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United States · Official source
1,716 records where Rep. Callahan, Sonny [R-AL-1] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1985
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to a named individual in full satisfaction of all claims against the United States for travel expenses to a duty station with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Relieves that individual of all liability to the United States for a specified sum allegedly advanced in error for such expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1985
Designates the period of October 1, 1985, through September 30, 1986, as the time to reflect on the achievements of the Peace Corps during its 25 years and on ways such programs might be used in the future. Authorizes and requests the President to proclaim this period as a time to honor Peace Corps volunteers and reaffirm the Nation's commitment to such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1985
Ten Percent Flat Tax Rate Act - Title I: Ten Percent Tax Rate for Individuals; Tax Simplification - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on every individual equal to ten percent of the taxable income for the taxable year. Repeals the alternative minimum tax. Repeals the following tax credits: (1) interest on certain mortgages; (2) foreign tax credit; (3) tax withheld on wages; (4) tax withheld at source on nonresident aliens and foreign corporations; and (5) certain uses of gasoline and special fuels. Provides that only the following provisions relating to inclusions in and exclusions from gross income will apply to individuals: (1) certain death benefits provisions; (2) interest on certain governmental obligations; (3) mortgage subsidy bond provisions; (4) compensation for injuries and sickness; (5) amounts received under accident and health plans; (6) contributions by employer to accident and health plans; (7) rental value of parsonages; (8) scholarships and fellowship grants; (9) amounts received under insurance contracts for living expenses; (10) cafeteria plans; (11) certain foster care payments; and (12) fringe benefits provisions. Expands the exclusion of scholarships from gross income. Excludes from gross income amounts received or accrued by an individual on account of temporary, permanent, or total disablement and inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment. Repeals the taxation of Social Security and tier one railroad retirement benefits. Increases the allowance for the personal exemption from $1,000 to $2,000. Provides for the indexing of the personal exemption. Permits individuals to expense depreciable property rather than taking a depreciation deduction for such property. Disallows the following deductions for individuals: (1) losses; (2) amortization of pollution control facilities; (3) circulation expenditures; (4) research and experimental expenditures; (5) soil and water conservation expenditures; (6) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by lessee on lessor's property; (7) election to expense certain depreciable property; (8) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (9) expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly; (10) amortization of reforestation expenditures; and (11) start-up expenditures. Repeals the individual deductions for medical and dental expenses and the deduction for two-earner married couples. Provides that individuals are only permitted to use cost depletion. Prohibits the use of the foreign tax credit by individuals. Repeals the deduction for capital gains for individuals and repeals the estate and gift taxes. Title II: Tax Amnesty - Provides for a one-time amnesty from criminal and civil tax penalties for taxpayers who: (1) file a written statement with specified information concerning any underpayment of tax; (2) pay the amount of such underpayment when filing the statement; and (3) within 30 days of notification of the amount of such interest or delinquency. Permits installment payments of tax due in certain cases. Disallows an amnesty period for taxpayers against whom a tax deficiency has already been assessed, who have committed fraud in seeking amnesty, or against whom a criminal investigation is pending. Establishes a special fund in the Treasury for taxes recovered under such amnesty program. Requires that revenues from such fund be used to offset possible revenue losses, if any, resulting from title I of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1985
Designates the week beginning May 18, 1986, as National Tourism Week.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate July 16, 1985, as National Atomic Veterans Day.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1985
Designates October 1985 as Phobia Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. national security policy should reflect a national strategy of peace through strength. Sets forth the principles and goals of such policy.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1985
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to include in the definition of "subsidy" (for countervailing duty purposes) any resource input subsidy as provided for under the provisions of this Act. States that a "resource input subsidy" is found to exist if: (1) (a) a product is provided or sold by a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country for input use within such country at a domestic price that is lower than the fair market value of the input product and is not freely available to U.S. producers; and (b) a product would, if sold at the fair market value, constitute a significant portion of the total cost of the manufacture or production of the merchandise in or for which the input product is used; or (2) under specified circumstances, the right to remove or extract such product is provided or sold by a government or a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country. Sets forth the method of calculation for the amount of a resource input subsidy. Defines "fair market value" and "input use" for purposes of this Act. Requires injury determinations by the U.S. International Trade Commission to be made in all countervailing duty investigations relating to the existence of resource input subsidies.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1985
Designates the week of May 11 through May 17, 1985, as Handicapped Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1985
Designates the week beginning October 27, 1985, as National Alopecia Areata Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the administration should comply with the automatic appropriation and earmarking provisions of the Wallop/Breaux Sport Fish Restoration Trust Fund. States that funds owed to the States from such Fund should not be withheld or delayed.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1985
Comprehensive Alzheimer's Assistance, Research, and Education Act of 1985 - Title I : Amendment to the Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Alzheimer's Education Program to: (1) coordinate education and training programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Veterans Administration, other Federal entities, State and local governments, and private organizations; (2) establish an information clearinghouse; (3) provide information to health care providers, organizations, patients, and the general public; and (4) provide technical assistance to States and public and private organizations in the collection and dissemination of information. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for such purposes. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States to plan, establish, and operate programs to: (1) coordinate the development and operation of diagnostic, treatment, care management, respite care, legal counseling, and education services provided by public and private organizations within the State; (2) provide respite care to patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders; (3) provide information to health care providers, organizations, and the general public on treatment and related services for patients and their families; (4) coordinate the development and operation of continuing education for health care providers on the diagnosis, treatment, and care management of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders; (5) review State policies on the financing and reimbursement of health care costs for such patients; (6) review State nursing home regulations as they apply to such patients; and (7) coordinate with the National Alzheimer's Education Program. Limits Federal grants for such programs to the lesser of one half the cost or $1,000,000. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988. Directs the Secretary to establish a plan for a research program for the study of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Directs the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts with public and private entities for ten to 20 Alzheimer's disease research centers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988. Provides for the recovery from Alaska of Federal grants provided under the Public Health Service Act if within 20 years from the date of completion of a medical facility, such facility ceases to be a publicly owned facility operated for the care or treatment of patients under Alaska's mental health program. Title II: Medicare and Medicaid Research, Demonstrations, and Waivers - Directs the Secretary to conduct research, waiver, and demonstration projects under the Medicare and Medicaid provisions of the Social Security Act to determine the: (1) coverage of alternative methods of health care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders; (2) coverage of nursing home care; and (3) appropriate reimbursement levels for nursing homes with such patients. Title III: Report - Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress within two years after the date of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1985
Veterans' Health Care Promotion Act of 1985 - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to determine the most cost-effective method of acquiring medical facilities for the Veterans Administration (VA) using certain specified methods. Requires the Administrator, not later than January 1, 1987, to enter into contracts to carry out the pilot program. Requires such contracts to be with an appropriate entity to construct and operate a nursing home for the VA. Requires the Administrator to enter into a contract with an appropriate entity to plan for, design, and construct a medical facility for the VA and to lease or sell such facility to the VA as directed by the Administrator. Directs the Administrator to also acquire two existing medical facilities. Requires the Administrator to provide the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual report on the administration of the pilot program and a final report promptly after the termination of such program. Requires the Administrator, within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to report to the same such Committees on: (1) the extent to which the VA furnishes respite care to elderly veterans and disabled veterans; (2) the VA's plans for furnishing such care in the future; and (3) an estimate of the cost of increasing community-based nursing home beds available to the VA by specified percentages. Limits the amount of working reserve funds available to the VA for FY 1986 for the purchase of an urban medical facility. Directs the President to include in the budget submitted to the Congress a statement of the estimated expenditures and appropriations required to carry out the pilot program.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1985
Designates August 18, 1985, as National Flowers-by-Wire Day.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1985
Designates the week beginning on April 13, 1986, as National Garden Week. Urges the wearing of garden flowers during that week as a symbol of appreciation for the contributions of the Nation's gardeners.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Rural Electrification Program must continue to provide financing and technical assistance at reasonable cost; and (2) the people of the United States and Federal and State governmental agencies should commemorate the Rural Electrification Administration on its 50th anniversary.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1985
Authorizes the President to call a White House Conference on Library and Information Services, to be held not later than 1989, to develop recommendations for improvement of such services and their public use. Requires that the Conference be planned and conducted by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences. Authorizes the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the National Library of Medicine, and the Director of the National Agricultural Library, upon request, to detail personnel to the Commission. Requires the Conference to submit a final report to the President within 120 days following its close. Directs that the final report be made public, and within 90 days after receipt by the President, transmitted to the Congress with recommendations. Establishes an advisory committee to assist in planning and conducting the Conference. Includes among its appointed members the Secretary of Education and the Librarian of Congress. Authorizes appropriations as necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1985
Designates the week of May 18 through May 24, 1985, as National Food Bank Week.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Minority Opportunity Restoration Act of 1985 - Title I: Tax Incentive for Enterprise Zones - Enterprise Zone Act of 1985 - Subtitle A: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of enterprise zones by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for purposes of extending the tax incentives and regulatory flexibility measures provided by this Act. Provides that State and local governments shall nominate areas for such designation. Limits the designation of enterprise zones to 225 nominated areas over a 36-month period (one-third of which must be in rural areas). Limits the period during which such designations shall remain in effect. Provides that the Secretary may designate such zones only if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous; (3) the area has a population of at least 4,000 if any portion thereof is located within a standard metropolitan statistical areas (with a population of at least 50,000) or 1,500 otherwise, or is within an Indian reservation; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action which may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, or receiving commitments of private entities to assist employees and residents of the area. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to designate enterprise zones on June 30, 1988, or three years after the publication of regulations pertaining to such zones, whichever is later. Describes areas to which preference shall be given in deciding to designate enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary to prepare and submit to the Congress every four years a report on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation. Requires that any property tax reduction effected by a local government under the terms of this Act be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility of a State or local government for Federal assistance or benefits. States that designation of an enterprise zone shall not give displaced persons from such an area any rights or benefits under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. Exempts enterprise zones from certain requirements relating to Federal environmental policy. Subtitle B: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Part I: Credits for Employers and Employees - Allows employers located in enterprise zones a nonrefundable income tax credit for increased employment expenditures and employment of the disadvantaged. Allows a three-year carryback and 15-year carryover of such credit. Sets the amount of such credit at ten percent of the increase in payroll (taking into account a maximum of $15,000 in wages per year per employee) plus 50 percent of the wages paid to certain disadvantaged workers for the first three years of the enterprise zone designation. Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Disallows a deduction for the portion of wages taken into account for such credit. Allows employees located in enterprise zones a nonrefundable income tax credit equal to five percent of qualified wages earned per year (taking into account a maximum of $9,000 in wages per year). Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Part II: Credits for Investment in Tangible Property in Enterprise Zones - Allows businesses an additional investment tax credit for investment in certain tangible property located in enterprise zones. Limits such credit to five percent for zone personal property and ten percent for new zone construction property, including rental property. Requires that the property subject to such credit be predominantly used in the zone, be purchased after zone designation, and not be acquired from relatives or related corporations. Requires the recapture of such credit upon early disposition of the property. Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Part III: Rules Reduction in Capital Gain Tax Rates - Eliminates the capital gains tax on property of corporations acquired after the enterprise zone designation and used in a zone business. Qualifies certain low-income rental housing located in an enterprise zone for such treatment. Permits property to remain qualified for purposes of the revised capital gains treatment after a designation of an enterprise has terminated. Exempts gain from the sale or exchange of property used in a business in an enterprise zone from the computation of the minimum tax. Allows noncorporate taxpayers to deduct from gross income 100 percent of any net capital gain from qualified enterprise zone property. Part IV: Rules Relating to Industrial Development Bonds - Provides that limitations on the cost recovery deductions for property financed with tax-exempt industrial development bonds shall not apply to enterprise zone property. Provides that the termination of the small issue exemption shall not apply to industrial development bonds the proceeds of which are used to finance facilities in such enterprise zones. Part V: Sense of the Congress with Respect to Tax Simplification - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the Treasury should simplify the administration and enforcement of any provision of the Internal Revenue Code affected by this Act. Subtitle C: Regulatory Flexibility - Revises the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified businesses and governments and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations which pertain to the carrying out of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve such request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in continuation of the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement (including the Davis-Bacon Act and Fair Labor Standards Act) or which would present a danger to the public health and safety. Provides that such waivers or modification of a rule shall remain in effect as long as the zone designations. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to promote the coordination of all enterprise zone programs and consolidate all periodic reports required under such programs into one summary report. Subtitle D: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Board to consider on a priority basis and expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to and expedite applications for the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. States that, to the maximum extent practicable, foreign-trade zones should be established within enterprise zones. Title II: Youth Employment Opportunity Wage - Youth Employment Opportunity Wage Act of 1984 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to authorize employers to pay employees under 20 years of age 75 percent of the minimum wage rate between May and September of each year. Exempts such employees from special certificate requirements. Restricts such authorization to: (1) hours worked by eligible employees in compliance with applicable child labor laws; and (2) youth employed after May 1 of each year. Prohibits the removal of employees ineligible for the subminimum wage rate in order to replace them with employees who are eligible. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Job Training Partnership Act. Terminates the minimum wage rate exception after September 30, 1987. Directs the Secretary of Labor to monitor the implementation of this Act and to report to the Congress concerning the employment effects of this Act. Title III: Urban Homesteading - Urban Homestead Act of 1985 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to establish procedures under which families residing in public housing projects shall be provided with an opportunity to purchase their dwelling units. Requires the formation of a homeownership association composed of families who: (1) are capable of assuming the responsibilities of homeownership; (2) have resided in public housing projects for not less than 24 consecutive months; and (3) have resided in their current dwelling units for at least 12 consecutive months. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide comprehensive improvement assistance to such projects to ensure that the physical condition, management, and operation of such projects are sufficient to encourage homeownership by resident families. Directs the Secretary and the responsible public housing agency to provide the training and technical and educational assistance necessary to prepare the families and the home ownership association for homeownership. Directes the Secretary to pay to the agency an amount equal to any reduction in the operating expenses of a project realized as a result of providing such assistance. Directs the agency to use such amount to reduce the purchase prices of dwelling units. Authorizes a homeownership association to purchase a public housing project after the Secretary determines that: (1) the association is prepared to manage and maintain the project with continued Federal assistance; and (2) project operating costs have been reduced sufficiently to make home ownership affordable to resident families. Allows an eligible family to purchase a dwelling if the Secretary determines that such purchase will not interfere with the rights of other resident families or harm the efficient operation of the project. Requires the Secretary to continue to pay annual contributions to such project after such a purchase. Limits the purchase price for a project or unit to 25 percent of its fair market value. Lists alternative purchasing arrangements. Directs the agency to assist a purchase by making a loan to a family or association at an interest rate not exceeding 70 percent of the market interest rate. Requires any unit or project purchaser who sells such property before the expiration of five years to pay the public housing agency a specified percentage of the sale price. Establishes procedures under which families residing in public housing projects shall be provided with an opportunity to undertake the management, maintenance, educational, and cultural functions of such project. Requires such families to form a resident management association. Directs the Secretary and the responsible public housing agency to provide necessary training and technical and educational assistance. Allows such association to undertake such functions after the Secretary determines it is capable. Prohibits the eviction of any resident family because of the sale of a project to a homeownership association. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) help relocate any family which decides not to purchase its dwellings in a project where other units are purchased; or (2) provide such family with a housing voucher to permit such family to obtain comparable alternative housing. Directs the Secretary to furnish financial assistance to: (1) public housing agencies to enable such agencies to carry out this Act; and (2) purchasing families or associations for operating and maintenance expenses. Title IV: Equal Educational Opportunity Act - Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1983 - Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to permit payments to local educational agencies (LEAs) under Chapter 1 (Federal Assistance to Meet Special Educational Needs of Disadvantaged Children) of such Act to be used for educational voucher programs. Permits parents of educationally deprived children to use such vouchers to pay for: (1) full-time enrollment at private schools or at public schools outside their school district; or (2) compensatory services provided by the LEA to meet their special educational needs at public schools of their school district. Authorizes State educational agencies (SEAs) to require LEAs to use Chapter 1 funds to implement voucher programs. Requires that such State requirement be for all LEAs. Gives each LEA discretion to: (1) use such funds to implement a voucher program (if the SEA does not so require); and (2) distribute vouchers to some or all eligible parents. Sets forth requirements for: (1) authorized educational voucher programs; (2) other LEA special educational needs programs and projects under Chapter 1; and (3) LEA applications to SEAs for voucher programs. Declares that educational voucher program payments made by an LEA to a private school or to another LEA under this Act shall not constitute Federal financial assistance to the LEA or private school receiving such payments. Declares that use of Chapter 1 funds received in exchange for a voucher by a private school or a public school outside the eligible child's school district shall not constitute a program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Makes specified Chapter 1 provisions inapplicable to educational voucher programs. Sets forth requirements for nondiscrimination by private schools in the voucher program. Prohibits racially discriminatory policies at such schools. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose to appropriate Department of Justice offices or employees any tax return or tax return information relevant to investigations by the Attorney General or proceedings brought under this Act to determine whether a school is following a racially discriminatory policy. Makes conforming amendments to specified provisions of Federal law relating to the creation of the declaratory judgment remedy to include references to provisions of this Act which authorize declaratory judgments by appropriate U.S. district courts as to whether a private elementary or secondary school follows a racially discriminatory policy.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Designates the week of June 23 through June 29, 1985, as Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the benefit disparity between those born before 1916 and those born after 1916 which was effected by the enactment of the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to recompute the primary insurance amount so as to take into account the amendments made by this Act and to pay to any individual so entitled any additional lump sum amount to which such individual is entitled by reason of this Act. Prohibits the recomputation from reducing any individual's benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1985
Designates the month of September 1985 as National Sewing Month.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the third week of June 1985 as National Veterans' Health Care Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1985
Wood Products Trade Act of 1985 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the President to enter into trade agreements which provide for voluntary restraints on exports of wood products. Declares that such agreements should also provide for the termination of subsidies and the harmonization reduction or elimination of tariff and nontariff barriers to international trade in wood products. Directs the President, in pursuing such trade agreements, to take into account trade distortions resulting from product standards and from restrictions on the trade of unprocessed logs. Requires such agreements, for specified purposes, to be treated in the same manner as trade agreements designed to reduce nontariff trade barriers and other trade distortions. Directs the President, after not more than 90 days of consultation with a foreign country or instrumentality, to: (1) terminate, withdraw, or suspend all or part of any trade agreement with such foreign entity with respect to any U.S. duty or other import restriction on wood products; and (2) terminate, withdraw, or suspend the U.S. obligations with respect to such duty or other import restriction. Requires that: (1) any duty or other import restriction with respect to which such an action has been taken shall remain in effect from February 26, 1985, through February 26, 1986; and (2) after February 26, 1986, any such duty shall be increased to ten percent ad valorem plus its column 1 duty rate, unless either a countervailing duty is imposed on that wood product because of a subsidy or the duty on the wood product is modified under a bill enacting a trade agreement on wood products. Requires that any such suspension of tariff or import restrictions on wood products shall be treated as an increase or imposition of duty for purposes of the President's authority to grant new concessions as compensation to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions. Directs the President to consult with the Congress in carrying out this Act. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to add as a definition of "subsidy" the furnishing of stumpage rights (the rights to cut or remove standing timber) on government lands by a country under a program or system in which those rights are furnished in exchange for a price less than the current price for comparable stumpage rights on government lands in the United States. Sets forth a formula for determining such stumpage rights subsidy in Canada. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS) to change the definition of certain types of plywood for purposes of the TSUS.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1985
Designates the month of October 1985 as National Head Injury Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1985
Asbestos Workers' Recovery Act - Title I: Supplemental Benefits - Establishes a Federal supplemental benefit program for death or disability caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. Provides guidelines for: (1) the calculation of benefits in proportion to disability; (2) payment methods; and (3) payment priorities. Exempts such supplemental benefits from: (1) any tax or legal process; and (2) any offset for administrative benefits under State or Federal law. Sets guidelines for the offset of supplemental benefits where reorganization or liquidation proceedings occur under Federal bankruptcy laws. Makes supplemental benefits payable only out of the Asbestos-Related Disease Trust Fund established by this Act. Conditions eligibility for supplemental benefits upon such benefits' being the exclusive remedy of an individual for occupational exposure to asbestos. Prescribes guidelines for the filing and payment of asbestos-related disease claims. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to apply by analogy specified portions of the Social Security Act when making determinations of: (1) entitlement to benefits; (2) review of claims; and (3) delegations of authority to State agencies. Directs the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary, in determining eligibility for a supplemental benefit under this Act, to determine annually the average weekly wage for manufacturing workers in each State. Requires such determinations to govern decisions regarding all claims filed in the following calendar year. Requires the Secretary to rely upon: (1) prior court decisions regarding a claimant; and (2) prior determinations by the appropriate workers' compensation program regarding specified eligibility criteria. Specifies exceptions. Requires the Secretary to apply the appropriate workers' compensation law when reviewing supplemental benefit claims. Creates within the Department of Health and Human Services the National Medical Panel on Asbestos-Related Diseases to: (1) decide which diseases belong to the list of asbestos-related diseases; (2) review claims to determine whether a person's disease was caused by asbestos exposure; and (3) publish certain Medical Assessment Guidance Documents. Provides guidelines for the appointment of medical scientists to the Panel from certain organizations. Directs the Panel to promulgate a list of asbestos-related diseases and to provide explanations of any decisions to include or omit a disease from such list. Outlines conditions under which the Panel shall review claims for asbestos-related diseases which do not appear on the panel's list of diseases. Requires the Panel to determine within a specified time whether the disease in the referred claim should be included on such list. Requires the Panel to publish Medical Assessment Guidance Documents including specific medical diagnostic criteria to aid parties and decisionmakers determine whether a death or disability was caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. Title II: Finance - Prescribes guidelines under which: (1) assessments are imposed against each asbestos defendant; (2) assessment allocating factors are assigned to asbestos defendants; (3) assessments are imposed against asbestos insurance policies; and (4) assessments are imposed against companies undergoing Federal bankruptcy proceedings. Sets the aggregate semiannual assessment on defendants on June 30 and December 31 of 1985 and 1986 at $150,000,000. Sets forth formulas for determining the aggregate semiannual assessment on each assessment due date in 1987 and thereafter. Imposes interest upon assessments not paid by the due date. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) conduct studies determining assessment allocation factor amounts and assessment apportionment ratios; and (2) promulgate compliance regulations. States that assessment payments do not prejudice the right to recover or challenge such payments. Treats asbestos-related disease assessments imposed upon either an asbestos defendant or an asbestos insurance policy, for Federal income tax purposes, as ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in carrying on the trade or business, on the one hand, and insurance contract losses, on the other. Treats asbestos-related disease assessments as miscellaneous excise taxes. Establishes in the Treasury the Asbestos-Related Disease Trust Fund (the Trust Fund). Details the manner in which such Trust Fund shall be funded and administered. Makes the Secretary of the Treasury the Managing Trustee, and delineates trustee functions. Provides for repayable initial advances and repayable cash flow advances to the Trust Fund during specified periods of FY 1985. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and subsequent fiscal years for the Trust Fund. Establishes within the Department of the Treasury the Asbestos-Related Disease Trust Fund Conservation Committee (the Committee) comprised of the Managing Trustee and five public members appointed by the President. Includes among the consultation and review functions of such Committee: (1) claim disposition; (2) grant and contract awards; and (3) claims and assessments analysis. Directs the Committee to submit an annual report to the Congress regarding the performance of its responsibilities. Authorizes the Committee, with the advice and assistance of the Secretary of Labor, to instruct the Managing Trustee to award grants and contracts to specified organizations for the purpose of: (1) improving State workers' compensation programs; (2) assuring the availability of medical specialists to assist government agencies; (3) establishing medical evaluation units to determine occupational sources of asbestos-related diseases; and (4) medical treatment research. Title III: Miscellaneous - Makes the supplemental benefits under this Act and the applicable workers' compensation programs the exclusive remedy for occupational exposure to asbestos. Exempts certain persons from liability for occupational exposure to asbestos. Removes jurisdiction from State or Federal tribunals to adjudicate any claim of liability for occupational exposure to asbestos after enactment of this Act. Confers jurisdiction for judicial review of administrative acts under this Act only upon the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Confers jurisdiction for questions of assessments and constitutionality under this Act only upon a special three-judge district court established in the District Court for the District of Columbia. Requires all administrative costs and expenses of this Act to be paid out of the Trust Fund. Directs the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, and the Attorney General to submit an analysis and certification of their respective costs under this Act to the Managing Trustee for reimbursement.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1985
Textile and Apparel Trade Enforcement Act of 1985 - Limits the total quantity of 1985 imports of textiles and textile products from a major exporting country to the lesser of an amount equal to 101 percent: (1) of the total quantity of textile products imported from such country if the total had increased by six percent annually (one percent annually for wool products) during 1981 through 1984; or (2) if the United States has an agreement with such country providing for an annual growth rate of less than six percent, of the total quantity of such products from such country imported during 1984. Limits the total quantity of 1985 imports of textiles and textile products from an exporting country to an amount equal to the total quantity of such products imported from such country during 1984 plus: (1) 15 percent of such quantity in the case of a category that is not an import sensitive category; or (2) one percent in the case of an import sensitive category. Provides for changing the classification of a country, except for a Caribbean country, from an exporting country to a major exporting country if the total textile imports from such country equals or exceeds one and one-quarter percent of all textiles imported into the United States. Sets forth a formula for adjusting the growth of textile imports annually. Sets forth certain minimum quantities of textile imports that all countries shall be allowed to export to the United States. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to enforce this Act. Directs the Secretary, within six months of enactment of this Act, to establish an import licensing system under which an importer of textiles will be required to present an import permit as a condition of entry of such textiles. Directs the President to report to the Congress annually on the administration of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1985
Designates the month of June 1985 as Youth Suicide Prevention Month.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to a named Alabama bank in full satisfaction of all claims against the United States for losses arising from the cancellation of a Government loan guarantee due to actions and misrepresentations of the Defense Logistics Agency of the Department of Defense.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Designates April 2, 1985, as Education Day, U.S.A.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1985
Interstate Compact - Grants congressional approval to the Southeast Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management, which provides for cooperation among the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in the management of low-level radioactive waste on a continuing basis.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1985
Declares a named individual to have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1985
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to apportion for expenditure on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways: (1) the remaining sums authorized to be appropriated in accordance with the interstate cost estimate for FY 1985; and (2) the sums authorized to be appropriated in accordance with the interstate cost estimate for FY 1986. Directs the Secretary to apportion: (1) the remaining sums to be apportioned for FY 1984 for expenditure on substitute highway and transit projects; and (2) the sums to be apportioned for FY 1985 for expenditure on substitute highway and transit projects.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1985
Provides that each item of any general or special appropriation bill and any bill or joint resolution making supplemental, deficiency, or continuing appropriations that is agreed to in the same form by both Houses of the Congress shall be enrolled as a separate bill or joint resolution for presentation to the President (line-item veto).
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
Farm Credit Private Control Restoration Act of 1985 - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to provide that each Federal land bank, Federal intermediate credit bank, and district bank for cooperatives shall have a separate board of directors. Sets forth the composition of such boards. Provides that the eligibility requirements, terms, and compensation of directors and the election of officers by the directors shall be the same as provided for farm credit district boards. Authorizes the Farm Credit Administration to modify the charters or organization certificates of such banks only as necessary for compliance with such Act. Restricts the Administration's authority over the salaries of bank employees and chief executive officers. Prohibits Administration regulations from preventing such banks from exercising any powers granted under Federal statute. Increases: (1) by four the number of members of the board of directors of each farm credit district; and (2) by one the number of such directors appointed by the Governor of the Administration and the number of directors elected by the Federal land bank associations, the production credit associations, and the borrowers from, or subscribers to, the guaranty fund of the bank for cooperatives for the district. Limits the powers of such district boards to: (1) coordinating joint undertakings and joint properties of the district banks; (2) advising the boards of district banks on coordination of policies; and (3) formulating broad policies concerning the funding operations of the district banks and furnishing long-range policy guidelines for funding the Farm Credit System. Sets forth transitional provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 50 percent excise tax on any "greenmail profits" paid to certain corporate stockholders. Defines "greenmail profits" as any gain realized by a four-percent shareholder of any stock in a corporation if: (1) the shareholder held such stock for a period of less than two years; and (2) during the two-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange of such stock there was a public tender offer for such stock or a four-percent shareholder submitted a written proposal for a public tender offer. Disallows an income tax deduction for certain interest paid or accrued with respect to hostile acquisition indebtedness. Defines "hostile acquisition indebtedness" as certain subordinate obligations issued after February 18, 1985, in connection with a hostile acquisition.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee to review, on a continuing basis and when considering public bills or resolutions, those portions of the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (Grace Commission report) pertaining to such committee's jurisdiction. Amends rule XI to require each committee report on a public bill or resolution to contain: (1) an identification of each recommendation of the Survey to be implemented and the resulting estimated program cost savings or revenue enhancement; and (2) a statement setting forth the disposition of each recommendation pertaining to such bill or resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1985
Designates the month of October 1985 as National Foster Grandparent Month.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of May 12 through May 18, 1985, as Senior Center Week.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Fair Trade in Ferroalloys Act - Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to replace the current tariff on certain ferroalloys with a tariff equal to the fair price differential. Defines fair price differential. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to publish annually the fair price for such ferroalloys.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Amends the Clayton Act to temporarily prohibit any person engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce from acquiring control of a domestic petroleum corporation if the corporation disapproves the acquisition. Defines "control" as the acquisition of more than four percent of the stock, share capital, or assets of the corporation. Directs the Secretary of Energy, the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Reserve Board to investigate and report to the Congress on the effects of such prohibited corporate takeovers on domestic petroleum supplies, competition in the marketing of petroleum products, petroleum industry financing methods, and credit markets, respectively.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Firearms Owners' Protection Act - Title I: Amendments to Title 18, United States Code - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to redefine: (1) "manufacturer" to mean any person engaged in the "business of manufacturing" (instead of "manufacture" of) firearms or ammunition; and (2) "dealer" to exclude dealers in ammunition. Adds a new definition, "engaged in the business," with respect to manufacturers, dealers, and importers. Defines as a manufacturer, dealer, or importer of firearms a person who manufactures or deals in a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit. Excludes as dealers persons making occasional sales or repairs of firearms. Eliminates certain activities involving ammunition from the coverage of the current prohibitions. Allows for the sale or delivery of any firearm to a resident of a State other than a State in which the licensee's place of business is located if such sale or delivery complies with the laws of both States. Presumes a licensee to have actual knowledge of the published laws of the State. Requires such transfer to be face to face. Revises the current prohibition against certain classes of persons transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce to extend such prohibition to possession or receipt in commerce or affecting commerce of any firearm or ammunition. Includes as additional categories illegal aliens, dishonorably discharged members of the armed forces, and U.S. citizens who renounce their citizenship. Excludes ammunition dealers from the current licensing requirements. Declares that a licensed dealer's personal collection of firearms shall not be subject to recordkeeping requirements, under specific circumstances. Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to revoke a license only where the holder "willfully" violates a provision of the Act. Bars the Secretary from denying or revoking a license on the basis of violations which are alleged in criminal proceedings instituted against a licensee where such individual is not convicted of such charges. Allows the Government to voluntarily dismiss criminal charges prior to trial and still proceed with revocation. Imposes as a condition for the inspection or examination of records, documents, firearms, or ammunition that the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred and that evidence may be found on the premises. Requires a warrant to be issued for such search. Restricts the kind of firearms information obtained from licensees which the Secretary may make available to State or local governments. Establishes a limited recordkeeping requirement for firearms collectors. Establishes a "willful" scienter (knowledge) requirement with respect to general violations of the Act. Makes it a defense to a prosecution under this section that the conduct constituting the offense consisted of simple carelessness. Amends the forfeiture provision to subject to seizure any firearm or ammunition "involved in or used" in any violation of the Gun Control Act (instead of "involved in or used or intended to be used"). Directs the court to award attorney fees to the prevailing party (other than the United States) in a proceeding for the return of seized firearms or ammunition. Requires the court to award such fees in any other action upon a finding that the action was without foundation or was initiated in bad faith. Limits seizure to firearms individually identified as involved in the violation. Revises the current procedure allowing persons who have been convicted of a crime to apply to the Secretary for relief from the firearms prohibitions by allowing such a person to appeal a denial to the U.S. district court. Amends the rulemaking authority of the Secretary to provide that no regulation may require the transfer of records required under this Act to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or the establishment of any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions. Requires a 90-day public comment period for proposed regulations (no period is currently specified). Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing regulations which require purchasers of black powder to complete affidavits or forms attesting to their exemption from certain provisions of the Federal criminal code. Declares any law or regulation promulgated by any State prohibiting the transfer of an unloaded and not readily accessible firearm or ammunition null and void. Title II: Amendments to Title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 - Repeals title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (relating to the receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms by felons, veterans dishonorably discharged, mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and persons renouncing their United States citizenship).
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Designates November 1985 as American Liver Foundation National Liver Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of June 16 through June 22, 1985, as National Safety in the Workplace Week.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Designates the week of November 3 through November 9, 1985, as National Drug Abuse Education Week.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Designates the month of October 1985 as National Down Syndrome Month.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the last Friday of April each year as National Arbor Day.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1985
Establishes a presumption of service-connection for disability purposes for former prisoners of war suffering from the following conditions, manifest to a degree of ten percent or more after active service: (1) chronic liver disease; (2) organic residuals of hypothermia; (3) gastro-intestinal disorders; (4) arthritis; (5) cardiovascular conditions; (6) peripheral neuropathy; (7) immunological dysfunctions; or (8) chronic pulmonary disease. Decreases from six months to 30 days the amount of time a former prisoner of war must have been incarcerated to be eligible for outpatient dental services.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week of April 21 through April 27, 1985, as National Organ Donation Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1985
Biennial Budgeting Act of 1985 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish a two-year cycle for the presidential and congressional budget process. Requires each standing committee of Congress to review the laws and programs under its jurisdiction every other year and to consider the desirability of new legislation in such areas. Eliminates provisions requiring a second concurrent resolution on the budget. Permits revisions only in new spending authority, revenues, and the public debt limit through the reconciliation process.