A bill to require that diet drugs containing phenylpropanolamine be dispensed only upon prescription.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Requires diet drugs containing phenylpropanolamine to be dispensed only upon prescription.
The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Rep. Crockett, George W., Jr. [D-MI-13]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000919_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
2,862 records where Rep. Crockett, George W., Jr. [D-MI-13] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Requires diet drugs containing phenylpropanolamine to be dispensed only upon prescription.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Amends the Federal Supplemental Compensation Act of 1982 to provide an additional six weeks of benefits under the Federal supplemental unemployment compensation program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to require that the eligibility criteria for legal assistance not exclude persons who were eligible for the Corporation's services under the criteria in effect on January 1, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Designates the week of September 30 through October 6, 1984, as National High-Tech Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Recognizes the important contribution of the arts to a complete education. Urges all citizens to support efforts which strengthen artistic training and appreciation within schools.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Designates April 27, 1984, as National Nursing Home Residents Day.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Expresses the appreciation of Congress to the descendants of blacks who contributed to American Independence. Encourages State and local governments and private organizations to conduct activities during Black History Month 1985 in honor of black involvement in the American Revolution.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Designates the week of April 23 through April 27, 1984, as National Student Leadership Week.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1984
Fair Insurance Coverage Act - Prohibits any insurer from discriminating in an insurance contract against any person because of blindness. Includes within the prohibition refusing to make or negotiate a contract for insurance or giving different treatment with respect to terms, conditions, rates, or benefits because of blindness. Establishes a preference for State actions prior to judicial enforcement under this Act. Authorizes any aggrieved person, in the absence of State actions or jurisdiction, to bring an action under this Act for individual relief. Authorizes the Attorney General of the United States to bring an action for injunctive relief whenever there is reasonable cause to believe a person is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination or when an individual is aggrieved and an issue of general public importance is raised. Grants the Federal district courts jurisdiction of such actions regardless of the amount in controversy. Allows a court to order monetary, equitable, or other appropriate relief, including punitive damages.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1984
Designates the month of November 1984 as National Alzheimer's Disease Month.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1984
Authorizes reduced postal rates during FY 1984 and 1985 for parcels of food, medicine, or clothing sent to Poland.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1984
Designates January 1 through December 31, 1984, as the Year of Excellence in Education.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1984
Designates the month of April 1984 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1984
Designates the week beginning April 22, 1984, as National Dance Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should initiate discussions with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the Security Council to effectuate the replacement of the Multinational Force in Lebanon with a U.N. peacekeeping force.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
Federal Employee's Pay Equity Act of 1984 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to study and report to the President and Congress on: (1) any Government practices of setting lower wage rates within the position classification system for jobs held predominantly by women than for jobs with comparable requirements held predominantly by men; (2) the discriminatory wage differentials resulting from such practices; and (3) appropriate measures for eliminating such practices and differentials, including the use of equitable job-evaluation techniques, along with a timetable for implementing such measures within two years. Requires such measures to be instituted according to such timetable. Requires OPM, beginning in 1986, to submit to the President and Congress an annual report on actions taken during the previous year and actions planned for the current year to carry out this Act. Directs each Federal agency responsible for submitting an equal employment opportunity plan under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include in each plan or update a review and identification of any discriminatory wage-setting practices and wage differentials with respect to its labor force and a plan to eliminate any such practices and differentials. Requires any agency which does not submit a plan or update within one year to amend its existing plan to include such information.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
States that the President should: (1) announce to the Soviet Union and other nuclear nations that the United States will suspend testing of nuclear weapons and challenge the Soviet Union to do the same; (2) express to the diplomatic community that U.S. policy is to cease testing such weapons and that such testing will be resumed if the Soviet Union proceeds with further underground testing of such weapons; (3) ensure that upon suspension of U.S. testing the United States will make use of existing technology and equipment to verify that nuclear explosions have ceased; and (4) initiate negotiations for a permanent U.S.-Soviet test ban treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
Establishes in the House of Representatives the Congressional Child Care Center for the use of children of Members, officers, and employees of the House. States that the Committee on House Administration shall operate the Center. Directs the Chairman of such Committee to appoint a nonpartisan advisory board to make recommendations on management and operation of the Center, and to conduct semiannual reviews of such Center. Requires that operating expenses be recovered through child care fees. Establishes a revolving fund within the House contingent fund for the purpose of operating the Center.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
Commission on Pay Equity - Establishes a Commission on Pay Equity which shall: (1) retain a private contractor who shall study the compensation paid to job classes in a Federal legislative branch agency in which at least 50 percent of the employees are subject to provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination in Government employment and which has the broadest range of job classification of all eligible agencies, determine whether the compensation system in that agency provides for pay equity and equal employment opportunity, and, if not, make recommendations to Congress for necessary action; and (2) based on the findings of such study, establish a comprehensive plan and make recommendations to Congress to ensure pay equity and equal employment opportunity in the legislative branch. Directs the Commission to submit to Congress appropriate interim reports and a final report within one year after its first meeting. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of such final report. Requires payment of Commission expenses from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Indian Health Care Amendments of 1984 - Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as amended by the Indian Health Care Amendments of 1980, to authorize specific appropriations for FY 1985-1987. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine which individual Indians shall receive Indian Health Scholarships. Prohibits the payment of health professions preparatory scholarships to Indians who are employed in the Indian Health Service during nonacademic periods of the school year. Prohibits the use of funds which were authorized to eliminate backlogs in Indian health care to offset or limit appropriations made under other Acts. Lists the purposes for which the appropriated funds shall be expended. Designates as the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund certain authorized appropriations necessary to raise all tribes to a specified level on the Indian Health Service's priority system. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a current health services priority system report, including the levels of health services and funds needed to raise Indian communities to a parity with that of the general population. Specifies the minimum percentage of funds to be expended by the Secretary for research into specified areas of Indian health care. Sets a deadline by which the Secretary must develop and implement a plan to reduce infant mortality among Indian tribes to a rate no greater than infant mortality among all citizens. Specifies funds available for such a plan. Establishes an Indian Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund to be administered by the Secretary for the sole purpose of meeting the extraordinary cost of medical disasters or catastrophic illnesses. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to expend certain sums over a three- year period for the construction or renovation of the top five priority inpatient care facilities and ambulatory care facilities, together with the requisite staff quarters. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress the current health facilities priority system report. Directs the Secretary to provide the Congress with one year's notice of any contemplated closing of an Indian health care facility. Directs the Secretary to begin implementing in FY 1985 a ten-year plan to provide safe water supply and sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal facilities to Indian homes and communities. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress the Service's current Indian sanitation facilities priority system, and the funds needed to raise all communities to a zero level of deficiency. Authorizes specified appropriations to provide sanitation facilities. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial and technical assistance for the operation and maintenance of sanitation facilities, utility organizations, and emergency repairs of sanitation facilities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to contract with urban Indian organizations to administer health services programs in urban areas. Details eligibility criteria for such programs. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes eligibility guidelines for certain persons who are otherwise ineligible for medical care and benefits provided by either the Indian Health Service or by tribes contracting from the Service. Establishes the Office of Indian Health Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to administer all Indian health programs and authorities. Places the Office of Indian Health Affairs under the direction of an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health. Transfers the Indian Health Service to such Office. Authorizes the Secretary to waive Indian preference laws on an ad hoc basis for transfers occurring during a specified period.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth source of income rules for the tax treatment of shipping income. Provides that: (1) all shipping income attributable to transportation between two ports located in the United States shall be treated as derived from sources within the United States; and (2) 50 percent of all U.S. connected shipping income shall be treated as derived from sources within the United States. Defines "United States shipping income" and "shipping income" for purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Prohibits providing Turkey with military assistance, military education and training assistance, arms sales credits, or arms sales guarantees until: (1) Turkey has withdrawn its recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; (2) Turkey has taken all necessary steps to reverse the illegal declaration of an independent state in northern Cyprus; (3) negotiations for resolving the Cyprus conflict have resumed and significant progress has been made in settling the conflict; and (4) all Turkish military forces, in excess of those permitted by the 1959 Treaty of Alliance, are withdrawn from Cyprus.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to establish within the Administration on Aging the National Information Clearinghouse on Aging. Requires the Clearinghouse to: (1) compile and disseminate information relating to federally funded projects related to aging; (2) publish annually a summary of the information collected; (3) compile information regarding State legislation related to programs or services for older individuals; (4) make available a national toll-free telephone number for information concerning programs and services for older individuals; and (5) cooperate with other Federal, State, and local information and referral services. Directs the Commissioner to report annually to Congress concerning research, demonstration, evaluation, and training programs carried out with funds made available under the Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions of this Act for FY 1985 through 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Disability Beneficiaries Protection Act of 1983 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to analyze, evaluate and report to specified congressional committees on the effects of the periodic reviews of disability cases to determine continuing eligibility for those individuals receiving disability benefits under titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Secretary to make revisions, based upon such evaluation, to the criteria embodied in the "Listing of Impairments" in effect under part 404 of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations so that such criteria can be used to realistically evaluate the ability of an impaired individual to engage in substantial gainful activity in a competitive workplace. Prohibits the Social Security Administration from carrying out continuing eligibility reviews until such revisions have been established by regulation. Makes such prohibition inapplicable in any case involving fraud or where an individual is engaged in substantial gainful activity. Sets forth requirements for the redetermination of disability determinations made: (1) after the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Secretary's revisions are established by regulation; and (2) between March 1, 1981, and the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Tax Equity for Women Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow married individuals to compute the amount of their income tax deduction for contributions to retirement savings accounts on the basis of the earnings of their spouse. Treats alimony as compensation for purposes of determining an individual's income tax deduction for retirement savings. Grants tax-exempt status to certain organizations which provide nonresidential dependent care to the general public. Increases the income tax credit for household and dependent care services for low and moderate income taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Designates the second full week in March of each year as National Employ the Older Worker Week.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Directs the President to furnish to the House of Representatives, within ten days after adoption of this resolution, documents relating to: (1) the U.S. invasion of Grenada; (2) U.S. communications with international organizations with respect to Grenada; and (3) combat activities of and casualties incurred by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) enter into negotiations with Nicaragua to consider that country's October 1983 treaty proposals; (2) encourage Honduras to enter into negotiations with Nicaragua to consider Nicaragua's treaty proposal to Honduras; and (3) encourage other Central American countries to enter into negotiations with Nicaragua to consider Nicaragua's treaty proposal to them.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that the public and private sectors should establish programs to assist low-income individuals in meeting heating fuel and weatherization costs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Directs the President to investigate and report to the Congress within 18 months concerning the living conditions and available assistance for El Salvadorans displaced inside and outside their country. Requires such investigation to report on the fate of El Salvadoran deportees. Requires the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to hold hearings within two years to consider appropriate U.S. steps to assure the personal safety and equitable distribution of assistance to such displaced El Salvadorans. Provides for a three-year moratorium on specified categories of El Salvadoran deportations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Native American Programs Act Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Native Americans Programs Act of 1974 to state that decisions to grant financial assistance shall not consider whether such aid accrues to the benefit of Indians who are not members of a federally recognized tribe. Prohibits the rejection of financial assistance solely on the grounds that the request serves Indians or an Indian organization in a nonreservation area. Requires that programs under this Act be administered within the Department of Health and Human Services (currently they may be delegated to other Federal departments and agencies). Prohibits any transfer of such administration outside of the Department. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue the administration of grants through the Administration for Native Americans (the Administration). Requires the Commission of such Administration to delegate all functions within the Administration. Restricts the delegation and redelegation of functions by the Secretary to personnel within the Department. Permits interagency funding agreements between the Administration and other Federal agencies. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1987. Specifies the percentage of appropriated funds which shall be used for financial assistance under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Human Needs and World Security Act - Requires that for FY 1985: (1) not less than $102,000,000 shall be provided to the United Nations Children's Fund with the Fund's excess FY 1984 funds to be devoted to the provision of low-cost preventive health measures associated with the "child health revolution" developed by United Nations agencies; (2) not less than $90,000,000 shall be provided for the International Fund for Agricultural Development; and (3) not less than $175,000,000 shall be provided for health care activities with excess FY 1984 funds to be devoted to preventive health care activities directly benefitting the poor majority. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for the Peace Corps. Requires that $700,000,000 shall be available to carry out famine relief under the Agriculture Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 for FY 1985. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for the Inter-American Development Bank for assistance under the Bank's program for financing small projects. Limits for FY 1985 the aggregate amount of foreign military sales credits, foreign military sales guarantees, military assistance, and international military education and training. Limits the amount of assistance provided during FY 1985 through the Economic Support Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to prohibit the taking and importation of killer whales for public display purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Designates April 8 through 14, 1984, as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Designates March 1984 as National Eye Donor Month.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Designates the week beginning March 4, 1984, as Women's History Week.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Urges the United States and the People's Republic of China to begin talks aimed at creating a jointly administered United States-People's Republic of China student exchange program. Sets forth certain aspects of such exchange program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Directs the Architect of the Capitol to enclose the galleries of the House of Representatives with a transparent and substantial material and to install equipment so that the proceedings on the floor of the House will be clearly audible in the galleries.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States and other nations should not recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and that a meeting of the United Nations Security Council should be held to condemn such act and to press for the withdrawal of forces from Northern Cyprus; and (2) the right of the people of Cyprus to self-determination should not be abridged by any nation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1983
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require on board passenger-carrying aircraft: (1) no-smoking sections for each class of service; (2) the prohibition of smoking cigars and pipes; and (3) the prohibition of smoking whenever an aircraft ventilation system is not operating at normal service.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1983
Magnetohydrodynamics Research, Development and Demonstration Policy Act of 1983 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct research and development which will clarify the scientific and technical issues that directly affect the development and commercial acceptance of magnetohydrodynamic technology (technology for the production of electricity from coal). Requires the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive program management plan for the magnetohydrodynamic research, development, and demonstration activities under this Act and to transmit such program to Congress. Directs the Secretary to enter into international cooperative agreements to conduct magnetohydrodynamic research and development. Requires the Secretary to offer to enter into an agreement with the owner of an existing coal-fired electric powerplant and other appropriate parties for a proof of concept demonstration of magnetohydrodynamic technology with respect to such powerplant. Provides that the parties to such agreement shall be selected on the basis of competitive bids. Requires the establishment of a Technical Review Panel for Magnetohydrodynamics which shall make recommendations to the Energy Research Advisory Board with respect to the magnetohydrodynamics research, development, and demonstration activities under this Act. Requires that the Panel's report be transmitted to the Secretary and Congress. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress annually on activities under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 1983
Designates July 1 through July 8, 1984, as National Duck Stamp Week, and 1984 as the Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp.
United States · United States Congress · 11 November 1983
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to add a new title - Title V: Assistance to States for Voter Registration Programs. Defines "door-to-door voter registration program" as a door-to-door canvass on a nonpartisan basis. Directs the Federal Election Commission to make grants to the States to support door-to-door voter registration programs. Conditions such grants upon a determination that a State's program is likely to be successful. Provides for apportionment of such grants among the States. Vests responsibility for grant administration in the State officer normally responsible for election administration. Authorizes States to allocate any part of a grant to local and municipal governments. Authorizes appropriations. Conditions free return mail for State post card voter registration programs upon State reallocation of specified funding to a general voter registration or to a door-to-door voter registration program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1983
Industrial Competitiveness Act - Title I: Council on Industrial Competitiveness - Establishes in the executive branch an independent agency to be known as the Council on Industrial Competitiveness. Sets forth the duties of the Council including the duty to: (1) collect and analyze information concerning current and future economic trends and market opportunities; (2) create forums where national leaders will identify national economic problems; (3) provide policy recommendations regarding specific issues concerning industrial strategies; and (4) evaluate existing government policies and business practices in terms of their competitive impact. Sets forth the membership and powers of the Council. Requires the Council to report to Congress and the President, within one year of enactment of this title, recommendations for changes in Federal policy necessary to implement effective industrial strategies. Requires the Council to report annually to the President, Congress, and the Bank for Industrial Competitiveness on the major industrial development priorities of the United States and the policies needed to meet such priorities. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Bank for Industrial Competitiveness - Subtitle A: Bank for Industrial Competitiveness - Establishes the Bank for Industrial Competititveness which shall be an agency of the United States. Sets forth the powers of the Bank and the qualifications for members of the board of directors. Authorizes the Bank to provide financial assistance to: (1) businesses in mature or linkage industries which require revitalization and modernization in order to be competitive in a world market; and (2) businesses in emerging industries which require financial assistance to develop and market new products or technologies. Limits the amount of aid for each project to 30 percent of the funding necessary to carry out the project. Sets forth the requirements for applications for such assistance. Sets forth the terms and conditions for financial assistance from the Bank. Terminates the authority of the Bank to make loans, issue loan guarantees, and purchase capital stock of applicants ten years after the effective date of this title. Sets forth the amount of capital stock the Bank shall have. Authorizes the Bank to issue obligations to provide sufficient funds to carry out the Bank's purposes and to renew, refund or pay other obligations. Limits the amount of the Bank's outstanding obligations to five times the paid-in capital of the Bank. Prohibits any of the loans made, guaranteed, or committed to be guaranteed under this title from being eligible for purchase by, or commitment to purchase by, or sale or issuance to, any Federal agency or government-owned entity. Exempts obligations of the Bank from taxation. Authorizes the Bank to enter into appropriate agreements respecting obligations of the Bank. Sets forth provisions dealing with moneys of the Bank. Exempts from taxation all property of the Bank except for the Bank's real property. Authorizes the Bank to inspect all documents of an applicant relating to the applicant's financial affairs and to all facilities and properties of the applicant. Requires the Bank to submit an annual report to the President and Congress. Terminates the Bank 30 years after the effective date of this title. Subtitle B: Secondary Markets for Industrial Mortgages - Authorizes the Bank to purchase and to make commitments to purchase industrial mortgages from any qualified financial institution. Authorizes the Bank to set priorities regarding the types of industrial mortgages to be purchased. Sets forth conditions which such mortgages must meet. Prohibits an industrial mortgage from being purchased unless specified conditions are met. Authorizes the Bank to set aside mortgages held by it and to issue and sell securities based upon the set aside mortgages. Subtitle C: Investment in Public Industrial Development Banks - Authorizes the Bank to invest in the stock of public industrial development finance institutions established at the State, local, or regional levels. Requires that the Bank be given, in return for its investment, one or more seats on the Board of Directors of the public development bank in which it invests. Prohibits the Bank from contracting with institutions that offer no reasonable prospect of return. Sets forth conditions for participation by the Bank in public industrial development banks. Subtitle D: General Provisions - Authorizes appropriations beginning in FY 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1983
Designates the week beginning April 8, 1984, as National Mental Health Counselors Week.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1983
Impeaches President Reagan of the high crime or misdemeanor of: (1) ordering the invasion of Grenada, in violation of the Constitution and certain treaty obligations; and (2) preventing news coverage of such invasion.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an energy investment tax credit for equipment designed to use sail power on vessels. Specifies that qualified equipment shall include: (1) masts; (2) standing and running rigging; (3) sails; (4) deck hardware related to hoisting, trimming, or otherwise controlling sails; and (5) rotor systems. Specifies that such credit shall apply to periods after December 31, 1984, and prior to January 1, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1983
Entitles veterans and survivors of veterans who served in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War to the same benefits as World War II veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1983
Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1983 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to require the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to establish and maintain a national toll-free telephone line for reporting information regarding the location of missing children. Directs the Administrator to establish a national resource center and clearinghouse to: (1) provide technical assistance to State and local governments and agencies in locating missing children; (2) coordinate public and private efforts to recover missing children; and (3) disseminate information on innovative missing childrens' programs, services, and legislation. Requires the Administrator to publish an annual summary of research on missing children and prepare a comprehensive plan for coordinating activities of all agencies and organizations responsible for missing children. Authorizes the Administrator, in consultation with the Advisory Board on Missing Children, to make grants for research or demonstration or service programs designed to: (1) educate parents and community agencies on ways to prevent the abduction of children; (2) assist in the recovery or tracking of missing children; (3) aid communities in collecting material to assist parents in the identification of their children; (4) demonstrate the psychological consequences of a child's abduction; and (5) collect data on investigative practices utilized by law enforcement agencies. Requires the Administrator to appoint an Advisory Board on Missing Children to assist the Administrator in coordinating programs and activities relating to missing children. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1983
Retirement Equity Act of 1983 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code to lower from age 25 to age 21 the age limitation for minimum participation and vesting standards for pension plans. Prohibits certain defined benefit plans from requiring, as a condition for plan participation, that employees complete period of service extending beyond the earlier of age 25 or the vesting expectation date. Lowers from age 22 to age 18 the age limitation for the computation of periods of service. States that years of service may be disregarded when computing periods of service for participation or vesting purposes if breaks in service during such a period amounted to five or more one-year breaks. Treats breaks in service due to pregnancy, birth, or adoption of a child as completed hours of service according to a specified formula. Accords such treatment only in the year of the pregnancy, birth or adoption, and only to participants who would incur a one-year break in service without such treatment. Requires pension plans which provide life annuity benefits to pay such benefits in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity. Requires that each pension plan participant have the option of electing, waiving, or revoking the joint and survivor annuity form of benefit. Conditions the efficacy of such election upon: (1) the written consent of a participant's spouse; (2) a written acknowledgement by a participant's spouse of the effect of such election; and (3) an official witnessing of such spousal consent by a plan representative or notary public. Limits such consent to the signatory spouse. Requires pension plans to furnish participants with written explanations of the terms and rights of election regarding joint and survivor annuities. Prohibits joint and survivor annuity payments from being less than the actuarial equivalent of payments made if the annuitant had lived to the earliest date of retirement or had separated from service on the date of death. Requires the surviving spouse's consent for any distribution of nonforfeitable benefits exceeding $3,500. Requires such benefits to be paid according to the surviving spouse's written requests. States that plans subject to funding requirements must provide benefits payable in the form of an annuity. Exempts qualified domestic relations orders from the Act's proscriptions against alienation and assignment of pension plan benefits. Sets procedural guidelines for the payment of such benefits to an alternate payee under such orders. Prohibits alternative payees from receiving any portion of any increase in a participant's accrued benefits if such increases occur after payments to such payees have begun. Declares that alternate payees under domestic relations orders are not considered to be, by virtue of such orders, participants or beneficiaries under the pension plan. Increases from $1,750 to $3,500 the allowable mandatory distribution from a retirement plan. Requires notification to participants that certain benefits may be forfeitable if the participant dies before a certain date. Sets December 31, 1984 as the effective date of this Act for existing plans. Provides transitional dates and certain effective dates for plans maintained under collective bargaining agreements.