United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1984
White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business, not earlier than January 1, 1985, and not later than September 1, 1986, to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conference. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such conference. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date such conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1984
States that the United States shall maintain its commitment to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) and not engage in programs which are inconsistent with such treaty. States that the President should not abrogate such treaty without the consent of the Congress, and should seek discussions with the Soviet Union to consider questions of compliance with the ABM Treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1984
Multifamily Housing Preservation Act of 1984 - Title I: Multifamily Housing Preservation Loans - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide loans to owners of certain federally-assisted rental or cooperative housing projects for capital improvements required to maintain such projects as decent, safe, and sanitary housing and to maintain the low- and moderate-income character of such projects. Prohibits the Secretary from providing such a loan unless he or she determines that: (1) considering other resources available for the project, the loan is necessary for the project owner to make improvements to capital items that have failed or that are likely to seriously deteriorate or fail in the near future; (2) the project owner agrees to provide assistance equal to at least 20 percent of the estimated cost of the improvements (permits the Secretary to waive such requirement for private nonprofit corporations or associations); (3) the project owner agrees to maintain the low- and moderate-income character of the project for the term of the project mortgage; (4) the project managers meet competency and experience requirements prescribed by the Secretary and are approved by the Secretary; (5) the project is, or as a result of such improvements will be, structurally sound; (6) considering the other available resources, the loan will maintain the financial soundness of the project; (7) the project is operated according to a management improvement and operating plan that contains specified elements; (8) the reserve fund established by the project owner for capital improvements is insufficient not due to the owner's failure to comply with management standards prescribed by the Secretary; and (9) the loan will be less costly to the Government than other alternatives available for maintaining the low- and moderate-income character of the project. Directs the Secretary to give loan priority based on the extent to which: (1) capital improvements are immediately required; (2) a project serves low-income families; and (3) other suitable housing is unavailable for such families in the area of the project. Sets forth restrictions on the principal amount, term, and interest rate of such a loan. Permits the Secretary to provide more than one loan to a project. Authorizes the Secretary to take the following actions to minimize any increases in project rental payments that may occur as a result of loan expenses: (1) provide rental subsidies under the United States Housing Act of 1937 to project owners; (2) reduce the interest rate of the loan to a rate of not less than one percent; (3) increase the term of the loan to a term not exceeding the remaining term of of the project mortgage; and (4) increase the owner's contribution to not to exceed 30 percent of the estimated cost of the capital improvements. Establishes the Multifamily Housing Preservation Fund as a revolving fund in the Treasury to carry out this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Multifamily Housing Amendments - Amends the National Housing Act to eliminate a provision which allows the Secretary to accept the prepayment of the mortgage on a federally-assisted multifamily rental housing project upon determining that the needs of the families in such project could be met more efficiently and effectively through other types of Federal housing assistance. Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to require the Secretary to manage and dispose of multifamily housing projects whose mortgages are held by, assigned to, or being foreclosed upon by the Secretary (in addition to the projects owned by the Secretary as currently provided) and to do so in such a manner that: (1) all units in multifamily housing projects that are formerly subsidized projects are preserved to be available to, and affordable by, low- and moderate-income families; (2) all occupied multifamily projects are maintained in decent, safe, and sanitary condition; (3) such projects are fully occupied; and (4) rental or cooperative housing is provided for the longest feasible period. Directs the Secretary, in order to meet management and disposal goals for projects acquired at foreclosure or after sale by the Secretary, to: (1) enter into 15-year rental subsidy contracts with project owners to assist all units that are occupied by eligible lower income families, all vacant units, and all units that become vacant; and (2) provide project owners with purchase-money mortgages on terms that will ensure that the project will remain available to, and affordable by, low- and moderate-income persons for at least 15 years. Amends the National Housing Act to direct the Secretary, when determining the amount to bid to acquire certain federally-insured multifamily housing projects, to act consistently with the goal of maintaining the availability of low- and moderate-income housing. Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to require the Secretary to assure that: (1) tenants of federally-assisted housing projects for the elderly or handicapped have the same rights as tenants of troubled multifamily projects receiving operating assistance which shall include the right to receive notice and an opportunity to comment on any request by the project owner for the full release of security, the prepayment of a mortgage, or the transfer of physical assets, and any proposal by the Secretary to sell a mortgage securing the project; and (2) owners of any such project agree not to refuse to lease any vacant project unit to a prospective tenant solely because he or she holds a certificate of eligibility for a Federal rental subsidy. Prohibits the Secretary from providing operating assistance for a troubled multifamily housing project unless the project owner agrees to apply for sufficient Federal housing assistance to permit the owner to maintain the financial soundness and the low- and moderate-income character of the project. Declares that such agreement shall be binding for only as long as sufficient assistance is available and provided to the project.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1984
Truth in Savings Act - Requires each advertisement, announcement, or solicitation made by any depository institution regarding the rate of interest payable on any deposit to: (1) state the annual percentage yield and the method of compounding interest; (2) state the annual rate of simple interest for the period during which such rate will be effective; and (3) give equal prominence to all annual percentage yields and annual rates of simple interest. Requires the annual percentage yield to always be stated before the annual rate of simple interest. Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe such regulations as necessary to carry out and facilitate compliance with the provisions of this Act and to prevent their evasion or circumvention.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the parties in the New Ireland Forum are to be commended for their efforts in the search for peace, justice, and reconciliation in Northern Ireland; and (2) all political parties in Northern Ireland and the British and Irish Governments should review the findings and recommendations of the Forum.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Hunger Relief Act of 1984 - Title I: Food Stamp and Related Provisions - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to make homeless persons eligible to participate in the food stamp program (program). Requires State agencies to develop related certification and issuance procedures. Increases the cost of the thrifty food plan to the full cost of the plan as of June 30, 1983. Revises the definition of "disabled" to include certain persons receiving benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act or persons receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disabled benefits. Makes households each of whose members receive SSI or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) categorically eligible for program participation. States that denial of eligibility or termination of benefits from such programs can not be a basis for denial of food stamp eligibility or termination of benefits. Excludes loan origination fees and insurance premiums from program "income." Increases the earned income deduction from 18 to 20 percent. Separates (presently combined) dependent care and excess shelter expense deductions. Provides for an educational deduction. Grants States the option of calculating income either prospectively or retrospectively. Increases the resources limitation from $1500 to $2500, and from $3000 to $3500 for the elderly and disabled. Increases the threshhold for accounting a vehicle's value against resources from $4500 to $5500. Permits States to stagger coupon issuance. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to send Food Stamp Disaster Task Force members to oversee the program in the event of a natural disaster. Directs State agencies to periodically assess the need to keep food stamp offices open during weekend or evening hours. Requires the Secretary to encourage State agencies to disseminate program information. Provides administrative matching funds. Directs State agencies to implement job search activities. Obligates $50,000,000 beginning with FY 1985 for such costs, and provides for 50 percent reimbursement for State expenses: (1) in excess of such $50,000,000; and (2) for participant reimbursement. Requires the Secretary to monitor such programs. Establishes a four-year (FY 1985 through 1989) rural Alaskan food assistance pilot program. Sets forth program provisions. Requires program reports to the House and Senate Agriculture committees by March 1, 1988, and 1989, respectively. Requires the Secretary to issue rural Alaskan thrifty food plan adjustment regulations within ten days. Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to permit local programs to provide supplemental commodities to the elderly under terms prescribed by the Secretary. Prohibits any resulting reduction in assistance to women, infants, and children (WIC program). Authorizes FY 1985 and 1986 Federal Emergency Management Agency appropriations for an emergency food program. Requires the Director of such Agency to constitute a national board to administer such program. Authorizes the Commodity Credit Corporation to purchase and deliver commodities for such program. Title II: Nutrition Monitoring - Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement by October 1, 1985, a continuous food consumption and expenditures survey of a representative sample of low-income persons in the United States; (2) conduct, beginning with FY 1986, a survey of a supplemental representative sample of at least one low-income subgroup; and (3) submit an interim report by April 1, 1986, and annual reports thereafter to specified congressional committees. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide States with technical assistance to establish nutrition monitoring systems; (2) encourage research on standards and technologies for nutrition monitoring; and (3) maintain and update the Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data base. Title III: Nutrition and Consumer Education - Directs the Secretary to provide States with technical and grant assistance for low-income consumer education programs. Administers such programs through the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Requires annual program reports to specified congressional committees. Sets forth State program requirements. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1989 appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to set aside specified amounts for use in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Title IV: School Lunch and Child Nutrition Amendments - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National School Lunch Act to reduce the students' cost of a reduced price lunch from 40 cents to 25 cents, and of a reduced price breakfast from 30 cents to 15 cents. Increases reduced meal income eligibility limits from 185 percent to 195 percent of the poverty level. Provides an additional six cents per breakfast to increase the nutritional quality of such program. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate related nutritional improvement regulations. Raises the program tuition limit for private schools from $1500 to $2500. Requires annual inflation adjustments. Increases the number of reimbursable meals and snacks under the child care food program. Increases FY 1984 authorization of appropriations for nutrition education and training. Excludes certain medical expenses from household income for program eligibility purposes. Eliminates the requirement that free meal eligibility be the same as that required for food stamp eligibility. Makes kindergartens in specified schools eligible for the special milk program. Makes permanent authorizations of appropriations for: (1) the WIC program; (2) State administrative expenses; (3) nutrition education and training; (4) the childrens' summer food and service program; and (5) the commodity distribution program. Title V: Older Americans Act Amendments - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations for: (1) congregate feeding; (2) home delivered meals; and (3) surplus commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1984
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services not to establish a rate of payment for hospice care which is less than specified amounts for routine home care, continuous home care, inpatient respite care, and general inpatient care. Directs the Secretary to: (1) annually review and, if appropriate, adjust such rates; and (2) periodically report to Congress on such review and adjustments.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Fair Trade in Steel Act of 1984 - Declares that it is the policy of Congress that access to the U.S. market for foreign-produced carbon, alloy, and specialty steel mill products should be on an equitable basis to safeguard national security, insure orderly trade in steel mill products, reduce unfair trade in steel mill products, and alleviate U.S. balance-of-payments problems. Expresses the intent of Congress to: (1) expand the economic viability of the U.S. steel industry and the jobs of its workers; (2) prevent the further decline of the domestic steel industry; and (3) temper the economic hardships resulting from unemployment in steel industry communities by encouraging reinvestment in existing steelmaking facilities. Limits annual imports of specified steel mill product categories to specified percentages of the apparent domestic supply which are based on adjusted average import penetration levels for each such product category for the years 1979, 1980, and 1981. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to allocate global product limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries, or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocations. Requires the Secretary to make an annual determination of the expected apparent domestic supply in each steel mill product category. Requires the Secretary to revise such determination periodically during the year. Directs the Secretary to determine, within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, whether the steel industry companies have plans to use substantially all of the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and the modernization of the steel sector. Prohibits the import restrictions from taking effect until the Secretary determines that the steel companies have such plans. Directs the Secretary to monitor steel sector investments made and announced by the steel industry and to consult with steel industry representatives and employees in the course of such monitoring. Directs the Secretary to determine annually whether steel companies are using substantially all the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Directs the Secretary to modify or suspend the relevant import restrictions if the Secretary determines that substantially less than all the cash flow from the steel sector is being used for such reinvestment and modernization and that the level of investment is not demonstrably justified by adverse financial conditions within the industry. Directs the Secretary to publish: (1) each annual determination and its rationale; and (2) the total amount of cash flow from the steel sector and the total amount used for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Requires the steel companies to provide the Secretary with the information necessary for making such determinations. Directs the Secretary to examine the supply and demand situation in the United States for a specified steel product category if requested by affected steel consumers. Sets forth criteria to be used in determining short supply. Directs the Secretary to monitor imports of fabricated steel mill products. Sets forth the method of investigating whether imports of fabricated steel products are rendering ineffective or materially interfering with the objectives of this Act. Limits the quantity of iron ore that may be entered from all sources during any calendar year after the effective date of this Act. Directs the Secretary to allocate global iron ore limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocation. Directs the Secretary, in making such allocations, to attempt first to accommodate the requirements of individual steel mills which have been traditionally dependent on ocean sourced foreign iron ore and the requirements of contractual obligations incurred before January 1, 1984. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the import restrictions on iron ore if necessary to meet the needs of such individual steel mills. Provides for the enforcement and implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Information Dissemination and Research Accountability Act - Establishes in the National Library of Medicine a National Center for Research Accountability to assist in eliminating duplication of effort in Federal research proposals involving live animals. Directs the President to appoint as members of the Center 20 experts in the biomedical information sciences who are currently employed by a Federal agency in a capacity which qualifies them to make determinations as to whether research proposals involving live animals are duplicative of other research efforts. Requires submission to the Center before it is funded of any such proposal approved by a Federal agency. Prohibits funding of any proposal which the Center determines would duplicate other research completed or in process. Authorizes the Center to contract with private entities to assist in the conduct of comprehensive full-text literature searches. Requires an annual report to Congress and the President. Directs the National Library of Medicine to: (1) acquire, transcribe, and store all biomedical information owned or available for use by Federal agencies; (2) support by grants and contracts the creation of new information for teaching and demonstrations; and (3) increase, by making grants and awards, the number of persons trained in modern methods of biomedical information storage and dissemination technologies. Permits the Library to contract with the private-sector data recording industry to improve the development of such technologies and the dissemination of full-text biomedical information to medical libraries. Requires the Library to report annually to Congress and the President on its progress. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1984
Defense Spare Parts Procurement Reform Act - Directs the head of a defense agency to establish procedures to recognize personnel efforts to increase competition and achieve cost savings in spare parts procurement. Requires each contractor supplying a military department to mark each item with: (1) the contractor's name and stock number for the item; and (2) the original manufacturer or producer if not the contractor. Requires all technical data relating to a part delivered under the contract to carry the name of the original manufacturer or producer and the stock number. Prohibits a contractor from entering into agreements with a subcontractor which restrict sales by the subcontractor directly to the United States. Limits such prohibition to contracts involving $25,000 or more. Requires that replacement parts be procured by competitive methods when possible. Directs a contracting officer to determine the availability of a part first through the supply system of the Defense Department and then under Federal supply contracts through the General Services Administration. Requires such officer to review the procurement history and description of a part. Directs the head of the contracting agency to require a bidder on a major system to specify: (1) whether the technical data provided would be with unlimited or limited rights and with a license; and (2) the cost of the United States of acquiring unlimited rights or a license. Requires that such bidders certify that items not available with unlimited rights will be developed at private expense and that the technical data is not in the public domain. Grants the United States unlimited rights in technical data delivered under contract if such data was developed wholly or in part at Government expense or is in the public domain. Establishes a second contractor review system and penalties for false statements concerning assertions that certain technical data is private. Directs a contractor to certify the completeness and accuracy of all statements concerning technical data to be or not to be provided, including opportunities and requirements for cure if such data should prove to be inaccurate or insufficient for subsequent reprocurement purposes. Directs the head of any agency to develop a plan for an accounting system to monitor access to and ownership of data which includes the possibility of a department-wide system for the retrieval of technical data. Requires the submission of such a plan to Congress. Directs the head of each such agency, within three years, to inventory the access to or the ownership of all technical data for each major system under the agency's jurisdiction. Directs the Secretary of Defense to coordinate such inventories to allow the exchange of information. Requires the head of each such agency to designate within the agency a competition advocate for the agency, and one for each procuring activity. Sets forth the functions of such advocates, including maximizing competitive opportunities during acquisition and challenging existing, inhibiting practices. Grants such advocates direct access to agency personnel. Requires each agency head to report to Congress by December 15 of each year on the management of the acquisition of replacement parts, including the activities of the competition advocates. Requires that such reports be submitted by the Secretary of Defense and break down information by the Department as a whole as well as for each of the military departments.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1984
Directs the Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct an investigation into the murders of U.S. citizens in El Salvador and report to the House with specified findings and conclusions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1984
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require nonrestaurant retail food products containing imported fish to be labeled to show the country from which the fish was imported.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to David Phillip Vetter, of Spring, Texas, to be presented to his family in his memory as the oldest survivor of congenital severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Amends the Education Amendments of 1972 to include educational institutions receiving Federal financial assistance within the prohibition against sex discrimination.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to present to Elie Wiesel a gold medal in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and outstanding contributions to world literature and human rights. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the public sale of bronze duplicates of such medal.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to request the Secretary General to seek the cooperation of Vietnam with the United States and specified other countries in ascertaining the whereabouts of the crewmen of the sunken U.S. vessel GLOMAR Java Sea.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1984
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide community impact planning assistance to Indian tribes located near once potential sites for the MX missile. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance to such Indians on the same basis as that provided to State and local governments under the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1981, utilizing available FY 1981 Air Force appropriations. Limits coverage to requests for assistance made before a specified date.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1984
Directs the President to: (1) secure from the Indochina nations a full accounting of Americans captured or missing as a result of the Vietnam conflict; and (2) work for the release of captive Americans and the return of the remains of those American servicemen and civilians who died in Southeast Asia. Requires the President to submit two reports to Congress on American POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Amends the Bankruptcy Code to permit a trustee to reject or assume a collective bargaining agreement made under the authority of title II of the Railway Labor Act or the National Labor Relations Act only if and after the court approves such rejection or assumption. Requires notice to all parties and a hearing before the court may approve such a rejection. Prohibits the court from approving the rejection of a collective bargaining agreement if, absent the rejection: (1) the jobs covered by such agreement will be lost; and (2) any financial reorganization of the debtor will fail. Declares that a rejection of a collective bargaining agreement constitutes a breach at the time of such rejection. Declares that no provision of this Act shall be construed to permit the trustee unilaterally to terminate or alter any of the terms and conditions of such a collective bargaining agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Medicare Solvency and Health Care Financing Reform Act of 1984 - Adds a new title XXI to the Public Health Service Act entitled "Programs For Reforming the Health Care Financing System." Sets forth part A of such title entitled "State Health Care Programs." Provides that if a State transmits to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, within one year of the enactment of this Act, a statement that the State intends to submit a health care plan (described below), for purposes of making payments to the State under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act the Federal medical assistance percentage shall be 102 percent of such percentage as otherwise determined under Medicaid for such State for up to one year. Directs the Secretary to exempt hospitals in a State from the prospective payment limits established under this Act for certain time periods occurring during the first year of the transition period (defined in part C of title XXI as the 24-month period beginning January 1985) if: (1) the State requests such treatment; (2) the State indicates an intention to have implemented a State plan under title XXI which will provide for a recoupment of any revenues received in excess of the amounts permitted under part A; and (3) the State has agreed, with respect to such hospitals, that if a State plan under this Act is not implemented by the end of the first year of the transition period, then the Secretary shall provide for such adjustment in the prospective payment limits under part I of part B as will provide for recoupment in the subsequent year of any revenues received in excess of amounts permitted. Authorizes a State to apply to the Secretary for the approval of a health care plan for the State for an initial period of up to three years, subject to disapproval. Authorizes extensions of such initial period for up to two additional years. Provides that, for any one-year period, in the case of any State with an approved plan: (1) the transitional period provisions of subpart I of part B of title XXI shall not apply; (2) requirements for reimbursement (other than those relating to beneficiary cost sharing) under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act shall be waived and; (3) for purposes of making payments to a State under Medicaid the Federal medical assistance percentage shall, for the year the plan is in effect, be 103 percent (or 104 percent in the case of an unrestricted Medicaid plan) of the amount of the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined under Medicaid and 102 percent (or 103 percent in the case of an unrestricted Medicaid plan) for any subsequent year (except for any extension period) of the amount of the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined. Defines "unrestricted Medicaid plan" as a State Medicaid plan which does not impose any limitation on the scope or duration of inpatient hospital services other than requiring that such services be medically necessary. Directs the Secretary to annually review each approved plan. Requires the continued approval, for a certain time, of a plan not in compliance, if the State certifies that it will comply within a stated time period. Permits a further extension of approval if there is a trend towards compliance. Provides for the establishment of a Federal program with respect to hospitals for a State which cannot comply. Requires a State plan, in order to be approved, to meet the general requirements set forth below and, if applicable, certain requirements relating to ratesetting plans. Permits a plan, in meeting the general requirements, to be designed in a manner that meets such requirements through a ratesetting system, a voluntary system, or through the use of competitive mechanisms. Requires a plan to be designed in a manner so as to provide, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that: (1) the amount of the total revenues per discharge for all hospitals in the State for each year beginning before 1987 in which the plan is in effect may not exceed the base general hospital revenues per discharge increased by the sum of the compounded sum of the percentage limits for a year and the previous years for which the State plan was in effect, and the population-discharge factor; and (2) the amount of the total revenues per discharge for all services furnished to hospitals inpatients for all hospitals in the State for each year beginning after 1986 in which the plan is in effect may not exceed the sum of the base general hospital revenues per discharge increased by the sum of the compounded sum of the percentage limits for a year and the previous years for which the State plan was in effect, and the population-discharge factor, plus the base physician-related hospital revenues per discharge increased by the sum of the compounded sum of the percentage limits for a year and the previous years for which the plan is in effect and provided for a limitation under this clause (2), and the population-discharge factor. Authorizes a State, at its option, to apply the test specified in clause (2) instead of the test specified in clause (1) with respect to years prior to 1986. Permits a plan, instead of meeting the above requirements, to meet such other alternative test of constraint of health care costs as the Secretary determines will not result in a greater expenditure of funds under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and by private payers than would have been made if the plan met the above requirements. Requires a plan to be designed so as to provide that the amount of revenues for inpatient hospital services and physicians' services to hospital inpatients and individuals entitled to benefits under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII of the Social Security Act may not exceed the amount which would otherwise be payable (including copayments and deductibles) for such services under title XVIII. Permits a plan (other than a plan providing for the establishment of rates of hospital reimbursement for hospital inpatient services) to provide that payment under title XVIII for inpatient hospital services and for other services furnished to hospital inpatients shall continue to be made in the amounts and in the manner otherwise provided under Medicare. Requires that the unreimbursed costs incurred by hospitals in providing services to low-income, uninsured or underinsured patients (other than Medicare or Medicaid patients) be paid pursuant to a plan in an amount which must, in the aggregate, be the same proportion of total revenues as such unreimbursed costs are of total costs of patients who are neither Medicare nor Medicaid patients. Provides that such unreimbursed costs shall be paid through distribution of funds pooled at the statewide level, through a higher payment rate, or through another method approved by the Secretary. Requires a plan to have a mechanism for providing fair hearings for hospitals and any other entities aggrieved by determinations made under the plan. Requires a State to provide for the appointment of a panel, consisting of members with expertise in health care economics and service delivery, to advise in the development and implementation of its plan, periodically review and propose modifications to the plan, and establish the methodology for establishing the percentage limit used to compute hospital revenues. Requires such methodology to include the use of appropriate external price indicators, the use of data from major collective-bargaining agreements for nonsupervisory hospital employees, and other appropriate indicators of wage costs. Requires the methodology to be approved by the Secretary. Requires a plan, to the extent that it provides for meeting plan requirements through a system which provides for the establishment of rates for hospital reimbursement for hospital inpatient services by an entity other than the hospital, to meet the following additional requirements: (1) except as provided in clause (2), the plan must provide equitable treatment of all entities that pay for health services covered under the plan, of hospital employees, and of patients; (2) if the plan is established under State law, the plan must take into account the proportion of costs associated with, and services covered by, the different payors, including Medicare and Medicaid, and may not permit undue shifting of proportions of costs among the different payors; (3) the plan may not make available any discount in price to any purchaser unless the discount accurately reflects economic benefits to a hospital resulting from a service arrangement with a purchaser and the discount is made available to all other purchasers who can satisfy such service; and (4) the plan must provide a procedure whereby, upon the request of a hospital, an adjustment can be considered to the rate limitation applicable under the plan to that hospital to reflect a significant change in the inpatient hospital services, increased costs for the compensation of employees, funds necessary to provide for the efficient operation of a hospital which the State has determined should remain in operation, and higher expenses associated with a regional tertiary care institution, teaching hospital, or children's hospital. Directs the Secretary, in reviewing a plan which provides for control of hospital inpatient costs through a competitive mechanism, to take into account the degree to which the plan provides for the following or other measures to improve price competition among providers: (1) the plan provides for open enrollment periods; (2) the plan provides for the dissemination of information concerning different health benefits plans; (3) the plan encourages innovation and public incentives to new forms of health care delivery and financing; (4) there are negotiated prices and risk-sharing between insurers and health care providers; and (5) the laws of the State do not impose legal barriers to competition in negotiated and other arrangements among insurers and health care providers. Sets forth part B of title XXI entitled "Residual Federal Program subpart I of part B entitled "Transition Period." Provides that, subject to the provisions of subpart I, for any accounting period of a hospital subject to subpart I the total revenues for inpatient hospital services may not exceed the total of such revenues that are permitted on the basis of prospective payment limits established under subpart I for the hospital's discharges as classified by diagnosis-related groups. Requires each hospital subject to a limitation on revenues under subpart I to provide for the publication of a price list which establishes the price per discharge which any payor may pay for inpatient hospital services. Requires a hospital to submit its price list to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to determine (for each accounting period) a prospective payment limit for inpatient hospital services for discharges classified by diagnosis-related groups. Sets forth the method for determining and adjusting the limit for each hospital for discharges. Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of a hospital, to increase the allowable revenues for an accounting period or provide for an increase in the base number of discharges otherwise permitted under subpart I to allow for higher revenues than would otherwise be permitted if: (1) a major renovation or replacement of physical plant or significant change in the capacity of the hospital has occurred; (2) the hospital is a sole community provider or provides a disproportionate percentage of its services to low-income or medicare patients, the hospital would otherwise be insolvent, and the State has determined that the hospital should remain open; (3) a larger revenue increase is needed because the hospital is a regional tertiary care institution, teaching hospital, or children's hospital; and (4) there has been a significant change in the characteristics of the hospital's mix of patients. Subjects a hospital which has total inpatient revenues for an accounting period in excess of its applicable limit to a civil penalty, unless the excess is deposited in an escrow account. Permits withdrawals from the account upon the Secretary's certification that the total inpatient revenues of a hospital for an accounting period fall below the applicable limit for that period. Establishes a civil penalty for a physician or other person or entity (other than a hospital) who has charged any person or entity for services which are required by law to be billed to a hospital. Sets forth provisions relating to notice, opportunity for a hearing, and appeal of such penalties. Prohibits a hospital from engaging in an admission practice that results in: (1) a refusal to admit a patient who is unable to pay for inpatient hospital services; (2) the refusal to admit a patient who would be expected to require unusually costly or prolonged treatment; or (3) the refusal to provide emergency services to any person in need of such services. Sets forth penalties, including exclusion from Medicare or Medicaid participation, for hospitals committing such admissions violations. Sets forth subpart II of Part B entitled "Post-Transition Period." Provides that in the case of a State not having a plan approved under part A and in effect for any period beginning after the transition period, the Secretary shall establish and implement a health care plan for such State for such period which meets the requirements of part A, with specified differences. Sets forth definitions under part C of title XXI. Establishes an Advisory Committee on Health Care Technologies and Procedures. Directs the Advisory Committee to examine the appropriateness of the various interventions and the conditions under which they are needed, the safety and efficacy of alternative therapeutic and preventive regimens, and the standards for availability and utilization of various technologies, and to publicly report on whether or not payments should be made for such services and, if so, under what conditions and frequency of service. Exempts individuals enrolled in health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans from the limits established under title XXI on revenues and discharge of a hospital if: (1) the organization elects such treatment; or (2) the organization annually pays for more than 20 percent of the number of bed-days of care with respect to that hospital. Amends provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to employees' health benefits plans to provide that if an employer makes a contribution with respect to the costs of a health benefits plan of an employee and the employer offers the option of membership in a health maintenance organization or a competitive medical plan, which membership provides benefits at least actuarially equivalent to those provided under the other health benefits plan, the employer shall: (1) contribute at least as much towards the membership as the maximum amount of the employer's contribution to the other plan; (2) provide for a cash rebate if the contribution with respect to any other health benefits plan exceeds the cost of membership with the organization; and (3) provide information to employees that reasonably compares the benefits and costs of different plans. Exempts from the provisions of the previous sentence employees of an employer represented by a collective bargaining representative or other employee representative selected under any law. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans, to provide that the annual per capita rate of payment for each class of members shall be 100 percent in the care of individuals enrolled with an eligible organization in an area where at least 30 percent of the individuals eligible to enroll with an organization are enrolled. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to exempt a health maintenance organization which is a public entity from the requirement that at least 75 percent of its membership be Medicaid eligible or insured under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII or under both parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B of title XVIII. Directs the Secretary, under the prospective payment provisions of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, to provide that in the case of a State health care plan approved under Part A of title XXI of the Public Health Service Act payments with respect to services covered under title XXI: (1) may, at the State's option, be made in accordance with title XXI rather than Medicare; or (2) shall be made in accordance with title XXI rather than Medicare in the case of a plan which provides for the control of hospital costs through a title XXI ratesetting mechanism. Provides for increased Medicare payments to a hospital for its operating costs if the number of admissions for an accounting period exceeds the hospital's admissions during a specified base period. Directs the Secretary to determine a regionally adjusted capital-related prospective payment rate for each inpatient hospital discharge in accordance with a specified formula. Directs the Secretary, for each diagnosis-related group, to estimate the average per discharge amount of charges recognized under part B of title XVIII attributable to items and services furnished to inpatients within such group during 1983. Provides that, subject to the part B deductible and subject to other provisions of the Medicare prospective payment rate provisions, with respect to each individual entitled to benefits under part A and enrolled under part B of title XVIII who is a hospital inpatient and whose discharge is classified within a diagnosis-related group, the Secretary shall provide for payment to the hospital of an amount equal to 80 percent of a specified rate in lieu of payments otherwise made under part B for inpatient services. Requires that: (1) payments for health care services furnished to inpatients be made to or through a hospital as a condition of the hospital's participation in the Medicare payment; and (2) the Secretary provide for notice to the public and to individuals enrolled under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act of such requirement. Permits the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund to borrow at any time from other social security trust funds if it can repay the loan within ten years. Provides for the periodic transfer to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund of amounts which the Secretary determines to be equal to a specified fraction of the total revenues of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for each fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to conduct and report to Congress on seven studies relating to: (1) health care costs, quality, delivery, and services; and (2) the effects of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Atlantic Striped Bass Restoration Act of 1984 - Imposes a three-year moratorium on fishing for Atlantic striped bass in order to allow restoration of such species. Authorizes the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to terminate or extend (for up to 24 months) the moratorium under specified circumstances. Sets forth procedures for consultation, public notice, and opportunity for public comment prior to final determinations of moratorium termination or extension. Exempts such determinations from judicial review. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for noncompliances with the provision under this Act. Declares that any vessel connected with a violation shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States. Grants jurisdiction to the United States district courts over civil forfeitures. Directs the Administrator to enforce this Act as well as monitor the Atlantic striped bass fisheries in certain waters. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Sexual Assault Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to repeal the chapter on rape. Provides for a series of graded sexual offenses consisting of: sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery. Repeals the spousal exception for rape. Provides for an offense involving the sexual abuse of a minor. Makes such offense neutral as to gender.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
National Individual Training Account Act of 1984 - 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 1985 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, 1983. 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, 1985. 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 · 9 February 1984
Authorizes the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Incorporated to erect a National Law Enforcement Heroes Memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia or its environs in honor and recognition of law enforcement officials in the United States who died in the line of duty. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Fund, to select with the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, a suitable site on public grounds for such memorial. Subjects the design and any plans for the memorial to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Declares that no moneys belonging to the United States or the District of Columbia shall be expended for the erection of such memorial other than expenses incurred in the process of site selection and approval of design and plans.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the FY 1985 funding levels for Federal foreign language and international education and exchange programs should be maintained or increased above the FY 1984 levels.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1984
Economic Conversion Act - Title I: Prenotification of Base Closures and Defense-Related Contract Cancellations - Directs the Secretary of Defense, through the Economic Adjustment Committee, to notify State and local governments and regional organizations within a specified period of time of a proposed realinement or closure of a military installation or of the cancellation or termination of a defense contract or failure to proceed with an approved major weapon system program. Title II: Economic Conversion Pilot Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for job retraining programs and planning for alternative production required by cancellation of defense contracts during FY 1985-1989. Permits one grant for each defense contract cancellation or reduction. Requires the administration of such grants at the local level by a capable unit of general local government or, through default, by the collective bargaining agents of affected employees. Directs the Secretary to make weekly assistance payments to such employees affected by a cancellation or reduction of a contract valued at $10,000,000 or more during FY 1985-1989. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of such assistance, making allowances for unemployment compensation or public assistance received and health insurance coverage needed. Sets forth assistance application procedures and notification requirements. Makes available for such grants the amount of previously appropriated funds which the United States will save as a result of the cancellation or reduction of the defense contract.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the: (1) Republic of South Africa should release Nelson Mandela from prison and should revoke Winnie Mandela's banning order; (2) President should use his position to secure the release of Nelson and Winnie Mandela; and (3) Speaker of the House is requested to transmit a copy of this resolution to the President and to the Republic of South Africa.
![Official portrait of Rep. Mavroules, Nicholas [D-MA-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000264_200.jpg)