaway to the extent that such toll exceeds the deep-draft commercial vessel tax imposed under this Act. Requires the Corporation to remit to the Treasury all revenues derived from the collection of charges from providing services to vessels using the Seaway and from toll bridge charges. Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, to initiate discussions with the Government of Canada concerning the reduction or elimination of all tolls on the international Great Lakes and/or the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to Congress on the progress of such discussions and the economic effects to U.S. waterborne commerce of any proposed reduction or elimination in tolls. Title IV: Establishment of Federal/Local Partnership for Deep-Draft Navigation Improvement Projects - Requires the Secretary of the Army to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the port authority sponsoring any deep-draft navigation project, prior to submitting recommendations to Congress for the authorization or reauthorization of such projects. Requires the memorandum to establish the responsibilities of each party with respect to the construction and operation of the project, including a formula (determined in a specified manner) for the allocation of project costs. Grants the consent of Congress to the imposition of a duty or tax upon any vessel engaged in foreign commerce by any State, political subdivision or agency thereof, for the purpose of recovering the local share of any deep-draft navigation improvement project. Requires all revenue derived from such duty or tax to be paid into the Treasury for credit against local share of the project costs. States that Congress reserves the right to withdraw such consent upon certain circumstances. Authorizes port authorities to construct and operate a deep-draft navigation project upon entering into a memorandum of agreement with the Secretary. Sets forth certain provisions to be contained in such memoranda. Requires the Secretary to order persons or port authorities in violation of any provision of the memorandum to comply with such memorandum within 90 days. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action as may be necessary to bring such persons or port authorities into compliance with the memorandum. Requires the National Academy of Sciences to study the economic effects of the taxes imposed and the funding mechanisms established under this Act. Requires the Academy to report the results of such study to the Congress and the President within a specified period. Title V: Expedited Procedure for Authorization and Review of Deep-Draft Navigation Improvement Projects - Authorizes port authorities to submit to the Secretary of the Army proposals for the construction of deep-draft navigation improvement projects. States the required contents of such proposals. Requires the Secretary to direct the Corps of Engineers to prepare and submit, on an expedited basis, certain reports and an environmental impact assessment of the proposed project. States procedures to be followed for consolidated environmental review of proposed projects. Requires the Corps of Engineers to be the lead agency in the consolidated environmental review process. Requires the Secretary to evaluate such reports and assessments and to submit recommendations for the construction of such projects (together with a lst of all proposals submitted) to the appropriate congressional committees. Requires such recommendations to be cost effective, and to reflect a mix of differing depths and scope and to be from each of the standard coastal and Great Lakes ranges. Prohibits the Secretary from recommending to Congress any projects or combination of projects for which the total Federal share of projected annual outlays will exceed the amounts available for the Deep-Draft Navigation Trust Fund in such fiscal year. Requires the congressional committee to which the recommendations were submitted to report a joint resolution approving or disapproving such recommendations, in whole or in part, within 90 days of their submission. Requires the Secretary to establish and publish in the Federal Register a schedule (the permit schedule) for the issuance or nonissuance of all necessary federal permits for the construction of such projects. States the procedures to be followed for the permit schedule. Requires the Secretary to monitor compliance with the permit schedule by all agencies subject to such schedule. Provides a procedure to be followed in the event of any threatened delay or failure to meet any deadline imposed under the schedule. Declares that nothing in this title shall be construed to relieve any agency of any legal requirements or to affect the application of any law or regulation to a deep-draft navigation improvement project or related landslide facilities. Describes procedures concerning judicial review of final agency decisions concerning deep-draft navigation improvement projects authorized under this Act. Declares that if any part of this Act is held invalid then all of this Act shall be invalid.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
National Park System Protection and Resources Management Act of 1983 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) collect, analyze, and document data on the factors which degrade or threaten to degrade the natural and cultural resources of the national park system; and (2) transmit to Congress a biennial State of the Parks report. Provides that such report shall include: (1) a description of the condition of each national park unit's natural and cultural resources, of the factors which damage or threaten such resources, and of the ongoing and planned mitigation actions and their results; (2) a description of the systemwide efforts to address the resource protection requirements listed above; (3) a discussion of systemwide resource protection and management policies for natural and cultural park resources; (4) a discussion of the adequacy of congressional appropriations in addressing protection and resource management programs; and (5) a discussion of funding needs to implement such policies and measures. Requires the National Park Service to solicit public involvement in the preparation of such report. Requires the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees an annual report on the 50 most critical natural and the 50 most critical cultural resource problems within the national park system. Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences for development of a plan for the National Park Service to conduct natural and cultural resources inventories and research on the problems and solutions with respect to national parks. Requires the plan to be submitted to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees. Requires that resource management plans for each national park unit be prepared and updated continually. Provides that general management plans for each park unit shall be based upon the park's resource management plan. Directs the Secretary to review and revise the current land classification system for the preservation and use of national park system lands. Requires the development of a new classification for maximum resource protection for sensitive ecosystems and cultural resources of special research value. Requires that those park units designated as biosphere reserves or world heritage sites receive priority consideration for monitoring and resource protection efforts. Expresses the sense of Congress that park and legislative officials establish ways to ensure the protection of international parks designated as biosphere reserves. Permits the Secretary to exercise the authority to issue leases within a national park unit, permit the use or development of such an area, or dispose of lands and waters within such an area only if the exercise of such authority will not have a significant adverse effect on the park unit. Restricts the Secretary's authority to act in areas adjacent to national park units in the same way, unless any significant adverse effects on the national parks are less important than the public interest value of a proposed action. Requires Federal agencies conducting activities within, or adjacent to, any national park unit to insure, to the extent practicable, that such activities will not significantly degrade the natural or cultural resources of the park unit. Provides for notification of the Secretary by a Federal agency if a proposed agency action may degrade or threaten the natural or cultural resources of a national park unit. Requires the Secretary to respond in writing on the foreseeable impact on park resources of a proposed agency action and to recommend any changes in such action needed to avoid adverse effects on park resources. Authorizes the Secretary to request information regarding a proposed agency action where the agency fails to notify the Secretary and the Secretary determines that such action may threaten park resources. Requires the Secretary to consider any adopted city, county, State, or Federal development plan during the deliberations on a proposed agency action. Requires the Secretary to hold a public hearing: (1) if requested by the affected government unit; and (2) if the Secretary's response to the proposed action is to be negative. Requires the proposing Federal agency to comply fully with the Secretary's recommendations in all cases where the proposed agency action would occur upon Federal lands or waters within the boundaries of a national park unit. Permits the proposing Federal agency to proceed with its action after consideration of the Secretary's recommendations in cases where the proposed action would occur on non-Federal lands within the boundaries of a national park unit, if the public interest in the proposed action is greater than the public interest in avoiding the adverse effects on the park resources involved. Provides that when the proposed agency action would involve areas adjacent to a national park boundary, the Federal agency must consider the Secretary's recommendations and must notify the Secretary of its decision to proceed. Sets forth notification requirements when proposed agency action differs from the Secretary's recommendation. Requires proposing agencies to notify specified congressional committees. Requires the Secretary to publish notices of proposed Federal actions and responses in the Federal Register. Exempts emergency, disaster, and national security actions from this Act. Requires actions under this Act to be brought in the U.S. district court in the district in which the national park unit involved is located. Provides for the Secretary to cooperate with, and provide technical assistance to, governmental and other entities to protect national park system resources. Requires the superintendent of each park unit to work with governmental and other entities which influence or control lands, resources, and activities within or adjacent to the park unit to develop a mutually compatible land use plan for the general area. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to local governments for park resource protection and for the development of such plan. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986 for such grant. Provides that such cooperative efforts shall be initiated in at least two park units for each administrative region, as well as in all biosphere reserves and world heritage sites, within one year after enactment of this Act. Requires that such efforts be initiated within two years after enactment of this Act in all national park units. Requires that each park unit or regional office have on its staff a person to coordinate the activities required by this Act. Directs the Secretary to initiate a training program for park personnel in the principles and techniques necessary to carry out the requirements of this Act. Requires the Secretary to establish a public information program to inform park visitors and the public of the need to protect park resources. Directs the Secretary to assure that the National Park Service includes adequate numbers and distribution of professional and scientific personnel to provide for park resource protection and management. Requires that general management plans for each national park unit be updated at least every ten years. Requires the Director of the National Park Service to assist potential donors of property located adjacent to or within national park units in satisfying the requirements under the Internal Revenue Code relating to charitable contributions. Provides that if provisions of this Act conflict with provisions of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the provisions of such Act shall prevail. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Interior to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Emergency Vietnam Veterans' Jobs Training Act of 1983 - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to establish an on-the-job training program for Vietnam-era and disabled veterans. Requires that such program be carried out through payments to employers who employ such veterans in jobs that involve significant training of employees. Requires an eligible veteran to have been unemployed for at least 15 of the last 20 weeks before applying for participation. Establishes maximum periods of assisted training: 12 months for a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more, six months for any other veterans. Requires employers to provide approved training for at least six months. Permits an approved veteran to select an approved program of job training with any for-profit private employer which hires the veteran into the regular work force with the expectation of permanent employment after the training ends. Directs the Administrator to make payments to such employers, not exceeding 50 percent of the wages paid to the training veteran. Sets forth the requirements an employer's training program must fulfill, including a certification that the wages and benefits paid to a participating veteran are equivalent to those paid to other employees participating in a similar program of training, and that there is a reasonable certainty that a position of that type will be available to such veteran upon completion. Prohibits the Administrator from approving programs involving seasonal or temporary jobs or industries in which a substantial number of experienced workers are unemployed. Prohibits the Administrator from making payments when the conduct or progress of the veteran is unsatisfactory due to circumstances within the employer's control. Authorizes the Administrator to disapprove further participation by eligible veterans in any previously approved program failing to meet the requirements of this Act. Permits veterans otherwise eligible for this program to pursue, instead, a full-time vocational training program at an approved educational institution. Sets forth the conditions of such training. Directs the Administrator to provide an outreach and public information program to inform both eligible veterans and employers about this program. Directs the Administrator to establish procedures and obtain the assistance of disabled veterans outreach program specialists and personnel in regional offices of the Veterans Administration. Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide for the participation of eligible veterans in training programs under this Act and under the Jobs Training Partnership Act. Requires the Secretary to make special efforts to inform eligible veterans of training opportunities. Requires both the Secretary and the Administrator to provide employment counseling services to any eligible veteran who requests them. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 and 1985. Terminates this program after 15 months for the initial application period and after 27 months for the payment of assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Extends by three years, from FY 1984 to FY 1987, the period during which Vietnam-era veterans may request psychological readjustment counseling from the Veterans Administration. Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study of the readjustment of Vietnam-era veterans to civilian life. Requires that such study include a nationwide survey of the prevalence and incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder and related readjustment problems among such veterans and a survey of their health status in relation to that of the general population. Directs the Administrator to report to Congress on such study by December 31, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
High-Technology Training Act - Amends the Vocational Education Act of 1963 to establish a program of high-technology training grants. Directs the Secretary of Education to make such grants to States to stimulate vocational education programs to train individuals as high-technology technicians, in accordance with five-year State plans and annual program plans. Requires States to commit specified percentages of its basic grant under such Act to high-technology training programs. Directs States to consider specified factors in evaluating training program proposals of eligible recipients. Requires eligible recipients to provide specified assurances before receiving such training program funds. Authorizes appropriations for high-technology training program grants for FY 1984 and succeeding fiscal years. Makes conforming amendments to allotment provisions under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Amends the Bankruptcy Act to provide that a debtor shall not be discharged from a judgment debt resulting from a liability based upon driving while legally intoxicated.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Declares that the House of Representatives disapproves the administration's recommendation that the States be required to assume full funding of all joint State and federally funded rail service operating under State supported services provisions of the Rail Passenger Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should express U.S. opposition to the Soviet Union's policies of forced labor. Declares that the Soviet Union should cease such practices and honor their international commitments.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1983
Malt Beverage Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that no antitrust law shall prohibit the importer, brewer, or trademark licensee of a trademarked malt beverage, when such beverage has substantial competition from other malt beverages in an area, from: (1) entering into an agreement granting a wholesale distributor the exclusive right to sell such beverage within any defined geographic area within a State; or (2) limiting such distributor to the sale of such beverage for ultimate resale to consumers in such area. Declares that this Act shall not affect any provision of State law.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1983
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to increase from $50,000 to $100,000 the amount of death benefits paid to the survivors of public safety officers.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from repealing, amending, or otherwise modifying specified rules regarding network television syndication, network television financial interests, and prime time access before July 1, 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
National Diffusion Network Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to promote the use of exemplary educational programs, products, and practices to interested elementary and secondary schools. Requires the Secretary to provide information, materials, training, technical assistance, and evaluations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and contracts with, public and nonprofit private educational institutions and organizations to carry out such program. Declares that such program shall be deemed to be a continuation of the National Diffusion Network for which provision is made under the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. Directs the Secretary to allocate funds available under such Act to such program. Authorizes additional appropriations, if necessary, to carry out such program in FY 1984 through 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Declares that the House of Representatives deplores the denial of the rights of Hungarians and people of other nationalities in Transylvania by the Romanian Government. Requests the President and the Secretary of State to discuss the human rights of the Hungarians in Transylvania with the Government of Romania.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1983
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. Redefines such offense as using a firearm to commit a felony over which the district courts have exclusive jurisdiction or carrying a firearm during such a felony involving violence. Deletes the requirement that the firearm be carried "unlawfully". Increases the additional penalty imposed for such offense to not less than five years' imprisonment for a first offense (currently, one to ten years) and ten 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. Makes a first offender ineligible for parole for five years and a second or subsequent offender ineligible for ten years. Expresses the sense of Congress that the executive prosecute vigorously such offenses.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1983
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide, through demonstration projects, to eligible individuals who do not require 24-hour nursing care and who desire to establish a medical, noninstitutional living arrangement, payment for: (1) post-hospital extended care services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; or (2) intermediate care facility services or skilled nursing facility services under title XIX (Medicaid) of such Act. Requires payments received to be used to finance appropriate medical, noninstitutional living arrangements. Provides that such payments shall not be includable in gross income under the Internal Revenue Code. Requires the Secretary to design the demonstration projects to determine: (1) the feasibility of transferring inpatients of skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities to noninstitutional living arrangements; (2) the types and percentage of such inpatients who could live effectively in a noninstitutional living arrangement; and (3) the types and percentages of such inpatients who would benefit economically and qualitatively from a noninstitutional living arrangement. Directs that funds for such payments be made from the Federal Hospital Insurance Fund established under the Social Security Act and from funds appropriated for Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1983
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt persons over 50 years old who have been U.S. permanent residents for at least 20 years from the "Government knowledge" naturalization requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Natural Gas Consumer Relief Act - Title I: Contracting and Marketing Practices - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to declare a take-or-pay clause of a pipeline contract to be against public policy and unenforceable for a three-year period: (1) to the extent that it requires a pipeline to make any payment with respect to natural gas in excess of 50 percent of the maximum annual volume the pipeline has contracted to take; or (2) if such clause does not entitle a pipeline which makes a payment under such clause to take delivery of the gas during the one year period beginning on the date of payments. Defines "take-or-pay clause" to mean any contract provision which requires payment for the minimum quantity of natural gas contracted for under the contract in the event the pipeline fails to take delivery. Permits a pipeline, in the case of a contract for the first sale of natural gas, to: (1) request the seller to renegotiate the contract; and (2) indicate that, if there is no renegotiation within 30 days of the request, the pipeline will exercise its market-out-option. Permits a pipeline exercising its market out option to refuse delivery without incurring an obligation to pay for any amount of natural gas contracted for if the pipeline in its sole discretion determines that it could not market the gas. Declares any indefinite price escalator clause applicable to the first sale of natural gas to be against public policy and unenforceable. Defines "indefinite price escalator clause" as any provision of any contract which provides for the establishment or adjustment of the price for natural gas delivered by reference to prices for natural gas, crude oil, or any other commodity. Prohibits a pipeline from passing through its costs if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) determines that the pipeline has failed to adopt practices minimizing amounts paid to purchase natural gas. Declares any minimum commodity beill requirement applicable to any sale of natural gas by any interstate or intrastate pipeline to be against public policy and unenforceable: (1) to the extent it requires the purchaser to make any payment with respect to natural gas in excess of 50 percent of the maximum annual volume the purchaser has contracted to take; or (2) if such requirement does not entitle a purchaser who makes a payment under such requirement to take delivery of the natural gas involved subsequent to the date of payment provided under the requirement. Directs FERC to order an interstate pipeline, upon application by a producer of natural gas or by a purchaser of natural gas from a producer, to carry natural gas, for a just and reasonable consideration, between the producer and purchaser if FERC finds that: (1) the pipeline has available capacity; (2) no undue burden would be placed upon such pipeline by reason of the order; (3) construction of new facilities would not be required; and (4) the order would not impair the ability of the pipeline to render adequate service to its other customers. Directs FERC to complete a rulemaking proceeding to issue standards for interstate pipeline tariffs. Directs FERC to require, by rule, a first-sale purchaser of natural gas to file a copy of the contract with FERC. Title II: Wellhead Price Provisions - Revises ceiling price provisions for natural gas. Provides that the ceiling price for categories other than high-cost gas shall be the January 1982 ceiling price multiplied by the monthly equivalent of the modified price adjustment factor. Defines the "modified price adjustment factor" for any month as the lower of: (1) 75 percent of the quarterly percent change in the GNP implicit price deflator (as defined in the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978); or (2) the percent change in the energy index, computed and published as an annual rate by the Department of Labor, for the most recent month for which such percent change has been so published at least eight days before the beginning of the month for which the modified price adjustment factor is being calculated. Provides that for high-cost gas the maximum lawful price for any first sale shall be 150 percent of the maximum lawful price for categories of gas other than high-cost gas. Provides for an adjusted ceiling price for wells drilled on or after January 1, 1982, and before enactment. Repeals provisions permitting increases in the ceiling price of certain categories of natural gas if just and reasonable. Provides, as a general rule, that the maximum lawful price applies with respect to the recovery of all costs and profits associated with production and first-sale delivery of marketable natural gas. Prohibits the importation of natural gas if the first sale price in the United States of the gas exceeds 150 percent of the maximum lawful price for domestically produced gas. Directs the President to submit to Congress a report on the status of negotiations with Canada regarding modification of the border price for natural gas imported from Canada. Extends price controls and standby authority for two years beyond their present expiration dates.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals with developmental disabilities an income tax deduction for extra commuting expenses incurred as a result of such disability. Extends such deduction to taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1983
Child Protection Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit the distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors even if the material is not found to be "obscene."
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that no changes will be enacted in the guaranteed student loan program which would be effective for the academic year 1983-1984.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that it should take cetain steps to honor commitments to the civil service retirement system and continue to provide the current level of retirement benefits to Federal and postal retirees.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1983
Economic Equity Act of 1983 - Title I: Tax and Retirement Matters - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the maximum deduction for contributions to an individual retirement plan: (1) shall be computed separately for each individual who is married; and (2) in the case of a married individual who has no compensation or less compensation than that of the spouse, shall be determined as if such compensation were the same as that of the individual's spouse. Treats alimony as compensation for purposes of determining an individual's income tax deduction for retirement savings. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to require that a retirement plan that provides an annuity to a participant with at least ten years of creditable service shall provide a survivor's annuity for the spouse of a participant who dies before the annuity starting date in an amount not less than the amount that would have been provided if the participant had survived and retired on such annuity date. Provides that a participant's election not to take a joint and survivor's annuity shall not be effective unless the spouse of the participant consents in writing to such an election. Requires a retirement plan to treat an individual who was the spouse of the participant on the annuity starting date and who survives the participant as if such individual were the spouse of the participant on the date of death of the participant whether or not divorced after the annuity starting date. Allows the assignment of the benefits of a qualified retirement plan in the case of a judgment decree or order relating to child support, alimony payments, or marital property rights pursuant to a State domestic relations law. Amends ERISA to lower the age limitation for participation in a qualified retirement plan from age 25 to age 21. Amends ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for accruals of creditable service to continue while an individual is on approved maternity or paternity leave at the rate of 20 hours service for each week of approved leave. Entitles former spouses of civil service employees or Members of Congress, who were married to an employee or Member for at least ten years during creditable service, to an annuity based upon a portion of retired or retainer pay unless otherwise provided by a spousal agreement or a state court decree of divorce or annulment. Entitles former spouses to survivor's benefits under the civil service plan unless the former spouse remarries before becoming 60 years of age or the employee or Member and former spouse elect to waive such benefit. Requires that such waiver be jointly made in writing. Includes displaced homemakers as a targeted group for purposes of the targeted jobs tax credit. Defines "displaced homemaker" as a person who: (1) has not worked, except in the home, for a substantial number of years; (2) has been dependent on public assistance or on the income of a family member but is no longer supported by that income; and (3) is a member of an economically disadvantaged family and is experiencing difficulty obtaining or upgrading employment. Increases the zero bracket amount for heads of households from $2,300 to $3,400. Title II: Dependent Care Program - Increases the income tax credit for household and dependent care services from a maximum of 30 percent of amounts paid to a maximum of 50 percent of amounts paid. Reduces such percentage to a minimum of 20 percent based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Makes such income tax credit refundable. Treats as tax-exempt organizations certain organizations which provide nonresidential dependent care to the general public. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (through the Commissioner of the Administration of Children, Youth, and Families) to establish a grant program to assist nonprofit organizations in the establishment or operation of community-based child care information. Title III: Nondiscrimination in Insurance - Nondiscrimination in Insurance Act of 1983 - 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: (1) has received notice of a complaint and fails to act within 60 days; or (2) has no 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 IV: Regulatory Reform and Sex Neutrality - Requires the head of each Federal agency to: (1) conduct an ongoing review of the rules, regulations, programs, and policies of the agency to identify any which result in different treatment based on sex; and (2) submit annually a report to the Congress on such review. Sets forth rules of statutory construction relating to gender. Title V: Child Support Enforcement - Amends the Social Security Act to specify that the purpose of the child support enforcement program is to assure compliance with obligations to pay child support to each child in the United States living with one parent. Allows offsets of income tax refunds of an absent parent on behalf of children not receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children. (Present law permits such offsets only in the case of children receiving AFDC payments.) Requires States to establish a child support clearinghouse through which child support payments can be paid, recorded, and forwarded. Revises State child support enforcement procedures. Allows allotments for child and spousal support to be taken from the pay of Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1983
Little Hoover Commission - Establishes the Commission on the Centennial Review of the Civil Service. Directs the Commission to study the history and development of the civil service system over the last 100 years and to recommend methods for continuing or improving its performance. Requires the Commission to consider the retirement and disability system, employee pay and benefits, personnel practices, and labor-management relations under the civil service system. Requires the Commission to submit a final report containing its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislation or administrative action to the President and Congress within the first ten days of the Ninety-nineth Congress. Directs the President, within 90 days after receiving the report, to transmit to Congress an evaluation of the report's findings and conclusions together with any recommendations for modifying the proposed legislation. Terminates the Commission 90 days after it submits such report. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1983
Exclusive Economic Zone Implementation Act - Title I: Establishment and Implementation of the Exclusive Economic Zone - Establishes a 200 nautical mile U.S. exclusive economic zone. States that the United States will assert its sovereignty in such zone subject to international freedoms of the high seas. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) enter into marine research agreements with coastal States; and (2) submit research requests to the appropriate States. Requires: (1) Federal agencies to report to the President regarding programs affected by such zone's establishment within 12 months; and (2) the President to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 18 months. Title II: Exploration for, and Exploitation of, the Mineral Resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone, Outer Continental Shelf, and Deep Seabed - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to redefine "Outer Continental Shelf" to include a distance of 60 nautical miles from the foot of the continental slope. Renames the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act the Deep Seabed Mineral Resources Act. Eliminates specified references to the Law of the Sea Treaty. Terminates the prohibition on issuing permits for new commercial recovery activities (presently prohibited through January 1, 1988). Authorizes appropriations through FY 1987. Renames the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Removal Tax Act of 1979 (Internal Revenue Code) the Deep Seabed Mineral Removal Tax Act of 1979. Eliminates references to an international deep seabed treaty, including a treaty-related tax termination date imposed on the removal of mineral resources. Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to issue a memorandum of understanding regarding certain mining operations on both the outer continental shelf and the deep seabed. Title III: Fishery Conservation and Management - Amends Federal law to state that the United States shall exercise sole fishery management authority (except with regard to highly migratory fishes) within the exclusive economic zone.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1983
Individual Housing Account Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for cash contributions to a trust account established for the exclusive purpose of purchasing the taxpayer's first principal residence. Limits the maximum annual deduction to $5,000, with a maximum lifetime deduction of $20,000. Excludes distributions from such account from gross income if they are used exclusively for the purchase of a first principal residence. Imposes a ten percent surtax on distributions from an individual housing account which are not used for the purchase of a principal residence. Requires the trustee of an individual housing account to report on the maintenance of the account. Imposes a penalty for failure to file required reports.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the House that the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of Veterans Affairs should consider designating the Naval Regional Medical Center in Guam as a joint-medical facility.
![Official portrait of Del. Won Pat, Antonio B. [D-GU-At Large]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000686_200.jpg)