United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1981
Requires the Maritime Administration to set aside specified surplus government ships for the use of LIFE International, a private nonprofit organization, to provide humanitarian services to developing countries. States that such set aside authority shall not apply when the ships are needed for national security purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1981
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to provide that any adjustment in the rate of pay for Members of Congress proposed during any Congress shall not take effect earlier than the beginning of the next Congress. States that any such pay adjustment proposed in an even-numbered year of any Congress after the congressional elections and before the beginning of the following Congress shall be considered as occurring during the first session of the following Congress for the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1981
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits any change in the compensation of Senators and Representatives until an election of Representatives has intervened.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1981
Commitment to the Clean Air Act resolution of the Ninety-seventh Congress - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) clean air is fundamentally important for the health and well-being of the citizens, economy, and environment of the United States; and (2) the existing Clean Air Act should be maintained and strengthened subject only to changes that will improve its administration and effectiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1981
Bankruptcy Improvements Act of 1981 - Amends title 11 of the United States Code (Bankruptcy) to establish an eligibility test for liquidation bankruptcy relief based on the individual petitioner's ability to pay a reasonable portion of his debts out of future income. Permits the court to dismiss a bankruptcy case under chapter 7 (liquidation) upon the motion of any party in interest filed not later than 30 days after the meeting of creditors, and after notice and a hearing, if the debtor is ineligible for relief under such title. Requires the bankruptcy judge to preside at any meeting of creditors and to perform such additional judicial duties any may be required. Declares that the value of the creditor's interest in the estate's interest in such property shall be determined in light of the purpose of the valuation and of the proposed disposition or use of such property, and in conjunction with any hearing on such disposition or use or on a plan affecting such creditor's interest. Declares that the value of consumer goods which the debtor seeks to redeem in liquidation shall be presumed to be the established resale market price, if such market exists. Requires the debtor in bankruptcy cases to file a statement of income and expenses. Requires the debtor, if the debtor's schedule of assets and liabilities includes consumer debts which are secured by property of the estate, to file and serve upon each creditor holding such security and the trustee, a statement expressing the debtor's intention with respect to retention or surrender of the collateral. Requires the debtor, at or before the meeting of creditors provided for by such title, to perform his intention with regard to such secured creditors. Repeals the provisions concerning exempt property and makes the States responsible for establishing exemptions to bankruptcy proceedings. Makes any debt which was incurred on or within 90 days before the date of the filing of a petition under such title nondischargeable. Allows creditors to enforce liens which have not been voided in bankruptcy. Permits reaffirmation of consumer debts subject to the debtor's right to rescind any such agreement within 60 days or until a discharge is received, whichever occurs later, by giving a written notice of rescission to the creditor. Declares that at the meeting of creditors the court shall inform the debtor of the nature and effect of a discharge. Eliminates the trustee's power to avoid liens or recover payments made within 90 days of filing petition in bankruptcy (within one year in the case of an insider) unless the creditor had reasonable cause to believe the debtor was insolvent. Permits the court, upon notice and hearing, to require a creditor to accept payments in redemption of the value of a claim secured by a nonpossessory, nonpurchase money security interest in tangible personal property, over a reasonable period not to exceed five years, if such tangible personal property consists of specified objects. Allows a creditor, upon 10 days notice to the debtor and codebtor, to collect any portion of a debt from the codebtor which is not being paid by the debtor through the adjustment of debts of such debtor with a regular income. Requires payments under an adjustment of debts payment plan to commence at the time of the filing of the plan. Provides for the return of such funds after deducting the costs of administration if no plan is confirmed. Provides for the separate classification of co-debtor claims and non-dischargeable claims and authorizes payment of them under an adjustment of debts payment plan. Allows a debtor to choose such a repayment plan of up to five years. Bases such repayment upon the debtor's ability to repay out of future income after taking into account the basic living necessities for the debtor and dependents. Provides for an early discharge of debts where at least 70 percent of all allowed unsecured claims are paid. Permits a hardship discharge of otherwise non-dischargeable debts to the extent the debtor attempted to pay such debts under an adjustment of debts payment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1981
Establishes the Global Peace Award. Provides that the first Global Peace Award shall be awarded in memory of the late President Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat of Egypt.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1981
Prompt Payment Act of 1981 - Requires Federal agencies to pay interest on overdue payments to businesses for property or services. Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prescribe required payment dates. Specifies the procedures for computing such interest. Requires an agency to pay any interest charges out of funds made available for administration of its programs. Authorizes Federal grant recipients to provide for the payment of interest on overdue payments on their procurement contracts. Directs each agency to report to OMB annually on interest payments made during the fiscal year. Requires OMB to report to specified congressional committees on agency compliance with this Act. Requires the Director of OMB to delegate responsibility for OMB functions under this Act to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1981
Amends the Federal Reserve Act to declare that the enforceability in any State of any due-on-sale clause contained in any fixed-rate real estate loan made or purchased by any national banking association shall be determined under the law of such State.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code which provide incentives for energy conservation and development of renewable energy sources should not be repealed or amended to reduce such incentives.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income gain from the sale of wetlands to an eligible conservation authority which are used for fish and wildlife conservation or preserved as a natural area. Requires that such sales be approved by State and Federal officials. Treats involuntary conversions of wetlands as sales for purposes of such exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate on the favorable recommendation of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, should select individuals for appointment to vacancies on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act so that agricultural and commercial interests, including small businesses, will no longer be underrepresented on the Board.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1981
Entitles civil service annuitants to receive: (1) a lump sum payment of any amount by which the monthly annuity to which they are entitled exceeds the initial estimated annuity they are paid; and (2) interest on such payment if not paid by a specified date. Entitles Federal employees who are eligible for a cost of living increase in workers' compensation as of March 1 to receive: (1) a lump sum payment for the amount of any such increase not included in compensation paid after March 1; and (2) interest on such payment if not paid before April 1.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1981
National Commission on Down Syndrome Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, and other concerned organizations, to establish a National Commission on Down Syndrome to formulate a long-range plan for the study, prevention, and treatment of Down Syndrome. Requires a final report to the President and the Congress within 12 months after the Commission is organized. Requires the Secretary to submit a related budget analysis to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Commission three months after submission of the final report. Authorizes specified appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1981
Repeals provisions of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 which set forth special rules for the leasing of depreciable business property between corporations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1981
Expresses the objection of Congress to the proposed sale to Saudi Arabia of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, conformal fuel tanks, AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and aerial refueling aircraft.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1981
Hunger Prevention and African Food Security Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the President to use at least half of the funds available for development assistance to provide assistance for persons living in absolute poverty as defined by specified standards. Requires special emphasis to be placed on alleviating hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa and particularly on facilitating the participation of women in food production in that region. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to specify a minimum aggregate value of all famine relief agreements. Requires famine relief agreements to provide that at least one-fifth of the commodities made available for famine relief or funds generated from the sale of those commodities in participating countries shall be used to strengthen food distribution systems in famine-prone countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Requires each such agreement to specify the measures taken to ensure that such commodities and funds benefit primarily the poor.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President and Secretary of State should: (1) urge foreign governments to take measures to stop the production and exportation of illicit narcotics; (2) solicit recommendations for U.S. assistance; and (3) consider the desirability of imposing sanctions on nations in which illicit narcotics trade continues.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the targeted jobs income tax credit to individuals who have attained the age of 14 and who are participating in vocational work study programs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1981
Delays until 1983 the application of Revenue Ruling 81-216 which denies a tax exclusion of the interest on multiple lots of $1,000,000 each of industrial development bonds that are pooled and issued as one bond.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1981
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish in the Department of Health and Human Services the Office for the Supply of Internationally Controlled Drugs, to be responsible for regulating the domestic production of marihuana and the distribution of marihuana for medical, scientific, and research purposes. Establishes procedures for the production of medicinal marihuana. Permits the distribution of medicinal marihuana only to hospitals and pharmacies registered to dispense schedule II controlled substances for the purposes of treating glaucoma or the nausea of cancer patients or research approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1981
Directs the President to award the Purple Heart to any individual wounded or killed while held as a prisoner of war during World War I, World War II, or the Korean conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1981
Condemns South Africa's military invasion of Angola. Recognizes that Cuban and Soviet military personnel have contributed to instability in southern Africa. Urges all parties to the Namibian conflict to cooperate in implementing a specified United Nations Security Council Resolution which embodies the Western plan for Namibian independence.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1981
Disapproves the final rule promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission dealing with the matter of the trade regulation rule relating to the sale of used motor vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1981
Social Security Alien and Foreign Resident Limitations Act of 1981 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prohibit entitlement to title II benefits in the case of an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national and whose entitlement is based upon the wages and self-employment income of a resident of a foreign country who is entitled to old-age or disability benefits if such individual does not bear a spousal, filial, parental, divorced, or surviving relationship to such resident as of the date such resident reaches age 57. Prohibits entitlement to title II benefits in the case of an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national on the basis of such individual's own wages and self-employment income. Entitles a non-U.S. citizen or national to a single lump-sum benefit on the basis of such individual's wages and self-employment income if such individual is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence or employment purposes or such individual's status is changed to permit such individual to work in the United States. Prohibits entitlement to title II benefits in the case of a non-U.S. citizen or national whose entitlement is based upon the wages and self-employment income of a non-U.S. citizen or national who is not a permanent resident of the United States or who has not been admitted to the United States for employment purposes. Prohibits entitlement to title II benefits in the case of a U.S. citizen or national whose entitlement is based upon the wages and self-employment income of a non-U.S. citizen or national.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide farmers a refundable income tax credit based on the number of soil conservation acres which they utilize. Defines "soil conservation acres" as land owned by the taxpayer which is used in farming in which only conservation tillage practices are used (procedures which reduce soil erosion by minimizing the amount of plowing). Reduces the credit by the amount of governmental grants received for the purpose of carrying out conservation tillage practices.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1981
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should seek the support of specified nations for its naval presence in the Indian Ocean and that Japanese support could include civil aircraft and sealift assets; (2) the Japanese Self-Defense Force should increase its capacity to defend sealanes important to Japan's security; (3) the United States and Japan should take further steps to implement their 1978 defense guidelines on the standardization and integration of their defense capabilities; (4) Japan should continue to increase its share of the cost of the U.S. military presence in Japan; (5) the United States and other specified nations should continue to support the ASEAN nations which represent an important element in the stability of Southeast Asia and occupy an important position on the sealanes in and between the Indian and Pacific Oceans; and (6) the United States should participate in naval exercises with specified nations in order to assure the security of those sealanes.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) in conjunction with the Departments of Labor and of Education, private industry, labor organizations, and others develop a national education and training policy for future occupational changes brought about by advances in technology; and (2) within one year, submit a comprehensive report to the Congress containing recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1981
Title I: Recommended Executive Actions - Urges the President to seek institutional ways to ensure more adequate consultation by the United States with Japan and to encourage U.S. Cabinet officers to consult with their Japanese counterparts regularly. Urges the President to discuss arranging with Japan medium-term supply, purchase, and storage commitments for farm produce. Title II: Discussions and Studies Regarding United States-Japan Relations - Establishes the Japan-United States Interparliamentary Group to meet annually to discuss common problems in the interest of relations between the United States and Japan. Requires the U.S. members of the Group to report annually to Congress. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to grant funds for fiscal years 1983-1986 to the Japan-United States Trade Study Group, a voluntary group of businessmen and government officials formed to resolve trade problems and misunderstandings between the two countries. Authorizes the Secretary to grant funds to similar trade study groups for the United States, and other countries. Directs the U.S. Comptroller General to submit to Congress a study on recent and current trends in Japanese productivity in selected basic and high technology industries. Directs the Secretary of Energy to report annually to Congress on the comparative energy efficiency between the United States and Japan for at least 20 significant industrial processes during a specified five year period. Title III: Amendments to, and Actions under, Existing Law for Purposes of Improving Japan-United States Relations - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to authorize the President to export oil to Japan during the effective period of a bilateral agreement: (1) which provides for the sale to or exchange with the United States by Japan of an equal amount of crude oil; and (2) between the United States and Japan which coordinates nonpetroleum energy research and development projects. Makes the Export Administration Act of 1979 not applicable to coal specified in bilateral coal agreements which guaranteed access to foreign markets and guaranteed supply by the United States. Urges the President to negotiate a trade agreement with Japan, the European Economic Community, and other countries providing for: (1) a mutual substantial reduction in, or elimination of, duties on semi-conductors and integrated circuits; and (2) the mutual reduction or elimination of nontariff barriers to trade in semi-conductors, integrated circuits, and related high technology electronic products. Amends the Federal provisions for developing the Senior Executive Service to encourage sabbaticals for personnel to study foreign countries and foreign languages. Amends the Federal provisions for training government employees to require the heads of agencies to regularly review the need for foreign language training.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1981
Air Traffic Controller Act of 1981 - Redefines the terms "air traffic controller" and "controller," for purposes of civil service provisions, to mean air traffic control specialists of the GS-2152 series, excluding management officials. Establishes a workweek of four consecutive eight-hour days for controllers. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to issue regulations providing that: (1) a controller shall be eligible for full retirement after 20 years of service as a controller actively engaged in the control of air traffic; (2) payment of the controller's retirement annuity shall commence within 30 days after the retirement date; and (3) the controller shall qualify for vested rights in the retirement program after five years of service. Declares that controllers shall accrue one day of sick leave for each biweekly pay period. Grants the controllers' exclusive representative the right to bargain collectively with their employer concerning wages, hours, and other conditions of employment. Establishes a salary classification system for controllers. Provides for differential payments for hours worked during a night shift, weekend, or an assignment as an on-the-job instructor. Exempts the salary of an air traffic controller from provisions limiting the pay of Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1981
Retirement Income Incentives and Administrative Simplification Act of 1981 - Title I: Employee Benefit Administration - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to direct the President to establish, by the beginning of the second calendar year after enactment of this Act, the Employee Benefit Administration as an independent agency within the executive branch to be headed by a three member Board of Directors. Provides for the appointment as Board members: (1) "special liaison officers to the Administration" whose positions are established within the Offices of the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury; and (2) an Executive Director appointed by the President. Vests in the Board all functions relating to the qualification of employee benefit plans under the Internal Revenue Code. Transfers to the Board the responsibilities for administration and enforcement of: (1) the Welfare and Pension Disclosure Act; (2) Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to tax-qualified deferred compensation plans and certain other employee benefit plans; and (3) ERISA. Directs the President to transfer to the Board additional functions of any Federal agency as are deemed necessary to consolidate in the Administration all administrative and related functions regarding employee benefit plans. Directs the Board to promulgate regulations providing for the consolidation of all reports regarding employee benefit plans and governmental plans required under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the Board, the Secretary of the Treasury, and other Federal agencies with respect to the coordination of functions under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Authorizes appropriations to the Administration for purposes of carrying out its functions. Transfers the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries (redesignated as the "Actuary Enrollment Board") to the Administration. Removes the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation from the Department of Labor and replaces its board of directors with that of the Administration. Title II: Deduction by Certain Employees and Their Spouses for Contributions to Retirement Plans - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employees who are participants in tax- qualified employer retirement plans an income tax deduction for contributions to such plans or to individual retirement plans. Limits the amount of such deduction to the amount by which the employee's compensation for the taxable year or $2,000, whichever is less, exceeds the sum of amounts contributed by the employer for an annuity contract and any amount of employment tax which would be paid if the employee were subject to the employment tax. Increases from 70 1/2 years to 75 years: (1) the age by which an individual for whom an individual retirement account is created must receive the distributions from the account; and (2) the age of limitation for purposes of the bearing of interest on or the redemption of retirement bonds. Title III: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Subtitle A: Amendments to Definitions - Amends ERISA to specify supplemental retirement income arrangements which are to be considered welfare plans rather than pension plans. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to exempt by regulation any severance pay or supplemental income arrangement from provisions applicable to welfare plans and to provide alternative methods of compliance with any such provision. Conforms the definitions of "party in interest" and "governmental plan" with the Internal Revenue Code. Revises the definitions of "normal retirement age" and "relative." Subtitle B: Amendments to Reporting and Disclosure Provisions - Eliminates requirements regarding the filing of a plan description with the Secretary of Labor. Requires, rather than allows, qualified public accountants and actuaries to rely on the correctness of actuarial or accounting matters certified to by an enrolled actuary or with respect to which a qualified public accountant has expressed an opinion, respectively, for purposes of the preparation of annual reports. Allows a pension plan which is held in a trust consisting of the assets of two or more participating plans which are maintained by a single employer (or by two or more employers all of whom are members of the same controlled group) to elect to include in its annual report certain information regarding all of the assets of the trust in lieu of the information currently required to be reported by a plan. Eliminates the requirement that the present value of certain plan liabilities be included in the actuarial statement. Revises requirements regarding simplified annual reports for pension plans with less than 100 participants. Requires the distribution of updated summary plan descriptions every tenth year, rather than every fifth year, after the plan becomes subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements. Modifies the requirement that a plan administrator furnish to a participant or benficiary a copy of certain financial statements to direct the administrator to post such statement at principal work sites together with a statement of the right of employee participants to receive copies of the latest annual report and summary plan description. Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide for alternative means by which such information may be communicated to participants. Limits to ten dollars the charge for a complete copy of the latest annual report or other instrument under which a plan is established or operated. Specifies information required to be provided by an applicant for an advance determination by the Secretary of the Treasury that a plan is a tax-qualified deferred compensation plan. Revises requirements regarding the disclosure to a participant or beneficiary of benefit rights and account information. Directs administrators to issue reports to certain plan participants who have separated from service stating the nature, amount, and form of the deferred vested benefit to which they are entitled. Requires employers to maintain records regarding each employee sufficient to determine the benefits due to the employee. Prohibits public access to pension report information in computer-compatible form until a statement has been filed with the Secretary of Labor by the recipient of the information which provides assurances that the information will not be used for commercial purposes. Requires, rather than allows, the Secretary to prescribe an alternative method of compliance with reporting requirements under certain circumstances. Specifies circumstances in which the administrator of a multiemployer plan may use an alternative method of information distribution. Subtitle C: Amendments to Participation and Vesting Provisions - Permits the determination of pension plan eligibility on a plan year basis. Modifies provisions regarding the suspension of benefit payments by multiemployer plans, where the employee is employed in the same industry, trade or craft, and geographic area covered by the plan, to permit the term "employed" to include self-employment and work on an irregular basis. Specifies that the notification and election requirement triggered by a change in vesting schedules shall be applicable only to employees who would be adversely affected by the change. Makes 125 days of service in any maritime industry equivalent to 1,000 hours of service for purposes of satisfying benefit accrual requirements. Allows a multiemployer plan to provide that a participant's accrued benefit upon separation is the sum of the different rates of benefit accrual for different periods of participation as defined by one or more fixed calendar dates or by employment in different bargaining units. Specifies that the normal retirement benefit, for purposes of computing the minimum accrued benefit to which a participant is entitled upon separation, shall be a projected normal retirement benefit. Requires a plan offering an optional benefit form, in order not to be treated as having altered a participant's accrued benefit by reason of a change in actuarial assumptions, to set forth such assumptions in a separate document. Requires plans in which a majority of employees are seasonal employees to use 500 hours, rather than 1000 hours, for purposes of defining a year of service. Permits a period of service, in the case of a multiemployer plan, to qualify as a year of participation although a plan makes allowance for delinquent employer contributions. Revises joint and survivor annuity requirements. Allows the assignment of pension plan benefits pursuant to a specific State court decree of divorce, annulment, legal separation, or family support or a court order relating to marital property rights. Prescribes notification requirements with respect to any such assignment. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe methods of measuring service based upon the elapsed time of an employee's service. Subtitle D: Amendments to Funding Provisions - Makes certain revisions with respect to funding, including a requirement that changes in funding method or plan year need be approved only when made more than once in a three-year period, and a requirement that a funding method take into account future benefit changes. Subtitle E: Amendments to Fiduciary Responsibility Provisions - Excludes from the assets of a plan any assets of an insurer which fund the plan and which are not held in separate accounts, other than a contract or policy of insurance issued to the plan, solely by reason of such issuance. Revises provisions regarding the designation and responsibilities of fiduciaries. Permits the return to an employer of an overpayment of withdrawal liability: (1) in the case of a multiemployer plan; and (2) in the case of a multiemployer plan maintained pursuant to collective bargaining agreements where it is determined that a contribution was made by a mistake of fact or law. Relieves co-fiduciaries to whom a specific duty has not been allocated from liability for an act or omission by a named fiduciary to whom the duty has been allocated. Revises the provisions regarding prohibited transactions by a fiduciary. Revises the definition of "qualifying employer real property" for purposes of the limitation on the acquisition and holding of real property by a plan. Modifies the coverage of the exemption from prohibited transactions effected by the Internal Revenue Code provision which taxes such transactions. Exempts from such prohibitions: (1) certain loans made by a defined contribution plan to a party in interest who is a substantial employer maintaining the plan; and (2) certain leases of personal property between such parties. Conforms certain provisions regarding transactions by parties in interest with provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Extends the prohibited transaction exemption procedure to owner-employees. Excludes from the assets of a plan, for purposes of the prohibited transactions provision and the limitation on the acquisition and holding of employer securities and employer real property, assets in a pooled separate account of an insurer or in a collective investment fund of a bank supervised by the United States or a State. Allows an exclusion, for purposes of such limitation, if the insurer or bank provides a written assurance that the separate account or trust may not acquire any employer securities or employer real property issued by or leased to any employer or affiliate where the aggregate value of such property after such acquisition would exceed ten percent of the fair market value of the assets of the separate account or trust. Permits indemnification by a plan against expenses or liability for losses incurred in connection with any administrative or judicial civil action or proceeding, subject to a determination that the fiduciary has acted in good faith. Subtitle F: Amendments to Administration and Enforcement Provisions - Creates a civil cause of action for collection by a fiduciary of a multiemployer plan of delinquent employer contributions, subject to a six-year statute of limitations (three years after the date of actual knowledge of the cause of action). Makes available to the Department of Labor for purposes of administering ERISA any amounts which become available through the public request of information. Revises the composition of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans to require that one of the employer members be a representative of employers maintaining small plans. Directs the Secretary of Labor to publish at least annually reports showing the number of plans and participants; amounts of assets, income, and expenses; and certain other information categorized by plan size and type. Deems as preempted by ERISA certain provisions of State law: (1) regarding benefits provided by an insurance policy issued to an employee benefit plan; and (2) which treat a participant's interest in a plan as a security or similar right. Deems as not preempted by ERISA certain provisions of State law: (1) which require an insurance policy issued to a plan to permit a participant to convert or continue protection after the termination of the insurance coverage under the plan; and (2) which prohibit such an insurance policy from classifying health care services as ineligible for coverage solely because the provider is licensed as a provider of services other than those rendered by a medical doctor. Specifies that a participant's interest in a plan covered by ERISA shall not be considered a security or similar right for purposes of the Acts administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Subtitle G: Clarifying and Technical Amendments - Makes certain technical changes and corrections. Subtitle H: Reports - Directs the Secretaries of Labor and the Treasury to conduct jointly detailed studies of means by which: (1) administrative burdens of ERISA reporting requirements may be reduced; and (2) certain businesses and banking institutions may be enabled to develop master and prototype pension plans. Title IV: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Subtitle A: Amendments Related to Title III Amendments - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make conforming changes in accordance with the provisions of title III of this Act. Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Amendments - Includes in the number of calendar years of active participation in a plan, for purposes of capital gains tax treatment of a portion of a lump sum distribution, active participation in another plan maintained by a predecessor employer or by a member of the same controlled group if the participant's employment was continuous between participation in both such plans. Includes such participation in the minimum period of service required for imposition of the separate tax on lump sum distributions. Revises the rule regarding aggregation of certain trusts and plans for purposes of determining the balance to the credit of an employee which becomes payable to the recipient. Deems a separation from service to have occurred, for purposes of the definition of "lump sum distribution," if an employee has not worked in service covered by the plan for six consecutive months following severance of the employment relationship. Subjects target benefit plans to the limitations on benefits and contributions imposed on defined benefit plans. Permits the rollover into individual retirement accounts or retirement bonds of employee contributions used in calculating rollover amounts for purposes of the taxability of the beneficiary of an employees' trust. Treates such contributions as a source of a rollover amount paid or distributed out of an individual retirement account or annuity or transferred from retirement bonds. Excludes from "acquisition indebtedness," for purposes of computing unrelated business taxable income, certain indebtedness to an insurer incurred by a tax-qualified deferred compensation plan. Provides an actuarial adjustment of the average compensation limit on benefits and contributions imposed on defined benefit plans in the case of a participant whose service continues beyond normal retirement age. Reduces from ten years to five years the period for amortization of past service or other supplementary pension or annuity credits for purposes of determining the amount contributed to pension trusts which is deductible. Increases from $7,500 to $15,000 the deductible amount of such contributions on behalf of self-employed individuals. Specifies conditions under which a plan will be deemed not to have engaged in prohibited discrimination. Permits certain plans to be considered non-discriminatory which meet specified benefit- compensation ratio requirements and: (1) exclude employees whose remuneration consists wholly of "wages" (as defined by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act); or (2) the contributions to or benefits from which based on remuneration not deemed "wages" differ from the contributions or benefits based on wages or differ because of retirement benefits created under State or Federal law. Title V: Individual Retirement Payroll Deduction Plans for Employees Not Covered by Pension Plans - Amends ERISA to create a new title V, "Individual Retirement Payroll Deduction Plans for Employees Not Covered by Pension Plans," which requires a covered employer to maintain a plan under which eligible employees (those ineligible for coverage under certain pension or retirement plans) may elect to have payroll deductions applied to an individual retirement account or annuity or a retirement bond. Defines "covered employer" as a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce who: (1) had at least 20 employees for each working day in each of at least 20 calendar weeks during the year; and (2) has been engaged in such industry throughout the preceding five-year period. Exempts from such requirement: (1) any covered employer with fewer than ten eligible employees at the close of the preceding calendar year; and (2) any employer who has conducted a referendum of eligible employees the results of which indicate that the number desiring a payroll deduction plan is less than the greater of ten percent of the number of such employees or ten. Imposes civil penalties for failure to maintain such a plan or deduct wages in accordance with an election. Title VI: Amendments Relating to Single-Employer Plans - Subtitle A: Amendments to Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends ERISA, with respect to plan termination insurance, to exempt from premium payment requirements any single-employer plan with fewer than 35 participants. Directs the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (Corporation) to: (1) conduct studies, at least once every five years, to determine the premiums needed to maintain basic-benefit guarantee levels for multiemployer and single-employer plans and whether such levels may be increased without increasing the basic-benefit premium for the plans; (2) report such findings to the House Ways and Means and Education and Labor Committees and the Senate Finance and Labor and Human Resources Committees; and (3) transmit to such committees, if a premium increase is necessary or if basic-benefit guarantees may be increased, appropriate revised schedules. Excludes from guaranteed benefits any benefits provided by a plan which become effective or any increase in benefits effected by a plan amendment occurring after the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings by or against the contributing sponsor or other actions are taken for the benefit of such sponsor's creditors. Defines "contributing sponsor" as a trade or business with employees who are retaining or earning credited service under a plan and which is contributing to the plan. Revises procedures for termination of single-employer plans. Provides for the appointment of a trustee of such a plan upon the occurrence of an insurable event. Defines "insurable event" to mean that: (1) there is a liquidation of every contributing sponsor of the plan; (2) the Corporation determines that because of any partial liquidation, it becomes necessary to protect its own interests; or (3) a U.S. district court has determined, upon application of the Corporation, that the appointment of a trustee is necessitated by the financial condition of the plan. Sets forth conditions for the appointment of, and rights and powers of a trustee of a plan. Confers on U.S. district courts jurisdiction to stay certain proceedings with respect to the property of a plan. Revises the requirements regarding reportable events. Limits the payment of benefits attributable to employer contributions, in the event that bankruptcy proceedings by or against the contributing sponsor are initiated or other actions are taken for the benefit of such sponsor's creditors, to payment in the form of an annuity. Specifies exceptions to such limitation. Prohibits plan assets, in such event, from being used to purchase annuities other than those subject to allocation. Requires notification to the Corporation by any person who knows or has reason to know of the occurrence of initiation of bankruptcy proceedings, other actions taken for the benefit of the contributing sponsor's creditors, or specified other steps taken to satisfy past due creditors' obligations. Revises provisions regarding liabilities to the Corporation and withdrawal liability to multiple-employer plans. Defines "multiple-employer plan" as a single-employer plan maintained by at least two trades or businesses which are not under common control. Sets forth rules for determining liability of prior contributing sponsors and trades or businesses which are members of a control group of which a prior contributing sponsor was a member. Revises plan termination insurance requirements with respect to the filing of annual reports. Treats as a trade or business, for the purposes of the rules regarding liabilities of contributing sponsors and employers, any trade or business which ceases to exist by reason of certain corporate reorganizations. Makes jointly and severally liable, for purposes of such rules, any trade or business which transferred its assets and any person to whom such assets are transferred, where a purpose of the transfer was evasion of liability. Modifies the procedure for the enforcement of claims of liability to the Corporation. Treats unpaid distribution contributions to a single-employer plan accruing before the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings with respect to a contributing sponsor as arising from service rendered and contributions accruing during such proceeds as administrative expenses if an insurable event occurs in the course of the proceedings. Specifies that if no insurable event occurs in the course of such proceedings, the contributing sponsor's obligation for payment of contributions shall be the same as that imposed under an assumed executory contract. Treats as ineffective, upon the occurrence of an insurable event with respect to a single-employer plan, a waiver of minimum funding requirements. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the definition of "accumulated funding deficiency," for purposes of determining whether a plan meets the minimum funding standard, as applied to insolvent plans (other than multiemployer plans). Adds a charge to the funding standard account. Sets forth special rules for the charging and crediting of a funding standard account for any plan year ending after the termination of a single-employer plan for specified reasons. Permits a plan sponsor, for any plan year of a plan other than a multiemployer plan, to determine the ability of the plan to pay benefits when due for the next three plan years if plan assets are less than three times the benefit payments. Deems such plans as insolvent if it is reasonably likely that the plan's available resources will be insufficient to pay benefits when due in any of the next three plan years. Requires such insolvent plans to make contributions equal to the amount necessary for the plan year to pay benefits when due. Treats as deductible contributions of an employer to a plan any amount paid by an employer to a terminated single-employer plan. Revises the definition of "employer," for purposes of such deduction, minimum funding standards, and the excise tax imposed for failure to meet such standards, to include a person other than the contributing sponsor who agrees to make contributions to a plan which preclude the occurrence of an insurable event. Subtitle C: Amendments to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends ERISA to require the filing of terminal reports by terminated pension plans. Makes conforming changes in accordance with the amendments in Subtitle B of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1981
Full Recognition of Angola Resolution - Calls upon the President to recognize the present Government of Angola and to establish full diplomatic relations with Angola.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1981
Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1981 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) maintain an information program to provide small businesses an opportunity to participate in Federal small business innovation research (SBIR) programs; (2) coordinate a schedule for release of SBIR solicitations and prepare a master release schedule; (3) monitor SBIR programs within Federal agencies; and (4) report annually to the congressional Small Business Committees on the SBIR programs. Requires each Federal agency with a research and development budget of at least $100,000,000 in FY 1982 or any subsequent fiscal year to spend a specified percentage of its budget in connection with an SBIR program. Requires each Federal agency with a research and development budget of at least $20,000,000 in FY 1982 or any subsequent fiscal year to establish specific goals for funding research and development agreements with small businesses. Directs each Federal agency to report annually to the SBA the number of awards over $10,000 made under the SBIR program and to concerns other than small business concerns. Directs the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, in conjunction with the SBA, to promulgate regulations for the conduct of the SBIR programs. States that this Act does not authorize the appropriation of funds.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1981
Petroleum Disruption Management Act of 1981 - Title I: Sequential Management Authority and Activation - Directs the President to prescribe four petroleum disruption management programs and transmit them to Congress for approval: (1) a Strategic Petroleum Reserve distribution program; (2) a private dedicated reserve program (PDR); (3) a national crude oil sharing program; and (4) a petroleum product disruption management program. Prohibits approval of a program unless each House of Congress, within 30 days of transmittal of a program, passes a resolution approving the program. Requires the President to submit a revised program if any program is not approved. Provides for the activation of a program whenever the President determines that a substantial or severe crude oil or energy supply disruption or interruption exists or is imminent, or a program is necessary in order to comply with the international energy program, and an approving joint resolution is passed within six days of transmittal. Limits such programs to 120 days duration, except the President may request additional 120 day periods. Title II: Private Crude Oil and Petroleum Product Storage Incentives - Directs the President to report on the advisability and alternative means of: (1) reducing the tax liability of persons who draw down crude oil and petroleum product reserves during oil supply disruptions; and (2) providing tax or other incentives for the construction of private-sector oil and petroleum product storage facilities and the maintenance of increased private-sector crude oil or petroleum product reserves. Title III: Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Private Dedicated Reserve Distribution - Authorizes the President to distribute crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, upon a determination that a substantial crude oil disruption exists, in amounts not in excess of 300,000 barrels daily for no more than 90 days annually. Provides for such distributions on a pro rata basis. Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Plan from becoming effective unless each House of Congress passes a resolution approving the Plan within 30 days of the Plan's transmittal to Congress. Requires that during a substantial crude oil disruption allocation shall be as provided for in this Act. Requires the Secretary of Energy to submit to Congress a report evaluating the expansion of the physical capacity of the Reserve through the use of temporary storage facilities. Directs the President to promulgate a rule establishing a PDR. Requires the rule establishing the PDR to, among other things: (1) provide for the equitable distribution of crude oil at competitive prices; (2) require designated refiners to provide crude oil to any qualified refiner experiencing a supply disruption; (3) distribute crude oil to such qualified refiners to permit them to operate at 95 percent of the national utilization rate; (4) provide that the obligation of each designated refiner to sell crude oil to qualified refiners shall be a given percentage of each designated refiner's average crude oil runs to distillation units during the previous 12 months; and (5) provide that the price paid by a qualified refiner will not exceed a stated level. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a report determining the minimum volume of reserves to be maintained in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and analyzing the advisability of distributing crude oil from the Reserve in lieu of activating the PDR. Title IV: National Crude Oil Sharing Program - Directs the President to promulgate a rule establishing a national crude oil sharing program. Requires the rule establishing such program to: (1) provide for the equitable sharing of crude oil at competitive prices among all regions during a severe disruption; (2) require refiners to offer for sale any crude oil supplies that would permit their refineries to operate in excess of the national utilization rate; (3) assure that refiners are able to purchase sufficient crude oil to permit operation at the national utilization rate; (4) provide that the price paid by a refiner will not exceed the weight-averaged price during the previous 60 day period; (5) provide for directives requiring a refiner to adjust the percentage yield of a refined petroleum product in order to increase output of that product in a time of short supply; and (6) provide for the adjustment of the quantities of crude oil allocated among refiners so as to ensure desired production levels. Title V: Petroleum Product Programs - Directs the President to promulgate a standby regulation which when implemented will provide: (1) for the mandatory allocation of refined petroleum products produced in or imported into the country in amounts specified in and at ceiling prices specified in such regulation; (2) an emergency use fee; or (3) other action specified in such regulation which is not otherwise specially authorized by other Federal law. Requires the standby regulation to provide for, among other things: (1) the protection of public health, safety and welfare (including maintenance of residential heating), and national defense; (2) maintenance of all public services; (3) maintenance of agricultural operations; (4) preservation of an economically sound and competitive petroleum industry; (5) equitable distribution of refined petroleum products at equitable prices; (6) allocation of refined petroleum products necessary to explore for and extract fuels and minerals; (7) economic efficiency; and (8) minimization of economic distortion. Title VI: Establishment of Advisory Data Collection and Coordination Functions - Directs the President to establish: (1) an Energy Emergency Council to be composed of members of the executive branch, to advise the President on matters relevant to the implementation of this Act and the activation and management of its programs; and (2) an Energy Advisory Committee, to consist of members of the petroleum industry and consumers, to advise the President and the Council on matters relevant to the implementation of this Act and the management and activation of its programs. Directs the Council, after consultation with the Committee, to evaluate the current energy information collection and monitoring systems within the Federal Government. Directs the Secretary to inform the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration whether the energy information now being collected is sufficient, whether changes are needed, and if so, to direct the Administrator to make the necessary changes. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a report examining the standards for activation of the programs. Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth provisions relating to administration and enforcement, including: (1) application of provisions of the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 to regulations, orders, and Presidential actions undertaken pursuant to this Act; and (2) setting forth monetary penalties for violations of this Act. Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to include this Act within those Acts for which the Secretary shall provide for making adjustments to any rule, regulation or order in order to prevent special hardship or inequity. Extends, until October 1, 1989, the authority for international voluntary agreements with respect to the International Energy Program under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Terminates this Act on October 1, 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1981
Directs the United States Postal Service to provide and sell a postage stamp issue to honor American servicemen and women who have been prisoners of war or missing in action as a result of their service during military conflict. Provides that such postage stamp shall be of such denomination and shall be sold for such a time as the United States Postal Service shall determine.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1981
Senior Citizens Olympic Athletic Programs Act - Authorizes the U.S. Olympic Committee to encourage and assist amateur athletic programs for senior citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1981
Family Enterprise Estate and Gift Tax Equity and Reduction Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the estate and gift tax rates. Increases the unified credit against the estate and gift taxes from $47,000 to $103,500 by specified annual increments through 1985. Increases from $175,000 to $600,000, by specified annual increments through 1985, the minimum gross estate requirement for filing of a return. Repeals the existing limitations on the marital deduction for gift and estate taxes. Permits an election by an executor to take into account a life estate which passes to a surviving spouse for purposes of determining the marital deduction. Includes amounts equal to the value of such interests in the estate of the surviving spouse for purposes of imposition of the estate tax. Increases from $3,000 to $10,000 the annual gift tax exclusion. Revises the definition of "qualified real property," for purposes of the special use valuation, to include: (1) real property which is put to a qualified use by a member of the decedent's family; (2) certain future interests; and (3) timber. Qualifies estates of decedents who were disabled or retired for the special use valuation if such decedents materially participated in the operation of the farm or business for five out of eight years preceding the year in which they became disabled or eligible for disability benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Permits the spouse of a decedent to use such valuation if the spouse has managed the farm or business for ten years preceding the decedent's death or takes over active management upon the decedent's death. Qualifies the owner of a woodland for the special use valuation if the owner or a member of the owner's family actively managed the property for ten years prior to the owner's death. Includes as property qualified for the valuation certain future and partial interests. Reduces from 15 to ten years the length of time a qualified property must be held and put to a qualified use following the decedent's death before it can be disposed of without incurring a recapture of estate tax benefits. Permits active management rather than material participation as a test for qualification of the estate for spouses, children under 21, students, and disabled individuals who receive property from a decedent who qualified for special use valuation. Modifies the formula for recapture upon partial disposition of qualified property to include in the calculation of the additional tax imposed the adjusted tax difference attributable to the property disposed of or ceased to be used for a qualified use. Repeals the $500,000 limitation on the aggregate decrease in the value of property to which the special use valuation is applied. Allows the like kind exchange of property without loss of special use valuation eligibility. Permits, for purposes of calculating the five-year period required for qualification of real property, the aggregation of periods with respect to exchange property with those with respect to property included in the gross estate. Repeals the requirement that an heir elect special treatment for involuntary conversions of qualified real property, thus making such treatment automatic upon such conversion. Applies the special use valuation provisions to: (1) property which passes to a trust all of the beneficiaries of which are members of the decedent's family without regard to whether any beneficiary has a present interest in the trust; and (2) property held by a trust in which the decedent has an interest which is includible in the decedent's estate and which passes to a qualified heir as though the decedent had a direct interest in the property. Alters the method of valuing farms and woodlands and provides an alternate discount method of valuation. Expands the definition of "member of the family," for purposes of determining special use valuation eligibility, to include members of a spouse's family. Permits a parent or fiduciary of a person under a legal disability to sign an agreement to the application of recapture provisions on behalf of such person. Specifies that the estate tax deduction for certain indebtedness of an estate shall not be reduced if the value of the property is determined by applying the special use valuation. States that gifts made within three years of a decedent's death shall be valued as of the time of transfer rather than as of the date of death. Allows an individual to elect to pay a gift tax rather than use the unified tax credit. Modifies the alternate extension of time for payment of the estate tax where the estate consists largely of an interest in a closely held business to: (1) allow an installment payment election if the value of the interest in the closely held business is either 25 percent of the value of the gross estate or 35 of the taxable estate; (2) alter the definition of "interest in a closely held business"; (3) increase to 50 percent the value of an interest disposed of which will accelerate the payment of tax; and (4) permit payment, but with a penalty, of an installment within six months after the due date. Revises rules for determining whether property qualifies as an interest in a closely held business with respect to property included in the gross estate which is transferred prior to death and ownership of assets leased to or used by a family-owned business. Revises rules regarding the qualification of corporate distributions of property in redemption of stock which is included in a decedent's gross estate. Removes the limitation on substantially disproportionate redemptions of stock of a corporation which is a closely held business. Revises the formula for determining whether such redemptions are substantially disproportionate and the rule for determining whether a shareholder's interest in a corporation is terminated. Applies the four percent rate of interest on estate tax payments extended under the alternate extension of time provisions to the entire amount of the tax to be paid. Allows a disclaimer of an interest in property for estate tax purposes in specified circumstances where such disclaimer does not result in the passing of the interest concerned under the applicable State law.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1981
Establishes the Mono Lake National Monument in California. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands and waters privately owned or owned by the State or its political subdivisions within the boundaries of the monument. Specifies acquisition procedures. Permits the transfer without consideration of Federal property located within the monument's boundaries and administered by other departments or agencies to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary. Requires the lands therein administered by the Bureau of Land Management to be administered by the National Park Service. Authorizes the acquisition of land outside the monument's boundaries for use as an administrative site for the monument. Directs the Secretary to conduct with California and the city of Los Angeles a comprehensive study of programs and alternative water management policies which could be implemented by Los Angeles, the State, and other political jurisdictions to conserve water and thereby reduce the need for Mono Basin water diversions. Requires that such study take into consideration the report of the Interagency Task Force on Mono Lake (December 1979) and include public comments obtained through public hearings. Requires the Secretary to submit to specified Congressional committees a report on the range and implementation of alternative actions which could reduce or eliminate Mono Basin water diversions, based on such study. Permits the State, the city of Los Angeles, and other affected entities to comment on such study. Requires the Secretary to submit to such committees, within two fiscal years from the effective date of this Act, a comprehensive general management plan for the monument and a natural resources study report for the monument. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1981
Tobacco Deregulation Act of 1981 - Title I: Repeal of Programs Concerning Price Support For and the Marketing of Tobacco - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal specified programs concerning tobacco, including: (1) price supports; (2) parity payments; (3) review and adjustment of quotas; and (4) marketing quotas. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to prohibit agricultural commodity assistance for tobacco. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from issuing any orders that regulate the handling of tobacco. Makes such provisions applicable to the 1982 and subsequent crops of tobacco. Title II: Withdrawal of Consent Relating to Compacts Among States for Regulating Tobacco Production and Commerce - Repeals provisions relating to compacts among States providing for the control or production of, or commerce in, tobacco within such States. Withdraws congressional consent of such compacts. Title III: Tobacco Inspection and Related Services - Amends the Tobacco Inspection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to collect fees from specified persons for the inspection, certification, and other services concerning tobacco at designated auction markets. Requires that such fees cover the cost of such services. Makes such provisions effective July 1, 1981. Title IV: Warehouse Examination, Inspection, and Licensing - Amends the United States Warehouse Act to direct the Secretary to collect a fee for examinations and inspections of agricultural product warehouses that covers the costs of providing such services. Authorizes appropriations. Makes the above provisions effective October 1, 1982. Title V: Increased Tax on Cigars and Cigarettes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the excise tax on cigars and cigarettes.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1981
Amends the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 to require the bankruptcy court, in the case of a bankruptcy petition filed by a person engaged in the business of operating a farm produce storage facility, within specified time limits, to: (1) identify those farm producers who have produce in storage, and those parties which have secured interests in farm produce, within such facility; (2) audit the assets of the farm produce storage facility for the purpose of determining the extent of farm produce available for distribution to such producers and secured creditors; and (3) direct the abandonment of such farm produce according to procedures set forth by this Act. Declares that such procedures shall be applied by the court solely for the purpose of effectuating abandonment of farm produce which is not property of the estate, or is of inconsequential value to the estate, and shall not be construed to limit the right of any party to seek abandonment of any other property. Prohibits distribution of farm produce ordered abandoned by the court from being delayed due to the pendency of any appeal from the orders of abandonment, except that a stay of orders may be entered under specified conditions. Makes any such stay of orders appealable as of right by any aggrieved party. Grants to any farmer who, having delivered agricultural products to a licensed warehouseman upon a contract for sale and who has not received the agreed upon payment, a lien against products of like products in the licensed facility in excess of that required to satisfy receipted or other storage obligations, title to which may be then vested in such warehouseman, to the extent of the payment agreed upon for the purchase of the product sold. Attaches such lien at the time of the formation of the contract for sale and continues it until the obligations of the warehouseman to the seller of the products are satisfied.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1981
Declares that it is the general policy of the Federal Government to rely on competitive private industry to supply the products and services it needs. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, to administer such policy.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Canada and the United States should create the North American Air Quality Commission (NAAQC); (2) the NAAQC should be the primary means for coordinating U.S. and Canadian enforcement efforts to reduce acid precipitation pollution; (3) the NAAQC should recommend to Canada and the United States policies and legislation to reduce acid precipitation pollution; and (4) the NAAQC should report twice annually to the Canadian Parliament and the U. S. Congress on both countries' progress toward reduction of such pollution.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1981
Postal Service Amendments of 1981 - Authorizes the United States Postal Service to issue written demands requiring access to books, records, documents, or other objects believed to relate to any postal offense or civil matter under investigation by the Postal Service. Provides for the enforcement of such a demand by the appropriate district court. Authorizes the Postal Service to issue an order requiring any person to cease and desist from conducting a lottery or scheme for obtaining money or property by false representations through the mail. Declares that the resumption of such an activity through the use of any instrumentality of interstate commerce shall be considered to be a failure to comply with such order. Permits the Postal Service, in investigating whether a person is conducting such an activity, to tender the price of any article or service that such person has offered for sale. Declares that failure by such person to provide such article or service, or failure to comply with a written demand of the Postal Service for access to materials, shall constitute probable cause to believe such person is engaged in such activities, warranting the detention of such person's incoming mail. Establishes a civil penalty to be assessed by the Postal Service, after an opportunity for an agency hearing, against any person who: (1) attempts to evade an order directing the postmaster to return mail addressed to such person; (2) fails to comply with a cease and desist; or (3) assists another person in evading such an order.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1981
Olympic Coin Act of 1981 - Declares the purposes of this Act to be: (1) to provide for the minting of coins to commemorate the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games; and (2) to help finance those games without the use of tax revenues. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint: (1) not more than 30,000,000 copper-nickel clad coins with a face value of one dollar; (2) not more than 22,400,000 silver coins with a face value of ten dollars; (3) not more than 2,400,000 gold coins with a face value of fifty dollars; and (4) not more than 1,400,000 gold coins with a face value of one hundred dollars. Specifies the size and weight of such coins. Specifies that the designs of such coins shall be determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. Sets certain minting specifications for such coins. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee which shall provide for the implementation of the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to furnish such coins to the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee at a price agreed to pursuant to such implementation agreement. Provides that all coins minted shall be delivered to the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for distribution and sale to the public in accordance with the terms of the implementation agreement. Sets the delivery date for each series of coins. Provides that all proceeds received by the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee from the commercial sale of such coins shall be used for the purpose of staging and promoting the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and assisting the U.S. Olympic Committee and amateur athletics. Provides that all coins authorized by this Act shall be legal tender. Directs that no coins shall be minted pursuant to this Act after December 31, 1984.
![Official portrait of Rep. Erdahl, Arlen [R-MN-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/e000198_200.jpg)