United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1984
Foreign Service Amendments of 1984 - Title I: Amendments to the Foreign Service Act - Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to provide that the Inspector General of the Foreign Service, for purposes of the Hatch Act, shall not be considered an employee who determines U.S. policies in foreign relations or in the nationwide administration of Federal laws. Directs the Secretary of State to make publicly available reports on the competence of nominees for chiefs of missions. Limits the duration of a limited appointment to the Foreign Service to five years. Permits a limited appointment to be made only: (1) for appointment as a career candidate; (2) for appointment as a consular agent; (3) for appointment of a family member; or (4) if the Secretary makes specified certifications to the Congress. Permits renewal or extension of a limited appointment only to allow continued service: (1) as a consular agent or as a family member; or (2) as a career candidate if continued service is appropriate to remedy a grievance or in special circumstances set forth by regulation. Defines temporary limited appointment. Requires the Secretary to give preferential consideration to employing qualified family members of members of the Foreign Service or of other Government employees when employing individuals abroad in positions to which career members of the Service are not customarily assigned. Authorizes the Secretary to adjust, in accordance with the rankings and recommendations of selection boards, the basic salary rate of a member of the Senior Foreign Service not more than once during any year. Authorizes selection boards to make such recommendations. Requires that performance pay shall be distributed among members of the Senior Foreign Service in accordance with the rankings of selection boards. Provides for on-call pay for Foreign Service personnel who are officially scheduled to be on call outside regular duty hours while assigned abroad. Requires the Secretary, except when no member of the Foreign Service is available who has the necessary qualifications to fill a position, to: (1) assign only members of the Foreign Service to positions designated as Foreign Service positions; and (2) normally assign only members of the Senior Foreign Service to Senior Foreign Service positions but may assign other members of the Foreign Service to those positions. Makes ineligible for promotion a member of the Foreign Service whose maximum time in class expires. Requires that a member of the Foreign Service whose maximum time in class expires shall be retired. Permits limited extensions of the career appointments of members of the Foreign Service whose maximum time in class expires after they have attained a salary class from which no effective promotional opportunities exist. Directs the Secretary to extend temporarily, for not more than one year, the career appointment of a career member of the Foreign Service whose maximum time in class or limited career extension expires when the extension is necessary for the member to attain eligibility for an immediate annuity. Provides for judicial review of separations for cause of members of the Foreign Service. Authorizes certain participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System who are credited with civilian service to make special contributions to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund. Requires such contributions to equal specified percentages of the basic salary received for such service. Requires special contributions to equal any refund which has been received but not redeposited. Permits a participant of the Fund and the participant's former spouse to elect to waive or reduce a survivor annuity for the former spouse if the election is made before the end of the 12 month period after the divorce or annulment becomes final. Permits retirement for disability or incapacity at age 60 (currently, 65). Adjusts the amount of the annuity based upon whether or not the participant is receiving a military pension. Provides for computation of a survivor's annuity in the case of a participant who had less than 20 years of service at the time of death. Limits the additional service credit that may accrue to a deceased participant to the difference between the participant's age at death and age 60. Entitles a participant to the lump-sum credit if the participant: (1) is separated from the Service or is transferred for at least 31 consecutive days; (2) applies for payment of the lump-sum credit; (3) is not reemployed in a position covered by the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System; and (4) will not become eligible to receive an annuity within 31 days after filing the application. Declares that payment of the lump-sum credit voids all annuity rights under the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System. Prohibits paying any part of a lump-sum credit to a participant's former spouse if the former spouse remarries before age 60. Authorizes the Secretary of State to prescribe regulations authorizing a participant or former participant to elect to waive or reduce a survivor annuity or lump-sum payment to a spouse or former spouse if the participant establishes that the participant, after having taken all reasonable steps to find the spouse or former spouse, does not know the whereabouts of the spouse or former spouse. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for payment of an annuity payable to a missing spouse or former spouse to the former participant or to a surviving spouse or former spouse who is not missing. Authorizes paying the expenses for a member of the Foreign Service of: (1) transporting and storing furniture for three months in connection with an assignment to a new post unless an extension is granted in unusual circumstances; and (2) one round-trip for each member's child below age 21 from the post of the member abroad to the residence of the child. Requires the limitations on health care to be waived if the Secretary determines that illness of the covered individual was caused or materially aggravated by the fact that the individual is or has been located abroad. Makes eligible for health benefits coverage any individual: (1) married to a member or former member of the Foreign Service whose marriage is dissolved by divorce or annulment; (2) who, before the divorce or annulment, is covered by the health benefits plan; and (3) who, after the divorce or annulment becomes final, qualifies for health benefits coverage. Authorizes a former spouse to enroll in a health benefit plan as a member of the family of a member of the Foreign Service if the former spouse files an application within 31 days of the day the divorce or annulment becomes final and arranges to pay the premiums. Permits an individual who becomes a former spouse before enactment of this provision if, within six months of enactment, the individual files an application and arranges to pay premiums. Provides for identification and notification of former spouses of their right to enroll in such health benefits plan. Makes ineligible for such plan any former spouse who remarries before age 60. Includes within the meaning of the term grievance: (1) any alleged violation of applicable laws or regulations (including collective bargaining agreements and published policies) affecting the terms and conditions of the employment or career status of the member; (2) allegedly wrongful disciplinary action (taken or proposed to be taken) against the member; and (3) reprisal or other interference in connection with any disclosure or other protected action by a member of the Foreign Service. Excludes from the definition of the term grievance the expiration of a limited appointment. (Current law also excludes from the definition of grievance the termination of a limited appointment.) Includes within the definition of surviving spouse a former spouse who survives a member of the Foreign Service if the former spouse has not remarried before age 60. Entitles a grievant, if a grievance is not settled within 60 days (currently 90 days), to file the grievance with the Foreign Service Grievance Board. Prohibits members of the Foreign Service Grievance Board from being current or former members of the Foreign Service or current or former employees or consultants to the Department of State. Provides for selection of a Chairperson of the Board. Provides a method for appointing a member of the Board if the three appropriate agencies and the exclusive representative of each such agency cannot agree on nominees for the Board. Requires the Board to appoint and fix the compensation of an executive secretary. Authorizes the Board to reconsider any decision on its own motion or upon petition of a party to the proceedings filed within 30 days after notice of such decision. Authorizes the Board, if it finds a grievance meritorious, to direct the Department of State to: (1) pay for costs to the grievant to the same extent as such costs may be required under a specified section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and (2) promote, assign, or take other remedial action. Requires the Secretary of State to implement the Board's decisions except to the extent that it would adversely affect U.S. foreign policy or national security. Requires any agency to make available to the Board any agency record requested unless the head of such agency personally certifies in writing to the Board that disclosure of the record to the Board and the grievant could not be made without adversely affecting U.S. foreign policy or national security. Authorizes a court granting relief to a grievant to include an award for costs. Authorizes the Secretary of State to obtain judicial review of a finding by the Board for the grievant. Authorizes an individual holding a position on the effective date of its conversion to file a grievance with respect to any matter that would otherwise be allowed. Requires the grievance to be filed within three years of enactment of this Act. Extends the period for conversion from the Foreign Service until June 30, 1985. Requires the Secretary of State to include in each annual supplemental report to Congress on the Foreign Service specified information pertaining to members of the Senior Foreign Service. Provides for payment of an annuity to a former spouse of a participant or former participant in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System. Repeals the current provisions for survivor benefits for certain former spouses. Requires the Secretary of State to inform affected former spouses of their rights to annuities. Title II: Amendments to Title 5 of the United States Code - Limits payments for relocation expenses of Government employees in quarters located in an area designated as a high rate geographical area to $75 per day. Subjects reimbursement for subsistence expenses actually incurred to the daily rates. Authorizes the payment of transportation expenses for the family of a Government employee when a separate maintenance allowance has been granted to the employee. Authorizes advance payment of overseas differentials. Authorizes payment of an education allowance or of travel costs to assist the employee with otherwise uncompensated expenses for education of the employee's children because of the employee's official assignment to serve in a foreign area or foreign areas. Authorizes the education allowance to include expenses for: (1) pre-kindergarten educational services for children with a handicapping condition; and (2) travel by an employee's dependents to and from a school in the United States to obtain a secondary or post-secondary college education. Authorizes three months advance pay to an employee upon assignment to a post in the United States from a post in a foreign area. Title III: Amendments to the Hostage Relief Act - Amends the Hostage Relief Act of 1980 to define "hostage period" to mean a period determined by the Secretary of State and published in the Federal Register. Defines "captive status" to mean a missing status arising because of a hostile action abroad which is directed against activities of the United States during the hostage period and which is identified by the Secretary of State. Provides for the establishment of a savings fund for some or all of the pay and allowances of an American hostage who remains in captive status for 30 days or more. Authorizes the payment of health care and related expenses of American hostages and the families to the extent such care: (1) is incident to that person being held hostage; (2) is not covered by insurance; and (3) is not covered by any other Government medical or health program. Authorizes an agency to pay a spouse or child of an American hostage for education expenses. (Currently, such payment is required.) Authorizes payments for education or training of dependents and survivors of an American hostage on the same basis as educational assistance benefits are provided for dependents and survivors of other Federal employees except that in special circumstances the President may extend such benefits beyond the otherwise applicable cessation date. Prohibits providing such assistance to any individual who is eligible for similar assistance under another law. Repeals specified provisions of the Hostage Relief Act of 1980 including provisions: (1) excluding compensation of a hostage from the gross income of the hostage; (2) exempting hostages from income tax where death results from the captivity; and (3) requiring a report on the tax treatment of hostages. Authorizes the President to provide a payment to an American hostage or to the surviving spouse or dependent of an American hostage who dies in captive status. Title IV: Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Foreign Affairs Agencies - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to repeal the provision authorizing the use of government vehicles or taxis to transport State Department employees in foreign countries to and from work when public transportation facilities are unsafe. Makes State Department funds available for expenses: (1) of international arbitrations of international disputes under international agreements; and (2) arbitrations arising under contracts authorized by law for the performance of services or acquisition of property abroad. Authorizes payment of subsistence expenses for certain employees of U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency. Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish an Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Information Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1984
Emergency Petroleum Industries Stability Act of 1984 - Prohibits, for a nine month period: (1) any major energy concern or affiliate from controlling any other major energy concern or any domestic petroleum company; and (2) any domestic petroleum company or affiliate from controlling any major energy concern or affiliate. Exempts from the application of such prohibition parties who are in a failing financial position which would likely lead to insolvency but for such acquisition. Requires the Attorney General to bring an action for relief of any violation of such prohibition. Defines a "major energy concern" as one which: (1) has an interest in one hundred million barrels or more of proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas liquids equivalents, or natural gas equivalents; (2) had an average net production of crude oil, condensate, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in the previous year which exceeded 100,000 barrels per day; or (3) is under the control of a foreign person. Defines a "domestic petroleum company" as any person engaged in the production, refinement, or sale of crude oil, condensate, natural gas liquids, or natural gas in the United States and which is not a major energy concern. Defines "control" as the power to direct the policies of a person through the ownership of 15 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of a person or the acquisition from a person of assets related to the production, distribution, transportation, or marketing of crude oil, condensate, natural gas liquids or natural gas exceeding $2,000,000,000 in fair market value. Requires reports to both Houses of Congress, concerning the effects of such types of mergers, from: (1) the Attorney General, after consultation with the Secretary of Energy; (2) the Secretary of the Treasury; (3) the Secretary of the Interior; (4) the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration; and (5) the Federal Trade Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1984
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to establish separate deductions for dependent care expenses and excess shelter expenses for determining eligibility for certain food stamp benefit levels. Increases the maximum amount of such deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1984
Satellite Television Viewing Rights Act of 1984 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize any person to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or lease equipment for use in receiving satellite television programming, and to receive satellite programming which is not encrypted, without obligation to any person. Allows any person to receive encrypted programming decoded for private viewing upon compliance with rates, terms, and conditions established by agreement or by the Federal Communications Commission. Prohibits any person from manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or leasing equipment intended for the unauthorized reception and decoding of encrypted programming by persons not complying with such requirements. Prohibits any producer or distributor of encrypted programming from requiring a person to purchase or lease decoding equipment from a specific source in order to receive such programming. Prohibits any owner of such programming from restricting the availability of such programming for private viewing, except as provided under this Act. Authorizes the Commission to establish rates, terms, and conditions governing a person's rights to view encrypted programming on the petition of such person if such person is not subject to an agreement or order covering such programming. Authorizes any person who is a party to such an agreement to file the agreement with the Commission. Provides that such agreement shall be placed upon public notice and shall be deemed certified as binding upon the class of persons identified therein unless, within 30 days, a person files an objection alleging that he or she would be directly and adversely affected by certification of such agreement. Sets forth criteria to be considered by the Commission in determining whether such agreement should be certified. Authorizes the Commission, upon the expiration of such an agreement and upon petition by a person subject to such agreement, to issue interim orders necessary to preserve the viewing rights of the persons or class previously subject to such agreement. Authorizes any person subject to such an agreement to commence a civil action in U.S. district court seeking specific performance, actual damages, or such other relief as may be necessary to insure compliance with such agreement. Sets forth penalties for willful violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Human Services Amendments of 1984 - Title I: Project Head Start - Amends the Head Start Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services ("the Secretary," for purposes of this title) to administer Project Head Start through the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services. Makes technical amendments to such Act. Authorizes appropriations for the Head Start program for FY 1985 through 1989. Requires the Secretary to reserve for training and technical assistance for each fiscal year funds which are not less than the amount spent for such activities under such Act in FY 1982. Prohibits funds reserved for discretionary payments by the Secretary under such Act from being combined with funds appropriated under any other Act if the purposes of combining funds is to make a single discretionary grant or a single discretionary payment. Requires the Secretary to designate as Head Start agencies any local public or private nonprofit agency in a community if such agency: (1) was receiving funds under any Head Start program on August 31, 1981; and (2) meets program and fiscal requirements established by the Secretary. (Under current law, the Secretary is required to give priority in the designation of Head Start agencies to such local agencies.) Authorizes the Secretary to designate a Head Start agency from among qualified applicants in a community if there is no Head Start agency or program serving such community. Requires that any such designation be governed by the program and fiscal requirements, criteria, and standards applicable on September 1, 1983, to then existing Head Start agencies. Requires that specified provisions relating to designation of Head Start agencies be carried out in FY 1985 through 1989 in accordance with the rules issued under such provisions by the Secretary as in effect on September 1, 1983. Permits each Head Start program operated in a community to provide services to any eligible child for any period from age three to the age of compulsory school attendance in the State where the program operates. Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance and training in connection with Head Start programs. (Under current law, the Secretary is authorized to provide such assistance and training.) Requires that such training activities include: (1) a national child development associate training and assessment program providing the necessary credentials for such personnel; and (2) training, including resource access projects, which improves the ability of such personnel to provide Head Start services to handicapped children. Prohibits funds for Head Start research, demonstration, and pilot projects from being combined with funds available to carry out any other provision of law if the purpose of combining funds is to make a single discretionary grant or a single discretionary payment to a recipient of such funds. Prohibits any revision in Head Start performance standards which would result in either the elimination of, or the reduction in the scope of, types of health, education, parent involvement, social, or other services required by the performance standards issued by the Secretary as in effect on November 2, 1978. Title II: Follow Through Programs - Amends the Follow Through Act to: (1) increase the authorization of appropriations for the Follow Through program for FY 1984; and (2) authorize appropriations for such program for FY 1985 through 1989. Requires the Secretary of Education ("the Secretary," for purposes of this title) to provide financial assistance for research, demonstration, and pilot projects relating to the Follow Through program. (Under current law, the Secretary is authorized to provide such assistance.) Requires that such projects be designed to test or assist in the development of new approaches or methods that will aid in overcoming the special problems of primarily low-income children previously enrolled in Head Start or similar programs to develop to their full potential in kindergarten and the primary grades. Directs the Secretary to provide for a review and analysis of all previous evaluations and reports made in connection with all Follow Through programs and projects authorized by any Act of Congress in effect after August 20, 1964, and to provide a comprehensive evaluative report to the President and Congress by January 30, 1988. Makes a technical amendment which repeals the applicability of specified Head Start Act provisions to the Follow Through Act. Adds provisions for child care information and referral services to the Follow Through Act. (Entitles such provisions as the "Child Care Information and Referral Services Act.") Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, to make grants to assist public or private nonprofit organizations to establish and operate community-based child care information and referral centers. Sets forth grant application requirements. Requires that grant recipients be selected through a competitive process, taking into consideration the demonstrated ability of applicants to provide such services, and giving priority to applicants for grants of less than $75,000. Requires an applicant to make specified assurances, including an assurance that it shall obtain certain percentages of its projected budget through non-Federal sources of funding during the grant period. Limits to five years the aggregate period for which such grants may be made to any single center. Sets reporting requirements for centers receiving such grants. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report annually to specified congressional committees on activities under such child care information and referral services provisions. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989 for such child care information and referral services. Makes specified provisions for administration of the Head Start program applicable to the administration of such child information and referral services program. Title III: Community Services Programs - Amends the Community Services Block Grant Act to: (1) increase the authorization of appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986 for community services grants to States to ameliorate the causes of poverty in communities; and (2) authorize appropriations for FY 1987 through 1989 for such grants. Revises grant application provisions to require States to assure that: (1) at least 85 percent of the State allotment will be used for grants to community action agencies (or to organizations serving seasonal or migrant farmworkers) for specified purposes; and (2) the remainder will be used to make grants to local governments (or to specified types of nonprofit private community organizations or to migrant and seasonal farm worker organizations) for such specified purposes. Includes services under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 among those activities to which a State may transfer funds from a portion of its community services grant allotment. Authorizes a State, whenever it determines that a local government, or a combination of local governments, is not served by a community action agency, to: (1) use funds earmarked for grants to local governments through an existing community action agency to provide such services; or (2) if that is not feasible, establish a new community action agency to provide such services. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services ("the Secretary," for purposes of this title) to waive for any State specified limitations relating to eligibility to receive grants, under specified conditions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct, in several States in each fiscal year, evaluations of the uses made of community services block grants; and (2) annually submit the results of such evaluations to specified congressional committees. Provides that the Office of Community Services within the Department of Health and Human Services shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Revises provisions relating to investigations conducted by the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the use of community service grant funds. Makes such investigations by the Comptroller General mandatory. Repeals a prohibition against the Secretary either requesting information not readily available to a State or requiring that any information be compiled, collected, or transmitted in any new form not already available. Requires the Secretary to provide for specified training and other ongoing activities of national or regional significance related to the purposes of the community services grants program, including certain special emphasis programs. (Under current law the Secretary has discretionary authority to provide for such training and other activities.) Adds to the list of such special emphasis programs specified types of programs for community food and nutrition and for senior opportunities and services which are described under specified provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as in effect on August 12, 1981. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989 for Native American programs under title VIII (the "Native American Programs Act of 1974") of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Title IV: Conforming Amendments; Effective Date - Makes conforming amendments to other Federal laws. Makes references to the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Community Services in the Older American Community Services Employment Act. Makes the effective date of this Act the date of enactment or October 1, 1984, whichever occurs later.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Public Employee Pension Plan Reporting and Accountability Act of 1984 - Imposes disclosure and reporting requirements upon State and local government pension plans. Establishes fiduciary standards for trustees of public employee pension benefit plans. Provides remedies and access to Federal courts. Specifies employee benefit plans which are exempt from this Act. Title I: Reporting and Disclosure - Requires the administrator of each public employee pension benefit plan to submit a registration statement to the appropriate State Governor within one year of enactment of this Act. Exempts a plan from the reporting and disclosure requirements of this Act if a State Governor certifies to the Secretary of Labor that: (1) State requirements are substantially equivalent to those of this Act; (2) the State can adequately administer its requirements; and (3) the State can adequately collect the requisite reports. Requires the Secretary of Labor to terminate any certification if a State is not meeting Federal requirements. Requires the plan administrator to: (1) publish a summary plan description; and (2) furnish such description to plan participants, beneficiaries, and specified persons. Delineates the contents of such summary plan description. Requires such description to: (1) state the rights of participants and beneficiaries; and (2) include an update whenever material modifications are made to the plan. Requires the plan administrator to publish an annual report. Specifies the contents of such report. Directs such administrator to engage an independent qualified public accountant to ascertain whether the financial statements and schedules in the annual report present fairly and in all material respects the information contained in the annual report. Requires the accountant's opinion to be included in the annual report. Requires the annual report to include a financial statement containing specified information, including the most recent annual statement of assets and liabilities of a common or a collective trust held by a bank or similar institution. Requires each plan to maintain a schedule of: (1) all assets held for investment purposes during each plan year; and (2) each transaction involving a party in interest. Requires annual reports to include, with respect to a defined benefit plan, a complete actuarial statement applicable to the appropriate plan year. Directs the plan administrator to engage an enrolled actuary to prepare such statement. Delineates the contents of the actuarial statement. Requires the annual report to include a statement from an insurance organization if any plan benefits are purchased from or guaranteed by such organization. Details the contents of such statement. Requires the enrolled actuary of the plan to make an actuarial valuation at least once every three plan years. Directs the plan administrator to furnish, upon written request of certain persons, a copy of summary plan descriptions and the status of an individual's plan benefits and contributions. Provides guidelines under which the plan administrator is directed to file the annual report with either the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) or the appropriate State Governor. Authorizes the Secretary or Governor to reject the information filed by the plan administrator, and to take the following actions: (1) retain an independent public accountant to perform an audit; (2) retain an enrolled actuary to prepare an actuarial report; or (3) bring a civil action to enforce this Act. Presents guidelines for notice and review where claims for benefits are denied. Title II: Requirements Relating to Fiduciary Functions - Requires every plan to be established and maintained by written instructions which designate at least one named fiduciary. Details the functions of named fiduciaries and trustees. Establishes fiduciary and trustee liability. Prohibits certain transactions. Authorizes the Secretary to grant specified exemptions regarding such transactions. Imposes personal liability upon fiduciaries who fail to meet the fiduciary requirements, including removal for specified violations. Prohibits persons who have been convicted of, or imprisoned for, certain offenses from holding specified positions. Requires plan fiduciaries to be bonded. Specifies exceptions. Sets forth guidelines for the bonding procedure. Sets a limitation on actions which may be brought regarding failure to meet fiduciary requirements. Title III: Administration and Enforcement - Authorizes civil actions to redress violations of this Act. Imposes personal liability upon: (1) a plan administrator who fails to comply with a request for information; or (2) any person who fails to file required forms. Authorizes a plan to sue or be sued. Grants the United States district courts exclusive jurisdiction of civil actions brought under this Act. Grants concurrent jurisdiction to State courts and Federal district courts for specified actions. Authorizes the Federal district court to award reasonable attorney's fees under certain circumstances. Provides that suits brought against the Secretary may be brought in Federal district court. Authorizes the Secretary or appropriate State official to assess and collect a civil penalty against a party in interest who has engaged in a prohibited transaction. Grants such Secretary and State official investigative powers to determine violations of this Act. Details the extent of such powers. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations to administer this Act. Directs such Secretary to cooperate with State and local governments regarding the exchange of data and information. Prohibits interference with the exercise of rights by a plan participant or beneficiary. Establishes an Advisory Council on Governmental Plans, comprised of eleven members appointed by the President. Requires Council members to be qualified to appraise the plans falling under this Act. Requires the Council to: (1) report to the President and each House of Congress regarding implementation of this Act with possible recommendations for legislation; (2) advise the Secretary and make recommendations; and (3) monitor the costs incurred by plans under this Act and recommend cost reduction measures. Directs the Secretary to furnish staff services to the Council. States that this Act supersedes any State laws regarding public employee pension benefits plans. Specifies exceptions. Authorizes appropriations.
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
Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 to permit the use of education block grant funds for projects for Irish children. Requires that such projects provide an opportunity to live in the United States to children aged ten through 18 from areas of Ireland that have been torn by civil strife and violence. Requires that such opportunity include attendance in U.S. schools and affiliation with children of diverse religious, ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds in a peaceful atmosphere. Permits such funds to be used for such projects if the local educational agency concerned files with the Secretary of Education a plan containing assurances that at least one-half of the cost of such projects will be provided from private donations and that project funds will be used to pay a portion of the cost of such children's round-trip transportation, U.S. schooling, and other living expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Medicare Physician Fair Payment Act of 1984 - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide that payment for physicians' services will be made only to a physician entering into an annual agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires the agreement to provide that a physician shall be paid only on the basis of an assignment for all services provided to individuals enrolled under part B. Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish a list of all participating physicians; (2) develop a uniform claims form for use by all participating physicians; and (3) establish an advisory committee on physician reimbursement. Prohibits Medicare participation by a hospital unless every physician who is on the medical staff and who furnishes services to inpatients has entered into an assignment agreement with the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1984
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services not to establish a rate of payment for hospice care which is less than specified amounts for routine home care, continuous home care, inpatient respite care, and general inpatient care. Directs the Secretary to: (1) annually review and, if appropriate, adjust such rates; and (2) periodically report to Congress on such review and adjustments.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1984
Amends title II (Old age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that a beneficiary shall be entitled to a prorated benefit for the month in which he or she dies.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1984
States that: (1) all persons in the workplace have a fundamental right to know when they are handling or are exposed to substances hazardous to their health; (2) the Hazard Communication Standard should immediately be revised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in order to disseminate meaningful information to workers regarding the identity and composition of hazardous substances to which workers are exposed or which they handle; (3) the Hazard Communication Standard should be immediately revised by OSHA to extend "Right To Know" protection to workers in all industries and services not presently covered by the Standard; and (4) such Standard should set minimum Federal requirements which may be exceeded by more stringent State requirements. Commends those States and local governments which have acted to safeguard workers' health and which have passed community "Right To Know" laws.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Fair Trade in Steel Act of 1984 - Declares that it is the policy of Congress that access to the U.S. market for foreign-produced carbon, alloy, and specialty steel mill products should be on an equitable basis to safeguard national security, insure orderly trade in steel mill products, reduce unfair trade in steel mill products, and alleviate U.S. balance-of-payments problems. Expresses the intent of Congress to: (1) expand the economic viability of the U.S. steel industry and the jobs of its workers; (2) prevent the further decline of the domestic steel industry; and (3) temper the economic hardships resulting from unemployment in steel industry communities by encouraging reinvestment in existing steelmaking facilities. Limits annual imports of specified steel mill product categories to specified percentages of the apparent domestic supply which are based on adjusted average import penetration levels for each such product category for the years 1979, 1980, and 1981. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to allocate global product limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries, or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocations. Requires the Secretary to make an annual determination of the expected apparent domestic supply in each steel mill product category. Requires the Secretary to revise such determination periodically during the year. Directs the Secretary to determine, within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, whether the steel industry companies have plans to use substantially all of the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and the modernization of the steel sector. Prohibits the import restrictions from taking effect until the Secretary determines that the steel companies have such plans. Directs the Secretary to monitor steel sector investments made and announced by the steel industry and to consult with steel industry representatives and employees in the course of such monitoring. Directs the Secretary to determine annually whether steel companies are using substantially all the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Directs the Secretary to modify or suspend the relevant import restrictions if the Secretary determines that substantially less than all the cash flow from the steel sector is being used for such reinvestment and modernization and that the level of investment is not demonstrably justified by adverse financial conditions within the industry. Directs the Secretary to publish: (1) each annual determination and its rationale; and (2) the total amount of cash flow from the steel sector and the total amount used for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Requires the steel companies to provide the Secretary with the information necessary for making such determinations. Directs the Secretary to examine the supply and demand situation in the United States for a specified steel product category if requested by affected steel consumers. Sets forth criteria to be used in determining short supply. Directs the Secretary to monitor imports of fabricated steel mill products. Sets forth the method of investigating whether imports of fabricated steel products are rendering ineffective or materially interfering with the objectives of this Act. Limits the quantity of iron ore that may be entered from all sources during any calendar year after the effective date of this Act. Directs the Secretary to allocate global iron ore limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocation. Directs the Secretary, in making such allocations, to attempt first to accommodate the requirements of individual steel mills which have been traditionally dependent on ocean sourced foreign iron ore and the requirements of contractual obligations incurred before January 1, 1984. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the import restrictions on iron ore if necessary to meet the needs of such individual steel mills. Provides for the enforcement and implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Information Dissemination and Research Accountability Act - Establishes in the National Library of Medicine a National Center for Research Accountability to assist in eliminating duplication of effort in Federal research proposals involving live animals. Directs the President to appoint as members of the Center 20 experts in the biomedical information sciences who are currently employed by a Federal agency in a capacity which qualifies them to make determinations as to whether research proposals involving live animals are duplicative of other research efforts. Requires submission to the Center before it is funded of any such proposal approved by a Federal agency. Prohibits funding of any proposal which the Center determines would duplicate other research completed or in process. Authorizes the Center to contract with private entities to assist in the conduct of comprehensive full-text literature searches. Requires an annual report to Congress and the President. Directs the National Library of Medicine to: (1) acquire, transcribe, and store all biomedical information owned or available for use by Federal agencies; (2) support by grants and contracts the creation of new information for teaching and demonstrations; and (3) increase, by making grants and awards, the number of persons trained in modern methods of biomedical information storage and dissemination technologies. Permits the Library to contract with the private-sector data recording industry to improve the development of such technologies and the dissemination of full-text biomedical information to medical libraries. Requires the Library to report annually to Congress and the President on its progress. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
National Dividend Act of 1984 - Establishes a program for the distribution of corporate income tax, capital gains tax, and insurance company income tax revenues to the registered voters of each State in the form of dividend payments. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to the chief financial officer of each State an amount equal to the National Dividend Payment, as computed under this Act, multiplied by the number of registered voters in such State. Establishes the National Dividend Payment Trust Fund. Directs the payment of specified amounts to the Trust Fund between FY 1985 and 1988. Establishes a National Dividend Review Board to review the manner in which payments are made from the Trust Fund and to make investments of trust funds which are not required to meet current expenses. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income all dividend income, including dividends received under this Act, received by a taxpayer from a domestic corporation. Increases the income tax deduction to corporations for dividends received on the preferred stock of a public utility. Prohibits an increase of corporate income tax rates above 46 percent. Limits increases in Federal expenditures during the five year period beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act to an amount which is attributable to inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Employee Stock Ownership Act of 1984 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the nonrecognition of gain on stock sold to: (1) an employee stock ownership plan; (2) a tax credit employee stock ownership plan; or (3) an eligible worker-owned cooperative, if within a specified period of time qualified replacement property is purchased by the taxpayer. Defines "qualified replacement property" as any security issued by a domestic corporation: (1) which does not have passive investment income in excess of a specified limitation; and (2) the equity capital of which does not exceed $10,000,000. Allows an income tax deduction for cash dividends paid with respect to employer stock which is held by a tax credit employee stock ownership plan or an employee stock ownership plan which is a stock bonus plan. Extends the partial exclusion for dividends received to such amounts. Excludes from gross income 50 percent of interest received by a bank, an insurance company, or other lender on loans used by an employee stock ownership plan to acquire employer securities. Provides for a reduction in the capital gains tax with respect to sales of stock in employee-owned corporations. Sets forth special rules for the calculation of such reduction. Relieves an estate of liability for payment of the estate tax to the extent that amounts of the tax are attributable to employer securities transferred to an employee stock ownership plan pursuant to a written agreement guaranteeing that the tax will be paid by the plan in an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) the amount of the tax imposed upon the acquired employer securities; or (2) the amount of the tax imposed on the gross estate reduced by the sum of allowable credits. Permits the payment of such tax in installments. Exempts such transfers from the tax on prohibited transactions. Treats as charitable contributions eligible for a tax deduction certain contributions to an employee stock ownership plan. Specifies a qualification test for contributions to receive such treatment. Allows certain small business corporations (subchapter S corporations) to maintain a tax credit employee stock ownership plan or an employee stock ownership plan. Permits recaptured employee stock ownership plan investment tax credits to be used to reduce contributions to payroll based tax credit employee stock ownership plans.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to: (1) conduct research for identifying and measuring wage discrimination; (2) assist any public or private entity in eliminating discriminatory pay practices; and (3) implement policies and procedures to prohibit employment discrimination. Requires the Commission to determine the number and nature of all charges filed under the Civil Rights Act of 1954 and to report to Congress with a summary prepared pursuant to this Act. Requires the Commission to conduct a study in consultation with organizations representing Federal employees and analyze: (1) the procedures established by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish classifications of positions in the competitive service; and (2) the actual practice of the Director and the heads of Federal agencies in complying with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value when establishing job classifications for employees. Requires the Commission to report to the President and the Congress on its findings and provide a copy to the Director of OPM. Directs the Director to submit his comments on the report to the President and the Congress. Directs the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, to report to the President and the Congress on actions taken to enforce the prohibitions contained in Executive Order Numbered 11246 against discrimination by Federal contractors. Requires the Attorney General, acting through the Office of Civil Rights, to report to the President and the Congress on actions taken to enforce the prohibitions against sex discrimination in compensation contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order Numbered 11246, and other Federal laws. Requires Federal agencies responsible for submitting equal employment opportunity plans to include in such plans: (1) a review and identification of any discriminatory pay practices and any violation of the principle of equal pay for jobs of equal value; and (2) a plan for eliminating any such practices and remedying any such violation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Hazardous Air Pollutants Amendments Act of 1984 - Title I: - Amends the Clean Air Act ("the Act") to provide for the control of hazardous air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources. Provides for expedited listing of hazardous air pollutants. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to classify 35 substances into two categories for purposes of determining whether such substances are hazardous air pollutants as defined under provisions for national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAPs). Requires that 25 substances, including each of the 22 substances listed in specified testimony of the Administrator before Congress, be classified in the first category. Requires that ten additional substances, from among the 37 substances identified to Congress on a specified date by the EPA as being in the assessment phase of the review process, be classified in the second category. Authorizes the Administrator, at any time up to 90 days before the commencement of specified determination proceedings for any substance in the second category, to substitute for that substance another substance if the Administrator determines that there is a higher priority for determining whether the substitute substance is a hazardous air pollutant. Directs the Administrator to republish the classification with a statement of the reasons for such substitution. Directs the Administrator to commence hazardous air pollutant determination proceedings concerning: (1) the 25 substances in the first category, within 90 days after enactment of this Act; and (2) the ten substances in the second category, within one year after such enactment. Requires that such proceedings include an opportunity for a public hearing. Directs the Administrator to solicit and consider the advice of the Science Advisory Board in making a determination in such proceedings. Directs the Administrator to establish a docket for such proceeding containing all relevant information and analyses in EPA's possession. Directs the Administrator to make a hazardous air pollutant determination for each substance: (1) in the first category by January 1, 1986; and (2) in the second category by January 1, 1987. Directs the Administrator, simultaneously with such determination, to include any substance determined to be a hazardous air pollutant on the required published list and to publish a list of all categories of stationary sources which emit such pollutant. Directs the Administrator, for each category of stationary sources listed as emitting a hazardous air pollutant which was classified in the first category and subsequently listed, to: (1) publish proposed national emission standards (and, if necessary, proposed interim standards) by January 1, 1987; and (2) promulgate national emission standards (and, if necessary, interim standards), by January 1, 1988. Requires, for categories of stationary sources listed as emitting hazardous air pollutants classified in the second category and subsequently listed, publication of proposed standards by January 1, 1988, and promulgation of standards by January 1, 1989. Makes requirements under this Act relating to such expedited listing of, and promulgation of standards for, hazardous air pollutants nondiscretionary duties of the Administrator, for purposes of citizen lawsuit provisions of the Act. Allows any person to bring a civil action to require the Administrator to make any classification, commence any proceeding, make any determination, list any substance, or propose or promulgate any standard in accordance with specified provisions of this Act. Provides that the notice requirement under citizen lawsuit provisions shall not apply to any such action. Directs any court having jurisdiction over any such action to expedite its consideration of such action. Requires that a substance be treated as listed as a hazardous air pollutant until the Administrator makes a determination, if the Administrator has not made the required determination by the specified deadline. Directs a court to issue an order requiring a substance classified in the first or second category to be treated as listed as a hazardous air pollutant until the Administrator completes further proceedings, if: (1) the Administrator determines that such substance is not a hazardous air pollutant; and (2) the court reviewing such determination for any reason remands such determination to the Administrator for further proceedings. Directs the Administrator, on or before January 31, 1987, to commence hazardous air pollutant determination proceedings for each substance which: (1) has been classified, prior to January 31, 1987, by the national toxicology program as a known carcinogen or as a substance which may reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer; (2) is an air pollutant; and (3) has not been the subject of a determination under provisions of this Act for the 35 substances classified in two categories. Requires that such proceeding be completed within one year from the date required for commencement. Provides for annual hazardous air pollutant determination proceedings beginning on or before January 31, 1988, for each air pollutant which has been classified during the preceding year by the national toxicology program as a carcinogen or as one which may reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer. Requires that such proceedings be completed within one year from the date required for commencement. Revises provisions for NESHAPs. Directs the Administrator to publish and revise a list which includes each air pollutant which has been determined to be a hazardous air pollutant. Requires that such list also be revised to include the pollutants listed in accordance with the timetables established under this Act (including the pollutants listed by operation of law if the Administrator has not made a required determination by the specified deadline). Provides for emissions standards for control of hazardous air pollutants from stationary sources. Directs the Administrator to publish with the listing of a hazardous air pollutant (including a listing by operation of law) or the revision of such listing a list or revised list of all categories of stationary sources which emit such air pollutant. Requires that such list of source categories be revised whenever necessary to include all categories of stationary sources which emit any hazardous air pollutant listed. Directs the Administrator, within one year after listing a hazardous air pollutant, to publish proposed national emission standards (and, if necessary, proposed interim standards) for each category of stationary sources listed as emitting such air pollutant. Directs the Administrator, within one year after proposal of such standards, to promulgate national emission standards (and, if necessary, interim standards) for each such category of new stationary sources. Requires that such standards be established at a level which, in the Administrator's judgment, provides an ample margin of safety to protect public health. Authorizes the Administrator to also promulgate such an interim standard if a specified determination is made. Prohibits, with specified exceptions, the promulgation of any such interim standard at any time other than simultaneously with the initial promulgation of the national emission standard applicable to the emission of the hazardous air pollutant from such category of stationary sources. Prohibits revision of any such interim standard to make it less stringent after the date on which it takes effect. Allows promulgation of any such interim standard only if the Administrator determines that the national standard for such sources requires an emissions level of that hazardous air pollutant which is lower than the lowest level achievable (as determined at the date of promulgation) by the application of all potential emission reduction measures. Limits the period for which any such interim standard may remain in effect to six years after the date of the initial promulgation of the applicable national standard. Provides that any such interim standard shall require a level of emission reduction at least as stringent as that achievable through the use of all potential emission reduction measures. Defines "all potential emission reduction measures" as all measures or techniques for the reduction of emissions of the hazardous air pollutant concerned, except those which the Administrator finds to be technologically infeasible at the time of the determination on the date of promulgation. Includes the use of advanced emission control technology, closed systems, or substitute raw materials, processes, or products among such measures and techniques, except those found technologically infeasible. Prohibits any such national emissions standard or interim standard applicable to the emission of any hazardous air pollutant from being less stringent than the most stringent level of control for such air pollutant which is: (1) achieved in practice (as of the date of proposal of the standard) by any source in the category concerned (or in a category of sources having similar air pollution control characteristics); or (2) required in any permit (as of the date of proposal of the standard) applicable to any such source. Authorizes the Administrator to distinguish among classes, types, and sizes within categories of sources for purposes of establishing such national emission standards (including interim standards) for stationary sources emitting hazardous air pollutants. Directs the Administrator to revise such national standards where appropriate following periodic review. Directs the Administrator to complete a review of each such national standard within eight years from the date of promulgation, and at eight-year intervals thereafter. Directs the Administrator, within four years after enactment of this Act, to: (1) complete a review of each national emissions standard for hazardous air pollutants in effect on December 1, 1983, applicable to each hazardous air pollutant listed prior to December 31, 1983; and (2) revise the national emission standard (and if necessary promulgate an interim standard) for such hazardous air pollutant in accordance with this Act. Establishes permit requirements for new or modified sources of hazardous air pollutants. Requires such permits to be obtained from the Administrator or a delegated State prior to: (1) construction of any new stationary source which emits any hazardous air pollutant listed under the Act; or (2) modification of any existing stationary source which emits any such listed hazardous air pollutant if such modification will increase the emission of that hazardous air pollutant. Provides that such permits shall require compliance by the source with an emission limitation applicable to the hazardous air pollutant concerned which provides an ample margin of safety to protect public health. Allows an interim limitation for a specified period if such emission limitation would require an emissions level lower than the lowest level achievable by application of all potential emission reduction measures. Limits the period for which any such interim emission limitation included in a permit may remain in effect to six years after the earlier of: (1) the date of initial promulgation of a national emission standard applicable to the emission of such hazardous air pollutant from sources in the category concerned; (2) the date of the required revision to conform with this Act of such standards promulgated before the enactment of this Act; or (3) the date of issuance of the permit. Provides that each such interim limitation shall require a level of emission reduction at least as stringent as that achievable through the use of all potential emission reduction measures as determined at the time of issuance of the permit. Requires that any emission limitation or interim emission limitation established in such permits and applicable to the emission of any hazardous air pollutant be at least as stringent as the most stringent level of control for such air pollutant which is: (1) achieved in practice (as of the date of issuance of the permit) by any source or category concerned (or in a category of sources having similar air pollution control characteristics); or (2) required in any other permit (as of the date of issuance of the permit concerned) applicable to any such source. Requires that any emission limitation or interim emission limitation established in such a permit be at least as stringent as any applicable interim standard promulgated or, if no such interim standard has been established, any applicable national emission standard promulgated. Establishes permit requirements for control of hazardous air pollutants from existing stationary sources. Makes it unlawful for an owner or operator to operate an existing source without a permit one year after promulgation of a national emissions standard applicable to hazardous air pollutant emissions from sources in such category (or one year after the enactment of this Act in the case of any standard promulgated before such enactment). Sets forth provisions for standards under such existing source permits which are similar to those for new and modified source permits. Authorizes the Administrator to grant a waiver permitting an existing source a period of up to two years after the effective date of the permit requirement to comply with the requirement, upon determination that such period is necessary for the installation of controls and that steps will be taken during the waiver period to assure that the health of persons will be protected from imminent endangerment. Allows the source owner or operator, prior to expiration of such waiver period, to apply to the Governor of the State in which the source is located for an emergency extension of the waiver for up to three years from its expiration date. Authorizes the Governor, after statewide notice and opportunity for public hearing and upon making specified determinations, to petition the President to grant such extension. Requires consultation with the Governor of any other State whose residents may become exposed to such source emissions, and statewide notice and opportunity for residents of such other State to participate in the public hearing on such waiver extension. Authorizes the President, after reviewing the hearing, public comments, and any recommendations of the Governor of another State, to grant such petition if the President specifically concurs in each of the findings of the petitioning Governor. Requires publication of the President's reasons for concurring or not concurring. Directs the President to report to Congress on each extension granted. Sets forth general requirements applicable to permits under provisions for national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants. Sets forth such permit requirements relating to: (1) monitoring; (2) administrative procedure and judicial review of issuance; (3) delegation to State permit programs; (4) revocation, renewal, and review; and (5) fees. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations under which permits may be issued by rule to one or more classes of stationary sources which emit hazardous air pollutants in small annual amounts where such sources are numerous. Sets forth conforming amendments. Title II: Hazardous Air Pollutants from Motor Vehicles - Amends Clean Air Act provisions relating to mobile sources to establish a program for the control of motor vehicle hazardous air pollutants. Defines a "motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant" as an air pollutant emitted from a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part, whether emitted into the ambient air or the interior of the motor vehicle, which the Administrator judges to cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to result in an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness. Directs the Administrator, within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to publish a list which includes each motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant, and to revise such list from time to time. Requires that the list include: (1) lead, ethylene dibromide, diesel particulates, and benzene; and (2) each hazardous air pollutant listed under the Act if the Administrator determines that such air pollutant is emitted from a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part. Directs the Administrator to make such determination: (1) simultaneously with the hazardous air pollutant listing; or (2) in the case of hazardous air pollutants listed before the enactment of this Act, within 180 days after such enactment. Makes requirements relating to motor vehicle hazardous air pollutants nondiscretionary duties of the Administrator for purposes of citizen lawsuit provisions. Allows any person to bring a civil action to require the Administrator to comply with any such duty. Provides that notice requirements for citizen lawsuits shall not apply to any such action. Directs any court having jurisdiction over any such action to expedite consideration of such action. Directs the Administrator to prescribe regulations to require manufacturers of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, fuels, fuel additives, oil, and oil additives to report to the Administrator any pollutant which is generated in normal use of its product and which it has reason to believe may be required to be listed as a motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant. Directs the Administrator, within one year after the inclusion of any motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant on the list (except in the case of lead) to publish proposed regulations: (1) under provisions for regulation of fuels and fuel additives respecting the substance concerned; or (2) (if it is technologically infeasible to achieve the objective of controlling a motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant under provisions for regulation of fuel or fuel additives) under provisions for new motor vehicles or engines establishing an emission standard for such pollutant. Directs the Administrator, within 180 days after publication of proposed regulations for establishing an emission standard for any motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant, to prescribe an emission standard applicable to the emission of such air pollutant from new motor vehicles and engines. Requires that such standard be established at a level which the Administrator judges to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health. Sets forth provisions for interim standards for motor vehicle hazardous air pollutants which are similar to provisions for interim standards for stationary source hazardous air pollutants under this Act. Provides that, with specified exceptions, any new motor vehicle or engine emission standard established for a motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant shall become effective beginning with the second model year which commences after the model year in which such standard is promulgated. Requires that such regulations for emission standards for control of diesel particulate emissions establish standards which are at least as stringent as the following: (1) not more than 0.2 grams per mile (gpm) for model years 1986 and 1987 light-duty vehicles; (2) not more than 0.26 gpm for model years 1986 and 1987 light-duty trucks; (3) not more than 0.08 gpm for model years 1988 and after light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks; and (4) not more than 0.25 grams per brake horsepower-hour for model years 1989 and after heavy-duty vehicles and engines. Directs the Administrator, within 180 days after publication of proposed regulations for any motor vehicle hazardous air pollutant which is a fuel or fuel additive, to prescribe a rule controlling or prohibiting the manufacture, introduction into commerce, offering for sale, or sale of such substance. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations prohibiting the use of lead or lead additives in gasoline after December 31, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Minority Investment Tax Act of 1984 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the nonrecognition of capital gain where such gain is reinvested in the stock of a mutual fund or other investment company which: (1) primarily invests in business enterprises controlled by minority persons; and (2) is owned, managed, affiliated, or otherwise controlled by a qualified minority company.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1984
Directs the Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct an investigation into the murders of U.S. citizens in El Salvador and report to the House with specified findings and conclusions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1984
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 · 6 March 1984
Domestic Petroleum Company Acquisition Act of 1984 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit: (1) any major energy concern or affiliate from controlling any other major energy concern or any domestic petroleum company; and (2) any domestic petroleum company or affiliate from controlling any major energy concern or affiliate. Defines a "major energy concern" as any person engaged in commerce in the United States which: (1) had an average net production of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids in the previous calendar year exceeding 500,000 barrels per day; or (2) is controlled by a foreign person. Defines a "domestic petroleum company" as any person engaged in commerce in the United States which had an average net production of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids from U.S. sources in the previous calendar year exceeding 50,000 barrels per day. Defines "control" as the power to direct policies of a person through the ownership of 15 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of a person or the acquisition from a person of assets related to the production, distribution, transportation, or marketing of crude oil, condensate, or natural gas liquids exceeding $2,000,000,000 in fair market value. Directs the Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission, or any other aggrieved person to seek appropriate relief when it appears that a violation of this Act has occurred or is about to occur. Declares that the prohibition under this Act shall not apply if a major energy concern or a domestic petroleum company can demonstrate that in the absence of such control one or both of the entities involved will fail.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1984
Antifraudulent Adoption Practices Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a Federal offense for any person to knowingly and willfully make any false statement or conceal any material fact in connection with an adoption or the placement of a child in a home for permanent free care. Makes it unlawful for any person to solicit or receive money for arranging for an adoption or for a placement for permanent free care. Provides for the following exceptions: (1) licensed agencies; (2) fees received for professional legal or medical services; and (3) the person soliciting or receiving a fee is the natural parent of a child or the prospective adoptive parent. Provides for imprisonment for not more than five years and/or a fine of not more than $10,000. Makes it a Federal offense for any person to use force or duress to cause any other individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce in connection with an adoption. Provides for imprisonment for not more than ten years and/or a fine of not more than $20,000. Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) review model adoption legislation and procedures and propose necessary changes to insure against fraudulent practices; (2) coordinate with national, State, and volunteer organizations to improve State adoption legislation; and (3) assist States in the development of improved procedures for controlling illegal adoption practices. Grants the Federal district courts jurisdiction to hear any civil action involving fraudulent adoption practices regardless of the amount in controversy.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Youth Incentive Employment Act - Establishes a program to provide part-time school year employment and full-time (or part-time with training) summer employment to economically disadvantaged youths who pursue further education and training. Provides that an individual may qualify to be an eligible youth for program participation purposes if such individual: (1) is 16 to 19 years of age, inclusive, at the time of assignment to a worksite; (2) is economically disadvantaged; (3) is not employed; (4) resides in the service delivery area (SDA) of the administering entity; and (5) has entered into a commitment to pursue further education and training. Requires such individuals to sign a written commitment to: (1) attend either a secondary school for a diploma, an alternative education program for a high school equivalency certificate, a remedial education program, or a skill training program; and (2) meet attendance and performance standards of such school or program and at the worksite to which the individual is referred for employment under this Act. Gives priority for selection under youth incentive plans to eligible youths with documented educational deficiencies. Terminates an individual's status as an eligible youth upon a finding by the administering entity, after an opportunity for a hearing, that the individual has failed to comply with the commitment. Requires that funds provided under this Act be used to establish and assist programs which assist eligible youth with qualifying employment in the form of: (1) part-time employment during the regular school year, not to exceed 20 hours per week; (2) part-time employment, during the months between regular school years, which is combined with remediation, classroom instruction, or on-the-job or apprenticeship training; and (3) full-time employment for a period of at least eight weeks during the months between regular school years, not to exceed 40 hours per week. Permits funds provided under this Act to be used to pay up to the following percentages of the wages and benefits and the costs of any employer-provided instruction and training of an eligible youth: (1) 100 percent during the first six months of qualifying employment; and (2) 75 percent during any succeeding months of such qualifying employment. Prohibits the use of funds provided under this Act to pay any portion of the wages and benefits of any individual: (1) for full-time employment during the months between the regular school year with a for-profit institution or organization unless such employment is a continuation of employment with that employer during the regular school year; or (2) if the employer has failed to develop or enforce attendance and performance standards consistent with youth incentive plan provisions. Sets forth general requirements for receipt and restrictions on the use of funds under this Act. Provides that the administering entity for any SDA under this Act is the same entity selected to administer the job training plan for that SDA pursuant to the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). Requires administering entities to: (1) develop and submit to the Secretary of Labor a youth incentive employment plan; and (2) provide from other Federal or State sources, or from local public or private sources, at least 20 percent of program costs for each program year, in cash or in kind. Requires that, of the funds provided to an administering entity for any program year under this Act: (1) at least 70 percent be expended for wages and benefits for qualifying employment, and child care, transportation, or other supportive service expenses for individuals engaged in such employment; (2) not more than 15 percent be used for the cost of administering programs under this Act; and (3) any remainder be used for worksite supervision, supplies, training aids and alternative or remedial education expenses. Sets forth requirements relating to youth incentive plans. Requires such plan to contain specified provisions, including: (1) provision for outreach services and programs to encourage participation in qualifying employment by eligible youths who are school dropouts, as well as by inschool youths; (2) assurances that special efforts will be made to recruit youth from families receiving public assistance, including parents of dependent children who meet the age requirement of this Act; and (3) a description of any arrangements made with labor organizations to enable youths to enter into apprenticeship training as part of employment provided under this Act. Requires that such plans, before they are submitted to the Secretary, be: (1) approved by the appropriate chief elected officials and the private industry council for the SDA; and (2) submitted for review and comment to the State job training coordinating council, and include any comments of such council and any reasons for nonconformance with such council's suggestions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) approve any plan submitted in compliance with the requirements of this Act; and (2) only disapprove a plan after notice and opportunity for a hearing to the administering entity. Sets forth special conditions relating to activities using funds under this Act. Requires that wage rates under this Act be the higher of the applicable minimum wage or the prevailing rate of pay for individuals employed in similar positions by the same employer, with specified exceptions in cases of labor organization representation. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe wage rates within specified limits for youth participants for projects financed under $5,000 to which Davis-Bacon Act provisions would otherwise apply. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 and succeeding fiscal years for allocation to administering entities for programs under this Act. Directs the Secretary to reserve a specified amount of such appropriations for allotment among Native American eligible entities, on an equitable basis, taking into account the extent to which regular employment opportunities have been lacking for long-term periods among individuals within the jurisdiction of such entities. Requires that the remainder be allocated among administering entities that have in effect an approved youth incentive plan on the basis of numbers in each SDA of: (1) economically disadvantaged youth; (2) unemployed residents; and (3) excess unemployed residents (i.e. those in excess of six and one-half percent of the civilian labor force in the SDA). Requires that such allocations to an administering entity for an SDA be paid to the JTPA grant recipient for that SDA. Provides for a program year basis for funding beginning with FY 1986. Makes FY 1985 appropriations available both to funds activities for the period between October 1, 1984, and July 1, 1985, and for the program year beginning July 1, 1985. Authorizes additional appropriations for the transition to program year funding. Makes specified administrative and enforcement provisions of JTPA applicable to programs under this Act. Requires the administering entity to make quarterly reports to the Secretary on the youth incentive projects authorized under this Act. Requires such reports to include specified topics. Directs the Secretary to compile such reports and submit a summary of the findings to the Congress in the annual report for employment and training programs required under JTPA.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations exempting retirees or individuals over age 65 from interest penalties with respect to any underpayment of estimated tax. Requires that such underpayment be due to reasonable cause (defined to include mistake or ignorance of the law) and not to willful neglect.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to David Phillip Vetter, of Spring, Texas, to be presented to his family in his memory as the oldest survivor of congenital severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Amends the Education Amendments of 1972 to include educational institutions receiving Federal financial assistance within the prohibition against sex discrimination.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to present to Elie Wiesel a gold medal in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and outstanding contributions to world literature and human rights. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the public sale of bronze duplicates of such medal.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
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
Requires that registration under the Military Selective Service Act be carried out only as specified in applicable Presidential proclamations and regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to increase the amounts authorized for fiscal years after 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Encourages the people of Paraguay in their efforts to reclaim and exercise their human rights. Declares that the United States should: (1) encourage Paraguay to set a date for the onsite visit of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; and (2) use more public diplomacy on behalf of human rights in Paraguay. Declares that until all political prisoners are released and Paraguayans are guaranteed the right to return and remain in their country, the United States should: (1) not provide security assistance to Paraguay; and (2) oppose loans and financial assistance for Paraguay by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and by the Inter-American Development Bank, except assistance which serves the human needs of the Paraguayans.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Restates the intent of Congress to assist local school systems with their obligation to educate alien children. Declares that the funds duly appropriated pursuant to specified Federal law for such purpose should be spent.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1984
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act Amendments of 1984 - Declares the purpose of this Act to be to promote the public safety by providing State and local governments with the authority to adequately meet their enforcement and emergency response responsibilities. Amends the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to set forth standards and procedures for the Secretary of Transportation to use in making inconsistency and nonpreemption determinations about State and local safety requirements in relation to Federal requirements. Directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements for the establishment of regional training centers to train State and local personnel to: (1) respond to hazardous materials transportation accidents; and (2) enforce State and local hazardous materials transportation requirements. States that such agreements shall be for terms of three years. Requires any party to an agreement with the Secretary to bear the cost of constructing training facilities. Directs the Secretary to provide, upon request, training materials and other assistance as may be appropriate. Requires parties to agreements with the Secretary, in developing training materials, to consider the procedures and standards for responding to hazardous substance releases as set forth in the national contingency plan required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Directs (currently, authorizes) the Secretary to establish: (1) criteria for handling hazardous materials; and (2) minimum levels of insurance coverage sufficient to meet injury or damage claims resulting from transportation of such materials. Directs (currently, authorizes) the Secretary to require transporters or shippers of hazardous materials to submit registration statements and to amend such statements as necessary. Requires the Secretary to study and determine the most effective, equitable, and cost-efficient method for imposing a fee on all participants in the registration program to assist States or political subdivisions in developing and conducting enforcement and emergency response programs related to transportation of hazardous materials. Requires a report to Congress on such study within 12 months of enactment. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1984
Makes supplemental appropriations for FY 1984 to carry out title II (famine relief provisions) of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (Public Law 480).
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1984
Directs the President to: (1) secure from the Indochina nations a full accounting of Americans captured or missing as a result of the Vietnam conflict; and (2) work for the release of captive Americans and the return of the remains of those American servicemen and civilians who died in Southeast Asia. Requires the President to submit two reports to Congress on American POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Creates the Oil Trading Corporation (the Corporation) to: (1) acquire crude oil and petroleum products; (2) acquire storage facilities; (3) use, lease, or dispose of the storage facilities; (4) maintain reserves of crude oil and petroleum products; (5) transport crude oil and petroleum products; and (6) sell crude oil and petroleum products to maximize the stabilization of market forces during times of oil shortages. States that the Corporation shall have perpetual existence unless and until its charter is revoked or modified by Congress. Sets forth provisions relating to: (1) general corporate powers; (2) the Board of Directors; and (3) capitalization. Provides that: (1) the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, five members of the Board of Directors, four of whom must be selected from lists submitted by the House and Senate to the President; and (2) four members of the Board shall be elected by the Class B stockholders. States that the capital of the Corporation shall consist of capital subscribed by organizations, foundations, trusts, public bodies, and other public and private bodies, and the United States. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 to purchase class A stock. Authorizes the Corporation to issue class B stock to any U.S. person. Limits sales of crude oil and petroleum products to holders of class B stock. Directs the Corporation to determine the number of shares of class B stock required to be held by a purchaser of crude oil and petroleum products. Requires the Corporation to: (1) hold an annual stockholders meeting which shall be open to the public; and (2) give a report of its activities for the year at such meeting. Authorizes the Corporation to obtain funds through the public or private sale of its bonds, debentures, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness. States that such obligations shall not be guaranteed by the United States. Requires an annual report to Congress by the Corporation. Provides that January 1, 1995, shall be the final Government equity redemption date. Prohibits the Corporation from exploring for, developing, or refining crude oil.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Immigration Reform Act of 1984 - Title I: Control of Illegal Immigration - Part A: Preventing Displacement of Domestic Workers by Unauthorized Aliens - Authorizes supplemental appropriations for specified enforcement activities regarding the unauthorized employment of aliens (with emphasis in high concentration areas) for: (1) FY 1984 for the Department of Labor; and (2) FY 1984 through 1986 for the National Labor Relations Board. Directs the Secretary of Labor to submit an alien labor enforcement plan to Congress within two months for FY 1984 supplemental personnel and resources, and to revise such plan for FY 1985 and FY 1986. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to establish a civil penalty for specified recordkeeping violations. Part B: Improvement of Enforcement and Services - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize supplementary FY 1984 appropriations for Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) enforcement activities. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1986 appropriations for INS. Directs the Attorney General to submit a plan to Congress within two months for FY 1984 supplemental personnel and resources, and to revise such plan for FY 1985 and FY 1986. States that increases in enforcement activities should be used predominantly for border area patrol. Establishes criminal penalties for unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens to the United States for commercial advantage or private profit. Directs the Attorney General, jointly with the Secretary of State, to initiate antismuggling program discussions with Canada and Mexico, and to report on such discussions to the Congress within one year. Directs the Attorney General to develop an INS immigration emergency plan, and to submit such plan to the appropriate congressional committees. Authorizes the Attorney General to request supplementary appropriations if the President has determined that such an emergency exists. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish an inservice training program to familiarize INS personnel with the rights of citizens and the various cultural backgrounds of persons they may come in contact with; and (2) enhance the INS community outreach program. Part C: Adjudication and Enforcement Powers and Procedures - Creates a seven-member United States Immigration Board as an independent agency within the Department of Justice to hear appeals from: (1) final decisions of administrative law judges (other than voluntary departures); (2) the exercise of certain discretionary authority; (3) imposition of penalties and fines; and (4) determinations respecting bond, parole, and detention. States that the Board's determination shall be binding on all immigration judges, immigration officers, and consular officers unless judicially modified. Requires the President to nominate Board members within 45 days. Replaces the existing special inquiry officer system with a system of immigration judges. Grants such judges responsibility for exclusion, deportation, asylum, and status rescission cases. Limits the Attorney General's authority to arrest and obtain an alien pending determination of deportability. Requires such determination proceedings to be open to the public unless requested otherwise by the alien. Requires related bail determination within 24 hours. Sets forth determination factors, including factors requiring release without bond. Provides for an administrative de novo determination. Permits the Attorney General to revoke an alien's bond or conditional release and detain such person for reasonable cause. Permits an immigration officer or employee to stop and temporarily detain a person if the officer has a reasonable belief based on specific, articulable facts, that such person is illegally in the United States. Requires a determination of deportability to be made within 24 hours of arrest. Requires an alien to be advised orally and in writing of the reasons for arrest and his or her rights in English or in such person's native language. Requires advisement of right of counsel and right to remain silent. Provides for both searches with warrants and warrantless searches. Prohibits State and local law enforcement personnel from stopping, questioning, or detaining a person solely on the ground that such person may be an excludable or deportable alien, except as provided for under such Act. Part D: Suspension of Deportation - Revises the seven- year "physical presence" requirement to a seven-year "residence" in the United States for suspension of deportation purposes. Title II: Reform of Legal Immigration and Naturalization- Part A: Immigrants - Increases annual visas: (1) from 20,000 to 40,000 each for Mexico and Canada (with the unused portion available to the other country); and (2) from 600 to 3000 for the colonies. Makes such increases effective in FY 1985. Requires a comprehensive immigration impact report every three years beginning on January 1, 1987. Requires the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to hold public hearings to review such reports. Includes the relationship between an illegimate child and its natural father within the definition of "child" for purposes of status, benefit, or privilege under such Act. Exempts certain self-supporting retirees from numerical admissions limitations. Treats university researchers as faculty for certification purposes. Part B: Nonimmigrant Tourists - Authorizes a three-year tourist visa waiver pilot program with up to eight reciprocating countries. Authorizes a visa waiver program for Guam. Part C: Naturalization - Confers naturalization jurisdiction upon the Attorney General. Authorizes an administrative naturalization procedure in addition to the current judicial procedure. Waives the English language requirement for persons older than 50 years. Eliminates the six-month State residency requirement. Reduces the required residency period from five to four years. Title III: Legalization - Directs the Attorney General to adjust to permanent resident status aliens who: (1) entered the United States before January 1, 1982, and have resided continuously in this country illegally since that date; (2) apply within the prescribed application period; (3) have registered with the draft if so required; and (4) are otherwise admissible. Prohibits the legalization of persons: (1) convicted of a felony (excluding certain re-entry violations) in the United States; or (2) who have taken part in religious, political, or racial persecution. Requires the Attorney General to designate and work with voluntary agencies to disseminate program information and process such aliens. Waives numerical limitations, labor certification, and other specified entry violations for such aliens. Permits the Attorney General to waive other grounds for exclusion (except criminal, most drug-related, and security grounds) to assure family unity or when otherwise in the national interest. Provides for a transitional legal status, during such adjustment determination period which prohibits deportation and permits employment. Requires that persons arrested during such legalization program period be notified of their opportunity to adjust, and prohibits deportation until they have been afforded such opportunity. Permits administrative appeal of a status adjustment denial. Directs the Attorney General to establish eligibility requirements and application approval guidelines in consultation with the House and Senate Judiciary Committees and participating voluntary agencies. Directs the Attorney General to construe such adjustment requirements liberally, taking into account the special circumstances relating to individuals previously residing unlawfully in the United States. Allows the waiver of continuous residence when necessary to avoid undue family hardship. Provides criminal penalties for false application statements. Makes legalized aliens (other than Cuban/Haitian entrants, the aged, blind, and disabled, and persons requiring specified medical assistance) ineligible for Federal financial assistance and medicaid for five years. States that programs authorized under the Public Health Service Act, title V of the Social Security Act, unemployment assistance programs, the National School Lunch Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the Vocational Education Act of 1963, chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981, the Headstart-Follow Through Act, the Job Training Partnership Act, and subparts 4 and 5 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall not be construed as prohibited assistance. Requires the President to report to Congress within 27 months on the legalization program's impact. Provides permanent resident status adjustment for certain Cuban and Haitian nationals who entered the United States before January 1, 1982. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1987 for State legalization assistance. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, subject to available appropriations, to provide full reimbursement to States for costs incurred in providing specified services to aliens during the period they were ineligible for Federal assistance. Requires the Secretary of Education, subject to available appropriations, to assist States in meeting such aliens' added educational costs. Provides for cooperation with State and local governmental advisory groups in implementing this Act. Title IV: National Commission on Immigration - Establishes a 15-member National Commission on Immigration to study and recommend legislative and administrative solutions to specified social, economic employment, and international immigration problems facing the United States, including the development of economic programs with Latin America. Requires the Commission to assess: (1) the current U.S. temporary worker program; and (2) the courses of the existing preference visa backlog. Sets forth administrative and operating provisions. Requires a report to Congress within three years. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of such report. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Social Security Disability Benefits Continuation Act of 1984 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to extend provisions providing for the continued payment of disability benefits during administrative appeal of a determination that a disability benefit receipient is no longer entitled to such benefits. (Under current law, such provisions apply with respect to disability determinations made prior to October 31, 1983.) Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act to permit recipients of benefits based on disability or blindness who are determined to be no longer eligible for such benefits to elect to have the payment of such benefits continued during administrative appeal of such determinations. Provides that such benefit payments shall be considered overpayments if the Secretary of Health and Human Services affirms such a determination upon appeal.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association should continue to provide mortgage lenders with an organized national secondary mortgage market; (2) any limitations on the ability of such entities to issue collateralized mortgage obligations will impair recent improvements in market efficiency that have helped rebuild the thrift industry and benefited home buyers at no cost to the Government; (3) any prohibition of the use of the securities of such entities as collateral in structured financings is harmful to the housing industry and will result in shifting credit risk from the private sector to the Government; and (4) any restriction on the secondary mortgage activities or the use of the securities of such entities should be implemented only following complete consideration by the appropriate congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
States that the Congress: (1) supports the initiatives taken by the Contadora nations and the resulting Documents of Objectives and Principles for Implementation agreed to by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; (2) believes that the United States should support the effort to translate such agreed Principles into practical arrangements so as to facilitate a comprehensive regional peace agreement based on the noninterference in the affairs of other countries, national reconciliation, and democracy; and (3) believes that in fashioning U.S. policies in the region, the United States should take into consideration the degree of cooperation of Central American governments with the Contadora process in seeking a peaceful resolution to Central American conflicts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize payments as trade readjustment allowances for up to 26 additional weeks in the 26 week period that begins with the first week of trade readjustment training if the training is approved after the last week of entitlement to trade readjustment allowances that are otherwise payable.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) continue to express U.S. opposition to the exile of Igor Ogurtsov; and (2) urge the Soviet Union to provide Igor Ogurtsov with medical care, grant his release from exile, and accept his application for an exit visa and allow him to emigrate without forcing him to renounce his views (in accordance with a specified international treaty).
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
Nuclear Waste Transportation Safety Act of 1984 - Prohibits the transportation of any high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel from the site at which it is located or generated to any site other than a repository or test and evaluation facility. Exempts from such restrictions high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel that is to be transported by or under contract with the Department of Energy if the Secretary of Energy certifies: (1) compelling reasons of public health, safety, or national security require immediate removal of the waste or spent fuel to another site; (2) receipt of written approval of the appropriate official of each State through which, and the governing body of each Indian tribe through whose reservation, the waste or spent fuel is to be transported; and (3) adequate financial protection or indemnification to cover any public liability arising out of such transportation. Exempts from such restrictions waste or spent fuel to be transported by any person or governmental entity not under contract with the Department of Energy if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission certifies that such conditions are met.
![Official portrait of Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000826_200.jpg)