The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Rep. McKernan, John R., Jr. [R-ME-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000512_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
582 records where Rep. McKernan, John R., Jr. [R-ME-1] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1985
Designates the week of June 1 to June 8, 1986, as National Theatre Week.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to add to such Act a new title, "Title XIV-Build and Charter," which establishes in the Treasury the Merchant Ship Revolving Fund. Provides that moneys for such Fund shall be derived from: (1) all moneys appropriated to the Fund; (2) all moneys received for the charter or sale of merchant vessels constructed under this Act; and (3) any other moneys made available for the Fund. Provides that moneys from such Fund shall be used for the construction in private U.S. shipyards of merchant vessels capable of serving as naval and military auxiliaries in time of war or national emergency. Directs the Secretary of the Navy to administer the Fund and to award contracts to private U.S. shipyards for vessel construction under this Act. Directs the Secretary to charter or sell any naval vessel constructed under this Act to a citizen of the United States for operation in the foreign commerce of the United States. Outlines information concerning the price to be charged by the Secretary for the sale or charter of such vessels. Provides that a citizen who charters or purchases a vessel under this Act shall not be eligible to receive an operating-differential subsidy for the operation of any such vessel. Prohibits the Secretary from chartering or selling any vessel constructed under this Act for operation in the transpacific or transatlantic general dry cargo service unless the Secretary makes certain findings concerning the need for such vessel, including the finding that such charter or sale is in the interest of national security. Authorizes appropriations to the Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1985
Small Contribution Tax Credit Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the income tax credit for contributions to presidential, state, and local candidates, political action committees, and newsletter fund contributions. Allows an income tax credit for congressional candidate contributions. Limits the amount of such credit to $100 for a taxable year ($200 in the case of a joint return).
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1985
Designates September 19, 1986, as National P.O.W./M.I.A. Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1985
Designates the week of January 19 through January 25, 1986, as National Jaycee Week.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1985
Higher Education Amendments of 1985 - Title I: Amendment to Title I of the Act - Amends title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) regarding post-secondary programs for non-traditional students and the establishment and awarding of educational program and planning grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such purpose. Amends provisions of HEA concerning the responsibilities of the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) in the evaluation of national education programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such purpose. Title II: Amendments to Title II of the Act - Redesignates title II of HEA as: Title II: Academic Library and Information Technology Enhancement. Authorizes appropriations for programs under such title for FY 1987 through 1991. Authorizes the making of grants for the enhancement of college library resources. Repeals provisions concerning the making of special purpose grants. Establishes a grant program for supporting college library technology and developmental cooperation. Title III: Amendment to Title III of the Act - Amends title III of HEA in the area of institutional aid through grants and in increasing financial assistance to historically black colleges and universities. Authorizes the Secretary to award challenge grants to certain qualifying institutions. Reserves a specified sum of previously appropriated funds for the use of eligible institutions serving a high percentage of Hispanic, Black, and Native American students. Outlines application requirements for institutions requesting financial assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 to carry out programs under title III. Title IV: Revisions to Title IV of the Act - Part A: Revision of Part A of Title IV - Amends Part A (Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education) of title IV (Student Assistance) of HEA to authorize the making of basic educational opportunity grants (Pell grants) to students in attendance at institutions of higher education. Sets out the amount of such grants for each qualifying individual. Authorizes a program of supplemental educational opportunity grants to qualified students demonstrating financial need. Authorizes appropriations for the making of such grants for FY 1987 through 1991. Outlines selection procedures for the awarding of such grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the purpose of awarding grants to States to enable States to provide grants or State work-study jobs to eligible students attending institutions of higher education. Outlines application procedures for States applying for such grants. Authorizes the Secretary to provide special programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds (including talent search, upward bound, student support services, educational opportunity centers, and staff development activities). Authorizes appropriations for 1987 through 1991 for such programs. Authorizes the establishment of a National Center for Postsecondary Opportunity to ensure the adequate availability of financial aid information. Maintains and expands secondary and postsecondary high school equivalency program and college assistance migrant program projects. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such purpose. Establishes a Federal Merit Scholarship program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for such program. Authorizes cost-of-education payments to institutions of higher education. Provides a formula for determining the amounts of such payments. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the establishment of a veterans education outreach program which would authorize payments to institutions for each veteran enrolled at such institution and receiving veterans' educational assistance. Outlines provisions concerning eligibility for such payments. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education to provide special child care services to disadvantaged college students. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such purpose. Part B: Revision of Part B of Title IV: - Amends part B (Federal, State, and Private Programs of Low-Interest Insured Loans to Students in Institutions of Higher Education) of title IV to replace it with a new part B (Guaranteed Student Loan Program). Prohibits discrimination by creditors lending credit under the guaranteed student loan program. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the student loan insurance fund; (2) Federal payments to reduce student interest costs; (3) certain State and nonprofit private loan insurance programs; and (4) repayment of loans of bankrupt, deceased, or disabled borrowers. Outlines provisions concerning payments by the Secretary to the States of advanced funds for the establishment of State and nonprofit private loan insurance programs. Sets forth provisions concerning Federal loan insurance. Authorizes the payment of Federal interest subsidies to reduce student loan interest costs. Outlines qualifications for students receiving such subsidies. Authorizes payments by the Secretary for the provision of lender referral services for students. Authorizes appropriations for the making of such payments for such referral services. Authorizes the provision of supplemental loans to students and loans to parents of students. Authorizes the provision of consolidation loans to students for consolidation of all student loans made. Outlines qualifications for students receiving such consolidation loans. Provides procedures in the event of default by a student on any loan covered under the Federal loan insurance program. Directs the Secretary to exchange information with credit bureaus and institutions of higher learning for the purpose of promoting responsible repayment of loans under the Federal loan insurance program. Establishes a student loan insurance fund for use by the Secretary in making payments on defaulted loans under the Federal loan insurance program. Requires lenders who provide loans under the loan insurance program to provide thorough and accurate loan information concerning such loan to the borrower. Authorizes Federal credit unions to participate in Federal, State, and private student loan insurance programs. Authorizes the government of the District of Columbia to establish a student loan insurance program. Authorizes repayment by the Secretary of loans of bankrupt, deceased, or disabled borrowers. Establishes the Student Loan Marketing Association (the Association) to serve as a secondary market and warehousing facility for student loans. Authorizes appropriations to establish the Association. Outlines organizational rules, powers, and authorities of the Association, as well as actions to be taken by the Association in securing student loans. Requires certain studies of: (1) multiple-year lines of credit; and (2) multiple disbursement. Part C: College Work-Study Amendment - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the provision of work-study programs for students at eligible institutions. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible institutions for the operation of such work-study programs. Provides for the establishment of work-study programs whereby students perform community services specifically designed to aid low-income individuals and families. Part E: Perkins Loans - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 and directs the Secretary to carry out a program for the making of low-interest, direct loans (Perkins loans) to students in order to pursue their courses. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1991 through 1996 to enable students to continue or complete their studies. Allocates appropriated funds among fiscal years. Provides procedures for determining an institution's need for the services of Perkins loans. Outlines provisions to be included in agreements with institutions of higher learning for the payment of Federal capital contributions to student loan programs. Requires institutions to provide adequate loan information on any loans made to borrowers under such program. Outlines the terms of such loans. Authorizes the cancellation of loans for certain public service performed (e.g., teaching, or as a member of the armed forces). Provides for the collection of defaulted loans by the Secretary. Part F: Need Analysis - Adds a new part F to title IV relating to need analysis (i.e. an analysis of the amount of financial assistance needed by students in order to attend institutions of higher education). Provides for the determination of the expected family contribution to a dependent student's educational costs, based on available income. Provides various tables to assist in the determination of available income. Provides a computation of the family contribution for independent students without dependents, and for such students with dependents. Provides adjustments to such need analysis for purposes of the Pell grant program. Part G: Revision of General Provisions - Defines "institution of higher education" for purposes of eligibility under certain aforementioned grant programs. Provides a master calendar containing deadline dates for applications, forms, and fund distributions required under the various grant programs. Outlines student eligibility requirements for receiving grants, loans, or work-study assistance. Requires participating institutions of higher education to disseminate information concerning the institution and all financial assistance available. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts to provide training in the administration of financial aid and student support services. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1991 for such purposes. Establishes an Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to provide advice and counsel to the Congress on student financial aid matters. Directs the Secretary to survey student aid recipients for the purpose of collecting and disseminating certain student aid information. Title V: Amendment to Title V of the Act - Amends title V (Teacher Corps and Teacher Training Programs) of HEA to replace it with a new title V (Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Development). Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for and establishes programs in: (1) excellence in teacher education programs; (2) school, college, and university partnerships; (3) professional development and leadership programs; (4) teacher scholarships and fellowships; and (5) research and data collection. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education to provide institutional support for teacher education programs. Outlines the requirements for such program. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education for midcareer teacher training. Outlines the requirements for such program. Authorizes the making of partnership agreements between eligible institutions of higher education and local education agencies in order to receive grants from the Secretary for the purpose of enhancing local academia. Outlines application requirements for such grants. Authorizes the Secretary to award four grants for pilot community college partnership projects. Outlines requirements. Establishes teaching academy demonstration projects in order to provide more effective instruction and guidance in the development of teaching skills through the creation of internships for beginning teachers. Outlines requirements for grant recipients. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to establish professional development resource centers for teachers. Outlines grant requirements. Requires each such center to be planned and operated by a professional development policy board. Directs the Secretary to enter into contracts for the establishment and operation of technical assistance training centers in each State. Outlines general criteria for such contracts. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to State educational agencies to enable such agencies to support a fellowship program for teachers to be trained to provide special education for handicapped children. Sets out application requirements and other conditions of such grants. Authorizes the Secretary to allocate grants to each State for the purpose of awarding Congressional Teacher Scholarships to high school students in such State. Outlines application requirements and selection criteria. Authorizes the Secretary to award one national talented teacher fellowship to a public or private school teacher in each congressional district of each State, and one in each of the territories and possessions of the United States. Outlines application requirements and selection criteria. Authorizes the Secretary to utilize specified legislative authority to assess annually the current and future supply and demand for teachers. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education for the conduct of research consistent with the collection of such information. Requires institutions of higher education or other entities in any State, in order to be eligible for teacher training assistance under HEA for any fiscal year after FY 1986, to establish a State task force on teacher training. Outlines organizational rules, powers, and functions of such task forces. Extends through October 1, 1991, the authorization of appropriations for the making of grants to the Robert A. Taft Institute of Government in New York. Title VI: Amendments to Title VI of the Act - Amends title VI (International Education Programs) of HEA to replace it with a new title VI to authorize the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education for the purpose of paying stipends to individuals undergoing advanced training in foreign language training programs or foreign studies programs. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the establishment, operation, and strengthening of foreign language resource centers. Outlines activities to be carried out by such centers. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to establish intensive summer language institutes. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the making of grants by the Secretary to educational institutions or libraries for the purpose of acquiring periodicals published outside the United States. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for certain business and international education programs. Directs the Secretary, at least two times each year, to convene an advisory board on the conduct of programs under Title VI of the Act. Title VII: Amendment to Title VII of the Act - Directs the Secretary to carry out programs of financial assistance to institutions of higher education and to higher education building agencies for the construction, reconstruction, or renovation of academic facilities in order to bring such facilities in conformity with specified housing and environmental laws and regulations. Requires States, in order to receive grants for the construction, reconstruction, or conversion of undergraduate academic facilities, to submit annually to the Secretary a State plan containing specified standards and procedures to be followed concerning the allocation of grant funds received by the States. Outlines criteria and allotment procedures. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such purpose. Directs the Secretary to make grants to graduate institutions of higher education which meet application requirements. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such purposes. Directs the Secretary to make and insure loans to institutions of higher education and to higher education building agencies for the construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities. Provides the terms for such loans. Establishes in the Treasury a revolving loan fund for the purpose of making and insuring such loans. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for such purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to make annual interest grants to institutions of higher education and higher education building agencies to reduce the cost of borrowing from other sources for construction, reconstruction, and renovation projects. Sets limits and requirements for such grants. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, for the purpose of the renovation and restoration of Welch Hall. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, to pay the Federal share of the cost of construction of a specified facility. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to Shaw University of Raleigh, North Carolina, for the purpose of the renovation and restoration of Estey Hall. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for recovery by the United States of payments made for the cost of construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities. Title VIII: Amendment to Title VIII of the Act - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 to enable the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education for the planning, establishment, and expansion of cooperative education programs. Outlines application procedures for such grants, and sets forth grant limitations. Title IX: Amendment to Title IX of the Act - Directs the Secretary to make grants to public and private, nonprofit higher education institutions for the purpose of enabling under-represented minorities to participate in graduate studies. Outlines application requirements. Directs the Secretary to award a one-year graduate fellowship to each student (known as a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow) who completes a specified undergraduate internship program. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education to enable such institutions to offer grant programs of post-baccalaureate study leading to a graduate or professional degree. Outlines grant requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to award not more than 450 national graduate fellowships per year in accordance with specified guidelines. Directs the President to appoint a National Graduate Fellows Program Fellowship Board to establish the policies of such program and select the fellowship recipients. Outlines organizational rules for such Board. Directs the Secretary to make grants to academic departments and programs that provide courses of study leading to a graduate degree in areas of national need. Sets out eligibility and application requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or enter into contracts with public and private agencies and organizations in order to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake training for the legal profession. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into grants or contracts with accredited law schools for the purpose of paying up to 90 percent of the cost of legal clinical experience programs at such law schools. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the aforementioned programs under Title IX of the Act. Title X: Amendment to Title X of the Act - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and contracts with institutions of postsecondary education in order to improve postsecondary educational opportunities by taking specified actions. Establishes a National Board of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to act in an advisory capacity in the determination of postsecondary education grant recipients. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the purpose of making such grants. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education that are designed to effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and to increase the participation of underrepresented ethnic minorities in scientific and technological careers. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the establishment of programs in: (1) minority support in science and engineering; and (2) special service projects. Outlines eligibility and application requirements. Establishes an Advisory Board for the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Programs to act as an advisory group to such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991. Title XI: Amendment to Title XI of the Act - Amends title XI (Urban Grant University Program) of HEA to replace it with new title XI (Community Partnerships and Economic Development) to direct the Secretary to make grants to urban universities to pay the Federal share of the cost of programs designed to address urban issues. Outlines grant application requirements and grant limitations. Authorizes Federal assistance in the areas of higher education and economic development through the use of planning and research, resource exchange, and certain authorized special projects. Outlines eligibility and application requirements. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for carrying out the purposes of this title. Provides assistance to the City University of New York to establish an institute devoted to the study of urban public policy, to be known as the Robert F. Wagner, Sr. Institute of Urban Public Policy. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose. Title XII: Amendments to Title XII of the Act - Revises provisions concerning the treatment of U.S. territories and student assistance to such territories. Extends from 1986 to 1992 the National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility. Revises provisions concerning the disclosure by educational institutions of any foreign gifts or grants received. Requires educational institutions to take steps to guarantee the future payment of tuition and fees to such institution by students who are foreign nationals (and not admitted to permanent residence in the United States).
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1985
Expresses congressional disapproval of the President's decision to deny import relief to the domestic shoe industry.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the President should protect the human rights of Miroslav Medvid by not allowing his removal from the United States until a complete investigation can determine whether he has been accorded all rights due him as a possible defector, and until he is accorded such rights; (2) the President should ensure that Mr. Medvid is afforded an interview on U.S. soil, with an interpreter fluent in Ukrainian, in an environment free of intimidation and without the presence of Soviet authorities so that he may freely decide whether to restate and have granted his initial asylum request; (3) all Federal agencies involved in the handling of Mr. Medvid's case should review their policies regarding political asylum; (4) the Immigration and Naturalization Service should establish clear rules and procedures designed to prevent the forced return of a person seeking political asylum; and (5) the Attorney General should pursue an active investigation in the Medvid case in order to avoid a similar situation in the future.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1985
Designates the week of December 1 through December 7, 1985, as National Autism Week.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1985
Designates 1986 as the Centennial Year of the Gasoline Powered Automobile.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1985
Anti-Terrorism Trade Preference Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of State to identify and publish the name of each country that repeatedly supports acts of international terrorism. Requires the Secretary to provide the Congress with a list of such countries annually. Imposes the following sanctions on countries identified as supporting international terrorism: (1) termination, withdrawal, or suspension of any treaty that relates to most-favored-nation treatment of such country; (2) denial of most-favored-nation treatment and imposition of column 2 tariff rates on imports from such countries; (3) non-application of the Generalized System of Preferences on imports from such countries; and (4) non-application of the provisions of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act with respect to the products of such countries. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions if it would be in the best interests of the United States. Directs the President to notify the Congress 30 days before any such waiver takes effect.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide that funds made available for family planning programs may only be used for programs: (1) in which there is not any element of coercion of individuals to practice family planning or to accept any particular method of contraception; (2) which include an accurate description of the effectiveness and risks of all major methods of family planning; and (3) which include an agreement to provide either other family planning methods if requested or referral to programs offering other methods as appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate June 2 through June 8, 1986, as National Fishing Week.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the month of December 1985 as Made in America Month.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1985
Reaffirms congressional support for the Medicare Program and for the right of all Medicare beneficiaries to receive accurate and timely information regarding their benefits. Urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) convene a group of program participants to draft a simple statement of the rights and responsibilities of Medicare patients; and (2) transmit copies of the statement to all Members of Congress and hospitals and physicians participating in the program; and (3) urge participating hospitals to distribute copies of the statement to Medicare beneficiaries upon their hospitalization and to their families upon request.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Designates July 2, 1986, as National Literacy Day.
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
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to increase and equalize the duty rates on canned tuna. Decreases the duty on certain other tuna.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1985
Designates the week beginning on May 11, 1986, as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Week.
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 · 11 October 1985
Nuclear Waste Policy Improvement Act - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to add to the guidelines for repository site selection the following disqualifying factors: (1) the effect upon population centers and geohydrological resources located outside of the United States; and (2) whether any surface facility of such repository would be located in a general purpose State political subdivision having a minimum population of 2500. Requires the environmental assessment which accompanies a repository site recommendation to include the environmental impact of transporting high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel through the region surrounding such site. Requires the Secretary of Energy to include, in the comprehensive public statement and in the environmental impact statement which must accompany a repository site recommendation, the effect of the transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel on States and Indian reservations which contain possible transportation routes. Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance to any State or Indian tribe which demonstrates that such assistance is needed to maintain safe routes for the transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Requires the Secretary to submit draft revisions of the mission plan (a comprehensive report regarding the repository program) to the affected States and Indian tribes, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and to the Congress, within a specified time.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1985
Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to allow State, local, or interstate governmental agencies to provide compensatory time in lieu of overtime compensation. Requires that such compensatory time be one and one-half hours for each hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required. Allows such compensatory time only if it is a collective bargaining agreement, memorandum of understanding or other agreement or understanding entered into by the public agency and its employees or their recognized representatives before the work for which the compensatory time is to be provided. Limits the amount of such compensatory time which public employees may accrue to 180 hours, or 480 hours in the case of work which included a public safety activity, an emergency response activity, or a seasonal activity. Requires that public employees who have accrued such compensatory time and requested its use be permitted to use it within a reasonable period after making such request if its use does not unduly disrupt the operations of the public agency. Requires that, upon termination of employment, a public employee who has accrued such compensatory time be paid for unused compensatory time at a rate not less than the average rate received by such employee during the last three years of the employees' employment. Provides that, if a public agency had in effect on April 15, 1986, a pattern or practice of providing its employees compensatory time off in lieu of overtime compensation, that pattern or practice shall constitute an agreement or understanding which meets specified requirements. Provides that a collective bargaining agreement in effect on April 15, 1986, which permits overtime compensation in the form of compensatory time off at a rate of less than one and one-half hours for each hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required shall remain in effect until its expiration date unless otherwise modified, except that compensatory time shall be provided after April 14, 1986, at the one and one-half hour rate. Provides that States, local governments, and interstate governmental agencies shall not be liable for specified overtime and related paperwork violations which occur before April 15, 1986, with respect to employees who would not have been covered under the Secretary of Labor's special enforcement policy in effect on January 1, 1985. Permits States, local governments, or interstate governmental agencies to defer until August 1, 1986, the payment of overtime compensation for hours of employment after April 14, 1986. Adds provisions relating to special detail work for fire protection and law enforcement (including prison security) employees of State, local, or intergovernmental agencies. Provides that those hours on special detail work for a separate or independent employer shall be excluded by the public agency in the calculation of overtime compensation, if the employee agrees, solely at the employee's option, to perform such special detail work. Provides that an employee's hours of part-time employment with a public agency in a substantially different capacity from the employee's regular full-time employment with such agency shall be excluded from the calculation of overtime compensation, if such part-time employment is undertaken on an occasional and sporadic basis and solely at the employee's option. Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue, by March 15, 1986, regulations: (1) defining when employment is done on an occasional or sporadic basis; and (2) prescribing a standard for determining if employment is in a substantially different capacity than other employment. Permits employees of States, local governments, and interstate governmental agencies to volunteer to perform services for any other such agency, including one with which the employing agency has a mutual aid agreement. Adds provisions relating to substitution work by and for fire protection and law enforcement (including prison security) employees of State, local, and intergovernmental agencies. Provides that those hours of substitution during scheduled work hours for a fellow employee shall be excluded by the public agency in the calculation of the substituting employee's overtime compensation, if such employee agrees to perform such substitute work with the public agency's approval and solely at the employee's option. Provides that the employer may not be required to keep a record of the hours of such substitute work under certain overtime recordkeeping requirements. Revises the definition of "employee" to exclude any volunteer for a State, local, or interstate governmental agency who volunteers to perform such services without compensation or for a nominal fee, expenses, or reasonable benefits or for any combination of such fee, expenses, or benefits. Provides that employees of such agencies shall still be considered employees if they volunteer to perform the same type of service for those agencies for which they are employed. Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue, by March 15, 1986, regulations to define nominal fees and reasonable benefits. Provides that, if before April 15, 1986, a public agency's practice was to treat certain persons as volunteers then such persons shall be considered volunteers and not employees until April 15, 1986. Provides that no State, local government, or interstate governmental agency shall be liable for a violation of minimum wage requirements occurring before April 15, 1986, with respect to services performed for the public agency by any individual who performed such services as a volunteer. Revises the definition of "employee" to exclude from coverage under the Act State and local legislative employees who are not legislative library employees. Makes the amendments made by this Act effective on April 15, 1986, but authorizes the Secretary of Labor to promulgate before such date regulations to implement such amendments. Prohibits construing such amendments as affecting whether a State, local government, or interstate governmental agency is liable under penalty provisions of the Act for violations of minimum wage, overtime, or paperwork requirements occurring before April 15, 1986, with respect to any employee who would have been covered by by the Act under the Secretary of Labor's special enforcement policy in effect on January 1, 1985. Requires that a State, local government, or interstate governmental agency be held to have violated specified provisions if it discriminates or has discriminated against an employee with respect to wages or other terms or conditions of employment because on or after February 19, 1985, the employee asserted coverage under overtime provisions.
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
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 · 7 October 1985
Recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the important role that the legislation has played in the Nation's development. Reaffirms the historic partnership between the Federal Government and the colleges and universities toward the development of human resources required for an increasingly complex and technological society.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1985
Directs the President to designate February 16, 1986, as Lithuanian Independence Day.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Designates 1987 as the Year of Thanksgiving.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Designates the week of October 20 through October 26, 1985, as National Temporary Help Services Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Commemorates the accomplishments of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act on its tenth anniversary.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1985
Authorizes the States of Maine and New Hampshire to assume all construction, maintenance, and operational authority over approach roads and grade separation structures in their respective areas. Directs such States to require the Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge Authority to provide funds for capital improvements.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1985
Designates November 24, 1985, as National Day of Fasting to Raise Funds to Combat Hunger.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1985
Trade Reorganization Act of 1985 - Title I: General Provisions - Sets forth the congressional findings and purposes of this Act. Title II: Department of Commerce and Trade - Establishes the Department of Commerce and Trade to be administered by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade (the Secretary). Sets forth the functions of the Secretary including: (1) exercising responsibility for international trade matters, except for responsibilities delegated to the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) analyzing economic and sectoral trends; (3) developing and implementing commercial policies to expand U.S. business and employment opportunities; (4) promoting new opportunities for U.S. products and services to compete in the world marketplace; (5) assisting small businesses in developing export markets; and (6) administering U.S. laws relating to trade. Requires the Secretary to be Deputy Chair of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture on all matters which potentially involve international trade in agricultural products. Authorizes the Secretary to assign the head of a Federal agency the responsibility for an international trade negotiation if the subject of the negotiation is related to the functions of the agency. Provides for three Deputy Secretaries of Commerce and Trade and two Under Secretaries of Commerce and Trade. Limits the number of Assistant Secretaries of Commerce and Trade to eight. Provides for a General Counsel, Inspector General, Chief Negotiator for Textile Matters, Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, and Agricultural Adviser. Sets forth their functions. Transfers to the Secretary: (1) all functions of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; and (2) specified functions of the Department of Commerce. Sets forth administrative provisions governing the Department of Commerce and Trade. Provides for delegation of the Secretary's authority and succession of officers of the Department of Commerce and Trade. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) reorganize the Department, under certain conditions; (2) prescribe regulations; (3) establish a working capital fund; (4) transfer funds, subject to certain limitations, within the Department; (5) make contracts and payments; (6) accept gifts and bequests, under certain circumstances; and (7) issue publications. Provides for: (1) the Secretary's use of public and private resources; (2) departmental field offices; and (3) travel expenses. Authorizes other entities to use the resources of the Department under certain conditions. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the President on the activities of the Department. Establishes in the Executive Office of the President an Office of the Assistant to the President for International Trade who shall provide the President with policy options on international trade matters and, in cooperation with the Trade Policy Committee, coordinate those policies and activities affecting international trade that are carried out by Federal agencies. Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to establish in the Executive Office of the President a Trade Policy Committee to assist the President in carrying out certain trade functions. Directs the Trade Policy Committee to pay particular attention to expanding the responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture in matters affecting international trade. Sets forth the membership of the Trade Policy Committee. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to change the membership of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank to include a Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Trade. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to give the Secretary authority to give policy guidance to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Directs OPIC to carry out a specified trade development program. Makes an Under Secretary of Commerce and Trade the Vice Chairman of OPIC's Board of Directors, ex officio. Amends the Bretton Woods Agreement Act to direct the U.S. executive director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to consult with the Secretary on matters under consideration by the IMF which relate to trade. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to agricultural trade matters, to: (1) report directly to the President and the Congress; (2) keep the advisers to U.S. delegations to trade conferences informed on U.S. negotiating objectives, the status of negotiations, and the nature of any recommended changes in domestic law or regulations; and (3) consult with State and local governments and other interested parties concerning international agricultural trade matters. Makes certain technical and conforming amendments, repeals certain authority and makes certain terminations. Title III: Transitional, Savings and Conforming Provisions - Makes certain transitional, savings, and conforming amendments. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Sets forth definitions and effective dates. Provides for interim appointments and compliance with the budget. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1985
Designates December 5, 1985, as Walt Disney Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1985
Designates the week beginning January 12, 1986, as National Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt from overtime and minimum wage coverage under such Act, State, local, or interstate public agency employees. Provides that no State, local, or interstate public agency shall be liable under penalty provisions of such Act for violations of minimum wage or overtime requirements occurring before the date of enactment of this Act with respect to any employee of such public agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently exempt from the Federal unemployment tax wages paid to full-time students by summer camps.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from changing reimbursement levels or methodologies for home health services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act prior to the later of: (1) October 1, 1986; or (2) any freeze period beginning after June 30, 1985, and before October 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to a named individual in full satisfaction of all claims against the United States relating to certain contractual construction work performed by such individual on an Air Force base housing project in Maine.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Authorizes educational assistance for apprenticeship or other onjob training under the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program. Limits the amount of educational assistance payable in any one month where the individual pursuing the educational program fails to complete 120 hours of training.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Congressional Salary Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to make any recommendations of the President relating to the salaries of Members of Congress, Delegates to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico purely advisory. Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to require that the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress, Delegates to the House of Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and the Senate and House leadership be the rate payable for such positions on the date of enactment of this Act. Makes it out of order in the House to consider any bill or resolution which adjusts the pay of Members or modifies income tax credits or deductions for Members as a separate and distinct class, unless: (1) it takes effect at the beginning of the subsequent Congress; and (2) it is comprised solely of items adjusting the pay of Members. Requires a record vote on such legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1985
Amends Federal law concerning veterans' benefits to provide that the per diem subsidies paid by the Veterans Administration for the care of veterans in State homes shall not be used to offset payments made to such homes under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act for the purpose of assisting eligible veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1985
Designates the week of October 6 through October 13, 1985, as National Housing Week.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Designates March 1986 as Music In Our Schools Month.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Designates November 18, 1985, as Eugene Ormandy Appreciation Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
American Passbook Savings Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $5,000 ($10,000 in the case of a joint return) of interest earned on a savings account maintained in a bank, savings and loan, or similar institution.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee Act - Establishes in the Department of Transportation as a Federal advisory committee the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee (the Committee) whose function is to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (the Secretary) on matters relating to: (1) navigation safety; (2) safety equipment and procedures; (3) marine insurance; (4) vessel design, construction, maintenance, and operation; and (5) personnel qualifications and training. Authorizes the Committee to make available to the Congress any information authorized to be given to the Secretary. Requires the Committee to meet at least once during each calendar year. Requires the Committee to consist of 17 members having various knowledge and experience in the commercial fishing industry. Requires public notice for annual appointments to such Committee. Provides a three-year term of service for appointed members, with no limit on terms per member. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce to designate a representative to participate as an observer with the Committee. Directs the Secretary, except regarding national security issues, to consult with the Committee before: (1) proposing legislation or regulations; (2) authorizing or conducting research; or (3) taking any other major action of the U.S. Government. Allows for compensation for such Committee members unless he or she is an officer, enlisted member, or employee of the United States. Terminates the Committee on September 30, 1991. Requires the Committee, two years before such termination, to recommend to the Congress whether it should be renewed and continue beyond such termination date. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
Grants a Federal charter to the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Incorporated.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1985
Federal Equitable Pay Practices Act of 1985 - Establishes the Commission on Equitable Pay Practices to determine whether the Government's position-classification system and prevailing rate system are designed and administered in accordance with the general policy that sex, race, and ethnicity should not be among factors considered in determining pay rates. Requires the Commission to conduct, by contract with a consultant selected under this Act, a study under which job-content analysis and economic analysis shall be applied to a representative sample of occupations in which: (1) either sex is numerically predominant; (2) any race is disproportionately represented; or (3) any ethnic group is disproportionately represented. Directs the Commission to report to the Congress and the President on the results of such study not later than 18 months after the Commission's date of establishment. Make sums appropriated to the Office of Personnel Management for general operating expenses available to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Urges the President to begin talks with the Soviet Union aimed at creating a jointly administered U.S.-Soviet student exchange program. Sets forth certain aspects of such exchange program.