United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Authorizes the President to present on behalf of the Congress specially struck gold medals to fifty-three individuals held hostage in the United States Embassy in Iran. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) strike fifty-three gold medals with suitable emblems, devices and inscriptions; and (2) coin and sell bronze duplicates of such medals. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should not approve any portion of the Model State Adoption Act and Procedures prepared under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 which: (1) confers upon all biological fathers of children born out of wedlock, without distinction, the right to veto adoption of the child upon mere proof of paternity; (2) sets less stringent standards for the placement of children by unlicensed intermediaries than by licensed child-placing agencies; (3) gives parents the right to revoke relinquishments which have not been obtained through fraud, duress, or undue influence; (4) requires automatic opening, at the request of an adult adoptee, of confidential birth records, court records, and adoption agency records; (5) requires agencies to notify adult adoptees that a birth parent desires to meet the adoptee even if the adoptee has not expressed a desire to meet with his or her birth parents; and (6) allows birth parents to have access to the adoption records of their relinquished children without the permission of both the adoptee (over age 18) and the adoptive parents.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1981
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the people of the several States and the District of Columbia shall elect the President and Vice President. Requires the electors of President and Vice President in each State to have the qualifications requisite for congressional electors from that State, except that for electors of President and Vice President the legislature of any State may prescribe less restrictive residence qualifications and for electors of President and Vice President the Congress may establish uniform residence and age qualifications. Provides that the pair of persons having the greatest number of votes for President and Vice President shall be elected, if such number be at least 40 percent of the whole number of votes cast. Provides that if no pair of persons has such number, a runoff election shall be held in which the choice of President and Vice President shall be made from the two pairs of persons who received the highest number of votes. Requires the days for such elections to be determined by Congress and to be uniform throughout the United States. Requires Congress to prescribe by law the time, place, and manner in which the results for such elections shall be ascertained and declared. Allows Congress to provide for the case of the death, inability, or withdrawal of any candidate for President or Vice President before a President and Vice President have been elected, and for the case of the death of both the President-elect and Vice President-elect. Requires each elector to cast a single vote jointly applicable to President and Vice President.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income a corporate stock distribution to a stockholder based upon the reinvestment of stock dividends in the corporation by such stockholder pursuant to his election to participate in a qualified dividend reinvestment plan, as defined in this Act. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $1,500 per year. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a distribution made by a corporation which purchases its common stock within one year of such distribution shall not be deemed a distribution pursuant to a qualified dividend reinvestment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Limitation on Government Recordkeeping Requirements and Actions Act of 1981 - Prohibits any Federal agency from: (1) requiring any person to maintain, prepare, or produce records (other than records relating to a dangerous material) of an event more than four years after the event has occurred; and (2) commencing an action against a person for a violation of a regulation more than four years after such violation has occurred, except as otherwise provided by the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Child Care Agency Tax Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the windfall profit tax oil produced from interests held by or for a residential child care agency. Defines such an agency as a tax-exempt charitable organization operated primarily for the residential placement, care, or treatment of delinquent, dependent, neglected, or handicapped children.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the categories of deportable aliens foreign students who knowingly participated in a political demonstration resulting in, or intending to result in, injury or damage to another's person or property. Permits the Attorney General to suspend deportation of such students.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Nondiscrimination in Insurance Act - Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in the consideration of applications for, or the granting of, insurance policies and the terms of such policies. Permits insurers who regularly provide insurance solely to persons of a single religious affiliation to continue to do so. Grants to State or local governments having insurance discrimination laws the primary opportunity to enforce this Act. Permits an aggrieved person to file a civil action in State or Federal court against an insurer, if a State or local authority which has received notice of a complaint fails to act within 60 days or with respect to those authorities not having insurance discrimination laws. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in district court when there is reasonable cause to believe that a person or group is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the rights granted by this Act and that such denial raises an issue of general public importance.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Establishes the position of Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a cabinet position at level I of the Executive Schedule. Upgrades the Deputy Director position to level II of the Executive Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Constitutional Amendment - Limits the term of the President and the Vice President to six years and prohibits any person from holding either office more than once. Precludes any person who has held either office for more than four years to which another person was elected, from being elected to such office. Repeals the 22nd amendment to the Constitution on the limitation on presidential terms of office.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1980
International Communications Reorganization Act of 1980 - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President a Council on International Communications and Information (Council). Directs the Council to: (1) review any action or proposed action under specified Executive Orders; (2) coordinate the policies and activities of Federal agencies involving international communications and information; and (3) review all policy determinations and proposed policy statements by such agencies relating to international communications and information, except actions or determinations made pursuant to specified rulemaking or adjudicatory procedures. Sets forth the powers of the Council. Directs all Federal agencies to provide the Council with information it deems necessary to perform its functions. Prohibits any agency from acting with respect to international communications or information without prior review by the Council unless such action is made pursuant to specified rulemaking or adjudicatory procedures. Directs the Council to establish an Advisory Committee on International Communications (Committee). Establishes an interagency committee to advise the Council on problems encountered by Federal agencies in the performance of responsibilities related to international communications and information. Permits the disclosure of confidential information where the recipient has been sufficiently informed of the confidential nature of the information, submitted to the Council the Committee, or the interagency committee: (1) to designated U.S. officers and employees; (2) to an appropriate congressional committee; (3) to the Committee; or (4) pursuant to court order. Establishes, and sets forth the functions of, the following offices: (1) a Bureau of International Communications and Information within the Department of State; (2) a Special Ambassador for Telecommunications and Information Services within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; and (3) an Office of International Communications within the Federal Communications Commission. Directs the Council to report to specified congressional committees with respect to: (1) the Council's plans for fulfilling its responsibilities under this Act; and (2) legislative or administrative recommendations to further the establishment of a comprehensive international communications and information policy.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1980
Authorizes the reprinting of the report entitled "The Adequacy of the Federal Response to Foreign Investment in the United States" for the use of the Committee on Government Operations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1980
Extends the commendation of the House of Representatives to the Honorable Elmer B. Staats, Fifth Comptroller General of the United States, on the conclusion of his long and distinguished public career.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Postal Service should not increase the number of digits of the zip code until: (1) the Service and the Congress have fully examined the costs, social consequences, and technical issues associated with such action; and (2) the Service has fully examined other means of improving productivity in the sorting of mail.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the peaceful resolution of the Polish workers' strike contributes to international peace. Encourages implementation of the strike settlement without outside interference.
United States · United States Congress · 3 September 1980
Federal Managers' Accountability Act of 1980 - Amends the Accounting and Auditing Act of 1950 to require the head of each executive agency to prepare, sign, and transmit to the President an annual report on the adequacy of the agency's systems of internal auditing and administrative control. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to establish a method of reporting and guidelines for the agencies in evaluating their systems of internal accounting and administrative control, and to modify such method or guidelines as necessary. Requires each agency to establish internal accounting and administrative controls, in accordance with standards prescribed by the Comptroller General, which provide assurances that: (1) obligations and costs comply with applicable law; (2) funds, property, and other assets are protected against waste, loss, unauthorized use, or misappropriation; and (3) agency revenues and expenditures are properly accounted for and recorded. Directs an agency to identify any inadequacy in the agency's systems which prevent the systems from achieving such assurances, and to describe in detail plans for correcting any such inadequacy. Requires the Inspector General or the head of the internal audit staff of each agency to receive and investigate any allegation that an agency employee provided false or misleading information in connection with an evaluation or report concerning the agency's accounting or control systems. Directs the head of an agency to take action against such an employee as necessary. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to require the President to include in the information transmitted to Congress with the annual budget a statement on: (1) the original amount of appropriations requested by the Office of Inspector General of each agency; and (2) the changes made in such request prior to submission to the Director of OMB and Congress. Requires the head of each agency to certify that requests for appropriations are based on an accounting system that has been approved by the Comptroller General.
United States · United States Congress · 28 August 1980
Alien Education Impact Aid Act of 1980 - Title I: General Provisions - Defines the terms used in this Act, including the term "alien children" which is defined to mean undocumented aliens to whom State or local educational agencies must provide educational services under Federal court order. Authorizes lump-sum appropriations for fiscal years 1981-1983 for State educational programs and administrative costs (up to one percent) under this Act. Provides that such entitlements shall be ratably reduced if sufficient funds are not available. Authorizes up to one percent of such funds for Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to withhold funds from State educational agencies that fail to meet the requirements of this Act. Sets forth the procedures to be followed in such a situation. Title II: General Assistance for Local Educational Agencies - Directs the Secretary to make payments to State educational agencies for fiscal years 1981-1983 for assistance in providing basic education for alien children. States that such payments shall be $450 for each such child enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools. Sets forth State application requirements. Requires the Secretary to give notice and opportunity for a hearing before final disapproval of an application. Title III: Special Impact Assistance for Substantial Increases in Attendance of Alien Children - Directs the Secretary to make payments to State educational agencies for fiscal years 1981-1983 for supplementary public education costs for alien children in public and private elementary and secondary schools in eligible local educational agencies (based on the number of such children in their jurisdiction). Authorizes: (1) for fiscal year 1981, $750 for each child; (2) for fiscal year 1982, $750 for each new child, and $500 for each child enrolled in 1981; and (3) for fiscal year 1983, $750 for each new child, $500 for a child enrolled in either 1981 or 1982, and $350 for a child enrolled in both 1981 and 1982. Includes within such supplementary services, English language instruction, bilingual education, special materials and supplies, additional basic instructional services, and inservice training. Sets forth State application requirements. Requires a State educational agency to give notice and an opportunity for a hearing before final disapproval of a local educational agency's application for such funds.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 1980
Urges the peaceful resolution of issues raised by Polish workers in accordance with international agreements. Requests the Polish government to release persons unjustly imprisoned during recent worker unrest. Asks all signatories to observe the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1980
Inspector General Act Amendments of 1980 - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish an Office of Inspector General in the Departments of Defense, Justice, State, and Treasury and in the International Development Cooperation Agency. Transfers to such Offices the functions of specified existing audit and investigation offices of such Departments and Agency. Authorizes the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to use part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus to conduct an audit or investigation. Directs the Inspector General to: (1) conduct a study of the operation of the audit, investigative, and inspection components of the Defense Department which engage in the prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse, including a review of the findings of the task force established to evaluate such components; and (2) report to the Secretary of Defense and Congress by September 30, 1983, concerning such study and any recommendations for changes in the organization and operations of such components.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1980
Requires the Director of the International Communication Agency to make available to the Administrator of General Services a copy of each film with footage of Lyndon Johnson. Directs the Administrator to deposit such copies with the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Texas.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1980
Appellate Court Reorganization Act of 1980 - Divides the current United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit into the following two circuits: (1) the Fifth Circuit, composed of the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, and consisting of 14 judges; and (2) the Eleventh Circuit, composed of the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and the Canal Zone, and consisting of 12 judges. (The current Fifth Circuit consists of all six States and has 26 judges.) Makes this Act effective July 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1980
Trade Procedures Simplification Act of 1980 - Requires the Attorney General, in consultation with other Federal agency heads, to determine whether: (1) U.S. business conduct and arrangements in various countries to expand exports conflict with basic antitrust principles; and (2) a more liberal enforcement policy for overseas activities would impede implementation of the antitrust laws. Directs the Attorney General to identify conduct and arrangements associated with particular types of export sales which the Attorney General determines would not warrant prosecution under the antitrust laws. Sets forth the procedures for describing such permissible conduct and disclosing such descriptions. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to intervene in such suits and to provide legal assistance to exporters. Prohibits prosecution under the antitrust laws of exporters who: (1) have notified the Attorney General of their intention to engage in such designated permissible conduct; or (2) receive an approval, or no objection, from the Attorney General concerning proposed transactions. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress concerning implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1980
Limitation on Government Recordkeeping Requirements and Actions Act of 1980 - Prohibits any Federal agency from: (1) requiring any person to maintain, prepare, or produce any record (other than a record relating to a dangerous material) of an event after four years have expired since the event occurred; and (2) commencing an action against a person who violated a regulation if four years or more have expired since such violation occurred, except as otherwise provided by the Internal Revenue Code or a regulation promulgated thereunder.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Authorizes the President to present a gold-plated medal, on behalf of the Congress, to those athletes selected through the Olympic trial process to be members of the United States Summer Olympic Team of 1980. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cause to be stricken 650 such medals with suitable emblems. Declares that such medals are national medals and that funds to carry out this Act shall be made available under the Amateur Sports Act of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should restore and maintain the peaceful processing of Cubans, and identify and remove from the United States those Cubans who participated in acts of destruction at the processing sites.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1980
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the seven-day period beginning October 5, 1980, as "National Port Week." Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report annually to Congress on the conditions of U.S. public ports.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt a certain portion of royalty owner oil production from the windfall profit tax. Limits the amount so exempted per quarter to ten barrels per day. Requires proportionate allocation of any production in excess of ten barrels per day between tier 1 oil, tier 2, and tier 3 oil, and within any tier on the basis of removal prices. Requires allocation of the ten barrel amount among royalty owners who are members of the same related group.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1980
Expresses the disapproval of the House of Representatives of the Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 concerning the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and transmitted to the Congress by the President on March 27, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1980
Amends the Clayton Act to permit any person liable for damages for price-fixing to seek contribution from co- conspirators for the share of such damages attributable to their sales or purchases of goods and services. Declares that a settlement with one conspirator shall not release any co-conspirator from liability unless its terms expressly so provide. Specifies the effect to be given such a release by the courts. States that such a settlement will relieve a person from liability for contribution.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1980
Congressional Reports Elimination Act of 1980 - Title I: Eliminations - Repeals specified provisions of Federal law which require various Federal agencies to submit reports to Congress, the President, and the public. Title II: Modifications - Amends specified provisions of Federal law: (1) to discontinue requirements for agency reports to Congress; (2) to combine such reports; (3) to reduce the frequency or the contents of such reports; (4) to change the dates for transmission of such reports; and (5) to make technical changes.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1980
Amends the Reorganization Act of 1977 to extend until April 6, 1981, the deadline by which the President must transmit a reorganization plan to Congress in order for that plan to take effect.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1980
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 - Establishes, within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Federal Information Policy (OFIP) to provide overall direction for the development and implementation of Federal information policies which include guidelines concerning: (1) the reduction of the Government paperwork burden on the public; (2) records management activities; and (3) the privacy of records pertaining to individuals. Requires the Director of OMB to appoint an Administrator of OFIP. Sets forth functions of the Director with respect to Federal information collection and management in the following categories: (1) general information policy functions; (2) information collection request clearance and other paperwork functions; (3) statistical policy and coordination functions; (4) records management functions; (5) privacy of information functions; and (6) automatic data processing and telecommunications functions. Requires the Director to ensure that agencies: (1) provide a substantial opportunity for the public to comment on the means of collecting information with regard to a proposed rule; and (2) assess alternative methods of attaining the statutory goals of such a rule. Requires the Director, within one year after enactment of this Act: (1) to establish requirements and assign responsibility for agency and Government-wide audits of all major information systems; (2) to establish the Federal Information Locator System; (3) to develop a schedule for eliminating any duplication of information collection requests by the Government; and (4) in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, to develop a five-year plan for meeting the automatic data processing and telecommunication needs of the Government. Directs the Director, within two years after this Act is enacted: (1) to establish a system for integrating the various information management practices; (2) to develop a program to enforce Federal information processing standards and to revitalize the standards development program; (3) to complete action on recommendations of the Commission on Federal Paperwork; and (4) to submit to the President and Congress legislative proposals to remove inconsistencies in laws involving privacy, confidentiality and disclosure of information. Requires each agency: (1) to carry out its information management activities in an economical manner; (2) to inventory its major information systems and review, periodically, its management activities; (3) to ensure that its systems do not overlap each other or duplicate systems of other agencies; (4) to develop procedures for assessing the paperwork burden of its collection activities; and (5) assign an official to be responsible for acquisitions of automatic data processing equipment and services. Requires an agency, before collecting any information, to: (1) eliminate reporting requirements which seek information which is available through another Government source; (2) minimize the compliance burden on respondents; (3) plan the tabulation of the information in a manner which maximizes its usefulness to other agencies; and (4) obtain the Director's approval of such collection. Requires the Director to approve or disapprove any collection request within 60 days of receiving it. Allows the Director, when considering a request, to provide an opportunity for the agency or other interested persons to submit oral or written statements. Authorizes the Director: (1) to designate a single collection agency for two or more agencies; and (2) to direct the disclosure of confidential information from one agency to another under specified conditions. Establishes, within OFIP, a Federal Information Locator System composed of a dictionary of information resources, a data element dictionary, and an information referral service. States that the System shall serve as the authoritative register of all information requests. Requires the Director: (1) to design an index for the System; (2) to require each agency head to submit for inclusion in the System a data profile of each information request of that agency; (3) to compare proposed information requests with existing requests through the System; and (4) to ensure that no actual data, excluding descriptive data which is necessary to locate information or identify duplicative data, is included in the System. Declares that no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to provide information to an agency if such agency requested such information after December 31, 1981, in violation of procedures under this Act. Requires the Director: (1) to review the information management activities of each agency at least once every three years; (2) to report the findings to the agency and specified committees of Congress; (3) to keep Congress fully informed of major activities under this Act; and (4) to submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House an annual report on such activities. Specifies the contents of such report. Declares that an agency's authority under any other law to prescribe rules or forms for Federal information activities shall be subject to the Director's authority under this Act. Grants the Comptroller General access to all records of OFIP. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act. Requires the Administrator of General Services: (1) to include in an annual report to Congress and the Director estimates of the lost benefits or savings resulting from the failure of agencies to implement the Administrator's recommendations; and (2) to assist the Administrator of OFIP in conducting studies and developing standards relating to records retention requirements of Federal agencies. Requires the President and the Director of OMB to delegate specified Federal information functions to the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1980
Authorizes the expenditure of funds, not to exceed $2,474,900, for investigations and studies to be conducted by the House Committee on Government Operations. Specifies that $17,832 of such funds are for the reimbursement of computer and computer-related services requested by such committee. Declares that no part of these funds shall be available for expenditure in connection with the study of any subject which is being investigated by any other House committee. Terminates the authorization granted by this resolution on January 3, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Provides for an exemption from the windfall profits tax for independent oil producers for an amount equal to 1,000 barrels of crude oil multiplied by the number of days in the taxable period.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Establishes in the House of Representatives and under the direction of the Committee on House Administration a Congressional Child Care Center to provide child care services for children of Senators, Representatives, and congressional employees. Requires all operating expenses of the Center to be recovered through the fees charged for child care services provided by the Center. Directs the chairman of the Committee on House Administration to appoint a nonpartisan advisory board to make recommendations to the Committee with respect to matters relating to the Center and to conduct semiannual reviews of the operations of the Center and submit a written report of each such review. Establishes in the Department of the Treasury a revolving fund within the contingent fund of the House of Representatives to be known as the Congressional Child Care Center Revolving Fund. Authorizes the Committee on House Administration to acquire such facilities as may be necessary for the operation of the Center.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1979
Congressional Reports Elimination Act of 1979 - Title I: Eliminations - Repeals specified provisions of Federal law which require various Federal agencies to submit reports to Congress, the President, and the public. Title II: Modifications - Amends specified provisions of Federal law: (1) to discontinue requirements for agency reports to Congress; (2) to combine such reports; (3) to reduce the frequency or the contents of such reports; (4) to change the dates for transmission of such reports; and (5) to make technical changes.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 1979
Expresses the disapproval of the Congress of the Location of Chanceries Amendment Act of 1979, passed by the Council of the District of Columbia on October 9, 1979, and signed by the Mayor on November 9, 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 1979
Amends the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 to add a fourth title, "Fiscal Assistance During Periods of Recession," which authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to State and local governments during calendar quarters in which there is a decline in real wages, salaries, and the gross national product. Authorizes appropriations of up to $1,000,000,000 for such payments made during the calendar quarters of fiscal year 1980. Establishes ceilings on appropriations for each such quarter. Requires one-third of such appropriations to be allocated to State governments and two-thirds to local governments. Sets forth formulas for determining the amount of such allocations to State and local governments. Directs the Secretary to receive assurances from each State and unit of local government before issuing payments that: (1) standard fiscal, accounting, and auditing practices will be used; (2) the Secretary and the Comptroller General will be given access to documents in order to review compliance; (3) reports required by the Secretary will be furnished; (4) the State or unit of local government will comply with provisions of law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicapped condition; (5) the State or unit of local government will comply with the wage standards under the Davis-Bacon Act; and (6) expenditure of payments received will be in accordance with laws and procedures applicable to a State's or unit of local government's own revenues. Authorizes the Secretary to withhold payments for a failure to comply with requirements of this title. Directs the Secretary to submit annual and quarterly reports to the Congress when payments have been made under such program. Grants the Secretary authority to prescribe rules to implement this Act. Authorizes appropriations as may be necessary for administration of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for such countercyclical payments to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of such payments. Permits the governments of the territories to allocate portions of such payments to their local governments as they deem appropriate. Adds a fifth title, "Targeted Fiscal Assistance" which authorizes the Secretary to make additional payments to units of local government experiencing higher rates of unemployment. Authorizes appropriations of $150,000,000 for such payments in fiscal year 1980. Sets forth formulas for determining eligibility and amounts of such payments. Directs the Secretary to receive assurances from each unit of local government identical to those required under title IV before issuing payments. Authorizes the Secretary to withhold payments to enforce compliance. Directs the Secretary to issue such payments by: (1) 90 days from the enactment of appropriations; or (2) April 1, 1980, whichever is earlier. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Congress on the targeted fiscal assistance program. Empowers the Secretary to promulgate regulations to implement such program. Authorizes necessary appropriations for administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations and establishes formulas for issuing fiscal assistance payments to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Authorizes the governments of the territories to allocate appropriate portions of such payments to their local governments. Repeals title II of the Public Works Employment Act of 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1979
Federal Privacy of Medical Information Act - States the purposes of this Act to be: (1) to establish procedures allowing patients to inspect and amend medical information about them; (2) to define the circumstances under which individually identifiable medical information may be disclosed with or without patient consent; and (3) to make it a crime to request or obtain medical information from medical care facilities under false pretenses. Title I: Privacy of Medical Information - Part A - Definitions, Effect on Other Law, and Rights of Minors and Incompetents - Defines "accounting", with regard to medical information disclosure, as the recording of the date, nature, and purpose of such disclosure; and the name and business address of the person to whom the disclosure was made. Defines "aggravated property destruction" as property damage (in excess of $500) causing a significant impairment of use. Defines "audit" as an evaluation relating to: (1) the applicability of legal, medical, fiscal, or scientific standards; (2) the licensing or certification of medical facilities or personnel; or (3) medical peer review. Defines "employee" to include students or faculty members of a school affiliated with a medical care facility. Defines "government authority" as any Federal, State, or local entity, officer, employee, or agent. Defines "health research project" as a biomedical, epidemiologic, or health services research or statistics project. Defines "institutional review board" as: (1) a board established in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (formerly, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare); (2) a similar board established under regulations of another Federal Government authority; or (3) a similar board which meets such requirements as the Secretary may specify. Defines "appropriate institutional review board" (with respect to a health research project intending to use medical information maintained by a researcher or facility) as: (1) the institutional review board for the organization sponsoring the project; (2) the institutional review board for the facility or researcher; (3) the institutional review board for another medical facility or institution which maintains medical information also intended to be used in the project; or (4) an institutional review board established or designated by the Secretary. Defines "medical information" as material that: (1) contains information relating to the health, examination, care, or treatment of a patient, or is to be added to such material under the provisions of this title; and (2) is in a form enabling the patient to be identified. Defines "law enforcement inquiry" as a lawful investigation or official inquiry into a violation or failure to comply with any criminal or civil statute, or related regulation, rule, or order. Defines "medical care facility" as: (1) a hospital or skilled nursing facility; (2) an intermediate care facility certified by a State agency for participation in a program under title XIX of the Social Security Act; (3) an intermediate care facility, outpatient clinic, or ambulatory care facility operated by a Federal Government authority; or (4) an outpatient clinic or ambulatory care facility receiving funds from a Federal Government authority under a grant or contract under the Public Health Service Act, title V of the Social Security Act, the Community Mental Health Centers Act, the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970, or the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972, if the clinic or facility is subject to the provisions of this Act. Stipulates that such term does not include any prison facility or any facility located outside the United States. Prohibits any State or local law from authorizing or compelling the disclosure of medical information protected under this Act. Sets forth the rights of incompetents and minors. Part B - Rights of Inspection, Correction, and Notice, and Authorized Disclosure - Requires medical care facilities to permit individuals to inspect and get copies of their medical records. States that the medical care facility may: (1) require a written request for the inspection and copying of such information; (2) not charge an inspection fee; and (3) charge a reasonable copying fee. Requires a medical facility to reply to such an information or copy request within 30 days. States that such a request may not be compiled with if: (1) inspection or copying of the information would, in the medical judgment of the facility, harm the patient; (2) the information concerns mental health treatment and the facility does not permit disclosure of such information without the patient's authorization, or only under compulsion of law; (3) the information concerns mental health treatment of an individual other than a patient; (4) the information is used for administrative purposes; or (5) the information is compiled in connection with a civil suit. Requires a written statement explaining the reasons for any such request denial to be provided by the facility to the patient (or designated representative). Sets forth procedures for a patient to correct or supplement such medical information. Requires a medical care facility to prepare a written notice of information practices describing: (1) disclosures that may be made without a patient's written authorization; and (2) related rights and procedures. Requires a facility to provide such information upon request, and to make reasonable efforts to inform patients of the existence and availability of such information. Prohibits a medical care facility from disclosing medical information: (1) to anyone other than a patient or designated representative, unless so authorized by the patient or otherwise permitted under this Act; and (2) to anyone not properly identified. Sets forth patient disclosure requirements, including: (1) particularity of information, recipient, and facility; and (2) written, dated, and signed (by the patient) authorization. Permits such authorization to be revoked or amended by the patient. Part C - Disclosure of Medical Information Without Specific Information - Authorizes a medical care facility to disclose patient information without authorization: (1) to aid a facility employee in the performance of his/her duties; (2) to a medical professional in connection with the care of a specific patient; (3) for admission and health status purposes; (4) for use in specified health research projects; (5) for purposes of specified audits; (6) to assist in the identification of a dead person; (7) to alleviate emergency circumstances affecting a person's health or safety, or involving imminent danger of aggravated property destruction; (8) pursuant to legal requirements concerning public health, child abuse, law enforcement, court-ordered examinations, or Federal medical facilities; (9) for specified Secret Service and foreign intelligence purposes (with a written certification specifying the information requested); (10) to the next of kin; (11) for specified law enforcement purposes (with a written certification specifying the information requested); (12) pursuant to a subpena, summons, warrant or search warrant; and (13) with regard to certain veterans' or uniformed services' benefits, or other specified Federal medical care facilities or services. States that medical information disclosed without patient authorization to a Federal grand jury shall: (1) be returnable on a date when the grand jury is in session; (2) be used only to decide to issue an indictment or report, or for prosecuting a crime for which such indictment has been issued, or for specified purposes the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and (3) not be maintained by any government authority, other than in the sealed records of the grand jury, unless such information has been used in the prosecution of a crime for which the grand jury issued an indictment or for a specified purpose authorized by the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Part D - Access Procedures, Challenge Rights, and Reporting - Prohibits a governmental authority from obtaining medical information about a person for use in a law enforcement inquiry pursuant to an administrative summons, subpena, or warrant, or a judicial summons or subpena unless: (1) reasonable grounds exist for believing such information to be relevant to the inquiry; (2) a copy of such summons or subpena has been served upon the person (or to his/her last known address), together with notice of such person's right to challenge such summons or notice; and (3) ten days have passed from the date of service, or 14 days from the date of mailing, and no such challenge has been initiated, or disclosure is ordered by a court. Requires a governmental authority that secures medical information about a person from a medical facility pursuant to a search warrant to serve a copy of the warrant upon such person within 45 days. Permits a governmental authority to delay notifying an individual regarding a summons or subpena if a court finds that: (1) the governmental inquiry is lawful; (2) reasonable grounds exist to believe that the medical information is relevant to such inquiry; (3) the government's need outweighs the individual's privacy interest; and (4) reasonable grounds exist to believe that notifying the individual will result in endangering someone's life or safety, flight from prosecution, destruction of evidence, or intimidation of witnesses. Authorizes an individual to challenge a governmental summons or subpena requesting medical information about such individual. Requires a court in weighing a governmental request against a patient's challenge to consider: (1) the purpose for which the medical information was gathered; (2) the degree to which disclosure injures or invades the patient's privacy; (3) the effect of disclosure upon the patient's future treatment; (4) the importance of the governmental inquiry, and the importance of the information to that inquiry; and (5) any other relevant factors. Places the burden on the individual to show that his/her privacy interest outweighs the governmental interest. Authorizes the court to assess attorney and related fees against the Federal authority if the challenging patient prevails. Sets forth access and challenge procedures for obtaining medical information pursuant to an administrative summons subpena, or warrant or a judicial summons, subpena, or search warrant. Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States courts to include in his annual report to Congress information regarding the number of patient challenges and delays of notice sought by the government. Part E - Enforcement - Establishes criminal penalties of: (1) not more than $10,000 and/or six months imprisonment for falsely obtaining or requesting medical information; (2) not more than $30,000 and/or five years imprisonment for falsely obtaining or requesting, and intentionally selling, such information; and (3) not more than $30,000 and/or five years imprisonment for unlawfully taking such information and selling it. Authorizes an individual whose rights have been violated under this Act to maintain a civil suit against a governmental officer or employee, the governmental authority, or the medical care facility or personnel. Provides that United States district courts shall have jurisdiction in such actions. Authorizes in specified circumstances, the awarding of punitive damages and attorney and related fees. Directs the Secretary to publish a model notice of information practices describing the disclosures and rights of patients required to be included in the notices of information practices required by this Act. Title II: Amendment to Title 5, United States Code - Exempts medical information maintained by a medical care facility subject to title I of this Act from certain agency disclosure provisions. Title III: Transition and Effective Dates - States that the provisions of this Act shall: (1) continue to apply to medical information obtained by a medical care facility no longer in operation; and (2) become effective with regard to Federal medical care facilities on the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning more than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should terminate all military training of Iranian personnel pursuant to sales under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1979
Privacy of Correspondence Act - Prohibits the opening of mail which is sealed against inspection except: (1) with the consent of the sender or addressee; (2) pursuant to a search warrant; (3) by a Postal Service employee for the purpose of determining an address of delivery or upon suspicion that the mail contains an explosive device; or (4) by an employee of the Customs Service upon suspicion that an item weighing more than one ounce contains material which is being imported illegally. Authorizes any person whose mail is illegally opened to bring a civil action against those persons responsible and to a recover a minimum of $1,000 plus court costs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1979
Rural Cooperative Business Income Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income received by a mutual or cooperative telephone or electric company for services to customers or rural telephone or electric companies, and income received from the rental or sale of communications or power facilities, shall not be subject to the tax on unrelated business income.
![Official portrait of Rep. Brooks, Jack B. [D-TX-9]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000880_200.jpg)