United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Alcoholic Beverage Broadcast Advertising Study Act - Directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms of the Department of the Treasury to study the extent to which: (1) the advertising and promotion of alcoholic beverages by radio and television broadcast stations and other media encourage alcohol consumption; (2) such advertising and promotion practices are subject to effective private industry self regulation; and (3) other forms of public information can neutralize or reduce the adverse effects of such practices. Directs the Bureau to report to the Congress within one year after the enactment of this Act on such study as well as on findings by: (1) the Federal Communications Commission regarding such practices of broadcast licensees; and (2) other Federal agencies on the effects of alcohol consumption on health.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Amends the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Walsh-Healey Act to require overtime compensation only for hours of employment in excess of 40 hours in a workweek for employees of Federal Government contractors or subcontractors.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to limit participation in the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC) to States in which State or local sales taxes are not collected on purchases of food under such program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Extends through the school year ending June 30, 1987, a school district's eligibility under the school lunch program to continue receiving all cash or all letters of credit in lieu of commodities. Makes such districts eligible for bonus commodities on the same basis as other districts participating in the school lunch program. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into agreements with private companies for processing donated commodities into end food products at the expense of the eligible recipient agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Humane Product Testing Act of 1985 - Requires Federal departments and agencies to promote nonanimal alternatives to the LD50 test used in the testing of products. Phases out the use of such test to the degree possible within one year of this Act's enactment. (LD50 is a procedure whereby toxicity is measured in terms of the median dose which will kill 50 percent of the test animals within a specified period.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1985
Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to prohibit the Export-Import Bank from making any payment to subsidize financing offered to any person. Authorizes any director of the Export-Import Bank whose term has expired to serve until his or her successor has been appointed. Extends the authorities of the Export-Import Bank Act until September 30, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1985
Prohibits interstate and foreign commerce in any article of fur derived from an animal trapped in a steel jaw leghold trap. Establishes criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to reward nongovernment informers for information leading to a conviction under this Act. Makes the Secretary, with the assistance of appropriate Federal or State personnel, responsible for enforcing this Act. Empowers enforcement officials to detain, search, and seize suspected merchandise or documents and to make arrests with and without warrants. Subjects seized merchandise to forfeiture.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit States and local governments to provide statements of tax refunds, credits, and offsets to individuals at any time during the calendar year for which such governments make a return, but not later than January 31 of the year following the year of the return. (Current law requires such statements to be furnished in January of the year following the year of the return.)
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1985
National Childhood Vaccine-Injury Compensation Act of 1985 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the National Childhood Vaccine-Injury Compensation Program (Program). Prohibits the filing of a civil action for damages for vaccine-related injuries unless the procedures of this Act have been followed. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prescribe rules governing the content of claims for vaccine-related injuries and procedures for filing such claims. Sets forth deadlines by which: (1) the Secretary must send the claimant and respondent lists of persons eligible to serve on hearing panels; (2) the respondent may join additional respondents; and (3) the claimant and respondent are to select persons for the hearing panel. Provides for the selection and replacement of additional hearing panel members. Permits each respondent to file a consent waiving his or her rights to a judge or jury trial. Allows the hearing panel to hear a claim if each respondent has filed consent. Allows the claimant to file an action for damages in a State or Federal court where none of the respondents have filed such consents. Permits the hearing panel to hear the claim against participating respondents where some, but not all, of the respondents filed consents. Allows the claimant to file an action in a State or Federal court against the nonparticipating respondents. Declares that such court action shall be stayed on any party's motion until the proceedings against the participating respondents are completed. Empowers the hearing panel to determine whether any alleged injuries are vaccine-related and, if appropriate, to award compensation. Sets an aggregate limit of $1,000,000 per person for such awards, including $100,000 for damages arising from pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Allows the claimant to reject the decision of the hearing panel by filing an objection within 60 days. Permits the respondent to appeal the decision of the hearing panel to a Federal district court within 30 days thereafter if no such objection is filed by the claimant. Directs the district court to affirm the hearing panel decision, unless: (1) the decision was procured by corruption or fraud; (2) the hearing panel exceeded its authority; or (3) the hearing panel denied a fair hearing to any party. Permits a claimant who has filed a timely objection to the hearing panel decision to maintain an action for damages in an appropriate State or Federal court. Permits the decision of the hearing panel to be admitted into evidence, unless: (1) the decision was procured by corruption or fraud; (2) the hearing panel exceeded its authority; or (3) the hearing panel denied a fair hearing to any party. Allows a plaintiff to recover a judgment for monetary damages to the full extent provided by State or Federal law where: (1) the respondent did not file a consent pursuant to this Act; or (2) the parties waived compliance with the procedures prescribed by this Act. Limits recovery to the extent provided by this Act where the respondent has filed a consent. Permits a respondent who has paid an award, judgment, or settlement to file a civil action in a U.S. district court seeking to recover all or part of it. Permits third-party impleaders and cross-claims. Allows a party to file an action for contribution or indemnification if that party: (1) did not file a consent pursuant to this Act or waived compliance; and (2) discharged a vaccine-injury claim. Declares that claims filed more than two years after the first manifestation of a vaccine-related injury shall be barred. Defines "covered vaccine" to include vaccines against diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella. Establishes an Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to: (1) advise the Secretary on the implementation of the Program; (2) study and recommend ways to encourage the availability of safe and effective vaccines; (3) survey information gathering programs and advise the Secretary on how to obtain useful information; and (4) recommend research. Directs the Secretary to develop parent information materials within one year of enactment of this Act. Describes the information to be included in such materials. Directs the Secretary to: (1) encourage the development of vaccines that result in fewer major adverse reactions than those currently on the market; and (2) assure improvements in the vaccine industry to reduce the risks of major adverse reactions. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees biennially.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1985
Recognizes the pause for the Pledge of Allegiance as part of the celebration of National Flag Day and urges all Americans to participate by reciting the Pledge in unison at a specified time on that day.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1985
States that the United Support of Artists for Africa should be commended for aiding the African famine victims and for demonstrating that people can make a difference in relieving the plight of those victims.
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
Commemorates May 18, 1985, as the 20th anniversary of the Head Start Program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Head Start Program has been cost-effective and successful; and (2) congressional commitment to such program is reaffirmed.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1985
Mail Order Drug Paraphernalia Control Act - Makes it a Federal criminal offense for any person to use the U.S. Postal Service or any private parcel service in interstate commerce as part of a scheme to sell drug paraphernalia. Imposes a penalty of imprisonment for not more than three years and a fine of not more than $100,000. Provides for the seizure and forfeiture of any paraphernalia involved in a violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1985
Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to exempt from certain cargo preference requirements activities of the Commodity Credit Corporation or the Department of Agriculture that promote the export of agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1985
Amends the Federal Employees Flexible and Compressed Work Schedules Act of 1982 to make permanent the authority of Federal agencies to use flexible and compressed work schedules.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Amends the Federal Employees Flexible and Compressed Work Schedules Act of 1982 to make permanent the authority of Federal agencies to use flexible and compressed work schedules.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (the Act) to revise title I provisions. Retitles title I (currently "Continuing Postsecondary Education Program and Planning") as "Targeted Educational Outreach and Informational Programs." Retitles and replaces part A (currently "Commission on National Development in Postsecondary Education") with new provisions for "Postsecondary Education Innovation and Expansion Grants." Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program, in accordance with such title I part A, to assist eligible postsecondary institutions to establish programs to enhance the educational opportunities available to adult learners. Directs the Secretary, from specified sums, to award grants to institutions with applications meeting specified criteria for such assistance. Sets the maximum award that may be made under a single application under part A at $200,000 (or $300,000 in the case of an application from a combination of eligible institutions), which may remain available for expenditure for not more than a three-year period. Makes institutions of higher education, as defined under general provisions of the Act, and combinations of such institutions eligible to apply for such assistance. Sets forth permissible uses of such grant funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 to carry out part A. Retitles and replaces part B (currently "Education Outreach Programs") with new provisions for "Postsecondary Outreach Grants." Directs the Secretary, in accordance with such title I part B, to carry out a program to assist postsecondary institutions to establish and carry out programs designed to encourage the establishment and growth of off-campus educational programs. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to institutions with applications meeting specified criteria for assistance. Sets the maximum award that may be made under a single application under part B at $200,000 (or $300,000 in the case of an application from a combination of eligible institutions), which may remain available for expenditure for not more than a three-year period. Makes institutions of higher education, as defined under general provisions of the Act, or combinations of such institutions, eligible for such assistance. Sets forth permissible uses of such grant funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 to carry out part B. Eliminates provisions for the National Advisory Council on Continuing Education. Sets forth new title I part C provisions for "Research Program Grants." Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and contracts with, institutions of higher education, public and private institutions and organizations, and States, or any combination thereof, to support the purposes of such part C by providing assistance to such educational institutions for specified educational research, development, information, and training activities relating to postsecondary education for adult learners. Sets forth application requirements for such grants and contracts. Sets the maximum award that may be made under a single application under part C at $200,000 (or $300,000 in the case of an application from a combination of eligible institutions), which may remain available for expenditure for not more than a three-year period. Sets forth permissible uses of funds under part C. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 to carry out part C. Sets forth a new title I part D ("Defined Term") which defines the term "adult learner" for purposes of title I.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State should recommend to the Attorney General that extended voluntary departure status be granted to alien nationals of Guatemala until the situation there becomes safe for their return.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1985
Age Discrimination in Employment Act Public Safety Officers Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to exclude State and local law enforcement officers and firefighters from coverage under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Paraguay should carry out an investigation to locate and arrest Josef Mengele and extradite him to the Federal Republic of Germany; and (2) the United States should take actions to ensure that Josef Mengele is brought to justice.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1985
Form 1099 Paperwork Relief Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the inclusion of dividend payments with the required informational statement furnished to taxpayers receiving dividends. (Present law requires separate mailings of dividend payments and such informational statements.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that transportation may be excluded from gross income as a no-additional-cost fringe benefit without regard to whether such service is offered for sale to customers. (Present law excludes employer-provided transportation only if such service is offered for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should express to the Soviet Union the U.S. opposition to the Soviet Union's slave labor policies by all possible means, including refusing to permit imports of products made by such labor. Requests the President to end the delay in enforcing the restriction against importing goods produced by forced labor.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1985
Designates the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic to be located in Crown Point, Indiana, as the Adam Benjamin, Junior, Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1985
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend indefinitely the income tax exclusion for employee educational assistance programs. (Present law terminates such exclusion as of December 31, 1985.) Limits the maximum amount of such exclusion (beginning in 1986) to $5,000 of amounts paid or expenses incurred for educational assistance furnished to an employee during a calendar year. Exempts graduate students engaged in teaching or research activities from such maximum limit. Provides for annual cost-of-living adjustments in such maximum limit beginning in 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1985
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1984 to make permanent the rules relating to the allocation of research and experimental expenditures for purposes of determining income from sources within the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1985
Amends the Federal criminal code with regard to the kidnapping of children under the age of 18. Provides for a minimum sentence of ten years. Imposes a life sentence (without the eligibility for parole for 20 years) if certain aggravating conduct is involved. Lists aggravating conduct as: (1) selling the victim of such offense; (2) sexually abusing the victim; (3) using the victim for pornography; (4) denying the victim food or medical care; (5) intentionally harming the victim physically to a life-threatening extent; or (6) causing the victim to be subjected to such conduct by another. Prohibits the granting of a probationary or suspended sentence.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1985
Tobacco Deregulation Act of 1985 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to repeal tobacco price support provisions. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal tobacco acreage allotment and marketing quota provisions. Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1965 to repeal tobacco allotment transfer provisions. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (P.L. 480) to exclude tobacco from specified concessional export provisions. Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to prohibit the Commodity Credit Corporation from assisting tobacco production. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to prohibit the issuance of tobacco marketing orders. Repeals the Tobacco Control Act. Withdraws congressional consent from any interstate compact regulating tobacco production and commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1985
Amends the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 to extend hospice benefits under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for two years, until October 1, 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) veterans' disability compensation payments should remain exempt from Federal income taxation; and (2) the President should reject any proposals to tax such payments.
![Official portrait of Rep. Chandler, Rod D. [R-WA-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000293_200.jpg)