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 · 27 February 1985
High Risk Occupational Disease Notification and Prevention Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct research into improving the means of: (1) surveillance of employees exposed to occupational health hazards; and (2) medical monitoring and treatment of employees exposed to occupational hazards. Provides that such research shall be conducted primarily through the occupational and environmental health centers established under this Act. Lists areas such research is to include (among which are: studying the etiology and development of such diseases; developing means of medical surveillance of exposed employees; and developing educational programs). Directs the Secretary to undertake or sponsor additional epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory research to identify and define additional employee populations at risk of occupational disease. Provides that: (1) this expanded research shall be conducted or sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); and (2) in conducting such research, NIOSH shall have access to prior and current employment, occupational, and health-related data and information maintained by Federal agencies. Authorizes the Secretary, in carrying out such research, to employ experts and consultants. Establishes a Risk Assessment Board, within NIOSH, to: (1) review current medical and other scientific studies and reports concerning the incidence of disease associated with employment; (2) report to the Secretary on the state of current research on such diseases; and (3) designate, from such review, employee populations at risk of disease associated with hazardous occupational exposures. Sets forth factors which the Board must consider in identifying such populations at risk. Directs the Board, within ten days of making a finding that a class or category of workers is a population at increased risk (30 percent greater incidence of disease than a comparable worker population not exposed to the hazardous occupational exposure) or a population at high risk (100 percent greater incidence than the comparable worker population not exposed), to recommend to the Secretary that individuals within such populations be notified and, in cases of high risk, be eligible for services and information under this Act. Gives priority for Board review to those employee populations exposed to hazardous occupational exposures for which there already exists a permanent standard under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Requires the Board to transmit to the Secretary its findings and recommendations on these employee populations within one year after the effective date of this Act. Directs the Secretary, upon determination that a given class or category of employee is a population at risk of occupational disease, to notify each individual within such population at risk. Sets forth the required contents of such notification, including counseling information. Directs the Secretary to establish a telephone "hot line" for the personal physicians of employees who have received such notification, to provide additional medical and scientific information concerning the nature of the risk and its associated disease. Directs the Secretary to prepare and distribute other medical and health promotion material and information on any risk subject to such notification requirements and its associated disease as the Secretary deems appropriate. Provides that, in carrying out such notification responsibilities, the Secretary shall have access to information and data contained in any Federal agency records, solely for the purpose of obtaining names, addresses, and work histories of employees subject to such notification. Directs the Secretary to establish and certify occupational and environmental health centers. Provides that such centers shall be selected from: (1) educational resource centers of NIOSH and similar centers of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences; and (2) at a later date, existing health care facilities, in an appropriate number to obtain even regional distribution of such centers throughout the United States. Sets forth criteria for selection of such centers. Requires such centers to be capable of providing research resources, diagnosis, treatment, medical monitoring, and family services for employees notified under this Act who are at high risk of occupational disease. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop criteria governing the most appropriate type of medical monitoring; and (2) develop a program for training of existing personnel and procuring specialized equipment required under criteria for certification of such centers. Prohibits discrimination by any employer, insurance carrier, or any other person against any employee on the basis that the employee has been notified by the Secretary of being at risk of any occupational disease. Requires that the employee retain the same rates of pay, benefits and seniority as in the former job if, based upon sound medical advice or monitoring initiated under this Act, it is determined that the employee should be transferred to a less hazardous or non-exposed job. Prohibits any health care financing system from discriminating against an employee who has been notified by the Secretary under this Act in the payment of the costs associated with a medical monitoring program, or any subsequent treatment, including treatment required by a medical monitoring examination or the onset of disease. Sets forth procedures for review of discrimination complaints. Provides for reinstatement and specified compensation for employees who are discriminated against in violation of this Act. Sets forth civil penalties for persons or institutions that violate such discrimination prohibitions. Provides for injunctive relief against violations of this Act or any rule or regulation promulgated under this Act. Requires each health care financing system (including public and private health insurance programs, and the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and disability benefits under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program) to provide appropriate testing, evaluation, and medical monitoring services to employees as required under this Act. Requires that the cost of testing, evaluation, and medical monitoring required by an employee as a result of hazardous occupational exposure and notification under this Act be included as a covered item in any health care financing system available to such employees through their employment or as individual purchasers of health insurance. Provides that any treatment provided by a health care financing system to an employee for a subsequent disease that was subject to a notification under this Act may constitute an insurance subrogation claim against a workers' compensation program or insurance carrier. Provides that notification of risk to an employee under this Act and subsequent medical evaluation and monitoring shall not constitute a workers' compensation claim, nor shall such notice toll any statute of limitations with respect to such a claim, except as specifically provided by law under a workers' compensation statute. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and subsequent fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1985
Prohibits any U.S. person from making or holding any investment in South Africa. Provides for regulations to carry out this prohibition. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Makes this Act applicable to transactions made with intent to evade this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the rail passenger service provided by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is an essential service that should continue to receive Federal financial assistance without a reduction that would cause an exorbitant fare increase for its users.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to the family of Harry Chapin in recognition of Harry Chapin's efforts to address issues of world hunger. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
Administrative Law Judge Corps Act - Amends Federal law to establish, in Washington, D.C., an Administrative Law Judge Corps (the Corps) comprised of all current administrative law judges. States that the chief administrative law judge shall be the chief administrative officer of the Corps as well as its presiding judge. Specifies the qualifications for chief judge. States that such judge shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Directs the chief judge to submit a written report to the President and the Congress. Establishes divisions (to number between four and ten) within the Corps, with each division headed by a division chief judge appointed by the President, with the consent of the Senate. Identifies initial divisions and their respective areas of jurisdiction. Specifies qualifications required for division chief judges. States that the Corps' policymaking body shall be the Council of the Corps (the Council), comprised of the chief judge and the division chief judges. Authorizes the Council to approve or disapprove: (1) the assignment of judges to divisions; (2) creation, abolition, or reorganization of divisions; and (3) re-assignments of division chief judges. Authorizes the Council to determine matters of general Corps policy, including: (1) the issuance of regulations for Corps proceedings; (2) creation or abolition of divisions or regional offices; (3) contractual transactions; and (4) delegation of functions to division chief judges. Establishes a Judicial Nomination Commission (the Commission) to submit a list of qualified nominees for positions of chief judge and division chief judges. Specifies officials who shall appoint a member to the Commission. Sets the terms of initial Corps appointments and the procedure for filling vacancies. Prescribes a procedure for recommending appointments to the President. Directs the Corps to appoint new judges from a register maintained by the Office of Personnel Management. Confers jurisdiction upon members of the Corps to adjudicate cases under specified sections of the Administrative Procedure Act. Requires cases arising under such sections to be referred to the Corps. Directs the Council to issue regulations for assigning such cases. Provides guidelines for the removal and discipline of administrative law judges. Establishes a Complaints Resolution Board within the Corps to recommend action upon complaints against the official conduct of judges. Details the membership of such Board and the procedures to be followed. Declares Board proceedings and the contents of complaints to be privileged and confidential. Exempts documents and reports considered by the Board from the disclosure and publication requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts the Board from compliance with the public meeting requirements of specified Federal law. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
High Technology Research and Scientific Education Act of 1985 - Title I: The Credit for Increasing Research Activities - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credit for research and development (R&D) expenditures. Modifies the definition of qualified research for purposes of the R&D credit to narrow the category of eligible activities for which the credit is allowable. Provides that in-house and contract research expenses paid or incurred by a regular corporation (not an S corporation, a personal holding company, or a service corporation) will constitute qualified research expenses for R&D credit purposes if the corporation undertakes the research with the intention to use the result thereof in the active conduct of a present or future trade or business. Provides that in the case of research being conducted in partnership form, research expenses will constitute qualified research expenses if they are incurred by the partnership in carrying on a trade or business as applied at the partnership level, and the credit is apportioned among the partners in accordance with general partnership rules. Provides exceptions to this general rule where: (1) there is a joint venture enterprise of regular corporations; or (2) not all of the members of the joint venture are regular corporations, but each member's own trade or business would satisfy the trade or business test with respect to the partnership's research expenditures. Provides that for these two exceptions the research expenses will flow through to the partners, with the trade or business test being applied at the partner level. Title II: Promotion of University Research and Scientific Investigation - Establishes a new income tax credit equal to 20 percent of that portion of a corporation's payments to universities (and other qualified non-profit tax-exempt organizations for basic research) which exceeds a fixed, historical "minimum university basic research" floor. Defines the "minimum university basic research" floor as one percent of the annual average of the corporate taxpayer's combined qualified in-house research expenses, contract research expenses and university basic research payments for the base period composed of the period from 1981 through 1983. Provides that the amounts of research expenses which fall below the floor shall remain eligible for the present R&D credit and are included in the corporation's base period for purposes of calculating the present R&D credit. Treats the amounts which exceed the "minimum university basic research" floor as ineligible for the present R&D credit and excludes such amounts from the corporate taxpayer's base year research expenses for purposes of calculating the corporations R&D credit under present law. Provides that a corporation's payments to universities for basic research that is eligible for the new tax credit shall be reduced to the extent that the corporation's general (i.e., not designated for research purposes) charitable giving to all universities falls below historical levels (the annual average of undesignated payments for three of the immediately preceding four years as selected by the taxpayer). Makes additions to the list of organizations to which corporate payments for basic research may be made and be eligible for the tax credit. Allows a corporation an income tax deduction for contributions of scientific or technical property to an institution of higher education. Defines scientific property to mean tangible personal property (including computer software) used in a trade or business, which is donated for the direct education of students or faculty, for research and experimentation, or for research training in the United States in mathematics, the physical, biological, or chemical sciences, engineering, or advanced computer sciences. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of the allowable deduction for contributions of scientific property. Provides for an income tax exclusion for the scholarships, fellowship grants, student loan forgiveness, or stipends of a graduate student in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or the physical or biological sciences. Provides that such tax exclusion is not forfeited merely because the student is required, as a condition of the scholarship or fellowship, to perform future service in teaching or research.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) finds that the Job Corps program has been a cost-effective and successful effort to assist disadvantaged young men and women in obtaining and holding employment; (2) reaffirms its commitment to the Job Corps program; and (3) will not make or accept any reduction in the level of funding for the Job Corps program.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1985
Indian Juvenile Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Act - Title I: Inter-Departmental Agreement - Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to agree to coordinate specified efforts of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Bureau) and the Indian Health Service relating to alcohol and drug abuse programs for Indian youth. Provides for the biannual review of such agreement by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires certain officials of the Bureau and the Indian Health Service to agree, upon a tribe's request, to coordinate resources and services related to alcohol and drug abuse with any Indian tribe. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Indian Health Service, to bear equal responsibility for the implementation of this Act in cooperation with Indian tribes. Title II: Education - Amends the Indian Elementary and Secondary School Assistance Act, the Indian Education Act, and the Adult Education Act, respectively, to provide for: (1) grants for the training of alcohol and drug abuse counselors in Indian elementary and secondary schools; (2) a specified percentage of fellowships to be awarded to persons specializing in guidance counseling for alcohol and drug abuse; and (3) grants to support adult education projects which provide alcohol and drug abuse counseling services. Requires Bureau schools and schools operated under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide instruction on alcohol and drug abuse to students in kindergarten and grades one through 12. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) establish summer recreation and counseling programs, coordinated with other similar Indian summer programs, for Indian youth on reservations; (2) require Bureau schools and schools operated under the Indian Self-determination and Education Assistance Act to remain open during the summer months of each year to provide adequate facilities (including use of public and private facilities) for such programs; and (3) provide, as needed, salaried coordinators for such programs. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish, on a quarterly basis, an alcohol and drug abuse newsletter and to circulate it to specified Government agencies that provide such alcohol and drug abuse-related services to Indian people. Title III: Family and Social Services - Requires any training program for community health representatives funded under the Bureau to include not less than two weeks of training on the problems of alcohol and drug abuse, including instruction in crisis intervention, family relations, and the causes and effects of fetal alcohol syndrome. Requires the Director of the Indian Health Service to provide training in alcohol and drug abuse to specified schools, Indian Health Service personnel, and others. Provides for the certification, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, of any person who completes such training for purposes of obtaining academic credit or certification at any post-secondary school. Title IV: Law Enforcement - Requires the Director of the Bureau to provide education on alcohol and drug abuse among Indian youth to Bureau law enforcement personnel. Provides for the detention, in lieu of incarceration, of Indian juveniles in temporary emergency shelters (Indian households) if their offenses are related to the use or possession of drugs or alcohol. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate, in consultation with the U.S. Attorney General, guidelines under which a law enforcement officer may place an Indian youth arrested for drug or alcohol abuse in a facility other than an emergency shelter. Provides that in instances where a State exercises criminal jurisdiction over any part of Indian country that such State is urged to require its law enforcement officers to place any Indian juvenile arrested for alcohol or drug abuse-related offenses in a temporary emergency shelter (Indian household) or community-based alcohol or drug abuse treatment facility in lieu of incarceration. Provides for the compensation and licensing of Indian households that are used as emergency shelters. Title V: Juvenile Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation - Requires the Director of the Indian Health Service to conduct a study to determine: (1) the size of the Indian population in need of residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment; (2) where facilities to provide such treatment are or should be located; and (3) the cost of providing such treatment. Requires the Director of the Indian Health Service to provide alcohol and drug abuse treatment services, including detoxification and counseling services, and follow-up care in Indian Health Service facilities and in facilities operated under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to Indian juveniles and adults. Requires the Director to report to the Congress on the progress of such treatment to Indian juveniles and adults. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to identify and utilize federally owned structures for use as residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers for Indian juveniles. Title VI: Definitions, Effective Date, and Authorization of Appropriations - Sets forth definitions and the effective date. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1985
Authorizes expenditures by the Subcommittee on Labor Management Relations of the Committee on Education and Labor for the first session of the 99th Congress, including the procurement of consultant services.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
South African Human Rights and Conditionality Act of 1985 - Chapter I: Imposition of Economic Sanctions - Prohibits U.S. persons from making any loans to South Africa or to any organization organized or controlled by South Africa. Excludes from such prohibition loans for educational, housing, or health facilities that are available to all persons on a nondiscriminatory basis and are located in areas accessible to all persons. Prohibits imports of gold or silver coins minted or sold by South Africa. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to prohibit imports from South Africa of certain uranium compounds, coal, and uranium ore or metal. Prohibits any U.S. person from making any investment in South Africa. Authorizes the President to require U.S. persons who have branches or offices in South Africa or who control businesses in South Africa to submit periodic reports on such businesses. Prohibits cooperation of any kind provided for in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 with respect to South Africa. Prohibits the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from authorizing exports of any nuclear material, production or utilization facility, technology, or of any item which has significance for nuclear explosive purposes. Prohibits using the authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to distribute any special nuclear material, source material, or byproduct material of South Africa. Prohibits U.S. agencies from entering into any subsequent arrangement under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 which would permit the transfer to or use by South Africa of any nuclear materials, equipment, or technology. Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from providing any authorization for any activity which would involve engaging in South Africa in specified nuclear production activities. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from issuing any export license for the export to South Africa of any goods or technology: (1) which are intended for a nuclear related end use or end user; (2) which have been identified as items which could, if used for purposes other than those for which the export is intended, be of significance for nuclear explosive purposes; or (3) which are otherwise subject to specified procedures established pursuant to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to use the authorities contained in the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the export to South Africa of any goods and technology contained on lists prepared by the NRC, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of State pursuant to this Act. Prohibits any officer or employee of any U.S. agency from making available to South Africa any information which could increase South Africa's nuclear capability. Terminates any license or authority described in this Act which was issued before enactment of this Act. Prohibits exporting to South Africa or to any organization controlled by South Africa any goods or technology subject to export controls under the Export Administration Act of 1979, except for certain previously published technical data and for certain medicines, medical supplies, and equipment. Directs the President to carry out a research program to try to develop synthetic substitutes for those strategic and critical materials for which South Africa is a major source of supply to the United States. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 2: Additional Sanctions - Directs the President to impose additional sanctions against South Africa if within 18 months after enactment of this Act the President has not submitted to the Congress a certification that South Africa has made substantial progress towards: (1) implementing measures to assure that all South Africans may participate in the political, economic, and social life of that country; (2) freeing all political prisoners; and (3) implementing fair labor practices in both the public and private sectors. Requires the additional sanctions to take effect 60 days after the President submits such certification to the Congress unless within that 60-day period a joint resolution is enacted approving the President's certification. Declares as additional sanctions: (1) the prohibition of an honorary consular officer from South Africa; (2) the denial of foreign tax credits and deductions; and (3) the prohibition of landing rights for South African air carriers except in emergencies. Requires, within four years of enactment of this Act, the divestiture of South African investments by U.S. persons and the expulsion of the South African diplomatic mission to the United States, unless before the end of three years after enactment of this Act the President submits to the Congress the certification relating to progress in the rights of South Africans and, within 60 days of its submission to the Congress, a joint resolution is enacted approving the President's certification. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of such a joint resolution. Directs the President to take appropriate steps to seek the cooperation of South Africa in attaining the objectives of: (1) protecting the rights of all South Africans; (2) freeing all political prisoners; and (3) implementing fair labor practices. Terminates any sanctions imposed pursuant to this Act after the enactment of a joint resolution approving the President's certification. Directs the President to prohibit imports of articles of a foreign person into the United States if, after a U.S. person divests itself of his South African investments, such foreign person invests in the same or a comparable South African market and the President determines that such foreign person's investments were made as a result of the U.S. person's divestiture. Chapter 3: General Provisions - Authorizes the President to issue regulations to carry out this Act. Provides for enforcement of this Act. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Makes this Act applicable to attempts to evade this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to prohibit the importation into the United States of certain articles of uranium and coal from the Republic of South Africa or Namibia.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Prohibits a Federal agency from procuring by contract any services performed by Federal employees in the competitive service positions of guards, elevator operators, messengers, and custodians if such procurement would: (1) cause the involuntary separation of a preference eligible from any such position; or (2) preclude the performance of any such service by a qualified preference eligible. Provides that neither an involuntary reassignment within the same agency nor an involuntary transfer to another agency shall be considered to be an involuntary separation if such reassignment or transfer is to a vacant position which is the same type, at the same or higher pay, within the same commuting area, and for which the preference eligible is qualified. Allows the procurement of such services by contract: (1) when qualified preference eligibles are not available; and (2) for positions held by employees other than preference eligibles. Requires that any such procurement be conducted in accordance with applicable Federal procurement laws, including specified provisions requiring certain procurements of services from qualified nonprofit agencies for the blind and for other severely handicapped.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Malt Beverage Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that no antitrust law shall prohibit the importer, brewer, or trademark licensee of a trademarked malt beverage, when such beverage has substantial competition from other malt beverages in an area, from: (1) entering into an agreement granting a wholesale distributor the exclusive right to sell such beverage within any defined geographic area within a State; or (2) limiting such distributor to the sale of such beverage for ultimate resale to consumers in such area. Declares that this Act shall not affect any provision of State law.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Liberty Double-Eagle Bullion Coin Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold double-eagle coins. Sets forth specifications for and the design of such coins. Makes such coins legal tender. Permits the sale of such coins at a price equal to the cost of minting and issuing such coins plus a surcharge equal to the amount by which the fair market value of gold bullion held by the United States and used in the minting of the coins exceeds the statutory maximum value of any gold certificates outstanding against the bullion. Requires the revenue from such surcharges to be used to reduce the national debt. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Information Dissemination and Research Accountability Act - Establishes in the National Library of Medicine a National Center for Research Accountability to assist in eliminating duplication of effort in Federal research proposals involving live animals. Directs the President to appoint as members of the Center 20 experts in the biomedical information sciences who are currently employed by a Federal agency in a capacity which qualifies them to make determinations as to whether research proposals involving live animals are duplicative of other research efforts. Sets forth provisions for a Director of the Center. Prohibits Federal agencies from carrying out or funding any research proposal involving live animals unless the proposal is submitted to the Center following agency approval. Prohibits Federal funding of any such proposal which the Center determines would duplicate other research completed or in process. Authorizes the Center to contract with private entities to assist in the conduct of comprehensive full-text literature searches. Directs the President to establish rules to preclude any conflict of interest in the awarding of such contracts. Authorizes the President to appoint uncompensated advisors to the Members of the Center. Directs the Center to report annually to the President and the Congress. Provides for modernization of biomedical information storage and dissemination by the National Library of Medicine. Directs the Library to: (1) acquire, in full-text form, all biomedical information owned or available for use by Federal agencies (except information already in the Library or classified for national security reasons); (2) transcribe and store in full-text all such information in its collection, using modern technologies; (3) translate into English all foreign-language biomedical information owned or used by the Library; (4) make available through modern technologies, at cost, to medical libraries all full-text biomedical information in its collection; (5) support, by grants and contracts, the creation of new information for teaching and demonstrations, including audiovisual aids and computer graphics technologies; (6) make available, at cost, such new information to research and teaching institutions; and (7) increase the number of persons trained in modern methods of biomedical information storage and dissemination technologies by making available stipends, awards, and grants to persons engaged in such training. Provides that the cost to those requesting such biomedical or such teaching and demonstration information shall include the Federal expenses incurred in acquiring and making it available. Authorizes the Library to award contracts to the private-sector data recording industry to improve: (1) the development of technologies for storage and dissemination of full-text biomedical information; and (2) dissemination of such information to medical libraries for research use. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint uncompensated advisors to the Library for purposes of this Act. Requires the Library to report annually to the Congress on its progress. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1985
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to prohibit the importation of tobacco unless the importer certifies that none of the pesticides the registration of which has been cancelled or suspended for use on tobacco in the United States has been used in the production of such tobacco. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1985
Summer Youth Employment, Training, and Education Act of 1985 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to require the addition of an education component to the summer youth employment and training programs under part B of title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of JTPA. Requires that each service delivery area (SDA) be allotted an amount equal to at least 90 percent of the amount available to such area for the summer youth program in the preceding fiscal year. Requires ratable reductions in the allocation to each SDA if appropriations are not sufficient to provide such amount to each SDA. Requires that allotments to States and allocations to SDAs be: (1) made in accordance with provisions for prompt allocation of funds; and (2) available for planning purposes before the beginning of the summer months for which allotted and allocated. Requires that summer youth program funds be used so that participants spend a portion of their time on individualized, self-paced, remedial and basic academic and functional competency development and achieve specified types of performance standards established and developed in each SDA. Requires that the portion of a participant's time spent on such competency development be in addition to, and not in place of, regular employment under the summer youth program. Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to provide employment to any individual who fails to comply with attendance standards established by the SDA with respect to such education components. Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to compensate or reward participants for attendance at such education components, except under specified provisions which require that a portion of matching funds be used to provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence. Specifies that planning for summer youth programs does not have to be conducted during the summer months. Sets forth matching fund requirements for summer youth programs. Requires each private industry council (PIC), for each program year beginning after June 30, 1987, to make available from non-Federal sources an amount for use in such programs equal to at least one and one-half percent of the amount made available under JTPA for such programs in that SDA for the applicable program year. Allows each PIC, for program years beginning July 1, 1985, and July 1, 1986, to make available such matching amounts. Limits, for any program year beginning after June 30, 1987, such matching amounts to not less than $20,000 and not more than $100,000 per SDA. Requires each PIC to notify the State of the PIC's matching amount by April 1 of the preceding program year. Requires each State, for program years beginning after June 30, 1987, to provide to each PIC an amount equal to the PIC matching amount. Allows States to provide such State matching amount from non-Federal sources or to use funds available to them under part A (Adult and Youth Programs) of title II of JTPA and under chapter 2 (Consolidation of Federal Programs for Elementary and Secondary Education) of the Educational Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. Requires each State, for program years beginning July 1, 1985, and July 1, 1986, to reserve one and one-half percent of its State allotment under part A, to be allocated to PICs in proportion to the matching amounts made available by such PICs for such program years. Requires that such matching amounts be used to: (1) support the education and training components of the summer youth programs; (2) provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence; and (3) after complying with (1) and (2), create additional employment opportunities under the summer youth programs. Allows matching amounts to be in cash or in-kind, but requires that in-kind matching amounts be in the form of state-of-the-art basic and remedial education materials and equipment suitable for use for summer youth programs for the applicable program year. Requires each SDA to maintain complete records on the improvements in academic and functional competency attained by participants in the summer youth programs. Requires that such records be compiled by reference to State and locally determined general education diploma and basic education competency requirements. Requires each SDA to submit summaries of such records to the State. Requires States to submit annual reports on such summaries to the Secretary of Labor. Directs the Secretary to include an analysis of such reports in the Secretary's annual report to the Congress on employment and training programs. Provides that a specified portion of the State allotment under JTPA which is currently available for State education programs shall also be available to carry out matching requirements for summer youth programs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1985
Social Security COLA Trigger Reduction Act of 1985 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to reduce from three percent to one percent the amount of increase necessary in the cost-of-living index to trigger OASDI cost-of-living adjustments. Adjusts an associated reporting requirement of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Board of Trustees of Amherst College should reconsider their decision to cease operations of the Folger Theatre.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Prohibits any U.S. person from making or holding any investment in South Africa. Prohibits importing any article grown or produced in South Africa. Prohibits exporting to South Africa goods, technology, or other information subject to U.S. jurisdiction, except for certain medicine and medical supplies. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit landing rights for South African aircraft, except in emergencies. Prohibits importing gold coins minted in or sold by South Africa. Prohibits tax credits or deductions for any income, war profits, or excess profits taxes paid or accrued to South Africa. Directs the President to provide for enforcement of this Act. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the targeted jobs income tax credit from 1985 to 1990. Increases the amount of wages which may be taken into account for such credit from $6,000 to $10,000 per year. Revises the definition of "members of economically disadvantaged families" to increase from 70 percent to 80 percent of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' lower living standard the amount of income a family may have in order to qualify as a member of a targeted group.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Program Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to authorize the Secretary of Education to use discretionary funds to carry out a program to assist elementary and secondary schools to introduce and improve family life education programs. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out such family life education assistance program either directly or through grants and contracts with institutions of higher education, State and local educational agencies, research organizations, and other public and private agencies. Requires such program to provide for: (1) training of educational personnel; (2) educational materials; (3) curriculum development and evaluation; (4) technical assistance; (5) a clearinghouse to evaluate, catalogue, and disseminate teacher and student materials; and (6) grants to State and local educational agencies for model family life education programs at the elementary and secondary school levels which shall be conducted with the advice of advisory committees broadly representative of the community to be served. Requires that such family life education assistance program be carried out in coordination with related activities carried out under title X (Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs) of the Public Health Service Act. Requires that at least ten percent of the Secretary's discretionary funds under ECIA be made available in each fiscal year for activities under such family life education assistance program. Amends title X (Population Research and voluntary Family Planning Programs) of the Public Health Service Act to authorize project grants and contracts for comprehensive services appropriate to the needs of sexually active adolescents who need and desire such services in order to avoid unintended pregnancies. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make such grants and contracts to public and nonprofit private entities to assist in the provision of such services through the voluntary family planning projects. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for title X grants and contracts for: (1) the voluntary family planning projects; (2) the comprehensive services to adolescents (as established by this Act); and (3) personnel training for family planning service programs. Revises title X provisions for family planning information and education. Authorizes grants and contracts for making available information and education to enable persons to make responsible choices concerning human sexuality, pregnancy, and parenthood. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to make such grants to public and nonprofit private entities and such contracts to public and private (including for-profit) entities to assist in making such information and education available through appropriate community organizations to all persons desiring it. Requires: (1) special emphasis on adolescents and parents; and (2) inclusion of information about the availability of a broad range of family planning methods and services. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to provide, directly and indirectly, technical assistance for development, implementation, and evaluation of such information and education projects. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for such family planning information and education projects. Amends title IV, part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of the Social Security Act to repeal provisions added by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 which require consideration of parental and certain other familial income in determining the AFDC eligibility of adolescent parents who live in their parents' home. Provides for AFDC payments to a pregnant woman from the time her pregnancy is medically verified. Removes restrictions on AFDC payments to meet the needs of an unborn child or to meet the needs of a woman occasioned by or resulting from her pregnancy. Amends title XIX (Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs) (Medicaid) to require that Medicaid provide for making medical assistance available with respect to services related to abortion in the same manner as such assistance is provided with respect to other pregnancy-related services. Revises title XX of the Public Health Services Act. Changes the name of title XX from "Adolescent Family Life Demonstration Projects" to "Services for Pregnant Adolescents and Adolescent Parents." Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to make grants and contracts with public and nonprofit private entities to provide services for pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, and their families. Lists such services. Allows such services to be provided to: (1) pregnant adolescents under age 18 who have decided to carry their pregnancy to term, the fathers of the infants involved in the pregnancy, individuals who have agreed to share responsibility for such infants, and the guardians of such infants; and (2) mothers of pre-school age children who were under age 18 at the time of the birth of such children, the fathers of such children, individuals who have agreed to share responsibility for such children, and the guardians of such children. Directs the Secretary of HHS, in approving applications for grants and contracts to provide such services, to give priority to and encourage applications from entities that serve an area where: (1) the incidence of adolescent childbearing is high; (2) the proportion of low income and minority families is high; and (3) adolescent pregnancy services are most needed. Requires that service providers give assurances that: (1) priority in the furnishing such services will be given to persons from low income families and to persons who may experience other barriers to such services; (2) any fees will be charged according to an approved schedule which takes into account the difficulty adolescents face in paying for such services, no fees will be charged for services to persons from low income families (except if paid by a third party), and there will be no discrimination because of an individual's inability to pay; (3) maximum use will be made of funds from other Federal or State programs; (4) the role of families will be maximized in assisting adolescents during pregnancy and parenthood, but family participation will not be required; (5) the community will be involved in program planning and implementation; and (6) reports and data will be furnished on the number and characteristics of persons served, services provided, and results achieved. Requires that such services for pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents be provided only on a voluntary basis and only after the individuals seeking such services have been advised of the benefits and risks of all the courses of action available and have had an opportunity to choose freely among them, including referral to another source of care when indicated. Provides that acceptance of any such information or services shall not be prerequisite to eligibility for or receipt of any other service or assistance. Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a systematic reporting system capable of yielding comprehensive data on which to base service figures and program evaluations. Directs the Secretary to report, on or before each January 1, on the activities supported under such services for pregnant adolescents and adolescent partners. Requires such report to include specified information as well as plans and recommendations. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for such services for pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1985
Requires that funds be made available from appropriations under the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1985 to enable the National Institutes of Health to award 6,500 new and competing research grants in FY 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1985
Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenthood Act of 1984 - Amends title XX (Adolescent Family Life Demonstration Projects) of the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants and projects for: (1) prenatal and postpartum care; (2) well-child infant care; (3) comprehensive family planning services to prevent unintended repeat pregnancies; and (4) educational, vocational, and other counseling services. Gives priority to under-18 year olds where the incidence of adolescent child bearing is high, where the proportion of low income and minority families is high, and where such services are most needed. Stresses the role of voluntary family support. States that services provided under this Act shall be voluntary. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish a program data reporting system; and (2) report annually to Congress. Authorizes FY 1986 through 1988 appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1985
Pension Plan South African Investments Reporting Act of 1985 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require each employee pension benefit plan to report annually to the Secretary of Labor describing the plan's investments in the Republic of South Africa and its administrative satellite countries, including the Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Ciske, and Venda. Prohibits, with respect to such reporting requirement: (1) any exemption for small plans; and (2) any alternative method of compliance. Sets forth provisions for civil enforcement of such reporting requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1985
South African Labor Relations Reform Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to investigate: (1) South African labor practices and policies in terms of the extent to which such policies and practices vary from certain internationally accepted standards; (2) the extent to which U.S. policies can promote such standards in South Africa; and (3) the extent to which South African labor policies and practices cause the export of U.S. capital and jobs. Directs the Secretary to report on such investigation to the Congress. Lists specified statutory revisions to be analyzed in such report.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1985
Secondary School Basic Skills Act - Establishes a program of grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) having especially high concentrations of children from low-income families to enable such agencies to provide more effective instruction in basic skills for economically disadvantaged secondary school students. Defines "basic skills" (to include reading, communications, writing, and mathematics proficiency, as well as problem-solving comprehension, and reasoning.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1991. Makes certain amounts of such appropriations available for specified activities and types of grants under this Act. Makes a secondary school eligible to receive assistance under this Act for program grants only if 20 percent or more of children aged 12 to 17, inclusive, who are enrolled in such school: (1) are counted under LEA basic grant provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as modified by the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA); or (2) qualify for a free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act of 1946. Requires that funds made available under this Act for program grants be used to develop new approaches to and carry out educational services and activities designed specifically to raise the basic skills of low-achieving disadvantaged children. Authorizes the Secretary of Education, from specified funds appropriated for program grants for FY 1985 through 1990, to make grants to enable eligible secondary schools to develop, implement, and carry out new approaches to achieving improved basic skills instruction of low-achieving economically disadvantaged secondary school students. Requires that the grant application be made on behalf of the eligible secondary school by: (1) the LEA; or (2) an institution of higher education, public agency, or private nonprofit organization if such entity will provide educational services or conduct educational activities subject to the proposal. Requires applicants to assure their participation in a national evaluation. Requires that administrators, teachers, and parents in the eligible school participate in the preparation of the proposal. Requires that the appropriate State educational agency (SEA) be provided on opportunity to review and comment on the application before submittal to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to assure that: (1) eligible applicants represent various geographic regions of the country, including both rural and urban secondary schools within those various geographic regions; and (2) at least one demonstration grant is made in each State in each fiscal year, unless no applications are received from a State. Requires each LEA which desires to receive program grants under this Act to file with the Secretary an application containing specified assurances. Allows any eligible applicant organization to apply for a five-year grant, subject to specified restrictions, on behalf of an eligible secondary school. Sets forth requirements for such applications. Requires consultation with parents and teachers of low-achieving economically disadvantaged secondary school students in program design and implementation. Directs the Secretary, through the National Institute of Education (NIE), to annually conduct a national evaluation of the effectiveness and the implementation of program grants. Requires that such assessment results be submitted to Congress and disseminated to SEAs, LEAs, State legislatures, and Governors. Directs the Secretary, through NIE, to monitor grants and coordinate activities under this Act with other research activities conducted by NIE and through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Directs NIE, once program grants are awarded, to provide eligible recipients with technical assistance. Prohibits the Secretary from disapproving an LEA application without affording notice and opportunity for a hearing. Directs the Secretary to make payments as expeditiously as possible after approval of applications. Prohibits any grant from being made with respect to any eligible secondary school for more than two fiscal years unless there is: (1) an improved performance of the targeted secondary school students at the school on a nationally normed basic skills test; or (2) a decrease in the dropout rate at the school. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations relating to such requirement. Authorizes the Secretary to grant a waiver of such requirement for one additional academic year of programming if external conditions warrant.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1985
Title I: General Accounting Office Investigation and Report - Directs the General Accounting Office to investigate the situation of displaced nationals of El Salvador, including determinations of those Salvadorans in Central America, unlawfully in the United States, or returned from the United States to El Salvador. Requires a report to the Congress. Title II: Congressional Review - Provides that such report shall be referred to the appropriate committees for hearings and committee reports. Title III: Temporary Stay of Deportation - Provides for a temporary stay of detention and deportation for specified Salvadorans presently in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1985
Directs the President to: (1) secure from the Indochina nations a full accounting of Americans captured or missing as a result of the Vietnam conflict; and (2) work for the release of captive Americans and the return of the remains of those American servicemen and civilians who died in Southeast Asia. Requires the President to submit two reports to Congress on American POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1985
Declares that the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services should immediately study and report to the Congress on ways to correct the benefit disparity caused by the 1977 changes in the social security benefit formula.