United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Declares that each standing committee of the House of Representatives may, within two days of adoption of this resolution, submit to the House Budget Committee alternatives to the President's sequestration order under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), insofar as such order affects laws within the jurisdiction of the committee. Requires the Budget Committee, within four days of adoption of this resolution, to report a resolution containing instructions to committees sufficient to achieve the total level of deficit reduction contained in the President's sequestration order for FY 1986. Provides that such instructions shall require that each committee (and each subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations) achieve the same level of deficit reduction with respect to programs under its jurisdiction as would have been saved under the President's order. Requires committees to submit recommendations to the Budget Committee by February 21, 1986, sufficient to meet deficit reductions. Requires the Budget Committee to promptly report a reconciliation bill carrying out such recommendations. Authorizes the Budget Committee to include legislative language within the jurisdiction of any noncomplying committee. Requires such reconciliation bill to include a provision which states that if it is enacted on or before March 1, 1986, then the sequestration order for FY 1986 is null and void. Establishes procedures for floor consideration of such reconciliation bill, including limitation on debates and amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Act - Establishes the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition out of specified lands in Florida. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer such Addition as part of the National Park System. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to review the Addition for suitability for designation as a wilderness area. Sets forth land acquisition procedures. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress within one year on the existing Preserve and the Addition concerning their management and public use. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnik, all of whom died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1986
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt cost-of-living increases in Federal retirement and disability programs from reduction under the President's sequestration order for FY 1986. Provides for reducing the outlays of each agency to offset the increased costs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1986
Expresses disapproval of the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics. Designates the 14th day of June 1986 as Baltic Freedom Day. Authorizes and requests the President to submit the issue of Baltic self-determination to the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1986
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt cost-of-living increases in civil service retirement and disability programs (including the Central Intelligence Agency retirement and disabilty system, the Comptroller General retirement system, the Foreign Service retirement and disability system, the judicial survivors' annuities system, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration retirement system, the Coast Guard retirement system, the Public Health Service commissioned officers retirement system, and the Tax Court judges survivors' retirement system), military retirement benefits, and certain railroad retirement benefits from reduction under the President's sequestration order.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the President should continue to express to the Soviet Union U.S. opposition with respect to the harassment and arrests of Hebrew teachers and Jewish activists in the Soviet Union; and (2) the Soviet Union should comply with its commitments under specified international human rights agreements and cease its persecution of individuals on the basis of their Jewish faith.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1985
Rural Satellite Dish Owners Protection Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit encryption of any satellite cable programming for private viewing beginning 30 days after enactment of this Act, unless: (1) the encryption complies with Federal Communications Commission standards; (2) decryption devices are available for lease or purchase by all interested persons within 60 days after request at a reasonable price relative to manufacturing and distribution costs; and (3) monthly subscription fees for such programming do not exceed fees assessed to cable subscribers within the same vicinity. Provides for the civil enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1985
Amends rule XV of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the House from passing or adopting any bill or joint resolution making appropriations or providing revenue except by a rollcall vote.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1985
Calls upon the President to direct the Agency for International Development to work in a global effort to provide universal access to childhood immunization by 1990 by: (1) assisting in the delivery, distribution, and use of vaccines; and (2) performing and supporting research and development activities that will be targeted at developing new vaccines and at modifying existing vaccines to make them more appropriate for use in developing countries. Declares that the President should appeal to the public to provide the necessary resources to achieve universal access to childhood immunization by 1990. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the authorization of appropriations for FY 1987 for the Child Survival Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1985
Requires that the economic assumptions pertaining to inflation that are used for major weapon system programs of the Department of Defense included in the annual budget transmitted by the President to the Congress be the same as those used for all other programs, projects, and activities included in such budget.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1985
Prohibits trapping in units of the National Park System, and other public lands, except as specified for the protection and maintenance of natural resources, including populations, wildlife and human life. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations for the types of traps permitted in trapping fur bearers. Requires the Secretary to develop appropriate traps through a research program. Requires the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to appoint a trap advisory commission. Establishes a permit program for persons wishing to trap on public lands. Imposes criminal penalties for permit violations. Empowers the Department with jurisdiction over the public lands in question to enforce such requirements. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Telecommunications Equipment and Information Services Act of 1985 - Authorizes the Bell operating companies to provide information services (excluding electronic publishing) and to manufacture telecommunications equipment, subject to such regulations as the Federal Communications Commission may prescribe. Conditions such authority on the Commission's determination that no Bell operating company could impede competition in the information services or telecommunications equipment manufacturing businesses. Requires the Commission to include in its annual report to the Congress an assessment, providing for public comment, of the impact of this Act on employment in such businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Malt Beverage Interbrand Competition Act of 1985 - Declares that antitrust laws shall not prohibit any importer, brewer, trademark owner, or trademark licensee of a trademarked malt beverage from entering into or carrying out an agreement which grants a wholesale distributor the exclusive right to sell such beverage within any defined geographic area of a State or limits such distributor to the distribution and sale of such beverage only for ultimate resale to consumers in such area, provided that such beverage has substantial and effective competition within the relevant market.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1985
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a three-year conditional permanent resident status for certain alien spouses and their sons and daughters. Subjects such aliens to exclusion if the Attorney General determines within such three-year period that: (1) the marriage was entered into to procure the alien's admission into the United States, or such marriage has been terminated; (2) consideration was paid to secure such marriage; or (3) the parties have not maintained a bona fide marital relationship. Establishes a criminal penalty for marriage fraud. Prohibits status adjustment during such conditional permanent resident period. Requires a couple to have previously met in person and speak a common language in order to receive a "K" (fiance) visa.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to provide that no person may be sentenced to death by a court-martial unless all the members of the court-martial concur in such sentence. Allows a sentence of death only if the members of the court-martial find, beyond a reasonable doubt, one or more of the following aggravating factors: (1) that the offense was committed in the presence of the enemy; (2) that the accused intended to cause a grave risk of substantial damage to national security or a mission of the United States; (3) that the offense actually caused substantial damage to U.S. national security (whether intended or not); (4) that the accused knowingly created a grave risk of death to one or more persons in addition to the victim of the offense; (5) that the accused committed the offense with the intent to avoid hazardous duty; (6) that (for certain offenses) the offense was committed in a time of war and in engaged or occupied territory; (7) that (for certain offenses) the accused was serving a sentence of 30 years or more, was committing specified crimes or was fleeing after the commission of such crimes, was committing the offense for specified purposes, or that the victims of such crimes were specified high-ranking officials or public servants; (8) that (for certain offenses) the accused was the actual perpetrator of the killing; (9) that (for certain offenses) the victim was under age 12 or the accused maimed or attempted to kill such victim; (10) that a sentence of death is authorized for such offense; (11) that the accused has previously been convicted of an offense involving espionage or treason; or (12) that the offense involved such other factors as may be prescribed by the President. Outlines instructions to be given to members of the court-martial by the military judge in such a capital punishment case. Requires members of the court-martial to vote by secret ballot in closed session. Directs the president of the court-martial, if a sentence of death is adjudged, to announce which aggravating factor(s) was found by the members.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Designates 1986 as Save for the U.S.A. Year. Requests the President to initiate a nationwide campaign, to be known as the Buy Back America campaign, to encourage the people of the United States to buy U.S. savings bonds and certificates and thereby reduce borrowings from foreign sources. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to enhance the marketability of such bonds and certificates.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
National Commission on Classified Information and Security Clearance Procedures - Establishes the National Commission on Classified Information and Security Clearance Procedures to investigate: (1) standards and procedures used by Federal authorities to issue security clearances and classify information; (2) procedures used to ensure that persons with a security clearance continue to meet required standards; (3) the extent to which current standards and procedures cause the classification of more information than required by national security; and (4) the dangers to national security by the growth in the number of persons holding security clearances. Directs the Commission to recommend to each branch of the Federal Government uniform standards and procedures for issuing security clearances, classifying documents, and ensuring that a security clearance continues to meet required standards. Makes provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act inapplicable to the Commission. Requires the Commission to make a final report to the President, the Congress, and the Supreme Court not later than one year after appropriations are first made for the Commission. Allows the restriction of public access to Commission documents. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of the final report.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1985
Authorizes the President to provide military assistance to the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Authorizes appropriations for such purpose for FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1985
Indian Economic Development Act of 1985 - Title I: Designation of Indian Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of Indian enterprise zones by the Secretary of the Interior for purposes of extending the tax incentives and regulatory flexibility measures provided by this Act. Provides that tribal governments shall nominate areas for such designation. Limits the designation of Indian enterprise zones to 30 nominated areas over a 36-month period (one-third of which must be in areas with a population of less than 1,000). Limits the period during which such designation shall remain in effect. Provides that the Secretary may designate such zones only if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the tribal government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous; (3) the area is determined to be Indian lands by the Secretary; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires nominating tribal governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action which may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, receiving commitments of private entities to assist employees and residents of the area, or actions for the partial limitation of tribal sovereign immunity for purposes of recourse in contract and other civil disputes within the zone. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to designate such Indian enterprise zones on July 1, 1986, or 36 months after the publication of regulations pertaining to such zones, whichever is later. Describes areas to which preference shall be given in deciding to designate Indian enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary to prepare and submit to the Congress every four years a report on the effects of such Indian enterprise zones' designation. Requires that any tax reduction effected by a tribal commitment under the terms of this Act shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility of a tribe for Federal assistance or benefits. Specifies that a designation of an Indian enterprise zone shall not give displaced persons from such an area any rights or benefits under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquired Policies Act of 1970. Exempts Indian enterprise zones from certain requirements relating to Federal environmental policy. Title II: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Subtitle A: Credits for Employers - Allows employers located in Indian enterprise zones a nonrefundable income tax credit for increased employment expenditures and employment of the disadvantaged. Allows a three-year carryback and a 15-year carryover of such credit. Sets the amount of such credit at ten percent of the increase in payroll (taking into account $17,500 in wages per year per employee) plus a specified percentage of wages paid to certain disadvantaged workers for the first seven years of the Indian enterprise zone designation. Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Disallows a deduction for the portion of wages taken into account for such credit. Subtitle B: Credits for Investment in Tangible Property in Indian Enterprise Zones - Allows businesses an additional investment tax credit for investment in certain tangible property located in Indian enterprise zones. Limits such credit to five percent for zone personal property, ten percent for new zone construction property, and 20 percent for zone infrastructure investment. Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Requires the recapture of such credit upon early disposition of the property. Subtitle C: Reduction in Capital Gain Tax Rates - Eliminates the capital gains tax on property of corporations acquired after the enterprise zone designation and used in a zone business. Permits property to remain qualified for purposes of the revised capital gains treatment after a designation of an enterprise zone has terminated. Exempts gain from the sale or exchange of property used in a business in an enterprise zone from the computation of the minimum tax. Allows noncorporate taxpayers to deduct from gross income 100 percent of any net capital gain from qualified enterprise zone property. Subtitle D: Rules Relating to Industrial Development Bonds - Provides that limitations on the cost recovery deductions for property financed with tax-exempt industrial development bonds shall not apply to Indian enterprise zone property. Provides that the termination of the small issue exemption shall not apply to industrial development bonds the proceeds of which are used to finance facilities in such enterprise zones. Title III: Regulatory Flexibility - Revises the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified businesses (as defined in Title II of this Act) and tribal governments and nonprofit enterprises operating within Indian enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating tribal government, to waive or modify rules and regulations which pertain to the carrying out of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve such request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in continuation of the rule changed. Disallows waiver or modification if a rule would directly violate a statutory requirement (including the Davis-Bacon Act and Fair Labor Standards Act) or which would present a danger to the public health and safety. Provides that no waiver or modification of a rule shall remain in effect for a longer period than the period for which the Indian enterprise zone designation is in effect. Title IV: Establishment of Foreign - Trade Zones in Indian Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within Indian enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. States that, to the maximum extent practicable, foreign-trade zones should be established within Indian enterprise zones. Title V: Partial Waiver of Tribal Sovereign Immunity - Authorizes the Secretary to approve plans, pursuant to a tribal economic development plan, which include provisions for the partial waiver of sovereign immunity, including provisions for binding arbitration of contract and other civil disputes between tribal entities and non-tribal businesses or entities. Specifies that such a partial waiver of sovereign immunity shall not encumber nor diminish the trust assets of the tribe.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1985
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require the operator of each airport regularly serving an air carrier to use dogs in screening passengers and cargo for the purpose of detecting materials which may be used in aircraft piracy and which cannot be detected by metal detectors.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1985
Promotion of Democracy in Angola Act of 1985 - Prohibits the United States or any U.S. person from making a loan or other extension of credit to Angola or to any organization owned or controlled by Angola. Exempts loans or credits for which an agreement is entered into before enactment of this Act. Directs the President, 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue regulations prohibiting any U.S. person from making any investment in Angola. Exempts: (1) certain loans and extensions of credit; (2) investments of earnings from a business in Angola established before enactment of this Act which are made in that business; and (3) the purchase on a registered national securities exchange of securities in such a business. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to add Angola to the list of communist countries which may not receive assistance under such Act. Prohibits imports from, and exports to, Angola, except for exports of international disaster relief assistance. Directs the President to provide for enforcement of this Act. Imposes penalties for violations of this Act. Requires the provisions of this Act to terminate if the President certifies to the Congress that Angola: (1) is making a concerted and significant effort to comply with internationally recognized human rights; (2) has entered into discussions with its non-communist opposition; (3) has established certain laws; (4) has held free and fair elections by November 1, 1986; and (5) all troops from communist countries have withdrawn from Angola.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 1985
1985 Act To Create the Death Penalty To Punish Terrorist Acts - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for a penalty of death or life imprisonment for the crime of hostage taking if the death of an individual results from the commission or attempted commission of the offense of hostage taking. Makes it a criminal offense to commit or attempt to commit an act of terrorism within the United States or outside the jurisdiction of the United States against a United States person (as defined by this Act). Provides for a penalty of: (1) imprisonment for any term of years; or (2) death or life imprisonment if the death of an individual results from the commission or attempted commission of the offense. Defines an "act of terrorism" as an activity that: (1) involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; or (2) appears to be intended to either intimidate a civilian population, influence the policy of a government or to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping. Defines a "United States person" as: (1) a national of the United States; (2) a resident alien admitted to the United States; (3) any person within the United States; (4) any employee or contractor of the United States regardless of nationality; (5) any proprietorship, partnership, company, or association composed principally of nationals of the United States; or (6) a corporation organized under the laws of the United States. Sets forth rules for the venue of a trial for the offenses of: (1) kidnapping; (2) receiving of ransom money; (3) hostage taking; and (4) commission of terrorist acts. Requires the Government, in cases where the death penalty is sought for the offenses of hostage taking and acts of terrorism, to file with the court and serve upon the defendant notice that the Government will seek the death penalty in the event of a conviction. Requires such notice to set forth the aggravating factors which the Government will seek to prove as the basis for the death penalty. Requires the court to conduct a separate sentencing hearing to determine the sentence to be imposed in such cases where the Government has filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty and where the defendant has been convicted or has entered a guilty plea. Sets forth standards and procedures for such hearings. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. Allows information to be presented as to any matter relevant to the sentence including matters relating to any aggravating or mitigating factors. Specifies certain aggravating and mitigating factors which may be considered. Requires the jury (or the court if there is no jury) to return special findings identifying any mitigating and aggravating factors. Requires the jury by unanimous vote (or the court if there is no jury) to return a finding as to whether a sentence of death is justified. Requires the court to sentence the defendant to death, upon a finding that a sentence of death is justified. Requires a court to instruct the jury that in its consideration as to whether the death penalty is justified it shall not consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant. Requires each juror to certify that such factors were not involved in reaching his or her individual decision. Allows the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole in such cases in which the death penalty is not sought or imposed. Allows for an appeal of a death sentence. Sets forth the standard of review for such appeals.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1985
Amends the copyright law to prohibit a copyright holder from conveying the right to publicly perform an audiovisual work on non-network commercial television without simultaneously conveying the right to perform in synchronization any copyrighted music which accompanies such work.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1985
Trade Partnership Act - Title I: International Trade - Directs the President to establish the Commission on Trade which shall: (1) evaluate existing U.S. trade laws and policies; (2) develop recommendations on monetary and fiscal policies for the United States and its chief trading partners; (3) evaluate the export financing practices of major trading partners and of international agencies; and (4) review existing trade agreements to assess their effect on U.S. long-term trading interests. Requires the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the President and to the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should evaluate such findings and recommendations and take into account the results of an international monetary conference to determine the propriety of convening a summit conference on international trade in order to develop changes in international trade and monetary practices. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should call for an international monetary conference to develop: (1) options for reforming institutional mechanisms in order to decrease the disparity among, and to prevent dramatic fluctuations in the value of, the currencies of the major economic powers; and (2) means for reducing interest rates, promoting national and world economic growth, assuring price stability, and promoting higher levels of international trade. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should initiate multilateral trade negotiations under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in order to: (1) resolve the issues not resolved in earlier negotiations; (2) develop multilateral disciplines in those areas where trade problems have emerged or are becoming more acute; (3) focus on improving the dispute settlement mechanisms of the GATT; (4) place a high priority on bringing developing countries into full participation in the international trading community; (5) ensure that all developed countries share equally the responsibility for advancing the economies of developing countries; and (6) increase efforts to bring countries now outside the GATT under accepted multilateral disciplines governing trade. Directs the President to begin negotiations immediately if Canada requests the negotiation of a trade agreement that provides for the elimination or reduction of any duty imposed by the United States. Directs the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to review the bilateral relationships between the United States and its major trading partners in order to determine those countries that offer the most potential for the establishment of free trade areas with the United States. Sets forth factors to be considered in making such review. Authorizes the President, during the year following enactment of this Act, to negotiate with Japan on a trade agreement under which the United States will permit the exportation to Japan of Alaskan petroleum and natural gas in return for substantial concessions by Japan regarding the importation into Japan of agricultural products, wood products, and other kinds of export products that are important to the United States. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to transfer to the USTR specified functions relating to import relief that are currently performed by the President. Directs the President to review the USTR's determination on whether to provide import relief and what form such relief should take. Requires the President to complete such review within 15 days of receiving the USTR's determination. Directs the President to notify the Congress of the President's decision and of the USTR's determination. Directs the USTR to take action to implement the import relief which the USTR decided to provide if the President concurs in the USTR's decision. Directs the USTR to take action to implement the President's decision on import relief if it differs from the USTR's decision and no joint resolution disapproving the President's decision is enacted. Directs the USTR to order the implementation of the import relief recommended by the International Trade Commission if the decision of the President differs from the decision of the USTR and a joint resolution disapproving the President's decision is enacted. Authorizes interim relief after a petition for import relief is filed if the USTR determines that: (1) it is likely that the article is being imported in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof to the competing domestic industry; and (2) the absence of such interim relief would result in irreparable harm to the domestic industry. Authorizes emergency relief from imports of perishable products (other than perishable products from a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act) after a petition for such relief is filed if the USTR, after consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, decides that: (1) there is a reasonable indication that the perishable product is being imported in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat thereof, to the competing domestic industry; and (2) emergency action is warranted. Directs the USTR, upon deciding to grant interim relief or emergency relief, to: (1) determine the method and extent of such relief; (2) notify the President of such decision; and (3) unless the President decides within 15 days that such relief is not in the national economic interest, order the Commissioner of Customs to impose such relief. Declares that such relief may consist of tariff increases or import limitations. Provides for the termination of such relief. Directs the USTR to order the Commissioner of Customs to implement actions necessary to enforce U.S. rights under any trade agreement if: (1) the President and the USTR agree on the appropriate action; or (2) the President differs with the USTR on the appropriate action but a joint resolution disapproving such action is not enacted. Reduces the number of days from 21 to 15 between the President's receipt of the USTR's recommendation of appropriate action and the President's decision on what action is appropriate. Requires the President to determine during such 15 day period if: (1) the President concurs in the USTR's recommendation; or (2) it is in the national economic interest not to take any action or to take action different from the action determined by the USTR. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such decision. Provides that if 90 days after the Congress receives notice of such decision no joint resolution is enacted disapproving it then such decision shall take effect. Reduces the amount of time the USTR may take to make a recommendation on a petition for enforcement of U.S. trade rights. Sets forth the actions the USTR may recommend to the President based on such petition. Directs the USTR to include in the annual report to the Congress on foreign barriers to market access an analysis and assessment of the overall reciprocity accorded U.S. products, services, and investment by each of the major trading partners of the United States and the impact on major U.S. product sectors of the failure to provide reciprocity. Requires specified congressional committees, within 90 days of receiving such report, after consultation with the USTR and conducting public hearings, to issue a joint report on: (1) the priorities for negotiations regarding reducing or eliminating trade barriers; and (2) the committees' recommendations on actions to enforce U.S. trade rights. Directs the Secretary of Labor to pay to private firms 80 percent of the cost of providing job training if the training is certified as trade readjustment training and if the trainees are not charged for the training. Extends the job training, job search, and job relocation allowance provisions of the trade adjustment assistance programs through October 1, 1987. Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to set a one year deadline for the President to take action on the advice of the Secretary of Commerce on imports that are suspected of impairing national security. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to reduce the time limit for decisions by the International Trade Commission on allegations of unfair practices in import trade from one year (18 months in more complicated cases) to eight months (ten months in more complicated cases). Declares that the USTR should expedite the issuance of notices requesting the negotiation of periodic adjustments to the bilateral limitations on shipments of textiles and apparel contained in the Multi-Fiber Arrangement. Directs the Commissioner of Customs to: (1) increase the number of inspectors, import specialists, and customs patrol officers in the Customs Service by at least 800; (2) implement the Automated Commercial System at all ports of entry; and (3) implement a program for detecting, investigating, and prosecuting patent and copyright infringement cases. Requires the Commissioner to report quarterly to specified congressional committees on the operation and effect of the patent and copyright infringement program. Imposes a penalty for multiple customs law offenders who import or attempt to import merchandise during the three years following the date of the third of the offenders' convictions. Title II: Protection of Patents and Transfer of Technology - Part A: Protection of Patents - Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to use, sell, or import into the United States without authority a product produced by a patented process. Places the burden of proof upon the party asserting that a product was not produced with the patented process in an infringement action where the court finds a substantial likelihood that the product was so produced and the claimant has exhausted all means of discovery. Part B: Transfer of Technology - Federal Laboratory Technology Utilization Act of 1985 - Authorizes Federal agencies to permit their laboratories to enter into cooperative research and development arrangements with other Federal, State, and local agencies, universities, industrial organizations, or other persons including licensees of inventions owned by the Federal agency or general partners of research and development limited partnerships. Permits such laboratories to exchange funds, services, and property with collaborators, grant such collaborators patent licenses or assignments, waive Federal ownership of inventions made by a collaborator, and negotiate licensing agreements for federally owned inventions. Sets forth a formula for the distribution of royalties or other income received by such laboratories from the licensing of cooperatively produced inventions to Federal agency employee inventors, the laboratories themselves, and the Treasury. Requires affected Federal agencies to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the income from and distribution of royalties. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide procedures, training, and advice to Federal laboratories on recognizing the commercial potential of new technologies and inventions. Requires the Secretary to report biannually to the President and the Congress on Federal agency participation in this program. Makes it the policy of the Government to encourage the commercialization of inventions by Federal or former Federal employees made by them during their Federal employment and exempts such efforts from otherwise applicable violations. Permits such an employee to retain title to an invention (subject to retention by the Government of a nonexclusive license) unless the agency intends to file a patent application itself in order to promote commercialization. Sets forth other permissible conditions on such an inventor's title. Part C: Protection of Proprietary Information - Exempts commercial and financial information that is proprietary or sensitive from the sunshine provisions applied to Federal agencies if the proprietor is notified of the request for release of the information and given 60 days to present arguments on why the information should be exempt. Title III: Export Promotion - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to increase, from five percent to ten percent, the percentage of shares that: (1) a bank holding company may hold in an export trading company; and (2) an Edge Act corporation may hold in an export trading company from five to ten percent. Increases the amount of credit that a bank owning stock in a bank holding company with investments in an export trading company may extend to an export trading company. Amends the Export Trading Company Act of 1982 to direct the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank to try to insure that a "significant share" (currently a "major share") of any loan guarantees ultimately serves to promote exports from small, medium-size, and minority businesses or agricultural concerns. Requires the Board to report to the Congress on implementation of such requirement within one year of its effective date. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to develop a program consisting of mixed credit financing for exports to compensate for the effects of subsidized financing by U.S. trading partners. Declares that the Export-Import Bank should expand its promotion programs for small- and medium-sized banks. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to give Edge Act corporations the same discount and borrowing privileges as Federal Reserve banks. Repeals the limitation on bank investments in Edge Act corporations. Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to require periodic reports from every corporation of the total amount of capital stocks and paid up surplus of the corporation, the name of any stockholder who holds more than ten percent of the shares of the stock of such corporation, and the share holdings of such stockholder. Directs the U.S. Executive Director of each of the multilateral development banks to promote procurement opportunities relating to the assistance provided by such banks in recipient countries for U.S. firms. Sets forth actions the Executive Directors should take with respect to such opportunities. Declares that the Secretary of Commerce should continue to assign one foreign commercial service officer to the office of the U.S. Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to assign such an officer on a part-time basis to each of the offices of the U.S. Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank. Requires the U.S. Ambassadors to those countries that are important trading partners of the United States to report annually to the President and to the Congress on their efforts to help U.S. industries in expanding export sales to, and improving their market positions in, such countries. Authorizes the seven Bell operating companies, effective September 1, 1986, to manufacture telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment in the United States if specified conditions are met. Title IV: Foreign Corrupt Practices - Business Accounting and Foreign Trade Simplification Act - Changes the name of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to the Business Practices and Records Act. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to maintain an internal accounting system that provides reasonable assurance that specified accountability and accuracy goals are met. Prohibits imposing criminal liability for failing to maintain such an accounting system. Prohibits imposing civil injunctive relief with respect to: (1) an issuer who fails to maintain the required accounting system if the issuer tried in good faith to meet the requirements; or (2) any person other than an issuer in connection with an issuer's failure to comply with such requirements, unless such person knowingly caused the issuer to fail to comply. Prohibits anyone from knowingly circumventing such an accounting system for a purpose inconsistent with the accountability and accuracy goals of such system. Requires only good faith efforts at ensuring compliance by issuers who hold 50 percent or less of the equity of domestic or foreign firms. Transfers from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Department of Justice jurisdiction to enforce the bribery prohibitions of the FCPA with respect to issuers. Revises the prohibition against domestic concerns using any means of interstate commerce to further payments to obtain business with a foreign official. States that such a payment made "directly or indirectly" to a foreign official is illegal. Prohibits such payments that are made to: (1) influence a foreign official's act or induce such an official to violate a legal duty; or (2) induce a foreign official to affect a foreign government's act. Prohibits domestic concerns from using interstate commerce to direct or authorize an agent to further such a payment to a foreign official. Exempts from such prohibitions: (1) payments to foreign officials to expedite or to secure the performance of routine governmental action; (2) payments to such officials that are lawful under the foreign country's laws; (3) payments which constitute tokens of regard or esteem; (4) expenditures associated with selling, purchasing, or demonstrating goods; or (5) ordinary expenditures associated with performing a contract with a foreign government. Revises the fines and criminal penalties for violations of such Act. Empowers the Attorney General to undertake all civil investigations necessary to enforce the Act. Prohibits prosecution of a domestic concern or specified agents of such concern for violating the Federal mail or wire fraud provisions by making a payment to a foreign official if the prosecution is based on the theory that the official, by receiving the payment, violated a duty to or defrauded the foreign government or the citizens of a foreign country. Authorizes the Attorney General to issue guidelines specifying: (1) permissible conduct associated with common types of export sales arrangements; and (2) precautionary procedures which would create a rebuttable presumption of compliance. Provides for the establishment of a Business Practices and Records Act Review Procedure to answer specific inquiries concerning enforcement of such Act. Requires the Attorney General to issue opinions regarding compliance. Makes such opinions final and binding on all parties if the opinion states that the conduct does not involve a violation. Directs the Attorney General to protect the confidentiality of materials submitted in the review procedure. Requires annual reports to the Congress by: (1) the Attorney General concerning actions taken pursuant to such Act; and (2) the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the reporting requirements. Title V: Related Tax Provisions - High Technology Research and Scientific Education Act of 1985 - Part A: The Credit for Increasing Research Activities - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credit for research and development (R&D) expenditures. Modifies the definition of qualified research for purposes of the R&D credit to narrow the category of eligible activities for which the credit is allowable. Provides that in-house and contract research expenses paid or incurred by a regular corporation (not an S corporation, a personal holding company, or a service corporation) will constitute qualified research expenses for R&D credit purposes if the corporation undertakes the research with the intention to use the result thereof in the active conduct of a present or future trade or business. Provides that in the case of research being conducted in partnership form, research expenses will constitute qualified research expenses if they are incurred by the partnership in carrying on a trade or business as applied at the partnership level, and the credit is apportioned among the partners in accordance with general partnership rules. Provides exceptions to this general rule where: (1) there is a joint venture enterprise of regular corporations; or (2) not all of the members of the joint venture are regular corporations, but each member's own trade or business would satisfy the trade or business test with respect to the partnership's research expenditures. Provides that for these two exceptions the research expenses will flow through to the partners, with the trade or business test being applied at the partner level. Part B: Promotion of University Research and Scientific Investigation - Establishes a new income tax credit equal to 20 percent of that portion of a corporation's payments to universities (and other qualified non-profit tax-exempt organizations for basic research) which exceeds a fixed, historical "minimum university basic research" floor. Defines the "minimum university basic research" floor as one percent of the annual average of the corporate taxpayer's combined qualified in-house research expenses, contract research expenses, and university basic research payments for the base period composed of the period from 1981 through 1983. Provides that the amounts of research expenses which fall below the floor shall remain eligible for the present R&D credit and are included in the corporation's base period for purposes of calculating the present R&D credit. Treats the amounts which exceed the "minimum university basic research" floor as ineligible for the present R&D credit and excludes such amounts from the corporate taxpayer's base year research expenses for purposes of calculating the corporation's R&D credit under present law. Provides that a corporation's payments to universities for basic research that is eligible for the new tax credit shall be reduced to the extent that the corporation's general (i.e., not designated for research purposes) charitable giving to all universities falls below historical levels (the annual average of undesignated payments for three of the immediately preceding four years as selected by the taxpayer). Makes additions to the list of organizations to which corporate payments for basic research may be made and be eligible for the tax credit. Allows a corporation an income tax deduction for contributions of scientific or technical property to an institution of higher education. Defines scientific property to mean tangible personal property (including computer software) used in a trade or business, which is donated for the direct education of students or faculty, for research and experimentation, or for research training in the United States in mathematics, the physical, biological, or chemical sciences, engineering, or advanced computer sciences. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of the allowable deduction for contributions of scientific property. Provides for an income tax exclusion for the scholarships, fellowship grants, student loan forgiveness, or stipends of a graduate student in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or the physical or biological sciences. Provides that such tax exclusion is not forfeited merely because the student is required, as a condition of the scholarship or fellowship, to perform future service in teaching or research.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1985
Bank Bribery Amendments Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to bribery. Provides that any person who gives or offers anything of value to an officer, director, employee, agent, or attorney of a financial institution with the intent to influence official action shall be fined not more than $5,000 (or three times the value of the bribe, whichever is greater) or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. Provides that where the value of the thing offered or accepted does not exceed $100, the fine shall be not more than $1,000 and imprisonment shall be for not more than one year, or both. Prohibits any person from soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept anything of value for the above purposes. Applies the same penalties to such offenses. Defines "financial institution" as including federally insured banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions, Federal home loan banks, Federal land banks, small business investment companies, bank holding companies, and savings and loan holding companies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1985
Fair Export Financing Act of 1985 - Amends the Trade and Development Enhancement Act of 1983 to declare that one of the purposes of such Act is to establish a temporary tied aid credit program to combat the predatory concessional credit programs of foreign governments. Directs the President to negotiate limits on partially untied aid credit. Changes the U.S. negotiating objectives to include references to partially untied aid credits. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish within the Department of the Treasury a program of tied aid credits for U.S. exports. Requires the program to be carried out in cooperation with the Export-Import Bank or with private financial institutions or entities. (Currently the program is established within the Export-Import Bank and carried out in cooperation with the Agency for International Development (AID).) Sets forth financing methods that may be included in such program. Authorizes appropriations. Repeals the provision that established a tied aid credit program in AID. Requires the Secretary to seek the advice of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies before approving financing under the tied aid credit program. Terminates the tied aid credit program on September 30, 1987. Limits judicial review of actions by the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank and by the Secretary. Changes the definition of "tied aid credit." Defines "partially untied aid credit." Deletes references to government-mixed credits and public-private cofinancing.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1985
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to eliminate the second concurrent resolution on the budget and thus provide for annual adoption of a single concurrent resolution on the budget (budget resolution). Sets forth maximum Federal budget deficit amounts for each of fiscal years 1986 through 1991 providing for the incremental reduction of the deficit to zero by 1991. Requires Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) revenues and expenditures to be included in the calculation of such deficit amounts. Prohibits either House of Congress from considering or adopting a budget resolution or a revision thereof providing for budget outlays exceeding revenues by more than the prescribed maximum deficit amount. Requires the Congress to complete action on any reconciliation bill or resolution to: (1) an original budget resolution by June 15 of each year; or (2) a revised budget resolution within 30 days after the revision is adopted. Provides that no amendment that would increase specific budget outlays or reduce specific revenues set forth in a budget resolution or reconciliation bill shall be in order in the House or the Senate, unless such amendment provides for offsetting adjustments in other outlays and revenues to ensure that the deficit set forth in the budget resolution is not increased or exceeded. Requires each Senate and House committee to report its subdivisions of allocated budget outlays and new budget authority within ten days of session after the budget resolution is agreed to. Makes it out of order for the House or the Senate, after the Congress has completed action on the budget resolution for a fiscal year, to consider legislation that, if enacted, would: (1) provide for or require budget outlays or new budget authority in excess of the appropriate committee allocation reported in connection with such resolution, unless legislation is favorably reported by the Committee on Appropriations of the House involved with a certification that the appropriate committee will take actions necessary to assure that enactment of such legislation will not result in a deficit exceeding the maximum deficit amount applicable; or (2) provide for new budget authority or spending authority or reduce revenues so that the resulting deficit would exceed the level set forth in such budget resolution or the applicable maximum deficit amount. Permits a congressional committee to report alterations to its reported allocations of budget outlays and authority, provided that such alterations are consistent with any actions taken by its House on legislation within its jurisdiction. Requires the conference report on any legislation providing new budget authority or new or increased tax expenditures to disclose the information required to be disclosed in committee reports on such legislation. Requires the Federal budget transmitted to the Congress by the President each year, and revisions thereof, to set forth levels of outlays and revenues resulting in a deficit not in excess of the applicable maximum deficit amount. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: (1) to estimate the levels of total revenues and budget levels for each fiscal year; (2) to estimate the rate of real economic growth during that year; (3) to determine whether the deficit for such year will exceed the applicable maximum deficit amount and whether such excess is statistically significant; and (4) to submit a report to the President and the Congress specifying the amount of any excess, whether it is statistically significant, the estimated rate of real economic growth for that year, and the percentages by which automatic spending increases (excluding increases in OASDI benefits) and relatively controllable expenditures shall be reduced during such year in order to eliminate such excess. Requires the President, upon receiving such a report which identifies a statistically significant excesss, to issue an order which eliminates one-half of such excess by suspending or uniformly reducing (not below zero) automatic spending increases under Federal law for such year, and which eliminates the other half by sequestering amounts of budget authority, obligation limitations, and loan limitations, and by adjusting Federal payments, to the extent necessary to reduce each relatively controllable expenditure by a uniform percentage. Directs the President to send a message to both Houses of Congress identifying: (1) the total amount and the percentage by which automatic spending increases are to be reduced; (2) the amount of budget authority, obligation limitations, and loan limitations to be sequestered and payments to be adjusted for all, and each, relatively controllable expenditure; and (3) the account, department, establishment, project, or function affected by such revision of expenditures. Prohibits such an order from eliminating any Federal program, project, or activity. Directs the President to issue such order: (1) within 14 days after receiving such report if the estimate for real economic growth for the fiscal year is zero or greater; or (2) within 30 days if the estimate for real economic growth is less than zero. Authorizes the President, during such 30-day period, to submit to the Congress a joint resolution to: (1) reduce the deficit to an amount not exceeding the applicable maximum deficit amount; or (2) suspend the requirements of this Act for such fiscal year. Permits the President's message to the Congress to include alternative ways to reduce the deficit to an amount not exceeding the maximum deficit amount. Permits the Committee on the Budget of the House or the Senate, within ten days after the President has issued such an order, to report a joint resolution superseding such order. Makes it out of order for the House or the Senate to consider or agree to any such resolution which, if enacted, would cause the fiscal year deficit to exceed the deficit set forth in the budget resolution most recently agreed to, or the applicable maximum deficit amount. Sets forth House and Senate procedures for consideration of such a resolution. Amends the Social Security Act to provide that OASDI revenues and expenditures shall be excluded from the Federal budget transmitted by the President to the Congress and from the congressional budget, and shall be exempt from general budget limitations imposed on Federal expenditures and net lending. Prohibits any law enacted after enactment of this Act from providing for payments between the Treasury and the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. Changes the date by which the President must submit to the Congress a supplemental summary of the budget for a fiscal year from July 16 to September 16. Waives specified provisions of this Act in any fiscal year for which a declaration of war has been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1985
Office of Strategic Trade Act of 1985 - Declares the policy of the United States with respect to export controls on strategic goods and technology. Establishes an Office of Strategic Trade as an independent executive agency which shall be headed by a Director of Strategic Trade whom the President shall appoint with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires the Director to act as chairman of the Interagency Advisory Committee for Export Policy. Establishes within the Office of the Director an Exporter Services Facility to act as liaison with the business community. Sets forth as the principal divisions of the Office the: (1) Operations Division; (2) Compliance Division; (3) CoCom Division, which shall carry out functions relating to the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom); (4) Licensing Division; and (5) General Counsel's office. Authorizes the Director to require any of the following types of export licenses: (1) a validated license, authorizing a specified export issued pursuant to application; (2) a qualified general license, authorizing multiple exports issued pursuant to application; (3) a general license, authorizing exports without application; and (4) such other licenses as may assist in the implementation of this Act. Requires the Director to establish a commodity control list consisting of any goods or technology subject to export controls under this Act. Prohibits the imposition of export controls on goods or technology for foreign policy or national security reasons if the President determines that adequate evidence has been presented to show that: (1) comparable goods or technology are available from foreign sources without restriction in significant quantities; and (2) the absence of such controls would not be detrimental to the foreign policy or national security of the United States. Declares that no authority or permission to export may be required under this Act except to carry out its policies. Authorizes the President to delegate the authority conferred on the President by this Act. Requires the Director to keep the public informed of changes in export control policy and procedures instituted in conformity with this Act. Authorizes the President, in order to carry out the national security export control policy, to impose export controls on any goods or technology subject to U.S. jurisdiction or exported by any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Grants the Secretary of Defense the right to review any export application subject to national security controls. Requires the Director to publish in the Federal Register a notice of any revision with respect to any goods or technology, or with respect to the counties or destinations affected by national security export controls. Requires the Director to notify an applicant whenever the Director denies an export license for national security reasons. Requires the Director, in issuing regulations to carry out national security controls, to emphasize: (1) safeguards to prevent a country that poses a threat to U.S. security from diverting covered goods and technologies to military use; and (2) the need to prevent the reexport of such goods and technologies to countries that pose a threat to U.S. security. Declares that U.S. policy toward individual countries shall not be determined solely on the basis of a country's communist or noncommunist status. Sets forth other factors to be considered. Directs the President to review controls maintained cooperatively with other nations at least once every three years. Directs the President to review other controls annually. Requires the Director to establish and maintain a national security control list as a part of the commodity control list. Directs the Secretary of Defense and appropriate Federal agencies to identify goods and technology for inclusion on the national security control list. Requires the Director to issue regulations providing for review and revision of the national security control list. Makes the Secretary primarily responsible for including in the national security control list certain militarily critical technologies. Establishes a National Security Control Agency within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to assist in carrying out the national security export control policy responsibilities of the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on actions taken with respect to national security export controls. Expresses the intent of the Congress to encourage the use of a qualified general license instead of a validated license. Authorizes the Director to require a qualified general license instead of a validated license for the export of goods or technology which are subject to national security controls except where: (1) the export of such goods or technology is restricted pursuant to a multilateral agreement which requires the approval of the parties to the agreement; or (2) the United States is seeking the agreement of other suppliers to apply comparable controls and a validated license is necessary in the Director's judgment until such agreement is reached. Requires the Director, in consultation with the Secretary and other appropriate agencies, to review the foreign availability to countries to which exports are controlled for national security purposes of any goods or technology the export of which requires a validated license. Prohibits the Director from requiring a validated license if the Director determines that sufficiently comparable goods or technology are available from foreign sources so that the requirement of a validated license does not achieve its intended purpose, unless the absence of export controls would prove detrimental to the national security. Requires the Director to approve any application for a validated license for the export of goods or technology to a country which meets the application requirements if the Director determines sufficiently comparable goods or technology are available from foreign sources. Requires a finding of foreign availability to be based on reliable evidence (uncorroborated representations by license applicants are not sufficient). Declares that a technology or good subject to national security export controls which is not possessed by a nation or combination of nations threatening national security may not be deemed to be available from foreign sources until the Secretary of State verifies that negotiations with the foreign sources have been undertaken. Directs the President to negotiate with governments of countries possessing such technologies or goods to prevent them from becoming available to hostile countries. Requires the Director to establish within the Office a capability to monitor the foreign availability of goods or technology subject to export controls under this Act. Requires the National Security Control Agency and other Federal agencies responsible for export controls to share information concerning foreign availability of such goods and technology if specified conditions are met. Requires the Director to appoint technical advisory committees to advise and assist the Director, the Secretary, and other Federal agencies in carrying but the national security export control policy. Requires the Director to remove the requirement of a validated export license with respect to any goods or technology which a technical advisory committee certifies as being sufficiently available from foreign sources so that the requirement of a validated license does not achieve its purpose, unless the absence of export controls would prove detrimental to the national security. Directs the President to enter into negotiations with the governments participating in the group known as the Coordinating Committee to reach agreements: (1) to publish a list of items controlled for export by agreement of the Committee; (2) to hold periodic meetings to discuss export control policy issues; and (3) on more effective enforcement procedures. Requires U.S. nongovernmental entities, except certain schools, which enter into a commercial agreement with the government of a foreign country to which exports are restricted for national security purposes, to report the agreement to the Director. Directs the Secretary of State to negotiate with other countries regarding their cooperation in restricting the export of goods and technology. Requires the Director to deny all further exports to any party or parties responsible for the diversion of U.S. exports to unauthorized uses, regardless of whether such goods or technology are available from sources outside the United States. Authorizes the Director to take other appropriate steps to deter further unauthorized use of the previously exported goods or technology. Requires the Director to take such action when there is reliable evidence that goods or technology which were exported subject to national security controls have been diverted to an unauthorized use or consignee in violation of an export license. Authorizes the President to impose export controls on any goods, technology, or other information subject to U.S. jurisdiction or exported by any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction to the extent necessary to further U.S. foreign policy or the fulfill U.S. international obligations. Terminates such controls after one year, unless extended by the President. Requires the Director to notify an applicant whenever the Director denies an export license for foreign policy reasons. Authorizes the Secretary of State to review any export license application for foreign policy reasons. Sets forth factors the President shall consider when imposing, expanding, or extending export controls for foreign policy reasons. Requires the Director to consult with affected U.S.industries before imposing foreign policy export controls. Requires the President to determine that reasonable efforts have been made to achieve the purposes of the controls through alternative means before resorting to export controls. Directs the President to consult with the Congress before imposing any foreign policy export controls. Requires the President to notify the Congress whenever the President imposes, expands, or extends foreign policy export controls. Declares that this Act does not authorize export controls on medicine or medical supplies. Prohibits the imposition of export controls on food if they would cause measurable malnutrition, unless the President determines that: (1) those controls are necessary to protect national security interests; or (2) arrangements are insufficient to ensure that food will reach those in need. Requires Congress to be notified of findings concerning proposed export controls on food. Expresses the intent of the Congress that the President not impose export controls on goods or technology if the effect of such exports would be to help meet basic human needs. Requires the President to try to conclude negotiations with appropriate foreign governments to secure the cooperation of such governments in controlling exports to countries to which U.S. foreign policy export controls apply. Declares that certain provisions of this Act shall not apply if foreign policy export controls are imposed to meet international obligations. Requires the Director and Secretary of State to notify the appropriate congressional committees before approving export licenses for goods or technology valued at more than $7,000,000 to countries which: (1) have repeatedly supported international terrorism; and (2) would benefit militarily or would have an enhanced ability to support international terrorism. Authorizes the Director to approve exports of crime control and detection instruments only pursuant to a validated export control license. Exempts certain countries from such requirements. Requires the Director to establish and maintain a foreign policy export control list as part of the commodity control list. Requires the list to be reviewed once every three years with respect to controls maintained cooperatively with other countries and annually with respect to other controls. Authorizes the President to impose export controls on goods subject to U.S. jurisdiction or exported by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction where necessary to protect the domestic economy from short supplies. Requires export licenses for goods in short supply to be allocated on the basis of factors other than prior history of exportation. Requires the Director to publish notice in the Federal Register of short supply export controls and to elicit comments on the impact of such restrictions and the method of licensing used to implement them. Authorizes the imposition of export license fees. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to monitor exports and export contracts of goods when the volume of exports in relation to domestic supply contributes or may contribute to an increase in domestic prices or a domestic shortage and such price increase or shortage has or may have a serious adverse effect on the economy. Requires the results of the monitoring to be reported on a regular basis. Requires the Director to consult with the Secretary of Energy on whether monitoring or export controls are warranted with respect to energy-related materials. Authorizes any entity representative of an industry or a substantial segment of an industry which processes recyclable metallic materials with respect to which short supplies may have a significant adverse effect on the national economy to petition the Director to monitor the export and/or impose export controls on such materials. Sets forth the procedure for making such petition. Requires the Director, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, to decide whether to impose monitoring or controls on such materials within 45 days of the end of the public hearings on such petition. Authorizes the Director to determine that a petition filed with respect to the same materials within six months after consideration of a prior petition does not merit complete consideration. Authorizes the Director to impose temporary monitoring or controls on such materials pending the final decision on whether to impose such monitoring or controls. Prohibits, with specified exceptions, exports of domestically produced crude oil transported by pipeline over the right-of-way granted pursuant to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authority Act, unless the President: (1) makes specified findings with respect to such exports, including that the exports protect the national interest; and (2) reports such findings to the Congress and the Congress adopts a concurrent resolution approving such exports. Authorizes the President to export oil to any country pursuant to a bilateral international oil supply agreement entered into before June 25, 1979, or to any country pursuant to the International Emergency Oil Sharing Plan of the International Energy Agency. Prohibits the export of refined petroleum products except pursuant to an export license. Requires the Director to notify the Congress within five days of receiving an application for an export license for a refined petroleum product or residual fuel oil. Prohibits granting such a license earlier than 30 days after notifying the Congress, unless the President certifies to the Congress that the proposed export is vital to the national interest. Exempts from such prohibition certain exports to historical trading partners and exports of small amounts of refined petroleum products. Excludes from such export controls certain petroleum products refined from foreign crude oil in U.S. Foreign Trade Zones or in Guam unless the Director finds that such products are in short supply. Prohibits use of the authority to impose short supply export controls with respect to agricultural commodities without the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from approving such export controls if the supply of the commodity exceeds the requirements of the domestic economy except to the extent that the President determines that such exercise of authority is required to carry out national security policies or foreign policies. Authorizes, upon the approval of the Director in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, the storage in the United States of agricultural commodities purchased by or for use in a foreign country. Provides that such commodities shall be free from any export controls that may be imposed to carry out short supply export controls. Prohibits the Director from granting such approval unless specified conditions are met. Requires the President to report to the Congress on any export controls imposed on agricultural commodities for foreign policy or short supply reasons. Authorizes the Director to exempt barter agreements from any export quotas imposed to carry out the policy on short supplies, if the Director makes certain findings. Prohibits exporting unprocessed red cedar logs harvested from State or Federal lands. Exempts from such prohibition exports of unprocessed red cedar logs permitted under the Export Administration Act of 1979 before enactment of this Act. Exempts from this prohibition and from restrictions contained in the Export Administration Act of 1979 contracts to harvest such logs which were entered into before October 1, 1979. Prohibits the export by sea of horses, unless the Director waives the prohibition after determining that the horses are not being exported for slaughter. Directs the President to issue regulations prohibiting any U.S. person from taking or knowingly agreeing to take certain actions with intent to comply with or support a foreign boycott against a country which is friendly to the United States and which is not the object of a U.S. boycott. Lists the actions to be prohibited by such regulations and exceptions to the prohibitions. Requires the regulations issued under the foreign policy export controls provisions to supplement other regulations issued by the President against supporting foreign boycotts. Requires such regulations to require U.S. persons who are asked to comply with a foreign boycott to report that fact, and any other necessary information, to the Director. Provides that these provisions preempt all other laws or regulations pertaining to foreign boycotts. Sets forth the procedures for obtaining hardship relief from export controls. Permits petitions to be filed with the Director by any person who has historically imported goods from the United States or who has historically exported such goods. Requires the Director to notify the petitioner of a grant or denial of such relief within 30 days of receipt of the petition. Sets forth factors to be considered in deciding whether to grant or deny such relief, including the effect of granting such relief upon the basic objectives of short supply control program. Sets forth the procedures for processing export license applications. Requires all export license applications required under this Act to be submitted to the Director. Expresses the intent of the Congress that, to the maximum extent possible, the Director shall make the determinations with respect to such applications without referring to other agencies. Requires such agencies to cooperate with the Director when the Director seeks their assistance. Requires the Director to complete initial screening of an application within ten days. Requires the Director to deny or grant a license within 90 days if there is no need to refer the application to another agency. Requires the Director to refer the application to other agencies, if necessary, within 30 days of submission. Requires the agency to review the application and submit its recommendation within 30 days of receiving it. Authorizes granting the agency an additional 30 days to review the application. Requires the Director to grant or deny a license within 90 days of receiving the recommendation of other agencies. Authorizes the Director to take more than 90 days if the application is of exceptional importance and complexity. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, to review proposed exports of goods or technology to any country to which exports are controlled for national security purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to recommend to the President that such exports be disapproved if they would militarily benefit such country to the detriment of the security of the United States. Requires the President to report to the Congress whenever the President modifies or overrules a recommendation of the Secretary of Defense with respect to the export of goods controlled for national security purposes. Prohibits issuing an export license for an article subject to multilateral controls until after the multilateral review. Requires a license approved by the Director to be issued if the multilateral review is not completed within 60 days, unless the Director determines that the license would prove detrimental to U.S. national security. Requires the Director to notify the Congress and the applicant of such determination, the reasons for it, the reasons the multilateral review was not concluded, and the actions planned to secure the conclusion of the multilateral review. Sets forth procedures to be followed to appeal the denial of a license. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Sets forth the powers of agencies to investigate possible violations of this Act. Provides for protecting the confidentiality of information submitted in compliance with this Act. Requires the Director to simplify regulations issued under this Act and the commodity control list. Exempts the functions exercised under this Act from certain provisions relating to administrative procedure and judicial review. Expresses the intent of the Congress that there be public participation in the formation of regulations issued under this Act. Requires the Director to submit an annual report to the Congress on the administration of this Act. Sets forth information to be detailed in such report, including a report on the need to impose export controls other than those subject to multilateral controls or more stringent than the multilateral controls. Transfers to the Office of Strategic Trade the functions and authorities of the State Department's Office of East-West Trade with respect to the munitions list and such other functions and authorities as the Director, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, determines to be appropriate. Requires the President to coordinate the authority granted to the President under this Act with the authority provided for the control of arms exports under the Arms Export Control Act. Makes certain civil aircraft equipment, which is to be exported to a country other than a controlled country, subject to export controls exclusively under this Act. Requires export license applications which are ordinarily referred to the Subgroup on Nuclear Export Coordination or some other interagency group to be governed by the provisions relating to foreign boycotts only to the extent that the foreign boycott provisions are consistent with the procedure published pursuant to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978. Requires authorizing legislation before any appropriation can be made to the Commerce Department for expenses to carry out this Act. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Defense to carry out this Act for FY 1986 through 1989. Repeals the Export Administration Act of 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1985
Health Care Savings Account Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit individuals (employees or self-employed individuals) and employers to contribute to health care savings accounts. Limits the amount which may be contributed to a health care savings account each year to no greater than the combined amount of employee and employer hospital insurance (Medicare) payroll tax paid during that year. Provides that the employee or self-employed individual and the employer will each receive a 60 percent tax credit for their respective portion of their hospital insurance payroll tax paid. Provides that a health care savings account shall be exempt from income taxes, except for the tax on certain unrelated business income, and except where such account: (1) engages in prohibited transactions; or (2) is used to pledge as security for a loan. Excludes from gross income of the distributee amounts distributed from a health care savings account provided that these funds are used for eligible medical expenses while the individual is eligible for Medicare. Permits the tax-free rollover of contributions from one health care savings account to another for the benefit of the distributee. Imposes a penalty of ten percent of the amount of any early distributions from a health care savings account. Provides that no amount distributed out of a health care savings account may be taken as a medical expense deduction. Imposes a tax on any excess contributions to such accounts. Imposes a penalty tax on prohibited transactions involving a health care savings account. Imposes a five percent tax on distributions from a health care savings account in the taxable year which reduces the level of all such accounts with respect to the distributee below the total value of health care savings account tax credits for the distributee. Provides exceptions for certain distributions. Imposes a 100 percent tax on such distributions if the distributions are not corrected within the taxable period. Imposes a 50 percent excise tax on the difference between the value of a decedent's health care savings accounts at the time of death and the amount contributed into the spouse's health care savings account at the time of, and on account of, such death. Establishes certain penalties for failure to file required reports with respect to health care savings accounts. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide that in the case of an individual who has established a health care savings account, the total amount of any Medicare benefits which will be paid with respect to the individual will be reduced by a health care savings account-related deductible for the year. Provides that this deductible amount will be equal to 60 percent of the amount of medical-related expenditures that could be reasonably underwritten (by an insurance company) for the average Medicare beneficiary assuming that the annual premium will equal the health care savings account annuity. Provides special rules for individuals who cannot obtain insurance to cover their added deductible at the standard premium rates. Provides that these high cost insurance beneficiaries' added deductible is reduced by a proportion reflecting 80 percent of the excess premium required above the standard rate, except that the deductible may not drop below 120 percent of the individual's health care savings account annuity amount. Provides that the health care savings account-related deductible and the annuity amount shall be recalculated upon the qualification of a younger spouse for Medicare. Establishes catastrophic health care expense protection for certain individuals qualifying for Medicare protection. Requires such individuals to have contributed at least one-third of the maximum amount possible over the course of their careers into a health care savings account and at least $100 (indexed for inflation) or 50 percent of the maximum contribution per year, whichever is greater, in ten individual years. Treats surviving spouses without a separate health care savings account as eligible for the catastrophic coverage if the deceased spouse was formerly eligible for catastrophic coverage and the surviving spouse rolls 100 percent of the health care savings account of the deceased spouse into a health care savings account.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1985
Social Security Budget and Administrative Reorganization Act of 1985 - Title I: Establishment of the Social Security Administration - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to establish as an independent executive agency a Social Security Administration, headed by a Social Security Board. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Administration to administer the programs established by titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Board to study and make recommendations as to the most effective methods of providing economic security through social insurance and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy. Establishes in the Administration: (1) a Commissioner of Social Security; (2) a Deputy Commissioner of Social Security; (3) a General Counsel; (4) an Inspector General; and (5) an Office of the Beneficiary Ombudsman, to be headed by a Beneficiary Ombudsman who shall represent the interests of beneficiaries under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income Program within the Administration. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a description of the activities of the Beneficiary Ombudsman. Requires the Board to make annual budgetary recommendations relating to the Administration. Requires that appropriations requests by the Administration for staffing and personnel be based upon a comprehensive workforce plan as established by the Board. Provides for the apportionment of administrative costs. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a section reflecting the use of budget authority provided to the Administration. Requires that authority for automated data processing procurement and facilities construction be provided in the form of contract authority covering the total cost of such acquisitions. Makes amounts needed for the liquidation of contract authority so provided available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to the extent that such amounts are not needed to meet current obligations for benefit payments. Requires the Board and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to implement demonstration projects relating to personnel matters. Directs the Board and the Administrator of General Services to implement such projects relating to delegations from the Administrator. Specifies the authorities which are to be delegated to the Board from the Administrator and the Director. Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees concerning such projects, including an evaluation of the Board's readiness to assume full and permanent authority. Requires the Board to cause a seal of office to be made and judicial notice taken thereof. Provides for the transfer to the Administration of all functions carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the programs and activities to be carried out by the Administration under this Act. Abolishes the position of Commissioner of Social Security in the Department of Health and Human Services. Sets forth effective date and transitional rule provisions. Title II: Conforming Amendments and Rules of Construction - Requires the Secretary and the Board to report to Congress within 120 days after the beginning of each regular session on their administration under this Act. Requires the Secretary to study and make recommendations on the most effective methods of providing economic security and on the administrative policy for the programs which he or she administers. Directs the Board to appoint, quadrennially, an Advisory Council on the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program and an Advisory Council on Health and Supplementary Medical Insurance to review the relation of the trust funds supporting the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Medicare program and the long-term commitments of those programs. Requires each council to submit a report to the Board for transmittal to the Congress and the Board of Trustees of each Trust Fund. Sets forth the effective dates of this title. Title III: Budgetary Treatment of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program - Provides for off-budget treatment of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund beginning with FY 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the current Government of Guatemala is to be commended for its perseverance and determination to return to civilian rule.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1985
Narcotics Control Trade Act - Directs the President to designate a country an uncooperative drug source nation if during any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1985, such country: (1) was a source of any illicit narcotic and psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances that is significantly affecting the United States; and (2) did not cooperate with the United States in preventing such drugs and substances from affecting the United States by taking specified actions. Directs the President to report to the Congress the name of each such country. Denies the products of each such country most-favored-nation treatment until the President notifies the Congress that such country has made significant progress and will continue to make progress in remedying those policies on which an uncooperative drug source nation designation was based.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1985
Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful to knowingly obtain access or attempt to obtain access to a computer as part of a scheme to defraud or obtain money or property by false pretenses or to embezzle, steal, or convert the property of another if: (1) the computer is owned by, under contract to, or operated on behalf of the U.S. Government or a financial institution; or (2) if in committing or concealing the offense two or more computers are used which are located in different States or in a State and a foreign country. Makes it unlawful to knowingly and willfully without authorization damage, destroy, or attempt to damage or destroy such a computer or any computer programs or data contained in such a computer. Makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally without any authorization obtain access to such a computer. Provides that anyone who violates any provision of this Act shall forfeit to the United States any interest in any computer and computer program which has been used to commit the violation. Specifies that this Act does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a State or Federal law enforcement agency, or of an intelligence agency of the United States.
![Official portrait of Rep. McCollum, Bill [R-FL-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000350_200.jpg)