United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are not greater than total receipts. Permits the Congress in such statement to provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a three-fifths vote directed solely to that subject. Requires the President and the Congress to ensure that actual outlays do not exceed the outlays set forth in such statement. Prohibits total receipts for any fiscal year set forth in such statement from increasing by a rate greater than the rate of increase in national income in the last calendar year ending before such fiscal year, unless the Congress passes by a three-fifths vote a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law. Requires the President, prior to each fiscal year, to transmit to the Congress a proposed statement of receipts and outlays for that year consistent with the provisions of this article. Permits the Congress to waive the provisions of this Act with respect to any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Establishes the Joint Committee on Intelligence. Declares that such committee has exclusive legislative jurisdiction with respect to any intelligence activity of the Federal Government and authorizations for appropriations for specified agencies and intelligence-related activities. Directs the joint committee to classify its information and records and to establish guidelines for their maintenance, use, and availability. Sets forth procedures for the disclosure of such information. Directs the joint committee to establish and carry out rules and procedures necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information. Makes conforming amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives, including abolishing the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the National Security Act of 1947.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1984
Broad-Based Enhanced Savings Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual Income Tax Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the number of tax brackets to four and to reduce the marginal tax rates in the four brackets. Provides for a three-year phase down of the marginal tax rates ending in 1989. Postpones until 1986 the indexing of the rate brackets, including the zero bracket amount. Increases the earned income credit for certain individuals and couples with children in 1985 to 13 percent of the first $5,200 of earned income. Phases out the credit as the earned income of the taxpayer increases. Provides for an inflation adjustment to the earned income credit. Increases the personal exemption deduction to $1,050 in 1985. Allows a cost-of-living adjustment to this amount. Repeals the alternative minimum tax for individuals, income averaging, and special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions. Title II: Incentives for Investment and Savings - Subtitle A: Depreciation Reform - Permits the taxpayer to take a deduction with respect to expense-method property in the year it is placed in service equal to the basis of such property. Defines "expense-method property" as tangible property that is assigned to the 3-year or 5-year class for purposes of ACRS deductions and qualifies for the investment credit. Prohibits the expensing of several types of properties. Provides that the deduction for expense-method property shall be phased in over a period of 5 years, with the complete allowance of the expense-method property deduction occurring in 1990. Provides that the amount not eligible for the expense-method property deduction shall be eligible for the investment tax credit and the depreciation deduction. Provides that expense-method property shall not be eligible for the investment tax credit. Reduces the recovery period for 18-year real property placed in service after 1989 to 15 years. Subtitle B: Savings Incentives - Allows an individual to establish a super savings account to which tax deductible contributions may be made. Limits the maximum amount of deductions to such an account in 1985 to $7,500. Increases this limit each year to a maximum of $10,000 for 1990 and beyond (joint returns would begin at $15,000 in 1985 and gradually increase to $20,000 in 1990). Requires that distributions from such an account be included in the adjusted gross income of the individual for the year in which the distribution is made. Provides that amounts in such an account pledged as security for a loan shall be treated as having been distributed to the individual. Provides that a super savings account is exempt from taxation. Prohibits deductions for contributions that are directly attributable to indebtedness which is incurred or continued by the individual making the contribution. Allows an individual to make contributions of stocks, bonds, or other readily tradeable securities to such an account during 1985. Requires contributions and distributions to be made in cash, except for contributions made in 1985. Requires the trustee of a super savings account to file reports regarding such account as may be required by the Secretary of the Treasury. Imposes a penalty tax for excess contributions and certain prohibited transactions. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a study and report to Congress on whether the super savings account provisions should take into account any differences between common law and community property States. Title III: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the income tax credits for: (1) household and dependent care services; (2) the elderly and disabled; (3) residential energy expenditures; and (4) political contributions. Provides that the credits pertaining to clinical testing expenses, producing fuel from nonconventional sources, and increasing research activities and the general business credit shall be allowed only to C corporations. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the various exclusions from income for individuals. Provides that the exclusion of payments received to encourage production of strategic minerals and income from sources within possessions of the United States shall apply only to C corporations. Includes in the gross income of an employee the cost of group-term life insurance purchased by the employer. Provides for the taxation of unemployment compensation received by the taxpayer during the year. Includes in income amounts received as a pension, an annuity, or a similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active duty in the armed forces or as a disability annuity from the Foreign Service. Provides that the exclusion of employer contributions to accident and health plans shall apply only to contributions attributable to the providing of wages for periods during which the employee is absent from work on account of sickness or disability. Limits the amount of scholarship and fellowship awards which may be excluded from gross income to the amount of tuition and related expenses. Excludes from gross income of an individual income from sources within possessions of the United States. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals: (1) the deductions for taxes, moving expenses, two-earner married couples, and adoption expenses; (2) the additional personal exemption deduction for taxpayers 65 or over; (3) the deductions allowed to individuals for nonbusiness interest other than housing interest; and (4) the deduction for casualty and theft losses for individuals. Increases the floor for the medical deduction from five to ten percent of adjusted gross income. Subtitle D: Repeal of Special Capital Gains Treatment - Repeals the individual deductions for capital gains. Limits the amount of capital losses deductible by individuals without regard to the distinction between long term and short term capital losses. Title IV: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates for the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that policyholder dividend amounts that are accelerated and are paid or accrued because of a change in business practices by an insurance company after December 31, 1983, shall not be taken into account as paid or accrued for purposes of the policyholder dividends income tax deduction to the extent that such amounts do not exceed the amounts held as of December 31, 1983, by an insurance company as reserves for dividends to policyholders. Revises the definition of "statement gain or loss from operations" for purposes of the reduction in certain deductions of mutual life insurance companies.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1984
Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the use of title XX grants for any child care services unless: (1) the State has established and is monitoring and enforcing appropriate out-of-home child care standards; and (2) such services meet such standards and all other applicable standards of State and local law. Requires a State, as a condition of eligibility for title XX payments for child care services, to establish, monitor, and enforce appropriate standards governing the provision of out-of-home child care services.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1984
Public Broadcasting Amendments Act of 1984 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 through 1987 to be used by the Secretary of Commerce to assist in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities. Repeals a provision that requires 75 percent of the funds appropriated for such purposes in a fiscal year to be available to extend delivery of public telecommunications services to areas not receiving such services. Authorizes appropriations, to match up to a specified amount of non-Federal contributions to public broadcasting entities, for the Public Broadcasting Fund for FY 1987 through 1989. Repeals a provision that requires that a specified portion of the amount made available to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from the Fund be earmarked for expenses of research, training, technical assistance, engineering, instructional support, and the payment of interest on obligations. Repeals provisions requiring a public telecommunications entity to refund to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting an amount of Federal funds equal to the amount of any unrelated business income tax paid by such entity.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1984
Fair and Simple Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual and Corporate Tax Rates - Subtitle A: Reduction of Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual tax rates. Imposes a tax rate of 25 percent on the taxable income of every individual. Imposes a tax rate of 15 percent on corporate income which does not exceed $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent on corporate income exceeding $50,000. Subtitle B: Increase in Amount of Personal Exemption and Zero Bracket Amount - Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $2,000. Increases the zero bracket amount to $2,700 for single taxpayers and $3,500 for a joint return or surviving spouse. Provides for an annual adjustment in the personal exemption and the zero bracket amount by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Repeals the exemption for dependents who are students over the age of 18. Subtitle C: Employment Income Exclusion Established - Allows an individual taxpayer to exclude 20 percent of the amount received during the taxable year by such individual as employment income. Provides that the exclusion shall be phased out when the individual's wages and salaries exceed the Federal Insurance Compensation Act's maximum wage base for the calendar year. Excludes all of an individual's employment income where the employment income for the taxable year is $10,000 or less ($15,000 or less in the case of a joint return). Provides for an annual adjustment in the employment income exclusion by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Subtitle D: Repeals Related to Reduction in Rates - Repeals provisions relating to: (1) tax tables for individuals; (2) special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions; (3) accumulated corporate surplus; (4) personal holding companies; (5) income averaging; and (6) graduated corporate tax rates. Applies the trust throwback rules only to amounts distributed from a foreign trust. Title II: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the following income tax credits: (1) the credit for household and dependent care services; (2) the credit for the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled; (3) the residential energy credit; (4) the credit for contributions to candidates for public office; (5) the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs; (6) the credit for producing fuel from nonconventional sources; (7) the credit for increasing research activities; (8) the credit for work incentive expenses; (9) the credit for alcohol used as fuel; (10) the employee stock ownership credit; (11) the general tax credit; (12) the investment credit for depreciable property; and (13) the credit for employment of certain new employees. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the tax exclusion for: (1) compensation for injuries or sickness; (2) dividends received by individuals; (3) amounts received under qualified group legal service plans; (4) qualified transportation furnished by employer; (5) dividend reinvestment in public utilities; and (6) payments to encourage exploration, development, and mining for defense purposes. Reduces the maximum amount of the earned income credit from $5,000 to $4,000. Provides for an annual adjustment in the earned income credit by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Treats as taxable income: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) the annual increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies; and (3) interest on industrial development bonds and mortgage subsidy bonds. Provides that the transfer of a corporation's stock in satisfaction of indebtedness will be treated as having satisfied the indebtedness with money equal to the fair market value of the stock. Provides a limited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships. Amends the Merchant Marine Act to repeal the tax exemption for deposits into, and withdrawals from, a capital construction fund. Excludes the first $7,000 ($10,500 for a joint return) of Social Security benefits from gross income. Provides that no more than one-half of Social Security benefits may be includible in taxable income. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) casualty and theft losses; (2) unused business credits; and (3) two-earner married couples. Repeals the deduction for State and local income taxes. Raises the floor on the deduction for medical and dental expenses from five to ten percent. Repeals the deduction for consumer interest. Subtitle D: Adjustment to Basis; Changes in Certain Special Capital Gains Treatment Provisions - Allows an inflation adjustment, based on the gross national product deflator, to the adjusted basis of capital assets which have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss on such assets. Excludes from such treatment: (1) creditor's interest; (2) options; (3) net lease property in the case of the lessor; (4) preferred stock with fixed dividends; and (5) stock in small business corporations and certain foreign corporations. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to disallow all or part of an adjustment where there was a transfer to increase the inflation adjustment or depreciation allowance. Reduces the alternative tax rate for corporations from 28 to 20 percent. Repeals the deduction for individuals for capital gains. Phases out the limitation on the deduction of capital losses by individuals over a ten-year period, with full deductibility of such losses after 1994. Provides that capital loss deductions shall be treated as tax preference items subject to the minimum tax. Permits the carryover of the excess of capital losses over gross income by individuals. Makes applicable only to corporations the rules for capital gains and losses relating to: (1) the sale of land with unharvested crop; (2) the disposal of coal or domestic iron ore; (3) gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore; (4) distribution of property; (5) collapsible partnerships; (6) property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions; (7) the sale or exchange of patents; (8) amortization in excess of depreciation; (9) gain from the sale of depreciable property between certain related taxpayers; (10) gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property; (11) gain on foreign investment company stock; (12) the election by foreign investment companies to distribute income currently; (13) gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations; (14) gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations; (15) gain from disposition of certain depreciable realty; (16) gain from disposition of farm land; (17) gain from disposition of interest in oil, gas, or geothermal property; and (18) gain from disposition of property acquired with certain cost-sharing payments. Provides a transition period of ten-years, beginning on January 1, 1985, in which a taxpayer may elect to not apply the inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss. Provides that when such election is made, 25 percent of any gain from the sale or disposition of such asset shall be excludible from gross income and 25 percent of any loss shall not be deductible. Title III: Capital Cost Recovery - Subtitle A: Simplified Cost Recovery System for Depletable Property - Allows individuals and corporations a depletion deduction for qualified depletable property equal to an applicable percentage determined by the cost recovery tables for cost recovery property. Requires that qualified depletable property be assigned to one class of recovery property. Uses the anticipated productive life of such depletable property (rather than the present class life as provided under current law) for making the assignment. Assigns oil, gas wells or wells drilled for any geothermal deposit to the class of three year property. Provides that these rules shall not deny any deduction allowable for loss sustained by reason of the abandonment of a nonproductive well or mine. Subtitle B: Other Changes - Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) research and experimental expenditures; (2) soil and water conservation expenditures; (3) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by a lessee on a lessor's property; (4) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (5) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (6) start-up expenditures; (7) intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (8) percentage depletion; (9) development expenditures; and (10) deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures. Allows a ten-year period for the amortization of construction period interest and taxes. Allows a deduction for circulation expenses for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical ratably over a five-year period. Excludes amounts chargeable to a capital account from such treatment. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Income - Repeals the domestic international sales corporations (DISC) provisions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires farmers to compute their taxable income using the accrual method of accounting with the capitalization of preproduction expenses. Exempts taxpayers who do not have gross receipts of $1,000,000. Requires farming syndicates to use the accrual method of accounting without regard to gross receipts. Requires the recognition of the gain or loss on distributions of property by corporations. Eliminates the special bad debt reserves of financial institutions. Reduces the percentage by which Social Security benefits must be reduced for income earned above certain amounts. Repeals the earnings reduction test for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1989. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1984
Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which encompass specified products or methods for using a product, including methods of manufacturing which primarily use recombinant DNA technology, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a five year limitation on the extension and a 25 year maximum patent term from the earliest filing. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to notify the appropriate Federal agency upon receipt from a product sponsor of a notice of extension. Requires the notified agency to determine the applicable regulatory review period and whether, within that period, the sponsor acted with due diligence. Provides for notice and informal hearings for persons interested in such determinations. Grants a product sponsor the opportunity to designate any data submitted during the regulatory review period as a trade secret or confidential. Directs the Commissioner, upon a final determination of the applicable regulatory review period, to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent. Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for: (1) any new animal drug or antibiotic subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (2) any veterinary biological product subject to regulation under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act; (3) any pesticide subject to regulation under the Federal Insectide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1984
Medicare and Medicaid Patient and Program Protection Act of 1984 - Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to exclude from participation in programs under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Act, and to direct State agencies to exclude from participation in programs under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Act, title V (Maternal and Child Health Block Grant) of the Act, and title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Act, for a period of not less than five years, any individual or entity that has been convicted of a criminal offense related to such individual's or entity's participation in the delivery of items or services under title XVIII or any such State health care program. Authorizes the Secretary to exclude from participation in Medicare and to direct State agencies to exclude from participation in such State health care programs: (1) any individual or entity convicted of any financial abuse or abuse of patients in connection with the delivery of health care items or services in any publicly operated or financed program; (2) any individual or entity convicted of unlawful manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance; (3) any individual who has had his or her health care license revoked or suspended; (4) any individual suspended or sanctioned under any Federal program involving the provision of health care; (5) any individual or entity that the Secretary determines has knowingly made any false statement in an application for payment under Medicare or a State health care program; (6) any entity whenever the Secretary determines that any person with an ownership or controlling interest in that entity or a managing employee of that entity is a person who has been convicted of specified health care related crimes, fined for specified health care abuses, or denied payment pursuant to this Act; or (7) any individual or entity which fails to supply certain information. Entitles any individual or entity excluded from participation to a hearing. Directs the Secretary to promptly notify each appropriate State agency administering or supervising the administration of a State health care program of the fact and circumstances of each exclusion and of the period for which the State agency shall exclude the individual or entity from health care program participation. Permits the Secretary to waive the requirement to exclude an individual or entity from participation if a waiver request is received from the State. Directs the Secretary to notify the appropriate State or local licensing authority of the fact of an individual's or entity's exclusion. Permits reinstatement of an individual or entity if there is no basis for continuing the exclusion. Requires a State, under title XIX of the Act, to supply the Secretary information with respect to any health care practitioner or entity against whom a formal proceeding is undertaken by a State licensing authority. Requires each State having a plan approved under title XIX of the Act to have in effect a system of reporting under which the State agency administering Medicaid reports in a timely manner to the Secretary any proceeding commenced against a health care practitioner or entity and any results of such proceedings. Directs the Secretary to maintain a central information system on all such proceedings. Authorizes the Secretary to release information from the system to a State if such information may be useful to the State in determining the fitness of an individual to provide health care services. Establishes as the criminal penalties for violations of this Act the penalties set forth under title XIX of the Act. Sets forth civil penalties. Requires any health care provider providing health care services for which payment may be made under the Act to assure that services or items furnished: (1) will be provided economically and only when, and to the extent, medically necessary; (2) will be quality services which meet professionally recognized standards of health care; and (3) will be supported by evidence of medical necessity and quality in such form and fashion and at such time as may reasonably be required by a reviewing peer review organization in the exercise of its duties and responsibilities. Amends the Controlled Substances Act to permit the Attorney General to suspend or revoke a registration to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance upon a finding that the registrant has been excluded from participation in the Medicare program pursuant to the provisions of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to give an individual or entity six months to correct any deficiencies in meeting the requirements of this Act in any case in which an individual or entity must obtain certification for participation in the programs covered by this Act and such deficiencies do not immediately jeopardize the health and safety of patients.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1984
Agricultural Trade and Export Policy Commission Act - Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to establish a National Commission on Agriculture Trade and Export Policy (Commission) to conduct a study of the agriculture-related trade and export policies and programs of the United States and the international and domestic factors affecting such policies and programs, including U.S. intergovernmental activities that affect the formulation of policies. Requires the Commission to be composed of ex officio congressional members, plus 23 members appointed by the President. Requires the Commission to submit to the President and the Congress: (1) a report containing its initial findings and recommendations by March 31, 1985; (2) additional interim reports on its work as may be requested by the chairmen of specified congressional committees; and (3) a report containing the final results of its study and recommendations by July 1, 1986. Authorizes Federal and public support to the Commission. Exempts the Commission from specified provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and guidelines relating to the performance appraisals of Federal employees. Terminates the Commission 60 days after the transmission of its final report to the President and the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1984
Designates August 1, 1984, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation reasserting the American commitment to full implementation of the human rights and humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki Accords. Requests the President to raise the issue of noncompliance with such provisions with the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries at every available opportunity.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) ensure that U.S. officials carry out his pledge to resolve the issue of the Americans still missing and unaccounted for in Indochina; (2) work for the immediate release of any Americans still held captive and the return of the remains of those who died in Southeast Asia; and (3) make every effort to secure the cooperation pledged by Laos and Vietnam in resolving this issue.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1984
Designates the week beginning February 17, 1985, as a time to recognize the contributions of volunteers who give their time to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters to youths in need of adult companionship.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1984
Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to define "armor piercing ammunition." Excludes from the definition: (1) shot gun shot required by Federal or State regulations for hunting; (2) frangible projectiles for target shooting; and (3) projectiles that the Secretary of Treasury determines are primarily intended for sporting purposes. Makes it unlawful for any person to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition. Allows for: (1) the manufacture or importation of armor piercing ammunition for the use of the United States or any State or local government; and (2) manufacture for the sole purpose of exportation. Establishes a licensing fee of $1,000 per year for manufacturers and importers of armor piercing ammunition. Imposes an additional mandatory sentence of not less than five years for any person who uses or carries a firearm and is in possession of armor piercing ammunition during the commission of a violent felony. Provides that such sentence shall not be suspended nor probation nor parole granted.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1984
American Passbook Savings Act of 1984 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $5,000 ($10,000 for joint returns) of the interest earned on a passbook savings account.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should support the efforts of the Catholic Bishops of Nicaragua to bring about a national reconciliation between the struggling factions in that country in order to establish democratic harmony.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which emcompass specified products or methods for using a product, including methods of manufacturing which primarily use recombinant DNA technology, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a five year limitation. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent. Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for: (1) any new animal drug or antibiotic subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (2) any veterinary biological product subject to regulation under the virus, serum, toxin, and analogous products provisions of the Act of March 4, 1913; (3) any pesticide subject to regulation under the Federal Insectide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Fair and Simple Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual and Corporate Tax Rates - Subtitle A: Reduction of Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual tax rates. Imposes a tax rate of 25 percent on the taxable income of every individual. Imposes a tax rate of 15 percent on corporate income which does not exceed $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent on corporate income exceeding $50,000. Subtitle B: Increase in Amount of Personal Exemption and Zero Bracket Amount - Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $2,000. Increases the "zero bracket amount" to $2,700 for single taxpayers and $3,500 for a joint return or surviving spouse. Provides for an annual adjustment in the "zero bracket amount" by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Subtitle C: Employment Income Exclusion Established - Allows an individual taxpayer to exclude 20 percent of the amount received during the taxable year by such individual as employment income. Provides that the exclusion is phased out when the individual's wages and salaries exceed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act maximum wage base for the calendar year. Excludes all of an individual's employment income where the employment income for the taxable year is $10,000 or less ($20,000 or less in the case of a joint return). Subtitle D: Repeals Related to Reduction in Rates - Repeals provisions relating to: (1) tax tables for individuals; (2) personal service corporations; (3) special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions; (4) accumulated corporate surplus; (5) personal holding companies; (6) income averaging; and (7) graduated corporate tax rates. Applies the trust throwback rules only to amounts distributed from a foreign trust. Title II: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the general tax credit, the investment tax credit, and the income tax credits relating to: (1) the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled; (2) investments in certain depreciable property; (3) work incentive expenses; (4) contributions to candidates for public office; (5) home purchases; (6) expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment; (7) employment of certain new employees; (8) residential energy credit; (9) producing fuel from a nonconventional source; (10) alcohol used as fuel; (11) research activities; (12) employee stock ownership credit; and (13) clinical testing for certain drugs. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the tax exclusion for: (1) compensation for injuries or sickness; (2) amounts received under accident and health plans; (3) partial exclusion of dividends received by individuals; (4) amounts received under qualified group legal service plans; (5) qualified transportation furnished by an employer; (6) dividend reinvestment in public utilities; (7) partial exclusion of interest as in effect in 1985; and (8) payments to encourage exploration, development, and mining for defense purposes. Reduces the maximum amount of the earned income credit from $5,000 to $4,000. Treats as taxable income: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) the annual increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies; and (3) interest on industrial development bonds and mortgage subsidy bonds. Provides that the transfer of a corporation's stock in satisfaction of indebtedness will be treated as having satisfied the indebtedness with money equal to the fair market value of the stock. Provides a limited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships. Amends the Merchant Marine Act to repeal the tax exemption for deposits into, and withdrawals from, a capital construction fund. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) the additional exemption for the elderly and the blind; (2) unused investment credits; (3) two-earner married couples; and (4) adoption expenses. Provides that the deduction for losses shall be limited to capital losses. Increases the floor on the deduction for medical and dental expenses from five to 10 percent. Subtitle D: Adjustment to Basis; Changes in Certain Special Capital Gains Treatment Provisions - Allows an inflation adjustment, based on the gross national product deflator, to the adjusted basis of capital assets which have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss on such assets. Excludes from such treatment: (1) creditor's interest; (2) options; (3) net lease property in the case of the lessor; (4) preferred stock with fixed dividends; and (5) stock in small business corporations and certain foreign corporations. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to disallow all or part of an adjustment where there was a transfer to increase the inflation adjustment or depreciation allowance. Reduces the alternative tax rate for corporations from 28 to 20 percent. Repeals the deduction for individuals for capital gains. Repeals the limitation on the deduction of capital losses by individuals. Permits the carryover of the excess of capital losses over gross income by individuals. Applies the rules for capital gains and losses only to corporations relating to: (1) the sale of land with an unharvested crop; (2) the disposal of coal or domestic iron ore; (3) the gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore; (4) the distribution of property; (5) collapsible partnerships; (6) property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions; (7) the sale or exchange of patents; (8) amortization in excess of depreciation; (9) gain from the sale of depreciable property between certain related taxpayers; (10) gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property; (11) gain on foreign investment company stock; (12) an election by foreign investment companies to distribute income currently; (13) gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations; (14) gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations; (15) gain from disposition of certain depreciable realty; (16) gain from disposition of property used in farming where farm losses offset nonfarm income; (17) gain from disposition of farm land; (18) gain from disposition of interest in oil, gas, or geothermal property; and (19) gain from disposition of property acquired with certain cost-sharing payments. Provides a transition period of ten years beginning January 1, 1985, in which a taxpayer may elect to not apply the inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss. Provides that when such election is made, 25 percent of any gain from the sale or disposition of such asset shall be excludible from gross income, or 25 percent of any loss shall not be deductible. Title III: Capital Cost Recovery - Subtitle A: Simplified Cost Recovery System for Depletable Property - Allows individuals and corporations a depletion deduction for qualified depletable property equal to an applicable percentage determined by the cost recovery tables for cost recovery property. Requires qualified depletable property be assigned to one class of recovery property. Uses the anticipated productive life of such depletable property, rather than the present class life, for making the assignment. Assigns oil, gas wells, or wells drilled for any geothermal deposit to the class of three year property. Provides that these rules shall not deny any deduction allowable for loss sustained by reason of the abandonment of a nonproductive well or mine. Subtitle B: Other Changes - Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) research and experimental expenditures; (2) soil and water conservation expenditures; (3) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by a lessee on a lessor's property; (4) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (5) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (6) start-up expenditures; (7) intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (8) percentage depletion; (9) development expenditures; and (10) deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures. Allows a ten year period for the amortization of construction period interest and taxes. Allows a deduction for circulation expenses for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical ratably over a five-year period. Excludes amounts chargable to a capital account from such treatment. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Income - Repeals the domestic international sales corporations (DISC) provisions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires farmers to compute their taxable income using the accrual method of accounting with the capitalization of preproduction expenses. Exempts taxpayers who do not have gross receipts of $1,000,000. Requires farming syndicates to use the accrual method of accounting without regard to gross receipts. Requires the recognition of the gain or loss on distributions of property by corporations. Eliminates the special bad debt reserves of financial institutions. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984 - Requires artificial reefs in U.S. waters to be sited and constructed according to certain standards in order to enhance fishery resources. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with others, to develop and publish a long-term artificial reef plan. Requires the plan to address certain items. Directs the Secretary of the Army in issuing permits for artificial reefs to: (1) consult with and consider the views of appropriate Federal agencies, States, and local governments; (2) ensure consistency with the standards established in this Act; (3) ensure that the maintenance and financial responsibility for and the title to the artificial reef construction material is clear; and (4) notify the Secretary of Commerce of any need to deviate from the plan. Requires each permit to require certain information. Sets forth the liability of the permittee. Establishes civil penalties for permit violations. Amends existing Federal law to authorize the use of obsolete ships for use as artificial reefs (currently only Liberty ships are used). Defines "obsolete ships" to mean vessels owned by the Department of Transportation which are insufficient for use in the national defense reserve fleet. Transfers the authority of the Secretary of Commerce under such law to the Secretary of Transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1984
Alternative Medical Liability Act - Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for an alternative liability system for malpractice. Requires a health care provider, in order to participate in the alternative liability program, to participate, directly or through an insurance company which has agreed to be the compensation obligor with respect to that provider, in an assigned claims plan which meets the requirements of this paragraph in order to insure the payment of compensation benefits by compensation obligors. Permits entities (including insurance companies) in a State to organize and maintain, subject to approval and regulation by the State insurance regulator, an assigned claims plan and adopt rules for its operation consistent with this paragraph. Provides that if such a plan is not established or maintained in a State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall organize and maintain an assigned claims plan for the State. Requires each assigned claims plan to provide for the assessment of costs on a fair and equitable basis consistent with the liability system established by this Act. Prohibits an assigned claims plan from permitting an entity covered under the plan to withdraw from the plan retrospectively. Permits an injured individual entitled to compensation benefits from a compensation obligor to obtain them through the assigned claims plan if the initiating compensation obligor claims that it is unable to fulfill its obligation. Provides that where an assigned claims plan finds that a compensation obligor which is associated with such plan reasonably claims that it is unable to pay the compensation benefits it owes, the assigned claims plan shall promptly assign the claims to a member or members of the plan and notify the individual or individuals entitled to receive such benefits of the identity and address of the assignee or assignees. Permits any such assignee to seek payment from the compensation obligor or its successor of 120 percent of the costs and expenses in fulfilling the obligor's obligations. Defines the "compensation obligor", with respect to a personal injury, as the health care provider obligated to pay benefits for an injury and includes in such definition: (1) any other entity (including an insurance company) obligated for payment; and (2) any person joined with respect to the injury. Prohibits an individual from bringing a civil action against a health care provider for a disease or injury arising from health care services provided pursuant to Medicare, Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act), an armed forces' or veterans' health plan, the Federal employees' health benefits program, or any other health benefits program established under Federal law in any case where a provider which is participating in an assigned claims plan and is potentially liable for the injury, if the provider provides the individual (within a specified time period) with a written tender to pay compensation benefits in accordance with the alternative liability malpractice system. States that civil actions include any civil action which could have been brought against a compensation obligor with respect to recovery of damages relating to personal injury, whether based on: (1) negligence or gross negligence; (2) strict or absolute liability in tort; (3) breach of express or implied warranty or contract; (4) failure to discharge a duty to warn or instruct or to obtain consent; or (5) any other theory that is the basis for an award of damages for personal injury. States that civil actions do not include: (1) any action to recover for compensation benefits tendered under this Act; or (2) any action in the nature of a wrongful death action, but only in the case of such an action for losses accruing to survivors after the death of an injured individual and resulting from the death of an individual. Permits a health care provider making a tender to join any person who is potentially liable for the injury. Provides that any disagreement as to any party's share of the costs shall be submitted to binding arbitration and that each party's share shall be based on the comparative fault of the parties. Sets forth provisions relating to the subrogation of parties. Provides that the amount of compensation benefits payable with respect to a personal injury is equal to the net economic loss resulting from the injury, plus attorney's fees. Defines "net economic loss" and other terms used in defining "net economic loss." Requires compensation benefits to be paid not later than 30 days after the date that reasonable proof of the fact and amount of net economic loss incurred is submitted to the initiating compensation obligor, except that payment may be made for expenses incurred over periods not exceeding 31 days within 15 days after the end of the period. Provides that if reasonable proof is supplied as to only a portion of net economic loss, and the portion totals $100 or more, the compensation benefits with respect to that portion shall be paid without regard to the remainder of the net economic loss. Sets the statute of limitations for a claim under this Act at five years. Provides, upon the request of an injured individual or compensation obligor, for the disclosure of facts about, and the mental and physical examination of, the injured individual. Provides that in the case of a dispute as to the right of an injured individual or compensation obligor to discover information, a petition may be made to a court having jurisdiction over the matter for an order for discovery. Provides that if a health care provider tenders compensation benefits with respect to an injured individual and there is a dispute between the compensation obligors and the injured individual respecting the determination of the amount of compensation benefits owing, except as otherwise provided for in this Act, application may be made to a court with appropriate jurisdiction for a declaration as to the amount of compensation benefits owed. Permits an obligation to pay compensation benefits to be discharged by a settlement or lump sum payment, except that no such discharge shall be made with respect to an injury with a current value of net economic loss exceeding $5,000 unless a court having jurisdiction over the matter determines that the settlement is fair to the injured individual. Permits an agreement or judgment to be modified as to amounts to be paid in the future upon a finding that a material and substantial change of circumstances has occurred after the date the agreement or judgment was made, or that there is newly discovered evidence which would not have been known previously in the exercise of reasonable diligence. Provides that the preceding provisions of this Act shall not apply to any personal injury occurring: (1) before January 1, 1987; or (2) in a State which has in effect an alternative medical liability law which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines meets specified requirements. Sets forth requirements for a State alternative medical liability law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1984
Telecommunications Employees' Protection Act of 1984 - Extends the agreement providing for the reciprocal recognition of employees' service credit by entities subject to the modified judgment of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in the case of the United States v. Western Electric, et alia, to cover certain employees who change employment between such entities on or after January 1, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Equal Access Act - Prohibits federally-funded public secondary schools which allow non-school-sponsored groups of students to meet from discriminating against any meeting of students on the basis of religious content if: (1) the meeting is voluntary and student initiated; (2) there is no government sponsorship; and (3) no unlawful activity is permitted.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the amount of the charitable deduction allowable for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle will be $0.12 per mile.
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 · 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.
![Official portrait of Rep. Moore, W. Henson [R-LA-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/05cbf44ae79a065fbb6e31109d0ba059_200.jpg)