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United States · Official source
1,451 records where Rep. Derwinski, Edward J. [R-IL-4] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1981
Requests the President to designate October 2, 1981, as "American Enterprise Day."
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) should cease efforts to regulate news content and to formulate rules and regulations for the operation of the world press. Expresses the opposition of the House to efforts by some countries to control access to and dissemination of news.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1981
Expresses the concern of the House of Representatives over the attack on Pope John Paul II.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1981
Export Administration Amendments Act of 1981 - Amends the Export Administration Amendments Act of 1981 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1982 and 1983 to carry out such Act. Prohibits any department or agency from withholding confidential information necessary for enforcement of such Act from any enforcement department or agency. Exempts census information from such prohibition. Increases the maximum criminal fine: (1) for violations of such Act; and (2) for failure to report that goods exported under a validated license are being used by the importing country for military or intelligence gathering purposes contrary to the license conditions. Makes such fines less for individuals than in other cases. Limits the civil fine for violations of such Act to $10,000 for individuals and to $100,000 in all other cases. Prohibits the imposition of export controls on food if it is determined such controls would cause measurable malnutrition in the countries against whom the controls are proposed, unless the President determines that the controls are necessary to protect U.S. security or that arrangements are insufficient to ensure that food will reach those most in need. Amends the International Investment Survey Act of 1976 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1982 and 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1981
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for Federal crimes. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense for which death is a possible penalty. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence. Specifies mitigating and aggravating factors. Requires the jury to determine by majority vote whether the aggravating factors sufficiently outweigh the mitigating factors to justify the death sentence. Authorizes the court to sentence the defendant to death upon such a determination or to impose another authorized sentence. Provides that the sentence in any case in which the death penalty is authorized shall be appealable by either party. Limits the circumstances under which the offense of delivering defense information to aid foreign governments is punishable by death. Allows the death penalty to be imposed for the murder of foreign officials and for an offense of kidnapping resulting in the death of the person. Eliminates the death penalty for the crime of rape. Makes it a Federal crime to kill a Government employee holding a level one position of the Executive Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1981
Title I: Department of State - Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1982 and 1983 - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1982 and 1983 for the Department of State to be used for: (1) administration of foreign affairs; (2) international organizations and conferences; (3) international commissions; and (4) migration and refugee assistance. Limits the amount of any U.S. payment to the United Nations budget to the amount assessed as the U.S. contribution less: (1) 25 percent of the budget for the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; and (2) 25 percent of the budget for the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights. Makes a specified amount available for an ex gratia payment to Yugoslavia as an expression of U.S. concern for the injuries suffered by a Yugoslav national who was attacked in New York City. Makes available specified amounts for aid in resettling refugees from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in Israel. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1982 and 1983 for payment of the U.S. share of expenses of the science and technology agreements between the United States and Yugoslavia and the United States and Poland. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, and the Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 to authorize appropriations for, respectively, the State Department, the International Communication Agency (ICA), and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Incorporated, to offset fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates occurring after November 30 of the calendar year preceding the enactment of the authorization authorization legislation for such fiscal year (current laws offset fluctuations occurring after November 30 of the preceding preceding fiscal year). Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary of State to transfer from accounts under the heading of administration of foreign affairs to the account set up to offset such fluctuations any amount which exceeds the needs of the approval level of operations because of such fluctuations. Amends the passport provisions to authorize the Secretary of State to set the amount of the fees for issuance of a passport and for executing passport applications. Extends the duration of a passport's validity from five to ten years. Authorizes the Secretary to limit a passport's validity to a shorter period in an individual case or on a general basis pursuant to regulation. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to allow as proof of U.S. citizenship: (1) a passport during its period of validity if such period is the maximum authorized by law; and (2) a Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States. Deletes the limitations under current Federal laws on the authorized appropriations for payment of the U.S. share of the expenses of the: (1) Pan American Institute of Geography and History; (2) Hague Conference on Private International Law and of the International (Rome) Institute for the Unification of Private Law; and (3) Pan American Railway Congress. Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to direct the President to appoint a U.S. representative to the Vienna office of the United Nations. Provides for living quarters for certain U.S. representatives to the United Nations rather than only for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Credits any payments made by U.S. personnel for such living quarters to the fund used by the Secretary to rent the premises. Provides that the Federal criminal provisions relating to compensation, activities, disqualification, and acts affecting personal financial interests of Federal employees shall not apply to certain private sector representatives on U.S. delegations to international telecommunications conferences. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to limit the duration of any procurement contract for the Department of State or the Foreign Service to five years when: (1) appropriations are available for the first fiscal year and for potential cancellation costs; and (2) the Secretary makes specified determinations. Provides for cancellation of the contract if funds are not available for its continuation. Makes the provisions of the Defense Base Act relating to the compensation for disability or death for persons employed at military bases outside the United States inapplicable with respect to contracts with persons employed by the State Department or the Foreign Service on an intermittent basis. Directs the Secretary to establish an independent Office of Foreign Missions within the Department of State. Authorizes the Director of such Office to: (1) assist Federal, State, and municipal agencies to ascertain the benefits due a foreign mission; (2) provide benefits for or on behalf of a foreign mission; and (3) perform such other functions as the Secretary determines necessary. Authorizes the Secretary to require a foreign mission to obtain benefits from the Director on terms approved by the Secretary or to comply with certain terms, including paying the Director a fee and waiving any recourse against any governmental authority or employee, as a condition to the performance in the United States of any contract, the acquisition of any real property, or the application for or acceptance of any benefit, if the Secretary determines such actions are necessary to: (1) facilitate relations between the U.S. and a sending state (a state represented by such mission); (2) protect U.S. interests; (3) adjust for costs and procedures of obtaining benefits for U.S. missions abroad; or (4) assist in resolving a dispute affecting U.S. interests. Authorizes the Secretary to require any foreign mission to: (1) notify the Director before such mission acquires or disposes of any real property; and (2) divest itself of or forgo the use of any real property acquired without notice to the Director or exceeding the limits placed on real property available to a U.S. mission in the sending state. Authorizes the Secretary to protect and dispose of any property of a foreign mission which has ceased conducting governmental activities and has not designated a protecting power. Makes the location and dimensions of any foreign mission's real property in the District of Columbia subject to the approval of the National Capital Planning Commission. Sets forth the criteria for the Commission's determinations about such real property. Provides for the administration and management of the Office of Foreign Missions. Makes the provisions of this Act applicable to public international organizations. Prohibits compliance with this Act by a foreign mission from being deemed a waiver of any immunity. Prohibits making benefits available to foreign missions contrary to this Act. Extends the privileges and immunities of the Vienna Convention to missions of nonparties to the Convention. Authorizes the President to extend to such missions treatment that is more favorable or less favorable than that provided under the Vienna Convention. Title II: International Communication Agency - International Communication Agency Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1982 and 1983 - Authorizes appropriations for the ICA for fiscal years 1982 and 1983 to carry out certain international communication, educational, cultural, and exchange programs. Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to permit any Federal employee who has special scientific, technical, or professional qualifications to be assigned to a foreign government (presently only U.S. citizens can be so assigned). Authorizes the making of procurement contracts for periods which do not exceed five years if: (1) appropriations are adequate for the first fiscal year; (2) Government need is reasonably firm and continuing; (3) such contract will encourage effective competition or promote economics in performance and operation; and (4) such method will not inhibit small business participation. Requires such contracts to be cancelled if funds are not available for continuation into subsequent fiscal years. Authorizes the Director of the ICA to purchase security vehicles without regard to any maximum price limitation. Provides for the principal assistant of an ICA Associate Director to perform the duties of any Associate Director who dies, resigns, is sick, or absent. Excludes employees of certain exhibits of U.S. economic or cultural accomplishments from the provisions of the Defense Base Act relating to compensation for disability or death. Makes the limitation on obligations or expenditures of appropriations to carry the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 inapplicable with respect to any appropriations for liquidating notes which were assumed in the operation of the informational media guaranty program and were outstanding on a specified date. Directs the ICA Director to make available for distribution within the United States the film "Reflections: Samuel Elliott Morison." Title III: Board for International Broadcasting - Board for International Broadcasting Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1982 and 1983 - Amends the Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 to increase the authorized appropriations for fiscal year 1981 and to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 to authorize appropriations for the Inter-American Foundation for fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Changes the method for reimbursing travel expenses of the Foundation's Board members.
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
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to permit the National Committee of American Airmen Rescued by General Mihailovich to construct and maintain a monument to General Draza Mihailovich in recognition of the role he played in saving the lives of approximately 500 United States airmen in Yugoslavia during World War II. Provides that such monument shall be located on Federal public land within the District of Columbia. Directs that private funds shall be the sole source for the construction and maintenance of such monument.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1981
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) temporarily suspend the airman certificate of anyone indicted for a violation of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act if operation of an aircraft is an element of the offense charged; and (2) revoke the airman certificate of anyone convicted of a violation of such Act if operation of an aircraft is an element of the offense for which the holder was convicted. Sets forth criminal penalties for the use or sale of fraudulent certificates with the intent or knowledge that such certificates will be used in connection with a violation of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act. Provides criminal penalties for any person who: (1) while navigating an aircraft, knowingly and willfully violates such Act; and (2) is the owner of an aircraft and knowingly allows any person to use such aircraft in violation of such Act. Requires that such penalties shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other penalty imposed under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1981
Arms Control and Disarmament Amendments Act of 1981 - Amends the Arms Control and Disarmament Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1982 and 1983 for the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Allows the Director of such Agency to accept the security and loyalty investigations of the Defense Department or the State Department for persons detailed to the Agency from other Government agencies. Changes the name of the Agency to the U.S. Arms Control Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1981
Equal Opportunity Act of 1979 - Prohibits any Federal agency or employee from issuing or enforcing any rule, standard, or guideline which requires any individual or entity to take action with respect to hiring or promotion, admission, or contracting and subcontracting policies or practices, for the purpose of compliance with any ratio or quota relating to race, color, creed, national origin, or sex. Amends title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Equal Employment Opportunity) to stipulate that no relief shall be accorded to any individual not conclusively found to have been a victim of discrimination.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1981
Declares the sense of the Congress that the President shall take steps to: (1) call upon the Soviet Union to permit the resurrection of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic Churches; (2) contact the officials of the Soviet Union to secure freedom of worship in the Ukraine and (3) bring to the attention of national and international religious councils Soviet violations of basic human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1981
Residential Housing Tax Incentives Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, interest earned on qualified housing savings certificates. Limits such exclusion to interest earned on $100,000 certificates ($200,000 if joint return is filed). Defines "qualified housing savings certificates" as investment certificates issued by regulated depository financial institutions with three or five year maturities. Specifies that the proceeds of such certificates be applied to the financing of single-family, owner-occupied residences. Prescribes limitations on the interest rate chargeable for mortgages financed with proceeds from a qualified housing savings certificate. Disqualifies families which have income more than twice the median family income for their area from receiving a mortgage financed from proceeds from a qualified housing savings certificate. Prescribes penalties for the improper use of qualified housing savings certificates.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1981
Requests the President to designate October 16, 1981, as "World Food Day."
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1981
Directs the Secretary of the Army to convey, without monetary compensation, specified land to Illinois for National Guard purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1981
Energy Mobilization Act of 1981 - Title I: General Provisions - Declares that the purposes of this Act are to improve the United States' balance of payments, reduce the threat of economic disruption from oil supply interruptions, and reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil by establishing a process for expediting agency action with respect to priority energy projects designed to facilitate energy conservation, production, and research and development. Defines the terms used in this Act. Excludes from coverage under this Act nuclear energy projects. Title II: Council on Energy Mobilization - Directs the President to establish within the Executive Office of the President a Council on Energy Mobilization to carry out this Act. Empowers the Council to issue subpoenas. Requires the Council to provide Congress with any information it may request. Directs the Council, upon designation of any energy project as a priority energy project, to notify the Governor of each State in which such project is or may be located. Authorizes each such Governor to appoint a nonvoting representative to participate in matters respecting such project. Title III: Priority Energy Projects - Directs the Council to establish procedures for submission of applications to the Council for an order designating an energy project as a priority energy project. Permits any person planning or proposing an energy project to apply to the Council for a priority designation. Directs the Council to publish a notice in the Federal Register of any applications filed and make such applications available for public inspection and comment. Requires the Council to designate a project as a priority energy project, reject the application, or determine additional time is needed to consider the application within 60 days of receipt of an application. Requires publication of such Council decisions in the Federal Register. Directs the Council to publish in the Federal Register a Project Decision Schedule for all Federal agency decisions and actions relating to a priority energy project within 30 days of a priority designation. Requires the Council to negotiate and enter into written cooperative agreements, where possible, with affected non-Federal agencies to establish deadlines for non-Federal agency decisions or actions on a Project Decision Schedule. Limits Project Decision Schedules to 12 months, with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Council to establish special procedures in the Project Decision Schedule for any Federal agency subject to such schedule designed to consolidate agency procedures, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and provide uniformity. Directs the Council to request affected non-Federal agencies to suggest a timetable for their actions with respect to priority energy projects. Directs the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to determine if a Federal agency decision or action with respect to a priority energy project will be a major Federal action significantly affecting the environment and to designate, if necessary, a lead agency to supervise the preparation of an environmental impact statement. Authorizes the Council to make such determination or designation if the CEQ fails to do so before establishment of the Project Decision Schedule. Permits all Federal agencies governed by a Project Decision Schedule to establish special procedures to aid them in meeting the deadlines under such schedules. Directs the Council to monitor compliance by the agencies and the project with a Project Decision Schedule. Authorizes the Council to modify a Project Decision Schedule at any time. Empowers the President to act upon Council recommendation, in lieu of any Federal agency which fails to make a decision or take action within the time required by a Project Decision Schedule. Permits a Project sponsor to bring an action in U.S. district court to require compliance if a Federal agency has failed or is likely to fail to comply with a Project Decision Schedule. Grants the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals exclusive jurisdiction to review all rulings of such district court. Permits the Council to terminate a priority designation at any time. States that such a termination renders this Act no longer applicable to such project. Permits reapplication for a priority designation. Title IV: Judicial Review - Sets forth procedures governing judicial review by the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals of actions with respect to priority energy projects. Makes judgments or orders by the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals subject to review by the Supreme Court under certain circumstances. Limits any grant of temporary injunctive relief to 120 days. Specifies the types of actions over which the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals shall have original and exclusive civil jurisdiction, as well as those actions which shall not be subject to judicial review. Title V: Application of New Federal Statutes or Regulations to Priority Energy Projects - Permits the sponsor of a priority energy project to petition the Council for relief from any Federal law or regulation enacted or issued after the date of the priority designation but before commercial operation begins which would substantially impede project completion. Authorizes the Council to recommend to the President the suspension of final regulations or statutes as they apply to such a project. Permits such a suspension only upon Council determination that it would not threaten public health or safety and only for a period of up to ten years. Requires a separate suspension for each Federal statute affected. Makes each suspension granted applicable to only one priority energy project. Prohibits suspensions which: (1) relate to labor standards, civil rights, securities laws, the Internal Revenue Code, or antitrust laws; (2) violate a primary air quality standard under the Clean Air Act; (3) abridge any person's Constitutional rights; (4) contravene any interstate compact, State or local law, or Federal contract relating to water rights; or (5) suspend, modify, or amend any Federal, State, or local criminal code. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Council to report annually to Congress on the current status of its activities, on the status of each priority energy project, and on energy projects which are being delayed for any reason. Requires an annual report to Congress which contains a comprehensive list and analysis of all Federal laws that significantly hinder energy project completion. States that this Act shall not affect State law governing the appropriation, use, or diversion of water. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1981
National Export Policy Act of 1981 - Title I: General Findings and Purposes - Sets forth Congressional findings and the purposes of this Act. Title II: Export Financing - Declares it to be the policy of the Congress that the Export-Import Bank of the United States should facilitate, particularly in the presence of foreign officially-supported export credit competition, exports to countries: (1) having insufficient access to international credit facilities; (2) demonstrating reasonable economic progress; and (3) offering adequate formal assurances of repayment (currently, must offer sufficient likelihood of repayment). Increases the aggregate amount of loans and contractual liability of guarantees and insurance which may be outstanding at any one time. Requires such activities to be carried out through the Export Expansion Facility. Provides for the capitalization of such Facility. Amends the Export- Import Bank Act of 1945 to establish staggered, ten-year terms of office for the Bank directors. Declares that the House and Senate Appropriations Committees should consider limitations on Bank activities when considering appropriations for international trade activities rather than when considering foreign assistance activities. Title III: Export - Related Tax Policy - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the earned income exclusion for citizens working abroad, who are bona fide residents of a foreign country, from an annual rate of $20,000 to $50,000 plus 50 percent of any compensation which exceeds $50,000. Allows separate exclusions to married individuals who are both working overseas, although one's excess exclusion cannot be used against income earned by the other. Provides a tax exclusion for such individuals for the amount by which their housing expenses exceed 16 percent of a GS-14, step 1 salary level for a Federal employee. Permits such individuals to include in the computation of housing expenses the costs of a second foreign household if such an individual's family resides outside the United States but not with the individual because of adverse living conditions where the individual resides. Repeals similar deductions for cost-of-living differential, schooling expenses, home leave travel expenses, and residence in a hardship area. Excludes from an employee's gross income any lodging furnished the employee by an employer in a camp which meets specified requirements. Repeals the current provisions relating to deductions for certain expenses of living abroad. Provides that the foreign bad debt loss deduction shall not exceed the greater of 15 percent of the taxpayer's taxable income from exports, or two percent of the taxpayer's export receivables outstanding at the close of the taxable year. Provides that the amount of bad debt losses that may be added to a bad debt reserve shall not exceed five percent of the taxpayer's export receivables outstanding as of the close of the taxable year. Permits the amortization, based on a period of 60 months, of: (1) foreign market studies; (2) foreign marketing expenses; and (3) foreign patents. Permits an income tax deduction for currency fluctuation losses on export credit which have not been repaid by the end of the taxable year. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to extend the six-month deadline for exempting exports from the manufacturers excise tax for an additional 12 months if it is determined, after consultation with the Secretary of State, that exports were delayed because of war, civil unrest, or similar adverse conditions in a foreign nation. Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to approve the duty-free entry of machinery, materials, and fuels to be used for the production of goods in a foreign trade zone if such goods are not subsequently entered into U.S. customs territory. Sets forth requirements before applications for such treatment will be approved. Makes such approval valid for six years. Requires the Foreign Trade Zones Board to include in its annual report to Congress a summary of activities and proposals to increase the use of foreign trade zones to expand U.S. exports. Makes banking organizations which have invested in an export trading company eligible for treatment as domestic international sales corporations (DISC). Includes as qualified export receipts the gross receipts from the export of services produced in the United States and from export trade services in the case of a DISC which is an export trading company. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, with the Secretary of the Treasury, to develop and distribute information concerning the utilization of the DISC provisions. Makes export trading companies eligible for Subchapter S treatment if the shareholders of such companies are otherwise small business corporations. Exempts such companies from restrictions on the amount of foreign income they can receive and still be eligible for Subchapter S tax treatment. Title IV: Antitrust - Amends the Webb-Pomerene Act to exempt the export trade, export trade activities, and methods of operation of certified export trade associations and export trading companies from the antitrust laws. Delays the effectiveness of any certificate upon the notification of the Secretary of Commerce by the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of disagreement with the decision to issue a certificate. Sets forth the procedure to be followed by any association, company, or export trading company seeking certification under this Act and by the Secretary in issuing such certificates. Permits automatic certification for existing associations. Provides for appeal of the Secretary's denial of certification. Authorizes the Attorney General or the FTC to bring an action to invalidate a certification. Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General and the FTC, to publish certification guidelines. Requires certified associations and export trading companies to submit annual reports to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to establish within the Department of Commerce an Office of Export Trade. Requires such Office to report annually to the appropriate Congressional committees on all East-West trade transactions requiring validated licenses and on the role of U.S. export trading companies in such trade. Grants a temporary exemption from the Sherman Act antitrust provisions for existing associations. Requires, with specified exceptions, that all applications for certification be kept confidential. Authorizes the Secretary to require an association or trading company to modify its operation to be consistent with international obligations of the United States. Directs the President to appoint, with the Senate's advice and consent, a task force, seven years after enactment, to examine the effect of this Act and to make recommendations. Directs the Attorney General to study whether: (1) U.S. business conduct to expand exports conflicts with basic antitrust principles; and (2) a more liberal enforcement policy for overseas activities would impede implementation of the antitrust laws. Requires the Attorney General to identify conduct which would not warrant prosecution under the antitrust laws. Sets forth the procedures for describing such permissible conduct and disclosing such descriptions. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to intervene in such suits and to provide legal assistance to exporters. Prohibits prosecution under the antitrust laws of exporters who: (1) have notified the Attorney General of their intention to engage in such designated conduct; or (2) receive an approval, or no objection, from the Attorney General concerning proposed transactions. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress concerning implementation of this section. Authorizes appropriations for the Attorney General and the Secretary of Commerce for carrying out the simplification of antitrust procedures. Title V: Amendments to Other Laws That Hinder Exports - Changes the name of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to the Business Practices and Records Act. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to maintain an internal accounting system that provides reasonable assurance that specified accountability and accuracy goals are met. Changes the criterion for finding liability for violations of accounting standards. Makes persons who intentionally violate the accounting standards liable for such violations (currently persons who know or have reason to know of violations of the accounting standards are liable for such violations). Requires only good faith efforts at ensuring compliance by issuers who hold 50 percent or less of the equity of domestic or foreign firms. Transfers from the Security and Exchange Commission to the Department of Justice jurisdiction to enforce the antibribery prohibitions of the FCPA with respect to issuers. Replaces the current "knowing or reason to know" standard for liability for illegal payments to intermediaries with a standard that makes a firm liable if the firm intends to direct or authorize an illegal payment. Exempts from such prohibition any payment to a foreign official including items of value given in return for hospitality or in token of regard and esteem, and marketing or demonstration expenses pertaining to the business presentation. Makes the provision in the Business Practices and Records Act the exclusive Federal law authorizing Federal proceedings against a domestic concern for using the mails or any instrumentality of interstate commerce to violate such Act. Requires an interagency task force to issue guidelines specifying permissible conduct and arrangements associated with common types of export sales arrangements and business contracts and precautionary procedures creating a rebuttable presumption of compliance. Provides for the establishment of a Business Practices and Records Act Review Procedure to answer specific inquiries concerning enforcement of such Act. Requires the Attorney General to issue opinions regarding compliance. Makes such opinions final and binding on all parties if the conduct does not involve a violation. Requires annual reports to Congress by: (1) the Attorney General concerning actions taken pursuant to such Act; and (2) the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the reporting requirements. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should negotiate agreements establishing standards of conduct for international business practices, a resolution procedure, and rates of commissions. Directs the President to report to Congress concerning the progress of such negotiations. Requires Congress to review the Business Practices and Records Act after receiving the President's report. Directs the President to report to Congress on the legal and practical consequences of specific action that the United States could take under existing law to: (1) promote international cooperation to prevent bribery of foreign officials, candidates, or parties in third countries; and (2) encourage persons or businesses operating in foreign countries to refrain from bribing foreign officials, candidates, or parties to the disadvantage of U.S. industry. Requires the report to contain recommendations for new legislation and an analysis of the potential effect on U.S. interests of the corruption of foreign officials and political leaders. Requires an export competitiveness impact statement from any issuing authority taking significant action which could affect adversely U.S. exports or the international competitive position of the United States and its exporters. Expresses the sense of Congress that export paperwork must be reduced to encourage export sales. Requires all agencies to minimize paperwork and reporting requirements. Title VI: Export Awareness and Export Promotion Programs - Export Trading Company Act of 1981 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to promote export trading companies by providing information and by facilitating contacts between producers of exportable goods and export trading companies. Authorizes any banking organization to invest specified amounts in export trading companies upon notifying, but without obtaining the prior approval of, the appropriate Federal banking agency, if such investment does not cause an export trading company to become a subsidiary of such organization. Allows greater investment by Edge Act Corporations not engaged in banking. Permits any banking organization to invest beyond such limitations with prior approval of the appropriate Federal banking agency. Requires prior notification of such agencies in specified circumstances. Sets forth further limitations on export trading companies and investments by banking organizations. Specifies factors to be taken into consideration by the banking agencies. Permits such agencies to impose conditions in approving applications to invest in export trading companies. Requires such agencies to report to the appropriate Congressional committees with their recommendations concerning implementation of this Act, related changes in U.S. law, and effects of ownership of U.S. banks by foreign banking organizations. Provides for judicial review of denial orders in the appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals. Sets forth the grounds for disapproval. Provides for remand for further consideration by the banking agency. Directs the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration to give special weight to export-related benefits when considering applications for loans and guarantees by export trading companies. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1982-1986 for such initial investments and operating expenses. Directs the Export-Import Bank of the United States to provide loan guarantees for expansion to export trading companies or exporters to be secured by accounts receivable or inventories when adequate financing is not otherwise available. Directs the Bank Board of Directors to try to insure that a major share of such guarantees promotes exports from small, medium-size, and minority businesses or agricultural concerns. Amends the Small Business Act to empower the Small Business Administration to extend credit to finance export assistance. Sets a maximum of $750,000 which may be committed to any borrower from the business loan and investment revolving fund. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to enter into cooperative agreements with industrial corporations to develop foreign markets for their products. Requires the Secretary to direct specific market research for the products involved in foreign markets upon entering such agreements. Permits interested industrial corporations to submit a proposal incorporating specific marketing actions to the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a marketing agreement after approving any such proposal. Requires repayment of the Federal share of the costs by the entity entering into such an agreement. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such agreements. Directs each Federal agency and U.S. representative to any international organization to: (1) identify programs affecting the export of U.S. firms' services; (2) make available information concerning such programs; (3) establish programs to publicize export-related programs for services; and (4) modify those programs with an adverse effect on the export of services. Makes the Secretary of Commerce responsible for coordinating such programs. Directs the Department of Treasury to report to Congress concerning the feasibility of extending DISC treatment to the export of services. Title VII: Agricultural Exports - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to establish the Agricultural Export Credit Revolving Fund to be available for: (1) the export of, or aid in the development of foreign markets for, agricultural commodities; and (2) loans for the acquisition of facilities in foreign countries to improve the countries' capacities to handle agri- commodities exported from the United States. Authorizes appropriations for such fund for fiscal years 1982-1984. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress annually concerning the export credit sales program. Abolishes such fund effective October 1, 1984. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to require the ratio of credit extended by the Export-Import Bank for agricultural exports in comparison with the total amount extended to be at least equivalent to the value of agricultural exports in comparison with total value of exports. Specifies exceptions to this requirement. Title VIII: International Agreements - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the multilateral trade agreement be strongly implemented; and (2) the efforts must continue to secure a freer world trading environment. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a special export subsidy program for agricultural commodities to neutralize the effects of foreign export subsidy programs. Specifies the circumstances required before such program may be implemented. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should enter negotiations for international codes of: (1) official export financing; (2) business conduct; (3) reciprocity of antitrust enforcement; and (4) fair trade in services. Requires the President to report to Congress concerning the progress of such negotiations. Title IX: Government Support of Export Goals - Overseas Private Investment Corporation Act of 1981 - Establishes the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) as an independent agency. Sets forth the duties of OPIC. Provides for the capital of OPIC to be paid through the appropriation process and through transfer from OPIC's earned income. Sets forth the structure of OPIC with a Board of Directors, a President of the Corporation, an Executive Vice President of the Corporation, other officers and staff, and consultants. Authorizes OPIC to issue insurance to eligible investors covering new or existing investments protecting against specified risks. Authorizes OPIC to make arrangements with foreign governments or multilateral organizations for sharing liabilities. Limits the insurance that may be issued to a single investor. Authorizes OPIC to issue guarantees of loans and other investments. Sets forth limitations on such guarantees. Authorizes OPIC to make direct loans to privately owned or mixed publicly and privately owned firms for projects sponsored by or significantly involving small businesses or cooperatives. Limits the circumstances under which OPIC may acquire stock in any other corporation. Authorizes OPIC to initiate and support the identification, assessment, and promotion of private investment opportunities, with specified exceptions. Authorizes OPIC to administer special projects to provide private technical, professional, or managerial assistance in the development of human resources, skills, technology, capital savings, and intermediate financial institutions and cooperatives. Authorizes OPIC to engage in other insurance, reinsurance, and risk sharing activities with other insurance companies, financial institutions, persons, or groups. Limits the amount of reinsurance of liabilities which OPIC may issue. Limits the amount of maximum contingent liability pursuant to insurance or guarantees issued under this Act which may be outstanding at any one time. Establishes the: (1) Direct Investment Fund as a revolving fund to be available for direct investments; and (2) Insurance Reserve and Guaranty Reserve to be available for discharging liabilities. Authorizes appropriations to the investment and guaranty fund in specified circumstances. Authorizes OPIC to issue obligations in specified circumstances in order to discharge liabilities. Requires that all revenues and income transferred to or earned by OPIC be available to carry out OPIC's purposes. Directs OPIC to determine that suitable arrangements exist for protecting OPIC's interests in connection with any insurance, guaranty, or reinsurance issued under this Act. Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States for the full payment and performance of previous obligations. Sets forth conditions with respect to insurance, guaranty, and reinsurance coverage under this Act concerning fees, time limits, fraud, and settlement of disputes. Sets forth administrative provisions and duties applicable to OPIC. Requires OPIC to undertake to broaden the participation of U.S. small businesses, cooperatives, and other small investors in the development of small private enterprise in less developed friendly countries or areas. Directs OPIC to report annually to Congress concerning its operations. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to redefine "eligible investor" with respect to housing guarantees. Repeals provisions: (1) prohibiting the transfer of OPIC funds between accounts; (2) authorizing the President to deny assistance to any less developed country which fails to enter into an agreement to institute the investment guaranty program; and (3) establishing OPIC. Stipulates that nothing in this part shall be construed as terminating any of OPIC's statutory authority. Requires the President of OPIC to submit to the appropriate Congressional committees any necessary technical or conforming amendments. Declares that the potential for U.S. exports shall be a primary decisionmaking factor in considering which projects to include in U.S. foreign aid programs. Declares that the Office of Management and Budget should assure that adequate budget allocations are made available to carry out the programs prescribed in this Act. Declares that the Department of Justice should do what it can to facilitate procedures for exporters. Declares that the Small Business Administration should: (1) be aware of the benefits of export to small business development; and (2) use every opportunity to provide information and assistance to potential exporters. Declares that the U.S. ability to export coal, nuclear power fuels, and other energy materials in a reliable manner should be a key consideration. Directs Congressional committees to include in their reports the effect of the bill or resolution on the international competitiveness of the United States. Creates a National Export Council to: (1) serve as a national advisory body on matters relating to U.S. export trade; (2) act as a liaison among the communities represented by its membership; and (3) provide advice on Federal plans and actions that affect export promotion and development policies which have an impact on those communities represented by its membership. Requires the Council to make an annual report to the President and the Congress on its activities. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to appoint commercial ministers, counselors, and attaches with the rank and privileges of other ministers, counselors, and attaches in U.S. embassies and consulates, to: (1) provide trade and commercial services; (2) engage in the promotion of U.S. exports; (3) file semiannual reports to the Secretary on market, industrial, and commodity conditions in their districts and on the implementation of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements; and (4) maintain current data on the commercial standing and capacity of foreign firms within their districts. Provides for domestic assignment, office logistics, allowances and benefits of such ministers, counselors, and attaches. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress with any recommendations concerning: (1) the organization of international trading and financing programs in the United States; (2) the effectiveness of foreign export promotion programs; and (3) the trade activities of specified Federal agencies. Expresses the sense of Congress that the appropriate Congressional committees should review periodically the trade organization of the U.S. Government.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1981
Small Business Tax Incentives Act of 1981 - Title I: Amendment of Small Business Act - Amends the Small Business Act to define "small business," for Internal Revenue Code purposes, as an independently owned and operated business the gross revenue of which does not exceed $20,000,000 annually and the number of employees of which does not exceed 500. Title II: Corporate Tax Rate Reduction - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce corporate income tax rates. Title III: Small Business Direct Expensing of Capital Items of Up to $25,000 Per Year - Allows a taxpayer to elect to treat expenditures paid or incurred by him during the taxable year (not to exceed an aggregate of $25,000, or $12,500 in the case of a married person filing a separate return) for depreciable tangible property as expenses not chargeable to capital account (thus deductible as current business expenses). Qualifies property with respect to which an election is made for the investment tax credit. Disqualifies property acquired from a related person or another component member of the same controlled group of companies. Title IV: Increase in Amount of Used Property Eligible for Investment Tax Credit - Increases from $100,000 to $300,000 the allowable cost of used property eligible for the investment tax credit. Title V: Allowable Subchapter S Corporation Shareholders Increased to 25 - Increases from 15 to 25 the permissible number of shareholders in a subchapter S corporation. Title VI: Incentives for Investing in Small Business - Allows a deduction for cash amounts transferred to a small business solely in exchange for equity interest in the small business. Increases the capital gains deduction. Reduces the alternative tax on capital gains on equity interests held for five years or more. Title VII: Exclusion from Estate Tax for Small Business Property and Equity Investments - Permits the exclusion of small business property which comprises 60 percent or more of the adjusted value of the gross estate from the gross estate of a decedent who at the time of death was a U.S. citizen. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $2,000,000. Imposes an additional estate tax in the event any interest in such property is disposed of or the property ceases to qualify for such treatment. Title VIII: Interest and Dividend Exclusion Increased to $2,000 - Increases from $200 to $2,000 (or from $400 to $4,000 in the case of married individuals filing jointly) the exclusion of interest and dividends from gross income. Makes such exclusion permanent. Title IX: Inventory Simplification and Reform - Eliminates the qualification requirement for the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of accounting that a taxpayer use no inventory method for financial reporting or credit purposes other than the LIFO method. Allows a taxpayer who adopts the LIFO method to spread increases in taxable income attributable to such change over a ten-year period. Allows an election by small businesses which use the dollar method of pricing inventories under the LIFO method and which have average annual receipts of $5,000,000 or less for the three taxable years ending with the year of election to use one inventory pool for any trade or business. Permits a wholesaler or retailer who uses such method to elect the use of inventory pools based on the applicable Government price index categories for all items of inventory. Allows the use of such index categories in the pricing of inventories under such dollar-value methods. Allows an election to use a link chain or index method or compute the LIFO value of dollar-value pool without regard to suitability or practicality of any other method. Repeals the requirement, with respect to liquidation plans adopted after December 31, 1981, that a corporation inventorying goods under the LIFO method treat the LIFO recapture amount with respect to distributed inventory assets as gain from the sale of such assets. Allows an election by small businesses which are at least half-owned by active participants in the trade or business and which have average annual gross receipts of $1,500,000 or less for the three taxable years ending with the year of election to use the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting without regard to any inventory requirements. Permits a taxpayer to reduce the value of a portion of excess inventory items held for more than 12 months. Sets forth a schedule for such reductions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1981
International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 - Title I: Development Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for: (1) agricultural development programs; (2) participation in the International Fund for Agricultural Development; (3) voluntary population planning programs; (4) health programs; and (5) education and human resources development. Authorizes assistance for foreign disaster preparedness programs. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for: (1) energy, private voluntary organizations, and selected development activities; (2) scientific and technological cooperation; (3) implementation of the Sahel Development Program; and (4) American schools and hospitals abroad. Eliminates references to a target figure and fiscal year for promotion of human rights. Authorizes U.S. participation in the International Fertilizer Development Center and the International Food Policy Research Institute. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for: (1) participation in international organizations and programs; (2) international disaster assistance; (3) trade and development; and (4) housing guaranty programs. Sets up a revolving fund in the U.S. Treasury for all fees derived from certain guaranty programs. Authorizes investment of such funds in U.S. obligations. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for the operating expenses of the International Development Cooperation Agency and the Agency for International Development. Makes permanent the exemption from limitations on U.S. assistance of construction of productive enterprises in Egypt. Authorizes compensation rates for non-Foreign Service personnel assigned outside the United States. Entitles U.S. special mission deputies to compensation. Title III: Economic Support Fund and Other Programs - Authorizes appropriations for Economic Support Fund programs for 1982. Repeals provisions earmarking funds for certain economic support programs. Authorizes appropriations for peacekeeping operations for fiscal year 1982. Removes the limitations on emergency transfers of economic support funds to peacekeeping operations when necessary for U.S. security. Repeals the requirement that potentially harmful herbicides used in international narcotics control programs to eradicate marijuana must be used with another substance that will warn potential users of the herbicide's presence. Authorizes appropriations for international narcotics control for fiscal year 1982. Title IV: Military Sales and Related Programs - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the waiver of reimbursement for certain nonrecurring research and development costs for sales of defense equipment that would advance U.S. standardization with the armed forces of Japan, Australia, or New Zealand. Eliminates such a waiver provision for foreign procurement in the United States under coproduction arrangements. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for foreign military sales credit and guaranty programs. Sets the ceilings on total principal amounts of foreign military sales credits and guarantees. Sets the minimum allocation to Israel of the foreign military sales credit for fiscal year 1982. Deletes the provision which earmarked certain funds for relocating Israeli troops from the Sinai. Makes the provision for repayment by Israel of funds for procuring defense articles and services applicable to fiscal year 1982. Sets certain repayment terms for foreign military sales loans to Egypt and Turkey guaranteed by such Act. Sets a minimum value on proposed transfers of defense articles and services which would require the President to submit a certification to Congress before consenting to such transfer. Exempts from the certification requirement any such transfer to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), any member of NATO, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand. Increases the threshold for proposed sales of defense articles, services and major equipment which must be included in the Annual Arms Sales Proposal. Extends the time within which the President must report the price and availability estimates of such defense articles, services, and major equipment. Exempts from the certification requirement for letters of offers to make such sales any such letter to NATO, any member of NATO, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand. Increases the threshold value of commercial exports of defense articles, services, or major equipment which require certification. Eliminates the provision for disapproval of such exports by passage of a concurrent resolution in Congress. Exempts from the certification requirement such exports to NATO, any NATO member, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand. Amends the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1980 to increase the threshold value of a lease of major defense equipment to a foreign government which must be reported to Congress. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to eliminate the fee reporting requirements of military sales agents. Includes extraordinary as well as administrative expenses in charges for administrative services under such Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a Special Defense Acquisition Fund to finance the acquisition of defense articles and services in anticipation of their transfer to eligible foreign countries and international organizations. Requires acquisition of short supply items to be emphasized when compatible with security assistance requirements for transfer of such items. Prohibits the transfer of any defense articles or services acquired by such Fund to any foreign country or international organization unless authorized by law. Authorizes the temporary use of such defense articles and services by U.S. Armed Forces prior to their transfer if necessary to meet national defense requirements. Authorizes the use of such Fund to pay for the costs related to the acquisition and transfer of such defense articles and services. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for military assistance programs for fiscal year 1982. Repeals the requirement that authorizations of military assistance be to specified countries in specified amounts. Increases the ceiling on additions to stockpiles of defense articles in foreign countries for fiscal year 1982. Authorizes the President to assign military personnel to foreign countries to manage international security assistance programs. Limits the number of such personnel in each such country to the number justified in the Congressional presentation materials for such country unless the appropriate Congressional committees are notified. Eliminates certain limitations on the performance of management functions by such military personnel. Expresses the sense of Congress that training assistance in such countries shall primarily be provided by personnel not assigned to manage international security assistance programs. Requires the entire cost of overseas management of such programs, beginning in fiscal year 1983, to be paid out of military assistance program funding. Authorizes appropriations for the international military education and training programs for fiscal year 1982. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to certain countries which receive or transfer nuclear enrichment equipment, materials or technology if the President certifies to Congress that withholding such assistance would be seriously prejudicial to U.S. nonproliferation objectives or otherwise jeopardize the common defense and security. Repeals the prohibition against certain forms of military and economic assistance to or for Argentina. Amends the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1980 to repeal the prohibition against aid to military or paramilitary operations in Angola. Title V: Authorizations for the Fiscal Year 1983 and Effective Date - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1983 for programs for which appropriations for fiscal year 1982 are authorized by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1981
Requests the President to designate February 1982, as "American History Month."
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1981
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should increase the power of the transmitters and improve the quality and quantity of foreign language programs of the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Liberty; and (2) research should be undertaken to speed progress in the area of international mass communication media.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1981
Establishes the position of Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs in the Department of Commerce. Declares that the Under Secretary shall be appointed by the President with the Senate's approval.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1981
Amends the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 to direct that motor vehicle safety standards established by the Secretary of Transportation that require the installation of any automatic occupant restraint system in passenger cars: (1) shall not apply to cars manufactured before September 1, 1983; and (2) shall thereafter apply equally to passenger cars.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1981
Federal Pay Comparability Reform Act of 1981 - Declares it to be the policy of Congress that: (1) General Schedule pay rates and benefits be comparable to 94 percent of the pay and benefits of non-Federal employees for the same levels of work; and (2) General Schedule pay rates shall vary between pay areas in accordance with non-Federal pay rates. Directs the President to adjust General Schedule pay in accordance with such policies. Requires the pay rates for statutory pay systems other than the General Schedule to be comparable to the national average General Schedule rates. Requires the pay agent's annual report to the President to compare General Schedule pay and Federal employee benefits (rather than pay alone) with the pay and benefits of non-Federal employees as determined by surveys to be conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Directs the President to designate General Schedule pay areas and establish locality rates of pay by raising, lowering, or maintaining the national average pay rates for each area according to the relationship between Federal and non-Federal pay in such area as determined by the BLS. Requires that the President be assisted by the pay agent and advised by the Advisory Committee on Federal Pay. Authorizes the President to establish special rates of pay for one or more grades of occupations in certain areas when the Government is having difficulty in recruiting or retaining well-qualified individuals for such positions. Directs the President to review such pay rates annually and to modify or abolish such rates if appropriate. Eliminates the salary table for General Schedule pay rates. Requires General Schedule pay rates to be established for each pay area. Repeals cost of living allowances for Federal employees stationed outside the continental United States or in Alaska. Renames the prevailing rate system as the Federal Wage System. Requires the pay and benefits of appropriated fund Federal wage employees to be comparable to 94 percent of the prevailing wages, together with the benefits, of non-Federal employees in the local wage area. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to: (1) schedule full-scale wage surveys every three years (currently every two years) and interim surveys annually; (2) require lead agencies to survey all non-Federal wages in a wage area rather than only private sector wages, to consider Federal and non-Federal benefits in establishing wage rates for Federal wage employees, and to provide for pay differential for shift work; and (3) develop and effectuate a plan for adjusting wage rates for Federal wage employees to correspond to adjustments in the General Schedule and other statutory pay systems pursuant to any alternative plan submitted by the President. Repeals provisions providing for steps and step increases for each grade of a regular wage schedule and night differentials. Authorizes the President to modify provisions of Federal law relating to annual and sick leave and other paid leave of Federal employees to: (1) make Federal leave programs comparable with non-Federal programs; (2) provide greater flexibility to employees; or (3) improve the administration of Federal leave programs. Directs the President to report any such modification to Congress and to publish it in the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations. Requires the President to determine the amount the Government will contribute each year toward an employee's life and health insurance premiums. Maintains the current minimum amounts of such contributions. Requires that pay rates under the General Schedule, other statutory pay systems, and the Federal Wage System be increased by at least two percent for each of the next five years. Prohibits any reduction in an existing employee benefit program for five years after enactment of this Act. Directs the President to increase military pay and allowances on October 1 of each year by the average percentage increase in non-Federal pay for the twelve months preceding the latest BLS survey. Authorizes the President to propose an alternative adjustment by September 1 if appropriate because of national security considerations, a national emergency, or economic conditions. Declares that such alternative plan shall become effective on October 1 unless a joint resolution disapproving it passes into law within 30 days of continuous session after it is transmitted to Congress. Directs the President to implement all of the provisions of this Act within three years after its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Elephant Protection Act of 1981 - Prohibits importing or exporting African elephants or elephant products. Prohibits the acquisition, transportation, or sale in interstate commerce of such products imported in violation of this Act. Permits individuals to: (1) import and export a total of 10,000 pounds of unworked ivory for six months after enactment of this Act; and (2) import worked ivory for 90 days after enactment if there is no intention to sell such ivory in the United States. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to grant permits for the importation or exportation of elephants and elephant products if the Secretary finds that: (1) such nation has developed and implemented an elephant conservation program according to specified criteria; (2) the products can be traced as coming from a particular nation; (3) the products are acquired and transported in compliance with laws of the originating nation; (4) the importation or exportation will not be detrimental to the survival of the species; and (5) the permit is applied for in good faith. Authorizes the Secretary to grant permits for the importation or exportation of elephants or elephant products to enhance propagation or survival of the species and is consistent with the policy of this Act. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress concerning granting of such permits. Sets forth civil or criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Provides for the remittance or mitigation by the Secretary of any civil penalty assessed under this Act. Provides for the forfeiture of elephants, elephant products, or vehicles aiding in the importation, exportation, acquisition, or transportation of such products contrary to the provisions of this Act. Grants specified search and seizure powers for enforcement of this Act by authorized persons. Authorizes the payment of rewards to persons furnishing information concerning violations of this Act. Requires all imports and exports of elephant products to go through either the Port of New York or the Port of Seattle, Washington. Exempts from this Act: (1) elephants imported or exported for zoological, educational, scientific, or exhibitional purposes; (2) elephant products included in a keyboard for a musical instrument; (3) elephant products taken and imported or exported by a sports hunter; and (4) elephant products taken and transported in compliance with the laws of the originating nation. Supersedes the Endangered Species Act and State laws regarding elephants and elephant products. Directs the Secretary of State to establish a program to assist nations to: (1) protect elephant habitats; (2) conserve living elephants; and (3) develop and implement elephant conservation management programs. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretaries of the Interior and State for fiscal years 1983, 1984, and 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Small Business Procurement Reform Act of 1981 - Requires that any Government procurement contract for which a notice for bidding is published in the Commerce Business Daily remain open for bidding for at least 30 days. Establishes exceptions to such requirement in specified circumstances. Amends the Small Business Act to establish a goal of 20 percent participation by small business concerns with each Federal agency for the procurement of items which the Small Business Administration (SBA) determines can be produced by small business. Directs each Federal agency to take all feasible steps to subdivide large procurements into smaller components on which small businesses can bid. Requires any Federal agency to provide small business concerns, upon request, with copies and summaries of laws and regulations materially affecting the performance of contracts open for bids under $100,000. Establishes Government procurement contract arbitration panels within the SBA to facilitate the resolution of contract disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee to advise the Administrator of the SBA and Congress on Government procurement contracts awarded to or set aside for small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Directs the President to award a special gold medal to Fred Waring. Stipulates that funds may not be appropriated under this Act for any period before October 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1981
Authorizes the immediate supervisor of any Federal employee who has applied for continuation pay during a period of disability caused by a work injury to require such employee to submit to an examination by a physician designated by the supervisor for the purpose of obtaining a second opinion concerning the employee's claim. Prohibits the payment of continuation pay for the first three days of disability unless the period of disability exceeds 14 days.
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
State and Local Government Financing Reform Act of 1981 - Excludes from the Federal law limiting and restricting the corporate powers of national banking associations to deal in and underwrite investment securities, specified dealings in and underwriting of all other nongeneral obligations issued or guaranteed by or on behalf of a State or any political subdivision thereof (except special assessment obligations and industrial revenue bonds) which are at the time eligible for purchase by a national bank for its own account, subject to specified limitations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit an annual report to the Congress showing the extent to which the business of underwriting and dealing in State and local obligations is being carried on by commercial banks as compared with other banking institutions with a view to determining the effect of the provisions of this Act on the institutional distribution of such business.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Prohibits the United States Postal Service from requiring the inclusion of a ZIP code in the address of any piece of mail, except as a condition for mailing at a reduced rate or rates for a subclass established to recognize the costs of handling mail bearing such a code.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1981
Requests the President to designate the week beginning November 22, 1981, as "National Family Week."
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1981
Requests the President to designate the third week of September of each year as "National Cystic Fibrosis Week."
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
International Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 to permit the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to determine the claims against East Germany of persons who were aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States as of the date of their property loss and who were citizens of the United States by a specified date (currently only persons who were U.S. nationals as of the date of the loss may receive such a determination).
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Coal Incentives Act of 1981 - Title I: Balancing Energy and Environmental Policies - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare a cost-benefit analysis of any proposed national ambient air quality standard with an emphasis on the impact of any proposed modification in any standard on the use of domestic coal. Extends to December 31, 1981, the deadline by which the Administrator must: (1) propose such new or modified standards; and (2) review and revise air quality criteria for air pollutants. Extends to July 1, 1981, the deadline by which any applicable implementation plan for which an attainment date later than December 31, 1982, has been granted by the Administrator must be revised to include comprehensive public transportation and traffic control measures. Authorizes the President to issue to any fuel-burning stationary source a temporary emergency suspension of any part of an applicable implementation plan adopted by a State, if the President determines that: (1) a national or regional emergency exists involving high levels of unemployment or loss of necessary energy supplies for residential dwellings; (2) such unemployment or loss can be alleviated by such emergency suspension; and (3) foreign imports of fuels used by such source have reached an excessive level which can be reduced by such suspension. Extends the duration of emergency suspensions from a maximum of four months to five years or such longer period as the owner or operator of such source may establish as reasonable, except that a suspension is limited to four months if it would result in a violation of any national ambient air quality standard. Excludes the voluntary conversion to coal of a source from the definition of a "modification" of such source thereby exempting it from new source performance standards. Authorizes the Administrator to specify a date not later than December 31, 1983, for final compliance with an applicable State implementation plan by a source which burns petroleum products and/or natural gas and which: (1) is prohibited from doing so by an order under the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974; (2) gives notice of intent to convert to coal as a primary fuel because of actual or anticipated curtailment of natural gas supplies; or (3) gives notice of intent to voluntarily convert to coal as a primary fuel. Exempts from the penalty for noncompliance with emission requirements under the Clean Air Act the owner or operator of a source that fails to comply because it uses coal as a primary energy source where the only alternative is to use oil, natural gas, or other nonrenewable forms of energy. Redefines the "locally or regionally available coal or coal derivatives" to which a source may be restricted under a measure to prevent economic disruption or unemployment. Prohibits subjecting an existing or a new source that satisfies emission limitations and performance standards under the Clean Air Act to more stringent limitations or standards for the shorter of ten years or the period of depreciation or amortization of such source. Redefines class I national wilderness areas as those areas in excess of 50,000 acres (instead of 5,000). Eliminates the maximum increases in sulphur dioxide and particulate matter concentration allowed for a 24-hour period or for a three-hour period. Allows a State to redesignate any area as a class I area if such redesignation: (1) is approved by the Governor and local legislature; and (2) will not cause air pollutant concentrations to exceed maximum levels in another area. Requires the Administrator to notify a Federal official responsible for class I lands of construction permit applications for only those emission facilities to be located within 50 miles of such lands. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify coal utilization property for the full investment tax credit allowed for pollution control facilities with a useful life of not less than five years. Allows an investment tax credit to public utilities for coal utilization property. Permits the amortization of coal utilization property, based on a 36-month period. Defines "coal utilization property" as tangible, depreciable property which is: (1) a boiler or burner the primary fuel for which will be coal; or (2) pollution control equipment required for such boiler or burner.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1981
Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to permit a State or a recipient of Federal financial assistance under such Act to submit a program to the Secretary of Transportation with regard to the transportation of handicapped persons. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, to approve, subject to specified criteria, such programs. Requires such State or recipient of Federal financial assistance to consult with the community of handicapped persons for whom such transportation will be provided. Requires each State and recipient to certify annually that it is in compliance with such program. Prohibits Federal funds from being made available to a State or recipient not in compliance with its program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income an individual may earn while receiving benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a limited exemption of independent producer oil from the windfall profit tax.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer to elect to compute the depreciation on certain eligible vessels and vessel construction facilities by using a useful life of five years.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1981
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the Secretary of State to inform the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the use or intended use by any country or international organization of any herbicide to eradicate marihuana in a program receiving U.S. aid for narcotics control (currently no U.S. aid may be used for any such program if the herbicide is likely to cause serious harm to marihuana users, unless the herbicide is used with another substance that will warn potential users of the presence of the herbicide). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to monitor the impact of such a herbicide on the health of marihuana users. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress any determination that marihuana users are exposed to a herbicide or exposed to harmful amounts of herbicide.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1981
Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prepare, for distribution to taxpayers, brief but comprehensive statements which set forth in nontechnical terms: (1) the rights and obligations of taxpayers during an audit; (2) the procedures which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may use in enforcing revenue laws; and (3) the procedures by which a taxpayer may appeal adverse decisions, prosecute refund claims, and file taxpayer complaints. Requires a copy of such statement to accompany any tax forms sent to taxpayers. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prescribe criminal penalties for: (1) any investigation by employees of the United States in connection with Federal tax laws which inquires into the beliefs, associations, or activities of any individual or organization which are not directly related to such tax laws; or (2) the maintenance of any records containing information derived from such an investigation. Creates a civil cause of action for any taxpayer aggrieved by a prohibited investigation or by the deprivation of any civil rights. Permits the award of a judgment of costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, to a prevailing taxpayer in any proceeding before the Tax Court. Requires the IRS, upon a taxpayer's request, to conduct any interview regarding a deficiency assessment in the taxpayer's residence or place of business, at a reasonable time convenient to the taxpayer. Requires the officer or employee conducting such interview to warn the taxpayer that: (1) he has a right to remain silent; (2) any statement he makes may be used against him; and (3) he has the right to the presence of an attorney. Exempts certain income producing property from levy for nonpayment of taxes. Makes binding on the Secretary: (1) a tax return prepared for the taxpayer by an officer or employee of the IRS acting in his official capacity to provide such assistance; and (2) information or advice given to the taxpayer by such an officer or employee acting in his official capacity. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to establish, and to report annually to Congress on, a program to provide for a continuing audit and investigation of the efficiency, uniformity, and equity of the administration of the internal revenue laws of the United States. Places the burden of proof, in administrative and judicial proceedings involving the IRS and a taxpayer, upon the IRS. Directs that all property of taxpayers, for purposes of the estate and gift tax, be valued at historical cost (original cost to the taxpayer or the basis of the property if it was not purchased). Prohibits the use in IRS personnel evaluations of amounts collected pursuant to audits or investigations. Requires the annual audit of the tax returns of IRS revenue agents and tax auditors. Requires a court order before property of a taxpayer may be levied upon for the collection of tax.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1981
Requests the President to designate April 9, 1981, as "African Refugee Relief Day."
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1981
New Homestead Act of 1981 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require that not less than 40 percent of the real estate loans made under such Act be for the acquisition of family farms by prospective owner-operators. Sets forth the repayment terms for such loans. Directs the Secretary to make or insure at least 500 but not more than 2,000 such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1981
Food Stamp Reform Act of 1981 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to make individuals 19 years of age or over, with countable income and participating in the food stamp program as a member of an eligible household, liable for any benefits received in excess of an exempt amount. Sets forth the method of determining such amount and such liability. Requires the liability to be paid as if it were a personal income tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Directs State agencies administering the food stamp program to notify such individuals before February 1 of each calendar year of the amount of coupons allotted to them and to notify the Secretary of the Treasury before March 1 of such amounts and the names and addresses of such individuals. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer sufficient appropriated funds to the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the collection of assessed funds to the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the collection of assessed liabilities. Provides for the distribution of such collected amounts to State administrative agencies. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Food Stamp Act of 1977 and the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 consistent with provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1981
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the prohibition against using funds authorized for international narcotics control to pay for herbicides to eradicate marihuana. Makes narcotics control funds appropriated before enactment of this Act available to pay for such herbicides. Removes specified limitations on the uses of narcotics control funds obligated for Colombia and appropriated for fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1981
Federal Lending Oversight and Control Act - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to provide a statutory basis for controlling loans and loan guarantees under Federal credit programs through the congressional budget process. Title I: Reports Regarding Federal Credit Activity - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, not later than February 1 and August 1 of each year, in consultation with the Council of Economic Advisors, to transmit a report to both Houses of Congress regarding Federal credit activity during the previous six month period. Requires each such report to examine the relationship between Federal credit activity during the previous six-month period and: (1) the condition of the economy; (2) the availability and cost of credit in the private sector; and (3) the exercise of monetary and fiscal policy by the Federal Government. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in their biannual reports to Congress concerning recent developments affecting economic trends in the Nation, to examine the effects of Federal credit activity on the availability and cost of credit in the private sector and on the exercise of monetary policy by the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to require the President, in his annual budget statement to the Congress, to include all essential facts regarding direct lending by the Government and guarantees by the Government of the repayment of indebtedness incurred by another person or government. Title II: Changes in Congressional Budget Procedures - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the first concurrent resolution on the budget for each fiscal year to set forth the appropriate level of total gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans and the appropriate level of total commitments to guarantee loans and to allocate such totals among the major functional categories of the budget. Directs each standing committee of the House and Senate to submit its estimates of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments provided for in legislation under its jurisdiction by March 15 of each year for consideration of the Budget Committee in formulating the budget resolution. Directs the House and Senate Banking Committees to submit recommendations to the Budget Committees for the aggregate levels of direct loans and loan guarantees in each fiscal year. Requires the joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on the concurrent resolution on the budget to include an estimate allocation of the total levels of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments among the committees of the House and Senate. Directs the Committees on Appropriations to provide such an allocation among their subcommittees as soon as practicable after a budget resolution has been agreed to. Requires the House Committee on Appropriations, before reporting any regular appropriations bills, to submit a summary report to the House comparing the credit authority contained in such bills to the levels agreed to in the budget resolution. Requires any report accompanying legislation conferring new budget authority or increasing tax expenditures to include information on direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments. Establishes a deadline for the completion of action on legislation providing credit authority. Requires the second concurrent resolution on the budget in any fiscal year and the reconciliation process to take into account Federal obligations and commitments on loans and loan guarantees. Declares out of order any measure brought up for consideration in either House which would increase the level of loan obligations and guarantee commitments agreed to in the budget process. Requires any authority to guarantee the payment of any indebtedness to be contingent on provisions in appropriation Acts. Title III: Amendments to House Rules - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee (other than the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on the Budget) to review and make appropriate recommendations with respect to the consistency and uniformity of the different definitions, default provisions, policies, interest rates, and other terms and conditions relating to direct loan, loan insurance, and loan guarantee activities included in any laws of which the subject matter is within the jurisdiction of that committee. Title IV: Construction and Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the titles of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1981
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to take full possession of all Czechoslovak gold located in the United States and to sell such gold in a manner which will create the largest amount of proceeds for investment. Authorizes the Secretary to offer Czechoslovakia the right to purchase such gold at the price at which it would otherwise be sold. Directs the Secretary to invest the proceeds of such sale in safe U.S. or foreign securities the income from which will be used to pay the claims against Czechoslovakia of U.S. nationals and of the U.S. Government. Directs the Secretary to put the income from such investments into the Czechoslovakian Claims Fund. Directs the Secretary to distribute the balance in the Fund at least once every six months. Sets forth the priority of the recipients as follows: (1) to U.S. nationals holding awards against Czechoslovakia certified under the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 or holding awards certified under this Act for property nationalized or taken between January 1, 1945, and February 26, 1948; (2) to U.S. nationals holding awards certified under this Act for property nationalized or taken after August 8, 1958; (3) to U.S. nationals for the unpaid balance on the defaulted bonds issued or guaranteed by Czechoslovakia; and (4) to the U.S. Treasury for the value of a specified debt and two U.S. bank accounts in Czechoslovakia. Requires the U.S. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, upon application, to reopen and redetermine the validity and amount of specified claims against Czechoslovakia. Provides for the payment to Czechoslovakia of all the proceeds from such gold sale and any balance remaining in such Fund after all such awards have been paid and Treasury Department expenses are recovered. Denies jurisdiction to any court over any claim against the United States for actions taken under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act to exempt employees who are members of religious faiths which oppose participation in the social security program from coverage under such program and to grant to such employees a refund of social security taxes. Exempts employers engaged in farming and their employees in cases where both are members of faiths which oppose participation in the social security system. Extends the exemption from social security taxes to self-employed members of religious groups who are opposed to participation in the social security program but not opposed to participation in private insurance plans.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the estate tax, the gift tax, and the tax on generation-skipping transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Committee Improvement Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee, not later than 60 days after the Congress convenes, to submit an oversight agenda to the Committee on Government Operations. Directs such committee to hold hearings at which the chairman and ranking minority member of each standing committee shall testify on the oversight accomplishments of the preceding Congress and the proposed oversight agenda for the new Congress. Requires the Committee on Government Operations, not later than 90 days after the Congress convenes, to report to the House an oversight agenda resolution which incorporates such agendas of all standing committees, and additional recommendations of the committee. Directs the House to complete action on such resolution not later than 90 days after the Congress convenes, to report to the House an oversight agenda resolution which incorporates such agendas of all standing committees, and additional recommendations of the committee. Directs the House to complete action on such resolution not later than 180 days after the Congress convenes. Directs the Speaker of the House to initially refer each bill, resolution, or other matter to one committee of principal jurisdiction. Eliminates the authority of the Speaker to refer any such matter to two or more committees for concurrent consideration. Requires the membership of each committee, select committee, and conference committee (and each subcommittee, task force, or subunit thereof) to reflect the ratio of majority to minority Members. Provides that such ratio be reflected for standing committees at the beginning of each Congress, and for select and conference committees at the time of appointment. Prohibits any standing committee to establish more than six subcommittees, and any Member to serve at any one time on more than four subcommittees. Defines subcommittee as any subunit of a standing committee established for a period of more than six months. Prohibits the vote by any member of any committee or subcommittee to be cast by proxy. Provides that a majority of members of each committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Prohibits the House to consider any primary expense resolution until the Committee on House Administration has reported and the House has adopted a resolution establishing committee staff personnel ceilings for that year. Requires such committee to specify in any primary or supplemental expense resolution the number of staff positions authorized therein. Authorizes the House to consider any supplemental expense resolution in excess of such ceiling by a vote of two-thirds of the Members present.