United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1985
Bicentennial of the Constitution Coins and Medals Act - Title I: Bicentennial of the United States Constitution Commemorative Coins - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a specified number of five dollar gold coins and one dollar silver coins emblematic of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their sale and issuance. Terminates the minting of such coins after December 31, 1987. Requires the Secretary to deposit in the Treasury all surcharges received from sale of such coins, to be used to reduce the national debt. Title II: Bicentennial of the United States Constitution Commemorative Medals - Directs the Secretary to strike and deliver to the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution a specified number of gold, silver, and bronze medals commemorating the Bicentennial. Authorizes the Commission to dispose of such medals at a premium. Terminates the striking of such medals after December 31, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1985
Transfers specified U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, lands at the Savannah River Plant near Aiken, South Carolina, to the Department of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1985
Judicial Survivors' Annuities Amendments Act - Amends the Judicial Code to increase the amount that a judicial official has withheld from his or her salary for purposes of the Judicial Survivors' Annuities Fund. Requires funding in amounts necessary to reduce to zero the unfunded liability of such fund. Increases the amount of the annuity received by a surviving widow or widower with children. Increases the amount of the annuity received by the surviving children of a judicial official leaving no widow or widower. Revises the formula used to determine the amount of the annuity given a widow or widower of a judicial official. Makes survivors of the Deputy Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts eligible for annuities under such Act. Makes the benefits conferred by this Act available to any eligible individual. Permits a judicial officer who has participated in the present annuity program to withdraw, in writing, according to specified procedures. Allows such officer, if eligible, to subsequently join the judicial survivors' annuities program created by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Provides that for the purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as it applies to the House of Representatives, the Congress shall be considered to have adopted H. Con. Res. 152 (revising the congressional budget for FY 1985 and setting forth the congressional budget for FY 1986 through 1988) as adopted by the House. Declares that for the purposes of this resolution, the allocations of budget authority and new entitlement authority printed in the Congressional Record of July 23, 1985, by Representative Gray of Pennsylvania shall be considered as allocations made pursuant to such Act. Terminates applicability of this resolution upon final adoption by the House and the Senate of a concurrent resolution for the applicable fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute (RICO) to allow a civil action to be brought by a plaintiff only when the private suit rests on an injury caused by conduct that led to the defendant's conviction of one of the predicate offenses listed in the statute or of a criminal violation of RICO itself. Requires the plaintiff to bring such action within one year of the defendant's conviction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Urges the President to begin talks with the Soviet Union aimed at creating a jointly administered U.S.-Soviet student exchange program. Sets forth certain aspects of such exchange program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Federal Communications Commission Network Acquisition Approval Act of 1985 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to take specified actions before granting any application proposing the acquisition of ownership or control of a television network whose board of directors has not approved the acquisition. Directs the Commission to require the applicant to file specified information, including: (1) the identities, managerial expertise, and financial resources of the persons involved in the acquisition; (2) the sources of funds and the details of financial arrangements involved in the acquisition, as well as any plan to liquidate assets; (3) any reduction in service to any community that would result from the acquisition; and (4) the reasons that the acquisition would benefit the public interest, convenience, and necessity. Directs the Commission to: (1) issue a public notice indicating that such information is available for public inspection; (2) allow a party 30 days after such notice is issued to file a petition to deny the application; and (3) conduct a full evidentiary hearing on such application.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Horsepasture River, North Carolina, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1985
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 · 23 May 1985
Tobacco Equalization Act of 1985 - Title I: Adjustment of Tobacco Price Support Program - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to exempt the 1985 and subsequent tobacco crops from the No Net Cost Tobacco Fund (Fund) and No Net Cost Tobacco Account (Account) contribution provisions. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to the 1985 and subsequent tobacco crops, to make price supports available to producers through loans to associations. Provides for the transfer of such Fund and Account balances through the Commodity Credit Corporation of the Tobacco Equalization Trust Fund as created by this Act. Title II: Additional Tax on Cigarettes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish in the Treasury the Tobacco Equalization Trust Fund; and (2) impose an additional excise tax on cigarettes to finance such Fund and support program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1985
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present gold medals to Jan Scruggs, Robert Doubek, and Jack Wheeler, in recognition of their tireless efforts to give the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Nation. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to sell bronze duplicates of the medal. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1985
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to include in the definition of "subsidy" (for countervailing duty purposes) any resource input subsidy as provided for under the provisions of this Act. States that a "resource input subsidy" is found to exist if: (1) (a) a product is provided or sold by a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country for input use within such country at a domestic price that is lower than the fair market value of the input product and is not freely available to U.S. producers; and (b) a product would, if sold at the fair market value, constitute a significant portion of the total cost of the manufacture or production of the merchandise in or for which the input product is used; or (2) under specified circumstances, the right to remove or extract such product is provided or sold by a government or a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country. Sets forth the method of calculation for the amount of a resource input subsidy. Defines "fair market value" and "input use" for purposes of this Act. Requires injury determinations by the U.S. International Trade Commission to be made in all countervailing duty investigations relating to the existence of resource input subsidies.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1985
Authorizes the Society of the Third Infantry Division to erect a memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia or its environs in honor of the men of the "Rock of the Marne" of the Third Infantry Division who served in both World Wars, Korea, and maintaining peace. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to select a site for the memorial subject to the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and, under certain circumstances, the Mayor of the District of Columbia. Subjects the design and plans for the memorial to the approval of the Secretary, the National Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Directs that the maintenance and care of the memorial shall be the Secretary's responsibility unless the memorial is on public grounds under the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia in which case such duties fall on the District of Columbia. Provides that funds of the United States or the District of Columbia may not be used to erect the memorial. Directs that the authority to establish the memorial is contingent upon its erection beginning within five years with funds sufficient to ensure its completion.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the administration should comply with the automatic appropriation and earmarking provisions of the Wallop/Breaux Sport Fish Restoration Trust Fund. States that funds owed to the States from such Fund should not be withheld or delayed.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1985
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) demonstration projects in at least four States, under which: (1) the Secretary would contract with one or more health maintenance organizations or competitive medical plans (organizations) to perform the functions both of intermediaries under part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII and carriers under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) with respect to benefits furnished in a State; (2) if the Secretary contracts with one organization in an area, the Secretary must permit any other organization in the area to enter into such a contract; (3) individuals residing in the State covered by the project and entitled or enrolled under part A or B of title XVIII would be required to enroll with at least one participating organization, but may elect to receive any covered service through any qualified Medicare provider; (4) an organization may offer additional benefits, at no additional cost; (5) an organization will not charge copayments or deductibles if a beneficiary is enrolled with and receives benefits directly from the organization; (6) each organization would receive payment at an annual per capita rate equal to 95 percent of the adjusted per capita cost; and (7) each organization shall have the right of final claim review for necessity and appropriateness of items and services furnished. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress a protocol report concerning such demonstration projects and annual reports.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1985
Designates the week beginning on April 13, 1986, as National Garden Week. Urges the wearing of garden flowers during that week as a symbol of appreciation for the contributions of the Nation's gardeners.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1985
Defines a "family farmer" for purposes of Federal bankruptcy law as any person (other than a corporation) owning a farm, at least 80 percent of whose debts arise out of such farming operation. Allows a family farmer with a regular annual income and with total secured and unsecured debts of less than $1,000,000 to qualify as a debtor under bankruptcy provisions providing for the adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income (personal bankruptcy provisions). Provides that involuntary bankruptcy cases may not be commenced against family farmers. Extends by 120 days the periods following the order for relief during which only a debtor may file a reorganization plan and after which any party in interest may file a reorganization plan in the case of a debtor who is a farmer. Revises the compensation of a trustee appointed to a personal bankruptcy case where the debtor is a family farmer to a percentage fee not exceeding the sum of up to ten percent of the aggregate payments up to $450,000 under the plan of such debtor plus three percent of the aggregate amount of payments exceeding $450,000, based on the maximum annual compensation and the actual necessary expenses incurred by the trustee. Prohibits a court from converting a reorganization case to a liquidation case, or a personal bankruptcy case to a reorganization or liquidation case, if the debtor is a family farmer. Allows a plan filed in a personal bankruptcy case to modify the rights of holders of claims secured only by a security interest in real property which is a family farmer's principal residence and which such family farmer uses for farming operations. Extends from five to seven years the maximum period over which payments may be made under such a plan in the case of a debtor who is a family farmer. Requires a court, at the timely request of such a debtor, to hold a hearing to determine from the facts and circumstances of the debtor and the case a reasonable time after such a plan is filed within which the debtor shall begin making such payments.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1985
Provides that Veterans Administration (VA) grants to States for construction of State veterans' homes shall be made on the basis of need rather than by the order of application to the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1985
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal honoring George Gershwin to his sister, Frances Gershwin Godowsky, and a gold medal honoring Ira Gershwin to his widow, Lenore Gershwin. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1985
Establishes the United States Boxing Commission as a nonprofit corporation. Lists the purposes and powers of the Commission which include: (1) proposing changes in the rules of professional boxing to ensure the safety of the participants; (2) establishing a uniform set of rules for State Boxing Commissions to follow; (3) researching the causes of boxing related injuries; (4) establishing standards for physical and mental examinations; (5) providing a voluntary pension and life and health insurance fund for professional boxers; (6) issuing annually renewable certification cards to boxers, trainers, cut men, referees, ringside physicians, and other boxing assistants who have met all Commission standards; (7) establishing, regulating, and discontinuing subordinate organizations; and (8) establishing criteria for membership. Requires the Commission to submit annual reports to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and 1987. Directs the Comptroller General to undertake a study to determine the amount of dues and other assessments necessary to fund the operations of the Commission and submit the results of such study to the Congress.
![Official portrait of Rep. Derrick, Butler C. [D-SC-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000267_200.jpg)