United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that nuclear war represents a great hazard and should be prevented. Urges the President to propose: (1) that the United States and the Soviet Union begin negotiations to reduce substantially their nuclear arsenals; and (2) that conferences should be held among all nuclear nations to propose annual reductions and gradual elimination of all nuclear weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1981
Small Business Tax Relief Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce corporate income tax rates. Increases from 15 to 25 the permissible number of shareholders in a subchapter S corporation. Increases from $100,000 to $300,000 the allowable cost of used property eligible for the investment tax credit. Provides for a three-year carryback and a seven-year carryover of amounts which exceed $350,000 for any taxable year. Reduces the estate and gift tax rates. Provides for an exemption of $300,000 reduced by amounts allowed as specific exemptions by repealed Code provisions from the gross estate and from the amount used in computing taxable gifts. Repeals the unified credit against the estate and gift taxes. Increases from $3,000 to $10,000 the annual gift tax exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the limitation to $5,000 ($7,000 for married individuals) on the income tax deduction for individual retirement savings. Allows individuals covered by employer plans to qualify for the deduction for retirement savings.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1981
Expresses the concern of the House of Representatives over the hunger strike in Northern Ireland. Calls upon the British government to exercise greater urgency and flexibility in finding a resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1981
Directs each Federal agency to require any grant applicant proposing to use grant funds to construct a building to determine whether there are any vacant schools which can be used in lieu of such building.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1981
Condominium-Cooperative Conversion Tax Adjustment Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat gain from the sale or exchange of residential rental property as ordinary income (rather than capital gains) if such property is converted into a condominium or cooperative within three years of the date of such sale or exchange. Treats such gain as capital gain if the sale of the residential rental property is made to a tenants association which represents more than 50 percent of the households residing in the rental property prior to the sale or exchange. Requires tenant-stockholders of cooperative housing corporations to reside in the cooperatives in which they own shares in order to qualify for preferential tax treatment. Disallows any amounts of income tax deductions related to the rental of a condominium or cooperative which exceed the gross income of the taxpayer. Requires 100 percent recapture of depreciation on condominium and cooperative rental units which are rented for more than half of the period in which they are owned.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1981
Urban Jobs and Enterprise Zone Act of 1981 - Title I: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of enterprise zones, for a period ending December 31, 2001, and subject to the approval of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, by local governments or by State governments on behalf of local governments for purposes of extending the tax incentives and regulatory flexibility measures provided by titles II and III of this Act. Specifies that the Secretary may approve the designation of such zones only if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the designating local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous and includes accessible vacant or underutilized properties; (3) the area has a population of at least 4,000 if any portion thereof is located within a standard metropolitan statistical area with a population of at least 50,000 or 2,500 otherwise or is an Indian reservation; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires designating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's approval, to agree in writing to follow a course of action which may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, or receiving commitments of private entities to assist employees and residents of the area. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to designate enterprise zones on December 31, 1996. Sets forth minimum and maximum numbers of such designations. Describes areas to which preference shall be given in deciding to designate enterprise zones. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to set forth the duties of the Secretary under this Act. Requires any property tax reduction effected by a local government under an agreed to program to be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility of a State or local government for Federal assistance or benefits. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) local governments should attempt to facilitate to the greatest extent possible the employment of poor and unemployed residents of their enterprise zones and should consider the effects of a designation upon area employment practices and patterns; and (2) whenever possible, foreign-trade zones should be established within enterprise zones and that in the case of any application for designation of a foreign-trade zone within an enterprise zone: (A) the Foreign-Trade Zone Board should expedite the application process; (B) the Board, in evaluating such application, should consider future development to be expected as a result of the incentives provided by this Act; and (C) the Board should provide technical assistance to the applicants. Title II: Taxation - Subtitle A: Refundable Credits for Employers and Employees - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a refundable income tax credit for five percent of the wages paid to unemployed or economically disadvantaged individuals who are certified as eligible under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act and who perform at least 50 percent of their services within an enterprise zone. Disallows a deduction for the portion of the wages or salaries equal to the amount of such credit. Allows individuals who are employees of qualified businesses and at least 50 percent of whose services during the taxable year are performed in an enterprise zone a refundable tax credit for five percent of the earned income attributable to services performed in an enterprise zone during a 36-month period. Limits such credit to $1,500 for any taxable year. Defines "qualified business" as a person: (1) at least 50 percent of whose gross receipts are attributable to the active conduct of a trade or business within an enterprise zone; and (2) at least 40 percent of whose employees are individuals whose employment qualifies for the employers' credit allowed under this subtitle and who are hired after the later of the date on which the conduct of a business in an enterprise zone is begun or the area is designated as such a zone. Subtitle B: Reduction in Capital Gain Tax Rates - Reduces the alternative tax on capital gains and increases the capital gains deduction. Qualifies certain low-income rental housing located in an enterprise zone for such treatment. Permits property to remain qualified for purposes of the revised capital gains treatment after a designation of an enterprise zone has terminated. Exempts gain from the sale or exchange of property used in a business in an enterprise zone from the computation of the minimum tax. Removes as an item of tax preference accelerated depreciation on real property used in such a business. Subtitle C: Reduction in Gross Income of Trades or Businesses Operating in Zone - Excludes from taxable income a specified percentage of the sum of any amount received by a qualified business from the active conduct of a trade or business within an enterprise zone and any interest on financing provided by a taxpayer to a qualified business in connection with the conduct of such business. Subtitle D: Other Incentives - Permits any qualified business to elect to use the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting without regard to any inventory requirements if its gross receipts do not exceed $2,000,000 in any prior taxable year. Allows a 20-year carryover of net operating losses for qualified businesses. Qualifies for the investment tax credit low-income rental housing with respect to which the capital gains tax reduction is granted under subtitle B of this title. Subtitle E: Sense of the Congress with Respect to Tax Simplification - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Internal Revenue Service should simplify the administration and enforcement of any provision of the Internal Revenue Code affected by this title. Title III: Regulatory Flexibility - Revises the definition of "small entity," for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions, to include qualified businesses (as defined in title II of this Act), designating governments, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1981
Provides that the amount of Federal payment to a unit of local government for entitlement lands within its jurisdiction shall not be less than any State payment in lieu of taxes to such unit if such lands were owned by the State.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an estate tax deduction for any interest in property which passes from a decedent with no surviving spouse to a disabled child of the decedent who is left parentless. Limits the amount of such deduction to $250,000.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1981
Requires Federal Reserve notes of certain denominations to be trimmed in a specified manner which will enable an individual who is blind to determine the denomination of each such note.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise requirements for the exclusion of interest on mortgage subsidy bonds. Repeals provisions which allow tax-exempt status for such bonds if 95 percent of the mortgages financed by such issues are in compliance with stated requirements. Provides that a showing that the issuing authority has tried in good faith to satisfy all requirements will cure a failure to meet any particular requirement if such failure is corrected within a reasonable time after its discovery. Allows bondholders to rely upon an issuer's good faith covenant as to a compliance. Revises the new homeowner requirements to allow eligibility for bond-financed mortgages for persons who are residing in substandard housing or who have lost their homes because of natural disasters or governmental action. Changes the method of determining the average area purchase price for purposes of the purchase price requirements for bond-financed mortgages. Specifies that the average area purchase price shall not include residences which are not typically financed through normal real estate mortgage loans and that such price may be determined separately for new and previously occupied homes. Revises the arbitrage requirements to increase the amount by which interest rates on tax-exempt mortgage subsidy bonds may exceed the interest rates on mortgages financed with such bonds. Changes the method of determining the yield on an issue. Specifies that issuers are not required to dispose of any investment and realize a loss in order to satisfy arbitrage restrictions. Allows two or more qualified mortgage bond issues of a single issuer to be combined for purposes of determining compliance with arbitrage requirements. Permits issuers to maintain a reasonable reserve against investment losses and to allocate credits or payments between eligible mortgagors. Exempts mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration from certain mortgage assumption requirements. Includes energy impacted areas within the definition of targeted areas for purposes of the special treatment of targeted area residences. Repeals the requirement that the designation of areas of chronic economic distress be approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Limits the designation of areas of chronic economic distress to 25 percent of the geographic area within a State. Redefines statistical areas to include two or more statistical areas combined. Repeals the registration requirements for bond issues.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1981
Declares it the sense of the Congress that no legislation that would change the operations of the Guaranteed Student Loan Program before October 1, 1981, should or will be enacted. Prohibits the Secretary of Education from promulgating any rule which changes the operations of the Guaranteed Student Loan Program before October 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1981
Requires the Attorney General to adjust the status of specified numbers of Haitians and Cubans to that of refugees if: (1) the alien makes application within one year of enactment of this Act; and (2) the alien is admissible as an immigrant under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Applies the provisions of this Act to any alien who: (1) is a native or citizen of Haiti who first arrived unlawfully in the State of Florida on or after January 1, 1972, and before May 14, 1981; (2) is or has been within the jurisdiction of office number six of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; (3) is not resettled in any foreign country on the date of enactment of this Act; and (4) on such date does not have a lawful status in the United States or has the status of an alien paroled into the United States as a Cuban/Haitian entrant (status pending). Requires the Attorney General to establish a record of an alien's admission as a refugee as of the date of such adjustment. Provides that aliens granted refugee status under this act shall be treated for all purposes as aliens admitted as refugees under the Immigration and Nationality Act, including the purpose of providing assistance to States and public and nonprofit agencies for the provision of cash and services to such aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1981
Virgin Islands Nonimmigrant Alien Adjustment Act of 1981 - Authorizes the Attorney General to adjust to permanent resident status alien workers and their dependents who have resided continuously in the Virgin Islands since June 30, 1975, if: (1) application for such adjustment is made within one year of enactment of this Act; (2) such persons were physically present in the Virgin Islands at the time of such filing; and (3) the worker is otherwise admissible as an immigrant. States that such status adjustments shall not reduce the number of available total or national immigrant visas. Authorizes the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of the Virgin Islands, to limit the number of second preference immigrant visas issued to spouses or unmarried sons or daughters of aliens adjusted under this Act. Prohibits the filing of fourth (married sons or daughters) or fifth (brothers or sisters) preference immigrant petitions by aliens adjusted under this Act unless: (1) at the time of filing such person is physically present and has resided continuously in the United States for at least two years; or (2) a case of extreme hardship exists. Prohibits the admission of alien workers to perform temporary labor in the Virgin Islands. Establishes the Interagency Task Force on Virgin Islands Immigration to analyze the impact, including the possible need for Federal assistance, on the Virgin Islands of providing health, housing, education and other social services to persons admitted under this Act. Requires a report to be submitted to the President and the Congress within one year after enactment of this Act. Disbands the Task Force 60 days after transmittal of such report. Authorizes specified appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1981
Directs the Postmaster General to issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor Roberto Clemente. Provides that such stamp shall be issued in the denomination used for first-class mail up to one ounce in weight and shall be placed on sale during the month of August.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should award, posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former boxing champion Joe Louis.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1981
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Army should place at the grave of Joe Louis in Arlington National Cemetery a plaque honoring his life and career.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1981
Sales Representatives Protection Act - Title I: Contracts Between Sales Representatives and Principals - Requires a principal who enters into a contract with a sales representative for the solicitation of orders for merchandise of the principal to furnish specified information to the representative, including monthly commission statements. Enumerates items to be included in any written contract between a principal and sales representative in order to conform with this Act. Title II: Indemnification - Exempts principals who have entered into a written contract in conformity with title I from the indemnification requirements of this title. Requires any principal to indemnify a sales representative in accordance with this title if such principal: (1) without good cause terminates a representative's assignment or reduces the geographical territory assigned to a representative; (2) reduces the rate of commission paid to a representative; or (3) reduces the number of accounts assigned within a geographical territory. Sets forth a formula for the indemnification of such representatives. Title III: Miscellaneous - Permits actions to be brought in Federal district court to enforce the rights or liabilities of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1981
Provides that the regularly scheduled workweek of each Federal firefighter shall be an average of 56 hours per week, computed on the basis of a period of 21 consecutive days. States that in lieu of premium pay provided for by present law, such firefighters shall be entitled to 25 percent of so much of their annual rate of basic pay as does not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for GS-10.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1981
Malt Beverage Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that no antitrust law shall prohibit the importer, brewer, or trademark licensee of a trademarked malt beverage from entering into an agreement granting a wholesale distributor the exclusive right to sell such beverage within any defined geographic area within a State, or limiting such distributor to the sale of such beverage for ultimate resale to consumers in that area, when such beverage has substantial competition from other malt beverages in that area. Declares that this Act shall not affect any provision of State law.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1981
Taxpayer Protection and Reimbursement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit reasonable court costs, including attorneys' fees, to be awarded to the prevailing party (other than the United States or a creditor of the prevailing party) in any civil action in any court of the United States for the determination, collection, or refund of any tax, interest, or penalty imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. Limits the amount of such award to $20,000 for any one civil action. Includes within the definition of "attorney's fees" amounts paid to an individual who is not an attorney but who is authorized to practice before the Tax Court. Defines "prevailing party" as a party who: (1) establishes that the position of the United States in the civil action was unreasonable; and (2) substantially prevails with respect to the amount in controversy or the most significant issue or set of issues. Disallows costs for certain civil actions involving declaratory judgments.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1981
Expresses the disapproval of Congress of the proposed sale to Saudi Arabia of five airborne warning and control aircraft (AWACS) and conformal fuel tanks and air-to-air missiles for F-15 aircraft.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1981
Handgun Crime Control Act of 1981 - Title I: Amendments to Chapter 44 of Title 18, United States Code - Amends the Federal criminal code to direct the Attorney General to approve for manufacture, assembly, importation, sale, or transfer any handgun model which is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes. Makes it unlawful for any licensed manufacturer, importer, dealer, or collector to manufacture, assemble, sell, deliver, or transfer any handgun (other than a curio or relic) which is not an approved model. Makes it unlawful for any non- licensee to sell or transfer any handgun (other than curio or relic) unless such person knows or has reasonable cause to believe such handgun is an approved model. Prohibits a pawnbroker from being licensed as a dealer in handguns or handgun ammunition. Directs the Attorney General to review State laws providing for permits to carry and purchase handguns and certify those meeting specified standards. Allows an individual possessing a permit under a certified State law to purchase a handgun if certain requirements are met. Makes it unlawful for a licensed dealer to transfer a handgun to a person not holding a permit under a certified State law unless certain procedures are followed. Requires in any such case that the transferee appear in person at the dealer's business premises. Requires the dealer, before delivery of the handgun, to forward a copy of a sworn statement by the transferee to the chief local law enforcement officer of the transferee's place of residence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for an identity and record check. Prohibits delivery until 21 days after submission of the sworn statement. Makes it unlawful for any licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector to sell to the same person, or for any non-licensee to purchase, three or more handguns during a period of one year, without the prior approval of the Attorney General. Makes it unlawful for any person to fail to report the loss, theft, or disappearance of a handgun in his possession to the authorities within 24 hours after discovering such loss. Requires all licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers to maintain accurate records of all handgun transfers. Makes whoever negligently transfers a handgun in violation of this Act civilly liable for the death or injury of an individual as a result of the use of such handgun by the transferee during commission of an offense. Makes it unlawful for any person to transport any firearm or ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce if such transportation violates a State law in a place through which the firearm was shipped or an ordinance at the place of sale, delivery, or other disposition. Increases the license fee for handgun dealers from $10 to $500 and for manufacturers and importers from $50 to $5,000. Makes it unlawful for any illegal alien, dishonorably discharged member of the Armed Forces, or U.S. citizen who has renounced such citizenship to possess, transport, or receive any firearm or ammunition. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1970 to revise and increase the mandatory penalties for using or carrying a firearm during commission of a Federal felony. Deletes the requirement that the firearm be carried "illegally." Increases the additional penalty imposed for such offense to two to ten years' imprisonment for a first offense (currently, one to ten years) and five to 25 years for a second offense (currently, two to 25 years). Extends to first offenders the stipulations, currently applicable only to second offenders, that the court not suspend any sentence, grant probation, or impose concurrent sentences, unless the court finds the existence of enumerated mitigating circumstances. Adds a term of parole ineligibility as an additional restriction on first offenders (two years) and subsequent offenders (five years). Title II: Gun Control Functions Transferred to the Attorney General - Transfers to the Attorney General all functions of the Secretary of the Treasury under the Gun Control Act of 1968. Establishes the Firearms Safety and Abuse Control Administration within the Department of Justice. Requires the Attorney General to report annually to Congress on the activities of the Administration. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, in consultation with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, to report on the intergovernmental problems involved in controlling illicit handgun traffic and the effectiveness of the Gun Control Act of 1968.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Title I - Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to extend from August 6, 1982, to August 6, 1992: (1) the time period during which jurisdictions covered by the triggering mechanism must not have used a test or device to deny the right to vote on account of race in order to be released from coverage; and (2) the time period during which changes in voting laws must be precleared with the Federal Government. Title II - Restates the prohibition against denying the right to vote based on race to prohibit any State from imposing voting practices "in a manner which results in a denial or abridgement" of the right to vote (thus permitting use of indirect proof in proving discrimination). Title III - Extends the bilingual election requirements from August 6, 1985, to August 6, 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Government Cost Reduction Act - Title I: General Provisions - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to reduce the costs of Government to the taxpayers and to improve Government productivity. Title II: Agency Program Appraisal - Requires the head of each Executive agency to: (1) classify its activities into programs and identify each program under its jurisdiction; (2) set forth long term goals of each such program; and (3) review and revise, if appropriate, program categories and goals at least every four years. Directs each agency head: (1) to provide for the collection and analysis of information necessary for the evaluation of each program and of the agency's success in reducing program costs; and (2) to develop program performance indicators based on the annual and long-term goals of the program and the annual cost-reduction objectives for the program. Requires each agency head to submit to the President for each fiscal year a management improvement plan. Directs the President to review such plans and establish annual program goals and cost-reduction objectives for the fiscal year for each agency and each designated program having the greatest need for improved management. Requires each agency to modify its management plan as necessary, implement such plan, and report on its success in meeting program and cost-reduction objectives to the President and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Directs the President to rate the success of each agency in meeting its objectives and of each designated program according to a system to be established by OPM. Requires each agency head to rate each agency program. Directs each agency to provide for employee participation in the development of management improvement plans. Authorizes the OPM to adjust, within specified limits, the amount of benefits (including merit pay increases, cash awards, and promotions) available during a fiscal year to employees within a program on the basis of the program rating for the preceding year. Title III: Cost Savings - Defines the term "cost savings" as an amount which is budgeted but not spent for an agency program because of improvements in program management or operation, provided that the savings do not adversely affect the attainment of annual or long-term program goals or generate additional costs later. Permits any agency to report program savings to the President and request the President to designate them as cost savings. Directs the President to review and verify such savings and to determine the amount of such savings which qualifies as cost savings. Declares that 50 percent of any cost savings shall be returned to the U.S. Treasury, ten percent shall be available to the agency for employee benefits, and the remainder shall be available to the agency for any authorized purpose. Title IV: Work Force Planning - Requires each agency to develop by October 1, 1985, a work force planning system capable of determining personnel requirements for all agency programs according to an implementation schedule and guidelines prescribed by OPM. Directs each agency to test the system, make necessary modifications, and apply to OPM for certification of the system by October 1, 1986. Directs agencies to use data derived from such systems to formulate requests, reallocate personnel, and determine whether to have work performed by contract. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to report to Congress on its use of such data to formulate budget requests. Requires the Director of OPM to conduct and prepare project evaluations for demonstration projects using certified work force planning systems. Title V: Cost Accounting and Productivity Measurement Cost Accounting Systems - Requires each agency, by October 1, 1985, to establish a cost accounting system to determine the per-unit cost of output of each program and to provide a basis for allocating the indirect cost among agency programs. Directs the Comptroller General to prescribe regulations to standardize such systems. Requires the Director of OPM: (1) to establish a productivity measurement system to contain productivity data submitted by each agency; (2) to develop an index of such data; and (3) to provide such index to the Director of the General Services Administration for entry into the Federal Information Locator. Transfers to the Director of OPM all functions of the Secretary of Labor pertaining to the measurement of the productivity of agencies which are carried out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Requires the Director to submit to the President and Congress an annual productivity report including: (1) a measure of the productivity of Government overall and of each agency program; (2) comparisons of the productivity of ways to improve Government productivity. Requires the Director to provide for a clearinghouse for information on productivity improvement programs. Requires the Director to encourage agencies to develop procedures for increasing employee participation in decisions affecting program administration. Title VI: Capital Investment Funds - Authorizes the Director of OMB to establish special accounts to finance capital improvement projects which: (1) require expenditures of less than $100,000; and (2) will generate cost savings at least equal to the project expenditures within four years after completion. Sets forth criteria for the approval by each agency head of project proposals. Requires designated agency employees to review and report to the agency head on the data supporting the projected cost savings and productivity improvements of each proposed project. Directs the agencies to monitor the projects and report to OMB on whether the cost savings and productivity improvements of funded projects match original projections. Title VII: Additional Incentives for Increased Productivity - Directs OPM to prescribe regulations which permit agencies to institute involuntary separations to meet reduced labor requirements caused by improved productivity only if alternative methods of responding to a reduced work load have failed. Applies grade retention provisions to any employee in a civilian supervisory position which is reduced in grade because of personnel reductions caused by productivity improvements. Requires the contributions of a Federal employee or a senior executive toward the attainment of annual program and cost-reduction objectives to be considered in his or her performance evaluation. Requires performance appraisal periods to be coterminous with the fiscal year. Directs OMB to prescribe regulations permitting agency employees to demonstrate that agency work to be performed by contract could be performed as efficiently and effectively by agency employees. Authorizes the Inspector General of any agency to pay a cash award to an employee whose disclosure of waste or fraud resulted in cost savings. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the President to review the functions of OPM and OMB under this Act and to transfer any functions the President determines would be performed better by the other agency. Restricts the use of contracted services to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Small Business Innovation Research Act of 1981 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) maintain an information program to provide small businesses an opportunity to participate in Federal small business innovation research (SBIR) programs; (2) coordinate a schedule for release of agency SBIR solicitations and prepare a master release schedule; (3) monitor SBIR programs within Federal agencies; and (4) report annually to the Congressional Small Business Committees on the SBIR programs. Requires each Federal agency with a research and development budget in excess of $100,000,000 in fiscal year 1982 or any subsequent fiscal year to spend a specified percentage of its budget in connection with an SBIR program. Requires each Federal agency with a research and development budget in excess of $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1982 or any subsequent fiscal year to establish specific goals for funding research and development agreements with small businesses. Directs each Federal agency with an SBIR program to report annually to the SBA the number of awards over $10,000 in amount made under the SBIR program and to concerns other than small business concerns. Directs the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, in conjunction with the SBA, to promulgate regulations for the conduct of the SBIR programs. States that this Act does not authorize the appropriation of funds.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
National Displacement Policy Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to require an applicant for a community development block grant to mitigate and end displacement of area residents. Requires the housing assistance plan to demonstrate an effective strategy for ending such displacement. Amends the United States Housing Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to take into consideration whether a family is, or is about to be, without housing as a result of involuntary displacement, for purposes of providing assistance under such Act. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 to require the President to transmit to Congress, as part of the biannual Report on Urban Growth required by such Act, a special displacement component analyzing the extent of urban residential displacement and formulating a strategy to combat the adverse effects of such displacement. Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to require the appropriate Federal banking supervisory agency to assess a financial institution's record of adopting policies which minimize the displacement of persons from their homes. Amends the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Act of 1970 to direct the payment of moving and related expenses for displaced persons whenever activities undertaken as a result of a Federal program or project cause such displacement. Declares that payments made to displaced persons shall reflect increases in the cost-of-living. Directs the President to establish a Federal Relocation Assistance Compliance Office for the purpose of carrying out a more uniform and effective administration of relocation assistance. Requires such Office to coordinate the relocation activities of the Federal agencies. States that rental or lease assistance paid to a displaced person shall not exceed 25 percent of such person's income. States that no person shall be required to move from his or her rental dwelling on account of any Federal project or any federally assisted project if: (1) the rental vacancy rate in the area for dwellings similar in size and cost is less than one percent; or (2) there is a waiting list of persons eligible to receive Federal assistance who desire to rent such unit. Directs the President, through the Federal Relocation Assistance Compliance Office, to report annually to the Congress on the extent of involuntary displacement of families and on measures to mitigate such displacement.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for real estate taxes imposed by State law on tenants. Extends such deduction to taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize their income tax deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State should recommend to the Attorney General that aliens who are nationals of El Salvador be granted extended voluntary departure status until they can reside safely in El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Authorizes any State or local government election agency to send free of postage: (1) absentee ballots; (2) voting instructions pertaining to such ballots; and (3) envelopes for returning ballots. Permits any person casting an absentee ballot to return it to the agency postage-free. Provides that this Act shall not apply to mail transmitted under the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 or the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the medical expenses of handicapped individuals and individuals who have attained age 65 shall be deductible without regard to the requirement that medical care expenses exceed three percent of the adjusted gross income and that the cost of medicine and drugs exceed one percent of the adjusted gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1981
Establishes a Special Joint Committee on the Centennial of the Birth of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Directs that such committee shall be composed of sixteen Members of the Congress. Directs that such committee shall prepare an overall program for nationwide observances and make comprehensive plans for commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, including a joint session of Congress to be held on January 29, 1982. Provides that the expenses of such committee shall not exceed a specified amount to be paid from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives. Directs that upon termination of the committee one-half of its expenses shall be paid by transfer from the contingent fund of the Senate to the contingent fund of the House of Representatives. Provides that such committee shall terminate not later than April 30, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $500 ($1,000 in the case of a joint return), by specified annual increments through 1984, the amount of interest and dividend income which may be excluded from gross income. Amends the Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act of 1980 to repeal the termination date for such exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Postal Electronic Mail Act of 1981 - Authorizes the United States Postal Service to provide electronic mail service. Directs the Postal Service to: (1) create a separate unit to manage such service; and (2) establish rates and fees to produce sufficient revenues to cover the costs of providing such service. Prohibits the Government from subsidizing such service. Prohibits the Postal Service from owning any telecommunications media for the purpose of providing electronic mail service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Arts and Humanities Tax Reform Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the executor of an estate, in calculating the value of the gross estate, to disregard that portion of the value of any copyright, or literary, musical, or artistic work created by the decedent which would have been ordinary income if such work had been sold by the decedent at its fair market value. Allows an income tax deduction for the current fair market value of a literary, musical, or artistic composition created by the taxpayer and contributed to a charitable organization. Disallows such estate tax valuation and charitable contribution deduction if the property was produced while the taxpayer was a Government officer or employee and arose out of the performance of the taxpayer's duties. Permits a tax deduction for the business use of a home if such dwelling unit is used to a substantial extent (rather than exclusively) for the taxpayer's trade or business. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit to the appropriate Congressional committees legislative recommendations with respect to such deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Hunger and Global Security Act - Title I: Public Law 480 - Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to require the President to consider the extent to which a developing country is using self-help measures to reduce illiteracy among young farmers and to improve the health of farmers and their families before the President can enter an agreement for the sale of agricultural commodities for foreign currencies and long-term-dollar credit with such country. Requires that the economic development and self-help measures the recipient country agrees to undertake be sufficiently described so that the primary beneficiaries will be needy people with incomes below the level required to prevent malnutrition. Requires such economic development and self-help measures to be in addition to the measures the recipient country had otherwise been planning to take. Directs the President to verify that such measures are being carried out and to report to the appropriate Congressional committees on such verification and on the additional nature of such measures. Title II: Multilateral Development Banks - Amends the Federal provisions for aiding international financial institutions to require the United States to work within certain multilateral development banks to establish a requirement that not less than 50 percent of such bank's lending benefit needy people. Requires the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury to report to Congress annually on establishing such requirement. Title III: World Food Security - Directs the President to encourage other grain exporting countries to establish food security reserves or take other measures that complement the U.S. food security reserve. Directs the President to report to Congress on actions taken with respect to such food security reserves. Directs the President to negotiate the establishment of a global food financing facility and ensure that the benefits of such facility meet basic human needs. Directs the President to report to Congress on the actions taken to implement such facility. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from imposing export controls on food if it is determined that such controls would cause measurable malnutrition in the countries against whom the controls are proposed unless the President determines such controls are necessary to protect U.S. national security. Title IV: Generalized System of Preferences - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit the President from designating as a beneficiary developing country any country that fails to give priority to alleviating malnutrition and poor health and enabling the poor to participate actively in increasing economic productivity, unless the President determines that such designation is required by U.S. national security interests and so reports to Congress. Directs the President to review the possibility of increasing the benefits available to the poorest beneficiary developing countries under such Act's Generalized System of Preferences. Title V: American International Public Health Fund - Establishes within the Agency for International Development (AID) an American International Public Health Fund to provide financial assistance to private and voluntary organizations to support specified public health activities in developing countries. Limits the Fund's financial assistance with respect to the administrative activities of such organizations. Specifies factors to be considered in allocating the Fund's resources. Authorizes the Fund to carry out all AID programs assisting private and voluntary organizations. Directs the Administrator of AID to establish a Board for International Public Health which shall: (1) participate in project proposal review; (2) review documents that detail the terms under which the Fund provides financial assistance to private and voluntary organizations; (3) review the impact of activities supported by the Fund; (4) recommend the allocation of funds; and (5) participate in preparing the annual report. Requires the Director of the Fund to report annually to Congress and the President on the Fund. Authorizes appropriations for such Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Declares that high level officials of South Africa should not be invited to visit the United States until South Africa abandons its policy of apartheid and commits itself to granting social justice and participation in the political process to all South Africans.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1981
Consumer Fraud Act of 1981 - Defines "unfair consumer practice" to include: (1) offering or advertising goods or services for sale to a consumer and not selling them as so offered; or (2) making false or misleading statements with respect to goods or services which are offered for sale to a consumer. Permits a consumer to void any contract or agreement in commerce which provides for the purchase of goods or services and results from a transaction involving an unfair consumer practice. Makes any person who induces a consumer into such contracts or agreements liable to such consumer for treble damages and legal costs. Authorizes State attorneys general to bring civil actions in Federal or State courts, as parens patriae for consumer residents, to secure treble damages and legal costs for unfair consumer practices, with monetary relief to be distributed among consumers or deposited with the State. Authorizes the U.S. Attorney General or any State attorney general to bring an action to enjoin an unfair consumer practice. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for whoever uses an instrumentality of commerce to willfully or negligently engage in an unfair consumer practice.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to revise contracting procedures and contract supervision practices of the Federal Government. Requires every person entering into a contract with the Government for the procurement, transfer, or disposition of property or services to certify that: (1) all material information required by the Administrator of General Services has or will be furnished; and (2) such information is not false or misleading. Sets forth a penalty assessment schedule for false certifications and violations of certification requirements. Directs the Administrator, before issuing an order to assess such a penalty against any person, to provide such person an opportunity for an agency hearing. Authorizes only the Administrator to modify any penalty assessed. Empowers the Administrator to subpoena witnesses and records for the purposes of an investigation leading to a hearing. Permits any person who is aggrieved by a final order assessing a penalty to petition for judicial review of such order. Directs the Attorney General to bring an action in an appropriate district court against any person who fails to pay an assessment. Directs the Administrator to notify the Attorney General of any intention to initiate a proceeding against a contractor. Authorizes the Administrator to initiate the proceeding unless the Attorney General objects within 120 days. Requires the Administrator to debar an individual found to have violated certification requirements from participation in Government contracts for a period of between one month and five years depending on the amount of the assessment against such individual. Requires any contract for property or services exceeding $10,000 in value to contain the certification requirements set forth in this Act, an agreement to abide by the assessment procedures, and a notice of such assessments. Directs the Administrator to establish and maintain a system for control of all contracts and agreements for procurement of property or services. Specifies that such system require the Administrator and any agency head with contracting authority to: (1) review for approval any contract exceeding $10,000 in value; (2) keep accurate records of transactions involving Federal funds; and (3) impose a system of accounting and internal controls to assure that (a) the Administrator or agency head authorizes all such transactions, (b) transactions are recorded as necessary to maintain accountability of funds, and (c) accounts are balanced regularly. Requires the Administrator to establish a system which requires the preparation, for each significant decision for a contract, of a memorandum which: (1) specifies the date of and parties to such decision; (2) describes the nature of and actions resulting from such decision; and (3) includes the personal signature or endorsement of the Federal employee responsible for such decision. Directs the Inspector General of the agency of a contracting authority to investigate any allegations of failure to make such a memorandum. Permits the Administrator, after consulting the Inspector General of the General Services Administration (GSA), to exempt contracts involving a Federal expenditure of under $10,000 from such requirements. Requires the Administrator to: (1) review regularly the contracting activities of the GSA and other agencies; (2) inform Congress of any deficiencies in such activities; and (3) prescribe regulations to eliminate contracting practices which result in fraud, waste, or abuse. Directs the Administrator, after consultation with the Inspector General, to: (1) establish a procedure for reviewing negotiated contracts exceeding $10,000 in value to determine whether such contracts can be secured more economically and efficiently by advertised bids or other means; and (2) report annually to the President and Congress and make recommendations for changes in procurement procedures. Requires the Administrator to establish a uniform system of contract audits which shall: (1) include a schedule of regular and random audits of major negotiated contracts; and (2) establish audit procedures necessary to ensure a significant probability that any negotiated contract, or any advertised contract receiving three or fewer bids, with a cost exceeding $10,000 will be audited. Requires at least 20 percent of the negotiated contracts in each classification to be audited. Requires the Administrator and each agency head with contracting authority to maintain abstracts of such audits available for public inspection. Authorizes the Administrator and the Inspector General to obtain access to the contract records of any contractor or subcontractor. Makes the auditing powers of the Administrator subject to the Accounting and Auditing Act of 1950 and the Inspector General Act of 1978. Prohibits the Administrator from altering a leased facility if the cost of such alteration exceeds 25 percent of the annual rent of such facility unless: (1) such alteration is authorized specifically by Congress; (2) a statement describing the overall work has been provided in advance to the Congressional committees with oversight responsibility for such alteration; or (3) the work would not alter more than 5,000 square feet of the leased space.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority (deferral no. D81-36A) for the programs authorized by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, as transmitted by the President to the Congress on March 11, 1981, pursuant to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1981
Maternal and Infant Health Services Act of 1981 - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, State maternal and child health agencies for the establishment of statewide perinatal systems plans for the coordinated delivery of existing maternal and infant health services in the States. Requires an application for a grant or cooperative agreement to provide for the development of a statewide perinatal systems plan which, among other things: (1) is a part of the State plan under title V; (2) includes a statement of goals and objectives for coordinating title V and XIX (Medicaid) of the Act; (3) provides for the designation of a regional advisory board in each health service area incorporating a high infant mortality area; and (4) includes performance standards with respect to the improvement of the health of mothers and infants. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, State maternal and child health agencies for projects to implement the statewide perinatal systems plan. Requires an application for such a grant or cooperative agreement, in order to be approved, to: (1) provide for the coordination of services under titles V and XIX; (2) provide for the designation of regional advisory boards; (3) provide for the development of a case management system; and (4) provide for the furnishing of perinatal services identified as needed through the case management system. Requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress. Requires a State Medicaid plan to make medical assistance available for care and services provided during pregnancy and 120 days following the termination of a pregnancy to a women (and any child born as a result of such pregnancy) if her income and resources meet certain standards.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1981
Child and Family Development Act - Declares that the Congress affirms the right and responsibility of parents to participate in programs involving their children and that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize any public agency or private organization or its representative to intervene in any child-rearing decision of the parents. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a complete study and assessment of child care needs in the United States. Directs the Secretary to take specified factors into consideration and to complete such study and assessment, and transmit the results to the Congress, within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to prepare and promulgate a comprehensive plan and program to provide services to meet the Nation's child care needs (including day care, education, health, and nutrition). Sets forth required provisions for the plan and program. Directs the Secretary to promptly transmit the plan and program, with recommendations, to the Congress. Requires that a specified minimum period of time after transmittal to the Congress pass before the plan or program or later modifications by the Secretary become effective. Sets forth priorities in the distribution of child care funds by the plan and program. Prohibits the plan and program from affecting levels or sources of funding for the Head Start program and specified programs under the Social Security Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Requires that such plan and program provide for strengthened developmental programming for children and parent education and required certification of teachers under such Acts. Requires that the plan and program include: (1) provision of additional Federal funds to improve child care programs; and (2) incentives for development of improved child care facilities. Sets forth administrative provisions and requirements for State plans for the administration of child care programs. Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report, with recommendations, to the Congress on the administration and operation of this Act and of the plan and program. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Exempts the owner of any passenger motor vehicle leased by the United States Postal Service from payment of any State or local tax or fee on such vehicle. Authorizes the Postal Service to maintain any such vehicle.
![Official portrait of Rep. Clay, William (Bill) [D-MO-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000488_200.jpg)