United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1982
Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to fix the investment yield on any United States savings bond at a yield which makes such bond competitive with comparable investments. Prohibits the investment yield on such bonds from exceeding 85 percent of the average investment yield for the most recent auction (before the week in which the certificate is issued) of United States Treasury bills with maturities of 52 weeks.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1982
Declares that any action by the United Nations to prevent a democratic state from exercising its rights to participate in the United Nations will seriously and harmfully affect congressional support for the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1982
Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Admiral Hyman George Rickover in recognition of his distinguished service and for his contributions to the development of safe nuclear energy and to the defense of the United States. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such provision. Authorizes the Secretary to make available bronze duplicates of such medal for sale under regulations he prescribes and in accordance with provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1982
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for any citizen who: (1) provides arms or other lethal substances to any country, organization, or individual with the likelihood that such substance will be used to commit an act of "international terrorism"; (2) assists in or solicits another person to assist in an act of international terrorism; or (3) funds the commmission of an act of international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1982
Requires the Office of Personnel Management to provide a 30-day period each year during which Federal employees may transfer enrollments between health benefit plans.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1982
Urges that U.S. agencies make no payments to U.S. commercial banks or other U.S. persons on account of Polish debts guaranteed or insured by the Federal Government until: (1) Poland has been declared in default; and (2) Poland has lifted martial law.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1982
Small Business Procurement Reform Act of 1981 - Requires that any Government procurement contract for which a notice for bidding is published in the Commerce Business Daily remain open for bidding for at least 45 days. Establishes exceptions to such requirement in specified circumstances. Amends the Small Business Act to establish a goal of 35 percent participation by small business concerns with each Federal agency for the procurement of items which the Small Business Administration (SBA) determines can be produced by small business. Directs each Federal agency to take all feasible steps to subdivide large procurements into smaller components on which small businesses can bid. Requires any Federal agency to provide small business concerns, upon request, with copies and summaries of laws and regulations materially affecting the performance of contracts open for bids under $100,000. Establishes Government procurement contract arbitration panels within the SBA to facilitate the resolution of contract disputes between any small business concern and any Federal agency having procurement authority. Establishes the Small Business Procurement Advisory Committee to advise the Administrator of the SBA and Congress on Government procurement contracts awarded to or set aside for small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1982
Extends congratulations from the Congress to the Italian Government and its antiterrorist police forces for the successful rescue of Brigadier General James L. Dozier. Extends to General Dozier and his family best wishes for a quick recovery and return to normal life.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1982
Requests the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Lenny Skutnik, in recognition of his heroic rescue of one of the victims of the airline crash into the Potomac River on January 13, 1982. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to cause bronze duplicates of such medal to be coined for sale to the general public.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1982
Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit the imposition of any direct or indirect fee or charge on a service station franchisee who honors a credit card issued by the gasoline company franchisor.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1981
Low-Income Energy Assistance Trust Fund Act of 1981 - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to make unrefunded petroleum price control overcharges available for energy assistance. Establishes in the U.S. Treasury the Energy Assistance Trust Fund which shall be available for home energy assistance, residential energy efficiency programs, and other energy programs to assist low-income energy consumers. Appropriates funds which shall be transferred at least monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to hold the Trust Fund and report to Congress annually, starting with fiscal year 1982, on the Trust Fund's financial condition and operations for the preceding fiscal year and for the next five fiscal years. Sets forth investment requirements pertaining to the Trust Fund. Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services the Office of Energy Special Council. Transfers the Office of Special Counsel of the Department of Energy to the Energy Special Council. Requires that the Energy Special Council transmit to the President and Congress a plan for the collection of petroleum price control overcharges made in violation of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973. Requires the Comptroller General to review periodically the Energy Special Council's activities and report quarterly to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1981
Orphan Drug Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations to exempt from such Act drugs intended solely for drug treatment investigations. Defines "drug treatment investigation" as an investigation of a drug which involves human participants with a rare disease or condition. Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services an interagency committee known as the Committee on Orphan Drug Development. Makes it the function of such committee to promote the development of drugs for rare diseases or conditions (orphan drugs). Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to submit to the Committee an annual report on the rare disease and condition research activities of NIH. Requires the Committee to report by June 1 of each year to the appropriate congressional committees on its activities and the results of its evaluations, including the report submitted by NIH. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for qualified experimental expenses incurred while researching orphan drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should halt any deportation proceedings of Polish citizens until he determines that the political situation in Poland is stable and such Poles will encounter no undue risk by returning.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1981
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit an individual to elect hospice care, in lieu of certain other benefits, during two periods of 180 days each during the individual's lifetime. Provides for full reimbursement of reasonable costs to a hospice program, subject to a ceiling. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the hospice reimbursement method. Defines hospice care as including items and services furnished to the terminally ill in their homes, on an outpatient basis, and on a short term inpatient basis.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prohibit entitlement to title II benefits in the case of an individual who is not a U. S. citizen or national if such individual: (1) is not a permanent resident of the United States; or (2) is outside the United States. Prohibits the payment of title II benefits to any dependent or survivor of such an individual on the basis of such individual's wages and self-employment income. Makes such prohibition inapplicable if the benefit involved is payable to such an individual as the dependent or survivor of: (1) a U. S. citizen or national; (2) a permanent resident of the United States; or (3) a U. S. citizen or national residing outside the United States if the relationship required for such individual's entitlement already existed at the time such national or citizen reached age 50. Authorizes the payment of title II benefits to an individual who is not entitled to benefits pursuant to this Act until the total amount of such benefits equals the total amount of any taxes paid on the wages and self-employment income on which the benefits are based.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 1981
Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to direct the Government National Mortgage Association, during fiscal year 1982, to provide financial assistance to mortgagors by reducing the mortgage payments for certain new homes to amounts the payments would equal if the interest rates on such mortgages were 12 percent. Directs the Association to provide such assistance by: (1) purchasing and servicing mortgages; or (2) making payments to mortgagees on the principal of or interest on mortgage loans. Requires the Association to recapture the lesser of the amount of assistance provided to a mortgagor or 50 percent of the net appreciation of the assisted property whenever the property is sold or refinanced or whenever the property is no longer the mortgagor's principal place of residence. Directs the Secretary to provide that: (1) assistance is allocated among the regions of the country on the basis of each region's inventory of unsold, newly constructed homes; (2) the amount of assistance provided to any mortgagor shall not exceed $6,000; and (3) priority for assistance is given to first-time buyers who could not otherwise afford to buy and who are purchasing modest homes constructed by small homebuilders.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 1981
Fair Practices in Automotive Products Act - Title I: Domestic Content Requirements for Motor Vehicles - Sets forth for all motor vehicle manufacturers which produce over 100,000 motor vehicles for ultimate retail sale in the United States "minimum domestic content ratios" (the domestic value, including labor and parts, of the manufacturer's production costs of all automotive products sold in the United States). Requires all vehicle manufacturers producing more than 50,000 motor vehicles for sale in the United States to provide information to the Secretary of Transportation for the purpose of administering this requirement. Authorizes the imposition of import restrictions on manufacturers violating such standards. Title II: Unfair and Deceptive Practices by Vehicle Manufacturers - Defines as an unfair method of competition and deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act the refusal of any vehicle manufacturer to determine whether parts produced in the United States by a parts manufacturer satisfy reasonable replacement part standards established by the vehicle manufacturer. Grants the Federal Trade Commission rulemaking authority to administer this title.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1981
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Bryan Lewis Allen, the first aviator to cross the English Channel in a self-powered plane. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 November 1981
Missing Children Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to collect and exchange information which would assist in the identification of unidentified deceased individuals and the location of missing persons, including missing children.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1981
Small Business Investment Incentives Act of 1981 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to repeal the $35,000,000 limitation on the amount of debentures issued by a small business investment company eligible for purchase or guarantee by the Small Business Administration. Permits small business investment companies to make loans to their employees for the purchase of company stock. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a non-refundable investment tax credit of 30 percent of the proceeds of a small business participating loan issued by a socially and economically disadvantaged small business and 20 percent of the proceeds of such a loan issued by a non-disadvantaged small business. Limits such credit to $30,000 ($60,000 in the case of a joint return) for such loans issued by a disadvantaged small business and $20,000 ($40,000 in the case of a joint return) for loans issued by a non-disadvantaged small business. Disallows such credit for loans issued by a related party and loans disposed of prematurely. Allows the carryover of any unused portion of such credit to each of the 7 taxable years following the unused credit year. Treats as long-term capital gain amounts actually paid to a taxpayer, with respect to a small business participating loan, which constitute the distribution of a share of the earnings of the issuer. Denies such capital-gain treatment in cases where the taxpayer would not qualify for the tax credit. Treats losses on a small business participating loan as ordinary losses. Allows an interest expense deduction for interest and share-of-earnings payments made on a small business participating loan. Treats as ordinary income the original issue discount interest of a small business participating loan. Defines "small business participating loan" as a written debt instrument issued by a qualified small business which: (1) is a general obligation of such business; (2) bears a stated interest rate of not less than 6 percent; (3) has a fixed maturity; (4) grants no voting or conversion rights in the business to the purchaser; and (5) provides for the payment of a share of the issuer's total earnings. Defines a "qualified small business" as one: (1) whose equity capital does not exceed $10,000,000; (2) the face value of all of whose outstanding small business participating loans does not exceed $1,000,000; and (3) which has no outstanding securities subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1981
Requests the President to designate February 22, 1982, as a day of national celebration in honor of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of George Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1981
Small Business Contract Payment Procedures Act - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to require that whenever an executive agency makes progress payments under a contract for property or services, the contracting officer authorize payment in full without retention of any percentage of the contract price if: (1) satisfactory progess toward complete performance of the contract was made during any period for which a progress payment is required; and (2) the party performing the contract is a small business which has furnished an adequate performance bond.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise requirements for the tax deferral of amounts received under variable annuity contracts. Permits the use of an independent investment manager of such annuities. Allows the like-kind exchange of one annuity contract for another. Provides that the tax treatment of any payment made by a contract holder on or before September 25, 1981, shall be determined without regard to Revenue Ruling 81-225 (disallowing tax deferral of amounts received under certain variable annuity contracts).
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1981
Declares that the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services should immediately study and report to Congress on ways to correct the benefit disparity caused by the 1977 changes in the social security retirement benefit formula.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that no limitation should be placed on the Federal income tax deduction for interest paid on a residential mortgage.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1981
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a specially struck gold medal to the widow of Roy Wilkins. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to coin and sell bronze duplicates of such medal. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1981
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are no greater than total receipts. Permits Congress in such statement to provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a three-fifths vote directed solely to that subject. Prohibits total receipts for any fiscal year set forth in such statement from increasing by a rate greater than the rate of increase in national income in the last calendar year ending before such fiscal year, unless Congress passes a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law. Permits Congress to waive the provisions of this Act with respect to any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Prohibits the Congress from requiring that the States engage in additional activities without compensation equal to the additional costs. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1981
Designates that section of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway within the State of Maryland as the Gladys Noon Spellman Parkway. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the State of Maryland, to erect an appropriate marker commemorating the contributions of Gladys Noon Spellman. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1981
Establishes an Anwar El Sadat Peace Medal. Provides that such medal may be awarded annually by the Congress, upon a majority vote of both Houses of Congress, to an individual or group nominated as having made the most significant contribution to world peace. Establishes the Sadat Peace Medal Board. Sets forth the membership requirements of such Board. Directs the Board to nominate to the Congress annually one individual or group to receive such medal. Provides that if Congress does not award a medal to a nominee the Board shall nominate another individual or group, and if Congress does not award a medal after three nominations, no medal shall be awarded for that year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1981
Long-Term Savings Restoration Act - Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to issue constant dollar debt obligations, the proceeds of which shall be available to meet any public expenditures authorized by law and to retire any outstanding obligations of the United States. Sets forth the formula for determining the constant dollar equivalent of the issue price of an obligation on any date. Declares that the interest on any constant dollar debt obligation for any calendar quarter shall be payable on the constant dollar equivalent of the issue price of the obligation as of the last day of such quarter. Limits the face amount of obligations issued under this Act which are outstanding at any one time. Authorizes any depository institution to issue constant dollar savings certificates. Sets forth the formula for determining the constant dollar equivalent of the original principal amount of the certificate on any date. Permits any money market mutual fund to purchase constant dollar debt obligations issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act, except that such obligations shall not comprise more than 25 percent of the investment portfolio of such money market mutual fund. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an upward adjustment to the basis of constant dollar debt obligations for purposes of determining the tax on gains from the disposition of such obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1981
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a specially struck gold medal to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in recognition of the bicentennial anniversary of diplomatic and trade relations between the Netherlands and the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to coin and sell bronze duplicates of such medal. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1981
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to a named individual in full satisfaction of a claim against the United States arising out of personal injuries sustained due to negligent medical treatment at a Veterans Administration hospital.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1981
Mining Reclamation Reserve Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer to elect an income tax deduction for additions to a reserve established for estimated expenses of future surface mining land reclamation activities attributable to mining activities conducted during the taxable year. Requires such reclamation activities to be conducted in accordance with a plan submitted pursuant to specified provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 or other Federal or State law which imposes substantially similar reclamation and permit requirements. Prohibits revocation of such an election without the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury. Permits qualified reclamation expenses which are attributable to activities conducted before the first taxable year for which the accounting method allowed by this Act is elected to be treated as deferred expenses and to be deducted ratably over a 60 month period.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1981
Bankruptcy Improvements Act of 1981 - Amends title 11 of the United States Code (Bankruptcy) to establish an eligibility test for liquidation bankruptcy relief based on the individual petitioner's ability to pay a reasonable portion of his debts out of future income. Permits the court to dismiss a bankruptcy case under chapter 7 (liquidation) upon the motion of any party in interest filed not later than 30 days after the meeting of creditors, and after notice and a hearing, if the debtor is ineligible for relief under such title. Requires the bankruptcy judge to preside at any meeting of creditors and to perform such additional judicial duties any may be required. Declares that the value of the creditor's interest in the estate's interest in such property shall be determined in light of the purpose of the valuation and of the proposed disposition or use of such property, and in conjunction with any hearing on such disposition or use or on a plan affecting such creditor's interest. Declares that the value of consumer goods which the debtor seeks to redeem in liquidation shall be presumed to be the established resale market price, if such market exists. Requires the debtor in bankruptcy cases to file a statement of income and expenses. Requires the debtor, if the debtor's schedule of assets and liabilities includes consumer debts which are secured by property of the estate, to file and serve upon each creditor holding such security and the trustee, a statement expressing the debtor's intention with respect to retention or surrender of the collateral. Requires the debtor, at or before the meeting of creditors provided for by such title, to perform his intention with regard to such secured creditors. Repeals the provisions concerning exempt property and makes the States responsible for establishing exemptions to bankruptcy proceedings. Makes any debt which was incurred on or within 90 days before the date of the filing of a petition under such title nondischargeable. Allows creditors to enforce liens which have not been voided in bankruptcy. Permits reaffirmation of consumer debts subject to the debtor's right to rescind any such agreement within 60 days or until a discharge is received, whichever occurs later, by giving a written notice of rescission to the creditor. Declares that at the meeting of creditors the court shall inform the debtor of the nature and effect of a discharge. Eliminates the trustee's power to avoid liens or recover payments made within 90 days of filing petition in bankruptcy (within one year in the case of an insider) unless the creditor had reasonable cause to believe the debtor was insolvent. Permits the court, upon notice and hearing, to require a creditor to accept payments in redemption of the value of a claim secured by a nonpossessory, nonpurchase money security interest in tangible personal property, over a reasonable period not to exceed five years, if such tangible personal property consists of specified objects. Allows a creditor, upon 10 days notice to the debtor and codebtor, to collect any portion of a debt from the codebtor which is not being paid by the debtor through the adjustment of debts of such debtor with a regular income. Requires payments under an adjustment of debts payment plan to commence at the time of the filing of the plan. Provides for the return of such funds after deducting the costs of administration if no plan is confirmed. Provides for the separate classification of co-debtor claims and non-dischargeable claims and authorizes payment of them under an adjustment of debts payment plan. Allows a debtor to choose such a repayment plan of up to five years. Bases such repayment upon the debtor's ability to repay out of future income after taking into account the basic living necessities for the debtor and dependents. Provides for an early discharge of debts where at least 70 percent of all allowed unsecured claims are paid. Permits a hardship discharge of otherwise non-dischargeable debts to the extent the debtor attempted to pay such debts under an adjustment of debts payment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a handicapped taxpayer or a taxpayer with a handicapped dependent to elect the one-time exclusion of gain from the sale or exchange of a principal residence.
![Official portrait of Rep. McDade, Joseph M. [R-PA-10]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000399_200.jpg)