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United States · Official source
3,111 records where Rep. Bedell, Berkley W. [D-IA-6] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1983
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of July 24 through July 31, 1983, as National Animal Agriculture Week.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1983
Polygraph Control and Privacy Protection Act of 1983 - Prohibits any person engaged in interstate commerce from: (1) requiring any employee, officer, or applicant for employment to take a polygraph test in connection with employment; (2) denying employment or disciplining an employee by reason of such individual's refusal to submit to such a test; or (3) using the results of such a test in connection with an individual's employment. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of such provisions. Authorizes civil actions in U.S. district courts on behalf of aggrieved individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Child Support Enforcement Improvements Act of 1985 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to state that the purpose of part D is to assure compliance with the obligations to pay child support to each child in the United States living with one parent. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for payment to a State of past-due child support from Federal tax refunds in cases where collection services have been made available under part D to an individual not otherwise qualified for part D services. Requires a State under part D to maintain a child support clearinghouse: (1) through which support payments will be recorded; (2) into which support payments will be paid and forwarded; (3) which will maintain collection records; and (4) which will have a system for reporting support obligations owed, collected, and disbursed, and for notifying the courts when payments are not made. Requires a State under part D to: (1) seek medical support for children for whom it is seeking financial support; (2) provide for mandatory withholding and payment of past-due support from wages; (3) provide a procedure for imposing liens against property and estates for past-due support; (4) provide for the collection of past due support from State tax refunds; (5) provide that quasijudicial or administrative procedures be available to aid in the establishment and collection of support obligations and in the establishment of paternity; and (6) provide for at least three of the following: voluntary wage assignment to pay support obligations, the use of scientific testing to determine paternity, the imposition of a bond to secure support obligations of absent parents having a pattern of past-due support, a procedure for establishing paternity without participation of the alleged father if such father refuses to cooperate in establishing paternity, or use of an objective standard to guide in the establishment and modification of support obligations by measuring the amount of support needed and the ability of an absent parent to pay such support, so that comparable amounts of support are awarded in similar situations. Amends Federal bankruptcy law to provide that the discharge of a debtor's debts does not discharge the debtor from any debt (currently, the debt must be in connection with a separation agreement, divorce decree, or property settlement) to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor, for alimony to, maintenance for, or support of such spouse or child.
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
Broadcast Licensing, Renewal, and Deregulation Act of 1983 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish new procedures for reviewing petitions to deny broadcast license applications. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant a license renewal application by a radio or television broadcast station licensee unless the actions of the licensee evidences such serious disregard for the Communications Act and for the rules and policies of the FCC that denial of the application is justified. Prohibits the FCC from considering the applications of other persons for a broadcast station's facilities when the FCC is acting upon a license renewal application by a radio or television broadcast station. Permits persons holding construction permits or station licenses to transfer the permit or license without first obtaining an FCC finding that the transfer serves the public interest. Requires the FCC to be notified of such transfer. Provides for public notice of the transfer. Provides for disposition by the FCC of objections to such transfer. Prohibits the FCC from considering whether the public interest would be served by the transfer of the permit or license involved to a different person. Repeals certain provisions relating to the application of the antitrust laws. Prohibits the FCC from imposing requirements on radio or television licensees relating to: (1) programs; (2) programming formats; (3) ascertainment; (4) commercialization; and (5) maintenance of program logs.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Environmental Protection Act of 1983 - Title I: Findings and Purposes - Declares that the existing governmental entities charged with preventing air, water, and land pollution have not adequately protected the environment. States the purpose of this Act to be to protect Americans against adverse effects of environmental changes through the establishment of a multimember independent regulatory commission. Title II: Establishment of Commission - Establishes the Environmental Protection Commission as an independent regulatory commission to be composed of five members appointed by the President with the Senate's approval. Sets forth provisions governing the members, officers, powers, and functions of the Commission and the functions of the Chairman of the Commission. Directs the Science Advisory Board to provide such scientific advice as the Commission may request. Sets forth guidelines for the nomination, selection, and appointment by the Chairman of an individual to fill any vacancy on the Board. Requires the Chairman to issue regulations regarding conflicts of interest with respect to members of the Board. Title III: Transfer of Functions - Transfers to the Commission all functions, not otherwise transferred by this Act, of: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency; and (2) the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Title IV: Administrative Provisions - Part A: Personnel Provisions - Provides for the appointment and compensation of Commission officers and employees and the procurement and compensation of experts and consultants. Part B: General Administrative Provisions - Sets forth provisions governing the authority of the Commission to: (1) exercise transferred functions; (2) delegate functions to its officers and employees; (3) reallocate functions among its offices and reorganize its structure; (4) enter into and perform contracts; and (5) promulgate rules. Requires the Commission, for each proposed action to promulgate or revise a rule, to: (1) establish and make available to the public a rulemaking docket containing the comments and certain documentary information concerning each rule; (2) publish a notice of the proposed action which shall include a statement of the purpose and basis of the rule and the period available for public comment; (3) allow any person to present oral or written data on the rule during the comment period; and (4) keep the record of the rulemaking open for 30 days after completion of the proceeding to provide for submission of rebuttal or supplementary information. Requires the promulgated rule to be accompanied by: (1) a statement of its basis and purpose; (2) a justification of major changes to the rule as proposed; and (3) a response to significant data submitted during the comment period. Provides for the judicial review of such rules. Authorizes a six-month extension of a statutory deadline for the promulgation of such a rule if such extension is necessary to afford the public and the agency adequate opportunity to carry out rulemaking requirements. Authorizes the Commission to: (1) establish, alter, discontinue, or maintain regional and other field offices as necessary; (2) acquire and maintain schools, research and training facilities, and accommodation as may be necessary for employees; (3) establish eating facilities for employees at its installations; (4) provide certain facilities, services, and supplies for employees at remote locations; (5) use the resources of Federal, State, local, and foreign instrumentalities with their consent; (6) permit public and private organizations to use its facilities for Commission purposes; (7) acquire copyrights, patents, applications for patents, licenses under copyrights and patents, and releases for past patent or copyright infringement; (8) accept and use gifts, bequests, and devises of property; (9) provide advice and technical assistance related to its functions; (10) establish a working capital fund; and (11) transfer funds among Commission appropriations, with certain limitations. Directs the Commission to procure a seal of office. Requires the Commission to submit to the President and Congress at the beginning of each regular session of Congress a comprehensive report on the administration of its functions. Requires that such report include: (1) an appraisal of the incidence of health and other effects to the population resulting from environmental causes; (2) an evaluation of the degree of observance of environmental rules; (3) a summary of outstanding problems confronting the Commission; and (4) specified information on voluntary environmental standards developed with the Commission's assistance. Title V: Transitional, Savings, and Conforming Provisions - Sets forth provisions governing the transfer and allocation of personnel, appropriations, and other resources transferred to the Commission under this Act. Terminates the Environmental Protection Agency and positions in such Agency which were expressly authorized by law or compensated at an Executive Schedule pay rate. Declares that this Act shall have no effect on orders issued, determinations made, proceedings pending, or civil actions commenced before its enactment. Provides that statutory requirements for notice, hearings, and administrative or judicial review applicable to functions transferred by this Act shall continue to apply to such functions. Title VI: Effective Date and Interim Appointments - Sets forth the effective date of this Act. Provides that funds available to any agency the functions of which are transferred by this Act may, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, be used to pay the compensation of interim officers and other expenses of establishing the Commission or transfering functions until funds for such expenses are otherwise available. Authorizes the President to designate an officer on the executive branch to act as a Commission officer for 120 days or until such office is filled, whichever occurs first.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of a seller interest received on loans insured under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act which are used for the purchase of agricultural land by certain farmers or ranchers.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to States which adopt and implement effective child passenger safety programs. Sets forth eligibility requirements for States to receive such grants and a limitation on apportionments. Requires the Secretary to establish, by regulation, standards for such programs. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1984 through 1986. Directs the Secretary to conduct an annual evaluation of each eligible State's child passenger safety program to measure its effectiveness on child safety seat usage.
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
Railroad Service and Accountability Act of 1983 - Title I: Land Grant Income - Amends the Interstate Commerce Act to direct the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to consider income from land grants in rail line abandonment and discontinuance proceedings. Directs the Commission to apportion equitably among lines of the rail carrier any income attributable to Federal or State land grants. Title II: Land Grant Forfeitures - Requires railroads to forfeit land grant lands in proportion to rail service abandonments. Sets forth procedures for such forfeitures. Requires that any lands or income from such lands received by States as a result of forfeiture be used to provide alternative transportation to persons affected by abandoned rail service. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a survey to assess the value of land grant lands held by railroads and to periodically update such survey. Title III: Railroad Service Protection - Authorizes the Commission to: (1) order the cessation or rescission of securities transactions of controlled rail carriers that are not in the public interest; and (2) order actions as necessary, including divestiture of control, for such carriers whose service to the public is impaired or threatened. Repeals the authority of the ICC to regulate acquisition of control of certain carriers by a person that is not a carrier. Allows such transactions, also without ICC authorization, where the only parties are certain rail carriers whose aggregate gross revenues during a recent 12-month period did not exceed $10,000,000. Requires ICC authorization and approval when one rail carrier party to the transaction is controlled by, or is under common control with, a class I railroad.
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
Designates the week of September 25 through October 2, 1983, as National Respiratory Therapy Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President designate September 1983 as National Sickle-Cell Anemia Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Declares that the House of Representatives supports Solidarity Sunday.
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
Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to increase the authorization of appropriations for low-income home energy assistance for FY 1984. Decreases the maximum amount of grant money allotted for a fiscal year to States for low-income home energy assistance which a State may request to be held available for the next fiscal year. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect home energy and home energy assistance data on a State-by-State basis. Requires the Secretary to submit the annual report on such data required under such Act no later than September 30 of each calendar year.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that the family planning program under title X of the Public Health Service Act should be administered in the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Antitrust Fairness Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Clayton Act to authorize any State, any political subdivision thereof, or the United States to bring a civil action to recover damages under the antitrust laws for an injury not arising from a sales transaction between the plaintiff and the defendant. Prohibits a plaintiff from recovering the amount of any overcharge or underpayment that another plaintiff has recovered based on the same conduct of the defendant. Requires the amount of monetary relief awarded under an antitrust action to be reduced or allocated among liable defendants if the court or, in specified circumstances, the jury determines that such amount would be substantially unjust to a defendant. Prohibits such a reduction or allocation from diminishing a defendant's liability to an amount less than: (1) the plaintiff's unrecovered actual damages, unless the plaintiff's conduct of the action significantly contributed to the substantial injustice; or (2) threefold the damages fairly attributable to the conduct of the defendant, or the defendant's sales to, or purchases from, the plaintiff. Revises procedures for consensually resolving civil antitrust actions bought by the United States. Prohibits any proposed stipulation submitted by the United States to terminate such an action or to modify any stipulation, order, or judgement entered to terminate such an action from being entered for 60 days after it is filed with the appropriate district court, except under specified circumstances. Directs the Government, on the date such a stipulation is filed, to: (1) publish a copy of the stipulation in the Federal Register; (2) file a statement describing the nature and purpose of the action and the reasons in support of the agreement underlying the stipulation; and (3) notify persons who have requested notification of the filing of such a proposed stipulation. Repeals provisions requiring: (1) the filing and publication in the Federal Register of a competitive statement on the proposed stipulation; and (2) the publication in area newspapers of summaries of the proposed stipulation and such statement. Permits a court, after determining that a proposed stipulation is in the public interest, to order that: (1) the Government file and provide to the public a copy of certain documents that influenced the Government to agree to the stipulation, excluding information which is exempt from disclosure; and (2) each defendant file a description of each communication made on its behalf with any Government officer or employee relating to such stipulation, with specified exceptions. (Currently defendants are required to file such descriptions within ten days after a stipulation is filed.) Allows the Government to file a summary in lieu of the text of any portion of a document the disclosure of which would impair the negotiation of other stipulations or the enforcement of any law. Continues current requirements for the filing of the comments received on a proposed stipulation and the Government's responses to such comments, but permits, rather than requires the Government to respond to such comments. Directs a district court to consider a stipulation on the basis of the record of the proceeding, including filed comments and responses. Directs the court to enter any stipulation that would terminate an antitrust action without imposing express limitations on the future conduct of the defendant involved, unless the court determines, by order, that there is substantial reason to believe that the Government would prevail on the merits of any of the claims in the action. Permits a court to enter a stipulation that would terminate an action with express limitations on the future conduct of the defendant or that would terminate or modify a stipulation, order, or judgment entered in the action, if the court determines that such stipulation would: (1) represent a fair compromise of the dispute; (2) advance the purposes of the antitrust laws; or (3) otherwise serve the public interest. Directs the court, upon determining that either such stipulation should not be entered, to: (1) notify the Attorney General; and (2) take specified actions to obtain additional information needed to verify such determination. Directs the court, after verifying such determination, to order the Attorney General to reevaluate the substance of the stipulation and to file a statement describing the results of the reevaluation. Requires the court to enter a stipulation if the Attorney General determines that the Government will not request its withdrawal. Declares that nothing in this Act requires a court to enter a stipulation if the court finds reason to believe the stipulation was procured by fraud.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Small Business Administration State Development Company Program Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to purchase or guarantee any debenture issued by a qualified State development company unless such debenture is collateralized by industrial development bonds. Requires debentures so purchased or guaranteed to be treated on an equal basis in repayment and liquidation with those funds borrowed by the qualified State development company unless the SBA determines that such debentures may be subordinate to the company's other debts and obligations.
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 veterans' educational assistance program to extend the delimiting period for use of educational benefits by Vietnam veterans from ten to 20 years, through December 31, 1995, at the latest.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1983
Authorizes and requests the President to designate July 16, 1983, as National Atomic Veterans' Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should resume negotiations with the Soviet Union to reach a new long-term grain sales agreement that would require the Soviet Union to purchase a minimum amount of grain annually.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that certain museums and organizations which operate a library shall be treated as public charities for income tax purposes (taxpayers may deduct contributions to public charities up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income).
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1983
Designates March 20, 1984, as Children's Day.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit the Small Business Administration (SBA) from: (1) refusing to accept and consider a referral from a Government procurement officer of a matter in which the eligiblity of a small business as a Government contractor for a specific Government contract is in question; or (2) limiting the availability of any certification of a small business as an eligible Government contractor on account of the anticipated dollar value of the contract, the nature of the work to be performed, or any other factors unrelated to responsibility or eligibility issues. Provides that no small business shall be denied the opportunity to submit its offer for a Federal contract solely because: (1) it is not on a qualified bidders list; (2) its products are not on a qualified products list; or (3) it has not received prior approval from a Federal agency to submit its offers relating to a certain type of work or class of contracts. Requires that Federal contracts up to $25,000 include a policy clause declaring that small businesses shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in Federal contracts. (Under current law, Federal contracts up to $10,000 are required to include such clause.) Specifies identification requirements for subcontracting plans contained in the SBA's annual report to the House and Senate Small Business Committees on subcontracting plans which do not contain maximum practicable opportunities for small businesses to participate in such contracts. Requires that a procurement requirement be set aside for exclusive competition among small businesses if the Government procurement officer expects that: (1) offers will be obtained from at least two responsible small businesses offering the products of different small businesses; and (2) awards will be made at reasonable prices. Requires Federal agencies to reduce the number of requirements to be contained in its contract solicitations in order to promote the maximum practicable opportunity for small businesses to submit offers. Sets forth the conditions which must exist in order for a Federal agency to solicit an offer from only one source or to negotiate with only one source for the purchase of spare or replacement parts. Provides that when there is a conversion to contract of commercial activities not being presently performed by a private commercial source, such activities shall be set aside for exclusive competition among small businesses or awarded pursuant to the Government procurement contract set-aside program for small business under the Small Business Act. Requires that total labor surplus area set-asides be authorized if the Government procurement officer expects that: (1) offers will be obtained from at least two responsible businesses; and (2) awards will be made at reasonable prices. Requires that Federal agencies award contracts and encourage the placement of subcontracts on the basis of total and partial small business-labor surplus area set-asides and total and partial small business set-asides. Requires Federal agencies to establish goals each year for the award of their procurement contracts and subcontracts to: (1) small businesses which perform a substantial proportion of their production in areas of concentrated unemployment or underemployment or within labor surplus areas, in addition to those small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and (2) small businesses generally. Eliminates the requirement that such goals apply to procurement contracts of $10,000 or more. Sets forth requirements for the establishment of such goals. Requires that procurement contracts of $25,000 or less be reserved exclusively for small businesses unless the contracting officer is unable to obtain reasonable offers from two or more small businesses. Requires a presumption that procurement contracts between $25,000 and $2,000,001 may be awarded through the small business set-aside program. Requires that contracting officers, to the maximum extent practicable, choose a payment method which minimizes paperwork and facilitates prompt payment to small businesses.
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 qualify displaced homemakers for the targeted jobs income tax credit. Defines "displaced homemaker" as an individual who: (1) has not worked in the labor force for a substantial number of years but has, during those years, worked in the home providing unpaid services for family members; (2) has been dependent on public assistance or on the income of another family member but is no longer supported by that income, or is receiving public assistance on account of dependent children in the home; and (3) is a member of an economically disadvantaged family and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading employment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for emergency advanced life support services furnished by qualified emergency medical technicians under the supervision of a physician (through radio or telecommunication contact or otherwise).
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 · 16 March 1983
Designates June 14, 1983, as Baltic Freedom Day.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
States that the Government should restore balance to the Department of Energy's FY 1984 budget by maintaining funding for energy conservation, solar and renewable energy, and weatherization programs and by distributing information on conservation and renewable and solar energy.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should enter into negotiations with the Soviet Union to establish an agreement that would require the Soviet Union to purchase a minimum amount of grain annually for a five year period.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1983
Designates March 21, 1984, as National Single Parent Day.
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 · 14 March 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the income tax credit for household and dependent care services refundable.
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
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable income tax credit for expenses incurred in the care of elderly family members. Sets such credit at 30 percent of the expenses incurred for taxpayers with incomes of $10,000 or less. Reduces the rate of such credit, but not below 20 percent, by one percent for each $2,000 of taxpayer income in excess of $10,000. Limits such credit to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000. Imposes a maximum $7,000 limit on the amount of elderly care expenses that can be taken into account. Defines "qualified family member" as any individual who: (1) is related to the taxpayer by blood or marriage; (2) is at least 75 years of age (or diagnosed with senile dementia); and (3) has a family income of $15,000 or less. Defines "qualified elderly care expenses" as payments for: (1) home health agency services; (2) homemaker services; (3) adult day care; (4) respite care; or (5) certain health care equipment and supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1983
In-Flight Medical Emergencies Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to issue final rules requiring passenger-carrying aircraft of 30 seats or more to carry medical supplies, drugs, and equipment for the temporary treatment of in-flight emergencies. Provides relief from State or Federal civil liability for any licensed medical personnel or air carrier employee who renders emergency medical aid on an airplane or who continues such aid until arrival at a medical facility. Extends such relief to an airplane's crew and owner or operator for providing on-board emergency medical supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1983
Provides for the expiration, effective December 15, 1983, of the waiver of laws granted for the Alaska natural gas transportation system unless the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issues, on or before such date, a final certificate of public convenience and necessity for the approved transportation system. Prohibits any Federal agency from providing financial assistance for the transportation system after approval of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1983
Designates the week beginning June 5, 1983, as National Garden Week.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1983
Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977 to provide that provisions of such Act shall not apply to: (1) any surface sand, gravel, stone, or clay mine; or (2) any surface structure or road, if constructed by employees not engaged in mining.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1983
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of Labor to certify certain groups of workers as eligible for trade adjustment assistance upon a determination that: (1) increased imports "contributed importantly to" (currently, substantially caused) worker separations and sales or production reductions; or (2) a significant number of workers of a firm have been or are in danger of total or partial separation due to the relocation of such firm to a foreign country or instrumentality. Makes changes in the qualifying requirement for adjustment assistance for workers. Directs the Secretary of Labor to approve job training assistance for workers adversely affected by imports. (Currently the Secretary is authorized to approve such training.) Directs the Secretary to pay a daily supplemental assistance benefit to any worker who begins approved job training after enactment of this Act and who is not eligible for trade adjustment allowances. Increases the maximum job search and relocation allowances to $800. Establishes an Adjustment Assistance Trust Fund in the Treasury. Authorizes appropriations to the Trust Fund, payable out of the general fund of the Treasury attributable to the collection of customs duties, to carry out provisions for adjustment assistance for workers. Extends adjustment assistance for workers and firms until September 30, 1985. Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 to amend the definition of "suitable work" for a worker who would be eligible for a trade readjustment allowance if the worker were not eligible for extended compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1983
Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to require a pipeline to carry natural gas, upon application by a producer or purchaser of natural gas, unless the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finds that: (1) the pipeline has no available capacity to carry such gas; (2) carriage of such gas would place an undue burden on the pipeline; (3) construction of new facilities by the pipeline would be required; or (4) carriage of the gas would impair the pipeline's ability to give adequate service to its existing customers. Sets the consideration for such transportation at five cents per million Btu's plus the cost of transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1983
Air Travelers Security Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to declare congressional policy with respect to the marketing and sale of passenger air transportation. Directs the Civil Aeronautics Board to vacate Order 82-12-85, adopted on December 16, 1982, and to adopt as its final decision in docket numbered 36595 the recommended order of an administrative law judge dated June 1, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1983
Medical Facility Dependent Care Act of 1983 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants and provide technical assistance to medical facilities for dependent care services. Gives priority to those facilities that provide: (1) dependent care 24 hours a day, seven days a week; or (2) care for infant dependents (aged three and under). States that: (1) the Federal share of such costs shall be 75 percent; and (2) the non-Federal share may be provided in cash or services and equipment. Authorizes grants to medical facilities to establish dependent care information clearinghouses and referral networks. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1983
Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Relief Act - Establishes a presumption of service-connected disability for veterans exposed to herbicides during service in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era who suffer from specified diseases which may be caused by exposure to such herbicides, developed to a ten percent degree of disability. Permits the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to determine what other diseases may be due to exposure to herbicides, chemicals, or environmental hazards. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations within one year of enactment incorporating such determinations and setting forth the standards used to reach them.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1983
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of April 10 through April 16, 1983, as National Mental Health Week.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Provides for staggered four-year terms for Members of the House of Representatives. Requires Representatives who file as candidates in Senate elections to relinquish their seats in the House before the beginning of the succeeding term of Congress. Requires the executive authority of the affected State to fill any such Representative vacancy by holding a special election. Prohibits Representatives required to relinquish their seats from being elected to such succeeding term of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1983
Cigarette Safety Act - Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate, within 24 months, final performance standards for cigarettes and little cigars ensuring a minimal capacity for igniting smoldering fabric fires. Requires publication in the Federal Register, together with detailed reasons, of any decision not to promulgate a standard based on a finding that it is technologically impracticable or economically unreasonable. Authorizes the Commission to prohibit manufacturers from stockpiling such products to which such standards apply. Provides for judicial review of such standards in an appropriate U.S. court of appeals. Declares such cigarette safety standards to be subject to all remedial and penalty provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act for the first three fiscal years beginning after enactment.