United States · United States Congress · 12 December 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a national program of hypersonic aircraft research and technology development, leading to a proof-of-concept flight demonstration, should be pursued vigorously by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in consultation and cooperation with other Government agencies. Requests the Administrator of NASA to report to specified congressional committees by June 1, 1986, outlining a plan to implement such a program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1985
Calls upon the President to direct the Agency for International Development to work in a global effort to provide universal access to childhood immunization by 1990 by: (1) assisting in the delivery, distribution, and use of vaccines; and (2) performing and supporting research and development activities that will be targeted at developing new vaccines and at modifying existing vaccines to make them more appropriate for use in developing countries. Declares that the President should appeal to the public to provide the necessary resources to achieve universal access to childhood immunization by 1990. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the authorization of appropriations for FY 1987 for the Child Survival Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should take measures to encourage the Government of Indonesia to: (1) allow and maintain access into East Timor for humanitarian organizations, journalists, church delegations, and human rights groups; (2) guarantee freedom of expression for the Roman Catholic Church in East Timor; (3) allow an impartial international examination of population limitation measures and the conditions that exist in areas where East Timorese have been resettled by Indonesian authorities; (4) allow qualified international observers to be present at the trials of East Timorese political prisoners; and (5) work with the U.S. and Portuguese governments to develop peace initiatives for East Timor.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Telecommunications Equipment and Information Services Act of 1985 - Authorizes the Bell operating companies to provide information services (excluding electronic publishing) and to manufacture telecommunications equipment, subject to such regulations as the Federal Communications Commission may prescribe. Conditions such authority on the Commission's determination that no Bell operating company could impede competition in the information services or telecommunications equipment manufacturing businesses. Requires the Commission to include in its annual report to the Congress an assessment, providing for public comment, of the impact of this Act on employment in such businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1985
Small Contribution Tax Credit Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the income tax credit for contributions to presidential, state, and local candidates, political action committees, and newsletter fund contributions. Allows an income tax credit for congressional candidate contributions. Limits the amount of such credit to $100 for a taxable year ($200 in the case of a joint return).
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Taiwanese authorities should continue progress toward a democratic system, in particular by allowing the formation of opposition political parties, ending censorship and guaranteeing freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, and moving toward full representative government.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1985
Foreign Agents Compulsory Ethics in Trade Act of 1985 - Prohibits former high-level Federal civilian officers or employees or high-ranking officers of the uniformed services from representing or advising foreign principals during the ten-year period beginning on the last day of such a person's Federal employment or service. Authorizes the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce to jointly determine a longer prohibitive period in the interest of national security. Establishes criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Defines and lists employee positions to which this Act applies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should: (1) protect the human rights of Miroslav Medvid by not allowing his removal from the United States until a complete investigation can determine whether he has been accorded all rights due him as a possible defector, and until he is accorded such rights; (2) Mr. Medvid is afforded an interview on U.S. soil, with an interpreter fluent in Ukrainian, in an environment free of intimidation and without the presence of Soviet authorities so that he may freely decide whether to restate and have granted his initial asylum request; and (3) pursue an active and impartial investigation into the Medvid case in order to avoid a similar situation in the future.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1985
Declares that the Congress: (1) condemns all acts of terrorism (specifically the hijacking of the Achille Lauro and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer); (2) commends the President and members of the U.S. armed forces who apprehended such hijackers and murderers; and (3) calls on all governments who have jurisdiction over such incident to insure that such perpetrators are prosecuted and punished. Declares that the Congress recommends that the President review the options and authorities under existing law for combating terrorism. Provides that, in order to increase the effectiveness of the U.S. counterterrorism efforts, the President should establish a unified policy to combat terrorism. Declares that the Congress urges the President: (1) to raise international public awareness with respect to terrorism by proposing to place this matter on the agenda of the Geneva Summit between the President and Mikhail Gorbachev, the 40th U.N. General Assembly, the International Maritime Organization, and other subsequent international meetings; and (2) to seek the acceptance by all governments that terrorism is an international crime. Urges the President to seek to establish an international coordinating committee on terrorism. Sets forth what such committee should be charged with in regard to handling such terrorism. Urges the President to propose to the Congress ways (including those proposed by the Inman Advisory Panel on Overseas Security) to improve the security of U.S. citizens abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1985
Civil Service Supplemental Retirement System Act of 1985 - Title I: Civil Service Supplemental Retirement System - Establishes a Civil Service Supplemental Retirement Plan for Federal employees, postal employees, and Members of Congress who began service after December 31, 1983. Sets forth provisions for the benefit plan including: (1) eligibility for an annuity after five years of creditable service; (2) entitlements to retirement based on age and years of service; (3) the formulas for computing an annuity; (4) survivor election reductions; and (5) funding. Sets forth provisions for mandatory retirement for air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. Establishes a Thrift Savings Plan under which participants may contribute up to 10 percent of their annual basic pay. Requires employing agencies to contribute the lesser of: (1) 50 percent of amounts contributed by the employee; or (2) three percent of such employee's basic pay. Provides for the payment of benefits, lump sum or annuity, at the employee's separation from service. Establishes in the Treasury the Thrift Savings Fund for the deposit and accounting of amounts under the Plan. Prescribes how money in such Fund shall be invested. Describes survivor annuities under the supplemental retirement plan. Describes disability benefits for employees who have completed five years of creditable service. Sets forth general and administrative provisions. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to pay all benefits payable under the benefit plan and administer provisions not specifically assigned to another entity. Directs the Office to adjudicate all claims under provisions it administers. Provides for annual cost-of-living adjustments in basic pensions based upon an increase in the Consumer Price Index. Provides for withholding of State income taxes from retirement annuities. Declares that basic annuities, survivor annuities, and disability benefits are exempt from legal process (i.e. levy, attachment, garnishment) unless otherwise provided by Federal law. Establishes in the executive branch the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to be responsible for policies and regulations for, and review of, the investment and management of the Thrift Savings Fund. Directs the Board to establish an Employee Thrift Advisory Council to advise the Board on matters relating to investment policies for the Fund. Directs the Board to appoint an Executive Director to carry out its policies, invest and manage the fund, and administer provisions of the Thrift Savings Plan. Title II: Amendments to Chapter 83 of Title 5, United States Code - Provides for civil service retirement for certain employees excluded from the supplemental retirement plan. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Federal Employees' Retirement Contribution Temporary Adjustment Act of 1983 to extend its provisions until January 1, 1987. Allows employees covered under such Act to elect participation in the supplemental retirement plan. Title IV: Effective Dates - Declares this Act in effect on January 1, 1987, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1985
Title I: Prevention of Currency Misalignments - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the President to proclaim for the appropriate period import restrictions whenever large and serious imbalances in external accounts require special import measures to restrict imports to: (1) deal with U.S. deficits; (2) prevent depreciation of the dollar in foreign exchange markets; or (2) cooperate with other countries in correcting a persistent misalignment of exchange rates. Authorizes the President to proclaim for the appropriate period special measures to increase imports whenever large and serious imbalances in external accounts require such measures to: (1) deal with large and persistent current account surpluses; (2) prevent significant appreciation of the dollar in foreign exchange markets; or (3) cooperate with other countries in correcting a persistent misalignment of exchange rates. (Current law requires the President to proclaim such import restrictions or measures to increase imports whenever required by basic international payments problems.) Directs the President to decide when a large and serious U.S. deficit or surplus exists except that such a deficit or surplus shall be considered to exist if a sustained deficit period or sustained surplus period occurs. Defines a sustained deficit period to mean five consecutive quarters in which U.S. deficits exceeded two and one-half percent of the gross national product. Defines a sustained surplus period to mean five consecutive quarters in which the U.S. surplus exceeded two and one-half percent of the gross national product. Authorizes the President to refrain from proclaiming any import restriction or any import-increasing measure if: (1) the deficit during the last six months is less than two and one-half percent of the gross national product or the surplus during the last six months is less than two and one-half percent of the gross national product and the International Trade Commission (ITC) makes specified findings; and (2) the President determines that the restriction is contrary to the national interest and the President informs the Congress of such determination and consults with a specified group of congressional advisers. Declares that the President should, in each year occurring after the close of a sustained deficit period or occurring after the close of a sustained surplus period, reduce large and persistent account imbalances by taking action to implement one or more of specified options. Directs the President, at the end of four consecutive quarters in which the deficit in each quarter exceeded two and one-half percent of the gross national product or in which the surplus exceeded two-and one-half percent of the gross national product, to request the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to report on: (1) the compliance of each member of the IMF with its objection under section 1 of Article IV of the IMF Articles of Agreement; and (2) its judgment regarding the impact which the degree of compliance is having, and will have on the current account imbalances. Directs the President within 120 days of each such period of four consecutive quarters to take action to convene joint consultations with the IMF Executive Director and the appropriate members of the IMF to improve the coordination among the national macroeconomic policies and taking such other action as may be necessary to restore equilibrium among national current accounts. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President seek changes in international agreements to allow: (1) surcharges in place of quotas as balance-of-payments adjustment measures; and (2) quotas and surcharges to deal with large and persistent current account imbalances and currency misalignments. Title II: Relief from Unfair Trade Practices - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to establish in the ITC the Office of Unfair Trade Investigations. Sets forth the functions of such Office, including: (1) carrying out the functions assigned on October 1, 1985, to the ITC's Office of Unfair Import Investigations; and (2) monitoring the operation of U.S. and foreign trade laws, policies, and practices. Requires the Office to take certain actions if a foreign country or instrumentality is suspected of: (1) subsidizing or dumping exports to the United States; (2) engaging in unfair trading practices; or (3) violating U.S. trade rights under trade agreements. Sets forth factors to be considered by the Office. Prohibits the Office from taking action in certain cases. Requires the ITC to ensure that the Office has sufficient manpower and resources to carry out its functions. Transfers from the President to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) certain functions relating to enforcement of U.S. trade rights under trade agreements and response to certain foreign trade practices. Requires the USTR, if notified that a foreign act, policy, or practice is a cause of injury or threat of injury to a domestic industry or is injurious industrial targeting, to decide within 160 days which of the following actions to take: (1) suspension, withdrawal, or prevention of application of trade benefits; (2) imposition of import duties or restrictions on the production and services of such foreign entity; (3) negotiation of orderly marketing agreements; or (4) development of actions to restore or improve the international competitiveness of the injured or threatened industry. Requires the USTR, upon receiving such notification, to begin negotiations on an agreement to eliminate the injurious act, practice, or policy. Authorizes the USTR, subject to Presidential disapproval, to: (1) restrict the terms and conditions of certain service sector access authorizations; or (2) deny the issuance of such authorizations. Defines injurious industrial targeting to mean any combination of coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specific enterprise the effect of which is to: (1) injure a U.S. industry or to retard the growth or establishment of a U.S. industry; and (2) help make it more competitive in the export of any class or kind of merchandise. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to include in the definition of "subsidy" (for antidumping and countervailing duty purposes) any resource input subsidy. States that a "resource input subsidy" is found to exist if: (1) (a) a product is provided or sold by a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country for input use within such country at a domestic price that is lower than the fair market value of the input product and is not freely available to U.S. producers; and (b) a product would, if sold at the fair market value, constitute a significant portion of the total cost of the manufacture or production of the merchandise in or for which the input product is used; or (2) under specified circumstances, the right to remove or extract such product is provided or sold by a government or a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country. Sets forth the method of calculation for the amount of a resource input subsidy. Defines "fair market value" and "input use". Requires injury determinations by the ITC to be made in all countervailing duty investigations relating to the existence of resource input subsidies. Makes it unlawful for any person to: (1) alter a country of origin; or (2) sell or transport any article that does not have its country of origin marking or that has had its country of origin marking altered. Sets forth penalties. Makes it unlawful to sell or distribute counterfeit goods in countries outside the United States. Authorizes the ITC to prohibit imports by any person with respect to whom there is reason to believe that such person is violating the prohibition against selling or distributing counterfeit goods in foreign countries. Requires such counterfeit goods to be seized and forfeited if they are imported into the United States. Makes it unlawful to sell or transport such goods in the United States. Sets forth penalties. Title III: Relief from Injury Caused by Import Competition - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to transfer from the President to the USTR certain duties relating to import relief. Requires an import relief petition to include a proposal for restructuring the industry to ensure that the industry will be able to operate viably when import relief is terminated. Requires the ITC to determine in an import relief investigation whether, in addition to the matters it is currently required to determine, it is likely that adjustment assistance and other Federal assistance will, in conjunction with other import relief, effectively remedy the labor and community dislocation caused by the import injury. Provides that a decline in demand because of general recessionary conditions in the U.S. economy may not be considered a cause of injury more important than imports. Directs the ITC to complete its investigation on an import relief petition and report its findings to the USTR within six months of the filing of the petition. Directs the ITC, if it determines that serious injury or the threat of serious injury exists and that it is likely that adjustment assistance or other Federal aid will remedy the dislocation associated with that injury or threat, to: (1) find the amount of increase in, or imposition of, duty or import restriction necessary to prevent or remedy such injury or threat; (2) specify such Federal aid (other than adjustment assistance) necessary to remedy the dislocation; and (3) specify those elements of the industry restructuring proposal that is necessary to enable the industry to adjust to import competition. Directs the USTR, after receiving such a report from the ITC, to: (1) provide import relief for the industry unless the USTR determines that such relief is not in the national economic interest; (2) require expeditious consideration of petitions adjustment assistance for affected workers and firms; (3) request expeditious consideration for petitions for other Federal aid; and (4) specify which of the elements of the restructuring proposal that the industry must implement to operate viably when import relief is ended. Requires the USTR within 60 days of receiving such report to determine whether import relief will be provided and what method and amount of relief will be provided. Directs the ITC, if it determines that serious injury or the threat of serious injury exists and that it is unlikely that adjustment assistance or other Federal aid will remedy the dislocation associated with that injury or threat, to convene a Multipartite Adjustment Council to determine import relief for the industry and adjustment programs for the labor and community dislocation. Prohibits certain types of import relief (tariff increases, quotas, orderly marketing agreements) for the industry in such circumstances. Requires the ITC to report to the USTR if the ITC decides that the industry is not substantially implementing the elements of its industry restructuring plan. Authorizes the USTR to suspend, reduce, or terminate the import relief to the industry under such circumstances. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to the Multipartite Adjustment Council. Requires the Council to develop and submit to the USTR an import protection and domestic recovery plan for the industry. Sets forth information to be included in such plan. Requires the USTR to take specified actions upon approving such plan. Establishes in the Treasury an Industry Assistance and Restructuring Fund. Title IV: Adjustment Assistance for Workers and Firms - Expresses the sense of the Congress that whenever there occurs a net increase in value of imports in a year in relation to the previous year there should occur a proportionate increase in the rate at which trade adjustment assistance petitions for businesses and for workers are approved. Subtitle A: Worker Adjustment Assistance - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require certifying workers as eligible for trade adjustment assistance if increases in imports like or directly competitive with articles to which a worker's firm or subdivision provides essential parts or services contributed importantly to: (1) the total or partial separation of such worker or threat of such total or partial separation and to a decline in sales and production of the firm or subdivision; or (2) such separation or threat of such separation because of the relocation of the production functions of that firm or subdivision to a foreign country or instrumentality. Treats as a qualifying week for adjustment assistance purposes any week a worker receives back pay because of being laid off. Limits to seven the number of weeks that may be treated as qualifying weeks of employment in cases in which an employee is on employer authorized leave or is serving as a labor organization representative. Extends the duration of trade adjustment allowances from 52 to 104 weeks. Requires additional payments to be made as trade readjustment allowances to help an adversely affected worker to undertake training if the worker submits, before the worker exhausts all rights to that part of unemployment insurance that is regular compensation, either: (1) a bona fide application for an approved training program; or (2) an application for a training voucher. Authorizes making additional payments: (1) for up to 26 additional weeks if the training program or voucher is approved before the close of the last week for which the worker is eligible for a trade readjustment allowance; or (2) for up to 52 additional weeks if the training program or voucher is approved after the close of the last week for which the worker is eligible for a trade readjustment allowance. Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Labor to approve job training if the worker meets specified requirements. Requires the costs of the training to be paid from the next appropriation of funds if the funds have not been appropriated at the time the training is entered into. Defines "reasonable expectation of employment" for purposes of determining if training should be approved. Sets forth the method of determining the amount that employers should be reimbursed for providing training. Authorizes workers eligible for training to elect to obtain training through the use of training vouchers. Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue a voucher if the Secretary: (1) approves the training course for which the worker applies; and (2) finds that suitable employment for the worker is not available, the worker is not already qualified for the job for which training is sought, and there is a reasonable expectation of employment after completion of the training. Sets forth specified conditions which the provider of the training must meet in order to redeem the voucher. Requires each State agency that is providing adversely affected workers with testing, counseling, training, and placement services to: (1) advise each adversely affected worker to apply for training under the trade adjustment assistance program or to begin a search for appropriate training under the voucher system at the time the worker applies for trade readjustment allowances; and (2) interview the adversely affected worker within 60 days on suitable training opportunities available under the trade adjustment assistance program. Subtitle B: Firm Adjustment Assistance - Requires certifying a firm as eligible for trade adjustment assistance if: (1) certain conditions are met and if sales or production, or both, of an article that accounted for at least 25 percent of the firm's total production or sales during the 12-month period preceding the most recent 12-month period for which data are available have decreased absolutely; or (2) increases in imports of articles like or directly competitive with a critical product line of the firm resulting from targeting by one or more foreign countries, the firm is threatened with the idling of its facilities, with unprofitability, and with underemployment or unemployment of a significant number or proportion of its workers, and increases in imports contributed importantly to those threats. Defines "targeting" to mean the policy of a country that selectively supports the development of an industry to enhance its competitiveness in domestic or export markets. Deletes the requirement that in order to qualify for adjustment assistance a firm not have access to financing through the private capital market. Deletes the provision authorizing assistance to firms in preparing the firms' adjustment proposals. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) to make grants: (1) to certain industry organizations to assist them in designing and managing trade adjustment strategies; and (2) to private individuals, firms, or institutions to assist firms that have been certified as eligible for adjustment assistance. Limits the amount that may be allotted for such grants. Prohibits providing a loan in excess of $500,000 to a firm under the adjustment assistance provisions if the firm can obtain loan funds from private sources using the adjustment assistance guarantee loan assistance loan authority. Deletes the provision that prohibited financial assistance to a firm through the adjustment assistance authority unless the funds are not available from the firm's own resources. Sets forth a method of determining the interest rate on each loan made through the adjustment assistance provisions. Prohibits the Secretary from guaranteeing any loan if the interest rate is determined to be excessive (currently, if it is determined to be excessive when compared with other loans bearing Federal guarantees). Prohibits the Secretary from making a loan or guaranteeing a loan having a maturity in excess of 25 years or the weighted average useful life of its collateral, except that the Secretary may make or guarantee a loan having a maturity of up to five years. Requires the Secretary, in making guarantees or loans in excess of $150,000, to give priority to firms that are small within the meaning of the Small Business Act. Prohibits any adjustment assistance loan guarantee from being made for an amount that exceeds 90 percent of the outstanding balance on the portion. Declares that the validity of the guarantee shall be incontestable except for fraud or misrepresentation of any party who purchases, as an authorized secondary market investor, all or part of the guaranteed portion of such loan. Increases the total maximum amount of adjustment assistance loan guarantees that may be outstanding at any time. Deletes the provision that prohibits granting financial assistance to a firm unless the owners, partners, or officers of the firm bind themselves to avoid certain conflicts-of-interest. Requires all repayments of loans, interest payments, and other receipts from financial aid to firms to be paid into a separate account administered by the International Trade Administration. Subtitle C: Uniform Additional Duty - Directs the President to undertake negotiations to change the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to allow any country to impose a small uniform duty on all imports to fund adjustment assistance programs for workers and firms of that country. Imposes on all imports into the United States a duty at a uniform rate determined by the President: (1) to be in accordance with the GATT; and (2) to be sufficient to fund adjustment assistance programs. Subtitle D: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates for the changes made by this title. Title V: CIF Basis of Appraisement - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require that in addition to the bases currently required by law imports shall be appraised on the basis of the CIF costs (the costs and charges incurred by the buyer for the transportation, insurance, loading, and handling incident to shipment of the merchandise from the exporting country to the place of importation in the United States). Provides for adjusting the transaction value of merchandise based on significant differences between the CIF costs for the imported goods and for the identical or similar goods in question. Includes the CIF costs in determining the value of imports. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the revenues that accrue from the amendments made by this title be applied to ensure that the annual staffing levels of the Customs Service are not less than a specified level for FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Title I: Cost Efficiency in the Shipment of United States Government Cargoes - Requires any Federal agency that ships, finances, or otherwise impels Federal cargo to ship such cargo at the lowest cost to the United States. Prescribes guidelines for: (1) Federal cargo shipments; (2) contracts with foreign entities requiring prompt payment for such shipments; and (3) bid solicitation from ship operators for the transportation of Federal cargo over routes which are not serviced by such operators. Directs the General Accounting Office to report to the Congress within 24 months after enactment of this Act regarding Federal agency compliance. Title II: The Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway Advisory Council - Establishes the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway Advisory Council to develop and implement an economic strategy to improve the capacity of the Great Lakes region to market and transport commodities in a timely manner and to maximize the efficiency and benefits of market products produced in the Great Lakes region and products shipped through the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway system. Prescribes guidelines for such strategy. Requires the Council to report to the President and the Congress regarding such strategy. Terminates the Council 180 days after the submission of such report. Outlines the functions of the Council and authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Designates 1986 as Save for the U.S.A. Year. Requests the President to initiate a nationwide campaign, to be known as the Buy Back America campaign, to encourage the people of the United States to buy U.S. savings bonds and certificates and thereby reduce borrowings from foreign sources. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to enhance the marketability of such bonds and certificates.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Amends the Clayton Act to eliminate the 15-day waiting period (and thus require a 30-day waiting period) following notification of a proposed acquisition in the case of a cash tender offer. Requires the 30-day acquisition waiting period to be extended for an additional 30 days (or 60 days if, after the acquisition, the U.S. assets or probable annual U.S. sales of the acquiring person would exceed $1,000,000,000) if the Federal Trade Commission or the Attorney General requires submission of additional information or documentary material concerning the proposed acquisition.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the antitrust enforcement policy guidelines stated in "Vertical Restraints Guidelines" published by the Department of Justice on January 23, 1985: (1) are not an accurate expression of the Federal antitrust laws or of congressional intent for the application of such laws to vertical restraints of trade; (2) should not be accorded any force of law or be treated by U.S. courts as binding or persuasive; and (3) should be recalled by the Attorney General.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Joint Chiefs of Staff Reorganization Act of 1985 - Revises Federal provisions concerning the composition and function of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to define the Chairman of JCS as the principal military advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. Authorizes a member of JCS other than the Chairman to offer, to the Secretary of Defense and then to the President, a separate opinion in disagreement with that of the Chairman concerning military advice given. Directs that the Chairman of JCS shall supervise the commanders of the combatant commands and act as their spokesman. Extends the term of the Chairman of JCS from two to four years. Establishes the position of Deputy Chairman of JCS. Prohibits the Deputy Chairman and the Chairman from being a member of the same military branch, unless the Secretary of Defense waives such prohibition for a limited period. Sets the term of the Deputy Chairman at four years. Requires the Deputy Chairman to perform such duties as delegated by the Chairman with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. Directs the Deputy Chairman to act as Chairman if the latter position is vacated for any reason. Directs the Deputy Chairman to act as director of the Joint Staff, which performs such duties as the Chairman prescribes. Eliminates any maximum number of officers on the Joint Staff. Provides that the four-year term of a member of the Joint Staff may be extended with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. Directs the Secretary to ensure that the Joint Staff is independently organized and operated in order to provide for the unified strategic direction of the combatant forces and their operation and integration into an efficient team of land, naval, and air forces. Requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit an evaluation to the President of any person for appointment to a grade above major general or rear admiral. Requires such evaluation to consider the performance of that officer as a member of the Joint Staff and in other assignments involving joint military experiences. Requires such evaluation to be submitted to the President at the same time as the submission of the recommendation for the appointment. Directs the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman of JCS to attend all meetings of the National Security Council and participate fully in its deliberations. Directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than six months after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress on plans for further changes in the administration of the military high commands of each of the armed forces. Outlines proposals to be developed in such report.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1985
Commends the President for his decision to order the interception of the Egyptian airliner that was transporting the terrorists who hijacked the Achille Lauro and killed Leon Klinghoffer. Encourages the President to continue to pressure the Government of Italy to extradite those terrorists to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1985
Declares that the Congress calls upon the President to direct the Agency for International Development (AID) to work in a global effort to provide support toward achieving the goal of universal access to childhood immunization by the year 1990. Sets forth specified actions to be taken by AID, in conjunction with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, in reaching such goal. Urges the President to seek both private and public assistance in the United States to achieve universal access to childhood immunization.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1985
Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to allow State, local, or interstate governmental agencies to provide compensatory time in lieu of overtime compensation. Requires that such compensatory time be one and one-half hours for each hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required. Allows such compensatory time only if it is a collective bargaining agreement, memorandum of understanding or other agreement or understanding entered into by the public agency and its employees or their recognized representatives before the work for which the compensatory time is to be provided. Limits the amount of such compensatory time which public employees may accrue to 180 hours, or 480 hours in the case of work which included a public safety activity, an emergency response activity, or a seasonal activity. Requires that public employees who have accrued such compensatory time and requested its use be permitted to use it within a reasonable period after making such request if its use does not unduly disrupt the operations of the public agency. Requires that, upon termination of employment, a public employee who has accrued such compensatory time be paid for unused compensatory time at a rate not less than the average rate received by such employee during the last three years of the employees' employment. Provides that, if a public agency had in effect on April 15, 1986, a pattern or practice of providing its employees compensatory time off in lieu of overtime compensation, that pattern or practice shall constitute an agreement or understanding which meets specified requirements. Provides that a collective bargaining agreement in effect on April 15, 1986, which permits overtime compensation in the form of compensatory time off at a rate of less than one and one-half hours for each hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required shall remain in effect until its expiration date unless otherwise modified, except that compensatory time shall be provided after April 14, 1986, at the one and one-half hour rate. Provides that States, local governments, and interstate governmental agencies shall not be liable for specified overtime and related paperwork violations which occur before April 15, 1986, with respect to employees who would not have been covered under the Secretary of Labor's special enforcement policy in effect on January 1, 1985. Permits States, local governments, or interstate governmental agencies to defer until August 1, 1986, the payment of overtime compensation for hours of employment after April 14, 1986. Adds provisions relating to special detail work for fire protection and law enforcement (including prison security) employees of State, local, or intergovernmental agencies. Provides that those hours on special detail work for a separate or independent employer shall be excluded by the public agency in the calculation of overtime compensation, if the employee agrees, solely at the employee's option, to perform such special detail work. Provides that an employee's hours of part-time employment with a public agency in a substantially different capacity from the employee's regular full-time employment with such agency shall be excluded from the calculation of overtime compensation, if such part-time employment is undertaken on an occasional and sporadic basis and solely at the employee's option. Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue, by March 15, 1986, regulations: (1) defining when employment is done on an occasional or sporadic basis; and (2) prescribing a standard for determining if employment is in a substantially different capacity than other employment. Permits employees of States, local governments, and interstate governmental agencies to volunteer to perform services for any other such agency, including one with which the employing agency has a mutual aid agreement. Adds provisions relating to substitution work by and for fire protection and law enforcement (including prison security) employees of State, local, and intergovernmental agencies. Provides that those hours of substitution during scheduled work hours for a fellow employee shall be excluded by the public agency in the calculation of the substituting employee's overtime compensation, if such employee agrees to perform such substitute work with the public agency's approval and solely at the employee's option. Provides that the employer may not be required to keep a record of the hours of such substitute work under certain overtime recordkeeping requirements. Revises the definition of "employee" to exclude any volunteer for a State, local, or interstate governmental agency who volunteers to perform such services without compensation or for a nominal fee, expenses, or reasonable benefits or for any combination of such fee, expenses, or benefits. Provides that employees of such agencies shall still be considered employees if they volunteer to perform the same type of service for those agencies for which they are employed. Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue, by March 15, 1986, regulations to define nominal fees and reasonable benefits. Provides that, if before April 15, 1986, a public agency's practice was to treat certain persons as volunteers then such persons shall be considered volunteers and not employees until April 15, 1986. Provides that no State, local government, or interstate governmental agency shall be liable for a violation of minimum wage requirements occurring before April 15, 1986, with respect to services performed for the public agency by any individual who performed such services as a volunteer. Revises the definition of "employee" to exclude from coverage under the Act State and local legislative employees who are not legislative library employees. Makes the amendments made by this Act effective on April 15, 1986, but authorizes the Secretary of Labor to promulgate before such date regulations to implement such amendments. Prohibits construing such amendments as affecting whether a State, local government, or interstate governmental agency is liable under penalty provisions of the Act for violations of minimum wage, overtime, or paperwork requirements occurring before April 15, 1986, with respect to any employee who would have been covered by by the Act under the Secretary of Labor's special enforcement policy in effect on January 1, 1985. Requires that a State, local government, or interstate governmental agency be held to have violated specified provisions if it discriminates or has discriminated against an employee with respect to wages or other terms or conditions of employment because on or after February 19, 1985, the employee asserted coverage under overtime provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1985
Sino-American Nuclear Verification Act of 1985 - Prohibits issuing a license for the export to China of any nuclear equipment, material, or technology and prohibits approving the transfer or retransfer to China of such equipment, material, or technology until 30 days after the President has certified to the Congress that: (1) the verification of peaceful uses on exported items covered by the Agreement for Cooperation Between the United States and China will be essentially equivalent to that provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency; (2) China has communicated its recognition that the Agreement neither favorably nor unfavorably disposes the United States toward approving any alteration of material transferred pursuant to the Agreement or material used in or produced through the use of any material or facility transferred pursuant to the Agreement; (3) China has provided a statement of its nuclear nonproliferation policies, and those policies correspond to the description of such policies contained in a specified State Department document relating to China's nuclear nonproliferation policy; and (4) China has communicated its recognition that all proposed exports of nuclear materials, equipment, or technology under such agreement are subject to U.S. laws and regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1985
Establishes the United States Commission on Improving the Effectiveness of the United Nations to examine and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the United Nations and to submit to the President recommendations on ways to improve its effectiveness and the role of the United States in such organization. Sets forth specified items which the Commission should focus on in carrying out its duties. Requires the Commission to transmit to the President and to the Congress a report containing a detailed statement of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Authorizes appropriations and private contributions for the Commission. Terminates the Commission 60 days after the submission of its report.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1985
Recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the important role that the legislation has played in the Nation's development. Reaffirms the historic partnership between the Federal Government and the colleges and universities toward the development of human resources required for an increasingly complex and technological society.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1985
Amends the copyright law to make permanent the prohibition against importing certain English language books not manufactured in the United States and Canada, denying copyright protection to books imported in violation of this restriction (the manufacturing clause).
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Simultaneous Nuclear Test-Ban Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, before January 1, 1986, should declare that the United States will stop testing nuclear warheads and will invite the Soviet Union to meet with the United States to enter into negotiations for the conclusion of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty at the earliest possible date. Declares that the United States should continue the cessation of the testing of nuclear warheads so long as the Soviet Union refrains from the testing of nuclear warheads and substantive Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty negotiations are in progress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that during such cessation the President should seek resumption of the comprehensive test ban talks between the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. Prohibits the United States from obligating or spending any money for testing nuclear warheads during the six-month period beginning on January 1, 1986, if the President does not declare such a cessation of nuclear testing. Authorizes such spending if the President certifies to the Congress that the Soviet Union on or after January 1, 1986, tested a nuclear warhead. Requires the President to include in any such certification: (1) an unclassified report summarizing the basis for the certification; and (2) a classified report describing the Soviet activities that are the basis for the certification. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on: (1) the progress in nuclear arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union; and (2) whether the President believes that continuation of the cessation of nuclear testing is in the U.S. national security interest.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1985
Extends the sympathy of the United States to Mexico on the earthquake tragedy. Declares that: (1) the President should provide appropriate relief and rehabilitation assistance to prevent further suffering and safeguard the public health; and (2) the United States is prepared to cooperate with Mexico in long term efforts to recover from the effects of the earthquake.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1985
Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1985 - Title I: Title 18 and Related Matters - Amends the Federal criminal code to extend the prohibition against the unauthorized interception of communications to specified types of electronic communications (present law prohibits only the interception of wire and oral communications). Specifies certain exceptions with respect to electronic communications. Extends such prohibitions to the communications of any provider of electronic communication services (present law extends only to communication common carriers). Prohibits the unauthorized access to an electronic communication system in order to obtain or alter information contained in such system. Imposes criminal penalties for the violation of such prohibition. Prohibits any person or entity providing an electronic communication service from knowingly divulging the contents of any communication carried on that service. Provides for specified exceptions to such requirement. Allows the Attorney General or the prosecuting attorney of any State or political subdivision to apply for disclosure of information contained in an electronic communication service. Specifies that such application shall meet the same requirements as that for an application for the interception of wire or oral communications. Allows any person whose electronic communication is intercepted, disclosed, or used to bring a civil action to recover civil damages. (Present law allows a civil action only for the interception or use of wire or oral communications.) Revises the amount of damages which may be recovered by such civil actions. Specifies a two-year statute of limitations for the commencement of such a civil action. Specifies additional crimes for which interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications can be authorized in the course of the investigation of such crimes. Sets forth additional requirements for applications, court orders, and the implementation of court orders for the interception of such communications. Requires that a court order authorizing such interception shall require that reports of specified information be made not less often than every ten days to the judge who issued such order. Title II: Pen Registers and Tracking Devices - Prohibits the installation or use of a pen register or a tracking device without first obtaining a court order pursuant to this Act or under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. Imposes criminal penalties for violations of such prohibition. Defines "pen register" as a device which identifies the numbers dialed or transmitted on the telephone line to which the device is attached. Defines a "tracking device" as an electronic or mechanical device which permits the tracking of the movement of a person or object in circumstances in which there exists a reasonable expectation of privacy. Authorizes Federal and State law enforcement officers having responsibility for ongoing criminal investigations to apply for a court order allowing the installation and use of a pen register or a tracking device. Sets forth procedures for the application for an issuance of a court order allowing the use of a pen register or tracking device. Allows the issuance of such order if, in the case of a pen register, there is reasonable cause to believe that the information likely to be obtained is relevant to a legitimate criminal investigation. Sets forth requirements for the emergency use of a pen register or tracking device without prior court authorization. Requires a communications common carrier, landlord, custodian, or other person to furnish an authorized law enforcement officer information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the installation and use of a pen register or tracking device if such assistance is directed by court order or an emergency installation is authorized. Requires that anyone providing such assistance shall be compensated for any reasonable expenses incurred. Requires any judge issuing or denying an order for the use of a pen register or tracking device to file a report with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Requires the Attorney General and the principal prosecuting attorney of a State to report annually to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts concerning the use of pen registers and tracking devices authorized for use in criminal investigations. Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to report annually to the Congress concerning the use of pen registers and tracking devices. Allows any person who is harmed by a violation of this Act concerning pen registers or tracking devices to bring a civil action to recover civil damages. Specifies the type of damages which may be recovered. Specifies a two-year statute of limitations for the commencement of such a civil action.