United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1984
States that the Congress: (1) adopts as an objective the release of all Americans still held captive in Southeast Asia and the full accounting of those still missing; (2) recognizes and supports the President's leadership with respect to those Americans; (3) supports his efforts in impressing upon the Southeast Asian nations the determination of the United States to resolve this issue; and (4) encourages him to continue to use all means to secure a full accounting of those Americans still missing and to inform the Congress of his progress regarding this matter.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Constitution provides that all citizens have the right to keep and bear arms and that such right supersedes the power and authority of any government.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Federal Reserve Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to place the Secretary of the Treasury on the Federal Open Market Committee. Changes the term of office of the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from four years to the period ending on January 31 of the first calendar year beginning after the calendar year during which the term of the President who appointed the Chairman is scheduled to expire. Provides that in the event of the absence or unavailability of the chairman, the vice chairman (or in the vice chairman's absence another member of the Board) may be designated acting chairman. Provides that the vice chairman shall perform the duties of the chairman until a successor is appointed in the event of the chairman's death or resignation. Provides that in the case of the death or resignation of the chairman and the vice chairman or a vacancy in both offices, the member of the Board with the most years of service shall perform the duties of the chairman until a successor is appointed. Changes from 14 years to seven years the term of office of members of the Federal Reserve Board. Requires each change, of any nature whatsoever, in the intermediate targets for monetary policy that is adopted by the Federal Open Market Committee to be disclosed to the public on the date of adoption. Defines "intermediate targets" as any policy objectives regarding monetary aggregates, credit aggregates, prices, interest rates, or bank reserves.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Balanced Monetary Policy and Price Stability Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to make it the policy of the Federal Open Market Committee to maintain low interest rates and stable exchange rates, and to encourage strong economic growth, to the extent that such policy is consistent with long-term price stability. Requires the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Secretary of the Treasury to develop a price index to assist the Committee in establishing intermediate targets for the conduct of monetary policy. Requires the Chairman and the Secretary to establish a target range for such price index which will not result in a decline in the general level of prices. Requires the Committee, if the price index rises above such target range, to restrict the availability of bank reserves, or raise their cost, or both, and if the index falls below the target to increase the availability of bank reserves, or reduce their cost, or both. Permits a new target range to be set after a declaration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances by the Chairman and the Secretary. Repeals the requirements of such Act concerning the targeting of monetary aggregates. Directs the Secretary to seek the establishment of an international advisory task force, and ultimately an international monetary conference, consisting of representatives of the major industrial nations. Declares the purposes of such task force and conference to be: (1) the improvement of price stability throughout the world; (2) the improvement of the stability of currency exchange rates; and (3) the improvement of the prospects for liberal trade and strong noninflationary economic growth.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Ten Percent Flat Tax Rate Act - Title I: Ten Percent Tax Rate For All Individuals And Unincorporated Associations - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a flat rate tax of ten percent on the adjusted gross income of individuals and unincorporated associations. Defines "unincorporated association" as any taxable entity which is not incorporated pursuant to the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign nation. Repeals the income tax credits for: (1) the elderly; (2) contributions to candidates for public office; (3) the purchase of a new principal residence; (4) dependent care expenses; (5) earned income; and (6) residential energy conservation expenses. Repeals the alternative minimum tax for taxpayers other than corporations. Provides that specified income tax credits shall not be available to individuals and unincorporated associations. Excludes from the gross income of individuals or unincorporated associations: (1) alimony and separate maintenance payments; (2) scholarship payments and fellowship grants; (3) social security payments; (4) excess social security tax payments; (5) payments received for disability; (6) payments received pursuant to the Railroad Retirement Act; (7) certain civil service retirement benefits; and (8) interest payments received on State and municipal bonds. Defines "adjusted gross income" in the case of an individual or unincorporated association as gross income minus: (1) trade or business deductions; (2) trade and business deductions of employees; and (3) expenses relating to income production. Disallows certain exclusions from the gross income of individuals and unincorporated associations, including exclusions for: (1) certain death payments; (2) gifts and inheritances; (3) injury or sickness compensation; (4) employer contributions to accident and health plans; (5) partial dividends; (6) contributions to corporation capital; and (7) dependent care assistance. Allows deductions from the adjusted gross income of individuals for personal exemptions. Sets the amounts of such exemptions at: (1) $2,000 for the taxpayer and spouse; and (2) $2,000 for each dependent of the taxpayer. Provides for cost-of-living adjustments for such amounts. Disallows all itemized deductions for individuals and unincorporated associations except those for interest, taxes, charitable contributions, and certain retirement savings. Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) medical and dental expenses; (2) alimony payments; (3) taxes, interest, and business depreciation by cooperative housing tenant-stockholders; (4) two-earner married couples; and (5) adoption expenses. Imposes a flat rate tax of ten percent on the gross income of estates and trusts. Repeals special rules, income tax deductions, and income tax credits applicable to estates and trusts. Revises rules for determining the income tax of a partner to provide that each partner shall take into account separately his or her distributive share of the partnership's: (1) gains and losses; (2) taxes; and (3) taxable income or loss. Provides that the foreign tax credit shall not apply to unincorporated associations. Repeals the estate tax. Title II: Tax Amnesty - Provides for a one-time amnesty from criminal and civil tax penalties for taxpayers who: (1) file a written statement with specified information concerning any underpayment of tax; (2) pay the amount of such underpayment when filing the statement; and (3) within 30 days of notification of the amount of interest payable on any tax delinquent amount, pays the full amount of such interest or delinquency. Permits installment payments of tax due in certain cases. Disallows an amnesty period for taxpayers against whom a tax deficiency has already been assessed, who have committed fraud in seeking amnesty, or against whom a criminal investigation is pending. Establishes a special fund in the Treasury for taxes recovered under such amnesty program. Requires that revenues from such fund be used to offset possible revenue losses.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1984
Authorizes the National Committee of American Airmen Rescued by General Mihailovich to establish a monument to General Draza Mihailovich in the District of Columbia, or its environs, in recognition of the role he played saving the lives of more than 500 U.S. airmen in Yugoslavia during World War II. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to select, with the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, a suitable site on public grounds for such memorial. Subjects the design and any plans for the memorial to the approval of the Secretary, the National Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Declares that no moneys belonging to the United States or the District of Columbia shall be expended for the establishment of such memorial. Directs the Secretary to permit groundbreaking for construction of the monument only after determining that sufficient funds are available for completion of the monument. Directs that the maintenance and care of the monument shall be the responsibility of the National Committee of American Airmen Rescued by General Mihailovich.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1984
Telecommunications Employees' Protection Act of 1984 - Extends the agreement providing for the reciprocal recognition of employees' service credit by entities subject to the modified judgment of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in the case of the United States v. Western Electric, et alia, to cover certain employees who change employment between such entities on or after January 1, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1984
Credit Accounting Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Financing Bank Act of 1973 to declare that one purpose of the Act is to assure that the budgetary treatment of Federal and federally assisted borrowing programs accurately reflect their cost to the Federal Government. Defines the terms "direct loan" and "private reinsurance" for the purposes of such Act. Requires the Federal Financing Bank, within 90 days after a Federal agency has made a direct loan, to sell the obligation resulting from such loan to the public. Requires that all such sales be made to the highest bidder at a public auction conducted by the Bank or an agent of the Bank. Makes any guarantee by a Federal agency of an obligation sold in such manner effective only while such obligation is held by the Bank. Requires the Bank, within 90 days after a Federal agency guarantees any obligation, to purchase private reinsurance for the risks assumed by such agency under such guarantee. Permits the Bank to make commitments to purchase, and purchase and sell, any obligation which is issued or guaranteed by a Federal agency. Authorizes the Bank to charge fees for its services to cover all expenses. Requires any Federal agency which makes a direct loan or guarantees any obligation to transmit to the Bank: (1) the loan obligation; and (2) such information with respect to the borrower as may be necessary for the Bank to carry out its responsibilities. Treats as receipts and disbursements of a particular Federal agency, for purposes of the unified budget, all receipts and disbursements of the Bank with respect to: (1) any direct loan sold by the Bank as agent for the Federal agency; or (2) any guarantee with respect to which the Bank purchased private reinsurance as agent for the Federal agency. Declares that in the case of any off-budget agency, the unified budget shall include for such agency its receipts from, and disbursements to, the Bank. Repeals the provisions of such Act concerning the purchase, by the Bank, of the obligations of any local public body or agency within the United States. Sets forth transition provisions which include a pilot program during FY 1985, the development of a marketing plan, and the development of a reinsurance plan. Requires that the marketing plan and reinsurance plan developed pursuant to this Act be published in the Federal Register.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1984
Provides for the allocation among eligible States of interest earned on tax revenues paid into the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1985 and 1986. Sets forth terms and conditions for a State to receive such funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 and 1986 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the delay in the enforcement of a Smoot Hawley Tariff Act provision, which prohibits importation of goods mined or produced wholly or in part in any foreign country by convict, forced, or indentured labor under penal sanctions, is unacceptable to the Congress. Requests the Secretary of the Treasury to end the delay in the enforcement of such provision and immediately prohibit the importation of such goods.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Fair Trade in Steel Act of 1984 - Declares that it is the policy of Congress that access to the U.S. market for foreign-produced carbon, alloy, and specialty steel mill products should be on an equitable basis to safeguard national security, insure orderly trade in steel mill products, reduce unfair trade in steel mill products, and alleviate U.S. balance-of-payments problems. Expresses the intent of Congress to: (1) expand the economic viability of the U.S. steel industry and the jobs of its workers; (2) prevent the further decline of the domestic steel industry; and (3) temper the economic hardships resulting from unemployment in steel industry communities by encouraging reinvestment in existing steelmaking facilities. Limits annual imports of specified steel mill product categories to specified percentages of the apparent domestic supply which are based on adjusted average import penetration levels for each such product category for the years 1979, 1980, and 1981. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to allocate global product limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries, or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocations. Requires the Secretary to make an annual determination of the expected apparent domestic supply in each steel mill product category. Requires the Secretary to revise such determination periodically during the year. Directs the Secretary to determine, within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, whether the steel industry companies have plans to use substantially all of the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and the modernization of the steel sector. Prohibits the import restrictions from taking effect until the Secretary determines that the steel companies have such plans. Directs the Secretary to monitor steel sector investments made and announced by the steel industry and to consult with steel industry representatives and employees in the course of such monitoring. Directs the Secretary to determine annually whether steel companies are using substantially all the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Directs the Secretary to modify or suspend the relevant import restrictions if the Secretary determines that substantially less than all the cash flow from the steel sector is being used for such reinvestment and modernization and that the level of investment is not demonstrably justified by adverse financial conditions within the industry. Directs the Secretary to publish: (1) each annual determination and its rationale; and (2) the total amount of cash flow from the steel sector and the total amount used for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Requires the steel companies to provide the Secretary with the information necessary for making such determinations. Directs the Secretary to examine the supply and demand situation in the United States for a specified steel product category if requested by affected steel consumers. Sets forth criteria to be used in determining short supply. Directs the Secretary to monitor imports of fabricated steel mill products. Sets forth the method of investigating whether imports of fabricated steel products are rendering ineffective or materially interfering with the objectives of this Act. Limits the quantity of iron ore that may be entered from all sources during any calendar year after the effective date of this Act. Directs the Secretary to allocate global iron ore limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocation. Directs the Secretary, in making such allocations, to attempt first to accommodate the requirements of individual steel mills which have been traditionally dependent on ocean sourced foreign iron ore and the requirements of contractual obligations incurred before January 1, 1984. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the import restrictions on iron ore if necessary to meet the needs of such individual steel mills. Provides for the enforcement and implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Amends rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the expenditure of appropriated funds to defray travel expenses of committee members or employees outside of the United States or its territories or possessions, unless such committee has approved, by recorded vote, a resolution authorizing such travel. Requires that such resolution set forth: (1) a detailed itinerary; (2) the anticipated benefits that could not otherwise be achieved; (3) a certification that the travel cost is the lowest available; and (4) justification for each individual participating in such travel.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1984
Defense Spare Parts Procurement Reform Act - Directs the head of a defense agency to establish procedures to recognize personnel efforts to increase competition and achieve cost savings in spare parts procurement. Requires each contractor supplying a military department to mark each item with: (1) the contractor's name and stock number for the item; and (2) the original manufacturer or producer if not the contractor. Requires all technical data relating to a part delivered under the contract to carry the name of the original manufacturer or producer and the stock number. Prohibits a contractor from entering into agreements with a subcontractor which restrict sales by the subcontractor directly to the United States. Limits such prohibition to contracts involving $25,000 or more. Requires that replacement parts be procured by competitive methods when possible. Directs a contracting officer to determine the availability of a part first through the supply system of the Defense Department and then under Federal supply contracts through the General Services Administration. Requires such officer to review the procurement history and description of a part. Directs the head of the contracting agency to require a bidder on a major system to specify: (1) whether the technical data provided would be with unlimited or limited rights and with a license; and (2) the cost of the United States of acquiring unlimited rights or a license. Requires that such bidders certify that items not available with unlimited rights will be developed at private expense and that the technical data is not in the public domain. Grants the United States unlimited rights in technical data delivered under contract if such data was developed wholly or in part at Government expense or is in the public domain. Establishes a second contractor review system and penalties for false statements concerning assertions that certain technical data is private. Directs a contractor to certify the completeness and accuracy of all statements concerning technical data to be or not to be provided, including opportunities and requirements for cure if such data should prove to be inaccurate or insufficient for subsequent reprocurement purposes. Directs the head of any agency to develop a plan for an accounting system to monitor access to and ownership of data which includes the possibility of a department-wide system for the retrieval of technical data. Requires the submission of such a plan to Congress. Directs the head of each such agency, within three years, to inventory the access to or the ownership of all technical data for each major system under the agency's jurisdiction. Directs the Secretary of Defense to coordinate such inventories to allow the exchange of information. Requires the head of each such agency to designate within the agency a competition advocate for the agency, and one for each procuring activity. Sets forth the functions of such advocates, including maximizing competitive opportunities during acquisition and challenging existing, inhibiting practices. Grants such advocates direct access to agency personnel. Requires each agency head to report to Congress by December 15 of each year on the management of the acquisition of replacement parts, including the activities of the competition advocates. Requires that such reports be submitted by the Secretary of Defense and break down information by the Department as a whole as well as for each of the military departments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1984
Joint Research and Development Act of 1984 - Declares that no joint research and development program shall be deemed illegal per se under the Federal antitrust laws or under any similar State law. Excludes from the term "joint research and development program" any activity in which two or more participating parties: (1) exchange information regarding the sales, marketing, or distribution of any product, process, or service; or (2) restrict or require the participation by any party in another research and development program, the production, marketing, or other commercial application by any party of any product, process, or service, or the sale, licensing, or sharing by any party of any invention not jointly developed under the program. Permits any party to a joint research and development program to file with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) a written notice disclosing: (1) the parties to such program; (2) the nature, objectives, and duration of the program; and (3) the agreements made by the parties under the program. Directs the Attorney General or the FTC, within 60 days after receiving such notice, to publish in the Federal Register a notice identifying the parties to such program and the general nature and duration of such program. Exempts material submitted as part of such notices from public disclosure. Limits the amount that may be recovered in an action brought by a person or by a State on behalf of its residents for an injury to business or property sustained as a result of a violation of a State or Federal antitrust law, to the amount of the actual damages sustained, interest thereon, and the cost of the suit, if: (1) the action is based on conduct under a joint research and development program that is described in the program notice filed with the Attorney General and the FTC; and (2) such action is filed after the notice of such program is published in the Federal Register. Directs the court to award the prevailing party in such action a reasonable attorney's fee. Provides that such recovery limitation shall not apply to any conduct that occurs after an order granting a permanent injunction has been issued against such conduct as a result of an action under Federal or State antitrust law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Petroleum Marketing Practices Act Amendments of 1984 - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to: (1) redefine the term "failure"; and (2) define the terms "constructive termination" and "similar motor fuel marketing operations." Defines "constructive termination" to mean: (1) the failure by the franchisor to supply the franchisee with motor fuel in an amount equal to the minimum specified in the franchise agreement; (2) the failure by the franchisor to make motor fuel available to the franchisee such minimum amount at a price which enables the franchisee to compete with similar motor fuel marketing operations of the franchisor; or (3) any adjustment in the quantity of fuel a franchisee is required or entitled to receive unless the franchisor can show that either the adjustment is applied equally to all franchisees and marketing operations of the franchisor within the relevant geographic area, or, if it is a downward adjustment, the franchisor can show that it is reasonable. Prohibits a motor fuel franchisor from constructively terminating a franchise. Requires a franchisor, in certain circumstances prior to terminating a franchise, to make a bona fide reasonable offer to transfer the franchise to the franchisee. Permits nonrenewal of a franchise relationship if the franchisor and franchisee cannot agree to changes or additions to the provisions of the franchise which are fair and reasonable. Prohibits nonrenewal because of the failure of the franchisor and franchisee to agree to changes or additions to the provisions of the franchise which relate to materially altering, adding to, or replacing the marketing premises. Permits nonrenewal, in a situation where renewal is presently permitted, when it would be uneconomical to the franchisor despite any reasonable changes acceptable to the franchisee, only if the franchisor demonstrates that the nonrenewal is not being made with the intent of avoiding competition with the franchisee. Requires a franchisor to notify a franchisee, 90 days prior to the franchisor's final opportunity to exercise an option to buy or to continue leasing the land where the franchise is located, of the name, address, and phone number of the owner or holder of the underlying lease. Provides that if a franchisee enters into an agreement with the owner or lessor to maintain possession of the premises, then the franchise agreement may continue, at the option of the franchisee. Requires any franchisor who competes with its own franchisees to supply motor fuel to its franchisees at a price and on terms which reasonably enable the franchisee to compete with the franchisor. States that the burden of proof is on the franchisor to show lack of competition. Revises the definition of "trial franchise." Permits a franchisee to maintain a civil action against a franchisor if the franchisor constructively terminates the franchise. States that the death, retirement, or disability of a franchisee shall not be grounds for termination or nonrenewal of the franchise if, prior the franchisee's death, retirement, or disability, the franchisee provides the franchisor with a succession plan. Permits termination or nonrenewal if: (1) the franchisor notifies the franchisee in writing, within 30 days of receipt of the plan, of the franchisor's rejection of the plan; (2) the rejection notice includes reasons for the rejection; and (3) the rejection is reasonable. Provides a franchisee with the right to sell or otherwise transfer the franchise subject to the approval of the franchisor. Prohibits approval from being withheld unreasonably.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to David Phillip Vetter, of Spring, Texas, to be presented to his family in his memory as the oldest survivor of congenital severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).