United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1982
Declares that it should be U.S. policy to: (1) support the people of Afghanistan in their struggle to be free from foreign domination; (2) provide the Afghans, upon request, with material assistance; and (3) pursue a negotiated settlement of the war in Afghanistan based on the total withdrawal of Soviet troops and the recognition of the right of the Afghans to choose their own destiny.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1982
Comprehensive Victim and Witness Protection and Assistance Act of 1982 - Amends rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require that presentence reports contain: (1) information concerning any harm or loss suffered by the victim; (2) information that may aid the court in sentencing; (3) a statement of the circumstances of the commission of the offense; and (4) any prior criminal record of the defendant. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish as offenses "tampering with a witness or an informant" and "retaliating against a witness or an informant." Authorizes the Attorney General to initiate civil proceedings to restrain any harassment of a victim or witness. Authorizes a sentencing court to order the defendant to make restitution. Requires the court to state for the record the reasons for not ordering restitution. Prescribes a procedure for the issuance of restitution orders. Directs the Attorney General to develop Federal guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses. Requires the Attorney General to consider certain objectives in preparing the guidelines, including: (1) ensuring that victims receive prompt social and medical services; (2) giving victims and witnesses notice of important criminal justice proceedings and scheduling changes; (3) arranging for the prosecution to obtain the nonbinding views of victims of serious crimes during such stages as plea bargaining and pretrial release; (4) encouraging employers to continue to pay victims and witnesses for work absences to assist investigations and prosecutions; (5) training law enforcement personnel in victim assistance; and (6) informing victims or witnesses on legal steps for protection from intimidation. Directs the Attorney General to recommend to Congress any laws that are necessary to ensure that no Federal felon derives any profit from the sale of his or her story until any victim of the offense receives restitution. Amends the Bail Reform Act of 1966 to require as a condition of pretrial release that the defendant not commit certain offenses.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1982
Increases the membership of the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, from 26 to 29 members-by adding: (1) one elected school board member, appointed by the President; (2) one judge of a U.S. court of appeals or district court, appointed by the Chief Justice; and (3) one Chief Justice or judge of a State court of last resort, appointed by the Chief Justice. Changes the requirement that the President appoint four mayors as members to a requirement that the President appoint: (1) three mayors; and (2) one elected officer of a municipality with a population of less than 10,000.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1982
Expresses the support of the Congress for beginning strategic arms reductions talks. Urges the Soviet Union to join with the United States in concluding an equitable and verifiable agreement which freezes strategic nuclear forces at equal and substantially reduced levels. Reaffirms congressional support for the position that the United States should not enter into an arms agreement which provides for force levels inferior to those of the Soviet Union. Declares that the United States should propose practical measures to: (1) reduce the danger of accidental nuclear war; (2) prevent the use of nuclear weapons by third parties, including terrorists; and (3) halt the worldwide proliferation of nuclear weapons. Insists that any arms control agreement must be fully verifiable.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1982
Commemorates July 1, 1982, the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the International Geophysical Year. Reaffirms the commitment of the House of Representatives to a new era of international cooperation in all the sciences.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1982
No Net Cost Tobacco Program Act of 1982 - Title I: Modification of Tobacco Price Support Program - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out tobacco price support through Commodity Credit Corporation loan agreements with producer-owned cooperative marketing associations which will in turn make loans to producers. Requires each association to establish a separate capital account, to be known as a No Net Cost Tobacco Fund (Fund), consisting of contributions from producers of quota tobacco and, for associations handling Flue-cured tobacco, from persons who lease allotments and quotas to others. Requires such contributions for price support eligibility. Authorizes an association to set contribution rates subject to the Secretary's approval. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a contribution rate not high enough to reimburse the Corporation for any net loan losses that the association may incur. Permits an association to invest Fund moneys and to issue capital stock or certifications to investors. Requires that any earnings on Fund investments become a part of the Fund. States that net gains from the sale of an association's loan collateral tobacco shall go to the Corporation to be used to offset future losses or to reduce outstanding loan debts. Authorizes the Secretary to release excess gains to the associations. Authorizes the Secretary to adjust the support rates for different grades of tobacco to avoid market excesses. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for an alternate auction sale of "excessively priced" Flue-cured tobacco. Sets forth conditions for such designation and sale. Title II: Modification of Flue-Cured Tobacco Marketing Quota System - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to permit the leasing of Flue-cured tobacco acreage allotments or quotas. Prohibits such agreements after June 15 of the crop year, except in cases of natural disaster damage, but limits them to adjoining counties within the same State. Requires all arrangements in connection with a lease to be exclusively between lessor and lessee or an agent who regularly represents either party in nontobacco-related business transactions. Prohibits subleasing. Requires each party to file a certificate of compliance with the county committee in order for the lease to take effect. Makes loss of price supports for the affected acreage the penalty for false statements made in such certificate. Provides that the Flue-cured tobacco acreage allotment for a farm to which an allotment is transferred by sale or lease may not exceed 50 percent of such farm's tillable cropland. Permits the sale of allotments or quotas, but only to active producers (as defined in this Act) in the same county. Requires a producer to sell or forfeit any Flue-cured tobacco allotment: (1) which exceeds 50 percent of the farm's tillable cropland; or (2) in which no risk-sharing is involved. Requires a nonagricultural entity (other than an individual) which owns a Flue- cured tobacco farm but is not significantly involved in its management to sell its Flue-cured tobacco allotments or quotas or forfeit them. Requires the national yield factor for Flue-cured tobacco to be adjusted in 1983, and at five-year intervals thereafter, to the past five years' moving average. Permits individual adjustments. Authorizes producer-owned cooperative associations to make direct sales of Flue-cured tobacco.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1982
Professional Sports Stabilization Act of 1982 - Declares that it shall not be unlawful under any antitrust law for a professional sports league and its member clubs to enforce rules: (1) requiring approval by the league membership for the relocation of a member club; or (2) providing for the division of league or member club revenues that promote comparable economic opportunities for member clubs. Prohibits State and local governments from imposing limitations on the collective conduct of sports leagues or member teams authorized by this Act. Specifies the applicability of this Act to actions commenced under the antitrust laws before its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1982
Independent Contractor Tax Classification and Compliance Act of 1982 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify standards for determining whether certain individuals qualify as independent contractors for purposes of the tax on employment income. Treats an individual as an independent contractor if such individual: (1) controls the total number and scheduling of his work hours; (2) has no principal place of business provided rent-free by the service-recipient; (3) has substantial investment in his business (excluding vehicles) and earns income based upon sales or output rather than upon number of hours worked; and (4) performs services under a written contract and is provided written notice of his responsibilities with respect to income and self-employment taxes. Provides that the criteria established by this Act shall not be applicable to agent-drivers, commission-drivers, full-time life insurance salesmen, home workers, and traveling or city salesmen who are statutorily designated as employees for purposes of social security taxation. Sets forth special rules for: (1) contracts entered into before January 1, 1983; and (2) determining control of scheduling work hours. Provides that the failure of an individual claiming independent contractor status to meet the criteria established by this Act shall not create an inference that such an individual is an employee or that the recipient of his service is an employer. Limits the applicability of the criteria established by this Act to questions of employment status arising under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, self-employment tax provisions, and withholding requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. Requires a recipient of an independent contractor's services to file an information return disclosing payments made to such individual in excess of $600 per year. Requires persons who sell over $5,000 in consumer products to buyers on a buy-sell, deposit-commission, or similar basis to file a similar return. Permits an election to file such returns in certain circumstances. Requires individuals who file such information returns to furnish to persons with respect to whom such information is reported written statements which indicate the amount of payment reported. Provides penalties for failure to furnish information returns or statements. Requires the payment of a surcharge for multiple violations. Requires the withholding of tax on certain persons where the identifying number is incorrect or missing on any return filed by a service-recipient. Sets forth effective dates and transitional rules for provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1982
Recognizes the Pause for the Pledge as part of National Flag Day and encourages that it be part of the day's ceremonies. Urges all Americans to participate in National Flag Day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on June 14. Provides that the Congress shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore, Maryland.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1982
International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs Act - Designates the Secretary of Agriculture as the competent authority to implement the Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be Used for Such Carriage. Lists the duties of the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, to take appropriate action to protect U.S. rights under the Agreement. Authorizes inspection and testing organizations designated by the Secretary of Agriculture to establish reasonable fees to cover the costs of inspection or testing. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1982
States that the United States and the Soviet Union should begin the strategic arms reduction talks (START) with the following objectives: (1) preserving present controls on current nuclear weapons and nuclear delivery systems while pursuing substantial, equitable, and verifiable reductions; (2) seeking methods of avoiding the testing and deployment of destabilizing nuclear weapons; and (3) incorporating the ongoing negotiations on land-based intermediate-range nuclear missiles into the START negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that changes to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 proposed in the FY 1983 budget should not be implemented.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1982
Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Admiral Hyman George Rickover in recognition of his distinguished service and for his contributions to the development of safe nuclear energy and to the defense of the United States. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such provision. Authorizes the Secretary to make available bronze duplicates of such medal for sale under regulations he prescribes and in accordance with provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1982
Authorizes the Director of the International Communication Agency to make available for broadcasting in the United States the film entitled "Let Poland Be Poland: A Day of Solidarity With the People of Poland."
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1981
Expresses the support of the Congress for the Solidarity movement in Poland. Deplores the imposition of martial law. Places the ultimate responsibility for martial law on the Soviet Union. Reaffirms the support of the Congress for the Polish people. Reaffirms its concern over Soviet interference in Polish affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1981
Commends and supports the President's peace initiatives. Reaffirms the desire of Congress to work with the President to reduce the threats of nuclear war.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States and Japan should exert maximum efforts to resist Soviet challenges in Asia; (2) Japan should make a greater contribution to its own defense; and (3) Japan's defense expenditures should be at least one percent of its gross national product.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1981
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are no greater than total receipts. Permits Congress in such statement to provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a three-fifths vote directed solely to that subject. Prohibits total receipts for any fiscal year set forth in such statement from increasing by a rate greater than the rate of increase in national income in the last calendar year ending before such fiscal year, unless Congress passes a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law. Permits Congress to waive the provisions of this Act with respect to any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Prohibits the Congress from requiring that the States engage in additional activities without compensation equal to the additional costs. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1981
Multinational Force and Observers Participation Resolution - Authorizes the President to assign U.S. military personnel to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) to implement the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. Directs the President to give Congress specified information about the other countries providing military personnel for the MFO before the President assigns U.S. military personnel to the MFO. Requires every possible effort to be made to ensure that at least four foreign countries are represented on the MFO. Authorizes U.S. military personnel assigned to the MFO to perform only the functions specified in the peace treaty and its protocol. Limits the number of such military personnel. Authorizes the President to assign U.S. civilian personnel as observers in the MFO. Limits the U.S. share of the costs of the MFO. Authorizes appropriations to pay the U.S. contribution to the MFO budget. Authorizes Federal agencies to provide support to the MFO, without reimbursement if such support would not significantly increase U.S. costs. Directs the President to report annually to Congress on the MFO, on U.S. participation in the MFO, and on specified discussions with Egypt and Israel. Requires such reports to be as detailed as possible. States that nothing in this resolution is intended to signify congressional approval of any agreement made by the executive branch other than the agreement to participate in the MFO.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1981
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a specially struck gold medal to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in recognition of the bicentennial anniversary of diplomatic and trade relations between the Netherlands and the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to coin and sell bronze duplicates of such medal. Authorizes appropriations.
![Official portrait of Rep. Fountain, L. H. [D-NC-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000319_200.jpg)