United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1984
Permits the Secretary of the Interior to lease lands within the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi, Texas, for oil and gas exploration, even though such lands are incorporated into and a part of the city of Corpus Christi.
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 · 24 January 1984
Calls upon the news media to voluntarily refrain from: (1) projecting presidential election results; or (2) predicting the outcome of such elections until all polling places have closed.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1983 - Title I: Securities Laws Amendments - Amends the Securities Act of 1983 to exempt from the securities registration requirements securities backed by second mortgages, cooperative housing loans, and manufactured home loans. Expands the type of allowable security to include mortgage-related payment bonds. Exempts from the securities registration requirements securities originated by any Department of Housing and Urban Development approved mortgagee (principally mortgage bankers) in addition to financial institutions. Requires that the current minimum transaction amount of $250,000 be applied only to the initial purchase amount. Permits a 120 day time limit on the cash payment for the security (currently 60 days). Defines "mortgage related security" for purposes of such Act. Exempts from borrowing restrictions certain delayed mortgage security delivery agreements. Amends the Home Owner's Loan Act of 1933 and the Federal Credit Union Act to allow federally-chartered financial institutions, including credit unions, to invest in mortgage-related securities subject only to limitations that the appropriate regulating board might impose. Preempts State blue sky and legal investment laws and regulations so that investment grade mortgage-related securities may be purchased by State-chartered and regulated financial institutions, insurance companies, pension funds, trustees or other regulated entities. Permits a State to reassert limitations on investments in mortgage securities within three years of enactment of these provisions if it finds such regulation necessary. Requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide a permanent procedure for the delayed or continuous registration of mortgage-backed securities. Title II: Security Mortgage Market Programs - Extends the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act of 1974 through October 1, 1984. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to set FY 1984 mortgage-backed securities guarantee limits at $68,250,000,000. States that participation agreement limitations on maximum principal obligation of conventional mortgages shall apply to an entire mortgage regardless of whether the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) purchase the entire loan or a participation interest therein. Authorizes Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to purchase residential second mortgages through October 1, 1985. Sets forth loan limits and related provisions. Expands Fannie Mae's Board of Directors from 15 to 18 members. Requires an annual Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report regarding Fannie Mae's activities. Establishes a 45-day (with a 15-day extension) HUD approval period for Fannie Mae requests. Permits Freddie Mac to purchase manufactured home loans where the property securing them is considered by State law as personal or mixed personal and real (presently limited to real property security). Raises the limit on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae multifamily conventional mortgage purchases. Permits certain Government National Mortgage Association mortgage purchase commitment extensions without the imposition of additional fees. Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct a study of prepayment penalties and the secondary mortgage market; and (2) report to Congress within 180 days. Removes existing loan-to-value limits on multifamily mortgage purchases.
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
National Observance Advisory Act - Establishes a commission known as the President's Advisory Commission on National Observances to establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed national observance be approved or disapproved.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Authorizes the President, notwithstanding any time limitations, to award a medal of honor to a named individual for acts of valor performed as a naval officer during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Tax Equity for Women Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow married individuals to compute the amount of their income tax deduction for contributions to retirement savings accounts on the basis of the earnings of their spouse. Treats alimony as compensation for purposes of determining an individual's income tax deduction for retirement savings. Grants tax-exempt status to certain organizations which provide nonresidential dependent care to the general public. Increases the income tax credit for household and dependent care services for low and moderate income taxpayers.
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 · 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
Criminal Fine Collection Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to the imposition, payment, and collection of fines. Lists factors that the court must consider in determining whether to impose a fine, including: (1) the ability of the defendant to pay; (2) the burden that payment will impose on the defendant; and (3) any restitution or reparation made by the defendant. States that payment of a fine is due immediately unless the court requires payment by installment or by any date certain. Permits a sentence to pay a fine to be stayed while an appeal is taken. Makes a fine delinquent if any portion of such fine is not paid within 30 days of when it is due. Provides that a fine is in default if it is more than 90 days delinquent. Allows for the modification or remission of a sentence to pay a fine. Requires the clerk to forward each fine payment to the U.S. Treasury and notify the Attorney General of its receipt. Requires the court to certify to the Attorney General when a fine exceeding $100 is imposed, modified, or remitted. Makes the Attorney General responsible for the collection of any unpaid fine for which certification has been issued. Allows the court to impose interest and monetary penalties for any willful nonpayment. Establishes civil remedies for the satisfication of an unpaid fine. Provides that a judgment imposing a fine may be enforced by execution against the property of the person fined as are judgments in civil cases. Allows the court to resentence a person upon willful failure to pay a fine to any sentence which might originally have been imposed. Provides for a statute of limitations on the liability to pay a fine of 20 years or upon death of the person fined. Provides penalties for criminal default of a fine. Makes payment of a fine a condition of probation or parole in certain circumstances. Requires the Attorney General to include in the annual crime report steps taken to implement this Act and any progress achieved in criminal fine collection.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1983
Establishes the National Commission on Federal Budget Deficit Reductions to review all relevant elements of fiscal and monetary policy, identify problems which may hinder the control and reduction of Federal budget deficits, and analyze all potential options which would result in deficit reductions and place the Government on a sound financial basis. Requires the Commission to transmit a report to the President and Congress not later than February 15, 1984, or the close of the 90th day beginning after the date of enactment of this resolution. Requires such report to contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate. Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits its report.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to notify State or local governments of sales of property seized from delinquent taxpayers. Requires the IRS to consider outstanding State or local tax liens on the property in determining the minimum sales price.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1983
Repeals the program providing for residential energy conservation plans for public utilities and home heating suppliers and the energy conservation program for commercial buildings and multifamily dwellings under the National Energy Conservation Policy Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1983
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to the family of the late Honorable Lawrence P. McDonald in recognition of his distinguished service as a Member of Congress and the facts surrounding his untimely death. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the striking of such gold medal and authorizes the Secretary to make duplicates in bronze of such medal available for public sale. Authorizes appropriations after October 1, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1983
Designates the week beginning February 12, 1984, as a time to recognize the contributions of volunteers who become Big Brothers and Big Sisters to single parent youths.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Davis-Bacon Reform Act of 1983 - Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to increase from $2,000 to $1,000,000 the threshold dollar amount subjecting certain contracts to such Act and requiring them to specify the minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish as the prevailing wage for a class of laborers or mechanics the entire range of wages being paid to a corresponding class of such workers in the particular urban or rural subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed. Excludes from the computation of wages the basic hourly rates of pay for workers on local Federal projects. Establishes a separate classification for helpers of laborers or mechanics. Amends the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act to require certain contractors or subcontractors to furnish compliance statements concerning weekly wages at the beginning and conclusion of the period covered by the contract, instead of every week as the wages are paid.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Designates the following lands in Texas as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) the Turkey Hill Wilderness in the Angelina National Forest; (2) the Upland Island Wilderness in the Angelina National Forest; (3) the Jordan Creek Wilderness in the Angelina National Forest; (4) the Big Slough Wilderness in the Davy Crockett National Forest; (5) the Alabama Creek Wilderness in the Davy Crockett National Forest; (6) the Chamber's Ferry Wilderness in the Sabine National Forest; (7) the Indian Mounds Wilderness in the Sabine National Forest; (8) the Little Lake Creek Wilderness in the Sam Houston National Forest; (9) the Four Notch Wilderness in the Sam Houston National Forest; and (10) the Big Creek Wilderness in the Sam Houston National Forest.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a mandatory additional prison term of five years for any person who carries or uses, during a commission of a felony, armor-piercing bullets. Requires the court to not suspend any sentence, grant probation or parole, or impose concurrent sentences.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that for calendar years 1985 through 1990 the cost-of-living adjustment for the individual income tax rates and the personal tax exemption shall take into account only inflation in excess of two percent per year. Provides a similar limitation on cost-of-living adjustments to benefits for the following programs for FY 1985 through 1990: (1) old age, survivors and disability benefits; (2) armed service retirement and retainer pay; (3) retired pay and retainer pay of members and former members of the Coast Guard; (4) retired pay of commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Public Health Service; (5) civil service retirement benefits; (6) foreign service retirement benefits; (7) Central Intelligence Agency retirement benefits; (8) Federal workers' compensation; and (9) benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
States national policy that the Federal Government, recognizing the primary responsibility of State and local governments for education, provide leadership and appropriate support to States and local schools for the promotion of excellence in education.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1983
Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1983 - Enacts into law the short titles "Civil Rights Act of 1968" and "Fair Housing Act." Adds new definitions for "handicap conciliation" and "conciliation agreement." Excludes from the meaning of "handicap" any impairment consisting of alcohol, drug abuse, or any other impairment which would be a direct threat to the property or safety of others. Makes it unlawful to: (1) refuse to sell or rent to a handicapped person unless such handicap would prevent a prospective occupant from conforming to specified non-discrimination rules and practices; or (2) discriminate against a handicapped person in the conditions of sale or rental or in the provision of related services or facilities. Includes within such discrimination a refusal to: (1) permit reasonable modifications to permit access to the premises (but only if a renter agrees to restore the premises to their original condition); and (2) make reasonable accommodations in policies, services, or facilities to afford handicapped persons ready access to and use of premises. Establishes a new administrative enforcement procedure within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Repeals the 30-day limitation imposed on the Secretary of HUD to respond to complaints. Requires the Secretary to give notice of his or her decision whether to resolve the complaint as promptly as possible. Provides that a conciliation agreement may provide for binding arbitration of the dispute. Permits the Secretary to join additional respondents as parties to a complaint. Grants authority to certified State or local agencies to investigate and conciliate complaints. Authorizes the Secretary to refer cases to the Attorney General while in the investigative stage for the purpose of seeking preliminary judicial relief pending the administrative disposition of the complaint. Allows the Secretary to refer other cases to the Attorney General in his or her sole discretion. Provides enforcement measures for conciliation agreements and civil penalties for noncompliance. Revises the enforcement procedure for private persons. Extends the statute of limitation for two years. Allows an aggrieved individual to enforce the terms of the conciliation agreement. Grants jurisdiction to the Attorney General to commence an action or intervene in a private civil action for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1983
Cement, Cement Clinker, and Concrete Block and Brick Fair Trade Act of 1983 - Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to impose a duty on foreign subsidized hydraulic cement, cement clinker, and concrete block and brick. Provides procedures for the imposition of such duty.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1983
Child Protection Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code dealing with the sexual exploitation of children. Increases the penalties for the sexual exploitation of children from $10,000 to $100,000 and, on a subsequent conviction from $15,000 to $200,000. Prohibits the distribution involving the sexual exploitation of minors even if the material is not found to be "obscene." Eliminates the requirement that persons distributing such material in interstate commerce do so for purposes of sale. Raises the age of a minor to include any person under the age of eighteen. Redefines "sexually explicit conduct" to exclude simulated conduct when there is little or no possibility of harm to the minor and when there is redeeming social, literary, educational, scientific or artistic value. Permits authorization for the interception of wire or oral communications in the investigation of such offenses.