United States · United States Congress · 7 January 1985
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Treatment Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate 20 centers for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Requires such centers to: (1) provide a central facility for diagnosis, evaluation, and counseling; (2) develop standards of treatment and methods of delivering cost-effective services; (3) train professionals and nonprofessionals in diagnosing and treating such disorders; and (4) develop a comprehensive acute and long-term treatment program. Authorizes FY 1986 through 1990 appropriations. Directs the Secretary to make $1,000,000 available to each center for each of at least five years for teaching, training, research, and staffing. Permits eligible persons to elect to receive benefits as provided for by this Act rather than under titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), or XX (Grants to States for Service) of the Social Security Act, or under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
National Observance Advisory Act - Establishes 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 · 3 January 1985
Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to require that any attorney who collects debts on behalf of a client be subject to the provisions of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Modifies the Bonneville lock and dam project, Oregon and Washington, to authorize the Secretary of the Army, through the Chief of Engineers, to construct a new lock as part of such project.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Title I: National Development Investment - National Development Investment Act - Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to cite such Act as the National Development Investment Act and to revise the emphasis of such Act from primary Federal initiative to coordination of investments between the public and the private sectors. Sets forth the findings of the Congress. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce, upon the application of an eligible State, economic development district, distressed local government (with a population under 50,000 and located outside an economic development district), Indian tribe, or nonprofit economic development organization, to make a grant for a portion of the cost of projects submitted in a development investment strategy. Sets forth activities eligible for such development investment assistance, including: (1) construction and repair of public facilities; (2) revolving loan funds to promote small business; (3) feasibility studies to enhance the investment climate; and (4) development activities which prevent economic dislocation and promote employee ownership organizations. Sets forth specific eligibility criteria for applicants for such assistance. Requires an application for a grant under this Act to include: (1) a certification that the area concerned meets certain distress requirements; (2) a certification of any responsibilities which the Secretary has agreed to perform; and (3) a development investment strategy prepared in accordance with this Act. Requires the Secretary to consider specified purposes of this Act in approving applications. Lists as criteria any one of which an area must meet in order to be eligible for a grant under this Act: (1) a per capita income of 80 percent or less of the national average; (2) an unemployment rate one percent above the national average for the most recent 24-month period for which statistics are available; or (3) a sudden economic dislocation resulting in job losses. Sets forth the information to be contained in a grant applicant's development investment strategy. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to establish a revolving loan fund for making or guaranteeing loans to small businesses for initial or working capital, or for the purchase of facilities or equipment. Limits to $1,000,000 the amount of any such grant. Limits the amount of any grant under this Act to a maximum of 50 percent of the cost of completing the project as determined at the time of the grant application. Permits the Secretary to reduce or waive the non-Federal share of a project in the case of an Indian tribe. Limits expenditures in any one State to a maximum of 15 percent of the appropriations made pursuant to this Act, except for expenditures to Indian tribes. Prohibits the Secretary from obligating more than $2,000,000 in any fiscal year to any person, other than grants for employee ownership organizations. Requires the Secretary, each fiscal year, to obligate minimum amounts of funds for such grants. Authorizes the Secretary to make economic development planning grants to States, economic development districts, Indian tribes, distressed counties, and distressed units of local governments with populations over 50,000 (if located outside an economic development district). Earmarks such grants for coordination of investment for community facilities, economic development, manpower training, and transportation services. Authorizes the Secretary to evaluate Federal, State, and local development investment efforts. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct any demonstration program to test the feasibility of new ways to increase productivity, foster innovative technology, match labor force with labor markets, or encourage economic diversity and regional balance. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to colleges, universities, and other nonprofit educational and research organizations. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study to determine financing needs for the construction and repair of public facilities. Requires the Secretary to submit to each House of the Congress a detailed statement, including findings and recommendations, concerning such financing needs. Limits the amount of any such grant to not more than 75 percent of the cost of economic development planning or of investment strategy preparation. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1988. Declares that the Secretary of Commerce shall administer this Act with the assistance of a specified Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Authorizes the Secretary to consult with other persons and agencies. Prohibits the approval of any grant unless the Secretary is satisfied that the project concerned will be properly and efficiently administered, operated, and maintained. Sets forth the powers of the Secretary under this Act. Permits the Secretary to discharge responsibilities relative to a project by accepting a certification of the grant applicant's performance of such responsibilities. Requires the Secretary to make comprehensive annual reports to the Congress detailing operations under this Act. Requires all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on projects assisted under this Act to be paid the prevailing rate of wage. Requires the Secretary to maintain records of approved applications available for public inspection. Requires each recipient of a grant to maintain certain specified records. Allows the Secretary and the Comptroller General access to all records of such recipients. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1988. Title II: Appalachian Regional Development - Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 to declare that investments under such Act shall also be made in severely distressed and underdeveloped counties lacking resources for basic services. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1990 for the administrative expenses of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Authorizes the Commission to lease office space through FY 1988. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1992 for the Appalachian development highway system. Increases from 70 to 80 percent the subsequent Federal share of an Appalachian development highway segment when a participating State proceeds to construct a segment of such a highway without the aid of Federal funds. Applies such increase to projects approved after March 31, 1979. Authorizes the Commission to make grants to States and public and nonprofit entities for projects which will: (1) assist in the creation or retention of permanent private sector jobs, the upgrading of the region's manpower, or the attraction of private investment; (2) provide special assistance to severely distressed and underdeveloped counties which lack financial resources for improving basic services; (3) assist in achieving the goal of making primary health care accessible in the region; or (4) otherwise serve the purposes of this Act. Prohibits the authorization of any financial assistance to enable plant subcontractors to undertake work previously performed in another area by other subcontractors or contractors. Prohibits grants with funds authorized after October 1, 1985, from exceeding 50 percent of the costs of any approved project. Permits such grants to increase the Federal contribution to any project to such percentage as the Commission determines within specified limitations. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1990. Extends the termination date of such Act from 1982 to October 1, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
American Conservation Corps Act of 1985 - Establishes an American Conservation Corps within the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture. Directs the Secretaries of both departments to establish and administer a conservation and rehabilitation program on Federal public and Indian lands. Directs the Secretary of the Interior alone to establish and administer such a program on non-Federal public lands. Directs the Secretaries to assist program agencies (any Federal, State, or Indian agency responsible for the management of public lands) in establishing and operating residential and nonresidential American Conservation Corps Centers. Describes the types of projects which will receive program preference. Limits program projects to those on public lands or Indian lands, except where projects on nonpublic lands provide documented public benefits. Sets forth requirements for establishing conservation centers and eligibility criteria for enrollees in the program. Requires that preference be given to economically, socially, physically, and educationally disadvantaged youth and youth residing in areas having substantial unemployment. Requires program agencies to provide services, facilities, supplies, and equipment for conservation centers as the Secretary deems necessary. States under what conditions and for what purposes an enrollee/volunteer shall be deemed a Federal or State employee. Permits the Tennessee Valley Authority to utilize such volunteers. Sets forth compensation and reimbursement provisions for volunteers and their upkeep. Directs the Secretaries to assist program agencies in securing certification or credit for skills acquired by volunteers during their participation and to conduct cost-benefit analysis and evaluations of the program. Permits the Secretaries to conduct pilot programs for alternative approaches. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to report to the Congress within the year on a study of Civilian Conservation Corps sites suitable for a commemoration of such Corps. Sets forth study opportunities and limitations for program volunteers, including a requirement that program agencies provide job guidance and placement assistance. Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to report at least annually to the President and the Congress. Directs the Secretary of Labor to make available appropriate labor market information. Sets forth employee appeal rights for workers displaced by American Conservation Corps volunteers. Sets forth funding limitations. Requires participating program agencies to certify that their programs will not displace workers. Sets forth procedures whereby State shares go to local governments when no State program agency exists. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 and 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Lifeline Telephone Service Act of 1985 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a fund from which payments shall be made to exchange common carriers which provide lifeline telephone service. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to determine uniform surcharges on charges for interstate telephone toll service to provide sufficient funds for such payments beginning January 1, 1986. Provides that the amount of such payments to a carrier shall equal 50 percent of the amount of revenue lost by the carrier as a result of providing such service. Directs each State communications commission to establish rules for the provision of lifeline service by carriers. Allows such a commission to restrict eligibility for such service based on low-income criteria accounting for the needs of the elderly, the unemployed, the disabled, and single heads of households.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985 - Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations - Authorizes supplemental appropriations for FY 1985 for famine relief in Africa for: (1) agricultural development programs; (2) international disaster assistance programs; (3) development program operating expenses; and (4) the Migration and Refugee Assistance account of the State Department. Title II: Appropriations - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY 1985 to: (1) the Department of Agriculture for Public Law 480; (2) the Agency for International Development for specified agriculture, rural development, and nutrition programs, for international disaster assistance, and for operating expenses; and (3) the Department of State for migration and refugee assistance. Declares that funds appropriated for Public Law 480, for agriculture, rural development, and nutrition programs (other than funds for rehabilitation and recovery projects), and for international disaster assistance shall be available only for those African countries which suffer from exceptional food supply problems in 1985 due to drought and other calamities. Permits the use of Public Law 480 funds to reimburse certain ongoing famine relief programs. Declares that funds for rehabilitation and recovery projects and for migration and refugee assistance shall be available only to those African countries which have suffered in the last two years from exceptional food supply problems due to drought and other calamities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Prohibits the expenditure of funds for the production of lethal binary chemical munitions after the enactment of this Act. Defines lethal binary chemical munitions. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should begin negotiations with the Soviet Union for a mutual, verifiable ban on chemical weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
States that the President should, at the earliest possible date: (1) request Senate advice and consent to ratification of the Threshold Test Ban and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaties; and (2) propose to the Soviet Union the resumption of negotiations toward conclusion of a verifiable comprehensive test ban treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1984
Requires that every obligation of the United States be issued in registered form. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the issuance in bearer form of securities which are interests in U.S. Government-backed securities. Imposes a three percent excise tax on the issuer of registration-required U.S. Government-backed securities which are not issued in registered form. Provides that the issue price of any U.S. Government-backed security shall be treated as the principal amount of the obligation. Imposes a 30 percent withholding tax on interest received by foreigners from U.S. Government-backed securities.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1984
Declares that the U.S. Customs Service should rescind for at least six months certain amendments to regulations relating to determinations of country of origin of imported textiles and apparel in order to allow further public comment and greater study regarding the potential effect of these amendments on the U.S. economy and on U.S. foreign relations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1984
Amends the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1985 to require that: (1) at least five percent of the funds earmarked for the Agency for International Development shall be available only for the delivery of primary health care services and basic health education, training for health care workers, and medical supplies and equipment for primary health care, with such assistance to be provided through private and voluntary organizations and international organizations wherever appropriate; (2) not more than one-third of the amount allocated for such services may be used in any one country; and (3) funds allocated to carry out these provisions shall remain available until September 30, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1984
States that the House of Representatives disapproves the appointment of Anne M. Burford as Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere, and urges the President to withdraw her appointment.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1984
Reaffirms that it is U.S. policy to oppose the practice of torture by foreign governments through the implementation of laws and through public and private diplomacy. Requests the President to: (1) instruct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to continue to raise the issue of torture by such governments; and (2) continue to involve the U.S. Government in the formulation of international standards, particularly the draft Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Requests the Secretary of State to issue specified formal instructions to each U.S. mission chief regarding U.S. policy with respect to such torture. States that the Secretary of Commerce should continue to enforce the current restrictions on the export of crime control equipment pursuant to the Export Administration Act of 1979. Directs the heads of U.S. departments that furnish military and law enforcement training to foreign personnel to include in such training instruction regarding international human rights standards with respect to torture.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) ensure that U.S. officials carry out his pledge to resolve the issue of the Americans still missing and unaccounted for in Indochina; (2) work for the immediate release of any Americans still held captive and the return of the remains of those who died in Southeast Asia; and (3) make every effort to secure the cooperation pledged by Laos and Vietnam in resolving this issue.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow construction workers to take an income tax deduction for travel expenses incurred while away from home in pursuit of a trade or business if: (1) the job site is at least 30 miles from the residence of the construction worker; and (2) the job site is a temporary job site or a remote job site.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1984
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe-Dexter-by-the-Sea Claim Settlement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified amount to the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe of Washington to settle tribal claims regarding a previous transfer by the United States of certain lands within the Shoalwater Bay Reservation known as Dexter- by-the-Sea. Extinguishes tribal claims of title to such lands upon receipt of payment. Ratifies the validity of a specific land transfer by the United States to George N. Brown, patentee. Conditions such payment upon: (1) tribal waiver of all rights and claims to certain lands within the Reservation; and (2) dismissal with prejudice by a certain Federal district court of a specified Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe complaint. Prohibits any per capita distribution of such payment to Shoalwater Bay tribal members. Authorizes the Tribe to use the funds for purposes authorized by tribal ordinance or resolution, including investment for economic development. Requires the Tribe to maintain a segregated accounting system for all principal and income from the funds and to conduct an annual audit. States that the funds held and administered by the Tribe shall be treated as if held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior. Absolves the Secretary from any trust responsibility after payment of the funds to the Tribe. Exempts the principal and income of the fund from Federal or State income taxes and from any consideration for eligibility under Federal assistance programs, including social security.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Federal Timber Contract Payment Modification Act - Authorizes requesting purchasers of Federal timber to buy out pre-1982 and specified reformed contracts held with the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior. Permits a buy-out of: (1) up to 55 percent of a contract's volume, with a maximum of 200,000,000 board feet, for purchasers holding more than 27,300,000 board feet of timber in qualifying contracts; or (2) up to 15,000,000 board feet or one contract (whichever is greater) for purchasers holding 27,000,000 or less board feet of timber in qualifying contracts. Bases purchaser cost on net worth and projected contract losses. States that amounts collected from buy-outs shall be available for timber management appropriation. Limits FY 1984 Forest Service region six timber sales to 4,300,000,000 board feet. States that beginning in FY 1985 and continuing until completion of specified 1983 contract extensions (but at least through FY 1991) such region's timber sales shall be adjusted to specified levels. Treats affiliated concerns as a single entity for purposes of calculating net worth and buy-out limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Superfund Expansion and Protection Act of 1984 - Title I: Provisions Relating Primarily to Response and Liability - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund) (CERCLA) (the Act) to revise the definition of "hazardous substance" to include petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) which: (1) is released from an underground storage tank (as defined in title IV of this title); or (2) may present a significant risk to human health. Transfers the definition of "pollutant or contaminant" from under provisions for response authorities under the Act to among the definitions for purposes of the entire Act. Provides that such term shall include petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) only in the case of a release from an underground storage tank as defined in title IV of this title. Adds references to "pollutants or contaminants" under specified provisions of the Act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (the Administrator) to promulgate regulations, within six months after enactment of this Act, establishing that one single quantity shall be the reportable quantity of any hazardous substance regardless of the medium into which the hazardous substance is released. Increases the amount of criminal fines and the duration of criminal sentences for specified violations under the Act. Adds civil penalties for specified violations under the Act. Revises response authorities provisions to transfer from the President to the Administrator the authority to determine whether a response action will be done properly by the responsible party. Authorizes the Administrator, as well as the President, to undertake response actions. Requires that any removal action undertaken by the Administrator, or by any responsible party, be consistent, to the extent practicable, with any long term remedial action with respect to the release or threatened release. Directs the Administrator, to the maximum extent possible, to assess the risk to human health associated with the release or threatened release. Revises response authorities provisions relating to agreements with States. Requires States to make specified agreements with the Administrator, rather than with the President. Eliminates the requirement that a State assure all future maintenance of the removal and remedial actions provided for the expected life of such actions. Requires the State to pay ten percent of the costs of remedial action and ten percent of all future operation and maintenance costs of any onsite remedial action. Requires a 50 percent or greater State share of response costs only in the case of facilities operated, as well as owned, by the State or local government at the time of hazardous waste disposal. Requires the State to also pay all future operation and maintenance costs of any onsite remedial action at such State or locally owned and operated facilities. Provides for credits to any State which has paid more than a ten percent share of remedial costs at a facility owned, but not operated, by such State or local government. Provides that reasonable administrative expenses may be credited against a State's ten percent share. Sets forth mandatory cleanup standards. Directs the Administrator, rather than the President, to select appropriate cost-effective remedial actions determined to be necessary. Requires that such actions be in accordance with: (1) the National Contingency Plan, to the extent practicable; and (2) a required protection level. Directs the Administrator, in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a remedial action, to consider permanent solutions and alternative treatment technologies to the maximum extent practicable. Requires that the remedial action provide for a level or standard of control necessary to protect human health and the environment. Requires that such level or standard be as stringent as the most stringent applicable standard under the Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act, or Clean Water Act (or water quality criteria under the Clean Water Act). Requires that any remedial action which provides for containment at the facility comply with standards applicable to facilities required to obtain hazardous waste management permits under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Authorizes the Administrator to waive the requirement of the most stringent applicable standard, or of the specified containment standard, and to select an alternative remedial action upon a finding that: (1) such alternative remedial action will provide substantially equivalent protection; or (2) compliance with such requirements at that facility will consume such a disproportionate share of the resources of the Hazardous Substances Trust Fund (the Fund) as to have the effect of deferring or preventing remedial action at other facilities which pose a significantly greater threat to human health and the environment. Prohibits permit requirements for any removal or remedial action undertaken pursuant to the Act at the location of the release or threatened release. Authorizes the Administrator to establish the exclusive administrative procedures for making any determination under provisions for required protection level. Revises provisions for information gathering and access authorities to refer to the Administrator, rather than the President. Applies specified information requirements to generators of hazardous wastes, even if such information is available at the facility where such waste is located. Provides for access to such facilities by duly designated Federal and State officers, whenever necessary to carry out any provision of the Act, at reasonable times and for a reasonable duration. Prohibits anyone from impeding or interfering with such entry. Directs the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to prepare toxicological profiles sufficient to establish the likely effect on human health of at least 100 hazardous substances which are most frequently found or which pose the most significant threat to human health at facilities listed on the National Priorities List prepared under the National Contingency Plan. Requires that the 100 profiles be completed 48 months after enactment of this Act (at 12-month intervals for four groups of 25 substances). Adds new provisions for public participation in remedial action planning. Sets forth mandatory remedial action schedules. Directs the Administrator (of EPA) to commence remedial investigations for all facilities which are listed, as of the enactment date of this Act, on the National Priorities List (NPL) in accordance with the following schedule: (1) one-third of such facilities within six months after such enactment date; (2) two-thirds within 12 months after such date; and (3) all within 18 months after such date. Directs the Administrator to list not fewer than 1,600 facilities on the NPL by January 1, 1988. Directs the Administrator to commence remedial actions and feasibility studies for each facility added to the NPL after the enactment date of this Act within six months after addition of such facility to the NPL. Directs the Administrator to ensure that substantial and continuous physical on-site remedial action commences at facilities on the NPL at a rate of not fewer than 150 facilities per year beginning on October 1, 1986. Directs the Administrator to complete by January 1, 1987, preliminary assessments of all sites listed, as of the enactment date of this Act, on the Emergency and Remedial Response Information System. Directs the Administrator to ensure that remedial action is completed, to the maximum extent feasible, for all facilities listed as of the date of enactment of this Act on the NPL within five years after such enactment date. Directs the Administrator to publish an explanation of why any such remedial action could not be completed within such period. Sets forth provisions for citizen petitions for health effects studies and for emergency relief. Allows any individual or group of individuals to submit a petition to the Administrator providing evidence which: (1) demonstrates that such individual or individuals are being exposed to any hazardous substance; and (2) provides an empirical analysis of the level of exposure. Directs the Administrator to initiate a health effects study upon determination that: (1) there is a reasonable likelihood that such substance is from a facility where such substance is or was treated, stored, recycled, or disposed of, on a regular basis, or where removal action is being or was taken under any provision of the Act; and (2) the exposure may present a significant risk to human health. Directs the Administrator (or the ATSDR Administrator if so designated by the Administrator), within 30 days after receipt of such petition, to: (1) initiate a health effects study; or (2) publish a written explanation of the determination which prevented initiation of the study. Requires that each such health effects study be completed within six months after the date the petition is filed and include specified information. Requires that steps be taken to eliminate any significant risk to human health which such study finds the exposure concerned presents. Provides that such steps may include provision of alternative drinking water supplies and relocation of individuals. Requires that the National Contingency Plan (NCP) be revised within 18 months after the enactment of this Act to reflect the amendments made by this Act. Requires that the portion of the NCP known as "the National Hazardous Substance Response Plan" be revised to provide procedures and standards for remedial actions consistent with protection level requirements under this title. Sets forth provisions for citizen petitions for site ranking. Directs the Administrator, within 12 months after receipt of a citizen petition, to complete a preliminary assessment of the hazards to public health and environment associated with any actual or threatened release of a hazardous substance or pollutant or contaminant. Directs the Administrator, if such assessment indicates a significant threat, to make a prompt evaluation in accordance with the hazard ranking system referred to under specified provisions of the Act to determine the national priority of such release or threatened release. Requires that plan criteria for determining priorities among releases or threatened releases throughout the United States for purposes of taking remedial action shall also take into account: (1) the release-associated damage to natural resources which may affect the human food chain; and (2) the release-associated contamination or potential contamination of the ambient air. Sets forth provisions for abatement actions. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, and after consultation with the Attorney General, to revise and republish specified guidelines for using imminent hazard, enforcement, and emergency response authorities to effectuate the responsibilities and powers created by this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to establish administrative procedures regarding the opportunity for a person to object to an abatement order under this title. Provides that no court shall have jurisdiction to review any such abatement order in any action other than an action to: (1) enforce such order; (2) recover a penalty for a violation; or (3) recover punitive damages. Revises liability provisions to provide for liability for Federal or State costs of removal or remedial action with respect to a release or threatened release (whether or not such action is consistent with the NCP). Adds liability for Federal or State costs of information gathering with respect to a release or threatened release. Adds liability for the costs of any action taken by the Administrator, under specified citizens petition and emergency relief provisions of this Act, to eliminate a significant risk to human health presented by exposure to a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant and the costs of any health effects study carried out under such provisions with respect to such exposure. Provides that liability under the Act (CERCLA) shall be strict, joint, and several as construed and applied under specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and under these CERCLA liability provisions. Provides that amounts recoverable shall include interest at a specified rate. Prohibits the Attorney General from representing any Federal agency (other than the EPA) in any civil action under title I (Hazardous Substances Releases, Liability, Compensation) of the Act (CERCLA). Authorizes the head of any such Federal agency to appoint agency attorneys or contract with non-Federal attorneys to represent the agency in any such action. Provides that, in any action under liability provisions of the Act, the results of laboratory tests conducted by the Administrator (or by a State) to determine what substances are present at the facility where a release or threatened release occurs may be introduced into evidence and shall be presumed to be accurate. Provides that such presumption shall be overcome if the defendant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that such test results lack a reasonable basis. Adds to authorized uses of the Fund the payment of any costs incurred under provisions of this Act: (1) relating to emergency relief and health effects studies; (2) by the ATSDR in preparing specified toxicological profiles; and (3) by the Administrator in evaluating facilities pursuant to petitions for preliminary assessments of hazards to public health. Eliminates a requirement that 85 percent of specified money credited to the Fund be available only for specified purposes. Limits to six percent of such money the amount available for payment of specified claims. Revises audit provisions to direct the Inspector General of the EPA, in each fiscal year, to: (1) conduct an annual audit of the Trust Fund; (2) report on the status of all remedial and enforcement actions taken during the prior fiscal year; and (3) estimate the amount of resources, including the number of work years or personnel, which would be necessary for the Administrator to complete the implementation of all duties vested in the Administrator under this title. Requires that such audit and such status report: (1) include specified information; and (2) be reported annually by the Inspector General to the Congress. Prohibits any potentially liable person from seeking judicial review of any determination to incur any governmental response costs pursuant to response authorities provisions or to utilize the Fund for payment of such costs except in an action to recover such costs under liability provisions. Revises statute of limitations provisions under the Act. Prohibits, with specified exceptions for minors or incompetent persons, presentation of any claim or commencement of any action for damages, as defined under the Act, beyond three years after the later of: (1) the date of the discovery of the loss; (2) the date on which regulations are promulgated under specified provisions for the assessment of damages for injury to, destruction of, or loss of natural resources resulting from a release of oil or hazardous substance for purposes of the Act and of specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; or (3) the date on which regulations are promulgated establishing procedures for the filing of such claims. Sets a statute of limitations of six years after the date of the completion of the response action for presentation of claims or commencement of actions for recovery of response costs in cases involving the responsible person's willful misconduct or willful negligence, violation of safety, construction, or operating standards or regulations, or failures or refusals to provide reasonable cooperation and assistance requested by public officials. Extends the deadline for promulgation of regulations for the assessment of damages for injury to, destruction of, or loss of natural resources resulting from a release of oil or a hazardous substance for purposes of the Act and of specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the relationship of this Act to other law. Authorizes States to require any person to contribute to any fund to pay compensation for claims for any response costs or damages or claims which may be compensated under the Act. Title II: Federal Cause of Action - Subtitle A: Federal Cause of Action - Establishes a Federal cause of action for damages to an individual which result from harm caused by a release of a hazardous substance from specified facilities. Allows the individual or the individual's dependents to sue for compensable damages under this title. Makes liable for such damages: (1) the owner or operator of a vessel (otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the United States) or a facility; (2) any person who at the time of disposal of any hazardous substance owned or operated any facility at which such hazardous substance was disposed of; (3) any person who by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment, of hazardous substances owned or possessed by such person, by any other party or entity, at any facility owned or operated by another party or entity and containing such hazardous substances; and (4) any person who accepts or accepted any hazardous substances for transport to disposal or treatment facilities or sites selected by such person. Makes such liability strict. Makes such liability joint and several, with specified exceptions. Sets forth defenses to such strict liability. Makes the following damages compensable under this title: (1) any medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, or burial expenses due to personal injury, illness, or death; (2) any loss of income or profits or any impairment or loss of earning capacity due to personal injury, illness, or death; (3) any pain or suffering which results from personal illness, injury, or death; and (4) any economic loss and any damages to property, including diminution in value. Provides for jurisdiction over such Federal cause of action in U.S. district courts. Provides that such Federal jurisdiction shall not affect the jurisdiction of any State court with respect to any action. Authorizes the court to award litigation costs where appropriate. Provides that nothing in this title shall be construed to preempt, or otherwise affect, any provision of State law regarding liability for damages in connection with any hazardous substance. Subtitle B: General Provisions - Sets forth a three-year statute of limitations, with specified exceptions for minors or incompetent persons, for actions under this title beginning on the later of: (1) the date the individual knew (or reasonably should have known) that the injury, illness, or death or other expense was caused by the hazardous substance concerned; or (2) the date of enactment of this title. Prohibits any person who is an employee covered by a State or Federal worker's compensation plan which compensates employees for an injury, illness, or death arising out of and in the course of employment (or pursuant to similar tests of work-relatedness) from recovering any amount under this title for such injury, illness, or death. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Eliminates provisions under the Act (CERCLA) relating to a legislative veto. Authorizes citizen lawsuits under the Act (CERCLA). Sets forth provisions relating to such citizen lawsuits. Title IV: Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks - Establishes a program for identification and regulation of underground storage tanks containing hazardous substances (including petroleum products), and for cleanup of leaks from such tanks. Defines "hazardous substance" for purposes of this title as: (1) any substance designated pursuant to specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (2) any element, compound, mixture, solution, or substance designated pursuant to the CERCLA definition of "pollutant or contaminant," as added by this Act; (3) any hazardous waste having the characteristics identified under or listed pursuant to hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (but not including any waste the regulation of which under such Act has been suspended by Act of Congress); (4) any toxic pollutant listed under specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (5) any hazardous air pollutant listed under specified provisions of the Clean Air Act; (6) any imminently hazardous chemical substance or mixture with respect to which the Administrator has taken action pursuant to specified provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act; and (7) any petroleum product or fraction thereof. Excludes from such term natural gas, natural gas liquids, propane, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). Defines "underground storage tank" to include underground pipes connected to such a tank, and lists the following exclusions from this term: (1) farm or residential underground storage tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes; (2) underground storage tanks used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored; (3) residential septic tanks; (4) pipelines regulated under the Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 1968; or (5) surface impoundments, pits, ponds, lagoons, or basins. Sets forth notification requirements applicable to any person who, during the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which this title was enacted, has supplied any hazardous substance to 100 or more sites where there is an underground storage tank which is or has been used for the storage of any hazardous substance. Requires such persons to notify a designated State or local agency of the existence of any such tank located at such a site. Directs the Administrator, within eight months after the enactment date of this Act, to promulgate regulations (taking into account the effect on small business) regarding the providing of notice to obtain information concerning any such tanks which are not located at such sites. Requires that the notice required of such persons supplying hazardous substances to 100 or more sites where such tanks are located be provided within 12 months after the enactment of this title. Requires that the notice required with respect to all other sites where such tanks are located be provided within 12 months after the promulgation of such regulations. Requires that specified information be contained in those notices required of the suppliers to 100 or more sites and in those notices required of owners or operators which install or bring into use an underground storage tank after the enactment of this Act. Sets forth other information requirements for notices required of the suppliers to 100 or more sites, and for notices required pursuant to regulations for tanks at other sites, in the case of any such tank used for such storage prior to the enactment of this Act but taken out of operation before such enactment date (but after January 1, 1974). Provides that notice shall not be required under this title in the case of any tank for which notice was given pursuant to specified provisions of CERCLA. Requires any owner or operator which installs or brings into use an underground storage tank after the enactment of this Act to notify the designated State or local agency within a specified period. Directs the Governor of each State, within 90 days of such enactment date, to designate the appropriate State or local agencies to receive such notifications. Directs the Administrator, within 180 days of such enactment date and in consultation with designated State and local officials, to prescribe in greater detail the form and content of such notifications. Provides that, if a Governor chooses not to designate a State or local agency for such purpose, such notifications shall be submitted to the Administrator. Requires the State, if such notifications are submitted to a designated State or local agency, to compile the submitted information into a comprehensive inventory and furnish such inventory to the Administrator within 18 months of such enactment date. Sets forth provisions for release detection, prevention, and correction regulations applicable to all owners and operators of underground storage tanks used for storing hazardous substances. Directs the Administrator to promulgate such regulations after opportunity for public comment and within 18 months after enactment of this title. Requires that such regulations include requirements respecting specified areas, including: (1) leak detection or inventory systems and tank testing; (2) records of such testing, inventory, or detection; (3) reporting releases and corrective actions; (4) standards of performance for new underground tanks, including specified requirements; (5) corrective actions; (6) closure to prevent future release; and (7) evidence of financial responsibility for taking corrective action and for bodily injury and property damage to third parties. Prohibits, until the effective date of such regulations and after 180 days from the enactment of this Act, any person from installing or beginning to use an underground storage tank to store hazardous substances unless such tank is cathodically protected against corrosion, constructed of a noncorrosive material, or contained in a manner designed to prevent the release into the environment of any stored hazardous substances. Sets forth provisions for the Administrator's review and approval of State programs for underground storage tank release detection, prevention, and correction. Requires the State to demonstrate that the State program is equivalent to the Federal program under this title and that it provides for adequate enforcement of compliance with program requirements. Requires that a State's new tank standards be no less stringent than the performance standards promulgated by the Administrator pursuant to this title. Provides for notice and opportunity for public comment before determinations concerning approval of State programs are made. Gives States with approved programs primary enforcement responsibility for requirements related to control of underground storage tanks used to store hazardous substances. Provides for withdrawal of approval upon the Administrator's determination, after public hearing, that a State is not administering and enforcing the program in accordance with specified requirements. Sets forth provisions relating to inspections, monitoring, and testing. Sets forth provisions for confidentiality of information, and criminal penalties for violations of such confidentiality. Requires that all information reported to, or otherwise obtained by, the EPA under this title be made available, upon written request, to any duly authorized committee of the Congress. Sets forth provisions for Federal enforcement of requirements under this title. Sets forth civil penalties for specified violations. Makes requirements under this title applicable to Federal facilities. Authorizes the President to grant exemptions from such requirements upon determination that it is in the paramount interest of the United States to do so. Requires the President to report annually to Congress on such exemptions and the reasons for granting them. Provides that nothing in this Act shall preclude or deny any State or local authority to regulate more stringently underground storage tanks used to store hazardous substances. Directs the Administrator, within 36 months after the enactment of this title, to study the following underground storage tanks exempted under the definition of "underground storage tanks": (1) farm or residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes; and (2) tanks used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored. Requires that such study include estimates of the number and location of such tanks and an analysis of the extent to which there may be releases or threatened releases from such tanks into the environment. Directs the Administrator to report to the President and the Congress on the results of the study, with recommendations as to whether or not such tanks should be subject to regulation under this title. Title V: Amendments of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the environmental tax on petroleum from 0.79 cent to 4.5 cents a barrel, effective October 1, 1985. Extends the period before such tax is terminated until September 30, 1990. Repeals specified CERCLA sunset provisions relating to expiration of the authority conferred by CERCLA to collect environmental taxes. Repeals specified provisions of the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 relating to the Post-Closure Tax and Trust Fund, and the amendments made by such provisions. Repeals specified CERCLA provisions relating to the Post-Closure Liability Fund. Requires that all sums credited to the Post-Closure Liability Trust Fund established under the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 which have not been obligated prior to the date of enactment of this title shall be refunded to the persons who paid taxes under specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Requires that such funds be made on a ratable basis in proportion to the total amount of such taxes which were paid by each such person. Adds provisions for a waste end tax, effective January 1, 1987, to Internal Revenue Code provisions for environmental taxes. Imposes such waste end tax on the disposal of any hazardous substance, if such disposal is required to be carried out in compliance with hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Sets the amount of such waste end tax in the case of: (1) any hazardous substance for which there is in effect under specified CERCLA regulations a reportable quantity of one pound or less, at $15 for each metric ton disposed of by underground injection and $30 for each metric ton not disposed of by such method; (2) all hazardous substances for which there is in effect under specified CERCLA regulations a reportable quantity of more than one pound, at $5 for each metric ton disposed of by underground injection and $10 for each metric ton not disposed of by such method. Provides that, in the cases of mixtures of hazardous substances with reportable quantities of one pound or less and those with reportable quantities more than one pound, the entire mixture shall be deemed to have a reportable quantity of one pound or less. Requires the owner or operator of the facility to pay such waste end tax with respect to the disposal of any hazardous substance at a facility for which a permit is in effect under the hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Requires the person disposing of the hazardous substance to pay such waste end tax with respect to any other disposal of any hazardous substance. Provides that such waste end tax shall not apply after September 30, 1990. Sets forth exemptions from such waste end tax. Provides that such tax shall not apply to the disposal of: (1) any substance by incineration in accordance with the standards applicable to incineration facilities under hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; (2) any substance by any person in the course of carrying out any removal and remedial action under CERCLA; or (3) any solid waste which is required to be studied under specified provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act unless, after the completion of the studies, a law is enacted subjecting such waste to the waste end tax. Sets forth definitions and special rules relating to such waste end tax, including rules treating waste as disposed of not later than one year after generation and as generated not earlier than the date such waste is identified as hazardous, and a rule imposing a fraction of the tax for a fraction of a metric ton of waste. Amends the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 to provide that revenues from such waste end tax shall be deposited in the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund. Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the environmental tax on certain chemicals (and metals). Increases the rate of such tax on most chemicals on the list (but decreases such tax rate for methane). Adds other chemicals (and metals) to such tax list. Eliminates the listings of zinc chloride and zinc sulfate, but adds zinc to the list for purposes of such tax. Revises the exemption for substances derived from coal from such tax on chemicals to provide that the following substances shall not be exempt from such tax: benzene, tolvene, xylene, naphthalene, tars, and light oils. Expands the exemption for substances used in the production of fertilizer from such tax on chemicals to include as qualified substances specified substances which are sold for resale by any purchaser for use or for resale for ultimate use in a qualified use. Makes such amendments relating to the tax on certain chemicals effective on October 1, 1985. Amends the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 to revise provisions relating to the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund (the Fund). Authorizes appropriations to the Fund for FY 1986 through 1990. Expands the scope of authorized expenditures from the Trust Fund by authorizing expenditures for other costs described under specified CERCLA provisions. Increases from 85 percent to 94 percent the Fund amounts reserved for expenditures for specified purposes. Revises provisions relating to the Fund's authority to borrow repayable advances. Extends through March 31, 1988, the period during which advances may be made for payment of response costs. Extends through September 30, 1990: (1) the period during which other advances may be made to the Fund; and (2) the deadline for final repayment of all advances to the Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1984
Requires the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service to establish the Columbia-Snake Customs District which includes Portland, Oregon, the State of Oregon, and specified counties of the States of Idaho and Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1984
Declares that the action by the Secretary of State in attempting to withdraw for two years the U.S. acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice with respect to disputes with any Central American state or arising out of or relating to events in Central America is null and void.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1984
Arms Race Moratorium Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should immediately communicate to the Soviet Union the willingness of the United States to enter into a mutual United States - Soviet Union moratorium on the flight testing and deployment of new ballistic missiles and anti-satellite weapons and the testing of nuclear warheads. Prohibits spending or obligating any U.S. funds for the flight testing or deployment of new ballistic missiles, the flight testing against objects in space or the deployment of anti-satellite weapons, or the testing of nuclear warheads if, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the President has not made such a communication with the Soviet Union and, within such period, the Soviet Union communicates to the President that at the end of the 90 days the Soviet Union will observe a mutual United States - Soviet Union moratorium on such testing and deployment. Authorizes U.S. funding for such testing and deployment if, after the beginning of the moratorium, the President certifies to Congress that the Soviet Union has conducted a test or deployed a missile or anti-satellite weapon or tested a nuclear warhead inconsistent with the moratorium. Requires the President, as part of such certification, to submit to Congress an unclassified report summarizing the basis for the certification and a classified report describing in detail the basis for the certification. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress: (1) on the progress in negotiating nuclear arms control agreements with the Soviet Union; (2) on whether the President believes that continuation of the moratorium is in the best national security interests of the United States. Authorizes Congress, if the President states that continuation of the moratorium is not in the best national security interests of the United States, to enact a joint resolution which terminates the moratorium and permits funds, to be used for testing and deployment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Civil Rights Act of 1984 - Amends the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination by any recipient of Federal financial assistance. (Currently, discrimination is prohibited only in a program or activity receiving Federal assistance.) Defines the term "recipient" to extend comprehensive coverage for purposes of the four Acts to any State or local governmental unit, any public or private agency or entity, and any subunit, successor, assignee, or transfereee of any such unit, agency, or entity.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Older Americans Act Amendments of 1984 - Title I: Amendments Regarding Objectives and Definitions - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to declare as an objective of such Act that our older people should have available a comprehensive array of community-based, long-term care services adequate to appropriately sustain them in their communities and in their homes. Title II: Amendments Regarding the Administration on Aging - Replaces provisions establishing the Administration on Aging in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services with provisions establishing, under the general authority of the Secretary, an Office on Aging (the Office). Provides that the Office shall assume the duties and functions of the Administration on Aging. Provides that the Office shall, as was the Administration on Aging, be headed by the Commissioner on Aging. Requires the Office, in addition to the duties and functions of the Administration that it has assumed, to consult with national organizations representing minority individuals to develop and disseminate training packages and to provide technical assistance efforts designed to assist State and area agencies in providing services to older individuals with the greatest economic or social needs. Authorizes funds to be appropriated for FY 1985 through 1987 for the Federal Council on Aging. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations for the administration of the Older Americans Act of 1965. Prohibits the Secretary from making grants or contracts under such Act for training, research, and discretionary projects and programs until the Secretary develops and publishes general standards to be used in evaluating such projects and programs. Title III: Grants for Programs on Aging - Defines: (1) an "older individual" as any individual who is 60 or older; and (2) "multipurpose senior centers" as community facilities for the organization and provision of a broad spectrum of services, including health, social, nutritional, and educational services and facilities for recreational activities for older individuals. Authorizes funds to be appropriated for FY 1985 through 1987 for social service grants and nutrition project grants under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Requires each area agency on aging to: (1) specify annually in its area plan the amount of funds spent for each category of services in the preceding year; (2) conduct efforts to coordinate community- based, long-term care services designed to keep individuals in their homes, thereby deferring unnecessary institutionalization; (3) provide assurances that it will give particular attention in providing services to low-income minority older individuals; and (4) include minority individuals on the advisory councils which the agencies are required to establish. Requires a State's plan under such Act, in planning and operating its long-term care ombudsman program, to consider the views of area agencies on aging, older individuals, and provider agencies. Authorizes funds to be appropriated for FY 1985 through 1987 for the surplus commodity program under such Act. Provides for grants for counseling regarding appropriate health and life insurance coverage. Title IV: Training, Research, and Discretionary Programs Related to Aging - Revises provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965 relating to training, research, and discretionary programs. Directs the Commissioner to make grants and enter into contracts for training, research, and discretionary programs related to aging in order to: (1) provide comprehensive and coordinated nondegree education, training programs, and curricula at institutions of higher education and at other educational organizations for practitioners in the fields of nutrition, health care, supportive services, housing, and long-term care; (2) provide inservice training opportunities to the personnel of State offices, area agencies, senior centers, and nutrition sites to strengthen their capacity to remain responsive to the needs of older individuals; and (3) provide courses on aging and dissemination of information about aging. Directs the Office on Aging to conduct both: (1) long-term educational activities to prepare personnel for careers in the field of aging; and (2) short-term inservice training and continuing education activities for State and area agency personnel, and other personnel, in the field of aging. Requires multidiscriplinary centers of gerontology to: (1) conduct research and policy analysis and function as a technical resource for the Commissioners, policy makers, service providers, and Congress; (2) recruit and train personnel; (3) conduct research toward the development of information related to aging; (4) stimulate the incorporation of information on aging into the teaching of biological, behavioral, and social sciences at colleges and universities; (5) develop training programs in the field of aging; (6) serve as a repository of information and knowledge on aging; (7) provide consultation to organizations servicing older individuals under provisions of this Act; and (8) provide data to the Commissioner on projects and activities for which training, research, and discretionary program funds are provided. Sets forth the purposes of research and development projects under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Directs the Commissioner to select for research assistance research activities which will, within three years of enactment of this Act: (1) contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a demographic data base which contains information on the population of older individuals; (2) identify the future needs of older individuals; (3) identify the kinds and comprehensiveness of programs required to satisfy such needs; and (4) identify the kinds and number of personnel required to carry out such programs. Authorizes making grants and contracts for projects designed to identify older individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases and provide family respite services and other community-based care services to such individuals. Revises provisions relating to special demonstration projects on legal services for older individuals. Directs the Commissioner to make grants and enter into contracts to: (1) provide nationwide legal services support activities to State and area agencies on aging for providing, developing, or supporting legal services for older individuals; and (2) support demonstration projects to expand or improve the delivery of legal services to older individuals with social or economic needs. Authorizes funds to be appropriated for FY 1985 through 1987 for training, research, and discretionary programs under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Directs the Commissioner to: (1) be responsible for the administration, implementation, and making of grants and contracts for such programs; and (2) annually provide a report on the expenditure of funds for such programs. Title V: Community Service Employment - Amends the Older Americans Community Service Employment Act to authorize funds to be appropriated for FY 1985 through 1987. Increases the number of part-time employment positions provided under such Act. Title VI: Grants for Indian Tribes - Decreases to 60 the number of individuals in a tribe who must have attained age 60 in order for a tribe to be eligible for a grant under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Authorizes funds to be appropriated for FY 1985 through 1987 under the Older Americans Act of 1965 for grants to Indian tribes. Title VII: Amendments to Other Laws; Effective DAtes - Sets forth conforming amendments and effective dates.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that no funds appropriated by the Congress shall be obligated or expended for the mining of Nicaraguan waters or ports.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1984
Telecommunications Employees' Protection Act of 1984 - Extends the agreement providing for the reciprocal recognition of employees' service credit by entities subject to the modified judgment of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in the case of the United States v. Western Electric, et alia, to cover certain employees who change employment between such entities on or after January 1, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Equal Access Act - Prohibits federally-funded public secondary schools which allow non-school-sponsored groups of students to meet from discriminating against any meeting of students on the basis of religious content if: (1) the meeting is voluntary and student initiated; (2) there is no government sponsorship; and (3) no unlawful activity is permitted.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1984
County Revenue Enhancement Act of 1984 - Amends specified Federal laws to provide that the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay an additional 25 percent of revenues received from each national forest to the State in which it is located. Authorizes the appropriate State legislature to expend such funds for any public purpose, including the public schools and roads of the counties in which such national forest is located. Repeals a requirement of Federal law that ten percent of all moneys received from the national forests shall be made available for road and trail maintenance within the national forests in States in which such proceeds were derived. Amends Federal law to replace the use of the calendar year with the use of a fiscal year. Increases from 25 percent to 50 percent the payments which the Secretary of Agriculture must make to counties out of net revenues received from the use of the land.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1984
Urges the President to seek an agreement with the Soviet Union to: (1) declare a verifiable and limited moratorium on the testing in space of antisatellite weapons; and (2) resume negotiations on a verifiable ban on the testing, production, deployment, and use of any antisatellite weapon. Declares that such agreements should not restrict non-weapons operations in space, such as the U.S. space shuttle program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1984
Urges the President to seek an agreement with the Soviet Union to: (1) declare a verifiable and limited moratorium on the testing in space of antisatellite weapons; (2) resume negotiations on a verifiable ban on the testing, production, deployment, and use of any antisatellite weapon; and (3) seek a verifiable treaty prohibiting any space-directed or space-based weapons system which is designed to cause damage on earth, in the atmosphere, or on objects placed in space. Declares that such agreements should not restrict non-weapons operations in space, such as the U.S. space shuttle program.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1984
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to treat plywoods with tongued, grooved, lapped, or otherwise worked edges as plywood for duty treatment purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Public Employee Pension Plan Reporting and Accountability Act of 1984 - Imposes disclosure and reporting requirements upon State and local government pension plans. Establishes fiduciary standards for trustees of public employee pension benefit plans. Provides remedies and access to Federal courts. Specifies employee benefit plans which are exempt from this Act. Title I: Reporting and Disclosure - Requires the administrator of each public employee pension benefit plan to submit a registration statement to the appropriate State Governor within one year of enactment of this Act. Exempts a plan from the reporting and disclosure requirements of this Act if a State Governor certifies to the Secretary of Labor that: (1) State requirements are substantially equivalent to those of this Act; (2) the State can adequately administer its requirements; and (3) the State can adequately collect the requisite reports. Requires the Secretary of Labor to terminate any certification if a State is not meeting Federal requirements. Requires the plan administrator to: (1) publish a summary plan description; and (2) furnish such description to plan participants, beneficiaries, and specified persons. Delineates the contents of such summary plan description. Requires such description to: (1) state the rights of participants and beneficiaries; and (2) include an update whenever material modifications are made to the plan. Requires the plan administrator to publish an annual report. Specifies the contents of such report. Directs such administrator to engage an independent qualified public accountant to ascertain whether the financial statements and schedules in the annual report present fairly and in all material respects the information contained in the annual report. Requires the accountant's opinion to be included in the annual report. Requires the annual report to include a financial statement containing specified information, including the most recent annual statement of assets and liabilities of a common or a collective trust held by a bank or similar institution. Requires each plan to maintain a schedule of: (1) all assets held for investment purposes during each plan year; and (2) each transaction involving a party in interest. Requires annual reports to include, with respect to a defined benefit plan, a complete actuarial statement applicable to the appropriate plan year. Directs the plan administrator to engage an enrolled actuary to prepare such statement. Delineates the contents of the actuarial statement. Requires the annual report to include a statement from an insurance organization if any plan benefits are purchased from or guaranteed by such organization. Details the contents of such statement. Requires the enrolled actuary of the plan to make an actuarial valuation at least once every three plan years. Directs the plan administrator to furnish, upon written request of certain persons, a copy of summary plan descriptions and the status of an individual's plan benefits and contributions. Provides guidelines under which the plan administrator is directed to file the annual report with either the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) or the appropriate State Governor. Authorizes the Secretary or Governor to reject the information filed by the plan administrator, and to take the following actions: (1) retain an independent public accountant to perform an audit; (2) retain an enrolled actuary to prepare an actuarial report; or (3) bring a civil action to enforce this Act. Presents guidelines for notice and review where claims for benefits are denied. Title II: Requirements Relating to Fiduciary Functions - Requires every plan to be established and maintained by written instructions which designate at least one named fiduciary. Details the functions of named fiduciaries and trustees. Establishes fiduciary and trustee liability. Prohibits certain transactions. Authorizes the Secretary to grant specified exemptions regarding such transactions. Imposes personal liability upon fiduciaries who fail to meet the fiduciary requirements, including removal for specified violations. Prohibits persons who have been convicted of, or imprisoned for, certain offenses from holding specified positions. Requires plan fiduciaries to be bonded. Specifies exceptions. Sets forth guidelines for the bonding procedure. Sets a limitation on actions which may be brought regarding failure to meet fiduciary requirements. Title III: Administration and Enforcement - Authorizes civil actions to redress violations of this Act. Imposes personal liability upon: (1) a plan administrator who fails to comply with a request for information; or (2) any person who fails to file required forms. Authorizes a plan to sue or be sued. Grants the United States district courts exclusive jurisdiction of civil actions brought under this Act. Grants concurrent jurisdiction to State courts and Federal district courts for specified actions. Authorizes the Federal district court to award reasonable attorney's fees under certain circumstances. Provides that suits brought against the Secretary may be brought in Federal district court. Authorizes the Secretary or appropriate State official to assess and collect a civil penalty against a party in interest who has engaged in a prohibited transaction. Grants such Secretary and State official investigative powers to determine violations of this Act. Details the extent of such powers. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations to administer this Act. Directs such Secretary to cooperate with State and local governments regarding the exchange of data and information. Prohibits interference with the exercise of rights by a plan participant or beneficiary. Establishes an Advisory Council on Governmental Plans, comprised of eleven members appointed by the President. Requires Council members to be qualified to appraise the plans falling under this Act. Requires the Council to: (1) report to the President and each House of Congress regarding implementation of this Act with possible recommendations for legislation; (2) advise the Secretary and make recommendations; and (3) monitor the costs incurred by plans under this Act and recommend cost reduction measures. Directs the Secretary to furnish staff services to the Council. States that this Act supersedes any State laws regarding public employee pension benefits plans. Specifies exceptions. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1984
International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1984 - Title I: Military Sales and Related Programs - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 to carry out foreign military credit sales. Sets the ceiling on total foreign military credit sales for FY 1985. Earmarks a specified amount of such sales for Israel. Releases Israel from its obligation to repay such credits. Earmarks specified portions of the credits earmarked for Israel for: (1) research and development in the United States for the Lavi program; and (2) procurement in Israel of defense articles and services for the Lavi program. Earmarks a specified amount of the foreign military credit sales for Egypt. Releases Egypt from its obligation to repay such credits. Sets the ceiling on the principal amount of foreign military loan guarantees for FY 1985. Requires, for FY 1985, the principal amount of such loan guarantees with respect to Greece, South Korea, Portugal, Somalia, Spain (so long as Spain is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), Sudan and Turkey to be repaid within 20 years following a ten year grace period. Prohibits foreign military sales financing for the Philippines or Zaire for FY 1985. Limits the amount of military sales credits and loan guarantees under the Arms Export Control Act for Tunisia for FY 1985. Requires the principal amount of foreign military loan guarantees for FY 1984 with respect to South Korea to be repaid within 20 years following a ten year grace period. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 for: (1) military assistance; (2) international military education and training; and (3) peacekeeping operations. Limits such military assistance for FY 1985 for Zaire. Amends the Arms Export Conrol Act to authorize the President to finance the procurement of arms by friendly foreign countries and international organizations on such terms and conditions as the President may determine. Directs the President to set the interest rate and to require repayment in U.S. dollars within 12 years after the loan agreement is signed unless a longer period is specifically authorized by statute for that country or international organization. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 to maintain adequate reserves in the Guaranty Reserve Fund. Requires charges for administrative services for foreign military sales to be calculated on an average percentage basis to recover the full estimated costs (excluding a pro rata share of fixed base operation costs). Authorizes the President to provide on a reciprocal basis free cataloging data and cataloging services to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or to any member government of the Organization. Changes the reporting date for the annual report on international volume of arms traffic from February 1 to April 1. Provides for security assistance surveys in foreign countries. (Current law provides for defense requirement surveys which are included in the definition of security assistance surveys.) Requires the President to submit copies of such surveys to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Increases the details which must be included in the quarterly reports on U.S. military advisors abroad. Increases the criminal penalties for certain violations of the Arms Export Control Act. Imposes a ceiling on the amount of civil penalty for an export control violation. Includes charges for official reception and representation expenses within charges for administrative services for foreign military sales financing. Limits the amount that may be used each fiscal year for official reception and representation expenses. Prohibits using the Special Defense Acquisition Fund for research and development. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to waive the requirement that the net proceeds from the sale by a foreign country of military assistance program items must be paid to the United States. Imposes ceilings on the value of additions to arms stockpiles in foreign countries for FY 1984 and 1985. Adds Pakistan, Tunisia, Yemen, Lebanon, and Venezuela to the list of countries that are authorized to have more than six members of the U.S. armed forces in their countries to carry out international security assistance programs. Authorizes the President to authorize foreign military personnel to attend professional military education institutions in the United States for free if the governments of such foreign military personnel and the United States have an agreement that provides reciprocal benefits for U.S. military personnel. Encourages the President to allocate a portion of the international military education and training funds for education and training in certain maritime skills. Permits using foreign assistance funds to assist in maritime law enforcement in foreign countries. Prohibits the President's special waiver authority under the Foreign Assistance Act from being used in any fiscal year to authorize: (1) more than a specified amount in sales under the Arms Export Control Act; (2) the use of more than a specified amount of funds made available for use under such Act or the Arms Export Control Act; and (3) the use of more than a specified amount of foreign currencies. Allots the funds from among such categories if the President's special waiver authority is used to authorize an arms sale and to authorize the financing of that sale. Limits the amount of the funds made available for use under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Act that may be allotted to any one country in any fiscal year unless that country is a victim of communist aggression. Limits the amount of the total funds other than the foreign currencies that may be allocated to any one country in any fiscal year. Declares that it is U.S. policy to support a negotiated political solution to the conflict in the Western Sahara. Prohibits members of the U.S. armed forces from performing defense services under the Foreign Assistance Act or the Arms Export Control Act or conducting military education and training activities under the Foreign Assistance Act in the Western Sahara so long as the military conflict continues. Declares that the foreign military sales financing authorized by this Act for Jordan is provided in the hope that Jordan will enter into direct negotiations with Israel to resolve the state of war between Israel and Jordan. Prohibits using foreign military sales financing authorized by this Act to finance procurement by Jordan of certain advanced military equipment and prohibits making a specified certification under the Arms Export Control Act with respect to a proposed sale of advanced aircraft and military weapon systems, unless the President has certified to Congress that Jordan is publicly committed to the recognition of Israel and to prompt entry into direct peace negotiations with Israel. Directs the President to submit a report to Congress which analyzes conventional arms exports and possible approaches to developing multilateral limitations on conventional arms sales. Imposes a ceiling for FY 1985 on military assistance and arms sales credits and loan guarantees to Turkey. Reaffirms U.S. policy toward the eastern Mediterranean, particularly toward a settlement in Cyprus. Reaffirms that the United States shall take full account of the observance by all parties directly involved in the Cyprus dispute of their applicable obligations under international law and treaties and that such observance shall be a factor in determining military assistance for Greece and Turkey. Authorizes military assistance for FY 1985 for Turkey or Greece only if the President certifies to Congress that: (1) such assistance for Turkey or Greece is necessary to enable that country to fulfill its NATO obligations and will not upset the current regional balance of military strength; (2) Turkey or Greece is taking steps to achieve a settlement of the Cyprus conflict and is publicly committed to the prompt withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus as part of a settlement; and (3) Turkey is continuing to return to democratic rule and to improve its observance of human rights. Title II: Economic Support Fund - Authorizes appropriations for the Economic Support Fund for FY 1985. Earmarks a specified amount for emergency assistance. Deletes the current provisions relating to: (1) Middle East programs; (2) Eastern Mediterranean programs; (3) the prohibition of funds for nuclear facilities; (4) the special requirements fund; (5) Tunisia programs; (6) Costa Rica programs; (7) Nicaragua programs; and (8) Poland programs. Earmarks specified amounts of the FY 1985 Economic Support Fund authorization for: (1) Israel on a grant basis; (2) Egypt; and (3) Lebanon. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should finance and, where appropriate, participate in cooperative scientific and technological projects in the Middle East. Earmarks a specified amount of the FY 1985 Economic Support Fund authorization for the Philippines. Requires that funds provided to countries in Africa under balance-of- payments support agreements shall be used to meet long term development needs in those countries according to specified criteria. Requires annual evaluations of the extent to which such agreements meet those criteria. Earmarks specified amounts of the FY 1985 Economic Support Fund authorization for Southern Africa and for certain regional programs in Southern Africa. Prohibits using funds from the Economic Support Fund for education or training programs controlled by the Government of South Africa. Permits such funds to be used for programs which clearly reflect in both their character and organizational sponsorship the objective of a majority of South Africans for an end to apartheid. Earmarks specified amounts of the FY1985 Economic Support Fund authorization for: (1) Zaire; (2) Tunisia; (3) Cyprus; (4) Turkey; and (5) bilateral cooperative activities with Greece and with Turkey. Earmarks a specified amount of the Cyprus funds for confidence-building measures between the two Cypriot communities. Title III: Development Assistance - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for agricultural development programs. Earmarks a specified amount of such funds for disaster relief assistance in Africa. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for population planning and health programs. Earmarks specified percentages of the population planning funds for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and for the Office of Population in the Agency for International Development. Directs the President to promote activities designed to deal directly with the special health needs of children and mothers. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such activities (the Child Survival Fund). Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for: (1) education and human resources development; (2) development of indigenous energy resources; (3) the private sector revolving fund; (4) the Sahel development program; and (5) private and voluntary organizations. Requires the President to report to Congress within 90 (currently 30) days of deciding to continue support for the programs of private and voluntary organizations in countries which antedate a prohibition against aid to such countries. Recognizes that cooperatives provide an opportunity for people to participate directly in democratic decisionmaking. Requires that development assistance shall be provided to cooperatives which offer large numbers of low- and middle-income people in developing countries an opportunity to participate in democratic decisionmaking. Directs the President to use certain poverty measurement standards in determining target populations for U.S. development assistance and to strengthen U.S. efforts to assure that a substantial percentage of development assistance directly improves the lives of the poor majority. Requires that development activities designed to increase the institutional capabilities of private organizations or governments or that attempt to stimulate scientific and technological research shall be designed and monitored to insure that the ultimate beneficiaries of these activities are the poor majority. Requires that the annual report to Congress on foreign assistance shall include an evaluation of the extent to which development programs directly benefit the poor majority. Recognizes that shelter, including essential urban development services, is among the most fundamental of human needs. Changes the term "housing" in the housing guarantees provisions to "shelter". Increases the ceiling on the total principal amount of outstanding housing guarantees. Extends the authority for such provisions through September 30, 1986. Authorizes the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance, in order to meet obligations pursuant to certain Federal loan guarantees, to borrow from the Treasury subject to specified limitations. Provides that the agricultural and productive credit and self-help community development programs shall not be limited to Latin American countries. Extends the authority for such programs through September 30, 1986. Increases the amount the President is authorized to spend to aid disadvantaged children in Asia. Amends the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1980 to authorize appropriations for the African Development Foundation for FY 1985. Extends the authority of the Foundation until September 30, 1990. Title IV: Economic Policy Initiative for Africa - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance to promote growth-oriented policy reforms in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires that agreements providing funds to finance imports by countries in sub-Saharan Africa under sector programs shall require that those imports be used to meet long-term development needs in those countries according to specified criteria. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985. Requires the administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering this policy initiative to consult with Congress. Title V: Other Assistance Programs - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for American schools and hospitals abroad and for international organizations and programs. Earmarks specified amounts for specified international organizations and programs. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1984 for payment to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Prohibits funds authorized for international organizations and programs from being made available for the U.S. proportionate share for programs for the Palestine Liberation Organization or for projects whose primary purpose is to provide benefits to the Palestine Liberation Organization or entities associated with it. Directs the Secretary of State to review at least annually and to report to Congress on U.S. contributions to international organizations and programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for international narcotics control. Requires the President's report to Congress on the international narcotics control program for the last quarter of each fiscal year to include a yearly total of obligations and expenditures made and of equipment provided to carry out the program. Requires a mid-year report to Congress by August 1 of each year on activities and operations to carry out the program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) take steps to place the question of Cuban involvement in illicit drug trafficking on the agenda of the United Nations; (2) request the Organization of American States to consider this question as soon as possible; and (3) request other appropriate international organizations and international forums to consider this question. Directs the President to report to Congress on actions taken relating to investigating Cuban involvement in illicit drug trafficking. Requires the President to direct the appropriate executive branch agencies to cooperate with the requests for assistance from the Royal Commission of Inquiry of the Bahamas which is investigating allegations of narcotics-related corruption in the Bahamas. Requires the President to report to Congress on actions taken pursuant to providing such cooperation. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for: (1) international disaster assistance; (2) antiterrorism assistance; (3) trade and development programs; and (4) the operating expenses of the agency primarily responsible for administering the development assistance programs. Earmarks a specified amount of the FY 1985 development assistance funds to aid refugees and displaced persons in Africa. Title VI: Food-for-Peace Program - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to delete the provision relating to the distribution by the Commodity Credit Corporation to needy persons outside the United States of dairy products donated through foreign governments and humanitarian organizations. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to furnish agricultural commodities acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation through price-support operations to carry out the food-for-peace programs of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to authorize commodities which the U.S. has donated for famine relief to be furnished for direct distribution, sale, barter, or other appropriate disposition. Requires that consideration be given, in the case of famine relief commodities distributed by nonprofit voluntary agencies, to nutritional and development objectives as established by those agencies. Requires that, in carrying out food for development programs, consideration shall be given to using the expertise of U.S. nonprofit voluntary agencies and cooperatives. Limits the amount of the funds available for FY 1985 to carry out the Agricultural Trade and Development Act of 1954 that shall be used for the farmer-to-farmer food production assistance program and for the recruitment and training of persons for the farmer-to-farmer program. Requires the Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID) to report to Congress within 120 days of enactment of this Act on the manner in which the Agency intends to implement that program. Requires the President to report annually to Congress on planned programing of famine relief for the coming year. Title VII: Peace Corps - Amends the Peace Corps Act to authorize appropriations to carry out such Act for FY 1985. Declares that it is U.S. policy to provide, to the maximum extent possible, opportunities for service in the Peace Corps to at least 10,000 individuals by the end of FY 1988 and thereafter. Directs the President to include in the annual report to Congress on the Peace Corps a description of the plans to carry out that policy. Provides that certain employment requirements of the Peace Corps Act do not apply to foreign national employees. Authorizes the sale of technical publications produced by the Peace Corps. Permits a specified amount of the proceeds of such sales to be credited to the currently applicable appropriation of the Peace Corps. Title VIII: Latin America and the Caribbean - Amends the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 to add the following conditions to the list of conditions which the President must certify to Congress before arms export licenses may be issued to or for Chile: (1) that an elected civilian government is in power in Chile; and (2) that Chile has granted Israel's request for the extradition of Walter Rauff. Prohibits providing Chile with any military assistance, financing, sales, or arms export licenses for FY 1985 if the President submits a certification with respect to Chile prior to enactment of this provision. Prohibits providing international military education and training for FY 1985 for Uruguay. Permits such assistance for Paraguay for FY 1985 only if Paraguay extradites Joseph Mengele. Declares that, to the maximum extent possible, development assistance and Economic Support Fund assistance for Haiti should be provided through private and voluntary agencies. Permits the obligation for the Government of Haiti of FY 1985 funds for development assistance, Economic Support Fund programs, and international military education and training only if the President determines that Haiti: (1) is continuing to cooperate in halting illegal Haitian emigration to the United States; (2) is cooperating fully in implementing U.S. development, food, and other economic assistance programs in Haiti; (3) is continuing to comply with the fiscal performance targets set by the International Monetary Fund; and (4) is making a concerted and significant effort to improve the human rights situation in Haiti. Requires the President to report to Congress every six months on the extent to which Haiti's actions are consistent with those conditions. Prohibits military assistance or assistance under the Arms Export Control Act for Haiti for FY 1984 or 1985. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to earmark a specified amount of the FY 1985 Economic Support Fund authorization for: (1) Peru; (2) Bolivia; (3) Ecuador; and (4) countries in the Eastern Caribbean. Earmarks for scholarships for economically disadvantaged students from Latin America and the Caribbean specified amounts of the FY 1985 authorization for: (1) education and human resource development provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; and (2) the U.S. Information Agency. Requires the U.S. Information Agency and AID to each consult with U.S. missions in Latin America and the Caribbean before allocating any of the scholarship funds. Requires that at least 75 percent of the funds be used for undergraduate education and technical training and at least 15 percent shall be allocated for Caribbean students. Requires that at least 30 percent of the students receiving scholarships for FY 1985 shall be primarily involved in educational and technical training programs in agriculture. Sets forth guidelines for the scholarship programs. Requires the U.S. Information Agency and AID to convene a conference on educational exchange programs sponsored by the United States in order to evaluate the programs. Requires the President to report to Congress by January 1, 1985, on the roles that certain educational institutions in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could play in developing the Eastern Caribbean, the Caribbean, and Central America. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 to require the Inter-American Foundation to place primary emphasis on the enhancement of the access of poor people to essential resources and services and on the promotion of social justice and socio-economic development. Directs the Inter-American Foundation to carry out its purposes through and in response to organizations indigenous to Latin America and the Caribbean. Requires the Inter-American Foundation to make its funding decisions independently and to advise the U.S. Government and the various Latin American and Caribbean governments of its activities in their countries. Authorizes the Inter-American Foundation to make grants, loans, and loan guarantees to groups engaged in peaceful activities for specified purposes. Limits the amount of grants, loans, and loan guarantees that the Foundation may make for any particular project in any fiscal year. Authorizes the Foundation to inform the U.S. public and multilateral development institutions of knowledge gained from its development projects. Requires certain projects to have priority. Requires that all members of the Board of the Foundation shall be appointed on the basis of their experience with, understanding of, and sensitivity to community-level development processes in Latin America and the Caribbean. Requires the President of the Foundation to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Foundation. Requires the staff of the Foundation to be employed on the basis of experience in and knowledge of grass-roots, social, and economic development in the region. Lists criteria for the President of the Foundation. Repeals the provision authorizing the Secretary of State to detail employees to the Foundation. Provides that development assistance and Economic Support Fund assistance for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean should be provided, to the maximum extent possible, through experienced private and voluntary organizations. Permits the use of foreign assistance funds for training or support of foreign law enforcement forces of a country which has a long-standing democratic tradition, which does not have standing armed forces, and which does not engage in a consistent pattern of gross violations of human rights. Directs the President to work in close consultation with the Latin American and Caribbean countries which are major sources of unauthorized immigration to develop reciprocal trade and economic development programs of mutual benefit. Congratulates President Alfonsin of Argentina. Offers congressional support to him and to the people of Argentina. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should take the appropriate steps to: (1) promote the restructuring of the Argentine debt and that of other democracies in Latin America; (2) permit Argentina and other democracies in Latin America to restructure their loan obligations to U.S. financial institutions; and (3) on a multilateral basis to develop plans for reducing the financial pressures on Argentina and other Latin American democracies resulting from the size and short maturity of their foreign debt. Title IX: Miscellaneous Provisions - Prohibits making development assistance funds available for the U.S. proportionate share for programs for the South-West Africa People's Organization unless the President certifies to the Congress that such funds would not be used to support the military or paramilitary activities of the South-West Africa People's Organization. Directs the Secretary to review at least annually the accounts of all international organizations receiving U.S. funding and to report to Congress on the amounts spent by each such organization for such purposes and the amount contributed by the United States to each such organization. Prohibits using foreign assistance funds to procure construction or engineering services from certain advanced developing countries which are not receiving any direct economic assistance from the United States. Increases the ceiling on certain foreign aid grants or agreements relating to construction projects. Requires the plans for water projects to include a computation of benefits and costs made according to specified standards. Authorizes the President to remove a country from the list of communist countries for such time as the President determines if the President reports to Congress that such action is important to the national interest. Imposes certain notification requirements for program changes of funds appropriated to carry out the Arms Export Control Act. Provides that the notification requirement does not apply to the reprogramming of less than $25,000 for international narcotics control or for international military education and training for certain countries. Requires the President to notify Congress, within 30 days of enactment of a law appropriating funds to carry out the Arms Export Control Act, of each foreign country and international organization that will be receiving funds pursuant to such law. Repeals certain obsolete provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Directs the President to report annually to Congress on the economic conditions prevailing in Egypt, Israel, and Turkey which may affect their respective ability to meet their international debt obligations and to stabilize their economics. Reaffirms U.S. policy toward the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Prohibits negotiations with the PLO or any of its representatives and prohibits recognition of the PLO unless and until the PLO recognizes Israel's right to exist, accepts United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 238, and renounces the use of terrorism. Declares that the funds and authorities provided by this Act for the Middle East should help to promote peace in the Middle East. Expresses the sense of the Congress that all U.S. aid to Egypt is provided in the expectation that Egypt will support and fulfill the provisions of the Camp David accords and the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Requires the annual congressional presentation documents for international security and economic assistance to be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees by January 31 of each year. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should create a bipartisan panel of experts to review U.S. participation in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and should report to the Congress by October 1, 1984; (2) the President should take all necessary steps to ensure the upgrading of the U.S. mission to UNESCO and the appropriate office of the Department of State in order to further ensure a fair and thorough examination of UNESCO's willingness to implement needed reforms; and (3) the executive branch shall not announce a final withdrawal decision concerning UNESCO until the relevant congressional committees have been fully consulted.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1984
Amends title II (Old age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that a beneficiary shall be entitled to a prorated benefit for the month in which he or she dies.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1984
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to LIFE International to pay up to 75 percent of the costs of retrofitting and operating specified vessels transferred to the organization. Authorizes appropriations to the Maritime Administration for FY 1985 through 1987 for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Religious Speech Protection Act - Prohibits federally funded public secondary schools which allow non-school-sponsored groups of students to meet from discriminating against any meeting of students on the basis of religious content if: (1) the meeting is voluntary and student initiated; (2) there is no government sponsorship; and (3) no unlawful activity is permitted.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to request the Secretary General to seek the cooperation of Vietnam with the United States and specified other countries in ascertaining the whereabouts of the crewmen of the sunken U.S. vessel GLOMAR Java Sea.
![Official portrait of Rep. Bonker, Don [D-WA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000620_200.jpg)