United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Older Americans Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the definition of "State" for purposes of the Act. Includes among the functions of the Administration on Aging the coordination of Federal activities with respect to the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information relevant to older individuals. Eliminates the National Information and Resource Clearinghouse for the Aged. Sets March 31, 1982, as the deadline for a study by the Federal Council on Aging evaluating programs for older Americans. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Council through fiscal year 1983. Eliminates outdated provisions relating to a report on legal services programs. Repeals a provision that a Congressional declaration of policy respecting "Insular Areas" not apply to the administration of programs for older Americans. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for grants for State and community programs on aging (relating to social services and to congregate and home delivered nutrition services). Continues through fiscal year 1983 formulas for allotments to States and determination of the Federal share of costs of such programs. Changes (from a minimum of 50 percent) to "an adequate proportion" that portion of the amount of social service grant funds which area plans must assure will be expended for access to services, in-home services, and legal services. Requires that State plans provide that each nutrition service project will be available not only to individuals aged 60 or older and their spouses but also to handicapped or disabled individuals under 60 years of age residing in senior citizen centers where congregate nutrition services are provided. Requires that such plans give primary consideration to congregate nutrition services, but allows area agencies to award funds to organizations for home nutrition services without requiring that such organizations also provide congregate services. Permits charges for access to meals for the elderly where appropriate. Repeals a limitation on the use of nutrition services funds for supportive services. Extends through fiscal year 1983: (1) the 30 cents per meal minimum level of assistance under the program of donation of surplus agricultural commodities to nutrition services for the elderly grant or contract recipients; and (2) the requirement that the Secretary of Agriculture purchase high protein foods, meat, and meat alternates for such purpose. Directs the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to consult with minority aging organizations and include the status of meeting the manpower needs of the minority elderly in reports on existing and future personnel needs. Includes weatherization improvement and energy efficiency among the special housing needs of older individuals for which special consideration will be given in awarding project grants and contracts. Provides that a report on special projects in comprehensive long-term care be included in the annual report on programs for older Americans. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for training, research, and discretionary projects and programs in the field of aging. Includes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in: (1) provisions for distribution of assistance under such Act; and (2) in the definition of "State" for purposes of the Older American Community Service Employment Programs. Includes weatherization activities among community services for purposes of such programs. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for such programs. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for grants for Indian tribes for elderly services, including multipurpose senior centers. Sets forth technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Directs the President to award a special gold medal to Fred Waring. Stipulates that funds may not be appropriated under this Act for any period before October 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1981
Proclaims Raoul Wallenberg an honorary citizen of the United States. Requests the President to ascertain his whereabouts from the Soviet Union and to secure his freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
State and Local Government Financing Reform Act of 1981 - Excludes from the Federal law limiting and restricting the corporate powers of national banking associations to deal in and underwrite investment securities, specified dealings in and underwriting of all other nongeneral obligations issued or guaranteed by or on behalf of a State or any political subdivision thereof (except special assessment obligations and industrial revenue bonds) which are at the time eligible for purchase by a national bank for its own account, subject to specified limitations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit an annual report to the Congress showing the extent to which the business of underwriting and dealing in State and local obligations is being carried on by commercial banks as compared with other banking institutions with a view to determining the effect of the provisions of this Act on the institutional distribution of such business.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1981
Authorizes specified appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for certain Department of Commerce maritime programs including: (1) ship construction and acquisition; (2) operating-differential subsidy payments; (3) research and development; (4) operations and training; (5) fleet expenses; and (6) maritime education. Authorizes supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for employee benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Prohibits Federally assisted rental housing projects for the elderly and handicapped from forbidding tenants to have pets or discriminating against persons having pets.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer to elect to compute the depreciation on certain eligible vessels and vessel construction facilities by using a useful life of five years.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Law Enforcement Officers' Protection Act of 1981 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) conduct a study to determine the capacity of handgun bullets to penetrate bulletproof vests and the risk posed to law enforcement officers by the availability of handgun bullets; and (2) report the findings and legislative recommendations to the President and Congress within one year after funds are made available under this Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to extend through fiscal year 1986 the authorization of appropriations for the child abuse prevention and treatment program. Provides protection from adverse job actions for persons reporting instances of child abuse and neglect occurring in public or private residential institutions. Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to extend through fiscal year 1986 the authorization of appropriations for the adoption reform program.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Mass Transportation Crime Prevention Act - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to establish criminal penalties for the destruction of property committed in, upon, or in proximity to any mass transportation system.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Amends the Federal criminal code to redefine "juvenile delinquency" for purposes of Federal court proceedings and subsequent treatment as: (1) the commission of a felony by an individual under the age of 15; or (2) the commission of any other crime by an individual under the age of 18 (currently, commission of any crime by an individual under age 18). Directs the State to treat as adult offenders all persons who have attained 15 years of age and have committed a violation of State law for which imprisonment over one year may be imposed.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Victims of Crime Act of 1981 - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to qualified State programs for the compensation of victims of crimes. Provides that such grants shall total: (1) 25 to 35 percent (depending on the program's starting date) of allowable compensation; and (2) 100 percent of allowable compensation to victims of crimes which would constitute designated crimes but are subject to exclusive Federal jurisdiction. Establishes a nine-member Advisory Committee on Victims of Crime to advise the Attorney General with respect to the administration of this Act and the compensation of victims of crime. Specifies criteria for a State plan to qualify for grants, including that the program: (1) offer compensation to surviving dependents of persons whose deaths result from qualifying crimes; (2) grant claimants the right to a hearing; (3) condition compensation on cooperation with law enforcement officials; (4) not require claimants to seek welfare benefits; (5) deny or reduce recovery where the claimant contributed to the injury; (6) not require apprehension or conviction of the offender; and (7) provide compensation for property loss to victims aged 65 years or older. Requires that the State: (1) inform victims of the compensation program; (2) have a law or rule subrogating the State to any claim the claimant has against the perpetrator of the crime; and (3) have a law or rule authorizing payment of restitution to the victim by the perpetrator when determining the amount of the authorized grant, including any amount of an award exceeding $50,000 per victim and lost earnings compensation exceeding $200 per week. Directs the Attorney General to report annually to the congressional judiciary committees on each qualifying State program. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1982 through 1984 to carry out this Act. Enumerates expenses which shall be excluded from a State's program costs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Requires the appropriate Federal, State, or local authorities to take and keep on record fingerprints of any individual convicted or adjudicated under laws permitting noncriminal treatment due to the age of the offender for the commission of an act which would be a criminal offense if committed by an older individual. Prohibits the withholding of information relating to an individual's juvenile record from a subsequent criminal trial, if such record relates to an offense which would have been a crime if committed by an adult.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for Federal crimes. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendent is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense for which death is a possible penalty. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence. Specifies: (1) mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by preponderance of the information; and (2) aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, including particular factors to be considered in certain national security crimes. Requires the jury to determine: (1) by majority vote the existence of mitigating or aggravating factors; and (2) by unanimous vote whenever the aggravating factors sufficiently outweigh the mitigating factors to justify the death sentence. Directs the court to impose the death penalty upon a finding that such sentence is justified. Authorizes capital punishment for the offense of arson where a death results. Limits the circumstances under which the offense of delivering defense information to aid foreign governments is punishable by death. Allows the death penalty to be imposed for the murder of foreign officials and for an offense of kidnapping resulting in the death of any person. Eliminates the death penalty for the crime of rape. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon considering the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors; and (3) the sentence is not excessive. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1970 to increase the mandatory penalties for using or carrying a firearm during commission of a Federal felony. Increases the additional penalty imposed for such offense to two to 25 years for a first offense (currently, one to ten years). Extends to first offenders the stipulations, currently applicable only to second offenders, that the court not suspend any sentence, grant probation, or impose concurrent sentences.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1981
Authorizes appropriations in the amount of $1,500,000 to the city of Atlanta, Georgia, for law enforcement expenses with respect to the recent murders of children.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1981
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging, to make available through a national toll-free telephone line information concerning federally administered programs, services, and benefits for which senior citizens may be eligible. Requires the Secretary to cooperate with other information and referral services to ensure that information concerning non-federally administered benefits is also made available.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1981
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for demonstration projects (in at least three States, including a rural area) for the provision of preventive health services to the elderly through traveling health care practitioners (other than a physician). Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the results of the demonstration projects.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1981
Federal Law Enforcement Officers' Security Act of 1981 - Provides civil service compensation for the disability or death of a Federal law enforcement officer resulting from an injury sustained while making an arrest for a State felony, unless such compensation is available to such officer under State law. Directs the Attorney General of the United States to reimburse a Federal officer for: (1) any litigation expenses incurred for defending himself or herself in an action brought against such officer for violating a State law while making such an arrest; and (2) any resulting fine or damages imposed, if a State officer would be immune to liability for the same conduct. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude the amount of any such reimbursement from the officer's gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1981
Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act to add burial plots or crypts to the items excludable from an individual's resources in determining eligibility.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1981
Title I: Surplus School Conversion Grants - Surplus School Conversion Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to local educational agencies to provide up to 80 percent of the costs of renovating underutilized school buildings. Directs the Secretary to give priority to grant applications to renovate buildings for educational or social service purposes. Prohibits grants for renovation of buildings which will be used for storage purposes only. Permits the inclusion of planning costs among the expenses which such grants cover. Directs the Secretary to make available planning and technical assistance to agencies utilizing such funds. Sets forth grant application requirements. Directs the Secretary to consider certain factors in approving applications. Provides for the recapture of such payments by the United States. Sets forth reporting requirements. Title II: Amendment to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to include among guidelines which the Secretary of Energy must prescribe for State plans for the implementation of energy conservation projects in schools and hospitals a requirement that State energy agencies in making grants for such projects for school facilities give priority to facilities in local educational agency jurisdictions with a student enrollment during the school year in which the application is submitted is not more than 90 percent of the enrollment for the second preceding school year.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1981
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a new Computers in Education program under title III (Special Projects) of such Act. Directs the Secretary of Education, subject to the availability of funds, to award grants for the establishment and operation of National Centers for Personal Computers in Education to: (1) instruct students in the use of personal computers; and (2) develop programs designed to utilize personal computers and microcomputers as educational tools at all educational levels. Provides that such grants shall be sufficient for operation of a Center for a three-year period beginning with fiscal year 1982, subject to the availability of funds and the Secretary's determination at the end of each fiscal year of operation that the recipient has compiled with assurances contained in the grant application. Sets forth the responsibilities of such Centers and application and reporting requirements for grant recipients. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982, to remain available through fiscal year 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1981
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for damaging or destroying any cemetery, religious building, or any religious article contained in such a building or interfering with any person freely exercising his religion.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1981
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Army should construct and place in Arlington National Cemetery a plaque honoring members of the United States Armed Forces who died attempting to rescue the American hostages in Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1981
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for taking or attempting to take by force and violence or intimidation a controlled substance from a pharmacy. Increases the penalties if any person's life is endangered by use of a dangerous weapon or if any person is assaulted or killed during commission of such offense. Directs the Federal Bureau of Investigation to include pharmacy robbery data in its annual Uniform Crime Reports. Directs the Attorney General to report to Congress on the enforcement of this Act within 120 days of enactment and biannually for the subsequent three-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that social security taxes and income tax withholding shall not apply to chore service performed by an individual under an arrangement with a State program if: (1) only individuals aged 65 or over or handicapped individuals are eligible to receive such service; (2) the service consists only of housework, yardwork, meal preparation, minor house repairs, or errands for food, clothing, medicine, or paying bills; and (3) at least 80 percent of the chore services for the calendar year can reasonably be expected to be performed at a maximum average rate of 20 hours per week.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1981
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the employment of any blind person, or person with impaired sight, at less than the applicable minimum wage under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1981
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to grant exceptions, requested by local educational agencies, from specified requirements relating to matching funds for services provided under schoolwide projects to children who are not educationally deprived, if a more efficient program would result and the quality of services to educationally deprived children would not diminish.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow pensioners under a public retirement system and other retirees aged 65 or over a $5,000 exclusion from gross income for any amount received as an annuity, pension, or other retirement benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1981
World War I Veterans Service Pension Act of 1981 - Requires the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay (in addition to any pension already paid) a monthly pension of $150: (1) to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements; (2) to the surviving spouse of each such veteran; or (3) when there is no surviving spouse, to the child or children of each such veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to prohibit the demolition or substantial alteration (other than to the extent necessary for the preservation of the structure) of properties designated as National Historic Landmarks.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to permit, for use to meet operating expenses, up to 20 percent of the funds allocated to make grants and loans to private nonprofit corporations and associations for the purpose of assisting them in providing transportation services for elderly and handicapped persons.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that disability insurance benefits for an individual having a terminal illness shall begin with the first month during which such individual has such illness.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require that States include standards for determining need for continued skilled nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities in their plan for medical assistance. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct investigative and oversight activities designed to determine whether there exists any basis to support a finding that the plan no longer complies with minimum requirements. States that an individual shall be deemed to be in need of skilled nursing facility services if determined to need care in such a facility on a daily basis.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers who rent their principal residences an income tax deduction for their proportionate share of the real property taxes paid by their landlords.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
World War I Veterans Pension Act of 1979 - Requires the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay (in addition to any pension already paid) a monthly pension of $150: (1) to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements; (2) to the surviving spouse of each such veteran; or (3) when there is no surviving spouse, to the child or children of each such veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1981
Elementary School Guidance and Counseling Incentive Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations: (1) in fiscal years 1983 through 1987 for comprehensive elementary school guidance and counseling programs, supplemental grants to States for such programs and research and demonstration programs; (2) through fiscal year 1988 for employment of one new and/or additional elementary guidance counselor per school district, evaluation of programs, and in-service counselor training; and (3) for teacher and counselor centers. Provides formulas, based on the population of elementary school children, for determining allotments to States for such programs. Directs the Assistant Secretary of Elementary/Secondary Education to administer State allotments and State plans through the Office of Guidance and Counseling of the Department of Education. Requires that each State, to be eligible for such allotments, submit to the Assistant Secretary a State plan for providing comprehensive elementary school guidance and counseling programs for a five-year period, with necessary annual revisions, which meets such criteria as the Assistant Secretary may by regulation prescribe. Sets forth required provisions of such plans and programs. Provides for appeal by a State of a final action of the Assistant Secretary to a circuit court of appeals. Authorizes the Assistant Secretary, through the Office of Guidance and Counseling, to make supplemental grants to States with approved plans for distribution to local educational agencies and for support of States with approved plans for distribution to local educational agencies and for support of State agency leadership activities on the basis of statewide needs and priorities in elementary school guidance and counseling. Sets forth approved uses of such grants. Directs the Assistant Secretary to carry out a research and demonstration program relating to elementary and secondary school guidance and counseling. Directs the Assistant Secretary to make an annual evaluation report to the appropriate Congressional committees. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include training for counselors under the teacher centers program. Provides for a program of in-service training for elementary school guidance counselors. Requires the designation of professionally trained counselors: (1) at the Federal level, to provide information on, and to administer, such programs; and (2) at the State, local school district and intermediate administrative unit levels, to supervise such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1981
Presidential Nomination Commission Resolution - Establishes the Commission of Presidential Nominations to make an investigation regarding the presidential nominating process. Directs the Commission to report to the President and Congress respecting such investigation including recommendations for the 1984 presidential elections. Terminates the commission 60 days after submission of such report. Sets forth the powers of such Commission, and related administrative provisions. Authorizes necessary appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1981
Authorizes the transportation of passengers on foreign vessels between ports in Puerto Rico and ports in the United States unless the Secretary of Commerce determines that United States flag service is available for such transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1981
Anti-Arson Act of 1981 - Establishes an Interagency Committee on Arson Prevention and Control to coordinate Federal anti-arson programs and to provide assistance to State and local governments for the prevention, detection, and control of arson. Directs the Committee to report to Congress on the success of its activities within 18 months of enactment. Terminates the Committee two years from the date of enactment. Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to: (1) classify arson as a major crime in the Uniform Crime Reports; and (2) develop a special statistical report for arson in cooperation with the National Fire Data Center. Directs the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration to: (1) conduct a research program for the development of techniques and equipment for use by State and local fire fighting and law enforcement personnel for arson prediction, prevention, and control; (2) establish anti-arson educational and training programs for State and local government; (3) develop materials for community awareness programs; and (4) provide information relative to the prevention, prediction, occurrence, and control of arson. Authorizes appropriations for the Administration for such purpose. Amends the National Housing Act to require that FAIR (fair access to insurance requirements) plans be issued only after insurers obtain information from a prospective policyholder with respect to arson.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1981
Entitles specified members of the National Guard, or of a uniformed service on inactive duty training, to the same medical and dental benefits as a member of a uniformed service on active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1981
Entitles to specified medical and dental benefits members of the uniformed services or the National Guard who become ill in the line of duty while on active duty for a period of 30 days or less or who become ill while on full-time training duty or inactive-duty training when such illness is incurred or aggravated as an incident of such training.
![Official portrait of Rep. Biaggi, Mario [D-NY-19]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000432_200.jpg)