United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Acid Deposition Control Act of 1984 - Title I: Acid Deposition Control Program - Amends the Clean Air Act ("the Act") to establish an acid deposition control program. Defines an "acid deposition impact region" as the 31 States east of or bordering on the Mississippi River and the District of Columbia. Requires that by January 1, 1996, the total annual sulfur dioxide emissions in the acid deposition impact region not exceed a level 11,000,000 tons less than the actual level of such emissions in 1980. Requires that one-half of such reduction be completed within six years after the enactment of this Act, or January 1, 1991, whichever is earlier. Provides that sulfur dioxide emissions from major stationary sources which did not begin operation before January 1, 1981, or which have increased emissions since such date (to the extent such emissions do not exceed one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input on a 30-day basis), calculated on an annual basis, shall not be added to the amount of sulfur dioxide which the State in which such sources are located is required to reduce by January 1, 1996, under provisions for regional reduction allocation and State reduction requirements. Provides that no emissions from such sources shall be added in any State which during 1980 had no major stationary source which was a utility boiler which had an actual annual average emission rate greater than one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input. Provides that increases in sulfur dioxide emissions from utility boilers which are coal capable as defined under the Fuel Use Act and which convert to the use of coal as a primary fuel shall be so added only to the extent such emissions from a particular source exceed one and one-half pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input on an annual average. Prohibits any major stationary source of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides from commencing operation after January 1, 1996, in such region unless there has been identified for such source a simultaneous net reduction in emissions of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, or both, at one or more points in such region: (1) in excess of the emissions which potentially would result from the proposed new source; and (2) not otherwise required by a State implementation plan. Exempts from such prohibition any major stationary source which: (1) adopts the best available control technology, as defined under specified provisions of the Act as appropriate for the location of the proposed new source; and (2) attains at least the most stringent emission limitation shown by an adequate operating history to have been achieved in practice by a major stationary source of the same size, type, and class within the region. Directs the Governors of all 31 States within the region to enter into negotiations to establish sulfur dioxide emission reduction requirements for each such State sufficient to achieve the total reduction required for the region. Makes such an agreement binding and enforceable on each such State, but only upon notification to the Administrator by the Governors of 75 percent of the States in the region, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, that such agreement has been reached. Requires each such State, if the Governors fail to reach agreement within such 18 months, to achieve its share of the reduction in annual sulfur dioxide emissions required for the region. Bases such share on the actual utility emissions which are in excess of one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input averaged over 1980. Authorizes the Governors of any two or more States in the region to reallot among agreeing States such required reductions, provided that the total reductions equal the required total. Requires each such State, within 30 months after the enactment of this Act, to adopt enforceable measures to achieve the required reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions, including emissions limitations and schedules for compliance for sources within such State and other means of emissions reduction in accordance with specified provisions. Directs the Governor of such State to submit such measures to the Administrator for review and to the Governors of all other States in the region for comment. Provides for such review and approval according to specified procedures. Directs the Administrator to approve such measures if, taking into consideration the comments of the other State Governors, the Administrator finds that such measures: (1) contain enforceable requirements for continuous emission reduction; (2) contain requirements for monitoring by the source and enforcement agencies to assure that the emission limitations are being met; and (3) are adequate to meet the required reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions for such State by the deadline under this Act. Makes each emission limitation, compliance schedule, or other measure approved under this Act a requirement of an applicable implementation plan and an emission limitation for purposes of specified provisions of the Act. Provides that, in the case of any major stationary source which is in any State in the region and which is not by December 31, 1986, in full compliance with the applicable implementation plan in effect on January 1, 1981, the owner or operator shall be subject to: (1) the emission limitation established under specified provisions of this Act for all facilities in such State owned or operated by such owner or operator; and (2) a noncompliance penalty for each such source or facility, including each electric generating facility, for the period from the original date for compliance under the applicable implementation plan until actual compliance with such emission limitation. Requires that such enforceable measures adopted by States in the region include compliance schedules which specify actions to be performed leading toward final compliance and increments of progress to be achieved by dates in advance of dates by which the State requires each particular source to comply with the emission limitation necessary to attain the reduction for such State. Requires the State in adopting (and the Administrator in reviewing) such measures to stage or phase such compliance dates so that to the maximum extent practicable one-half of the total emission reduction under this Act is achieved within six years of enactment, or prior to January 1, 1991, whichever is earlier. Requires each major stationary source which proposes to comply with an emission limitation established under this Act by any means other than an innovative system of continuous emission reduction technology or the replacement of existing facilities with new facilities of substantially lower emissions to comply with such emission limitation by January 1, 1994. Sets forth major stationary source sulfur dioxide reduction requirements to apply in any State in the region which has not: (1) adopted, within 30 months after enactment of this Act, measures to achieve the required reduction; or (2) had such measures approved by the Administrator within six months after their submission. Requires, in such States, the owner or operator of each fossil-fuel-burning electric generating facility which is a major stationary source which is not subject to specified performance standards for new stationary sources to comply with an emission limitation or limitations for all such facilities owned or operated by the same entity in such region equivalent to an average among such facilities of one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input on a 30-day average. Requires the owner or operator of each such facility to submit to the Administrator a plan or schedule of compliance for achieving such emission limitation or equivalent emission reduction in accordance with provisions for enforceable mission reduction programs, within three years after the enactment of this Act or six months after the date on which such owner or operator becomes subject to such emission limitation, whichever is later. Directs the Administrator to approve such plan and compliance schedule if it: (1) contains enforceable requirements for continuous emission reduction; (2) contains requirements for monitoring by the source and enforcement agencies to assure that the emission limitations are being met; and (3) will achieve the required emission reduction in a manner consistent with a specified schedule established under provisions for State enforceable measures, or otherwise at the earliest practicable date, but no later than January 1, 1994. Makes specified violations of such requirements violations of emissions limitations for purposes of certain provisions of the Act. Sets forth provisions for enforceable emission reduction programs. Permits alternative methods or programs for net emission reduction to be used to maintain emission limitations or attain emission reductions required under specified provisions of this Act. Permits a State or the owner or operator of a source to use such alternative methods or programs, in addition to enforceable continuous emission reduction measures, if emissions limitations under such methods or programs are enforceable by the Federal Government, States other than those in which the emissions occur, and citizens under specified provisions of the Act. Includes among such alternative methods or programs: (1) least emissions dispatch to meet electric generating demand and existing generating capacity; (2) retirement of major stationary sources at an earlier date than provided in schedules on file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, or State utility regulatory agencies; (3) investments in energy conservation where reductions in emissions can be identified with such investments; (4) trading of emission reduction requirements and actual reductions on a State or regional basis, for which States and the Administrator are authorized to establish emission reduction banks or brokerage institutions to facilitate such trading; (5) precombustion cleaning of fuels; and (6) fuel substitution. Permits a State or the owner or operator of a source required to achieve emission reductions under specified provisions of this Act to substitute reductions in nitrogen oxides emissions, at a rate of two units by weight of nitrogen oxides for each unit of sulfur dioxide. Directs the Administrator to: (1) conduct a study of air pollution problems associated with the long-range transport of pollutants in the portions of the continental United States not included in the acid deposition impact region; and (2) report the results of such study to the Congress within two years after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Acid Precipitation Task Force established under the Energy Security Act to submit to specified congressional committees two comprehensive reports, one by December 31, 1986, and one by December 31, 1988. Requires that such reports present specified research findings and recommendations, based on existing scientific knowledge, for reducing acid deposition and its effects. Directs the Task Force to provide for appropriate scientific peer review of such research and of its reports. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989 in addition to any other funds authorized to be appropriated to the Task Force to carry out specified research activities under such Act. Directs the Administrator, promptly after the date established under provisions for major stationary source sulfur dioxide reduction requirements, to report to specified congressional committees on emission limitation and other enforceable measures adopted by the States and approved by the Administrator or in effect under such provisions, for all States in the region. Directs the Administrator to develop an inventory of sources of nitrogen oxides in the region and in each State in the region. Directs the Administrator, within four years after enactment of this Act, to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) such inventory; (2) control technology and methods for new and existing sources of nitrogen oxides; and (3) any recommendations for requirements to reduce existing emissions or control new emissions of nitrogen oxides to reduce acid deposition, including but not limited to the question of whether levels of such emissions should be strictly limited or reduced. Establishes a National Commission on Air Quality Employment Impacts to study and report to Congress on the direct and indirect impacts on employment in domestic coal mining that would result from the reduction of emissions required by this Act. Authorizes the Commission, if it deems it appropriate, to study and report on other direct employment impacts of this Act on industries related to coal mining. Requires that the Commission's report be filed with specified congressional committees by December 31, 1987. Permits such report to include: (1) legislative recommendations to correct any substantially adverse impact on employment dislocations in coal mining regions caused by this Act; and (2) recommendations to States, counties, cities, or private industrial entities to aid in the correction of said employment dislocation. Provides for Commission membership, including representatives of specified congressional committees, a representative of the United Mine Workers, and representatives of the coal industry. Provides for cooperation, information, and technical assistance from Federal agencies for the Commission. Terminates the Commission upon completion of its report. Authorizes the Commission, in the conduct of the study, to contract with nongovernmental entities competent to perform research or investigations in areas within the Commission's mandate, and to hold public hearings, forums, and workshops to enable full public participation. Authorizes the Commission to contract with nonprofit technical and scientific organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, to develop necessary technical information for a specified authorized study. Authorizes the Commission to expend up to $3,000,000 to carry out its required functions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of State should request the Organization of American States to consider the question of the involvement by Cuba in drug trafficking and the need for international inspections and factfinding hearings regarding such problem.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should take steps to place the question of the involvement by Cuba in drug trafficking on the United Nations' agenda and to request of U.N. agencies investigations and reports regarding such problem.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1984
Amends the Public Health Service Act to transfer certain functions of the Surgeon General regarding the Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Establishes within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) a National Institute on Population and Human Reproduction to conduct and support basic and applied research, training, and related programs regarding human reproduction and the population sciences. Establishes a related National Population and Human Reproduction Advisory Council. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations for such Institute. Requires at least 25 percent of such annual appropriations to be spent for research and contraceptive development and evaluation. Establishes a NICHD National Advisory Council for Mothers and Children. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations for such Institute. Requires the Directors of such Institutes to provide for scientific peer review of research and program grants. Establishes within NIH a National Science Policy Committee for Research on Human Development with coordinating responsibilities for the budgets and planning of NICHD and the Population Institute.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1984
Designates the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge and the Barnegat National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey collectively as the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1984
Age Discrimination in Employment Act Public Safety Officers Amendments of 1984 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to exclude State and local law enforcement officers and firefighters from coverage under the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1984
Compassionate Pain Relief Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a 60-month program under which parenteral diacetylmorphine shall be made available through qualified pharmacies for the relief of pain from cancer. Directs the Secretary to provide for the manufacture of such drug. Permits physicians registered under the Controlled Substances Act to prescribe such drug. States that for purposes of such program the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and titles II and III of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 shall not apply with respect to: (1) the importing of opium; and (2) the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of parenteral diacetylmorphine. Requires: (1) the Secretary to make program reports to the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) the Comptroller General of the United States to make a four-year program report to such committees.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1984
States that the President should: (1) renew the agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union on space cooperation for peaceful purposes; (2) initiate talks with the Soviet Union and other interested governments on opportunities for cooperative East-West space ventures as an alternative to an arms race in space; and (3) submit to the Congress a report detailing the steps taken in pursuance of these goals.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from an employee-recipient's income a portion of the value of an employee achievement award if it is awarded by reason of length of service, productivity or safety achievement.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1984
Reciprocal Tariff Reduction Acceleration Act of 1984 - Authorizes the President, under appropriate circumstances, to accelerate, by not more than one year, the effective date of each staged duty-rate reduction in the Tariff Schedules of the United States which has been proclaimed by him to carry out trade agreements entered pursuant to the Trade Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the parties in the New Ireland Forum are to be commended for their efforts in the search for peace, justice, and reconciliation in Northern Ireland; and (2) all political parties in Northern Ireland and the British and Irish Governments should review the findings and recommendations of the Forum.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1984
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 for the U.S. International Trade Commission, including a specified amount for reception and entertainment expenses. Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 for the U.S. Customs Service. Earmarks specified amounts for the air interdiction program of the Customs Service and for the "Operation EXODUS" program. Limits the amount of overtime pay which a Customs Service employee may receive. Authorizes the Commissioner of Customs to waive that limit. Prohibits any final rule which revises the Customs bond requirements from taking effect during the 90 days of continuous session of Congress following the publication of notice of the final rule in the Federal Register. Requires the Commissioner of Customs, on the day the notice of the final rule is published in the Federal Register, to submit to specified congressional committees a report containing: (1) an analysis of the revenue impact of the rule; (2) the estimated cost benefit of the rule to the Customs Service and to importers; and (3) a justification of the revisions to be affected by the rule. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Earmarks a specified amount for entertainment and representation expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Amends the Education Amendments of 1972 to include educational institutions receiving Federal financial assistance within the prohibition against sex discrimination.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Permits the President, in the light of economic conditions and all other relevant factors, to permanently reserve from obligation and expenditure any budget authority which is otherwise available for FY 1984 or 1985 to the extent necessary or appropriate to reduce the Federal deficit. Sets forth limitations on such reservations by the President. Requires that at least 25 percent of the total amount of the reservations made by the President for either of the two fiscal years involved be made from appropriations and other obligational authority available for national defense. Provides that no such reservation shall have the objective, or the effect, of eliminating any program or combination of programs which has been specifically authorized by law. Declares that the authority conferred upon the President by this Act shall be in addition to and separate from any impoundment authority granted by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 or any other law and shall not be subject to any restrictions or limitations other than those imposed by this Act. Requires the President, whenever he reserves any budget authority under this Act, to transmit to Congress a special message specifying certain information. Sets forth the procedure for congressional veto of any or all of such reservations by passage of a joint resolution of disapproval by both Houses of Congress within 60 days after notification. Requires the Comptroller General to review each such reservation and inform the House and the Senate whether or not it was made in accordance with the requirements of this Act. Declares that in the administration of any program for which reservation has been made and the distribution of funds is to be determined by a formula, the amount available for expenditure after such reservation shall be substituted for the amount appropriated or otherwise made available in the application of the formula.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to present to Elie Wiesel a gold medal in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and outstanding contributions to world literature and human rights. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the public sale of bronze duplicates of such medal.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Food Aid and Export Market Promotion Act - Requires the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to make a specified minimum amount of credit guarantees available to finance export sales of farm commodities. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to increase the annual authorized appropriations to carry out famine relief programs (title II of such Act). Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to authorize the donation of CCC stocks of dairy products and other agricultural commodities for the assistance of needy persons outside the United States. (Current law authorizes the donation only of CCC stocks of dairy products.) Requires that the proceeds of the sale or barter of such dairy products or commodities shall be used exclusively to facilitate providing assistance to such needy people. Requires the CCC to make available a specified minimum amount of financing during FY 1984 and FY 1985 for export sales of breeding animals and for the establishment of facilities in the importing nation for handling agricultural commodities. Amends the Food for Peace Act of 1966 to authorize the CCC to finance or guarantee export sales of agricultural commodities out of CCC and private stocks. Requires that repayment of such financing shall be in dollars with interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Requires the General Accounting Office, within 120 days of enactment of this Act, to report to Congress on the effectiveness and adequacy of U.S. food aid programs.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to request the Secretary General to seek the cooperation of Vietnam with the United States and specified other countries in ascertaining the whereabouts of the crewmen of the sunken U.S. vessel GLOMAR Java Sea.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1984
Directs the President to: (1) secure from the Indochina nations a full accounting of Americans captured or missing as a result of the Vietnam conflict; and (2) work for the release of captive Americans and the return of the remains of those American servicemen and civilians who died in Southeast Asia. Requires the President to submit two reports to Congress on American POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Amends the Federal criminal code to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for murders committed by prisoners serving life sentences in Federal correctional institutions. Requires the Government, for any offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a guilty plea that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant with the approval of the Government, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Eliminates the requirement for a presentence report. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading of the jury. Specifies mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the information and aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Directs the jury or the court to consider all the information and return a special finding identifying any mitigating or aggravating factors. Directs the court upon a finding that a sentence of death is justified to impose the death penalty. Requires the court, in any hearing before a grand jury under this Act, to instruct the jury in considering the death sentence to not consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon considering the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the Committee on Appropriations from considering any supplemental appropriation bill unless the request for such appropriation is accompanied by a statement of necessity.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
States that the Congress: (1) supports the initiatives taken by the Contadora nations and the resulting Documents of Objectives and Principles for Implementation agreed to by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; (2) believes that the United States should support the effort to translate such agreed Principles into practical arrangements so as to facilitate a comprehensive regional peace agreement based on the noninterference in the affairs of other countries, national reconciliation, and democracy; and (3) believes that in fashioning U.S. policies in the region, the United States should take into consideration the degree of cooperation of Central American governments with the Contadora process in seeking a peaceful resolution to Central American conflicts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Sexual Assault Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to repeal the chapter on rape. Provides for a series of graded sexual offenses consisting of: sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery. Repeals the spousal exception for rape. Provides for an offense involving the sexual abuse of a minor. Makes such offense neutral as to gender.