United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1983
Health Care for the Unemployed Act - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title, Title XXI - Health Care for the Unemployed: Part A - Grants to States - Authorizes to be appropriated for FY 1984 - 1986 a sum sufficient to enable each State to furnish medical assistance to unemployed individuals and their immediate family. Requires a State, in order to receive funding, to have an approved State plan for medical assistance for the unemployed. Requires a State plan to: (1) meet specified administrative requirements of the State's Medicaid plan; (2) make medical assistance available to eligible individuals voluntarily enrolled during the individual's coverage period; (3) require the State unemployment compensation agency to inform unemployment compensation recipients of the plan and of group health plans, and to notify the State Medicaid agency of eligible unemployment compensation recipients; (4) provide the following services: (a) inpatient hospital services for up to nine days annually; (b) outpatient hospital, emergency, rural health clinic, and physician services for up to ten visits annually; (c) laboratory and x-ray services, subject to such limits as the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish; and (d) family planning and nurse mid-wife services; (5) provide for the imposition of premiums, enrollment fees, and similar charges; (6) provide that the plan will be secondary in payment to any other insurance or benefit plan providing medical assistance; and (7) provide that a State make reasonable efforts to determine the Medicaid eligibility of individuals enrolled in the plan who are not receiving unemployment compensation. Requires the Secretary to approve any plan meeting the above requirements, but precludes approval of any plan which: (1) excludes any U.S. citizen or any individual residing in the State; or (2) if approved, would result in a reduction of Medicaid services. Requires the Secretary to disapprove a plan if it reduces or eliminates Medicaid eligibility under its AFDC plan (Aid to Families with Dependent Children, part A of title IV of the Act) with respect to the unemployed parent program or the coverage of certain children. Provides that an individual is eligible for such medical assistance for a week if the individual: (1) is receiving unemployment compensation and three weeks have elapsed since the first week the individual received unemployment compensation; or (2) is not receiving unemployment compensation for the week, was receiving unemployment compensation for a week during the 104 week period ending with the week before the first week in which the plan is in effect and has not received unemployment compensation for any week in which the plan is in effect, and meets certain requirements relating to work availability. Makes an individual's family eligible if the individual is eligible. Requires a State plan to establish standards concerning whether or not an individual is employed. Requires an individual to be considered employed for a week if the individual's earnings equal or exceed an amount equal to 30 times the minimum hourly wage. Makes an individual ineligible for a week if: (1) the individual is covered under a group health plan for which a contribution is being made by someone other than the individual; (2) the individual is covered under his or her spouse's group health plan; (3) the individual is eligible for Medicaid; (4) the individual is employed for four consecutive weeks; or (5) the individual was disqualified because of fraud for unemployment compensation or convicted of a Medicaid offense in the previous year. Requires a State to impose: (1) a premium of between two and five percent of an individual's unemployment compensation; and (2) the same deduction, cost-sharing, and similar charges as imposed under Medicaid. Authorizes a State plan to provide an enrollee the option of receiving medical assistance with another health benefit plan. Authorizes a State to provide an eligible individual with the option of having the State make a cash payment for the premium of another plan. Sets forth the methods for determining payments to States. Makes provisions of title XIX relating to the operation of State plans applicable to title XXI. Sets forth definitions used in this part. Directs the Secretary, provided certain conditions are met, to grant a waiver to a State plan with respect to some or all of the Medicaid administrative requirements in the case of a State plan that enters into an arrangement with one or more private health benefits plans which provide health insurance or health benefits to all eligible individuals and which provide required benefits at a cost no greater than the premiums and other charges of the State plan. Makes specified provisions of title XIX and part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Act relating to rural health clinics, fraud and abuse, Indian health service facilities, cost sharing, judicial and administrative review, capital expenditures, and administration applicable to this part. Part B: Open Enrollment, Continuation, and Conversion Rights of Individuals - Requires the group health plans of employers required to pay minimum wage and States and political subdivisions with 25 or more employees to meet the requirements of this part. Requires a group health plan to have an open enrollment period for each married employee eligible to enroll whose spouse loses coverage under a group health plan due to involuntary termination of the spouse's health plan. Requires a group health plan to provide continuation of coverage under the plan for at least 90 days following an individual's involuntary separation or layoff. Requires a State to provide an employee covered under an insured group health plan subject to State insurance law the option of securing health benefits coverage without evidence of insurability where the individual's loss of coverage under the group health plan results from the individual's involuntary layoff or separation from employment. Authorizes an individual or State adversely affected by the failure of an employer to comply with the requirements of this part to seek injunctive relief in a Federal district court. Part C: Assistance to Hospitals Serving the Unemployed - Directs the Secretary to make grants to hospitals to assist the hospitals in providing services to individuals unable to pay. Requires a hospital, in order to receive a grant, to: (1) be located in an area of high unemployment or serve primarily medically underserved populations; (2) serve a significantly disproportionate number of patients having low income; (3) provide services to individuals without regard to their inability to pay; and (4) offer assurances that it will use the grants in addition to, rather than in lieu of, existing Federal, State, and local funds. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress concerning the grants. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY 1983-1986. Establishes the effective date for part A of title XXI as July 1, 1983, with repeal as of October 1, 1986. Provides for the participation of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa in the plan established by this title.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1983
National Industrial Strategy Act - Title I: Economic Cooperation Council - Establishes the Economic Cooperation Council to collect and analyze economic data and, upon request to make recommendations to Congress, Federal departments and agencies, and the National Industrial Development Bank (established by this Act) regarding national industrial policy and sectoral strategies. Requires the Council, within one year after enactment, to report to Congress and the President its recommendations for changes in any Federal policy necessary to implement an effective national industrial strategy. Exempts the Council from the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Establishes within the Council a Bureau of Economic Information and a Bureau of Economic Analysis. Requires the Council to send annual reports to the President, Congress, and the National Industrial Development Bank about the major industrial development priorities of the United States and the policies needed to meet them. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: National Industrial Development Bank - Establishes the National Industrial Development Bank to make loans and loan guaranties and to issue debt instruments in such a way as to improve the overall economic goals of the Nation and broad public interest. Sets forth general provisions regarding the issuance of financial assistance. Directs the Bank to provide financial assistance to those mature and linkage industries which can be restructured to become competitively successful in the long term. Requires such a company to submit a plan to the Bank which demonstrates that it will be viable in the long run without additional Federal financial assistance. Authorizes financial assistance to develop and market new technologies and to aid in the growth of emerging industries. Authorizes financial assistance to regional development banks. Requires annual reports to Congress. Terminates the Bank on September 30, 1989. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1983
Calls upon the nations of the world, particularly the Soviet Union, to conclude in the multilateral Committee on Disarmament or other bilateral negotiations a comprehensive and verifiable treaty banning chemical weapons. States that the United States will continue its moratorium on chemical weapons production if progress is evident on a comprehensive and verifiable treaty banning chemical weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should seek a consensus at the Williamsburg Summit, aimed at: (1) reducing disparities in certain financial rates and economic policies among summit countries; and (2) arranging a meeting of summit country finance ministers with the Secretary of the Treasury, to achieve an alignment between the interest rates and major currencies. Urges the President to arrange, in conjunction with the Williamsburg Summit, bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of Japan to bring about further realignment of the yen and dollar exchange rates.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1983
Church Audit Procedures Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restrict the Secretary of the Treasury from investigating or auditing churches unless the Secretary possesses evidence causing him to believe that a church: (1) is carrying on an unrelated trade or business; or (2) should not be granted tax-exempt status. Restricts the Secretary from beginning any investigation unless he has first provided the church with written notice that an investigation is being commenced. Sets forth the requirements of such notice. Requires that the Secretary must first approve an application by the regional counsel of the internal revenue region for examination of church records and religious activities before beginning any such examination. Requires the Secretary, prior to the approval of any such application, to offer in writing an opportunity for a conference to discuss facts, evidence, and issues relevant to the investigation. Requires the Secretary to notify the church in writing of the approval of the application for examination at least 15 days prior to the commencement of such examination. Limits the examination of religious activities to that necessary to determine whether an organization is a church or convention or association of churches. Limits the examination of church records to that necessary to determine the amount of tax imposed. Allows an organization which claims that the Secretary has violated the provisions of this Act to bring a civil action for injunctive relief against the Secretary. Reduces the statute of limitations for collection after assessment of tax to three years in the case of any organization which is a church or convention or association of churches.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1983
Amends the Small Business Act to define "small agricultural cooperative," for purposes of eligibility for disaster loans under such Act, as an association: (1) acting pursuant to the Agriculture Marketing Act; (2) whose size does not exceed the size standard established for other agricultural small business concerns; and (3) whose board members or governing members each qualify as a small business concern.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1983
Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to prohibit a pesticide's registration without certain third-party data showing that such pesticide will not cause unreasonable adverse environmental effects. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to assign at least ten full-time investigators to carry out the National Laboratory Audit Program within the Office of Pesticide Programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that regulations relating to title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (concerning sex discrimination in education) should not be amended or altered in any manner which will lessen the comprehensive coverage of such statute in eliminating gender discrimination throughout the American educational system.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1983
Preferred Provider Health Care Act of 1983 - Prohibits any State insurance law or regulation from preventing one or more group health plan payors from: (1) establishing alternate payment rates for health care providers, and offering such rates to plan beneficiaries; or (2) limiting payments to services secured by a group health plan for beneficiaries from health care providers charging alternative rates. States that such alternate payment rates shall not constitute a violation of any State law prohibiting payment discrimination among beneficiaries of the same class.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1983
Hazardous Waste Control and Enforcement Act of 1983 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act (as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976) to authorize appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986 for: (1) general administration by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out such Act (including funds for Resource Recovery and Conservation Panels, hazardous waste management, and support for State, regional, local, and interstate agency solid waste plans); (2) grants to State hazardous programs; (3) hazardous waste site inventory; (4) development and implementation of plans by State, local, regional, and interstate authorities; (5) implementation of State, local, and intermunicipal programs for solid waste management, resource recovery, resource conservation, and hazardous waste management; (6) special communities assistance; (7) assistance to States for recycled oil programs; and (8) the Secretary of Commerce to carry out resource and recovery duties. Establishes requirements for small quantity generator waste. Prohibits exemption by reason of the small quantity generated of any hazardous waste generated by any generator in a quantity greater than 100 kilograms during any calendar month from hazardous waste management standards, after 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months of such enactment, to promulgate standards for hazardous waste generated in monthly quantities between 100 to 1,000 kilograms which are applicable to generators, transporters, and owners or operators of treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Authorizes the Administrator to allow such small quantity generator waste standards to vary from standards for larger quantities. Requires that small quantity generator hazardous waste standards at a minimum: (1) limit to 180 days onsite storage without a permit; (2) require all other treatment, storage, or disposal at a facility with a permit; and (3) require that a manifest accompany any shipment of such waste off the premises on which it is generated. (Allows specific requirements for entries on such manifest to vary from those applicable to the manifest required for larger quantity generators.) Requires, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, that any hazardous waste which is part of a total quantity generated by a generator generating between 25 to 1,000 kilograms during a calendar month and which is shipped off the premises on which it is generated shall be accompanied by a copy of the EPA Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest form signed by the generator. Requires that such form contain specified information. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations which establish special standards or exemptions for hazardous wastes which are generated by any generator who does not generate more than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste per calendar month. Establishes requirements for interim control of hazardous waste injection. Prohibits hazardous waste disposal by underground injection above or into a formation which contains, within one-quarter mile of the well used for such injection, an underground source of drinking water. Provides for exemptions from such prohibition upon demonstration that such injection will not cause hazardous waste to endanger drinking water sources. Provides for State and Federal enforcement of such prohibitions and identical prohibitions under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Establishes requirements with respect to liquids in landfills. Directs the Administrator, within six months after enactment of this Act, to promulgate final regulations which: (1) minimize to the extent technologically feasible the disposal of containerized liquid hazardous wastes in landfills; and (2) prohibit the landfill disposal of bulk or noncontainerized liquid hazardous wastes. Makes such regulations effective immediately upon promulgation. Directs the Administrator to maintain specified requirements, pending promulgation of such regulations. Sets forth prohibitions on land disposal of specified hazardous wastes. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations prohibiting one or more methods of land disposal of specified identified or listed hazardous wastes (in addition to specified wastes referred to under this Act). Directs the Administrator to specify each such hazardous waste for which it may reasonably be anticipated that one or more methods of land disposal may not be protective of human health and the environment for as long as the waste remains hazardous, taking into account specified factors. Directs the Administrator, in promulgating such regulations, to consider each hazardous waste which is prohibited from one or more methods of land disposal by any State. Prohibits the land disposal of specified hazardous wastes within 12 months of the enactment of this Act, unless the Administrator determines the prohibition on one or more methods of land disposal is not required in order to protect human health and the environment for as long as the waste remains hazardous. Requires that such prohibition is to be applied, taking into account specified factors, to specified forms, compounds, and concentrations of the following hazardous wastes: (1) cyanides; (2) arsenic; (3) candmium; (4) chromium; (5) lead; (6) mercury; (7) nickel; (8) selenium; (9) thallium; (10) highly acidic (having a pH of two or less) liquid wastes; (11) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and (12) halogenated organic compounds. Authorizes the Administrator to substitute more stringent concentration levels where necessary to protect human health and the environment. Sets forth a schedule for additional prohibition determinations. Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress, within six months after enactment of this Act, a schedule for reviewing all hazardous wastes listed in specified Federal regulations which are not covered by a land disposal prohibition under this Act. Directs the Administrator to complete such review and promulgate regulations in accordance with a specified timetable with deadlines from 18 to 54 months after enactment of this Act. Requires that hazardous wastes identified or listed within 54 months after enactment of this Act be added to such schedule. Directs the Administrator to determine, within such 54 months, whether all remaining indentified or listed hazardous wastes should be prohibited from one or more methods of land disposal. Directs the Administrator, in the case of any hazardous waste identified or listed after such 54 months, to make such prohibition determination within six months. Sets forth criteria upon which such prohibition determinations are to be made. Prohibits land disposal of any identified or listed hazardous waste for which the Administrator has failed to make a determination within the specified deadline. Sets forth effective dates for prohibitions. Provides for variances in specified cases. Authorizes the Administrator to revise such regulations to add additional hazardous wastes to be prohibited from one or more methods of land disposal. Authorizes the Administrator to impose conditions, including but not limited to pretreatment and detoxification prior to land disposal, and limitations on waste dilution. Requires, within 12 months after enactment of this Act, notification to the Administrator by: (1) the owner or operator of any facility producing a fuel from any hazardous waste alone or with other material or from used oil alone or with other material; (2) the owner or operator of any facility burning fuel containing any hazardous waste or used oil; and (3) any person who distributes or markets fuel containing hazardous waste or used oil. Requires that such notification describe the location, the facility, the identified or listed hazardous waste involved, and the production or energy recovery activity. Exempts facilities, such as residential boilers, from such notification requirements where the Administrator determines that such notification is not necessary for obtaining sufficient information respecting current practices of facilities using hazardous waste for energy recovery. Directs the Administrator, within two years after the enactment of this Act, to promulgate regulations establishing health and environmental standards applicable to owners or operators of facilities producing fuel from hazardous wastes or burning hazardous wastes for energy recovery and to distributors or marketers of such fuels. Prohibits producers, distributors, or marketers of fuels containing hazardous wastes from distributing or marketing such fuels unless the invoice or bill of sale bears a conspicuous warning and lists the hazardous wastes contained in such fuel. Exempts oil or petroleum refining waste containing oil from such labeling requirement under certain conditions. Directs the Administrator, within two years after the date of enactment of this Act and after opportunity for public hearing, to promulgate regulations establishing standards applicable to transporters of fuel produced from any identified or listed hazardous waste alone or in combination with any other material. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations requiring any facility operating under an interim status permit to obtain a final permit before expanding its capacity by more than ten percent (except capacity for storage or treatment in tanks or containers and enclosed waste piles). Authorizes the Administrator to establish standards for any interim status permit facility expanding its capacity by ten percent or less. Allows such standards for facilities expanding by ten percent or less to vary from the interim permit status standards for facilities which do not expand capacity. Requires landfill disposal facilities operating under an interim status permit to comply with monitoring and corrective action requirements applicable to facilities for which a final permit is issued. Requires any new, replacement, or laterally expanded unit of a landfill or surface impoundment operating under an interim status permit to be subject to requirements respecting liners and leachate collection systems or equivalent protection applicable to facilities for which a final permit is issued. Limits to ten years the duration of any permit for hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal. Allows renewals of such permits. Directs the Administrator to issue final permits or final denials of permit applications: (1) for land disposal facilities within four years of the enactment of this Act; and (2) for any other treatment, storage, or disposal facilities within eight years of such enactment. Provides that such time periods shall also apply in the case of any authorized State hazardous waste program. Requires facilities operating under interim status permits to submit applications for final permit review within the applicable time period, with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Administrator, after notice and opportunity for hearing, to promulgate permit application requirements and permit conditions applicable to owners and operators of a class of facilities, upon determination that facilities in the class should be subject to similar design, operating, and management requirements. Limits such classes to facilities which treat or store hazardous waste in containers, tanks, or enclosed piles. Authorizes the Administrator, after notice and opportunity for informal hearing, to issue a class permit for a facility which meets such conditions and requirements. Authorizes the Administrator, in establishing class permit requirements and conditions, to provide that certain conditions shall be established for each facility on a site-specific basis. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations with respect to the reuse, recycling, and reclamation of identified or listed hazardous waste which protect human health and the environment. Declares that adequate provision shall be given to the present and future needs of the recycling and resource recovery interest in the area encompassed by the comprehensive planning process in determining the size of waste-to-energy facilities. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to local government authorities to construct (and acquire lands for) demonstration recycling intermediate processing centers. Sets forth requirements for such grants. Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (the "Superfund Act") to revise provisions relating to the State share of the costs of remedial actions in response to a release of a hazardous substance at a disposal facility owned by a State or local government. Requires that such facility be operated, as well as owned, by the State or local government in order for such provisions to apply. Directs the President to use money in the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund to reimburse any State for the amount paid in excess of ten percent of the costs of remedial action at a facility owned, but not operated, by such State or local government. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Administrator to bring suit or to take other appropriate action, if the past (or present) handling, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposal may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment. Revises provisions relating to citizen suits to provide that only the prevailing or substantially prevailing party may be awarded litigation costs. Revises preservation of rights provisions to declare that nothing in the Solid Waste Disposal Act shall restrict any right which any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement of any standard or requirement relating to the management of solid waste or hazardous waste, or to seek any other relief (including relief against the Administrator or a State agency). Directs the Administrator to request the Attorney General to file, and represent the Administrator in, any civil action which the Administrator is authorized to bring under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Grants the Administrator, if the Attorney General does not give notice and file such action within specified deadlines, exclusive authority to commence and conduct the litigation and any appeals of such action and to designate EPA Attorneys for such purposes, except in the case of actions before the U.S. Supreme Court. Grants EPA officers or employees specified law enforcement powers in the investigation of any activity for which a criminal penalty is provided under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Revises citizen suit provisions of such Act to allow any person to commence civil actions to: (1) immediately restrain any person contributing to the handling, storing, treating, transporting, or disposing of any solid or hazardous waste which may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment; or (2) order the Administrator to perform any act or duty which is not discretionary under such Act and to supply appropriate civil penalties. Provides that specified prohibitions against the open dumping of solid waste or hazardous waste apply whether or not a State plan has been submitted and approved. Authorizes the Administrator and duly designated agents and employees of EPA to initiate and conduct investigations under the criminal provisions of the Act, and to refer investigation results to the Attorney General for appropriate prosecution. Revises provisions for Federal enforcement of hazardous waste management requirements under the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Administrator to assess a civil penalty for any past or current violation. Provides for criminal penalties for persons who knowingly: (1) cause specified hazardous waste to be transported; (2) treat, store, or dispose of such waste in violation of any material condition or requirement of specified permits or of any applicable interim status regulation or standards; (3) omit material information used for purposes of compliance with regulations promulgated by the Administrator (or by a State program); (4) fail to file any record, application, manifest, report, or other document required to be maintained or filed for purposes of such compliance; or (5) transport, or cause to be transported without a manifest any hazardous waste required to be so accompanied. Raises the maximum criminal penalties for these and other violations, under specified conditions. Revises provisions relating to conditions for knowing endangerment. Raises the penalties for knowing endangerment. Revises provisions for review of certain actions of the Administrator relating to permits for treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste and authorized State hazardous waste programs. Provides that action of the Administrator with respect to which review could have been obtained under such provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act shall not be subject to judicial review in civil or criminal proceedings for enforcement. Revises findings and objectives of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Revises provisions for identification and listing of hazardous waste under such Act to add requirements with respect to specified wastes. Directs the Administrator, where appropriate, to list as subject to hazardous waste management provisions: (1) within ten months of enactment of this act, additional wastes containing chlorinated dioxins or dibenzofurans or polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and (2) within one year after such enactment, wastes containing remaining halogenated dioxins and-dibenzofurans. Directs the Administrator, within six months after such enactment, to determine whether or not to list as subject to such requirements specified wastes. Directs the Administrator to also list those hazardous wastes which shall be subject to hazardous waste management requirements because they contain hazardous constituents (such as identified carcinogens, mutagens, or teratagens) at concentration levels in excess of levels which endanger human health and the environment. Sets forth delisting procedures. Directs the Administrator, when evaluating a petition to exclude a waste generated at a particular facility, to: (1) consider factors, other than those for which the site was listed, which could cause the waste to be hazardous; (2) provide notice and opportunity for comment on such additional factors before granting or denying such petition; and (3) make a final decision on each such petition within 12 months after granting a temporary exclusion from regulation of such waste. Revises provisions relating to restrictions on recycled oil to specify that such regulations should not discourage the re-refining of used oil. Authorizes the Administrator, in authorizing a State program, to base findings on the Federal program in effect one year prior to submission of a State's application or in effect on January 26, 1983, whichever is later. Authorizes the Administrator to provide for a shorter period prior to the effective date, or an immediate effective date for regulations at the time of promulgation under specified circumstances. Sets forth requirements covering prior releases of hazardous wastes. Provides that the hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility standards shall address releases of hazardous constituents attributable to the migration of waste from all solid waste management units at a facility, whether waste was placed in such units before or after the date of permit issuance. Requires that such standards provide for compliance schedules and financial assurances to ensure adequate cleanup of such releases where such cleanup cannot be completed prior to permit issuance. Directs the Administrator to annually undertake a thorough inspection of each landfill facility operated by a State or local government and subject to regulation under hazardous waste management provisions. Requires that the record of such inspection be available to the public. Requires that authorized State hazardous waste programs provide for availability of specified information to the public. Directs the Administrator to establish an Office of Ombudsman to receive individual complaints, grievances, and requests for information submitted by any person with respect to any program or requirement under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Directs the Ombudsman to render assistance with respect to such submissions and make appropriate recommendations to the Administrator. Provides that the establishment of such Office shall not affect any procedures for grievances, appeals, or administrative matters. Requires, within two years after enactment of this Act, that standards for hazardous waste facilities require the application of the best available control technology economically achievable. Provides that all used oil shall be considered a hazardous waste twelve months after the enactment of this Act. Provides for an exemption from hazardous waste standards for certain recycled oil. Directs the Administrator to issue hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal permits to used oil recyclers who meet specified requirements. Sets forth provisions relating to the use of recovered materials by Federal agencies. Sets forth definitions of "recycled paper" and "wastepaper". Requires that each procuring agency develop an affirmative procurement program to assure that items composed of recovered materials will be purchased to the maximum extent practicable consistent with Federal procurement law. Sets forth minimum requirements relating to such programs. Includes recycled paper and tires among the three product categories for which the Administrator must prepare final guidelines by specified deadlines. Directs the Office of Procurement Policy to biannually report to the Congress on actions taken by Federal agencies and the progress made in implementation of Federal procurement provisions under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, including agency compliance in reviewing and eliminating specifications that discriminate against recycled materials. Revises the deadline for elimination of such specifications. Makes certain clerical corrections.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1983
Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to cause two named vessels to be documented as vessels of the United States entitled to engage in the coastwise trade.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1983
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act - Title I: Duty-Free Treatment - Authorizes the President to proclaim duty-free treatment for all eligible articles from Caribbean countries that the President designates as beneficiary countries. Requires the President to notify Congress before making such a designation. Prohibits the President from terminating such a designation unless both Houses of Congress are notified 60 days before the termination. Requires the President to consider only specified countries and territories as beneficiary countries. Excludes Cuba from the list of beneficiary countries. Prohibits the President from designating a country as a beneficiary country: (1) if it is a Communist country; (2) if it denies human rights or denies its workers safe working conditions or if it has nationalized or seized control, or effectively nationalized or seized control, of U.S. property, unless the President determines that a good faith effort is being made to compensate for such seizure; (3) if it fails to act in good faith in recognizing as binding or in enforcing arbitral awards in favor of U.S. citizens or corporations; (4) if it grants preferential treatment to the products of a developed country other than the United States; (5) if such country participates in an arrangement with other countries to withhold supplies of a vital commodity or to raise the price of such commodities and cause serious disruption of the world economy; (6) if it has a government-owned entity engaged in broadcasting copyrighted material belonging to U.S. copyrighted owners without their express consent; (7) if such country does not take adequate steps to prevent controlled substances from entering the United States; (8) if it aids or abets international terrorists; (9) unless an extradition treaty exists between the United States and such country; or (10) unless a treaty exists between the United States and such country providing for the exchange of information as necessary to carry out and enforce tax laws. Permits the President to designate as beneficiary countries certain countries that would otherwise be excluded if the President reports to Congress that such designation will be in the national interest and Congress concurs in that determination. Lists factors the President should consider in determining whether to grant beneficiary designation. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to grant to imports from U.S. insular possessions, subject to specified provisions of this Act, duty treatment no less favorable than the treatment afforded such imports from a beneficiary country. Directs the President to withdraw or suspend a country's beneficiary designation if the President determines that changed circumstances in such country would prohibit such designation under the guidelines in this title. Requires duty-free treatment to apply to any article imported from a beneficiary country, unless otherwise excluded from eligibility, if: (1) the article is imported directly from such country into U.S. customs territory; and (2) the sum of specified costs of the article is not less than 35 percent (50 percent after September 30, 1985) of its appraised value at the time of its entry. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations governing articles eligible for such duty-free treatment, including the requirement that such articles must be wholly the product of a beneficiary country or must be a new or different article of commerce which has been produced in the beneficiary country. Requires that duty-free treatment provided under this Act shall not apply to: (1) certain textile and apparel articles; (2) certain footwear, handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel; (3) tuna in airtight containers; (4) petroleum or petroleum products; (5) import-sensistive manufactured products and components of products; or (6) products or parts of products which are the subjects of bilateral restraints, voluntary export restraints, nonreciprocal treatment by the beneficiary country, or findings of injury under U.S. fair trade statutes. Directs the President to suspend duty-free treatment of sugar and beef products that are the products of a beneficiary country if: (1) the beneficiary country, within 90 days of its designation as a beneficiary country, does not submit a Stable Food Production Plan to the President for evaluation; (2) the President determines that the Plan of a beneficiary country does not meet specified criteria; or (3) as a result of the monitoring of the operation of the Plan, the President determines that a beneficiary country is not making a good faith effort to implement its Plan, or that the Plan, although being implemented, is not achieving its purposes. Requires the President, before suspending such duty-free treatment, to offer to consult with the country to formulate appropriate remedial action. Requires the President, biennially, to monitor the operation of the Plans implemented by beneficiary countries and to report to Congress. Provides a schedule for gradually removing from duty-free treatment countries that are competent in international commerce so that Caribbean countries are major beneficiaries of this Act. Sets forth the manner of governing the importation and duty-free treatment of certain sugars, sirups, and molasses. Authorizes the President to suspend the duty-free treatment provided by this title and to proclaim a duty for an eligible article if such action is taken pursuant to certain import relief or national security provisions. Authorizes the filing of petitions for import relief with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Commerce as well as with the International Trade Commission (ITC) for injury from imports of perishable products from beneficiary countries. Directs either Secretary of both Secretaries to recommend the granting or denying of such petition within 14 days of its filing. Requires the President to take emergency action or to publish a notice of determination not to take emergency action within seven days of receiving the Secretary's recommendation. Sets forth the limits on the duration of the emergency action. Exempts from proclamations under this title certain fees imposed pursuant to the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Provides for duty-free treatment of articles imported directly from Puerto Rico and the U.S. insular possessions, so long as foreign materials do not account for more than 70 percent of the total value of the articles (or more than 50 percent of the total value with respect to articles excluded from duty-free treatment under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act). Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to increase to five liters (currently, four liters) the amount of duty-free liquor that may be brought into the United States. Requires that not more than four liters, of such five liter limit, may have been produced outside American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Authorizes the President to withdraw duty-free treatment on rum if the amount of excise taxes on rum that is paid into the treasuries of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands falls below the amount that would have been paid if the rum had been produced in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. Amends the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 to repeal the provision for protecting U.S. possessions against revenue losses caused by concessions granted by the United States in the Tokyo Round of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations. Prohibits any action under this title from affecting a tariff imposed by Puerto Rico on coffee imported into Puerto Rico. Exempts from specified sections of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act certain discharges from sources in the U.S. Virgin Islands which are attributable to the manufacture of rum. Requires the ITC to report to Congress and the President on the economic impact of this Act on U.S. industries and consumers during: (1) the two year period beginning with January, 1983; and (2) each year afterwards, until duty-free treatment under this title is terminated. Sets forth assessments that the ITC shall make and factors to be considered in making those assessments. Provides that if a beneficiary country exports to the United States a specified quantity of an eligible article such country shall not be treated as a beneficiary country with respect to that article unless the President makes certain determinations. Permits such a country to be redesignated as a beneficiary country with respect to that article if U.S. imports of the article do not exceed a specified amount during the preceding calendar year. Terminates duty-free treatment to beneficiary countries under this title after September 30, 1989. Title II: Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require excise taxes on rum imported into the United States to be paid to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to negotiate and conclude an agreement for the exchange of information with any beneficiary country. Requires such exchange to consist of such information as may be necessary to carry out and enforce the tax laws of both the United States and the beneficiary country. Provides that such agreements shall be treated as income conventions for purposes of disclosures of tax return information. Allows a tax deduction for attending a convention held in a beneficiary country, if such beneficiary country has a tax information agreement in effect with the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1983
State and Local Fiscal Assistance Amendments of 1983 - Extends the general revenue sharing program through FY 1987. Extends through FY 1988 the provisions which allow for a State variation of local government allocations. Authorizes appropriations to the State and Local Government Fiscal Assistance Trust Fund to pay entitlement amounts to State and general local governments. Repeals the requirement that States refund categorical grant program amounts to the Federal Government before they can receive entitlement amounts. Repeals the separate law enforcement officer allocations for Louisiana. Requires a State or local government receiving a revenue sharing entitlement payment to have an audit annually (or biennially if such government operates on a biennial fiscal period). Requires such government, not later than 30 days following completion of the audit, to submit a copy to the Secretary of the Treasury for public inspection. Permits a waiver of such audit requirement if the Secretary decides that the financial statements of such government for such year cannot be audited, and the government shows substantial progress in making the statements auditable.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1983
Agricultural Productivity Act of 1983 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) make an inventory of existing research and extension materials and recommend further areas of research regarding crop rotation, intercropping, biological pest control, and other related farming and soil conservation systems; and (2) make such information available to the public. Directs the Secretary to conduct research on 12 pilot farms (having specified mixes of livestock and crops) to examine the effects of the transition from practices relying on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and traditional soil tillage to systems relying on organic and biological pest control, crop rotation, and conservation tillage. Requires such farms to be chosen within 120 days. Directs the Secretary to make a parallel study of 12 farms which have been using such farm systems for at least five years. Sets the term of such projects at five years each. Sets forth on-farm study data, including soil profile changes, crop yields, energy and water use, and farm income. Directs the Secretary to make payments to the owner of a pilot farm if the Secretary determines such payments are justified. Stipulates that these payments may be made only during a project's last four years. Directs the Secretary to coordinate such pilot farms project with specified Federal and State agricultural services, colleges, and farmers. Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) within 15 months regarding the information inventory; and (2) by April 1 of each year from 1985 through 1988 regarding the pilot farms, with a final project summary and recommendations by April 1, 1989. Provides for a five-year program of intercropping assistance under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should reduce imports of apparel to no more than 25 percent of the American apparel market.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1983
Consumer Product Safety Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1984-1988. Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission) to employ no fewer than the full-time equivalent of 650 officers and employees and maintain at least ten field offices. Specifies steps the Commission must take to assure the accuracy of information when it initiates public disclosure of information which reflects adversely on the safety of a consumer product. Specifies under what conditions the Commission may disclose information in a case involving substantial product hazard. Exempts written opinions by a member of the Commission respecting his or her vote on any Commission decision from the provisions regarding public disclosure of information. Provides that the Commission must mark documents released in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act with a disclaimer stating that such document has not been reviewed for accuracy. Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substance Act and the Flammable Fabrics Act to revise the procedures applicable to rules regarding labeling, or the revision or revocation of existing standards and regulations. Repeals the Interim Cellulose Insulation Safety Standard. Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to repeal the provision which limits the time period for a preliminary injunction. Authorizes the Commission to assess civil penalties in an administrative action. States that all products regulated by the Commission are subject to the reporting notice and recall provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act. Repeals the termination date of the Toxicological Advisory Board, thus making it permanent. Amends the Flammable Fabrics Act to eliminate the requirement that a continuing guaranty be filed with the agency that reasonable and representative tests were conducted to show that the fabric or related material conforms with the applicable flammable standards. Grants the Commission jurisdiction over amusement rides located at fixed sites. Requires the Commission to establish an agenda and priorities 30 days before the beginning of each fiscal year after receiving public comment. Permits the Commission to publish periodic reports summarizing agency judgments, decrees and court orders under any Act administered by it.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1983
Amends the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 to repeal provisions allowing an income tax deduction for payments to foreign government officials or employees which are illegal under Federal law.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions which terminate the income tax exclusion for amounts received by an employee under an educational assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the President in selecting the members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to appoint one member each to represent the respective interests of small businesses and agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Mortgage Retirement Account Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers an election to treat home mortgage prepayments as a tax-deductible contribution to an individual retirement account. Allows amounts to be withdrawn from an individual retirement account for the purchase of a principal residence.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should take steps to: (1) issue a proclamation commemorating the Ukrainian famine of 1933; (2) issue a warning that the continued enslavement of the Ukrainian nation is a threat to world peace; and (3) convey to the Soviet people U.S. sentiments for the recovery of Ukrainian freedom and independence.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1983
Balanced Monetary Policy Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to require the Board of Governors and the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System to establish yearly targets for money and total credit aggregates and for real interest rates consistent with historic levels. Requires the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee to take necessary actions to assure that such targets are achieved, on average, on an annual basis. Requires a written report to specified Congressional committees if such targets cannot or should not be achieved because of unfavorable economic conditions. Requires the Board of Governors to transmit specified information to Congress biannually. Requires the Board to announce publicly changes in objectives and plans at the time those changes are determined. Requires the President to state for the System's record the administration's position on each vote on monetary policy taken by the Board and by the Federal Open Market Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Clean Campaign Act of 1983 - Adds a new title to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971: "Title V: Financing of General Election Campaigns for the House of Representatives". Establishes eligibility criteria entitling candidates to receive campaign payments on a matching basis. Establishes formulae to determine such sums. Limits expenditure of personal funds to $20,000 per election. Waives spending limits for eligible candidates whose opponents have spent sums exceeding the limit imposed upon such candidates. Requires specified independent expenditures to be reported to the Commission and to each candidate within specified time-frames. Permits additional payments to certain candidates who have waived specified broadcasting rights. Requires the Federal Election Commission to certify the eligibility of candidates to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall disburse funds to such candidates. Directs the Secretary to establish a separate United States House of Representatives Election Campaign Account in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and to deposit certain sums in such account in accordance with specified guidelines. Directs the Commission to audit campaign accounts. Requires repayment of excess payments and unexpended payments. Penalizes the use of funds for other than campaign purposes. Authorizes the Commission to institute repayment actions in U.S. district courts. Delineates the administrative authority of the Commission in carrying out this Act. Requires the Commission to make certain reports to the House of Representatives. Authorizes appropriations. Limits to $90,000 in any calendar year the amount of contributions which congressional candidates or their authorized political committees may accept from non-party multicandidate political committees. Specifies exceptions for candidates in general and special elections. States that any extension of credit for advertising on broadcasting stations, in newspapers or magazines, or by direct mail, or for other types of public political advertising shall be considered a contribution, if such credit is: (1) in excess of $1,000; and (2) for a period exceeding 30 days.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that a taxpayer whose spouse earns less than $250 of compensation shall not be disqualified from having a spousal individual retirement account.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prescribe annual adjustments to the formula for determining the primary insurance amount in order to ensure that the replacement rate for the primary insurance amount for January of the following year does not fall below a specified percentage.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1983
Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties of up to five years' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine ($1,000,000 fine for a corporation) for trafficking or attempting to traffic in counterfeit marks in the foreign or domestic commerce of the United States. Permits any injured owner of a mark registered on the principal register of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to sue for either treble claimant's damages or treble defendant's profits, whichever is greater, in Federal district court.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1983
National Public Works Corporation Act - Amends title II of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to name such title "Public Works Corporation". Establishes the National Public Works Corporation. Provides for the Board of Directors and the officers and employees of such Corporation. States the powers of such Corporation. Requires the principal office of the Corporation to be in the District of Columbia. Provides for the borrowing authority, capitalization and reserve fund of the Corporation. Authorizes appropriations for the capitalization of the Corporation for the fiscal years following September 30, 1983. Authorizes States electing to participate in the Corporation to make certain contributions to the Corporation. States the maximum amount of contributions any one State may make to the Corporation. Authorizes the Corporation to make loans to participating States and to units of local governments within participating States for projects for the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of public facilities in accordance with this Act. Prohibits such loan from being used for payment of the non-Federal share of the cost of Federal projects. States the maximum amount of outstanding loans authorized for such projects. Prohibits the Corporation from making a loan for a project for a public facility unless the Corporation determines that such facility, upon completion, will generate sufficient fees to repay the principal and interest on such loans and create a sufficient reserve for the operation and maintenance of the project, including replacement costs over the useful life of such project. Requires applicants for such loans to demonstrate to the Corporation that such applicant has legal authority to assess and collect such fees and that such fees will provide sufficient revenues to meet the conditions for making such loans. States additional conditions and requirements for such loans. Requires the Governor of a State to submit applications for public facility project loans for such State or State agency or instrumentaltiy. Requires the responsible official of a unit of local government to submit applications for public facility project loans for such unit or agencies thereof. Prohibits the Corporation from approving local government project loans unless the Governor of the appropriate State certifies approval of the application. Prohibits any Governor from submitting or approving loan applications for more than the maximum amount allowable to any one State. Requires such Governors to ensure a proper distribution of available loan funds in a State between urban and rural areas according to a certain allocation formula. Requires the Corporation to require all contracts made with such loan proceeds to be awarded on the basis of competitive bidding. Requires the Corporation to conduct necessary audits to enforce this Act. States procedures to be followed if the Corporation determines that insufficient fees are being collected. Authorizes appropriations to the Corporation for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1983, in order to reduce interest rates paid by borrowers under this Act. Declares that the Corporation, its assets, and certain property shall be exempt from State, local, or Federal taxes, except for certain real property and tangible personal property. States that any obligations issued by the Corporation shall be taxed as to principal and interest to the same extent as the obligations of private corporations. Requires the General Accounting Office to audit the financial transactions of the Corporation. Sets forth procedures to be followed in the event of a default on any loan made under this Act. Requires the Corporation to submit an annual report to Congress and the President after each fiscal year on the status of the Corporation and its reserve fund. Requires such report to include a description of the projects for which loans were made during the preceding fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
High-Technology Training Act - Amends the Vocational Education Act of 1963 to establish a program of high-technology training grants. Directs the Secretary of Education to make such grants to States to stimulate vocational education programs to train individuals as high-technology technicians, in accordance with five-year State plans and annual program plans. Requires States to commit specified percentages of its basic grant under such Act to high-technology training programs. Directs States to consider specified factors in evaluating training program proposals of eligible recipients. Requires eligible recipients to provide specified assurances before receiving such training program funds. Authorizes appropriations for high-technology training program grants for FY 1984 and succeeding fiscal years. Makes conforming amendments to allotment provisions under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Amends the Bankruptcy Act to provide that a debtor shall not be discharged from a judgment debt resulting from a liability based upon driving while legally intoxicated.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Declares that the United States supports the efforts of the U.S. Soccer Federation to bring the World Cup to the United States in 1986. Designates the Secretary of Commerce as the official U.S. representative in any discussions with the Federation Internationale de Football Association.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should express U.S. opposition to the Soviet Union's policies of forced labor. Declares that the Soviet Union should cease such practices and honor their international commitments.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from repealing, amending, or otherwise modifying specified rules regarding network television syndication, network television financial interests, and prime time access before July 1, 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Dairy Production Act of 1983 - Title I: Dairy Compliance Program - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982, to eliminate the scheduled 50-cent milk assessments. Sets milk support levels at $13.10 per hundredweight for FY 1984 through FY 1985 for those farmers producing at or below their 1981-1982 marketing history levels. Sets forth provisions for farmers with less than full, or no 1981-1982 production levels. Establishes a reduced dairy compliance price (of up to $12.00, resulting in a blend price of not less than $12.10 per hundredweight) for overproduction as determined annually by the Secretary of Agriculture. Provides that the difference between the price support received and the reduced dairy compliance price shall be remitted to the Commodity Credit Corporation and credited to the Dairy Stabilization Settlement Fund to be used to: (1) reduce dairy program costs; and (2) make diversion payments ($10.00 per hundredweight) to farmers reducing production below their 1981-1982 marketing histories. Prohibits the transfer of marketing histories. Requires farmers to get marketing history certifications from their county committees. Provides civil penalties for program violations. Title II: Dairy Promotion Program - Provides for the creation of a National Dairy Promotion and Research Board made up of milk producers appointed by the Secretary from nominations provided by certified dairy organizations. Empowers such Board to budget, develop, and administer dairy promotion and nutrition programs. Funds such program through mandatory 15-cent per hundredweight producer assessments. Terminates such program after its initial September 30, 1985, period unless its continuation is approved by at least 50 percent of the voters in a producer referendum. Provides civil penalties for program violations. Authorizes appropriations. Stipulates that appropriated funds shall not be used to cover Board expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
El Salvador Post-War Reconstruction Assistance Fund Act - Requires the security assistance funds allocated for El Salvador under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to be used for providing humanitarian assistance for persons displaced by the strife and in implementing the land reform program in El Salvador. Requires emphasis to be placed on food and health assistance and on assistance provided through private and voluntary organizations. Directs the President to work for the establishment of the multilateral El Salvador Post-War Reconstruction Assistance Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Suspends military assistance and sales to El Salvador until El Salvador expresses a willingness to talk with civil and political organizations to end the conflict there. States that El Salvador shall not be considered to have demonstrated such a willingness unless a Peace commission comprised of high-level personnel from the army and other specified groups has been established and the Commission has tried to establish a dialogue with such civil and politiical organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1983
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1970 to revise and increase the mandatory penalties for using or carrying a firearm during commission of a Federal felony. Redefines such offense as using a firearm to commit a felony over which the district courts have exclusive jurisdiction or carrying a firearm during such a felony involving violence. Deletes the requirement that the firearm be carried "unlawfully". Increases the additional penalty imposed for such offense to not less than five years' imprisonment for a first offense (currently, one to ten years) and ten years for a second or subsequent offense (currently, two to 25 years). Extends to first offenders the stipulations, currently applicable only to second offenders, that the court not suspend any sentence, grant probation, or impose concurrent sentences. Makes a first offender ineligible for parole for five years and a second or subsequent offender ineligible for ten years. Expresses the sense of Congress that the executive prosecute vigorously such offenses.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit the Small Business Administration (SBA) from: (1) refusing to accept and consider a referral from a Government procurement officer of a matter in which the eligiblity of a small business as a Government contractor for a specific Government contract is in question; or (2) limiting the availability of any certification of a small business as an eligible Government contractor on account of the anticipated dollar value of the contract, the nature of the work to be performed, or any other factors unrelated to responsibility or eligibility issues. Provides that no small business shall be denied the opportunity to submit its offer for a Federal contract solely because: (1) it is not on a qualified bidders list; (2) its products are not on a qualified products list; or (3) it has not received prior approval from a Federal agency to submit its offers relating to a certain type of work or class of contracts. Requires that Federal contracts up to $25,000 include a policy clause declaring that small businesses shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in Federal contracts. (Under current law, Federal contracts up to $10,000 are required to include such clause.) Specifies identification requirements for subcontracting plans contained in the SBA's annual report to the House and Senate Small Business Committees on subcontracting plans which do not contain maximum practicable opportunities for small businesses to participate in such contracts. Requires that a procurement requirement be set aside for exclusive competition among small businesses if the Government procurement officer expects that: (1) offers will be obtained from at least two responsible small businesses offering the products of different small businesses; and (2) awards will be made at reasonable prices. Requires Federal agencies to reduce the number of requirements to be contained in its contract solicitations in order to promote the maximum practicable opportunity for small businesses to submit offers. Sets forth the conditions which must exist in order for a Federal agency to solicit an offer from only one source or to negotiate with only one source for the purchase of spare or replacement parts. Provides that when there is a conversion to contract of commercial activities not being presently performed by a private commercial source, such activities shall be set aside for exclusive competition among small businesses or awarded pursuant to the Government procurement contract set-aside program for small business under the Small Business Act. Requires that total labor surplus area set-asides be authorized if the Government procurement officer expects that: (1) offers will be obtained from at least two responsible businesses; and (2) awards will be made at reasonable prices. Requires that Federal agencies award contracts and encourage the placement of subcontracts on the basis of total and partial small business-labor surplus area set-asides and total and partial small business set-asides. Requires Federal agencies to establish goals each year for the award of their procurement contracts and subcontracts to: (1) small businesses which perform a substantial proportion of their production in areas of concentrated unemployment or underemployment or within labor surplus areas, in addition to those small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and (2) small businesses generally. Eliminates the requirement that such goals apply to procurement contracts of $10,000 or more. Sets forth requirements for the establishment of such goals. Requires that procurement contracts of $25,000 or less be reserved exclusively for small businesses unless the contracting officer is unable to obtain reasonable offers from two or more small businesses. Requires a presumption that procurement contracts between $25,000 and $2,000,001 may be awarded through the small business set-aside program. Requires that contracting officers, to the maximum extent practicable, choose a payment method which minimizes paperwork and facilitates prompt payment to small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Natural Gas Consumer Relief Act - Title I: Contracting and Marketing Practices - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to declare a take-or-pay clause of a pipeline contract to be against public policy and unenforceable for a three-year period: (1) to the extent that it requires a pipeline to make any payment with respect to natural gas in excess of 50 percent of the maximum annual volume the pipeline has contracted to take; or (2) if such clause does not entitle a pipeline which makes a payment under such clause to take delivery of the gas during the one year period beginning on the date of payments. Defines "take-or-pay clause" to mean any contract provision which requires payment for the minimum quantity of natural gas contracted for under the contract in the event the pipeline fails to take delivery. Permits a pipeline, in the case of a contract for the first sale of natural gas, to: (1) request the seller to renegotiate the contract; and (2) indicate that, if there is no renegotiation within 30 days of the request, the pipeline will exercise its market-out-option. Permits a pipeline exercising its market out option to refuse delivery without incurring an obligation to pay for any amount of natural gas contracted for if the pipeline in its sole discretion determines that it could not market the gas. Declares any indefinite price escalator clause applicable to the first sale of natural gas to be against public policy and unenforceable. Defines "indefinite price escalator clause" as any provision of any contract which provides for the establishment or adjustment of the price for natural gas delivered by reference to prices for natural gas, crude oil, or any other commodity. Prohibits a pipeline from passing through its costs if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) determines that the pipeline has failed to adopt practices minimizing amounts paid to purchase natural gas. Declares any minimum commodity beill requirement applicable to any sale of natural gas by any interstate or intrastate pipeline to be against public policy and unenforceable: (1) to the extent it requires the purchaser to make any payment with respect to natural gas in excess of 50 percent of the maximum annual volume the purchaser has contracted to take; or (2) if such requirement does not entitle a purchaser who makes a payment under such requirement to take delivery of the natural gas involved subsequent to the date of payment provided under the requirement. Directs FERC to order an interstate pipeline, upon application by a producer of natural gas or by a purchaser of natural gas from a producer, to carry natural gas, for a just and reasonable consideration, between the producer and purchaser if FERC finds that: (1) the pipeline has available capacity; (2) no undue burden would be placed upon such pipeline by reason of the order; (3) construction of new facilities would not be required; and (4) the order would not impair the ability of the pipeline to render adequate service to its other customers. Directs FERC to complete a rulemaking proceeding to issue standards for interstate pipeline tariffs. Directs FERC to require, by rule, a first-sale purchaser of natural gas to file a copy of the contract with FERC. Title II: Wellhead Price Provisions - Revises ceiling price provisions for natural gas. Provides that the ceiling price for categories other than high-cost gas shall be the January 1982 ceiling price multiplied by the monthly equivalent of the modified price adjustment factor. Defines the "modified price adjustment factor" for any month as the lower of: (1) 75 percent of the quarterly percent change in the GNP implicit price deflator (as defined in the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978); or (2) the percent change in the energy index, computed and published as an annual rate by the Department of Labor, for the most recent month for which such percent change has been so published at least eight days before the beginning of the month for which the modified price adjustment factor is being calculated. Provides that for high-cost gas the maximum lawful price for any first sale shall be 150 percent of the maximum lawful price for categories of gas other than high-cost gas. Provides for an adjusted ceiling price for wells drilled on or after January 1, 1982, and before enactment. Repeals provisions permitting increases in the ceiling price of certain categories of natural gas if just and reasonable. Provides, as a general rule, that the maximum lawful price applies with respect to the recovery of all costs and profits associated with production and first-sale delivery of marketable natural gas. Prohibits the importation of natural gas if the first sale price in the United States of the gas exceeds 150 percent of the maximum lawful price for domestically produced gas. Directs the President to submit to Congress a report on the status of negotiations with Canada regarding modification of the border price for natural gas imported from Canada. Extends price controls and standby authority for two years beyond their present expiration dates.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Amends the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1983, to postpone from July 1, 1983, to February 1, 1984, the effective date for denial of Federal educational assistance to students who failed to comply with the registration requirements of the Military Selective Service Act. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct an ongoing study and report to Congress by March 1, 1985, on the effectiveness of enforcing the registration requirement through student assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1983
Small Business Procurement Reform Act of 1983 - 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 45 days. Establishes exceptions to such requirement in specified circumstances. Amends the Small Business Act to establish a goal of 35 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 · 16 March 1983
States that the Government should restore balance to the Department of Energy's FY 1984 budget by maintaining funding for energy conservation, solar and renewable energy, and weatherization programs and by distributing information on conservation and renewable and solar energy.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow married individuals to compute the amount of their income tax deduction for contributions to retirement savings accounts on the basis of the earned income of their spouses. Treats alimony payments as compensation for purposes of this deduction.
![Official portrait of Rep. Eckart, Dennis E. [D-OH-11]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/e000031_200.jpg)