United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Westway Landfill Funding Prohibition and Hudson River Habitat Protection Act of 1985 - Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from expending funds for the Westway landfill in New York City, New York.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Prohibits obligating or spending FY 1985 or 1986 funds for the purpose of introducing U.S. armed forces into or over El Salvador or Nicaragua for combat unless: (1) the Congress has declared war or enacted specific authorization for such introduction; or (2) such introduction is necessary to meet a clear and present danger of hostile attack upon the United States, or to meet such a danger to and to protect the U.S. embassy, or to meet such a danger to and to protect and evacuate U.S. Government personnel or U.S. citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study of the benefit disparities caused by the 1977 changes in the social security benefit formula. Directs the Secretary to report the results of the study to the Congress and the Congressional Budget Office. Directs the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to report to the Congress that Office's conclusions and recommendations regarding the Secretary's report.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
World War I Veterans' Service Pension Act - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly pension of $150 to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements. Requires such veteran, if receiving another pension administered by the Veterans Administration (VA), to elect which pension he will receive. Provides for the payment of a monthly pension of $100 to surviving spouses of World War I veterans who meet certain marriage requirements. Requires such surviving spouses to choose between pensions if they are currently receiving another pension through the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should take appropriate action to: (1) enforce U.S. rights under international agreements to which Japan is a party; and (2) obtain the elimination of Japanese acts and policies which deny benefits to the United States under such international agreements and which burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Directs the President, within a specified time, to: (1) report to the Congress and give notice of the actions the President has decided to take to accomplish such objectives; and (2) implement all such actions. Declares that such actions should at least negate the cumulative impact that the elimination or relaxation of the voluntary restraints on Japanese automobile imports will have on the merchandise balance of trade between Japan and the United States. Declares that action taken to accomplish this objective should be directed against competitive Japanese exports, including automobiles, telecommunication products, optical fibers, textiles, and electronic products. Declares action taken to accomplish the major objectives of the resolution should be modified or revoked only if the President determines that such minimum objective has been achieved.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit States and local governments to provide statements of tax refunds, credits, and offsets to individuals at any time during the calendar year for which such governments make a return, but not later than January 31 of the year following the year of the return. (Current law requires such statements to be furnished in January of the year following the year of the return.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1985
States that the United States does not recognize any spheres of influence in Europe and repudiates the negative consequences of the Yalta agreements of 1945. Proclaims hope for the self-determination of people subjected to Soviet despotism and expresses solidarity with the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that travel by Members of Congress to the Soviet Union and travel by Soviet leaders to the United States serves the interests of the two nations and that such travel is encouraged.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1985
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit a hospice to contract out for nursing care with a Medicare-certified provider if the provider: (1) is located in a rural area or in a health manpower shortage area; or (2) provided hospice services and was incorporated or licensed, prior to January 1, 1985. Requires the provider to be presently certified and to have been certified prior to January 1, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1985
Family Education Assistance Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer an income tax deduction for contributions to a savings account established to pay the education expenses (tuition, supplies, meals, and lodging) at an institution of higher education or a vocational school of a child of the taxpayer, of a child of a brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister of the taxpayer, of an individual for whom the taxpayer has been appointed as guardian, or of a descendant of a child of the taxpayer. Limits the amount of such deduction to $1,500 (adjusted for inflation) for each account per calendar year. Provides that no account may have more than one beneficiary and that no individual may be a beneficiary of more than one account. Disallows any deduction for contributions to an education savings account for any beneficiary who has attained the age of 19. Requires any balance in an education savings account to be distributed after the individual for whose benefit the account is established attains age 30. Includes the distributions from an education savings account in the gross income of the payee or distributee except for those amounts distributed or used to pay educational expenses incurred by the individual for whose benefit the account is established. Provides that an education savings account is exempt from taxation except for the tax on unrelated business income. Revokes the tax exemption of the account where the individual for whose benefit the account is established engages in certain prohibited transactions with the account. Imposes a ten percent penalty tax on distributions which are not used for educational expenses. Requires the trustee of an education savings account to file reports with the Secretary of the Treasury on the maintenance of the account. Imposes a penalty for failure to file any required report. Extends the deduction for contributions to an education savings account to taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize deductions. Provides that distributions from an education savings account shall not be taken into account in determining support to the extent such distribution is excluded from gross income of the individual for whose benefit the account has been established.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1985
Commemorates May 18, 1985, as the 20th anniversary of the Head Start Program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Head Start Program has been cost-effective and successful; and (2) congressional commitment to such program is reaffirmed.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income the value of lodging located in the proximity of an educational institution and rented by such institution to its employees at cost.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1985
Labor-Management Notification and Consultation Act of 1985 - Prohibits any employer (i.e. any business with 50 or more employees) from ordering a plant closing or permanent layoff until 90 days after the employer serves written notice of a proposal to issue such an order to: (1) the representative of the affected employees or, if none, to each affected employee; and (2) the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Provides for reduction of such notification period if the Service determines that unavoidable business circumstances prevent the employer from withholding such closing or layoff until the end of such period. Provides for extension of such notification period thus prohibiting the ordering of such closing or layoff while the employer is subject to an order to continue to consult. Prohibits an employer from ordering a plant closing or permanent layoff unless the employer has: (1) met with representatives of the affected employees with respect to a proposal to order such closing or layoff; and (2) consulted in good faith with such representative for the purpose of agreeing to a mutually satisfactory alternative to or modification of such proposal. Makes such obligation to consult commence on the date of notice and continue until the end of the 90-day notification period. Provides that such consultation period shall be extended if the Service determines that the employer has failed to comply with such consultation requirements. Authorizes the Service to renew any such extension imposed. Requires the employer to disclose to the affected employees' representative information necessary for thorough evaluation of: (1) the proposal to order the closing or layoff; and (2) any alternatives or modifications suggested to such proposal. Authorizes the Service to issue protective orders to prevent disclosure of information which could compromise the employer's competitive position. Sets forth provisions for the administration and enforcement of requirements under this Act. Provides for: (1) assistance by the Service to employers, employee representatives, affected employees, State employment services, and other State and local officials; (2) investigations and injunctive actions by the Department of Labor; (3) civil actions against employers; and (4) civil actions against representatives of employees. Provides that the rights and remedies provided to employees by this Act are in addition to any other contractual, statutory, or other legal rights and remedies of the employees. Expresses the sense of the Congress that employers who, because affected employees do not have a representative, are not required to comply with the consultation and disclosure requirements under this Act should consult with and disclose information to such employees in order to reach a mutually satisfactory alternative or modification of the proposal to order the closing or layoff. Establishes a National Commission on Plant Closings and Worker Dislocation. Requires the Commission to report to the President and the Congress within 12 months of the appointment of members. Terminates the Commission 30 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations for the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1985
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan and construct facilities for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes effective October 1, 1988. Prohibits any such funds from being obligated or expended until there is available to the Board, from private donations or other non-Federal sources, a sum which, when combined with such appropriated funds, is sufficient to carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides for transfer of any portion of such funds to the General Services Administration to carry out such purposes. Provides that, effective on enactment of this Act, the Cooper-Hewitt Museum shall also be known as the National Museum of Design.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1985
Textile and Apparel Trade Enforcement Act of 1985 - Limits the total quantity of 1985 imports of textiles and textile products from a major exporting country to the lesser of an amount equal to 101 percent: (1) of the total quantity of textile products imported from such country if the total had increased by six percent annually (one percent annually for wool products) during 1981 through 1984; or (2) if the United States has an agreement with such country providing for an annual growth rate of less than six percent, of the total quantity of such products from such country imported during 1984. Limits the total quantity of 1985 imports of textiles and textile products from an exporting country to an amount equal to the total quantity of such products imported from such country during 1984 plus: (1) 15 percent of such quantity in the case of a category that is not an import sensitive category; or (2) one percent in the case of an import sensitive category. Provides for changing the classification of a country, except for a Caribbean country, from an exporting country to a major exporting country if the total textile imports from such country equals or exceeds one and one-quarter percent of all textiles imported into the United States. Sets forth a formula for adjusting the growth of textile imports annually. Sets forth certain minimum quantities of textile imports that all countries shall be allowed to export to the United States. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to enforce this Act. Directs the Secretary, within six months of enactment of this Act, to establish an import licensing system under which an importer of textiles will be required to present an import permit as a condition of entry of such textiles. Directs the President to report to the Congress annually on the administration of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan and construct facilities for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes effective October 1, 1986. Provides for transfer of any portion of such funds to the General Services Administration to carry out such purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Polygraph Protection Act of 1985 - Prohibits any employer from using any lie detector test or examination in the work place, for both pre-employment testing and testing in the course of employment. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prepare and have printed notices setting forth this prohibition. Requires employers to post these notices. Provides for remedies for violations of this Act as found in the Fair Labor Standards Act. Exempts Federal, State, and local employees from the Act's coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Social Security Trust Funds Act of 1985 - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to exclude from Federal budget totals and limitations: (1) the receipts and disbursements of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund; and (2) employment related social security taxes. Repeals superseded provisions relating to budgetary treatment of social security trust operations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Declares that the House will act expeditiously on the necessary implementing legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State should recommend to the Attorney General that extended voluntary departure status be granted to alien nationals of Guatemala until the situation there becomes safe for their return.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should investigate the activities of Dr. Josef Mengele; (2) Federal agencies should cooperate in collecting information concerning him; (3) the United States should request that specified nations in which Dr. Mengele is reported to have resided commence internal investigations relating to his residence; (4) the Attorney General should report to the Congress on the progress of the Mengele investigation; and (5) the United States, in conjunction with the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel, should establish an international task force to support such investigation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1985
Age Discrimination in Employment Act Public Safety Officers Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to exclude State and local law enforcement officers and firefighters from coverage under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Paraguay should carry out an investigation to locate and arrest Josef Mengele and extradite him to the Federal Republic of Germany; and (2) the United States should take actions to ensure that Josef Mengele is brought to justice.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1985
Requires presidential primaries to be held during the period beginning the second Tuesday in March and ending on the second Tuesday in June in the year of the presidential election. Directs the Attorney General of the United States to seek compliance with this Act by civil action for equitable relief in Federal district court.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1985
Declares that the United States: (1) shall initiate a dialogue with the participants in the Contadora process to develop a common strategy for regional stability; (2) should assist efforts to implement specified objectives by offering such advisory services as may be requested and by exerting vigorous diplomatic efforts to persuade other governments involved in Central America to observe these conditions; and (3) should announce its willingness to pursue multilateral negotiations with the Central American countries. Requires the United States to communicate to Nicaragua its desire to resume negotiations to: (1) further the aims of the Contadora Act for Peace and Cooperation in Central America; and (2) promote the normalization of relations between the United States and Nicaragua. Declares that for the 90 days following enactment of this Act: (1) the United States shall suspend certain military assistance and arms sales to Central American countries except for medical facilities or supplies; (2) the United States shall suspend construction of military facilities in Central American countries; (3) the United States shall not participate in training exercises in or off shores of Central American countries; (4) the number of members of U.S. armed forces in any Central American country may not exceed the number in that country on the date of enactment of this Act unless needed to protect U.S. citizens; (5) the United States shall suspend all air reconnaissance flights for armed forces of any Central American country; and (6) there shall be no obligation or expenditure of Central Intelligence Agency funds, Defense Department funds, or any other U.S. funds to support military or paramilitary operations in Nicaragua by any nation, group, organization, movement, or individual. Requires the President to report to the Congress within 90 days of enactment of this Act on the results of U.S. policy in Central America.
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.