United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1985
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 · 24 January 1985
Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1985 - Amends the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide a definition of the phrase "program or activity." Defines such term as all of the operations of: (1) a department or agency of a State or of a local government; (2) the entity of such State or local government that distributes Federal assistance and each such department or agency to which the assistance is extended; (3) a university or a system of higher education; (4) a local educational agency or other school system; (5) a corporation, partnership, or other private organization; or (6) any other entity consistent with the coverage provided above.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1985
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for treason and espionage. Requires the Government, for an offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea that it intends to seek the death penalty, as well as notice of the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury or the court upon motion by the defendant when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. 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. Sets forth special aggravating factors with respect to the crimes of treason and espionage. Includes among the mitigating factors that the defendant was less than 18 years old at the time of the crime. Conditions imposition of the death penalty on a unanimous finding by the jury that: (1) some aggravating factor exists in addition to a threshold factor; and (2) the aggravating factor sufficiently outweighs any mitigating factor found to exist. Directs the court to impose the death penalty upon a finding that such sentence is justified. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the death sentence. Limits the circumstances under which the offense of delivering defense information to aid foreign governments is punishable by death. 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, and any special finding, 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 · 24 January 1985
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for damaging or destroying any cemetery, religious building, or any religious article contained in such a building or interfering with any person freely exercising his or her religion.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1985
Congressional and Judicial Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1985 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to require that personnel actions affecting employees or applicants in the legislative and judicial branches of the Government be free from any discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap, or age. Allows Members of Congress to take into consideration an individual's domicile and political affiliation. Establishes within the judicial branch an Employment Review Board. Provides that members of the board be appointed from the retired judges of the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals. Authorizes an aggrieved individual to file a written complaint with the Board. Establishes procedures for the Board to investigate, settle, hear, and determine the claims alleged. Provides that if a violation is found an order for relief may compel the defendant to: (1) employ or reinstate such individual on such terms and conditions as may be appropriate; (2) pay compensatory damages; (3) pay punitive damages; and (4) pay fees and allowances of witnesses and reasonable attorneys' fees. Authorizes the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review, enjoin, set aside, suspend, modify, or enforce orders of the Board. Requires members of the Board to submit written reports to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics describing complaints during the reporting period involved.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable income tax credit for expenses incurred in the care of elderly family members. Sets such credit at 30 percent of the expenses incurred for taxpayers with incomes of $25,000 or less. Reduces the rate of such credit, but not below 20 percent, by one percent for each $2,000 of taxpayer income in excess of $25,000. Limits such credit to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000. Imposes a maximum $10,000 limit on the amount of elderly care expenses that can be taken into account. Defines "qualified family member" as any individual who: (1) is related to the taxpayer by blood or marriage; (2) is at least 70 years of age, is diagnosed with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, or is disabled; and (3) has a family income of $15,000 or less. Defines "qualified elderly care expenses" as payments for: (1) home health agency services; (2) homemaker services; (3) adult day care; (4) respite care; or (5) certain health care equipment and supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1985
Amends the Steel Import Stabilization Act to direct the U.S. Trade Representative, in negotiating with Japan and South Korea on steel products import limits, to negotiate the apportionment of the aggregate limit among specified subcategories of steel products. Directs the U.S. Trade Representative to apportion the aggregate limit if such negotiations are not successfully concluded within 30 days of the enactment of this Act. Sets forth such subcategories.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 1985
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Treatment Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate 20 centers for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Requires such centers to: (1) provide a central facility for diagnosis, evaluation, and counseling; (2) develop standards of treatment and methods of delivering cost-effective services; (3) train professionals and nonprofessionals in diagnosing and treating such disorders; and (4) develop a comprehensive acute and long-term treatment program. Authorizes FY 1986 through 1990 appropriations. Directs the Secretary to make $1,000,000 available to each center for each of at least five years for teaching, training, research, and staffing. Permits eligible persons to elect to receive benefits as provided for by this Act rather than under titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), or XX (Grants to States for Service) of the Social Security Act, or under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
National Observance Advisory Act - Establishes the President's Advisory Commission on National Observances to establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed national observance be approved or disapproved.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to require that any attorney who collects debts on behalf of a client be subject to the provisions of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for the home health care and adult day care expenses of a taxpayer who maintains a household which includes a dependent of the taxpayer who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or a related brain disorder. Permits this deduction whether or not the taxpayer itemizes deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Commemorative Coin Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a specified number of: (1) five dollar gold coins, emblematic of the centennial of the Statue of Liberty; (2) one dollar silver coins, emblematic of the use of Ellis Island; and (3) half dollar coins, emblematic of the contributions of immigrants to America. Sets forth certain features of such coins; and provides for their sale and issuance. Provides for the distribution and use of such sale funds to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Terminates the minting of such coins on December 31, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
National Individual Training Account Act of 1985 - Title I: Individual Training Accounts - Establishes the national individual training account program to be administered by the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury in cooperation with the States. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to enter into agreements whereby States or State unemployment compensation agencies shall: (1) issue and redeem vouchers to pay training and relocation expenses; (2) accept contributions from employees and employers for deposit into individual training accounts and distribute any amount in any such account at such times as any distribution from such account is authorized; (3) provide individual counseling or job and training referral services to any participant in the program; and (4) cooperate with officers of the Federal Government or of any other State in carrying out this Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor, upon the request of a State, to provide information and to detail, on a reimbursable basis, personnel to assist such State in establishing a State individual training account program. Sets forth the duties of the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury in administering the program established by this Act. Sets forth provisions for distributions from individual training accounts. Sets forth provisions for eligible training programs and for certification of such programs by the Secretary of Labor. Sets forth provisions for qualified relocation expenses and for approval of such expenses by the Secretary of Labor. Provides that individual training and related accounts are to be established as separate book accounts in the Unemployment Trust Fund. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 Relating to Individual Training Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise provisions for approval of State unemployment compensation laws to require that a State have a State individual training account program which has been approved by the Secretary of Labor. Applies such requirement to certifications of such State laws for 1986 and subsequent years. Revises Federal unemployment tax provisions to add requirements relating to State individual training account programs. Revises provisions relating to itemized Federal income tax deductions for individuals and corporations to allow such deductions for employee or employer contributions to individual training accounts made after December 31, 1984. Prohibits any reduction (through an additional credit allowance) in Federal unemployment tax in the case of any large employer which refuses to participate in the national individual training account program. Defines "large employer" as one which during the calendar year employed an average of not less than 25 employees. Makes such denial of reduction applicable to calendar years beginning after December 31, 1986. Appropriates to the Secretary of Labor, for the expense of administering the Federal-State employment service, for each fiscal year ending after January 1, 1986, an amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be equivalent to an unspecified portion of the amounts received in the general fund in the Treasury which are attributable to the operation of such denial of reduction in the unemployment tax rate of such large employers who refuse to participate in the national individual training account program.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code to define "armor piercing ammunition." Excludes from the definition: (1) shot gun shot required by Federal or State regulations for hunting; (2) frangible projectiles for target shooting; and (3) projectiles that the Secretary of the Treasury determines are primarily intended for sporting purposes. Makes it unlawful for any person to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition. Allows for: (1) manufacture or importation of armor piercing ammunition for the use of the United States or any State or local government; and (2) manufacture for the sole purpose of exportation. Establishes a licensing fee of $1,000 per year for manufacturers and importers of armor piercing ammunition. Imposes an additional mandatory sentence of not less than five years for any person who uses or carries a firearm and is in possession of armor piercing ammunition during the commission of a violent felony. Provides that such sentence shall not be suspended nor probation nor parole be granted.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Enterprise Zone Act of 1985 - Title I: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of enterprise zones by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for purposes of extending the tax incentives and regulatory flexibility measures provided by this Act. Provides that State and local governments shall nominate areas for such designation. Limits the designation of enterprise zones to 75 nominated areas over a 36-month period (one-third of which must be in rural areas). Limits the period during which such designations shall remain in effect. Provides that the Secretary may designate such zones only if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous; (3) the area has a population of at least 4,000 if any portion thereof is located within a standard metropolitan statistical area (with a population of at least 50,000) or 1,500 otherwise, or is within an Indian reservation; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action which may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, or receiving commitments of private entities to assist employees and residents of the area. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to designate enterprise zones on June 30, 1988, or three years after the publication of regulations pertaining to such zones, whichever is later. Describes areas to which preference shall be given in deciding to designate enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary to prepare and submit to the Congress every four years a report on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation. Requires that any property tax reduction effected by a local government under the terms of this Act be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility of a State or local government for Federal assistance or benefits. States that designation of an enterprise zone shall not give displaced persons from such an area any rights or benefits under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. Exempts enterprise zones from certain requirements relating to Federal environmental policy. Title II: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Subtitle A: Credit for Employers and Employees - Allows employers located in enterprise zones a nonrefundable income tax credit for increased employment expenditures and employment of the disadvantaged. Allows a three-year carryback and 15-year carryover of such credit. Sets the amount of such credit at ten percent of the increase in payroll (taking into account a maximum of $15,000 in wages per year per employee) plus 50 percent of the wages paid to certain disadvantaged workers for the first three years of the enterprise zone designation. Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Disallows a deduction for the portion of wages taken into account for such credit. Allows employees located in enterprise zones a nonrefundable income tax credit equal to five percent of qualified wages earned per year (taking into account a maximum of $9,000 in wages per year). Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Subtitle B: Credits for Investment in Tangible Property in Enterprise Zones - Allows businesses an additional investment tax credit for investment in certain tangible property located in enterprise zones. Limits such credit to five percent for zone personal property and ten percent for new zone construction property, including rental property. Requires that the property subject to such credit be predominantly used in the zone, be purchased after zone designation, and not be acquired from relatives or related corporations. Requires the recapture of such credit upon early disposition of the property. Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Subtitle C: Rules Reduction in Capital Gain Tax Rates - Eliminates the capital gains tax on property of corporations acquired after the enterprise zone designation and used in a zone business. Qualifies certain low-income rental housing located in an enterprise zone for such treatment. Permits property to remain qualified for purposes of the revised capital gains treatment after a designation of an enterprise zone has terminated. Exempts gain from the sale or exchange of property used in a business in an enterprise zone from the computation of the minimum tax. Allows noncorporate taxpayers to deduct from gross income 100 percent of any net capital gain from qualified enterprise zone property. Subtitle D: Rules Relating to Industrial Development Bonds - Provides that limitation on the cost recovery deductions for property financed with tax-exempt industrial development bonds shall not apply to enterprise zone property. Provides that the termination of the small issue exemption shall not apply to industrial development bonds the proceeds of which are used to finance facilities in such enterprise zones. Subtitle E: Sense of the Congress with Respect to Tax Simplification - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Internal Revenue Service should simplify the administration and enforcement of any provision of the Internal Revenue Code affected by this Act. Title III: Regulatory Flexibility - Revises the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified businesses (as defined in Title II of this Act) and governments and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations which pertain to the carrying out of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve such request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in continuation of the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement (including the Davis-Bacon Act and Fair Labor Standards Act) or which would present a danger to the public health and safety. Provides that such waivers or modifications of a rule shall remain in effect as long as the zone designations. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to promote the coordination of all enterprise zone programs and consolidate all periodic reports required under such programs into one summary report. Title IV: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Board to consider on a priority basis and expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. States that, to the maximum extent practicable, foreign-trade zones should be established within enterprise zones.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $2,500 the maximum deduction for contributions to retirement savings plans. Allows certain individuals to compute the amount of the income tax deduction for retirement savings on the basis of the earned income of their spouses without regard to any community property laws.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that one-half of the cost of insurance paid by a self-employed taxpayer for medical care during the taxable year will be allowed as a business deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Constitutional Amendment - Allows the President an item veto of appropriations bills. Requires the President, in signing such a bill, to designate the provisions disapproved and return the bill to the House in which it originated. Subjects such bills to the same proceedings as other bills disapproved by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are not greater than total receipts. Permits the Congress in such statement to provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a three-fifths vote directed solely to that subject. Requires the President and the Congress to ensure that actual outlays do not exceed the outlays set forth in such statement. 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 the Congress passes by a three-fifths vote a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law. Requires the President, prior to each fiscal year, to transmit to the Congress a proposed statement of receipts and outlays for that year consistent with the provisions of this article. Permits the Congress to waive the provisions of this Act with respect to any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. 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 · 3 January 1985
Constitutional Amendment - Provides for the appointment of electors to represent the insular areas constituting the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Establishes the Joint Committee on Intelligence. Declares that such committee has exclusive legislative jurisdiction with respect to any intelligence activity of the Federal Government and authorizations for appropriations for specified agencies and intelligence-related activities. Directs the joint committee to classify its information and records and to establish guidelines for their maintenance, use, and availability. Sets forth procedures for the disclosure of such information. Directs the joint committee to establish and carry out rules and procedures necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information. Makes conforming amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives, including abolishing the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the National Security Act of 1947.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Establishes in the House of Representatives the Congressional Child Care Center for the use of children of Members, officers, and employees of the House. States that the Committee on House Administration shall operate the Center. Directs the Chairman of such Committee to appoint a nonpartisan advisory board to make recommendations on management and operation of the Center, and to conduct semiannual reviews of such Center. Requires that operating expenses be recovered through child care fees. Establishes a revolving fund within the House contingent fund for the purpose of operating the Center.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Congressional Regulatory Oversight Improvements Resolution of 1985 - Title I: Establishment and Responsibilities of Joint Committee - Establishes the Joint Committee on Regulatory Affairs to monitor on a continuing basis the rulemaking activities of Federal agencies. Authorizes the joint committee to investigate agency rules on its own initiative or at the request of a Member of either House. Expresses the sense of the Congress that agencies should cooperate with any investigation. Title II: Regulatory Oversight and Review - Authorizes the joint committee to report identical concurrent resolutions disapproving an agency rule on one or more specified grounds, accompanied by a report specifying the basis for disapproval. Sets forth rules of procedure for consideration of the resolution. Prohibits, after adoption of such resolution, either House from considering legislation making or continuing appropriations for the agency in question. Authorizes the joint committee, after adoption of such resolution, to report joint resolutions requiring the agency in question to revise, repeal, or not promulgate the pertinent rule. Title III: Administrative Provisions - Requires the joint committee to adopt rules of procedure consistent, where practicable, with the rules of each House. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the committee should utilize a consolidated, nonpartisan staff. Requires the joint committee to report as soon as practicable in the 100th Congress on its activities during the preceding Congress and make recommendations necessary to improve the functions of such committee. Directs the Postmaster of the House of Representatives to operate a regulatory library to provide reference material relating to administrative law and regulatory affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Poland should comply with basic human rights agreements to which it is a signatory, such as the Helsinki accords, and initiate a policy of National Reconciliation; (2) the prosecution of those responsible for the death of Father Jerzy Popieluszko should be supported by Poland; (3) human rights monitoring committees in Poland should be supported; (4) the free flow of information on the activities of such committees can improve human rights policies in Poland and the continued improvement of human rights there would better relations between the United States and Poland; and (5) the President should convey Congress' concerns to Polish officials and to U.S. allies.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1984
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should direct appropriate members of the administration to: (1) pursue discussions with Canada directed toward resolving problems relating to U.S. imports of Canadian pork; and (2) use all available authorities to protect the economic viability of the U.S. pork industry and to promote free and fair trade.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1984
Sexual Assault Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for a series of graded sexual offenses consisting of: aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual contact. Provides for an offense involving the sexual abuse of a minor or ward. Makes such offenses neutral as to gender. Repeals the chapter on rape. Makes conforming changes to the Public Health Service Act, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, the Mental Health Systems Act, the Federal Aviation Act and the Federal Rules of Evidence.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1984
Establishes a Commission on Employment Discrimination in the Legislative Branch. Directs the Commission to: (1) employ a nongovernmental consultant to study the compensation paid to Library of Congress personnel and analyze personnel policies of the Library; (2) evaluate the compensation system of the Library for compliance with title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and make any recommendations needed to achieve compliance; (3) develop a plan for the application of title VII through the legislative branch; and (4) make recommendations to Congress for improvement of personnel policies and practices in the legislative branch. Directs the Commission to submit a final report to Congress 18 months after enactment of this Act. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of the final report.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1984
Federal District Court Organization Act of 1984 - Amends the judicial code to provide that court for the Eastern District of New York shall be held at Hauppauge in addition to Brooklyn and Hempstead. Places DeKalb and McHenry counties in the Western Division of the Northern District of Illinois. Adds Champaign-Urbana as a site for Federal district court in the Central District of Illinois. Adds a seventh division to the Southern District Court of Texas. Establishes the McAllen Division in the Southern District, comprising the counties of Hidalgo and Starr. States that court for the McAllen Division shall be held at McAllen. Places Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens counties in the Gainesville Division of the Northern District of Georgia. Designates Statesboro instead of Swainsboro as the sixth division in the Southern District of Georgia. Adds Bennington to the sites of Federal district courts in Vermont. Adds Boulder to the sites of Federal district court in Colorado.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1984
Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to invite each State having an approved plan under part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to submit an application to establish and conduct a demonstration project for the purpose of testing whether the provision of mandatory education or vocational training (or both) for the caretaker parents of dependent children under six years of age in families receiving AFDC would enable such families to leave the AFDC rolls quickly and assist such parents in securing long-term gainful employment at earnings levels sufficient to maintain their families without public assistance. Requires any State desiring to establish and conduct such a demonstration project to submit an application to the Secretary within six-months after the enactment of this Act. Requires the application to include assurances that the proposed project would be permitted under applicable State and local law. Directs the Secretary to consider all applications submitted and to approve ten of the proposed projects within nine months after the enactment of this Act. Requires six of the approved projects to be located in urban areas and four to be located in predominantly rural areas. Prohibits the approval of a project unless: (1) it is of sufficient size and scope to demonstrate program and cost effectiveness and to permit the drawing of valid inferences for evaluation and permit the drawing of valid inferences for evaluation and policy recommendations; (2) it will be conducted for a period of not less than three nor more than five years; (3) it covers all caretaker parents in families which are eligible for aid under the applicable State plan and which include one or more children under six years of age; and (4) it complies fully with all other requirements and will contribute to the purposes of this Act. Defines "caretaker parent" to mean the parent of a dependent child under age six with whom such child is living, who is personally providing care for such child, who is eligible for AFDC, and who is or would be exempt from the manpower services, training, and employment registration requirements because that parent personally provides care for such child. Directs a State, in conducting an approved demonstration project to: (1) offer each caretaker parent in a jurisdiction involved an opportunity to participate in the project; (2) establish an individualized program for the education or vocational training of each participating caretaker parent; and (3) permit such parent to receive education or training under the program so established (from the time the youngest child in the care of such parent is six-months old, or earlier with a physician's written permission) until either the parent is employed and self-sufficient, the parent is no longer a caretaker parent, or the family has become ineligible for aid. Permits a State to make participation in the project by caretaker parents in the State mandatory rather than voluntary. Permits a jurisdiction within a State to make participation mandatory, if the State does not exercise its option. Directs the Secretary to pay each State with an approved demonstration project 90 percent of the costs incurred by the State in establishing and carrying out such project. Requires the remainder of the costs incurred to be paid from non-Federal sources. Requires the education or training for caretaker parents in such program to meet the following requirements: (1) for caretaker parents without a high school diploma; (2) after receipt of such diploma (or in the case of an individual already having a high school diploma or better), the caretaker parent must participate in an approved post-secondary education program, an approved vocational education program, or a program of employment and training under auspices of the Job Training Partnership Act; (3) the award of an academic scholarship to a caretaker parent shall not result in any loss of eligibility or benefits under AFDC or any other public assistance program, so long as the scholarship payments are made directly to the appropriate educational institution; (4) the education and training must include instruction in family management and life skills, employment and job search training, career counseling, and community-supported recreational activities; (5) appropriate English language and adjustment training must be provided for caretaker parents from immigrant groups who have language or cultural adjustment difficulties; (6) special training must be provided for physically handicapped participants; (7) education and training for each participate in the project must be provided for at least 20 hours per week and must be coordinated with available child care services; (8) any caretaker parent who has completed all of the education and training required by this Act shall remain a participant in the project for 20 hours a week of job search and placement assistance (with associated child care) until either the parent is employed and self-sufficient, the parent is no longer a caretaker parent, or the family has become ineligible for AFDC. Provides that in the case of a caretaker parent who ceases to be a participant in the project because he or she has completed all of the education and training required by this Act and has become employed: (1) the parent will be provided with child care services, as necessary, without charge for a six-month period, and for an additional six-month period subject to the payment of a gradually increasing portion of the cost of such services; and (2) the parent shall be considered for a 12-month period to be still a project participant for purposes of receiving Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act). Requires all of the child care and transportation which is necessary for a caretaker parent to participate in a demonstration project to be included, without charge to the caretaker parent, as a part of the project. Requires each approved project to be designed so as to provide an effective demonstration of: (1) the planning and design of quality and cost-effective approaches to child and infant care, utilizing group services provided by the participants themselves or utilizing any other child care services which may be available; (2) the cost-effective utilization of existing publicly-funded educational, vocational, and other training programs; (3) coordination with other community service providers, including job developers; and (4) cost- effective and creative approaches to the utilization of transportation facilities. Prohibits participation in an approved project by a caretaker parent from resulting in any loss of eligibility or benefits under AFDC or any other public assistance program. Provides that if any caretaker parent refuses to undergo any education or training required by this Act or otherwise fails to participate in an approved demonstration project, without a reasonable basis for such refusal or failure as determined on medical, psychological, psychiatric, or other grounds by an appropriate licensed practitioner in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary (subject to a State being granted a waiver): (1) such parent's needs shall not be taken into account in determining need under AFDC with respect to the parent's family; and (2) any AFDC payments shall be made in the form of protective payments. Permits any State whose application for a demonstration project is approved to submit to the Secretary a request for the waiver of any requirement which would otherwise apply with respect to the project under title XI or title IV of the Social Security Act. Directs the Secretary, if authorized, to approve the request upon a determination that the waiver is necessary in order for the project to accomplish its purpose. Requires each approved demonstration project to have a voluntary advisory group to assist in developing the program and in monitoring the project. Sets forth reporting requirements (including reports to Congress). Requires each State in which a demonstration project is located to submit to the Secretary such information as the Secretary may require concerning a project. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1984
Amends the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act to provide that States which allow certain small businesses to pay a nonexperience-based State unemployment tax rate below 5.4 percent may gradually increase the unemployment tax rate for such businesses over a four-year period to equal the new 5.4 percent standard State unemployment tax rate for 1985 and thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1984
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for damaging or destroying any cemetery, religious building, or any religious article contained in such a building, or interfering with any person freely exercising his religion.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1984
Amends Title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the three percent trigger for cost-of-living benefit increases.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal rules relating to the determination of the issue price of certain debt instruments issued for property. Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1984 to repeal the revisions made to rules for the imputation of interest on certain deferred payments. Provides that the Internal Revenue Code shall be applied and administered as if such revisions had not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1984
Fair Employment Relations Resolution - Declares that the purpose of this resolution is to implement specified clauses of rule XLIII (prohibiting a Member, officer, or employee of the House from engaging in employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin) and rule XI (requiring that professional committee staff members be appointed without regard to race, creed, sex, or age and solely on the basis of fitness to perform their duties) of the Rules of the House of Representatives. Title I: Fair Employment Relations Board - Establishes the House Fair Employment Relations Board to: (1) make policies and guidelines for the implementation and enforcement of such rules; (2) supervise the operation of the House Fair Employment Relations Office; and (3) hear and determine complaints alleging violations of such rules. Title II: House Fair Employment Relations Office - Establishes the House Fair Employment Relations Office, headed by a Director (appointed by the Board), to: (1) develop procedures to implement the policies and guidelines of the Board; and (2) report to the House on information maintained on each category of individuals afforded equal employment opportunity by such rules. Directs the Office to utilize such information to identify discriminatory wage-setting practices. Requires the Office, upon request, to recommend to House committees improvements in their employment practices. Directs the Office to report to the House, by January 3, 1985, on the continuation or improvement of the procedures for settling complaints. Title III: Complaints of Violations of Equal Employment Opportunity - Sets forth procedures for individuals who allege discrimination in violation of rules XLIII or rule XI, including counseling and conciliation, formal complaints and hearings, and appeals to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1984
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1984 - Title I: Public Water Systems - Amends the Safe Drinking Water (the Act) to revise provisions for national primary drinking water regulations. Provides that, effective on the date of enactment of this Act, each national interim primary drinking water regulation promulgated before such date shall be deemed to be a national primary drinking water regulation. Provides that no such regulation shall be required to comply with specified standards under this Act unless such regulation is amended to establish a different maximum contaminant level after the date of enactment of such amendments. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), within specified time periods for certain contaminants, to: (1) simultaneously propose maximum contaminant level goals and national primary drinking water regulations; and (2) after opportunity for public comment, simultaneously publish maximum contaminant level goals and promulgate national water regulations. Directs the Administrator to do so: (1) within 18 months after the enactment date of this Act, for the 14 contaminants listed in the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in a specified issue of the Federal Register; and (2) within 36 months after such enactment date, for each of the contaminats listed in the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in a specified later issue of the Federal Register. Requires the Administrator, if such goals and regulations for a particular contaminant are not to be proposed and published by such deadlines, to make and publish a determination in the Federal Register that such a regulation is not necessary because the levels of such contaminant currently found in public water systems do not represent a threat of a known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons. Directs the Administrator to publish maximum contaminant level goals and simultaneously promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for each substance (other than those contaminants referred to in the previous paragraph) which, in the Administrator's judgment, may have an adverse effect on the health of persons. Requires the Administrator on January 1, 1988, and at annual intervals thereafter, to publish a list establishing priorities for the review of substances which may require regulation under the Act to prevent known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons. Requires the Administrator's consideration, in establishing such priorities, to include substances regulated as toxic water pollutants under the Clean Water Act and substances registered as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Directs the Administrator, within three years of each contaminant's being listed on such priority list, to either: (1) simultaneously publish a maximum contaminant level goal and promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation; or (2) make and publish a determination in the Federal Register that such a regulation is not necessary for such contaminant because its levels in public water systems do not represent a threat of a known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons. Requires that each maximum contaminant level goal established under this Act be set at the level which, in the Administrator's judgment, no known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons occur and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Requires that each national primary drinking water regulation for a contaminant for which such a goal is established specify a maximum level which is as close to the goal as is feasible. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation that requires the use of a treatment technique in lieu of establishing a maximum contaminant level, upon a finding of overriding economic and technological constraints on monitoring. Requires the Administrator, in such case, to identify those treatment techniques which, in the Administrator's judgment, would prevent known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons to the extent feasible. Requires that such regulations specify each treatment technique known to the Administrator which meets such requirements, but authorizes the Administrator to grant a variance from any such specified treatment technique. Requires that the specified regulatory deadlines for certain contaminants be complied with in the promulgation of any such treatment technique use requirement for any such contaminant. Directs the Administrator to propose and promulgate regulations requiring: (1) filtration as a treatment technique for all public water systems supplied by surface raw water sources; and (2) disinfection as a treatment technique for all public water systems. Authorizes the Administrator to grant variances from these requirements. Authorizes the Administrator, after opportunity for public comment, to change maximum contaminant level goals or the list of treatment techniques. Requires the Administrator, simultaneously with such change, to amend the national primary drinking water regulations concerned accordingly. Defines "feasible," for purposes of the establishment of maximum contaminant levels or treatment technique requirements. Directs the Administrator to provide the Science Advisory Board an opportunity to comment prior to proposal of a maximum contaiminant level goal and national primary drinking water regulation. Adds provisions for monitoring unregulated contaminants. Authorizes the Administrator to take into consideration the size of a public water system and the contaminants likely to be found in its drinking water in requiring a system to monitor for unregulated contaminants. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to promulgate regulations for every public water system to conduct a monitoring program for unregulated contaminants. Provides that such regulations shall: (1) require monitoring of drinking water supplied by the system; and (2) vary the frequency and schedule of monitoring requirements for systems based on the number of persons served and the contaminants likely to be found, but requires each system to monitor surface sources and representative supply wells at least once within five years after the effective date of the Administrator's regulations. Requires such regulations to list the unregulated contaminants which the systems may be required to monitor, but allows each State with primary enforcement authority to add or delete contaminants for individual systems on the basis of approved assessments. Requires each such State to submit to the Administrator an assessment which shall be treated as approved on the date 30 days after its submission, unless disapproved by the Administrator within such 30-day period. Requires that notification of the availability of the results of such monitoring (or of monitoring by a system which is given a waiver) be given to the persons served by the system and the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to waive the monitoring requirements for a system which has conducted a monitoring program after January 1, 1983, upon determination that the program has been consistent with regulations promulgated under specified provisions for records and inspections. Provides that any system supplying less than 150 service connections shall be treated as complying with such monitoring requirements if such system supplies appropriate water samples to the Administrator. Directs the Administrator to arrange for analysis of such samples. Revises provisions for enforcement of national primary drinking water regulations. Directs the Administrator to notify the public water system involved, as well as the State, in cases of noncompliance with regulations under the Act. Directs the Administrator, if the State has not commenced appropriate enforcement action within 30 days of the notification of noncompliance, or if the State does not have primary enforcement responsibility, to either: (1) issue an order requiring the public water system to comply with the regulation or requirement; or (2) commence a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court to require such compliance. Sets forth provisions for compliance orders by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to issue such orders in any case in which the Administrator is authorized to bring a civil action for compliance with respect to any regulation under the Act. Provides for notice and opportunity for public hearing, and an opportunity to confer with the Administrator for any State with primary enforcement responsibility, before such an order takes effect. Requires that copies of any such order issued to a corporation be issued to appropriate corporate officers. Sets forth civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day for violation of such orders. Authorizes the Administrator to assess such penalties of up to $5,000 per day, but requires that such penalties above $5,000 per day be assessed by the appropriate U.S. district court. Directs the Administrator, within 12 months after the enactment date of this Act, to amend regulations relating to public notification of such violations of regulations to provide for different types and frequencies of notice based on differences between intermittent or infrequent violations and those which are continuous or frequent, and taking into account the seriousness of any potential adverse health effects. Requires that notice for violations designated by the Administrator as continuous or posing a serious potential adverse health effect: (1) be given no less frequently than every three months; and (2) include notice in a newspaper of general circulation serving the area served by the public water system (as determined by the Administrator). Provides that the regulations in effect on the enactment date of this Act shall remain in effect until such amendments are promulgated. Revises provisions for variances. Provides that a variance may only be issued to a public water system after a system's application of the best technology, treatment techniques, or other means, which the Administrator finds are available (taking cost into consideration). Directs the Administrator to propose and promulgate such findings at the time of proposal and promulgation of the maximum contaminant levels involved. Allows such finding to vary depending on the number of persons served by the system or for other physical conditions related to engineering feasibility and costs of compliance. Requires a State to prescribe a schedule for compliance and implementation of any additional control measures at the same time it grants a variance. (Current law gives the State one year to prescribe such schedule after granting a variance.) Revises provisions for exemptions. Requires a State to prescribe a schedule for compliance and implementation of control measures at the same time it grants an exemption. (Current law gives the State one year to prescribe such schedule after granting an exemption.) Requires that such schedules require compliance by the public water system with each contaminant level and treatment technique requirement with respect to which the exemption was granted as expeditiously as practicable but not later than: (1) 12 months after the enactment date of this Act, in the case of exemptions granted with respect to such a level or requirement prescribed by the national primary drinking water regulations promulgated before such enactment date; and (2) 12 months after the issuance date of the exemption, in the case of exemptions from such regulations promulgated after such enactment date. Authorizes States with primary enforcement responsibility, or the Administrator in any other case, of such compliance deadlines for a period not to exceed three years after the issuance date of the exemption, if the public water system establishes that it: (1) cannot meet the standard without capital improvements which cannot be completed within the exemption period; (2) has entered into an agreement to obtain necessary financial assistance for necessary improvements; or (3) has entered into an enforceable agreement to become a part of a regional public water system. Allows one or more additional two-year period renewals of such extensions of exemptions granted under specified provisions in the case of any system which does not serve more than 500 service connections, which needs financial assistance for the necessary improvements, and which establishes that it is taking all practicable steps to meet the standard. Adds new provisions relating to tampering with public water systems. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for such tampering and for attempts or threats to tamper. Adds new technical assistance provisions. Authorizes the Administrator to provide technical assistance to small public water systems to enable such systems to achieve and maintain compliance with national drinking water regulations. Permits such assistance to include "circuit-rider" programs, training, and preliminary engineering studies. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989 for such technical assistance. Title II: Protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water - Revises provisions for protection of underground sources of drinking water. Adds new provisions for restrictions on underground injection of hazardous waste. Prohibits disposal of any hazardous waste by underground injection above or into a formation which contains (within one-quarter mile of the injection well bore) a drinking water source. Authorizes the Administrator to allow injection of contaminated ground water into the aquifer from which it was withdrawn, upon determination (pursuant to specified approved procedures) that such injection is an appropriate and environmentally acceptable aspect of a cleanup, removal, or remedial action for the contaminated aquifer. Adds new provisions relating to the regulation of State programs. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to revise regulations issued under the Act to require monitoring of underground injection wells so as to provide the earliest possible detection of fluid migration into or towards an underground source of drinking water. Directs the Administrator, in cooperation with the States, to compile an inventory of all wells in the United States which inject hazardous wastes. Requires that such inventory be made available to the public within nine months after the enactment of this Act. Requires that the inventory include such information as the Administrator deems necessary to define the scope and nature of hazardous waste disposal in the United States through underground injection. Revises provisions for enforcement of State underground injection control programs. Directs the Administrator, if the State has not commenced appropriate enforcement action within 30 days of the notification of a violation by any person subject to a requirement of an applicable underground injection control program, or if the State does not have primary enforcement responsibility, to either: (1) issue an order requiring the person to comply with such requirement; or (2) commence a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court to require such compliance. Declares that such court has the jurisdiction to require such compliance with any requirement of an applicable underground injection program. Raises from $5,000 to $25,000 the amount of the civil penalty which may be imposed by such court for each day of such a violation. Shortens to 30 days (currently 60 days) the period after notification which must expire before imposition of such civil penalty may begin. Sets forth provisions for compliance orders by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to also issue such orders in any case in which the Administrator is authorized to bring a civil action for compliance with respect to any requirement of an applicable underground injection program. Provides for notice and opportunity for public hearing, and an opportunity to confer with the Administrator for any State with primary enforcement responsibility, before such an order takes effect. Requires that copies of any such order issued to a corporation be issued to appropriate corporate officers. Sets forth civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day of violation of such orders. Authorizes the Administrator to assess such penalties of up to $5,000 per day of violation, but requires that such penalties above $5,000 per day be assessed by the appropriate U.S. district court. Adds new provisions for State plans to protect underground sources of drinking water. Requires each State, after notice and opportunity for public hearing and within 30 months after the enactment of this Act, to adopt and submit to the Administrator a State plan to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination that may adversely affect the health of persons. Sets forth requirements for such plans. Sets forth procedures for approval of such plans. Prohibits any State from exercising primary enforcement responsibility for a State underground injection control program if that State has not complied with specified requirements for approval or if any portion of the plan has not been approved or treated as approved by the Administrator before the expiration of specified periods. Requires, in States where oil or natural gas exploration occurs, that such State plan, consistent with underground injection requirements, protect underground sources of drinking water from brine contamination which may adversely affect public health and which is associated with the recovery of oil or natural gas. Allows any State to provide special protections under such plan for any areas designated under specified provisions for interim regulation of underground injections. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to such States to implement such special protections. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, to establish criteria for areas to be so designated and eligible for such special protections. Requires such criteria to include aquifer use , vulnerability, water quality, and unavailability of alternative supplies of drinking water. Requires that such area designations made before the enactment of this Act be reviewed and reevaluated in accordance with such criteria. Title III: General Provisions - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989 for the following programs under the Act: (1) research, technical assistance, information, and personnel training; (2) grants for State programs for supervision of public water systems; and (3) grants for State programs for underground water source protection. Provides that any need certifications or orders issued under provisions for assurances of availability of adequate supplies of water treatment chemicals shall remain in effect for up to one year. Directs the Administrator, upon the application of any State, to make grants to the State for 50 percent of the costs incurred by such State (as determined by the Administrator) in developing and implementing a State plan to protect underground sources of drinking water. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose for FY 1986 through 1989. Reserves ten percent of such funds for grants to States for implementation of special protections for designated areas. Repeals specified provisions for grants to public water systems which are required under State law to meet drinking water turbidity standards more stringent than those in effect under the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that in light of the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and other specified human rights agreements, the Soviet Union should: (1) provide the signatories of the Helsinki Final Act with information on the whereabouts, health, and legal status of Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner; (2) void all charges against Yelena Bonner and issue her an exit visa in order to obtain medical care outside of the Soviet Union; and (3) allow them to live in the country of their choice. Urges the President to: (1) protest the Soviet Government's continued refusal to provide such information and to issue Yelena Bonner an exits visa; and (2) call upon all other signatory nations of the Helsinki Final Act to join in such protests.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1984
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to the family of Harry Chapin in recognition of Harry Chapin's efforts to address issues of world hunger. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1984
Reaffirms that it is U.S. policy to oppose the practice of torture by foreign governments through the implementation of laws and through public and private diplomacy. Requests the President to: (1) instruct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to continue to raise the issue of torture by such governments; and (2) continue to involve the U.S. Government in the formulation of international standards, particularly the draft Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Requests the Secretary of State to issue specified formal instructions to each U.S. mission chief regarding U.S. policy with respect to such torture. States that the Secretary of Commerce should continue to enforce the current restrictions on the export of crime control equipment pursuant to the Export Administration Act of 1979. Directs the heads of U.S. departments that furnish military and law enforcement training to foreign personnel to include in such training instruction regarding international human rights standards with respect to torture.
![Official portrait of Rep. Martin, Lynn M. [R-IL-16]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000195_200.jpg)