United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to impose criminal penalties for the alteration, purchase or sale, or counterfeiting of a social security card or for possession of a social security card or counterfeit social security card with intent to sell or alter.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress urges all negotiators involved in the baseball dispute to settle the strike promptly.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1981
Prohibits a State, or any of its political subdivisions, from imposing a tax with respect to natural gas which discriminates against any out-of-State producers, transporters, consumers, distributors, or users of natural gas or which applies only to gas produced outside the territory of such State. Deems any tax as discriminatory if it results in a greater tax burden on interstate natural gas than on intrastate gas.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1981
Tobacco Deregulation Act of 1981 - Title I: Repeal of Programs Concerning Price Support For and the Marketing of Tobacco - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal specified programs concerning tobacco, including: (1) price supports; (2) parity payments; (3) review and adjustment of quotas; and (4) marketing quotas. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to prohibit agricultural commodity assistance for tobacco. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from issuing any orders that regulate the handling of tobacco. Makes such provisions applicable to the 1982 and subsequent crops of tobacco. Title II: Withdrawal of Consent Relating to Compacts Among States for Regulating Tobacco Production and Commerce - Repeals provisions relating to compacts among States providing for the control or production of, or commerce in, tobacco within such States. Withdraws congressional consent of such compacts. Title III: Tobacco Inspection and Related Services - Amends the Tobacco Inspection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to collect fees from specified persons for the inspection, certification, and other services concerning tobacco at designated auction markets. Requires that such fees cover the cost of such services. Makes such provisions effective July 1, 1981. Title IV: Warehouse Examination, Inspection, and Licensing - Amends the United States Warehouse Act to direct the Secretary to collect a fee for examinations and inspections of agricultural product warehouses that covers the costs of providing such services. Authorizes appropriations. Makes the above provisions effective October 1, 1982. Title V: Increased Tax on Cigars and Cigarettes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the excise tax on cigars and cigarettes.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1981
Declares that it is the general policy of the Federal Government to rely on competitive private industry to supply the products and services it needs. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, to administer such policy.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1981
Postal Service Amendments of 1981 - Authorizes the United States Postal Service to issue written demands requiring access to books, records, documents, or other objects believed to relate to any postal offense or civil matter under investigation by the Postal Service. Provides for the enforcement of such a demand by the appropriate district court. Authorizes the Postal Service to issue an order requiring any person to cease and desist from conducting a lottery or scheme for obtaining money or property by false representations through the mail. Declares that the resumption of such an activity through the use of any instrumentality of interstate commerce shall be considered to be a failure to comply with such order. Permits the Postal Service, in investigating whether a person is conducting such an activity, to tender the price of any article or service that such person has offered for sale. Declares that failure by such person to provide such article or service, or failure to comply with a written demand of the Postal Service for access to materials, shall constitute probable cause to believe such person is engaged in such activities, warranting the detention of such person's incoming mail. Establishes a civil penalty to be assessed by the Postal Service, after an opportunity for an agency hearing, against any person who: (1) attempts to evade an order directing the postmaster to return mail addressed to such person; (2) fails to comply with a cease and desist; or (3) assists another person in evading such an order.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1981
Urban Jobs and Enterprise Zone Act of 1981 - Title I: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of enterprise zones, for a period ending December 31, 2001, and subject to the approval of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, by local governments or by State governments on behalf of local governments for purposes of extending the tax incentives and regulatory flexibility measures provided by titles II and III of this Act. Specifies that the Secretary may approve the designation of such zones only if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the designating local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous and includes accessible vacant or underutilized properties; (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 2,500 otherwise or is an Indian reservation; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires designating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's approval, 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 December 31, 1996. Sets forth minimum and maximum numbers of such designations. Describes areas to which preference shall be given in deciding to designate enterprise zones. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to set forth the duties of the Secretary under this Act. Requires any property tax reduction effected by a local government under an agreed to program to be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility of a State or local government for Federal assistance or benefits. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) local governments should attempt to facilitate to the greatest extent possible the employment of poor and unemployed residents of their enterprise zones and should consider the effects of a designation upon area employment practices and patterns; and (2) whenever possible, foreign-trade zones should be established within enterprise zones and that in the case of any application for designation of a foreign-trade zone within an enterprise zone: (A) the Foreign-Trade Zone Board should expedite the application process; (B) the Board, in evaluating such application, should consider future development to be expected as a result of the incentives provided by this Act; and (C) the Board should provide technical assistance to the applicants. Title II: Taxation - Subtitle A: Refundable Credits for Employers and Employees - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a refundable income tax credit for five percent of the wages paid to unemployed or economically disadvantaged individuals who are certified as eligible under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act and who perform at least 50 percent of their services within an enterprise zone. Disallows a deduction for the portion of the wages or salaries equal to the amount of such credit. Allows individuals who are employees of qualified businesses and at least 50 percent of whose services during the taxable year are performed in an enterprise zone a refundable tax credit for five percent of the earned income attributable to services performed in an enterprise zone during a 36-month period. Limits such credit to $1,500 for any taxable year. Defines "qualified business" as a person: (1) at least 50 percent of whose gross receipts are attributable to the active conduct of a trade or business within an enterprise zone; and (2) at least 40 percent of whose employees are individuals whose employment qualifies for the employers' credit allowed under this subtitle and who are hired after the later of the date on which the conduct of a business in an enterprise zone is begun or the area is designated as such a zone. Subtitle B: Reduction in Capital Gain Tax Rates - Reduces the alternative tax on capital gains and increases the capital gains deduction. 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. Removes as an item of tax preference accelerated depreciation on real property used in such a business. Subtitle C: Reduction in Gross Income of Trades or Businesses Operating in Zone - Excludes from taxable income a specified percentage of the sum of any amount received by a qualified business from the active conduct of a trade or business within an enterprise zone and any interest on financing provided by a taxpayer to a qualified business in connection with the conduct of such business. Subtitle D: Other Incentives - Permits any qualified business to elect to use the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting without regard to any inventory requirements if its gross receipts do not exceed $2,000,000 in any prior taxable year. Allows a 20-year carryover of net operating losses for qualified businesses. Qualifies for the investment tax credit low-income rental housing with respect to which the capital gains tax reduction is granted under subtitle B of this title. 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 title. 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), designating governments, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1981
Transfer Tax Reform Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the unified credit against the estate and gift taxes from $47,000 to $155,800 by specified annual increments through 1985. Increases from $175,000 to $500,000, by specified annual increments through 1985, the minimum gross estate requirement for filing of a return. Increases from $3,000 to $10,000 the annual gift tax exclusion. States that gifts made within three years of a decedent's death shall be valued as of the time of transfer rather than as of the date of death. Allows an individual to elect to pay a gift tax rather than use the unified tax-credit. Revises the formula for computation of the estate tax to value gifts for preceding calendar years and quarters at their value used in computing the tax for the last preceding calendar year or quarter for which a gift tax was payable. Revises the definition of "qualified real property," for purposes of the special use valuation, to: (1) eliminate the requirement that the property be used on the date of the decedent's death for a qualified use; and (2) allow such valuation for real property which is put to a qualified use by a member of the decedent's family. Qualifies estates of decedents who were disabled or retired for the special valuation of certain farms based on use if such decedents materially participated in the operation of the farm for five out of eight years preceding the year in which they became disabled or eligible for disability benefits, under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Permits the spouse of a decedent to use such valuation if the spouse has managed the farm or business for ten years preceding the decedent's death or takes over active management upon the decedent's death. Qualifies the owner of a woodland for the special use valuation if the owner or a member of the owner's family actively managed the property for ten years prior to the owner's death. Includes as property qualified for the valuation certain future and partial interests. Reduces from 15 to ten years the length of time a qualified property must be held and put to a qualified use following the decedent's death before it can be disposed of without incurring a recapture of estate tax benefits. Permits active management rather than material participation as a test for qualification of the estate for spouses, children under 21, students, and disabled individuals who receive property from a decedent who qualified for special use valuation. Modifies the formula for recapture upon partial disposition of qualified property to include in the calculation of the additional tax imposed the adjusted tax difference attributable to the property disposed of or ceased to be used for a qualified use. Increases from $500,000 to $1,000,000, by specified annual increments through 1986, the limitation on the aggregate decrease in the value of property to which the special use valuation is applied. Allows the like kind exchange of property without loss of special use valuation eligibility. Permits, for purposes of calculating the five-year period required for qualification of real property, the aggregation of periods with respect to exchange property with those with respect to property included in the gross estate. Repeals the requirement that an heir elect special treatment for involuntary conversions of qualified real property, thus making such treatment automatic upon such conversion. Alters the method of valuing farms and woodlands and provides an alternate discount method of valuation. Allows the election of the step-up in basis in the case of recapture upon disposition or cessation of the qualified use of property. Imposes interest upon the recapture tax in the event of such election. Expands the definition of "member of the family," for purposes of determining special use valuation eligibility, to include members of a spouse's family. Permits a parent or legal representative of a person under a legal disability to sign an agreement to the application of recapture provisions on behalf of such person. Applies the special use valuation provisions to property held in trust as through the decedent or heir had a direct interest in the property. Expands the conditions under which such property is deemed to have been acquired from the decedent to include: (1) exercise of purchase options; (2) payments by the terms of the will or trust; or (3) purchase from the estate or trust. Specifies that the estate tax deductions for indebtedness shall not be reduced if the value of the property is determined by applying the special use valuation. Modifies the alternate extension of time for payment of the estate tax where the estate consists largely of an interest in a closely held business to: (1) allow an installment payment election if the value of the interest in the closely held business is either 35 percent of the value of the gross estate or 50 percent of the taxable estate; (2) increase to 50 percent the value of an interest disposed of which will accelerate the payment of tax; and (3) permit payment, but with a penalty, of an installment within six months after the due date. Revises rules for determining whether property qualifies as an interest in a closely held business with respect to property included in the gross estate which is transferred prior to death and ownership of assets leased to or used by a family-owned business. Revises disclaimer rules with respect to: (1) notice and acceptance of the interest or its benefits; (2) partial disclaimers; (3) powers of appointment; and (4) disclaimers which are ineffective under State law.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1981
Missing Children Act - Directs the Attorney General to collect and preserve information which would assist in: (1) the identification of any deceased individual who has not been identified within 30 days of his or her death; and (2) the location of any missing child who is under the age of 17, does not have a history of running away, and has been missing for at least 48 hours.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the week commencing on June 7, 1981, should be designated as "National Italian-American Heritage Week."
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1981
Prohibits the Federal Trade Commission from investigating or taking any action concerning any State regulated profession until Congress enacts legislation which expressly provides that the Commission has authority over professions and that the Commission's authority preempts State authority. Vacates any such action taken during the period beginning on May 28, 1981, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1981
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to permit the National Committee of American Airmen Rescued by General Mihailovich to construct and maintain a monument to General Draza Mihailovich in recognition of the role he played in saving the lives of approximately 500 United States airmen in Yugoslavia during World War II. Provides that such monument shall be located on Federal public land within the District of Columbia. Directs that private funds shall be the sole source for the construction and maintenance of such monument.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1981
Requires the Secretary of the Army to continue in effect any cottage site lease of property located along the Mississippi River between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the mouth of the Missouri River. Prohibits the Secretary from terminating such a lease unless: (1) the property covered by the lease is needed for immediate use for public park purposes or other higher public use or for a navigation or flood control project; or (2) the lessee violates a provision of such lease.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1981
Malt Beverage Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that no antitrust law shall prohibit the importer, brewer, or trademark licensee of a trademarked malt beverage from entering into an agreement granting a wholesale distributor the exclusive right to sell such beverage within any defined geographic area within a State, or limiting such distributor to the sale of such beverage for ultimate resale to consumers in that area, when such beverage has substantial competition from other malt beverages in that area. Declares that this Act shall not affect any provision of State law.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1981
Amends the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 to increase the authorization of appropriations for: (1) the Federal-aid primary system of highways; (2) priority primary routes; (3) Interstate System resurfacing; and (4) bridge reconstruction and replacement. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make apportionments for fiscal year 1983 for expenditures on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways using specified apportionment factors. Limits, to a specified sum, the total obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs for fiscal year 1982. Makes certain exceptions to such limitation. Directs the Secretary to distribute such sum according to a specified ratio. Prohibits, for the period October 1 through December 31, 1981: (1) a State from obligating more than 35 percent of its share of such sum; and (2) the total of all State obligations from exceeding 25 percent of the total amount distributed to all States. Sets forth provisions with regard to State authority over such obligations. Prohibits the Secretary from distributing amounts authorized for administrative expenses and forest highways. Limits, to a specified sum, the total of all obligations for highway safety programs and school bus driver training. Adjusts the apportionment ratio for funds for resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating the Interstate System.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Alcohol Fuels Transfer Act of 1981 - Amends the Energy Security Act to authorize the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation to guarantee loans for synthetic fuel projects using biomass resources. Transfers to the Corporation the responsibilities of the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture over biomass energy projects and municipal waste energy projects for which loan guarantees or commitments have been approved prior to enactment of this Act. Makes the Director of the Office of Alcohol Fuels responsible for any functions related to alcohol which the Secretary of Energy may delegate.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Commends the peaceful attempts to resolve differences between Poland's workers and government officials and expresses the hope that they will continue to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations. Welcomes to the United States Poland's First Deputy Prime Minister. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States could not remain indifferent to external aggression or internal repression against Poland and that such developments would have serious consequences for East-West relations. Supports efforts to work with other nations to ease Poland's economic difficulties and the U.S. decision to sell surplus food to Poland at concessionary prices and in Polish currency provided neither external aggression nor internal repression occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Directs the President to award a special gold medal to Fred Waring. Stipulates that funds may not be appropriated under this Act for any period before October 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1981
Proclaims Raoul Wallenberg an honorary citizen of the United States. Requests the President to ascertain his whereabouts from the Soviet Union and to secure his freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
State and Local Government Financing Reform Act of 1981 - Excludes from the Federal law limiting and restricting the corporate powers of national banking associations to deal in and underwrite investment securities, specified dealings in and underwriting of all other nongeneral obligations issued or guaranteed by or on behalf of a State or any political subdivision thereof (except special assessment obligations and industrial revenue bonds) which are at the time eligible for purchase by a national bank for its own account, subject to specified limitations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit an annual report to the Congress showing the extent to which the business of underwriting and dealing in State and local obligations is being carried on by commercial banks as compared with other banking institutions with a view to determining the effect of the provisions of this Act on the institutional distribution of such business.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1981
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1981 - Title I: Information Practices: Use of Consumer Reporting Agencies - Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to permit a Federal agency to disclose records pertaining to an individual to a consumer reporting agency. Authorizes a Federal agency attempting to collect a claim under the Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966 to notify a consumer reporting agency that a person is responsible for a claim if: (1) the agency has sent a written notice informing the person that a consumer reporting agency will be contacted, describing the information to be disclosed, and explaining the person's right to dispute the agency's claim; (2) the person has not agreed to repay the claim or filed for review of the claim; (3) the agency has reviewed the claim, if requested; and (4) the agency has obtained assurances that the consumer reporting agency complies with Federal laws governing the provision of consumer credit information. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish regulations requiring each agency with outstanding debts to submit annual reports on the amount and number of such debts, the interest charged on such debts, the cost to the agency of collecting debts, and other information on the agency's debt collection activities. Requires the Director to report annually to Congress on the management of agency debt collection activities. Title II: Collection Practices for Defaulted Student Loans - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1954 to require the Secretary of Education to analyze, quarterly, the collection status of defaulted Federal, federally-guaranteed, and federally-insured student loans. Directs the Secretary: (1) to notify the borrower of a defaulted loan of the consequences of not repaying the loan; (2) to attempt to enter into a repayment agreement with the borrower; and (3) if such attempt is not successful within 180 days of the loan becoming defaulted, to engage a nonprofit collection agency to service the loan. Directs the Secretary to refer any loan which is not under a repayment agreement within one year after being placed with a collection agency, to: (1) the Attorney General if the projected outstanding balance exceeds $600; or (2) the Secretary of the Treasury for collection. Requires the Attorney General to establish procedures for the efficient collection of such loans. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to require any borrower of a defaulted loan referred to the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the amount owed: (1) with income tax imposed for the year of the referral; or (2) by other methods prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Grants the Secretary of the Treasury the same powers to assess and collect such defaulted loans as if such amounts were imposed income taxes, the collection of which would be jeopardized by delay. Exempts any such collection or assessment from review by a Federal court. Directs the Comptroller General to analyze the systems for collecting student loans established under this Act, and to submit to Congress recommendations for the application of these systems to the collection of other loans made, insured, or guaranteed by the Government. Title III: Collection of Child-Support Obligations - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify the amount of child support obligations assigned to a State for collection by the Secretary of the Treasury without regard to whether a State agrees to reimburse the United States for collection costs. Shortens the period that collection of such an obligation is stayed after service of the notice and demand for payment in the case of the first delinquency assessment against an individual. Title VI: Higher Interest Charges During Periods of Default for All Federal Loan Programs - Requires each agency which administers a program providing direct Federal loans to include in any such loan a provision stating that the interest rate on the loan for each month during which the loan is in default may be increased to a rate equal to the Federal borrowing cost. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to promulgate regulations for the uniform implementation of this title. Title V: Other Provisions Relating to the Collection of Federal Claims - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury, by January 15 of each year, to notify any person owing a debt (excluding student loans) to a Federal agency for the preceding year of the amount and method of payment of such debt. Requires such person to pay the debt with his or her income taxes or as prescribed by the Secretary. Grants the Secretary the same powers to assess and collect such debts as if such amounts were imposed income taxes, the collection of which would be jeopardized by delay. Permits the head of an agency to garnish an employee's wages to pay any debt owed to the United States because of an erroneous payment to the individual by another agency. Declares that the statute of limitations for actions brought by the United States for money damages shall not bar the Government from collecting money payable to an individual by administrative offset if the individual is provided with an opportunity for an administrative hearing subject to judicial review. Authorizes the Secretary to disclose a taxpayer's address to an agency or an agency contractor engaged in a proceeding to collect a Federal claim. Permits such agency or contractor to redisclose such information. Authorizes appropriations for the employment in the Internal Revenue Service of sufficient personnel to collect all Federal tax liabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1981
Amends the highway safety programs uniform standards to include: (1) comprehensive alcohol-traffic safety programs; and (2) penalties to deter motorists from driving while under the influence of alcohol.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1981
Federal Lending Oversight and Control Act - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to provide a statutory basis for controlling loans and loan guarantees under Federal credit programs through the congressional budget process. Title I: Reports Regarding Federal Credit Activity - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, not later than February 1 and August 1 of each year, in consultation with the Council of Economic Advisors, to transmit a report to both Houses of Congress regarding Federal credit activity during the previous six month period. Requires each such report to examine the relationship between Federal credit activity during the previous six-month period and: (1) the condition of the economy; (2) the availability and cost of credit in the private sector; and (3) the exercise of monetary and fiscal policy by the Federal Government. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in their biannual reports to Congress concerning recent developments affecting economic trends in the Nation, to examine the effects of Federal credit activity on the availability and cost of credit in the private sector and on the exercise of monetary policy by the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to require the President, in his annual budget statement to the Congress, to include all essential facts regarding direct lending by the Government and guarantees by the Government of the repayment of indebtedness incurred by another person or government. Title II: Changes in Congressional Budget Procedures - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the first concurrent resolution on the budget for each fiscal year to set forth the appropriate level of total gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans and the appropriate level of total commitments to guarantee loans and to allocate such totals among the major functional categories of the budget. Directs each standing committee of the House and Senate to submit its estimates of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments provided for in legislation under its jurisdiction by March 15 of each year for consideration of the Budget Committee in formulating the budget resolution. Directs the House and Senate Banking Committees to submit recommendations to the Budget Committees for the aggregate levels of direct loans and loan guarantees in each fiscal year. Requires the joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on the concurrent resolution on the budget to include an estimate allocation of the total levels of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments among the committees of the House and Senate. Directs the Committees on Appropriations to provide such an allocation among their subcommittees as soon as practicable after a budget resolution has been agreed to. Requires the House Committee on Appropriations, before reporting any regular appropriations bills, to submit a summary report to the House comparing the credit authority contained in such bills to the levels agreed to in the budget resolution. Requires any report accompanying legislation conferring new budget authority or increasing tax expenditures to include information on direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments. Establishes a deadline for the completion of action on legislation providing credit authority. Requires the second concurrent resolution on the budget in any fiscal year and the reconciliation process to take into account Federal obligations and commitments on loans and loan guarantees. Declares out of order any measure brought up for consideration in either House which would increase the level of loan obligations and guarantee commitments agreed to in the budget process. Requires any authority to guarantee the payment of any indebtedness to be contingent on provisions in appropriation Acts. Title III: Amendments to House Rules - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee (other than the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on the Budget) to review and make appropriate recommendations with respect to the consistency and uniformity of the different definitions, default provisions, policies, interest rates, and other terms and conditions relating to direct loan, loan insurance, and loan guarantee activities included in any laws of which the subject matter is within the jurisdiction of that committee. Title IV: Construction and Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the titles of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Committee Improvement Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee, not later than 60 days after the Congress convenes, to submit an oversight agenda to the Committee on Government Operations. Directs such committee to hold hearings at which the chairman and ranking minority member of each standing committee shall testify on the oversight accomplishments of the preceding Congress and the proposed oversight agenda for the new Congress. Requires the Committee on Government Operations, not later than 90 days after the Congress convenes, to report to the House an oversight agenda resolution which incorporates such agendas of all standing committees, and additional recommendations of the committee. Directs the House to complete action on such resolution not later than 90 days after the Congress convenes, to report to the House an oversight agenda resolution which incorporates such agendas of all standing committees, and additional recommendations of the committee. Directs the House to complete action on such resolution not later than 180 days after the Congress convenes. Directs the Speaker of the House to initially refer each bill, resolution, or other matter to one committee of principal jurisdiction. Eliminates the authority of the Speaker to refer any such matter to two or more committees for concurrent consideration. Requires the membership of each committee, select committee, and conference committee (and each subcommittee, task force, or subunit thereof) to reflect the ratio of majority to minority Members. Provides that such ratio be reflected for standing committees at the beginning of each Congress, and for select and conference committees at the time of appointment. Prohibits any standing committee to establish more than six subcommittees, and any Member to serve at any one time on more than four subcommittees. Defines subcommittee as any subunit of a standing committee established for a period of more than six months. Prohibits the vote by any member of any committee or subcommittee to be cast by proxy. Provides that a majority of members of each committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Prohibits the House to consider any primary expense resolution until the Committee on House Administration has reported and the House has adopted a resolution establishing committee staff personnel ceilings for that year. Requires such committee to specify in any primary or supplemental expense resolution the number of staff positions authorized therein. Authorizes the House to consider any supplemental expense resolution in excess of such ceiling by a vote of two-thirds of the Members present.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Limits the aggregate amount of all expense resolution authorization levels for the committees of the House of Representatives for the first session of the 97th Congress to no more than 90 percent of the aggregate expenditure levels of such committees for the second session of the 96th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1981
Dependent Care Amendments Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the rate of the income tax credit for household and dependent care expenses, based upon family income. Makes such credit refundable. Increases the amount of allowable dependent care expenses eligible for the credit. Permits the dependent care credit for the care of dependents over the age of 14 or handicapped dependents outside of the home, if such dependents return to the taxpayer's household each day. Imputes a minimum level of earned income to individuals engaged in business on a substantially full-time basis (35 hours a week) for purposes of insuring eligibility for the household and dependent care credit in cases where the taxpayer has little or no income for the taxable year. Grants tax-exempt status to organizations providing dependent care services to the general public. Allows an employee to claim a dependent care credit for the value of employer-provided dependent care services if the value of such services are included in the gross income of the employee.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
Administrative Rulemaking Reform Act - Directs a Federal agency preparing to hold a rulemaking session to make a reasonable effort to inform those likely to be affected by the proposed rulemaking. Requires the notice of rulemaking to include: (1) the projected effective date of the rules; (2) the purpose of the rulemaking; (3) the text of the proposed rules; and (4) the studies on which the agency intends to rely in the rulemaking proceedings. Requires public notice and public opportunity for comment on all rulemaking proceedings unless the agency finds that proposed rules are emergency rules or are of routine or insignificant impact. Requires Federal agencies to give interested persons at least 45 days to participate in the rulemaking. Provides for agency hearings to receive oral comments, and procedures to resolve significant controversies over factual issues. Requires each agency to maintain a public file of all relevant material and required statements for each rulemaking. Prohibits adoption of a proposed rule that has been revised substantially unless interested persons are provided an opportunity to comment on such revisions. Sets forth an expedited rulemaking procedure for rules to replace emergency rules. Directs each agency to submit a copy of each promulgated rule to each House of Congress. Declares that no rule, excluding an emergency rule, shall become effective if: (1) both Houses of Congress adopt a concurrent resolution disapproving it within 90 days of continuous session of Congress; or (2) one House adopts such a resolution within 60 such days and the other House does not disapprove such resolution within 30 days thereafter. Authorizes either House to adopt a resolution directing an agency to reconsider and repromulgate a newly promulgated rule or an existing rule within a specified period. Provides that if such agency fails to act such rule shall lapse. Directs the Administrative Conference of the United States to study and report on the effects on rulemaking of the Congressional review provisions of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for such study. Directs a court reviewing an agency rule to set aside any rule found to be unwarranted by material in the rulemaking file.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit married individuals filing separate income tax returns an election to be taxed at rates applicable to unmarried individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1981
Title I: Export Trading Companies - Export Trading Company Act of 1981 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to promote export trading companies by providing information and by facilitating contacts between producers of exportable goods and export trading companies. Authorizes any banking organization to invest up to specified amounts in export trading companies upon notifying, but without obtaining the prior approval of, the appropriate Federal banking agency, if such investment does not cause an export trading company to become a subsidiary of such organization. Allows greater investment by Edge Act Corporations not engaged in banking. Permits any banking organization to invest beyond such limitations with prior approval of the appropriate Federal banking agency. Requires prior notification of such agencies in specified circumstances. Sets forth further limitations on export trading companies and investments by banking organizations. Specifies factors to be taken into consideration by the banking agencies. Permits such agencies to impose conditions in approving applications to invest in export trading companies. Requires such agencies to report to the appropriate Congressional committees with their recommendations concerning implementation of this Act, related changes in U.S. law, and effects of ownership of U.S. banks by foreign banking organizations. Provides for judicial review of denial orders in the appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals. Sets forth the grounds for disapproval. Provides for remand for further consideration by the banking agency. Directs the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration to give special weight to export-related benefits when considering applications for loans and guarantees by export trading companies. Authorizes up to $20,000,000 to be appropriated for initial investments and operating expenses for each of the fiscal years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985. Directs the Export-Import Bank of the United States to provide loan guarantees to export trading companies or exporters, to be secured by accounts receivable or inventories, when adequate financing is not otherwise available and such guarantees will facilitate expansion of exports. Directs the Board of Directors to try to insure that a major share of such guarantees promotes exports from small, medium-size, and minority businesses or agricultural concerns. Title II: Export Trade Associations - Export Trade Association Act of 1981 - Amends the Webb-Pomerene Act to exempt the trade activities and methods of operation of certified export trade associations and export trading companies from the antitrust laws. Delays the effectiveness of any certificate upon the notification of the Secretary of Commerce by the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of disagreement with the decision to issue a certificate. Sets forth the procedure to be followed by any association or export trading company seeking certification under this Act and by the Secretary in issuing such certificates. Permits automatic certification for existing associations. Provides for appeal of the Secretary's denial of certification. Authorizes the Attorney General or the FTC to bring an action to invalidate a certification. Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General and the FTC, to publish guidelines for determining whether an association or export trading company will meet the certification requirements. Requires certified associations and export trading companies to submit annual reports to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to establish within the Department of Commerce an Office of Export Trade to promote export trade associations and trading companies. Requires such Office to report annually to the appropriate Congressional committees on all East-West trade transactions requiring validated licenses and on the role of U.S. export trading companies in East-West trade. Grants a temporary exemption from the Sherman Act antitrust provisions for existing associations. Requires that all applications for certification be kept confidential with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Secretary to require an association or trading company to modify its operation to be consistent with international obligations of the United States. Directs the President to appoint, with the Senate's advice and consent, a task force seven years after enactment to examine the effect of this Act and to make recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1981
Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977 to provide that provisions of such Act shall not apply to: (1) any surface sand or gravel, stone, or clay mine; or (2) any surface structure or road, if constructed by employees not engaged in mining.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1981
Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to permit local distribution companies to provide natural gas service to residential customers for use in outdoor lighting fixtures installed and receiving natural gas before the enactment of such Act. Requires each local distribution company, in accordance with rules established by the Secretary of Energy, to: (1) periodically inform its customers of the amount of natural gas consumed by outdoor lighting; and (2) report such information method to the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Directs the Postal Service to submit to Congress (rather than to the Postal Rate Commission) any proposed change in the nature of postal service which would have nationwide impact. Requires any statement of proposed change so submitted to include an estimate of the impact of such change upon the public, business mail users, service levels and postal finances. Provides that no proposed change shall become effective if either House of Congress adopts a resolution disapproving it within 60 days after it is submitted to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the maximum reduction (currently $500,000) in valuation under the special estate tax valuation for certain farm and small business real property shall be increased annually between 1981 and 1985 by $100,000 each year plus an inflation adjustment amount.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the unified credit against the estate and gift tax from $47,000 to $155,800 by specified annual increments through 1985. Provides for a yearly inflation adjustment of the amount of such credit.
![Official portrait of Rep. Martin, Lynn M. [R-IL-16]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000195_200.jpg)