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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 · 17 May 1984
American Passbook Savings Act of 1984 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $5,000 ($10,000 for joint returns) of the interest earned on a passbook savings account.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Superfund Expansion and Protection Act of 1984 - Title I: Provisions Relating Primarily to Response and Liability - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund) (CERCLA) (the Act) to revise the definition of "hazardous substance" to include petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) which: (1) is released from an underground storage tank (as defined in title IV of this title); or (2) may present a significant risk to human health. Transfers the definition of "pollutant or contaminant" from under provisions for response authorities under the Act to among the definitions for purposes of the entire Act. Provides that such term shall include petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) only in the case of a release from an underground storage tank as defined in title IV of this title. Adds references to "pollutants or contaminants" under specified provisions of the Act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (the Administrator) to promulgate regulations, within six months after enactment of this Act, establishing that one single quantity shall be the reportable quantity of any hazardous substance regardless of the medium into which the hazardous substance is released. Increases the amount of criminal fines and the duration of criminal sentences for specified violations under the Act. Adds civil penalties for specified violations under the Act. Revises response authorities provisions to transfer from the President to the Administrator the authority to determine whether a response action will be done properly by the responsible party. Authorizes the Administrator, as well as the President, to undertake response actions. Requires that any removal action undertaken by the Administrator, or by any responsible party, be consistent, to the extent practicable, with any long term remedial action with respect to the release or threatened release. Directs the Administrator, to the maximum extent possible, to assess the risk to human health associated with the release or threatened release. Revises response authorities provisions relating to agreements with States. Requires States to make specified agreements with the Administrator, rather than with the President. Eliminates the requirement that a State assure all future maintenance of the removal and remedial actions provided for the expected life of such actions. Requires the State to pay ten percent of the costs of remedial action and ten percent of all future operation and maintenance costs of any onsite remedial action. Requires a 50 percent or greater State share of response costs only in the case of facilities operated, as well as owned, by the State or local government at the time of hazardous waste disposal. Requires the State to also pay all future operation and maintenance costs of any onsite remedial action at such State or locally owned and operated facilities. Provides for credits to any State which has paid more than a ten percent share of remedial costs at a facility owned, but not operated, by such State or local government. Provides that reasonable administrative expenses may be credited against a State's ten percent share. Sets forth mandatory cleanup standards. Directs the Administrator, rather than the President, to select appropriate cost-effective remedial actions determined to be necessary. Requires that such actions be in accordance with: (1) the National Contingency Plan, to the extent practicable; and (2) a required protection level. Directs the Administrator, in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a remedial action, to consider permanent solutions and alternative treatment technologies to the maximum extent practicable. Requires that the remedial action provide for a level or standard of control necessary to protect human health and the environment. Requires that such level or standard be as stringent as the most stringent applicable standard under the Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act, or Clean Water Act (or water quality criteria under the Clean Water Act). Requires that any remedial action which provides for containment at the facility comply with standards applicable to facilities required to obtain hazardous waste management permits under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Authorizes the Administrator to waive the requirement of the most stringent applicable standard, or of the specified containment standard, and to select an alternative remedial action upon a finding that: (1) such alternative remedial action will provide substantially equivalent protection; or (2) compliance with such requirements at that facility will consume such a disproportionate share of the resources of the Hazardous Substances Trust Fund (the Fund) as to have the effect of deferring or preventing remedial action at other facilities which pose a significantly greater threat to human health and the environment. Prohibits permit requirements for any removal or remedial action undertaken pursuant to the Act at the location of the release or threatened release. Authorizes the Administrator to establish the exclusive administrative procedures for making any determination under provisions for required protection level. Revises provisions for information gathering and access authorities to refer to the Administrator, rather than the President. Applies specified information requirements to generators of hazardous wastes, even if such information is available at the facility where such waste is located. Provides for access to such facilities by duly designated Federal and State officers, whenever necessary to carry out any provision of the Act, at reasonable times and for a reasonable duration. Prohibits anyone from impeding or interfering with such entry. Directs the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to prepare toxicological profiles sufficient to establish the likely effect on human health of at least 100 hazardous substances which are most frequently found or which pose the most significant threat to human health at facilities listed on the National Priorities List prepared under the National Contingency Plan. Requires that the 100 profiles be completed 48 months after enactment of this Act (at 12-month intervals for four groups of 25 substances). Adds new provisions for public participation in remedial action planning. Sets forth mandatory remedial action schedules. Directs the Administrator (of EPA) to commence remedial investigations for all facilities which are listed, as of the enactment date of this Act, on the National Priorities List (NPL) in accordance with the following schedule: (1) one-third of such facilities within six months after such enactment date; (2) two-thirds within 12 months after such date; and (3) all within 18 months after such date. Directs the Administrator to list not fewer than 1,600 facilities on the NPL by January 1, 1988. Directs the Administrator to commence remedial actions and feasibility studies for each facility added to the NPL after the enactment date of this Act within six months after addition of such facility to the NPL. Directs the Administrator to ensure that substantial and continuous physical on-site remedial action commences at facilities on the NPL at a rate of not fewer than 150 facilities per year beginning on October 1, 1986. Directs the Administrator to complete by January 1, 1987, preliminary assessments of all sites listed, as of the enactment date of this Act, on the Emergency and Remedial Response Information System. Directs the Administrator to ensure that remedial action is completed, to the maximum extent feasible, for all facilities listed as of the date of enactment of this Act on the NPL within five years after such enactment date. Directs the Administrator to publish an explanation of why any such remedial action could not be completed within such period. Sets forth provisions for citizen petitions for health effects studies and for emergency relief. Allows any individual or group of individuals to submit a petition to the Administrator providing evidence which: (1) demonstrates that such individual or individuals are being exposed to any hazardous substance; and (2) provides an empirical analysis of the level of exposure. Directs the Administrator to initiate a health effects study upon determination that: (1) there is a reasonable likelihood that such substance is from a facility where such substance is or was treated, stored, recycled, or disposed of, on a regular basis, or where removal action is being or was taken under any provision of the Act; and (2) the exposure may present a significant risk to human health. Directs the Administrator (or the ATSDR Administrator if so designated by the Administrator), within 30 days after receipt of such petition, to: (1) initiate a health effects study; or (2) publish a written explanation of the determination which prevented initiation of the study. Requires that each such health effects study be completed within six months after the date the petition is filed and include specified information. Requires that steps be taken to eliminate any significant risk to human health which such study finds the exposure concerned presents. Provides that such steps may include provision of alternative drinking water supplies and relocation of individuals. Requires that the National Contingency Plan (NCP) be revised within 18 months after the enactment of this Act to reflect the amendments made by this Act. Requires that the portion of the NCP known as "the National Hazardous Substance Response Plan" be revised to provide procedures and standards for remedial actions consistent with protection level requirements under this title. Sets forth provisions for citizen petitions for site ranking. Directs the Administrator, within 12 months after receipt of a citizen petition, to complete a preliminary assessment of the hazards to public health and environment associated with any actual or threatened release of a hazardous substance or pollutant or contaminant. Directs the Administrator, if such assessment indicates a significant threat, to make a prompt evaluation in accordance with the hazard ranking system referred to under specified provisions of the Act to determine the national priority of such release or threatened release. Requires that plan criteria for determining priorities among releases or threatened releases throughout the United States for purposes of taking remedial action shall also take into account: (1) the release-associated damage to natural resources which may affect the human food chain; and (2) the release-associated contamination or potential contamination of the ambient air. Sets forth provisions for abatement actions. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, and after consultation with the Attorney General, to revise and republish specified guidelines for using imminent hazard, enforcement, and emergency response authorities to effectuate the responsibilities and powers created by this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to establish administrative procedures regarding the opportunity for a person to object to an abatement order under this title. Provides that no court shall have jurisdiction to review any such abatement order in any action other than an action to: (1) enforce such order; (2) recover a penalty for a violation; or (3) recover punitive damages. Revises liability provisions to provide for liability for Federal or State costs of removal or remedial action with respect to a release or threatened release (whether or not such action is consistent with the NCP). Adds liability for Federal or State costs of information gathering with respect to a release or threatened release. Adds liability for the costs of any action taken by the Administrator, under specified citizens petition and emergency relief provisions of this Act, to eliminate a significant risk to human health presented by exposure to a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant and the costs of any health effects study carried out under such provisions with respect to such exposure. Provides that liability under the Act (CERCLA) shall be strict, joint, and several as construed and applied under specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and under these CERCLA liability provisions. Provides that amounts recoverable shall include interest at a specified rate. Prohibits the Attorney General from representing any Federal agency (other than the EPA) in any civil action under title I (Hazardous Substances Releases, Liability, Compensation) of the Act (CERCLA). Authorizes the head of any such Federal agency to appoint agency attorneys or contract with non-Federal attorneys to represent the agency in any such action. Provides that, in any action under liability provisions of the Act, the results of laboratory tests conducted by the Administrator (or by a State) to determine what substances are present at the facility where a release or threatened release occurs may be introduced into evidence and shall be presumed to be accurate. Provides that such presumption shall be overcome if the defendant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that such test results lack a reasonable basis. Adds to authorized uses of the Fund the payment of any costs incurred under provisions of this Act: (1) relating to emergency relief and health effects studies; (2) by the ATSDR in preparing specified toxicological profiles; and (3) by the Administrator in evaluating facilities pursuant to petitions for preliminary assessments of hazards to public health. Eliminates a requirement that 85 percent of specified money credited to the Fund be available only for specified purposes. Limits to six percent of such money the amount available for payment of specified claims. Revises audit provisions to direct the Inspector General of the EPA, in each fiscal year, to: (1) conduct an annual audit of the Trust Fund; (2) report on the status of all remedial and enforcement actions taken during the prior fiscal year; and (3) estimate the amount of resources, including the number of work years or personnel, which would be necessary for the Administrator to complete the implementation of all duties vested in the Administrator under this title. Requires that such audit and such status report: (1) include specified information; and (2) be reported annually by the Inspector General to the Congress. Prohibits any potentially liable person from seeking judicial review of any determination to incur any governmental response costs pursuant to response authorities provisions or to utilize the Fund for payment of such costs except in an action to recover such costs under liability provisions. Revises statute of limitations provisions under the Act. Prohibits, with specified exceptions for minors or incompetent persons, presentation of any claim or commencement of any action for damages, as defined under the Act, beyond three years after the later of: (1) the date of the discovery of the loss; (2) the date on which regulations are promulgated under specified provisions for the assessment of damages for injury to, destruction of, or loss of natural resources resulting from a release of oil or hazardous substance for purposes of the Act and of specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; or (3) the date on which regulations are promulgated establishing procedures for the filing of such claims. Sets a statute of limitations of six years after the date of the completion of the response action for presentation of claims or commencement of actions for recovery of response costs in cases involving the responsible person's willful misconduct or willful negligence, violation of safety, construction, or operating standards or regulations, or failures or refusals to provide reasonable cooperation and assistance requested by public officials. Extends the deadline for promulgation of regulations for the assessment of damages for injury to, destruction of, or loss of natural resources resulting from a release of oil or a hazardous substance for purposes of the Act and of specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the relationship of this Act to other law. Authorizes States to require any person to contribute to any fund to pay compensation for claims for any response costs or damages or claims which may be compensated under the Act. Title II: Federal Cause of Action - Subtitle A: Federal Cause of Action - Establishes a Federal cause of action for damages to an individual which result from harm caused by a release of a hazardous substance from specified facilities. Allows the individual or the individual's dependents to sue for compensable damages under this title. Makes liable for such damages: (1) the owner or operator of a vessel (otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the United States) or a facility; (2) any person who at the time of disposal of any hazardous substance owned or operated any facility at which such hazardous substance was disposed of; (3) any person who by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment, of hazardous substances owned or possessed by such person, by any other party or entity, at any facility owned or operated by another party or entity and containing such hazardous substances; and (4) any person who accepts or accepted any hazardous substances for transport to disposal or treatment facilities or sites selected by such person. Makes such liability strict. Makes such liability joint and several, with specified exceptions. Sets forth defenses to such strict liability. Makes the following damages compensable under this title: (1) any medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, or burial expenses due to personal injury, illness, or death; (2) any loss of income or profits or any impairment or loss of earning capacity due to personal injury, illness, or death; (3) any pain or suffering which results from personal illness, injury, or death; and (4) any economic loss and any damages to property, including diminution in value. Provides for jurisdiction over such Federal cause of action in U.S. district courts. Provides that such Federal jurisdiction shall not affect the jurisdiction of any State court with respect to any action. Authorizes the court to award litigation costs where appropriate. Provides that nothing in this title shall be construed to preempt, or otherwise affect, any provision of State law regarding liability for damages in connection with any hazardous substance. Subtitle B: General Provisions - Sets forth a three-year statute of limitations, with specified exceptions for minors or incompetent persons, for actions under this title beginning on the later of: (1) the date the individual knew (or reasonably should have known) that the injury, illness, or death or other expense was caused by the hazardous substance concerned; or (2) the date of enactment of this title. Prohibits any person who is an employee covered by a State or Federal worker's compensation plan which compensates employees for an injury, illness, or death arising out of and in the course of employment (or pursuant to similar tests of work-relatedness) from recovering any amount under this title for such injury, illness, or death. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Eliminates provisions under the Act (CERCLA) relating to a legislative veto. Authorizes citizen lawsuits under the Act (CERCLA). Sets forth provisions relating to such citizen lawsuits. Title IV: Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks - Establishes a program for identification and regulation of underground storage tanks containing hazardous substances (including petroleum products), and for cleanup of leaks from such tanks. Defines "hazardous substance" for purposes of this title as: (1) any substance designated pursuant to specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (2) any element, compound, mixture, solution, or substance designated pursuant to the CERCLA definition of "pollutant or contaminant," as added by this Act; (3) any hazardous waste having the characteristics identified under or listed pursuant to hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (but not including any waste the regulation of which under such Act has been suspended by Act of Congress); (4) any toxic pollutant listed under specified provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (5) any hazardous air pollutant listed under specified provisions of the Clean Air Act; (6) any imminently hazardous chemical substance or mixture with respect to which the Administrator has taken action pursuant to specified provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act; and (7) any petroleum product or fraction thereof. Excludes from such term natural gas, natural gas liquids, propane, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). Defines "underground storage tank" to include underground pipes connected to such a tank, and lists the following exclusions from this term: (1) farm or residential underground storage tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes; (2) underground storage tanks used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored; (3) residential septic tanks; (4) pipelines regulated under the Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 1968; or (5) surface impoundments, pits, ponds, lagoons, or basins. Sets forth notification requirements applicable to any person who, during the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which this title was enacted, has supplied any hazardous substance to 100 or more sites where there is an underground storage tank which is or has been used for the storage of any hazardous substance. Requires such persons to notify a designated State or local agency of the existence of any such tank located at such a site. Directs the Administrator, within eight months after the enactment date of this Act, to promulgate regulations (taking into account the effect on small business) regarding the providing of notice to obtain information concerning any such tanks which are not located at such sites. Requires that the notice required of such persons supplying hazardous substances to 100 or more sites where such tanks are located be provided within 12 months after the enactment of this title. Requires that the notice required with respect to all other sites where such tanks are located be provided within 12 months after the promulgation of such regulations. Requires that specified information be contained in those notices required of the suppliers to 100 or more sites and in those notices required of owners or operators which install or bring into use an underground storage tank after the enactment of this Act. Sets forth other information requirements for notices required of the suppliers to 100 or more sites, and for notices required pursuant to regulations for tanks at other sites, in the case of any such tank used for such storage prior to the enactment of this Act but taken out of operation before such enactment date (but after January 1, 1974). Provides that notice shall not be required under this title in the case of any tank for which notice was given pursuant to specified provisions of CERCLA. Requires any owner or operator which installs or brings into use an underground storage tank after the enactment of this Act to notify the designated State or local agency within a specified period. Directs the Governor of each State, within 90 days of such enactment date, to designate the appropriate State or local agencies to receive such notifications. Directs the Administrator, within 180 days of such enactment date and in consultation with designated State and local officials, to prescribe in greater detail the form and content of such notifications. Provides that, if a Governor chooses not to designate a State or local agency for such purpose, such notifications shall be submitted to the Administrator. Requires the State, if such notifications are submitted to a designated State or local agency, to compile the submitted information into a comprehensive inventory and furnish such inventory to the Administrator within 18 months of such enactment date. Sets forth provisions for release detection, prevention, and correction regulations applicable to all owners and operators of underground storage tanks used for storing hazardous substances. Directs the Administrator to promulgate such regulations after opportunity for public comment and within 18 months after enactment of this title. Requires that such regulations include requirements respecting specified areas, including: (1) leak detection or inventory systems and tank testing; (2) records of such testing, inventory, or detection; (3) reporting releases and corrective actions; (4) standards of performance for new underground tanks, including specified requirements; (5) corrective actions; (6) closure to prevent future release; and (7) evidence of financial responsibility for taking corrective action and for bodily injury and property damage to third parties. Prohibits, until the effective date of such regulations and after 180 days from the enactment of this Act, any person from installing or beginning to use an underground storage tank to store hazardous substances unless such tank is cathodically protected against corrosion, constructed of a noncorrosive material, or contained in a manner designed to prevent the release into the environment of any stored hazardous substances. Sets forth provisions for the Administrator's review and approval of State programs for underground storage tank release detection, prevention, and correction. Requires the State to demonstrate that the State program is equivalent to the Federal program under this title and that it provides for adequate enforcement of compliance with program requirements. Requires that a State's new tank standards be no less stringent than the performance standards promulgated by the Administrator pursuant to this title. Provides for notice and opportunity for public comment before determinations concerning approval of State programs are made. Gives States with approved programs primary enforcement responsibility for requirements related to control of underground storage tanks used to store hazardous substances. Provides for withdrawal of approval upon the Administrator's determination, after public hearing, that a State is not administering and enforcing the program in accordance with specified requirements. Sets forth provisions relating to inspections, monitoring, and testing. Sets forth provisions for confidentiality of information, and criminal penalties for violations of such confidentiality. Requires that all information reported to, or otherwise obtained by, the EPA under this title be made available, upon written request, to any duly authorized committee of the Congress. Sets forth provisions for Federal enforcement of requirements under this title. Sets forth civil penalties for specified violations. Makes requirements under this title applicable to Federal facilities. Authorizes the President to grant exemptions from such requirements upon determination that it is in the paramount interest of the United States to do so. Requires the President to report annually to Congress on such exemptions and the reasons for granting them. Provides that nothing in this Act shall preclude or deny any State or local authority to regulate more stringently underground storage tanks used to store hazardous substances. Directs the Administrator, within 36 months after the enactment of this title, to study the following underground storage tanks exempted under the definition of "underground storage tanks": (1) farm or residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes; and (2) tanks used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored. Requires that such study include estimates of the number and location of such tanks and an analysis of the extent to which there may be releases or threatened releases from such tanks into the environment. Directs the Administrator to report to the President and the Congress on the results of the study, with recommendations as to whether or not such tanks should be subject to regulation under this title. Title V: Amendments of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the environmental tax on petroleum from 0.79 cent to 4.5 cents a barrel, effective October 1, 1985. Extends the period before such tax is terminated until September 30, 1990. Repeals specified CERCLA sunset provisions relating to expiration of the authority conferred by CERCLA to collect environmental taxes. Repeals specified provisions of the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 relating to the Post-Closure Tax and Trust Fund, and the amendments made by such provisions. Repeals specified CERCLA provisions relating to the Post-Closure Liability Fund. Requires that all sums credited to the Post-Closure Liability Trust Fund established under the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 which have not been obligated prior to the date of enactment of this title shall be refunded to the persons who paid taxes under specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Requires that such funds be made on a ratable basis in proportion to the total amount of such taxes which were paid by each such person. Adds provisions for a waste end tax, effective January 1, 1987, to Internal Revenue Code provisions for environmental taxes. Imposes such waste end tax on the disposal of any hazardous substance, if such disposal is required to be carried out in compliance with hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Sets the amount of such waste end tax in the case of: (1) any hazardous substance for which there is in effect under specified CERCLA regulations a reportable quantity of one pound or less, at $15 for each metric ton disposed of by underground injection and $30 for each metric ton not disposed of by such method; (2) all hazardous substances for which there is in effect under specified CERCLA regulations a reportable quantity of more than one pound, at $5 for each metric ton disposed of by underground injection and $10 for each metric ton not disposed of by such method. Provides that, in the cases of mixtures of hazardous substances with reportable quantities of one pound or less and those with reportable quantities more than one pound, the entire mixture shall be deemed to have a reportable quantity of one pound or less. Requires the owner or operator of the facility to pay such waste end tax with respect to the disposal of any hazardous substance at a facility for which a permit is in effect under the hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Requires the person disposing of the hazardous substance to pay such waste end tax with respect to any other disposal of any hazardous substance. Provides that such waste end tax shall not apply after September 30, 1990. Sets forth exemptions from such waste end tax. Provides that such tax shall not apply to the disposal of: (1) any substance by incineration in accordance with the standards applicable to incineration facilities under hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; (2) any substance by any person in the course of carrying out any removal and remedial action under CERCLA; or (3) any solid waste which is required to be studied under specified provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act unless, after the completion of the studies, a law is enacted subjecting such waste to the waste end tax. Sets forth definitions and special rules relating to such waste end tax, including rules treating waste as disposed of not later than one year after generation and as generated not earlier than the date such waste is identified as hazardous, and a rule imposing a fraction of the tax for a fraction of a metric ton of waste. Amends the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 to provide that revenues from such waste end tax shall be deposited in the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund. Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the environmental tax on certain chemicals (and metals). Increases the rate of such tax on most chemicals on the list (but decreases such tax rate for methane). Adds other chemicals (and metals) to such tax list. Eliminates the listings of zinc chloride and zinc sulfate, but adds zinc to the list for purposes of such tax. Revises the exemption for substances derived from coal from such tax on chemicals to provide that the following substances shall not be exempt from such tax: benzene, tolvene, xylene, naphthalene, tars, and light oils. Expands the exemption for substances used in the production of fertilizer from such tax on chemicals to include as qualified substances specified substances which are sold for resale by any purchaser for use or for resale for ultimate use in a qualified use. Makes such amendments relating to the tax on certain chemicals effective on October 1, 1985. Amends the Hazardous Substance Response Revenue Act of 1980 to revise provisions relating to the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund (the Fund). Authorizes appropriations to the Fund for FY 1986 through 1990. Expands the scope of authorized expenditures from the Trust Fund by authorizing expenditures for other costs described under specified CERCLA provisions. Increases from 85 percent to 94 percent the Fund amounts reserved for expenditures for specified purposes. Revises provisions relating to the Fund's authority to borrow repayable advances. Extends through March 31, 1988, the period during which advances may be made for payment of response costs. Extends through September 30, 1990: (1) the period during which other advances may be made to the Fund; and (2) the deadline for final repayment of all advances to the Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Textile Fiber and Wool Products Identification Improvement Act - Amends the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to require a textile fiber or wool product to be so labeled if it has been processed or manufactured in the United States. Requires the product, as well as the package in which it is contained, to be labeled as to country of origin. Provides that such requirement shall not be construed as requiring such labeling on each hosiery product contained in a package as long as such package is labeled. Requires catalog sales descriptions and other advertisements for textile and wool products to contain country of origin information. Requires that the identification label on imported textile fiber or wool products be affixed to the most conspicuous place on the inner side of the product.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Designates November 25 through December 1, 1984, as National Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Designates 1984 as Year of the St. Lawrence Seaway and June 27, 1984, as St. Lawrence Seaway Day.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Designates the week beginning on October 7, 1984, as National Neighborhood Housing Services Week.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1984
Designates June 18, 1984, as National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Day.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1984
Sex Discrimination in the United States Code Reform Act of 1983 - Title I: Armed Forces, Soldiers' Home, Coast Guard, Lighthouse Service, and Merchant Marine - Amends Federal laws dealing with the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard to eliminate gender-based distinctions. Title II: Elimination of Gender-Based Distinctions Under the Social Security Act and the Railroad Retirement Act - Eliminates gender-based distinctions in the social security and railroad retirement programs. Title III: Amendments to United States Code - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Walsh-Healey Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the Federal criminal code and other Acts (dealing with Indian affairs, transportation, public lands, Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, contract law, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, longshoremen and harbor workers, conservation programs, internee benefits, and the spouses of former presidents, among other subjects) to eliminate gender-based distinctions. Title IV: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1984
Arms Race Moratorium Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should immediately communicate to the Soviet Union the willingness of the United States to enter into a mutual United States - Soviet Union moratorium on the flight testing and deployment of new ballistic missiles and anti-satellite weapons and the testing of nuclear warheads. Prohibits spending or obligating any U.S. funds for the flight testing or deployment of new ballistic missiles, the flight testing against objects in space or the deployment of anti-satellite weapons, or the testing of nuclear warheads if, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the President has not made such a communication with the Soviet Union and, within such period, the Soviet Union communicates to the President that at the end of the 90 days the Soviet Union will observe a mutual United States - Soviet Union moratorium on such testing and deployment. Authorizes U.S. funding for such testing and deployment if, after the beginning of the moratorium, the President certifies to Congress that the Soviet Union has conducted a test or deployed a missile or anti-satellite weapon or tested a nuclear warhead inconsistent with the moratorium. Requires the President, as part of such certification, to submit to Congress an unclassified report summarizing the basis for the certification and a classified report describing in detail the basis for the certification. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress: (1) on the progress in negotiating nuclear arms control agreements with the Soviet Union; (2) on whether the President believes that continuation of the moratorium is in the best national security interests of the United States. Authorizes Congress, if the President states that continuation of the moratorium is not in the best national security interests of the United States, to enact a joint resolution which terminates the moratorium and permits funds, to be used for testing and deployment.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Fair and Simple Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual and Corporate Tax Rates - Subtitle A: Reduction of Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual tax rates. Imposes a tax rate of 25 percent on the taxable income of every individual. Imposes a tax rate of 15 percent on corporate income which does not exceed $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent on corporate income exceeding $50,000. Subtitle B: Increase in Amount of Personal Exemption and Zero Bracket Amount - Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $2,000. Increases the "zero bracket amount" to $2,700 for single taxpayers and $3,500 for a joint return or surviving spouse. Provides for an annual adjustment in the "zero bracket amount" by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Subtitle C: Employment Income Exclusion Established - Allows an individual taxpayer to exclude 20 percent of the amount received during the taxable year by such individual as employment income. Provides that the exclusion is phased out when the individual's wages and salaries exceed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act maximum wage base for the calendar year. Excludes all of an individual's employment income where the employment income for the taxable year is $10,000 or less ($20,000 or less in the case of a joint return). Subtitle D: Repeals Related to Reduction in Rates - Repeals provisions relating to: (1) tax tables for individuals; (2) personal service corporations; (3) special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions; (4) accumulated corporate surplus; (5) personal holding companies; (6) income averaging; and (7) graduated corporate tax rates. Applies the trust throwback rules only to amounts distributed from a foreign trust. Title II: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the general tax credit, the investment tax credit, and the income tax credits relating to: (1) the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled; (2) investments in certain depreciable property; (3) work incentive expenses; (4) contributions to candidates for public office; (5) home purchases; (6) expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment; (7) employment of certain new employees; (8) residential energy credit; (9) producing fuel from a nonconventional source; (10) alcohol used as fuel; (11) research activities; (12) employee stock ownership credit; and (13) clinical testing for certain drugs. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the tax exclusion for: (1) compensation for injuries or sickness; (2) amounts received under accident and health plans; (3) partial exclusion of dividends received by individuals; (4) amounts received under qualified group legal service plans; (5) qualified transportation furnished by an employer; (6) dividend reinvestment in public utilities; (7) partial exclusion of interest as in effect in 1985; and (8) payments to encourage exploration, development, and mining for defense purposes. Reduces the maximum amount of the earned income credit from $5,000 to $4,000. Treats as taxable income: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) the annual increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies; and (3) interest on industrial development bonds and mortgage subsidy bonds. Provides that the transfer of a corporation's stock in satisfaction of indebtedness will be treated as having satisfied the indebtedness with money equal to the fair market value of the stock. Provides a limited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships. Amends the Merchant Marine Act to repeal the tax exemption for deposits into, and withdrawals from, a capital construction fund. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) the additional exemption for the elderly and the blind; (2) unused investment credits; (3) two-earner married couples; and (4) adoption expenses. Provides that the deduction for losses shall be limited to capital losses. Increases the floor on the deduction for medical and dental expenses from five to 10 percent. Subtitle D: Adjustment to Basis; Changes in Certain Special Capital Gains Treatment Provisions - Allows an inflation adjustment, based on the gross national product deflator, to the adjusted basis of capital assets which have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss on such assets. Excludes from such treatment: (1) creditor's interest; (2) options; (3) net lease property in the case of the lessor; (4) preferred stock with fixed dividends; and (5) stock in small business corporations and certain foreign corporations. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to disallow all or part of an adjustment where there was a transfer to increase the inflation adjustment or depreciation allowance. Reduces the alternative tax rate for corporations from 28 to 20 percent. Repeals the deduction for individuals for capital gains. Repeals the limitation on the deduction of capital losses by individuals. Permits the carryover of the excess of capital losses over gross income by individuals. Applies the rules for capital gains and losses only to corporations relating to: (1) the sale of land with an unharvested crop; (2) the disposal of coal or domestic iron ore; (3) the gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore; (4) the distribution of property; (5) collapsible partnerships; (6) property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions; (7) the sale or exchange of patents; (8) amortization in excess of depreciation; (9) gain from the sale of depreciable property between certain related taxpayers; (10) gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property; (11) gain on foreign investment company stock; (12) an election by foreign investment companies to distribute income currently; (13) gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations; (14) gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations; (15) gain from disposition of certain depreciable realty; (16) gain from disposition of property used in farming where farm losses offset nonfarm income; (17) gain from disposition of farm land; (18) gain from disposition of interest in oil, gas, or geothermal property; and (19) gain from disposition of property acquired with certain cost-sharing payments. Provides a transition period of ten years beginning January 1, 1985, in which a taxpayer may elect to not apply the inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss. Provides that when such election is made, 25 percent of any gain from the sale or disposition of such asset shall be excludible from gross income, or 25 percent of any loss shall not be deductible. Title III: Capital Cost Recovery - Subtitle A: Simplified Cost Recovery System for Depletable Property - Allows individuals and corporations a depletion deduction for qualified depletable property equal to an applicable percentage determined by the cost recovery tables for cost recovery property. Requires qualified depletable property be assigned to one class of recovery property. Uses the anticipated productive life of such depletable property, rather than the present class life, for making the assignment. Assigns oil, gas wells, or wells drilled for any geothermal deposit to the class of three year property. Provides that these rules shall not deny any deduction allowable for loss sustained by reason of the abandonment of a nonproductive well or mine. Subtitle B: Other Changes - Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) research and experimental expenditures; (2) soil and water conservation expenditures; (3) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by a lessee on a lessor's property; (4) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (5) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (6) start-up expenditures; (7) intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (8) percentage depletion; (9) development expenditures; and (10) deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures. Allows a ten year period for the amortization of construction period interest and taxes. Allows a deduction for circulation expenses for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical ratably over a five-year period. Excludes amounts chargable to a capital account from such treatment. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Income - Repeals the domestic international sales corporations (DISC) provisions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires farmers to compute their taxable income using the accrual method of accounting with the capitalization of preproduction expenses. Exempts taxpayers who do not have gross receipts of $1,000,000. Requires farming syndicates to use the accrual method of accounting without regard to gross receipts. Requires the recognition of the gain or loss on distributions of property by corporations. Eliminates the special bad debt reserves of financial institutions. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1984
Designates the week of November 11 through November 17, 1984, as Women in Agriculture Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1984
Designates the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge and the Barnegat National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey collectively as the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Civil Rights Act of 1984 - Amends the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination by any recipient of Federal financial assistance. (Currently, discrimination is prohibited only in a program or activity receiving Federal assistance.) Defines the term "recipient" to extend comprehensive coverage for purposes of the four Acts to any State or local governmental unit, any public or private agency or entity, and any subunit, successor, assignee, or transfereee of any such unit, agency, or entity.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Interstate Banking Act of 1984 - Amends specified Federal banking laws to: (1) permit a bank to operate out-of-State if the foreign State's statutory law specifically grants such authority; and (2) provide that in considering bank acquisitions, mergers, or reorganizations effect shall be given to any State laws authorizing such activities by out-of-State banks.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
States that the Congress: (1) condemns Iraq for its use of chemical weapons; (2) condemns Iran for its violations of the human rights of its citizens in attacks against Iraq; (3) deplores the use of chemical weapons; (4) encourages the United Nations and other parties to continue investigations of suspected uses of chemical weapons; and (5) calls for continued and increased efforts at the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate a verifiable ban on such weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Designates the week of September 16 through September 22, 1984, as Emergency Medicine Week.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Designates the week of November 19 through November 25, 1984, as National Adoption Week.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Designates the week beginning September 2, 1984, as National School-Age Child Care Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Designates July 1984 as National Ice Cream Month and July 15, 1984, as National Ice Cream Day.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Designates a Federal building in Bangor, Maine, as the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Designates a Federal building in Augusta, Maine, as the Edmund S. Muskie Federal Building.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation for FY 1985 through 1987 for the construction of versatile motor vehicle carrying vessels for private charter operation under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1984
Designates the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge and the Barnegat National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey collectively as the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1984
White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business, not earlier than January 1, 1985, and not later than September 1, 1986, to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conference. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such conference. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date such conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1984
Designates the week of May 20 through May 26, 1984, as National Digestive Diseases Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1984
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize amounts to be appropriated for supportive services and senior centers for FY 1985 through 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1984
Designates the week of January 20, 1985, as School Health Care Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1984
National Defense Shipyard Protection Act of 1984 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to revise the current construction-differential subsidy provisions by setting forth requirements for shipyard construction subsidies. Declares a shipyard qualified to receive a construction subsidy if it is capable of constructing: (1) seagoing vessels that meet the requirements of the Secretary of Transportation; and (2) simultaneously, at least three vessels of the type of which subsidy application is made. Prohibits a shipyard from making such application if more than 60 percent of its construction capacity in the previous year was used for vessel or other construction for the U.S. Government. Sets forth competitive bidding procedures for shipyard construction subsidies. Provides financial incentives and penalties on the use of such subsidies. Limits a subsidy to 40 percent of the shipyard's bid. Restricts vessels constructed under this Act to the foreign commerce of the United States or foreign-to-foreign commerce. Sets forth circumstances under which operating differential subsidy contractors may qualify for construction subsidies. Establishes the construction subsidy account in the U.S. Treasury for payment of subsidies under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for such account. Sets forth eligibility requirements for such subsidies for State maritime academy training vessels or icebreakers for the Coast Guard.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Hunger Relief Act of 1984 - Title I: Food Stamp and Related Provisions - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to make homeless persons eligible to participate in the food stamp program (program). Requires State agencies to develop related certification and issuance procedures. Increases the cost of the thrifty food plan to the full cost of the plan as of June 30, 1983. Revises the definition of "disabled" to include certain persons receiving benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act or persons receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disabled benefits. Makes households each of whose members receive SSI or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) categorically eligible for program participation. States that denial of eligibility or termination of benefits from such programs can not be a basis for denial of food stamp eligibility or termination of benefits. Excludes loan origination fees and insurance premiums from program "income." Increases the earned income deduction from 18 to 20 percent. Separates (presently combined) dependent care and excess shelter expense deductions. Provides for an educational deduction. Grants States the option of calculating income either prospectively or retrospectively. Increases the resources limitation from $1500 to $2500, and from $3000 to $3500 for the elderly and disabled. Increases the threshhold for accounting a vehicle's value against resources from $4500 to $5500. Permits States to stagger coupon issuance. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to send Food Stamp Disaster Task Force members to oversee the program in the event of a natural disaster. Directs State agencies to periodically assess the need to keep food stamp offices open during weekend or evening hours. Requires the Secretary to encourage State agencies to disseminate program information. Provides administrative matching funds. Directs State agencies to implement job search activities. Obligates $50,000,000 beginning with FY 1985 for such costs, and provides for 50 percent reimbursement for State expenses: (1) in excess of such $50,000,000; and (2) for participant reimbursement. Requires the Secretary to monitor such programs. Establishes a four-year (FY 1985 through 1989) rural Alaskan food assistance pilot program. Sets forth program provisions. Requires program reports to the House and Senate Agriculture committees by March 1, 1988, and 1989, respectively. Requires the Secretary to issue rural Alaskan thrifty food plan adjustment regulations within ten days. Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to permit local programs to provide supplemental commodities to the elderly under terms prescribed by the Secretary. Prohibits any resulting reduction in assistance to women, infants, and children (WIC program). Authorizes FY 1985 and 1986 Federal Emergency Management Agency appropriations for an emergency food program. Requires the Director of such Agency to constitute a national board to administer such program. Authorizes the Commodity Credit Corporation to purchase and deliver commodities for such program. Title II: Nutrition Monitoring - Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement by October 1, 1985, a continuous food consumption and expenditures survey of a representative sample of low-income persons in the United States; (2) conduct, beginning with FY 1986, a survey of a supplemental representative sample of at least one low-income subgroup; and (3) submit an interim report by April 1, 1986, and annual reports thereafter to specified congressional committees. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide States with technical assistance to establish nutrition monitoring systems; (2) encourage research on standards and technologies for nutrition monitoring; and (3) maintain and update the Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data base. Title III: Nutrition and Consumer Education - Directs the Secretary to provide States with technical and grant assistance for low-income consumer education programs. Administers such programs through the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Requires annual program reports to specified congressional committees. Sets forth State program requirements. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1989 appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to set aside specified amounts for use in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Title IV: School Lunch and Child Nutrition Amendments - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National School Lunch Act to reduce the students' cost of a reduced price lunch from 40 cents to 25 cents, and of a reduced price breakfast from 30 cents to 15 cents. Increases reduced meal income eligibility limits from 185 percent to 195 percent of the poverty level. Provides an additional six cents per breakfast to increase the nutritional quality of such program. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate related nutritional improvement regulations. Raises the program tuition limit for private schools from $1500 to $2500. Requires annual inflation adjustments. Increases the number of reimbursable meals and snacks under the child care food program. Increases FY 1984 authorization of appropriations for nutrition education and training. Excludes certain medical expenses from household income for program eligibility purposes. Eliminates the requirement that free meal eligibility be the same as that required for food stamp eligibility. Makes kindergartens in specified schools eligible for the special milk program. Makes permanent authorizations of appropriations for: (1) the WIC program; (2) State administrative expenses; (3) nutrition education and training; (4) the childrens' summer food and service program; and (5) the commodity distribution program. Title V: Older Americans Act Amendments - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations for: (1) congregate feeding; (2) home delivered meals; and (3) surplus commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
National Training Incentives Act of 1984 - Title I: Withdrawals from Individual Retirement Accounts and Annuities for Job Training for Displaced Workers - Sets forth provisions for certification of an unemployed individual as a displaced worker by application of such individual to the Secretary of Labor, through the appropriate employment office. Defines "displaced worker" for purposes of this title as any individual who: (1) has, as of the date of application for certification, at least 20 quarters of coverage under title II of the Social Security Act; and (2) has, within the one-year period ending on such date, received counseling relating to seeking employment from any public employment office of any State or such other agency as the Secretary has approved under specified provisions of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA). Defines "displaced workers" also as individuals who: (1) on the date of application for certification, are receiving (or are eligible to receive) regular unemployment compensation in such State; (2) on or before such date, have exhausted all right to receive regular unemployment compensation in such State in the individual's most recent benefit year; (3) on or before such date, have become unemployed (or have received notice from their employer that their employment will be terminated within six months of such notice) as a result of the permanent closure of the plant or facility of such employer where such individuals are or were employed; or (4) as of such date, have been unemployed for six months or more and have limited opportunity for employment (for any reason, including age) within a reasonable commuting distance from their principal residence in the same or any similar trade or occupation. Permits any displaced worker to withdraw, in a specified manner, an amount not to exceed the qualified amount from any individual retirement account or any individual retirement annuity established for the benefit of such worker to pay any expenses for training in a new trade or occupation. Sets forth formulas for determination of a "qualified amount." Sets forth provisions relating to the manner of such withdrawal, including provisions for issuance of training vouchers. Prohibits depositary institutions from assessing penalties for early withdrawals for purposes of such training, but provides for adjusted rates of return on investments under certain conditions. Requires that such training in an eligible training program at a qualified institution be treated as training with the approval of the State agency for purposes of specified FUTA requirements relating to approval of State unemployment laws. Prohibits denial of any unemployment compensation payment under any Federal law solely because a displaced worker is in such training at an eligible training program at a qualified institution. Sets forth definitions of eligible training programs and training expenses. Directs the Secretary to: (1) prescribe by regulation the application procedure and the criteria to be used in determining whether a training program is eligible; and (2) in making such determination, take into account determinations made by specified other officials and entities. Sets forth nondiscrimination provisions. Directs the Secretary to keep paperwork to the minimum necessary to administer this title and carry out the purposes of this Act. Title II: Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1954 Relating to Employee Training - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the additional tax on early withdrawals from individual retirement accounts shall not apply to specified withdrawals for training of dislocated workers. Sets forth special rules for early withdrawals from individual retirement accounts. Establishes an employee training tax credit for employers. Sets forth formulas and rules relating to such employee training credit. Title III: State Employment Service Responsibilities - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Labor for FY 1985 and succeeding fiscal years for reimbursement payments to States for certain administrative costs incurred pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary to allocate such funds among all States which meet specified criteria in order to assist each such State to administer public employment offices or such other agencies which the Secretary has approved under specified FUTA provisions. Makes any State eligible for such payments if its public employment offices (or other such agencies) provide: (1) certification for displaced workers; and (2) labor market and training information and job search services (including specified counseling) to assist displaced workers to enroll in an eligible training program and obtain employment as quickly as possible. Directs the Secretary, within one year after enactment of this Act, to report to Congress on: (1) the extent to which the nationwide computerized job bank and matching program authorized under specified provisions of the Job Training Partnership Act can be expected to increase employment opportunities in each State; (2) the estimated cost of making such nationwide computerized job bank and matching program fully operational in the manner intended under such provisions; (3) the extent to which the development of such nationwide computerized job bank and matching program will require changes in the existing employment service operations in each State; and (4) the feasibility of using nonprofit privately operated job-referral services, in areas where such services are available, for the referral of individuals to jobs in low-wage industries where little or no skill is a prerequisite for employment rather than using State employment service offices or such nationwide computerized job bank and matching program. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to require private industry councils to make available throughout the service delivery area (SDA) information concerning training programs in such SDA which have been recognized as eligible training programs under this Act. Makes special provision for dislocated workers with respect to Pell Grants. Provides that, notwithstanding specified provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 or any other provision of law, the determination of the amount of the expected family contribution to a student to determine the amount of a basic grant to any student who is a certified displaced worker shall be made without including in the effective family income the amount of: (1) any unemployment compensation received by the student; or (2) any distribution from an individual retirement account established to pay training expenses of such student.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Transportation for FY 1985 for construction-differential subsidies under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to approve and pay a subsidy which exceeds 50 percent of the cost of constructing, reconstructing, or reconditioning a vessel.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Information Dissemination and Research Accountability Act - Establishes in the National Library of Medicine a National Center for Research Accountability to assist in eliminating duplication of effort in Federal research proposals involving live animals. Directs the President to appoint as members of the Center 20 experts in the biomedical information sciences who are currently employed by a Federal agency in a capacity which qualifies them to make determinations as to whether research proposals involving live animals are duplicative of other research efforts. Requires submission to the Center before it is funded of any such proposal approved by a Federal agency. Prohibits funding of any proposal which the Center determines would duplicate other research completed or in process. Authorizes the Center to contract with private entities to assist in the conduct of comprehensive full-text literature searches. Requires an annual report to Congress and the President. Directs the National Library of Medicine to: (1) acquire, transcribe, and store all biomedical information owned or available for use by Federal agencies; (2) support by grants and contracts the creation of new information for teaching and demonstrations; and (3) increase, by making grants and awards, the number of persons trained in modern methods of biomedical information storage and dissemination technologies. Permits the Library to contract with the private-sector data recording industry to improve the development of such technologies and the dissemination of full-text biomedical information to medical libraries. Requires the Library to report annually to Congress and the President on its progress. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to set forth circumstances under which vessels built with construction differential subsidies may be permitted to transfer to the domestic coastwise trade. Conditions such transfer upon repayment of the unamortized construction differential subsidy received and makes vessels so transferred ineligible for operating differential subsidies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1984
Defense Spare Parts Procurement Reform Act - Directs the head of a defense agency to establish procedures to recognize personnel efforts to increase competition and achieve cost savings in spare parts procurement. Requires each contractor supplying a military department to mark each item with: (1) the contractor's name and stock number for the item; and (2) the original manufacturer or producer if not the contractor. Requires all technical data relating to a part delivered under the contract to carry the name of the original manufacturer or producer and the stock number. Prohibits a contractor from entering into agreements with a subcontractor which restrict sales by the subcontractor directly to the United States. Limits such prohibition to contracts involving $25,000 or more. Requires that replacement parts be procured by competitive methods when possible. Directs a contracting officer to determine the availability of a part first through the supply system of the Defense Department and then under Federal supply contracts through the General Services Administration. Requires such officer to review the procurement history and description of a part. Directs the head of the contracting agency to require a bidder on a major system to specify: (1) whether the technical data provided would be with unlimited or limited rights and with a license; and (2) the cost of the United States of acquiring unlimited rights or a license. Requires that such bidders certify that items not available with unlimited rights will be developed at private expense and that the technical data is not in the public domain. Grants the United States unlimited rights in technical data delivered under contract if such data was developed wholly or in part at Government expense or is in the public domain. Establishes a second contractor review system and penalties for false statements concerning assertions that certain technical data is private. Directs a contractor to certify the completeness and accuracy of all statements concerning technical data to be or not to be provided, including opportunities and requirements for cure if such data should prove to be inaccurate or insufficient for subsequent reprocurement purposes. Directs the head of any agency to develop a plan for an accounting system to monitor access to and ownership of data which includes the possibility of a department-wide system for the retrieval of technical data. Requires the submission of such a plan to Congress. Directs the head of each such agency, within three years, to inventory the access to or the ownership of all technical data for each major system under the agency's jurisdiction. Directs the Secretary of Defense to coordinate such inventories to allow the exchange of information. Requires the head of each such agency to designate within the agency a competition advocate for the agency, and one for each procuring activity. Sets forth the functions of such advocates, including maximizing competitive opportunities during acquisition and challenging existing, inhibiting practices. Grants such advocates direct access to agency personnel. Requires each agency head to report to Congress by December 15 of each year on the management of the acquisition of replacement parts, including the activities of the competition advocates. Requires that such reports be submitted by the Secretary of Defense and break down information by the Department as a whole as well as for each of the military departments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1984
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to LIFE International to pay up to 75 percent of the costs of retrofitting and operating specified vessels transferred to the organization. Authorizes appropriations to the Maritime Administration for FY 1985 through 1987 for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Amends the Education Amendments of 1972 to include educational institutions receiving Federal financial assistance within the prohibition against sex discrimination.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Juvenile Justice, Runaway Youth, and Missing Children's Act Amendments of 1984 - Title I: General Provisions - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to make technical changes with regard to the Act's findings, purpose, and definitions. Title II: Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention - Makes changes in the Act so that it is neutral as to sex. Decreases from seven and one-half to four percent the percentage of authorized appropriations for use by the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to implement policy. Decreases the authorized appropriations from $500,000 to $200,000 for the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Allows members of State advisory groups and State and local officials to be appointed to the National Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Requires that at least two of the individuals appointed to the Advisory Committee be residents of rural areas. Decreases the authorized appropriations from $500,000 to $200,000 for the Advisory Committee. Revises certain requirements imposed on State plans receiving formula grants under the Act, including the involvement of family members in programs addressing the delinquency-related problems of juveniles and the provision of treatment to juveniles with a dependence on alcohol or drugs. Requires that State plans provide that no juvenile shall be detained or confined in any jail or lockup for adults except in certain cases of juveniles accused of nonstatus offenses who are awaiting an initial court appearance within 24 hours of custody. Revises the amount of funds appropriated for making grants and entering contracts with public and private non-profit agencies, organizations, or institutions, or individuals for certain activities and projects. Requires programs selected for such grants to be selected through a competitive process. Requires the Administrator to announce publicly the availability of funds for such assistance. Requires that the notification of grants and contracts and the applications for such grants be transmitted to the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. Requires the Administrator, acting through the National Institute for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, to provide for a biennial national conference for the purpose of disseminating information, data, standard techniques, and program models. Establishes within the Institute a Law-Related Education Resource Center. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989. Title III: Runaway and Homeless Youth - Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to provide grants and assistance to programs that assist families. Repeals the section dealing with the procedure for a reorganization plan. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1989. Title IV: Missing Children's Assistance - Missing Children's Assistance Act - Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services a Bureau of Missing Children. Directs the Secretary, through the Bureau, to: (1) coordinate all federally-funded programs relating to missing children; (2) establish and allocate a national toll-free telephone line for missing children; (3) provide assistance to State and local governments, public and private nonprofit agencies, and individuals in locating missing children; (4) coordinate Federal efforts to locate missing children; (5) disseminate information relating to missing children; (6) conduct a national incidence study; and (7) publish an annual summary evaluating Federal, State, and local projects relating to missing children. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants for research, demonstration projects, and service programs for missing children. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Designates the week beginning November 11, 1984, as National Women Veterans Recognition Week.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week beginning on November 18, 1984, as National Family Week.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
States that the House of Representative supports Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Jewry on May 6, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to request the Secretary General to seek the cooperation of Vietnam with the United States and specified other countries in ascertaining the whereabouts of the crewmen of the sunken U.S. vessel GLOMAR Java Sea.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1984
Grants a Federal charter to the Women's Army Corps Veterans' Association.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1984
Designates the month of June 1984 as Veterans' Preference Month.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1984
Designates the year 1984 as Year of the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1984
Directs the President to: (1) secure from the Indochina nations a full accounting of Americans captured or missing as a result of the Vietnam conflict; and (2) work for the release of captive Americans and the return of the remains of those American servicemen and civilians who died in Southeast Asia. Requires the President to submit two reports to Congress on American POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Requires that the U.S. Embassy in Israel and the residence of the American Ambassador to Israel shall be located in Jerusalem.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Designates the week of October 7 through October 13, 1984, as National Birds of Prey Conservation Week.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
National Individual Training Account Act of 1984 - Title I: Individual Training Accounts - Establishes the national individual training account program to be administered by the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury in cooperation with the States. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to enter into agreements whereby States or State unemployment compensation agencies shall: (1) issue and redeem vouchers to pay training and relocation expenses; (2) accept contributions from employees and employers for deposit into individual training accounts and distribute any amount in any such account at such times as any distribution from such account is authorized; (3) provide individual counseling or job and training referral services to any participant in the program;and (4) cooperate with officers of the Federal Government or of any other State in carrying out this Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor, upon the request of a State, to provide information and to detail, on a reimbursable basis, personnel to assist such State in establishing a State individual training account program. Sets forth the duties of the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury in administering the program established by this Act. Sets forth provisions for distributions from individual training accounts. Sets forth provisions for eligible training programs and for certification of such programs by the Secretary of Labor. Sets forth provisions for qualified relocation expenses and for approval of such expenses by the Secretary of Labor. Provides that individual training and related accounts are to be established as separate book accounts in the Unemployment Trust Fund. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 Relating to Individual Training Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise provisions for approval of State unemployment compensation laws to require that a State have a State individual training account program which has been approved by the Secretary of Labor. Applies such requirement to certifications of such State laws for 1985 and subsequent years. Revises Federal unemployment tax provisions to add requirements relating to State individual training account programs. Revises provisions relating to itemized Federal income tax deductions for individuals and corporations to allow such deductions for employee or employer contributions to individual training accounts made after December 31, 1983. Prohibits any reduction (through an additional credit allowance) in Federal unemployment tax in the case of any large employer which refuses to participate in the national individual training account program. Defines "large employer" as one which during the calendar year employed an average of not less than 25 employees. Makes such denial of reduction applicable to calendar years beginning after December 31, 1985. Appropriates to the Secretary of Labor, for the expense of administering the Federal-State employment service, for each fiscal year ending after January 1, 1986, an amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be equivalent to an unspecified portion of the amounts received in the general fund in the Treasury which are attributable to the operation of such denial of reduction in the unemployment tax rate of such large employers who refuse to participate in the national individual training account program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
Authorizes the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Incorporated to erect a National Law Enforcement Heroes Memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia or its environs in honor and recognition of law enforcement officials in the United States who died in the line of duty. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Fund, to select with the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, a suitable site on public grounds for such memorial. Subjects the design and any plans for the memorial to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Declares that no moneys belonging to the United States or the District of Columbia shall be expended for the erection of such memorial other than expenses incurred in the process of site selection and approval of design and plans.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
Authorizes and requests the President to designate May 6 through May 13, 1984, as Jewish Heritage Week.