United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1984
Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) ("Superfund") to establish certain requirements with respect to hazardous substances released from Federal facilities. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to enter into specified interagency agreements with any Federal agency. Directs the Administrator, in addition to undertaking response action, to take action under CERCLA against any Federal agency in the same manner and to the same extent as against a nongovernmental entity, unless such an interagency agreement is reached within specified time periods. Sets forth procedures for interagency agreements and emergency actions applicable to Federal agencies under CERCLA. Directs the Administrator to establish a special Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket. Directs the Administrator to report annually to Congress on: (1) progress in reaching interagency agreements; (2) cost estimates and budgetary proposals involved; (3) public comments regarding each proposed agreement; and (4) instances in which no agreement has been reached, including an explanation of why no agreement was reached. Authorizes citizen lawsuits under CERCLA against: (1) any person (including the United States and any other governmental instrumentality or agency, to the extent permitted by the eleventh amendment to the Constitution) who is alleged to be in violation of any requirement which has become effective pursuant to CERCLA; or (2) the Administrator where there is an alleged failure to perform any non-discretionary act or duty under CERCLA. Sets forth requirements relating to such citizen lawsuits, which are to be brought in the appropriate U.S. district court. Directs the President, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, to publish a schedule for including on the national priority list under CERCLA any federally owned or operated facilities which present a risk or danger to public health or welfare or the environment. Provides that such facilities shall be included on such list in the same manner and subject to the same criteria as facilities which are owned or operated by other persons.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1984
Prohibits any reduction in force within the Employment and Training Administration which would reduce the number of civilian employees below a specified level during the period from the enactment of this Act until September 30, 1984. Directs the Secretary of Labor, in carrying out a reduction in force, to retain Native American personnel having particular competence and experience in the selection, administration, monitoring, and evaluation of Native American employment and training programs under the Job Training Partnership Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1984
Vietnam Veterans Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Compensation Act - Creates a presumption of service-connection for disability purposes for veterans suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1984
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for anesthesia services and related care provided by a registered nurse anesthetist.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Continues to apply after the end of FY 1983 the certification requirements of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 which relate to El Salvador until Congress enacts new legislation providing conditions for U.S. military assistance to El Salvador or until September 30, 1984, whichever occurs first.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Prohibits any change in the standard Federal regional or subregional office structure or policy as established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circular A-105 of April 4, 1974, except by Act of Congress. Allows combinations of standard Federal regions approved pursuant to such circular before January 1, 1984, to be continued without specific approval by Act of Congress. Requires the Director of OMB to wait at least 90 days after notifying Congress of an agency's request for approval of certain regional or subregional organization plans before approving such a plan.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Amends the Federal Supplemental Compensation Act of 1982 to provide an additional six weeks of benefits under the Federal supplemental unemployment compensation program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Recognizes the important contribution of the arts to a complete education. Urges all citizens to support efforts which strengthen artistic training and appreciation within schools.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Expresses the appreciation of Congress to the descendants of blacks who contributed to American Independence. Encourages State and local governments and private organizations to conduct activities during Black History Month 1985 in honor of black involvement in the American Revolution.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
Housing Finance Opportunity Act of 1984 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for five years, until December 31, 1988, the period during which mortgage revenue bonds may be issued as tax-exempt bonds (interest excluded from gross income).
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
States that the President should: (1) announce to the Soviet Union and other nuclear nations that the United States will suspend testing of nuclear weapons and challenge the Soviet Union to do the same; (2) express to the diplomatic community that U.S. policy is to cease testing such weapons and that such testing will be resumed if the Soviet Union proceeds with further underground testing of such weapons; (3) ensure that upon suspension of U.S. testing the United States will make use of existing technology and equipment to verify that nuclear explosions have ceased; and (4) initiate negotiations for a permanent U.S.-Soviet test ban treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish a talented teachers scholarship program and a national talented teachers fellowship program under title V (Teacher Corps and Teacher Training Programs) of HEA. Establishes the talented teachers scholarship program to make grants to States for postsecondary education scholarships to outstanding high school graduates to enable them to pursue teaching careers in public elementary or secondary education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 and subsequent fiscal years for such purpose. Provides for allocation of such funds among the States on the basis of population. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make such grants to States which submit applications which include specified procedures and agreements. Includes among required agreements assurances that efforts will be made to attract students who: (1) are from low-income backgrounds; or (2) express a willingness or desire to teach in schools having less than average results or serving large numbers of economically disadvantaged students. Provides that each talented teacher scholar shall receive a $5,000 scholarship for each academic year of postsecondary education for study in preparation to become an elementary or secondary education teacher. Limits such individual scholarship assistance to four years of postsecondary education, as determined by the State agency. Requires that such scholarship funds be taken into consideration in determining eligibility for other student assistance under HEA. Limits the amount of an individual scholarship to an amount which when added to other student assistance under HEA does not exceed the cost of attendance. Requires that talented teacher scholars be selected by: (1) a seven-member statewide panel appointed by the chief State elected official, acting in consultation with the State education agency (SEA), or (2) by an existing panel designated by the chief State elected official and approved by the Secretary. Requires that such selections be made from students who have graduated or are graduating from high school and rank in the top ten percent of their graduating class. Requires the SEA to make applications available to high schools and in other convenient locations. Requires the statewide panel to develop criteria and procedures for selection. Permits such criteria to include grade point average, extracurricular activities, financial need, interest in teaching as expressed in an essay, and letters of recommendation. Sets forth scholarship conditions, including full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress in a course of study leading to teacher certification. Sets forth scholarship repayment provisions for recipients found by the SEA to be in noncompliance with agreements. Sets forth exceptions to such repayment provisions. Sets forth provisions relating to: (1) Federal administration of State programs under specified circumstances; and (2) judicial review of the Secretary's actions toward State programs. Establishes the national talented teachers fellowship program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 and subsequent fiscal years for such fellowships for outstanding teachers. Limits to two and one-half percent that portion of such funds which may be used for administration. Requires that such funds be used to award: (1) two national teacher fellowships to public school teachers teaching in each congressional district of each State, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (2) one such fellowship in Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Limits fellowship awards to the average national salary of public school teachers. Prohibits receipt of an award by any individual for two consecutive years. Requires talented teacher fellows to return to a teaching position in their current school district for at least two years following the award. Permits such fellows to use such awards for such projects improving public education as the Secretary may approve, including: (1) sabbaticals for study, research, travel, or academic improvement; (2) curriculum development; (3) consultation with or assistance to other school districts; (4) development of special innovative programs; (5) community relations; or (6) model teacher programs and staff development. Establishes a National Selection Board for Talented Teaching Fellows. Sets forth provisions for membership and procedures. Requires fellowship applicants to submit proposals for projects, and indicate the extent to which they wish to continue current teaching duties, to the local education agency (LEA) for comment prior to submission to the Committee. Directs the Committee, in evaluating proposals, to: (1) consult with the LEA; (2) request recommendations from two teaching peers, the principal, and the superintendent; and (3) consider other appropriate criteria. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for such selections. Requires that announcement of such awards be: (1) made in a public ceremony; and (2) done in consultation with the Member of Congress and Senators representing the school district in which the fellows teach. Requires repayment of the fellowship award to the Federal Government in the case of fraud or gross noncompliance. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint, for up to three-year terms, up to five technical employees to administer title V (Teacher Corps and Teacher Training) of HEA who may be appointed and paid without regard to specified provisions of Federal law governing appointments to the competitive service and relating to classification and pay rates.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
High Technology Research and Scientific Education Act of 1983 - Title I - The Credit for Increasing Research Activities; ACRS for R&D Equipment - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credit for research and development (R&D) expenditures. Modifies the definition of qualified research for purposes of the R&D credit to narrow the category of eligible activities for which the credit is allowable. Makes depreciation of research equipment eligible for the R&D credit. Eliminates the special three-year accelerated cost recovery system (ACRS) category for research equipment. Increases contract research expenses eligible for R&D credit purposes to 75 percent of the amount paid to others for research on the taxpayer's behalf. Provides that in-house and contract research expenses paid or incurred by a regular corporation will constitute qualified research expenses for R&D credit purposes. Provides that in the case of research being conducted in partnership form, the "in carrying on" test is applied at the partnership level, and the credit is apportioned among the partners in accordance with general partnership rules. Title II - Promotion of University Research and Scientific Education - Establishes a new income tax credit equal to 25 percent of payments to universities for basic research which exceed a fixed, maintenance-of-effort floor. Calculates the maintenance-of-effort floor as the greater of the annual average of university basic research payments over 1982-1983 or one percent of the average annual R&D budget over 1981-1983. Treats the portion of the university basic research payments which is not in excess of the maintenance-of-effort floor as contract research expenses eligible for purposes of computing the regular incremental R&D credit. Allows corporations an income tax deduction for contributions of scientific and technical property or services to an institution of higher education. Defines scientific property to mean computer software or other equipment used in a trade or business, which is donated for the direct education of students and faculty, for research and experimentation, or for research training in the United States in mathematics, the physical or biological sciences, engineering, or computer science. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of the allowable deduction for contributions of scientific property or services. Limits the amount of such deduction to ten percent of taxable income computed without regard to specified deductions. Provides for an income tax exclusion for the scholarships, fellowship grants, student loan forgiveness, or stipends of a graduate student in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or the physical or biological sciences. Specifies that such tax exclusion is not forfeited merely because the student is required, as a condition of the scholarship or fellowship, to perform future service in teaching or research.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to establish within the Administration on Aging the National Information Clearinghouse on Aging. Requires the Clearinghouse to: (1) compile and disseminate information relating to federally funded projects related to aging; (2) publish annually a summary of the information collected; (3) compile information regarding State legislation related to programs or services for older individuals; (4) make available a national toll-free telephone number for information concerning programs and services for older individuals; and (5) cooperate with other Federal, State, and local information and referral services. Directs the Commissioner to report annually to Congress concerning research, demonstration, evaluation, and training programs carried out with funds made available under the Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions of this Act for FY 1985 through 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1983
Expresses the support of Congress with respect to the right of Soviet peace groups to freely express their views and to organize within the Soviet Union. Calls upon the Soviet Union to: (1) honor its obligations under the World Disarmament Campaign Resolution by allowing the flow of information on peace and disarmament; (2) cease its harassment of peace groups in its country; and (3) honor its obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Directs the President to investigate and report to the Congress within 18 months concerning the living conditions and available assistance for El Salvadorans displaced inside and outside their country. Requires such investigation to report on the fate of El Salvadoran deportees. Requires the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to hold hearings within two years to consider appropriate U.S. steps to assure the personal safety and equitable distribution of assistance to such displaced El Salvadorans. Provides for a three-year moratorium on specified categories of El Salvadoran deportations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Commission on the Ukraine Famine Act - Establishes a Commission to be known as the Commission on the Ukraine Famine which shall study the 1932-1933 Ukraine famine in order to: (1) expand the world's knowledge of the famine; and (2) provide the American public with a better understanding of the Soviet system. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Human Needs and World Security Act - Requires that for FY 1985: (1) not less than $102,000,000 shall be provided to the United Nations Children's Fund with the Fund's excess FY 1984 funds to be devoted to the provision of low-cost preventive health measures associated with the "child health revolution" developed by United Nations agencies; (2) not less than $90,000,000 shall be provided for the International Fund for Agricultural Development; and (3) not less than $175,000,000 shall be provided for health care activities with excess FY 1984 funds to be devoted to preventive health care activities directly benefitting the poor majority. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for the Peace Corps. Requires that $700,000,000 shall be available to carry out famine relief under the Agriculture Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 for FY 1985. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for the Inter-American Development Bank for assistance under the Bank's program for financing small projects. Limits for FY 1985 the aggregate amount of foreign military sales credits, foreign military sales guarantees, military assistance, and international military education and training. Limits the amount of assistance provided during FY 1985 through the Economic Support Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Congressional Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable income tax credit for contributions to candidates for the office of U.S. Representative. Limits the amount of such credit to $100 for any one qualified candidate, and $200 for all qualified candidates. Requires that such contributions be verified in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury. Prohibits a candidate from misrepresenting his eligibility for office or the eligibility of a potential contributor for the tax credit. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the use of such political tax credits not later than June 30 following each Federal election. Adds a new title to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971: "Title V: Financing of General Election Campaigns for the House of Representatives." Sets forth requirements for the qualification of candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives to receive contributions eligible for the tax credit provided by this Act. Requires a candidate to certify to the Federal Election Commission that neither he nor his authorized committee will accept any contribution or make any campaign expenditure in excess of prescribed limits. Requires further that the candidate maintain a separate accounting of contributions which qualify for the income tax credit for political contributions provided by this Act and that the candidate provide any appropriate information to the Commission for purposes of auditing or examining campaign contributions. Requires the candidate to certify the receipt of a certain amount of threshold contributions. Limits to $20,000 the amount of personal funds (from the candidate or his immediate family) that a candidate may spend in an election. Waives spending limits for eligible candidates whose opponents have exceeded applicable expenditure limits or who have otherwise failed to meet the requirements of this Act. Requires independent expenditures in excess of $5,000 to be reported to the Commission and each candidate within specified time frames. Qualifies a candidate against whom more than $5,000 in independent expenditures have been made for premium postal rates. Requires the Commission to verify upon request the eligibility of a candidate under this Act to the Secretary. Requires the Commission to conduct an examination and audit of the campaign accounts of ten percent of the qualified candidates under this Act to determine compliance with the expenditure limitations and other requirements of this Act. Empowers the Commission to bring a civil suit in U.S. district court to enforce any requirement of this Act or recover any amounts resulting from an audit of campaign expenditures. Permits private citizens to file complaints with the Commission and initiate court actions. Authorizes appropriations. Includes within the definition of "contribution" for purposes of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 certain extensions of credit for advertising and broadcasting in excess of $1,000 for a period of more than 60 days. Limits to $90,000 (adjusted for inflation) in any calendar year the amount of contributions which candidates for U.S. Representative may accept from non-party multicandidate political committees. Specifies exceptions for candidates in general and special elections. Limits to $240,000 the expenditure amounts for such candidates. Permits candidates for the office of U.S. Representative to make expenditures independently of the campaign committee of his party in specified circumstances. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide candidates for the office of U.S. Representative with equal time in broadcast media to respond to the remarks of an opposing candidate.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
States that the Congress: (1) holds Iran responsible for upholding the rights of the Baha'is; (2) condemns Iran's decision to destroy the Baha'i faith; and (3) calls upon the President to work with appropriate foreign governments to form an appeal to Iran concerning the Baha'is, to cooperate with the United Nations in its efforts on behalf of the Baha'is, and to provide humanitarian assistance for Baha'is who flee Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1983
Industrial Competitiveness Act - Title I: Council on Industrial Competitiveness - Establishes in the executive branch an independent agency to be known as the Council on Industrial Competitiveness. Sets forth the duties of the Council including the duty to: (1) collect and analyze information concerning current and future economic trends and market opportunities; (2) create forums where national leaders will identify national economic problems; (3) provide policy recommendations regarding specific issues concerning industrial strategies; and (4) evaluate existing government policies and business practices in terms of their competitive impact. Sets forth the membership and powers of the Council. Requires the Council to report to Congress and the President, within one year of enactment of this title, recommendations for changes in Federal policy necessary to implement effective industrial strategies. Requires the Council to report annually to the President, Congress, and the Bank for Industrial Competitiveness on the major industrial development priorities of the United States and the policies needed to meet such priorities. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Bank for Industrial Competitiveness - Subtitle A: Bank for Industrial Competitiveness - Establishes the Bank for Industrial Competititveness which shall be an agency of the United States. Sets forth the powers of the Bank and the qualifications for members of the board of directors. Authorizes the Bank to provide financial assistance to: (1) businesses in mature or linkage industries which require revitalization and modernization in order to be competitive in a world market; and (2) businesses in emerging industries which require financial assistance to develop and market new products or technologies. Limits the amount of aid for each project to 30 percent of the funding necessary to carry out the project. Sets forth the requirements for applications for such assistance. Sets forth the terms and conditions for financial assistance from the Bank. Terminates the authority of the Bank to make loans, issue loan guarantees, and purchase capital stock of applicants ten years after the effective date of this title. Sets forth the amount of capital stock the Bank shall have. Authorizes the Bank to issue obligations to provide sufficient funds to carry out the Bank's purposes and to renew, refund or pay other obligations. Limits the amount of the Bank's outstanding obligations to five times the paid-in capital of the Bank. Prohibits any of the loans made, guaranteed, or committed to be guaranteed under this title from being eligible for purchase by, or commitment to purchase by, or sale or issuance to, any Federal agency or government-owned entity. Exempts obligations of the Bank from taxation. Authorizes the Bank to enter into appropriate agreements respecting obligations of the Bank. Sets forth provisions dealing with moneys of the Bank. Exempts from taxation all property of the Bank except for the Bank's real property. Authorizes the Bank to inspect all documents of an applicant relating to the applicant's financial affairs and to all facilities and properties of the applicant. Requires the Bank to submit an annual report to the President and Congress. Terminates the Bank 30 years after the effective date of this title. Subtitle B: Secondary Markets for Industrial Mortgages - Authorizes the Bank to purchase and to make commitments to purchase industrial mortgages from any qualified financial institution. Authorizes the Bank to set priorities regarding the types of industrial mortgages to be purchased. Sets forth conditions which such mortgages must meet. Prohibits an industrial mortgage from being purchased unless specified conditions are met. Authorizes the Bank to set aside mortgages held by it and to issue and sell securities based upon the set aside mortgages. Subtitle C: Investment in Public Industrial Development Banks - Authorizes the Bank to invest in the stock of public industrial development finance institutions established at the State, local, or regional levels. Requires that the Bank be given, in return for its investment, one or more seats on the Board of Directors of the public development bank in which it invests. Prohibits the Bank from contracting with institutions that offer no reasonable prospect of return. Sets forth conditions for participation by the Bank in public industrial development banks. Subtitle D: General Provisions - Authorizes appropriations beginning in FY 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1983
Fair Trade in Steel Act of 1983 - Declares that it is the policy of Congress that access to the U.S. market for foreign-produced carbon, alloy, and specialty steel mill products should be on an equitable basis to safeguard national security, insure orderly trade in steel mill products, reduce unfair trade in steel mill products, and alleviate U.S. balance-of-payments problems. Limits annual imports of specified steel mill product categories to specified percentages of the apparent domestic supply which are based on adjusted average import penetration levels for each such product category for the years 1979, 1980, and 1981. Directs the Secretary to allocate global product limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries, or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocations. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to make an annual determination of the expected apparent domestic supply in each steel mill product category. Requires the Secretary to revise such determination periodically during the year. Directs the Secretary to monitor capital investments in steel operations made and announced by the steel industry. Authorizes the Secretary to consult with steel industry representatives with respect to such investments. Requires the Secretary to consult with such representatives and with steel industry employees if the Secretary believes that the capital investment made or announced is substantially less than the cash flow generated from steel operations. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress and authorizes the Secretary to modify or suspend import limits on steel mill products if the Secretary determines that commercial conditions or other relevant considerations do not justify such reduced level of capital investment in steel operations. Directs the Secretary to examine the supply and demand situation in the United States for a specified steel product category if reguested by affected steel consumers. Sets forth criteria to be used in determining short supply. Directs the Secretary to monitor imports of fabricated steel mill products. Sets forth the method of investigating whether imports of fabricated steel products are rendering ineffective or materially interfering with the objectives of this Act. Limits the quantity of iron ore that may be entered from any source other than Canada during any calendar year after 1983. Directs the Secretary to allocate global iron ore limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries or areas (excluding Canada from any such allocation). Sets forth guidelines for making such allocation. Provides for the enforcement and implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1983
Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1983 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to require the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to establish and maintain a national toll-free telephone line for reporting information regarding the location of missing children. Directs the Administrator to establish a national resource center and clearinghouse to: (1) provide technical assistance to State and local governments and agencies in locating missing children; (2) coordinate public and private efforts to recover missing children; and (3) disseminate information on innovative missing childrens' programs, services, and legislation. Requires the Administrator to publish an annual summary of research on missing children and prepare a comprehensive plan for coordinating activities of all agencies and organizations responsible for missing children. Authorizes the Administrator, in consultation with the Advisory Board on Missing Children, to make grants for research or demonstration or service programs designed to: (1) educate parents and community agencies on ways to prevent the abduction of children; (2) assist in the recovery or tracking of missing children; (3) aid communities in collecting material to assist parents in the identification of their children; (4) demonstrate the psychological consequences of a child's abduction; and (5) collect data on investigative practices utilized by law enforcement agencies. Requires the Administrator to appoint an Advisory Board on Missing Children to assist the Administrator in coordinating programs and activities relating to missing children. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1983
Requires that local government emergency personnel (including police and firefighters) be notified at least 48 hours in advance of the shipment of high-level nuclear waste through local government jurisdictions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1983
Retirement Equity Act of 1983 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code to lower from age 25 to age 21 the age limitation for minimum participation and vesting standards for pension plans. Prohibits certain defined benefit plans from requiring, as a condition for plan participation, that employees complete period of service extending beyond the earlier of age 25 or the vesting expectation date. Lowers from age 22 to age 18 the age limitation for the computation of periods of service. States that years of service may be disregarded when computing periods of service for participation or vesting purposes if breaks in service during such a period amounted to five or more one-year breaks. Treats breaks in service due to pregnancy, birth, or adoption of a child as completed hours of service according to a specified formula. Accords such treatment only in the year of the pregnancy, birth or adoption, and only to participants who would incur a one-year break in service without such treatment. Requires pension plans which provide life annuity benefits to pay such benefits in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity. Requires that each pension plan participant have the option of electing, waiving, or revoking the joint and survivor annuity form of benefit. Conditions the efficacy of such election upon: (1) the written consent of a participant's spouse; (2) a written acknowledgement by a participant's spouse of the effect of such election; and (3) an official witnessing of such spousal consent by a plan representative or notary public. Limits such consent to the signatory spouse. Requires pension plans to furnish participants with written explanations of the terms and rights of election regarding joint and survivor annuities. Prohibits joint and survivor annuity payments from being less than the actuarial equivalent of payments made if the annuitant had lived to the earliest date of retirement or had separated from service on the date of death. Requires the surviving spouse's consent for any distribution of nonforfeitable benefits exceeding $3,500. Requires such benefits to be paid according to the surviving spouse's written requests. States that plans subject to funding requirements must provide benefits payable in the form of an annuity. Exempts qualified domestic relations orders from the Act's proscriptions against alienation and assignment of pension plan benefits. Sets procedural guidelines for the payment of such benefits to an alternate payee under such orders. Prohibits alternative payees from receiving any portion of any increase in a participant's accrued benefits if such increases occur after payments to such payees have begun. Declares that alternate payees under domestic relations orders are not considered to be, by virtue of such orders, participants or beneficiaries under the pension plan. Increases from $1,750 to $3,500 the allowable mandatory distribution from a retirement plan. Requires notification to participants that certain benefits may be forfeitable if the participant dies before a certain date. Sets December 31, 1984 as the effective date of this Act for existing plans. Provides transitional dates and certain effective dates for plans maintained under collective bargaining agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Federal Employees Health Benefits Information Act of 1983 - Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a Federal Employees Health Benefits Information Center which shall maintain a national information clearinghouse and disseminate information on the various health benefit plans available to Federal employees, assist employees and annuitants in understanding such information, and identify problems or deficiences in any of the health benefit plans available. Requires that carriers be allowed to make written comments on any information relating to their plans which is to be so disseminated and prohibits the dissemination of such information until OPM has reviewed such comments and made any necessary changes in the information. Requires OPM to make a continuing study of: (1) the operation and administration of the Federal employees health benefits program; and (2) the costs, benefits, and coverage under plans available to Federal employees and how they compare with the costs, benefits, and coverage under plans available to employees in private industry. Requires OPM to submit annually to specified congressional committees information relating to recent developments in the health care field and recommendations for legislative or administrative action which may be appropriate. Sets aside funding for the procurement of experts and consultants and for experiments and demonstration projects with respect to improving the quality or timeliness of the information to be provided by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Information Center. Provides that before the start of any contract term in which an adjustment is to be made in the rates or benefits under a health benefits plan or if a newly approved health benefits plan is offered or an existing plan is terminated, there shall be provided an open season of at least three weeks during which Federal employees or annuitants enrolled in health benefits plans may transfer to another plan or cancel their enrollment. Requires OPM to make available to employees and annuitants eligible to enroll in a health benefits plan a description of the types of information and services available from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Information Center and the procedures for obtaining such information and services. Requires that employees and annuitants enrolled in a health benefits plan be notified of any changes in rates charged or benefits provided under such plan.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging: (1) in making training and recruitment grants and contracts, to give special consideration to the recruitment and training of volunteers and persons employed in or preparing for employment in that part of the field of aging which relates to providing custodial and skilled care for older individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases; and (2) in making grants and contracts for demonstration projects to give special consideration for projects designed to meet the special needs of older individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases and projects designed to provide family respite services with respect to older individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases. Authorizes appropriations under such Act for FY 1985 for training, research, and discretionary projects and requires that a specified minimum amount be made available to carry out provisions relating to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Amends veterans' hospitalization benefits to authorize the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to carry out a screening and treatment program for eligible veterans suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Permits the furnishing of hospital or nursing home care to afflicted veterans who are at least fifty years old.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for the home care expenses of individual taxpayers who maintain a household which includes a dependent of the taxpayer who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Permits this deduction whether or not the taxpayer itemizes deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Designates November 12, 1983, as Anti-Defamation League Day in honor of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Anti-Defamation League of the B'nai B'rith.
![Official portrait of Rep. Dwyer, Bernard J. [D-NJ-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000586_200.jpg)