United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1984
Federal Polygraph Limitation and Anti-Censorship Act of 1984 - Prohibits a Federal agency from: (1) requiring any present, past, or prospective employee to take a polygraph test; (2) requesting any employee to take a polygraph test voluntarily, unless the test is administered as part of an investigation into alleged criminal conduct or an unauthorized disclosure of classified information; or (3) imposing any sanction against any employee on the basis of the employee's refusal to take such a test or on the basis of the employee's performance on such a test. Prohibits an agency from imposing or enforcing any agreement or requirement providing for agency review of an employee's information before the employee may disclose the information to the public outside of his or her official capacity. Directs the head of each agency to rescind all such agreements and to notify affected employees. Authorizes any person aggrieved by a violation of this Act to institute an action for injunctive or monetary relief in the appropriate U.S. district court and to petition the court for appropriate temporary relief. Directs the court to award the costs of litigation and attorney's fees to the prevailing party in such action. Exempts the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency from the applicability of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Recognizes the important contribution of the arts to a complete education. Urges all citizens to support efforts which strengthen artistic training and appreciation within schools.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Expresses the appreciation of Congress to the descendants of blacks who contributed to American Independence. Encourages State and local governments and private organizations to conduct activities during Black History Month 1985 in honor of black involvement in the American Revolution.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
High Technology Research and Scientific Education Act of 1983 - Title I - The Credit for Increasing Research Activities; ACRS for R&D Equipment - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credit for research and development (R&D) expenditures. Modifies the definition of qualified research for purposes of the R&D credit to narrow the category of eligible activities for which the credit is allowable. Makes depreciation of research equipment eligible for the R&D credit. Eliminates the special three-year accelerated cost recovery system (ACRS) category for research equipment. Increases contract research expenses eligible for R&D credit purposes to 75 percent of the amount paid to others for research on the taxpayer's behalf. Provides that in-house and contract research expenses paid or incurred by a regular corporation will constitute qualified research expenses for R&D credit purposes. Provides that in the case of research being conducted in partnership form, the "in carrying on" test is applied at the partnership level, and the credit is apportioned among the partners in accordance with general partnership rules. Title II - Promotion of University Research and Scientific Education - Establishes a new income tax credit equal to 25 percent of payments to universities for basic research which exceed a fixed, maintenance-of-effort floor. Calculates the maintenance-of-effort floor as the greater of the annual average of university basic research payments over 1982-1983 or one percent of the average annual R&D budget over 1981-1983. Treats the portion of the university basic research payments which is not in excess of the maintenance-of-effort floor as contract research expenses eligible for purposes of computing the regular incremental R&D credit. Allows corporations an income tax deduction for contributions of scientific and technical property or services to an institution of higher education. Defines scientific property to mean computer software or other equipment used in a trade or business, which is donated for the direct education of students and faculty, for research and experimentation, or for research training in the United States in mathematics, the physical or biological sciences, engineering, or computer science. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of the allowable deduction for contributions of scientific property or services. Limits the amount of such deduction to ten percent of taxable income computed without regard to specified deductions. Provides for an income tax exclusion for the scholarships, fellowship grants, student loan forgiveness, or stipends of a graduate student in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or the physical or biological sciences. Specifies that such tax exclusion is not forfeited merely because the student is required, as a condition of the scholarship or fellowship, to perform future service in teaching or research.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Alamo Commemoration Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue half dollar coins with a design emblematic of the 150th anniversary of the battle of the Alamo. Terminates such minting authority on December 31, 1986. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Declares that it should be U.S. policy to: (1) support the people of Afghanistan in their struggle to be free from foreign domination; (2) provide the Afghans, upon request, with material assistance; and (3) pursue a negotiated settlement of the war in Afghanistan based on the total withdrawal of Soviet troops and the recognition of the right of the Afghans to choose their own destiny.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Requires the President to submit to Congress, and the Congress to adopt, for FY 1985 and each year thereafter, a "pay as you go" budget which freezes all revenues and outlays at current levels. Requires any future legislative reductions in revenues to be offset by equivalent reductions in outlays and any spending above the outlay baseline to be offset by equivalent increases in revenues or reductions in outlays so that no spending increase results in an increase in the deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Directs the Architect of the Capitol to enclose the galleries of the House of Representatives with a transparent and substantial material and to install equipment so that the proceedings on the floor of the House will be clearly audible in the galleries.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
States that the Congress: (1) holds Iran responsible for upholding the rights of the Baha'is; (2) condemns Iran's decision to destroy the Baha'i faith; and (3) calls upon the President to work with appropriate foreign governments to form an appeal to Iran concerning the Baha'is, to cooperate with the United Nations in its efforts on behalf of the Baha'is, and to provide humanitarian assistance for Baha'is who flee Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to introduce before the U.N. General Assembly a resolution calling for the withdrawal of Syrian and Syrian-controlled forces from Lebanon in order to facilitate the return of peace to the country.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1983
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require on board passenger-carrying aircraft: (1) no-smoking sections for each class of service; (2) the prohibition of smoking cigars and pipes; and (3) the prohibition of smoking whenever an aircraft ventilation system is not operating at normal service.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that the failure of the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate rail service in a manner to protect the interests of the public and shippers is not in the best interests of the United States. Directs the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy to report jointly to Congress, within 60 days of adoption of this resolution, on the results of studies of the application of existing Federal laws to shippers. Requires the Commission to make such report to Congress within the same time limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1983
Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1983 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to require the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to establish and maintain a national toll-free telephone line for reporting information regarding the location of missing children. Directs the Administrator to establish a national resource center and clearinghouse to: (1) provide technical assistance to State and local governments and agencies in locating missing children; (2) coordinate public and private efforts to recover missing children; and (3) disseminate information on innovative missing childrens' programs, services, and legislation. Requires the Administrator to publish an annual summary of research on missing children and prepare a comprehensive plan for coordinating activities of all agencies and organizations responsible for missing children. Authorizes the Administrator, in consultation with the Advisory Board on Missing Children, to make grants for research or demonstration or service programs designed to: (1) educate parents and community agencies on ways to prevent the abduction of children; (2) assist in the recovery or tracking of missing children; (3) aid communities in collecting material to assist parents in the identification of their children; (4) demonstrate the psychological consequences of a child's abduction; and (5) collect data on investigative practices utilized by law enforcement agencies. Requires the Administrator to appoint an Advisory Board on Missing Children to assist the Administrator in coordinating programs and activities relating to missing children. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1983
Retirement Equity Act of 1983 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code to lower from age 25 to age 21 the age limitation for minimum participation and vesting standards for pension plans. Prohibits certain defined benefit plans from requiring, as a condition for plan participation, that employees complete period of service extending beyond the earlier of age 25 or the vesting expectation date. Lowers from age 22 to age 18 the age limitation for the computation of periods of service. States that years of service may be disregarded when computing periods of service for participation or vesting purposes if breaks in service during such a period amounted to five or more one-year breaks. Treats breaks in service due to pregnancy, birth, or adoption of a child as completed hours of service according to a specified formula. Accords such treatment only in the year of the pregnancy, birth or adoption, and only to participants who would incur a one-year break in service without such treatment. Requires pension plans which provide life annuity benefits to pay such benefits in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity. Requires that each pension plan participant have the option of electing, waiving, or revoking the joint and survivor annuity form of benefit. Conditions the efficacy of such election upon: (1) the written consent of a participant's spouse; (2) a written acknowledgement by a participant's spouse of the effect of such election; and (3) an official witnessing of such spousal consent by a plan representative or notary public. Limits such consent to the signatory spouse. Requires pension plans to furnish participants with written explanations of the terms and rights of election regarding joint and survivor annuities. Prohibits joint and survivor annuity payments from being less than the actuarial equivalent of payments made if the annuitant had lived to the earliest date of retirement or had separated from service on the date of death. Requires the surviving spouse's consent for any distribution of nonforfeitable benefits exceeding $3,500. Requires such benefits to be paid according to the surviving spouse's written requests. States that plans subject to funding requirements must provide benefits payable in the form of an annuity. Exempts qualified domestic relations orders from the Act's proscriptions against alienation and assignment of pension plan benefits. Sets procedural guidelines for the payment of such benefits to an alternate payee under such orders. Prohibits alternative payees from receiving any portion of any increase in a participant's accrued benefits if such increases occur after payments to such payees have begun. Declares that alternate payees under domestic relations orders are not considered to be, by virtue of such orders, participants or beneficiaries under the pension plan. Increases from $1,750 to $3,500 the allowable mandatory distribution from a retirement plan. Requires notification to participants that certain benefits may be forfeitable if the participant dies before a certain date. Sets December 31, 1984 as the effective date of this Act for existing plans. Provides transitional dates and certain effective dates for plans maintained under collective bargaining agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Designates November 12, 1983, as Anti-Defamation League Day in honor of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Anti-Defamation League of the B'nai B'rith.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1983
Amends the charter of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) by extending eligibility for membership to individuals who qualify on or after May 8, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from Federal income taxes members of the armed forces of the United States who die as a result of hostile action outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1983
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Lady Bird Johnson in recognition of her humanitarian efforts and contributions to the beautification of America. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the striking of such medal and bronze duplicates for sale to the public. Declares such medals to be national medals. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1983
Requires the Attorney General of the United States, the Federal Trade Commission, and all other appropriate Federal agencies and officials to enforce the antitrust laws, including the prohibition against vertical price restraints. Directs such officials and agencies to cease propounding arguments in court designed to weaken such prohibition, and to submit to Congress proposed legislation to make any desired changes in such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Transportation should submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than June 30, 1984, full research and development program planning documentation for the expedited civilian use of the Global Positioning System (a system which provides navigational information to aircraft).
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Fire Prevention Week, 1983, should be observed with appropriate activities; and (2) firefighters who have died while performing official duties be honored appropriately at the Annual National Observance Services for Fallen Firefighters on October 16, 1983, at the Federal training center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1983
National Organ Transplant Act - Title I: Amendment to Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make planning and operations grants for local organ procurement organizations. Sets forth eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1989. Directs the Secretary to establish a private nonprofit United States Transplantation Network to provide a central registry linking donors and potential recipients. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health a National Center for Organ Transplantation to coordinate Federal organ transplantation activities; and (2) appoint an advisory council for such Center. Requires the Secretary to publish an annual organ transplantation report. Title II: Medicare and Medicaid Amendments - Amends the Social Security Act to permit Medicare organ transplantations at specified centers. Exempts organ procurement activities from specified cost limits. Requires States to develop written Medicaid payment polices for organ transplants. Requires State Medicaid plans to participate in any transplant program established under Medicare. Requires designated Medicare transplant centers to serve Medicaid patients. Title III: Prohibition of Organ Purchases - Prohibits the sale of human organs. Subjects violators to maximum penalties of $50,000 or five years in prison, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1983
Research and Development Joint Venture Act of 1983 - Provides that no person shall be liable under the antitrust laws for entering into or performing a contract for joint research and development projects if such person gives notice to the Attorney General in accordance with this Act. Sets forth requirements and restrictions with respect to such contracts. Requires the parties to such a contract to notify the Attorney General in writing of: (1) the date of the contract and of any contract amendments; (2) the names of the parties to the contract; (3) the nature of each research and development project to be carried out under such contract; (4) the names of the parties who will participate in each such project; and (5) the contract's compliance with the requirements under this Act. Requires the Attorney General to publish this information in the Federal Register. Provides that no person shall be liable under the antitrust laws for any relief other than injunctive relief for performance of a contract for a joint research and development project if: (1) such person discloses the nature of the project and the identities of the project participants to the Attorney General and provides any information the Attorney General may require; and (2) contract performance occurs more than 90 days after such information is disclosed or more than 60 days after the Attorney General publishes notice with respect to such project in the Federal Register. Authorizes the Attorney General to investigate the parties to a contract for joint research and development projects in order to ascertain whether: (1) the information required to be submitted by such parties under this Act is accurate; (2) the contract complies with requirements under this Act; and (3) the research and development projects comply with the contract terms. Requires the Attorney General to notify the persons who are the subjects of such investigations: (1) that an investigation is in progress; and (2) if the investigation shows that the contract involved does not comply with this Act. Provides that entering into or performing a contract for joint research and development shall not be considered per se to be a violation of the antitrust laws. Provides that no person shall be liable under the antitrust laws for an amount in excess of actual damages sustained by a claimant, the cost of suit, and any interest awarded if such liability is the result of entering into or performing such a contract. Requires the awarding of reasonable attorney's fees to a person against whom a claim arising from such a contract is made if such claim fails. Requires the Attorney General to submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President pro tempore of the Senate a report on the operation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1983
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that for purposes of printing in the Congressional Record, remarks of Members made on the floor or submitted for inclusion in the Record, including associated materials, shall be relevant to governmental matters. Exempts from such provision, remarks on the death of present or former Federal officials.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1983
Declares that the President shall convene a domestic economic summit conference to address the economic situation created by projected large deficits. Requires that such conference convene within 45 days to develop and report to Congress a comprehensive plan to reduce the projected deficits in the United States budget.