United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1981
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to include insurance coverage for damage caused by flood-related landslides. Directs the Federal Insurance Administrator, within one year of enactment of this Act, to report to Congress on the feasibility of insuring property which is located outside of, but on the same real estate lot as, a currently insured residential structure. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to pay to any person who, during a specified period prior to enactment of this Act, incurred property damage caused by a flood-related landslide. Provides that such amount equal the amount payable if such damage had been covered by such insurance. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1981
Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to permit local distribution companies to provide natural gas service to residential customers for use in outdoor lighting fixtures installed and receiving natural gas before the enactment of such Act. Requires each local distribution company, in accordance with rules established by the Secretary of Energy, to: (1) periodically inform its customers of the amount of natural gas consumed by outdoor lighting; and (2) report such information method to the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1981
Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish the Committee on Internal Security with jurisdiction over communist, terrorist, and other subversive activities. Removes such jurisdiction from the Judiciary Committee. Transfers to the Internal Security Committee all of its property under the control of the Judiciary Committee or any other government agency.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada should meet to discuss North American economic development, trading relationships, specific problems, and cooperation and reciprocal negotiations in the joint development of solutions to these problems.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to limit, to 12 1/2 percent of the value of the coal produced yearly, the amount of all State and local severance taxes or fees on coal shipped in interstate commerce to any powerplant or major installation.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Directs the Postal Service to submit to Congress (rather than to the Postal Rate Commission) any proposed change in the nature of postal service which would have nationwide impact. Requires any statement of proposed change so submitted to include an estimate of the impact of such change upon the public, business mail users, service levels and postal finances. Provides that no proposed change shall become effective if either House of Congress adopts a resolution disapproving it within 60 days after it is submitted to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the maximum reduction (currently $500,000) in valuation under the special estate tax valuation for certain farm and small business real property shall be increased annually between 1981 and 1985 by $100,000 each year plus an inflation adjustment amount.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the unified credit against the estate and gift tax from $47,000 to $155,800 by specified annual increments through 1985. Provides for a yearly inflation adjustment of the amount of such credit.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
National Tourism Policy Act - Title I: National Tourism Policy - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to establish a cooperative effort between the Federal Government, State and local governments, and other concerned public and private organizations to implement a national tourism policy. Title II: United States Travel and Tourism Administration - Establishes as an independent agency the United States Travel and Tourism Administration. Authorizes the Administration to assist Congress and the Federal agencies having policy and programmatic responsibilities affecting tourism. Directs the Administrator, by April 15, 1982, to submit a detailed tourism development plan to specified Congressional committees. Requires each Federal agency upon the request of the Administrator to: (1) make its services, personnel, and facilities available to assist the Administration; and (2) furnish the Administration necessary information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics. Prohibits the Administration from providing transportation or accommodations in competition with businesses engaged in providing such transportation or accommodations. Directs the Administration to submit budget information, legislative recommendations, prepared testimony for Congressional hearings, and reports to the President or to the Office of Management and Budget and, concurrently, to Congress. Directs the Administration to submit an annual report to the President for transmittal to Congress. Authorizes the Administrator to provide financial assistance to regions of not less than two States or portions of two States for the implementation of regional tourism promotional and marketing programs which shall serve as demonstration projects. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982. Establishes the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to complete the transfer of the assets, rights, privileges, powers, duties, and liabilities of the United States Travel Service to the Administration by October 1, 1981. Abolishes the United States Travel Service upon completion of such transfer. Title III: Amendments to the International Travel Act - Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to extend until September 30, 1981, the time limit for the reduction in the number of employees of the United States Travel Service. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from reducing: (1) the number of United States Travel Service employees in offices in foreign countries to a level below that authorized for fiscal year 1979; and (2) the amount of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for financing the activities of such foreign offices to a level below that authorized for fiscal year 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Eliminates Supreme Court and Federal district court jurisdiction to review and hear any case arising out of State law relating to voluntary prayer in public buildings and schools.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Repeals the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires the rate of wages for workers employed on public buildings by contractors to be based upon the prevailing wages for corresponding classes of workers employed on similar projects in the same area.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Radio Broadcasting Deregulation Act of 1981 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from regulating the program content or record keeping of commercial radio broadcasting station licensees.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit certain credit transactions for the acquisition of securities of United States corporations by either United States or non-United States persons where such a transaction is financed by either United States or non-United States lenders if: (1) such a transaction is or would be prohibited if it had been made or had otherwise occurred in a lender's office or other place of business in the United States; and (2) a statement is required to be filed under such Act in connection with the acquisition or carrying of such securities. Applies the provisions of this Act to any purchase or carrying of securities on or after January 27, 1981, if the loan or extension of credit involved originated, or if the loan proceeds used to purchase or carry such securities were disbursed, on or after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Broadcast Licensing Act of 1981 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to increase the terms of radio broadcasting station licenses to ten years and of television broadcasting station licenses to five years. Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission, in considering an application for the renewal of a broadcasting station license, from taking into account the following: (1) any ownership interest which is held by the renewal applicant involved in any other broadcasting station or in any nonbroadcasting communications medium; or (2) any participation by such renewal applicant in the day-to-day administration and operation of the broadcasting station involved. Requires the Commission to grant such renewal if such licensee is in substantial compliance with requirements of such Act. Permits the Commission to issue without a hearing a construction permit to an initial applicant if such application is mutually exclusive with other applications for technical factors.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow income tax deductions related to the rental of a residence to a family member of the taxpayer if such family member pays a fair rental and uses such residence as the principal place of residence.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Permits calculation of the investment tax credit for such property without regard to the useful life of the property. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits a taxpayer to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Establishes the Public Debt Retirement Trust Fund in the Treasury of the United States. Appropriates to the Trust Fund amounts received in the Treasury equivalent to any windfall profit taxes imposed on domestic crude oil production. Directs that such amounts be transferred at least monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. Requires that the amounts in the Trust Fund be used only for the payment, purchase, or redemption of any obligations included in the public debt. Directs that all such obligations be canceled and retired and not be reissued. Repeals provisions of the Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act of 1980 which establish the Windfall Profit Tax Account in the Treasury and direct the allocation of amounts deposited therein.
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 Congress that, if in the national interest, the President would be justified in renouncing all or part of the agreement between the United States and Iran relating to the release of the American hostages.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $20,000 to $75,000 in 1981 (with annual adjustments up to $95,000 in 1985 and thereafter) the earned income exclusion for U.S. citizens working abroad who are bona fide residents of a foreign country. Repeals the requirement that, as a condition of their employment, such individuals reside in a hardship area. Reduces from 17 to 11 months the residency requirement for such exclusion. Provides for an income tax exclusion for the value of employer-provided lodging in a camp in cases where satisfactory housing is not generally available. Reduces from 17 to 11 months the foreign residency requirement with respect to the deduction for certain housing expenses of living abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1981
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the employment of any blind person, or person with impaired sight, at less than the applicable minimum wage under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that each department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States that utilizes the Draize rabbit eye irritancy test should develop and validate alternative testing procedures that do not require the use of animal test subjects.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow preference visas to be given to an alien who: (1) requests such treatment; (2) was born after 1950 in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, or Thailand; (3) was fathered by an American serviceman; and (4) provides a guarantee of financial support. Stipulates that such guarantee must: (1) be signed by a citizen or lawful permanent resident who is at least 21 years old; and (2) provide that such signing sponsor will provide necessary financial support for five years. Allows the Attorney General to enforce such guarantee against the sponsor in a civil suit unless such sponsor dies or is adjudicated bankrupt.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Establishes a new position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Changes the existing position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Attorney General to order the deportation of certain nonimmigrant aliens (including foreign students) in the United States who: (1) knowingly participated in a political demonstration resulting or intending to result in personal injury or property damage; or (2) while in the United States, took part in any unlawful activity or advocated the overthrow by violence of any organized government. Permits the Attorney General to suspend deportation of such students.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Correctional Services Improvement Act - Title I: Correctional Centers and Services - Authorizes the Attorney General to plan, construct, operate, and transfer to appropriate State authorities the following types of correctional centers in accordance with this Act; (1) demonstration correctional centers for the commitment or treatment of accused persons awaiting trial, persons sentenced to terms of one year or less, and persons on probation or parole; (2) regional youth correctional centers for the commitment and treatment of youths and young adults sentenced pursuant to the Federal Youth Corrections Act; and (3) demonstration correctional centers for special offender groups of persons sentenced to terms in excess of one year or committed for an indeterminate period, including such offender groups as the mentally ill or defective, the violent and dangerous, and women. Authorizes the Attorney General to contract with appropriate State and local authorities to make available center facilities, services, and programs. Authorizes the Attorney General to prescribe minimum standards relative to the construction, operation, and programs of jails, other correctional facilities, and correctional services owned or operated by a State or local government and in which persons accused or convicted of Federal crimes may be confined or treated. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Title. Title II: Coordination of Federal Correctional Activities - Replaces the Advisory Corrections Council with a Federal Corrections Coordinating Council. Directs the Council, in addition to performing the duties of the Advisory Corrections Council, to issue guidelines for the operation of the Bureau of Prisons, the Board of Parole, the Youth Division of the Board of Parole, and the Division of Probation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and to establish a program of continuing research and experimentation to develop more effective techniques for the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders. Empowers a Federal court to require as a condition of probation or parole that a person reside in and/or participate in the program of a residential community treatment center. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Title. Title III: Federal Corrections Institute - Establishes a Federal Corrections Institute to provide training for representatives of Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers, judges and judicial personnel, probation and parole personnel, correctional personnel, and other persons connected with the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders. Creates an Advisory Commission to supervise the policy and operation of the Institute. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Title. Title IV: Eligibility for Parole; Youth Correction Act Amendments - Repeals the requirement that a Federal prisoner serve one-third of the sentence imposed or 15 years, whichever is less, in order to be eligible for parole unless the court imposing the sentence specifies otherwise. Retains the power of the court to designate a minimum term of up to one-third of the sentence which must be served before the prisoners may be released on parole. Amends the Federal Youth Corrections Act to direct the release of youth offenders sentenced pursuant to specified provisions: (1) conditionally at the expiration of two-thirds of the maximum term authorized by law for the offense of which the offender stands convicted; and (2) unconditionally before the expiration of such maximum term if the offender has not before that time been released in accordance with other specified time limits. Permits the Youth Correction Division of the Board of Parole to discharge a committed youth offender unconditionally at any time after conditional release. Stipulates that the authority of the Attorney General to determine the place and conditions of confinement of Federal prisoners shall extend to all juveniles. Requires that committed youth offenders and juvenile delinquents be given credit toward release for any time spent in custody in connection with the acts or offenses for which commitment was ordered. Title V: Commitment of Dangerous Persons Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity - Directs that not guilty verdicts, in prosecutions in which the defendant raises the defense of insanity, specify whether the defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the offense or whether the defendant was found not guilty for other reasons. Requires that the court determine the dangerousness of a defendant found not guilty due to insanity whenever the court or the United States attorney believes that such person, if unconditionally released, would constitute a danger to himself or others. Sets forth guidelines relative to such hearings. Directs the court, upon a finding of dangerousness, to either order that the defendant be released under its supervision and subject to such conditions as it may impose or commit such person to the custody of the Surgeon General for commitment to a suitable mental institution. Specifies procedures through which such conditions of release may be modified and such commitment terminated.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Grants access to criminal records in the custody of the Attorney General to non-law enforcement officials and agencies of any State or city if the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction authorize or require such official or agency to acquire criminal record information in the performance of duty. Directs the Attorney General to establish standards and procedures for the acquisition and exchange of identification records.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends the Clean Air Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require that compliance orders include an analysis of the benefits which will result from compliance with the application requirements as compared with the cost of such compliance.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and the Railroad Retirement Act to eliminate the requirement than an individual be entitled to disability benefits for at least 24 consecutive months in order to qualify for hospital insurance benefits under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide administrative and judicial review of claims which arise under the supplementary medical insurance program. Sets the minimum requirement for the amount in controversy for a hearing at $50 and for judicial review at $500.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that any individual who would be fully insured at age 62 may qualify for disability insurance benefits if such individual has 40 quarters of coverage, regardless of when such quarters were earned. Provides such coverage requirement as an alternative to the requirement that an individual have 20 quarters of coverage during the 40-quarter period immediately preceding his or her disability.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month period which is presently a prerequisite of eligibility for disability insurance benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals to designate one dollar of their income tax liability to be used for the purpose of reducing the public debt of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to construct a general medical, surgical, and psychiatric Veterans' Administration hospital in the Halifax area of Volusia County, Florida.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from terminating the tax-exempt status of an educational institution for reasons of racial discrimination unless such organization has been adjudicated as racially discriminatory by a State or Federal court.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Natural Wetlands Inventory and Evaluation Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to formulate and carry out a continuous program which: (1) classifies and inventories the Nation's wetlands; (2) measures the degradation and loss of wetlands; and (3) evaluates the contribution of wetlands to fish and wildlife conservation, land and water conservation, and the quality of the human environment. Directs all departments and agencies of the Federal Government to furnish information concerning the extent of destruction, alteration, and uses of wetlands under their respective programs. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with educational institutions, State fish and wildlife agencies, and private organizations to collect and analyze data for the purposes of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 and succeeding fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Occupational Safety and Health Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to require the Secretary of Labor to publish financial impact statements regarding proposed occupational health and safety standards in the Federal Register prior to promulgating such standards as rules. Amends the Act with respect to existing facilities and equipment, inspections, promulgation of emergency standards, citations and penalties, and on-site consultations by the Secretary.
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
Campuses for the Elderly Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) solicit and review plans for the development of campus-style residential and health care projects for the elderly; and (2) make interest subsidy payments to developers of such projects. Authorizes appropriations necessary to make such interest subsidy payments. Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary to insure and to make commitments to insure mortgages on properties being developed under this Act. Requires a report to the Congress evaluating projects developed under this Act by a committee of Congressional members, representatives of the medical profession, and administrators of health-care facilities. Authorizes appropriations for such committee.
![Official portrait of Rep. Chappell, Bill, Jr. [D-FL-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000321_200.jpg)