United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Amends veterans' hospitalization benefits to authorize the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to carry out a screening and treatment program for eligible veterans suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Permits the furnishing of hospital or nursing home care to afflicted veterans who are at least fifty years old.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for the home care expenses of individual taxpayers who maintain a household which includes a dependent of the taxpayer who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Permits this deduction whether or not the taxpayer itemizes deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Designates November 12, 1983, as Anti-Defamation League Day in honor of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Anti-Defamation League of the B'nai B'rith.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from Federal income taxes members of the armed forces of the United States who die as a result of hostile action outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1983
School Facilities Child Care Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations having the capacity to furnish school-age child care services in order to assist such agencies and organizations to establish and operate such services in public schools. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1987. Sets forth information which must be included in applications by such agencies or organizations to the Secretary for such grants. Requires the Secretary, in approving the applications, to: (1) assure that there is an equitable distribution of approved applications; (2) give priority to applications from applicants in communities with the greatest need and a shortage of economic resources for such services; and (3) give consideration to applications from applicants who can illustrate an identifiable base of community support. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of collecting data from recipients of assistance under this Act designed to provide a national needs assessment for child care services of school-age children in the United States. Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees on activities under this Act together with a needs assessment of child care services for school-age children in each State. Requires the Secretary to operate a clearinghouse on school-age child care programs. Sets forth general administrative provisions with respect to carrying out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1983
Criminal Fine Collection Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to the imposition, payment, and collection of fines. Lists factors that the court must consider in determining whether to impose a fine, including: (1) the ability of the defendant to pay; (2) the burden that payment will impose on the defendant; and (3) any restitution or reparation made by the defendant. States that payment of a fine is due immediately unless the court requires payment by installment or by any date certain. Permits a sentence to pay a fine to be stayed while an appeal is taken. Makes a fine delinquent if any portion of such fine is not paid within 30 days of when it is due. Provides that a fine is in default if it is more than 90 days delinquent. Allows for the modification or remission of a sentence to pay a fine. Requires the clerk to forward each fine payment to the U.S. Treasury and notify the Attorney General of its receipt. Requires the court to certify to the Attorney General when a fine exceeding $100 is imposed, modified, or remitted. Makes the Attorney General responsible for the collection of any unpaid fine for which certification has been issued. Allows the court to impose interest and monetary penalties for any willful nonpayment. Establishes civil remedies for the satisfication of an unpaid fine. Provides that a judgment imposing a fine may be enforced by execution against the property of the person fined as are judgments in civil cases. Allows the court to resentence a person upon willful failure to pay a fine to any sentence which might originally have been imposed. Provides for a statute of limitations on the liability to pay a fine of 20 years or upon death of the person fined. Provides penalties for criminal default of a fine. Makes payment of a fine a condition of probation or parole in certain circumstances. Requires the Attorney General to include in the annual crime report steps taken to implement this Act and any progress achieved in criminal fine collection.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should appoint a special envoy to investigate and report on how the United States could assist Belfast, Dublin, London, and communities in Northern Ireland in arriving at a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Northern Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1983
Amends title 11 (Bankruptcy) of the United States Code to make nondischargeable in a bankruptcy case any debts for a contribution to an employee benefit plan for the purpose of providing medical benefits to employees who because of age or disability terminate employment before the order for relief.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1983
Establishes the National Commission on Federal Budget Deficit Reductions to review all relevant elements of fiscal and monetary policy, identify problems which may hinder the control and reduction of Federal budget deficits, and analyze all potential options which would result in deficit reductions and place the Government on a sound financial basis. Requires the Commission to transmit a report to the President and Congress not later than February 15, 1984, or the close of the 90th day beginning after the date of enactment of this resolution. Requires such report to contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate. Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits its report.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1983
Synthetic Fuels Corporation Fiscal Accountability Act of 1983 - Amends the Energy Security Act to prohibit the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation from making new awards of financial assistance after the date of the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Corporation's comprehensive strategy for achieving the national synthetic fuel production goal is approved by Congress. Makes limitations on Corporation construction projects effective upon the enactment of this Act rather than upon approval of the comprehensive strategy as provided under current law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1983
National Organ Transplant Act - Title I: Amendment to Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make planning and operations grants for local organ procurement organizations. Sets forth eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1989. Directs the Secretary to establish a private nonprofit United States Transplantation Network to provide a central registry linking donors and potential recipients. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health a National Center for Organ Transplantation to coordinate Federal organ transplantation activities; and (2) appoint an advisory council for such Center. Requires the Secretary to publish an annual organ transplantation report. Title II: Medicare and Medicaid Amendments - Amends the Social Security Act to permit Medicare organ transplantations at specified centers. Exempts organ procurement activities from specified cost limits. Requires States to develop written Medicaid payment polices for organ transplants. Requires State Medicaid plans to participate in any transplant program established under Medicare. Requires designated Medicare transplant centers to serve Medicaid patients. Title III: Prohibition of Organ Purchases - Prohibits the sale of human organs. Subjects violators to maximum penalties of $50,000 or five years in prison, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1983
Small Business Competitive Procurement Act of 1983 - Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit Government procurement officers from using qualified bidders or similar lists to preclude small businesses from being awarded contracts without referring the matter for final disposition to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Requires the SBA to certify small businesses as eligible to perform specified Government subcontracts if the contract involved exceeds $100,000 or the approved limits of a contractor's procurement system, whichever is greater. Provides that a Government procurement officer may not refuse to include a product of a small business concern or group of small business concerns on a qualified products list without referring the matter for final disposition to the SBA. Requires the SBA to make such final disposition within 60 days. Prohibits the SBA from: (1) establishing an exemption from the requirements that Government procurement officers refer questions as to a small business' eligibility as a Government contractor to the SBA for disposition; or (2) refusing to accept such a referral. Declares it to be the policy of the United States that small business concerns and small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the award of Government prime contracts and subcontracts for appropriate portions of component systems, spare parts, and services for major weapon systems. Provides that during the planning for contracts for the procurement and performance of service or for the production or assembly of goods and spare parts for major weapon systems, the head of each Federal agency shall maximize competition for such components or services so as to insure to the maximum extent practicable that small businesses and small disadvantaged businesses are not precluded from performing as prime contractors and subcontractors on such contracts. Requires Federal agencies to publicly post and make available to small businesses information concerning the agencies' solicitations, unless such disclosure of information would be a breach of security or would disclose the Government's cost estimate for the procurement. Directs the Department of Defense to use funds appropriated for the development or production of any major weapon system to acquire manufacturing data relating to such system. Requires contracts entered into by any military department for the development or production of any major weapons system to contain provisions insuring the Government's acquisition of such manufacturing data, including conditions under which the contractor waives proprietary rights with respect to data necessary for the performance of such contracts. Provides waiver authority upon notification to specified congressional committees in instances where the military department determines that manufacturing technical data is not necessary. Directs each military department, within a specified time, to complete an inventory of the manufacturing technical data which the Government has in its possession or to which it has access. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to transmit to Congress, within three years after enactment of this Act, a report evaluating each military department's efforts to compile an inventory of the manufacturing data for major weapons systems in its possession or to which it has access. States that Federal procurement rulemaking is to be covered under the Administrative Procedure Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce for calendar year 1984 the rates of aviation-related excise taxes on: (1) airline passengers; (2) seats, berths, etc.; (3) use of international travel facilities; (4) air cargo; (5) aviation fuel; and (6) gasoline. Continues such reduced rates for subsequent calendar years if the unobligated balance in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund is at least $2,300,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce for calendar years 1984 and 1985 the rates of aviation-related excise taxes on: (1) airline passengers; (2) seats, berths, etc.; (3) use of international travel facilities; (4) air cargo; (5) aviation fuel; and (6) gasoline.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1983
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that for purposes of printing in the Congressional Record, remarks of Members made on the floor or submitted for inclusion in the Record, including associated materials, shall be relevant to governmental matters. Exempts from such provision, remarks on the death of present or former Federal officials.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1983
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ("the Act") (also known as the Clean Water Act) to provide for State nonpoint source control reports and plans and grants to States for implementation of such plans. Directs the Governor of each State, within 270 days after the enactment of this Act, to prepare and submit for the approval of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency a report on: (1) those portions of the navigable waters within a State that, as a result of pollution from nonpoint sources in whole or in part, are not meeting applicable water quality standards or are not attaining a water quality which ensures protection of public health, use and value for water supply, agricultural, industrial, and other purposes, and propagation of a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish, wildlife, and plants and which allows recreational activities in and on the water; (2) those categories and subcategories of nonpoint sources which add significant pollutant loadings to each portion of such waters in amounts which contribute to nonattainment of such water quality or standards; (3) State and local programs for controlling pollutant loadings added from nonpoint sources to such waters, including but not limited to programs receiving Federal assistance under this Act; and (4) the process, including intergovernmental coordination and public participation, for identifying best management practices and measures to control such categories and subcategories of nonpoint sources and to reduce, to the maximum extent practicable, the level of pollution resulting from such categories and subcategories. Requires annual written updates of such reports. Requires that such reports and updates be based on available information. Permits such reports or updates to include all or part of an approved existing water quality management program. Directs the Governor of each State, within 270 days after the enactment of this Act, to prepare and submit for the approval of the Administrator: (1) a plan, developed in cooperation with local agencies and organizations with expertise in control of nonpoint sources of pollution, which the State proposes to implement in the four-fiscal-year period beginning after the date of submission of the report for controlling pollutant loadings added from nonpoint sources to navigable waters within the State; and (2) a report identifying each Federal department, agency, or instrumentality which will be engaging in, supporting, or providing financial assistance for any activity or program within the State during such four-fiscal-year period and which would be inconsistent with plan implementation, and recommending appropriate administrative modification of such program or activity. Requires that such plans include: (1) a list of those waters in the order in which the State plans to begin control during such period, and of those categories and subcategories for which control measures are to be implemented; (2) a description of proposed best management practices to be implemented in each fiscal year of such period; (3) a schedule requiring each category and subcategory to implement such practices as expeditiously as possible, indicating estimated dates for such implementation; (4) an identification of methods to encourage, assist, or require such implementation; (5) an identification, description, and estimated cost of practices and measures to be implemented with Federal assistance under this Act in each such year; (6) an identification of other sources of Federal and other assistance available in each such year for supporting such proposed State programs and a description of the purposes for which such assistance will be used; and (7) a certification by the State attorney general or the head attorney of the State water pollution control agency that State laws provide adequate authority to carry out such programs or a list of any additional authority needed. Requires annual updates of the information on sources of assistance. Requires each State to report annually to the Administrator on activities and programs carried out under the plan in the preceding fiscal year and the progress made in meeting the schedule. Directs the Administrator to consolidate and submit recommendations for modifications of Federal activities and programs submitted by the States to the appropriate Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalites. Directs such entities to carry out their activities and programs in a manner consistent with the approved State plan and helpful to its implementation. Requires States to utilize local agencies and organizations with expertise in nonpoint source pollution control, to the maximum extent practicable, in identifying and implementing best management practices and measures. Sets forth procedures and deadlines for approval, disapproval, or revision of reports, plans, and updates. Directs the Administrator to provide technical assistance to local agencies or organizations in developing plans, whenever a State fails to submit or the Administrator does not approve a plan. Makes such local agencies or organizations eligible to receive implementation assistance after development of such plan. Directs the Administrator, upon State request, to provide technical assistance to a State in developing a plan. Sets forth requirements for State petitions, interstate management conferences and agreements, and State plans for reduction of interstate water pollution from nonpoint sources. Directs the Administrator, upon State application, to make grants to each State for which a report, or update, and a plan is approved for any fiscal year. Provides that such grants shall be made to carry out in any fiscal year such plan for controlling nonpoint source pollution of navigable waters. Makes the Federal share equal to 50 percent of the cost of each plan. Limits administrative costs (except costs of implementing enforcement and regulatory activities, education, training, technical assistance, or technology transfer programs) to ten percent of the grant amount. Sets forth maintenance of effort requirements for such grants. Limits to 15 percent of the amount appropriated for such grants the amount which may be used to make grants to any one State, including any grants to any local agency or organization with authority to control pollution from nonpoint sources in any area in such State. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY 1984 through 1988. Directs the Administrator, by January 1, 1985, and each January 1 thereafter, to report to specified congressional committees on the activities carried out under this Act for the preceding fiscal year and the progress made in reducing nonpoint source pollution in the navigable waters. Directs the Administrator, by January 1, 1988, to transmit a final report to Congress on the activities carried out under this Act, with specified analyses and recommendations. Directs the Administrator to maintain personnel levels at the Environmental Protection Agency which are adequate to carry out this Act. Includes plans approved under this Act under provisions of the Act for agreements with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Army, and the Interior to provide maximum utilization of programs to achieve and maintain water quality. Extends through FY 1988 the authorization of appropriations for transfers of funds relating to such agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should urge the Japanese to extend the current voluntary auto export limits beyond March 31, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1983
Declares that the President shall convene a domestic economic summit conference to address the economic situation created by projected large deficits. Requires that such conference convene within 45 days to develop and report to Congress a comprehensive plan to reduce the projected deficits in the United States budget.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to introduce a resolution that calls upon Iran to cease its persecution of the Iranian Baha'is and allow them to emigrate from Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1983
Designates the week beginning February 12, 1984, as a time to recognize the contributions of volunteers who become Big Brothers and Big Sisters to single parent youths.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1983
States that the United States: (1) condemns the Soviet destruction of Korean Air Lines flight 7; (2) calls for an explanation from the Soviets; (3) extends its sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and supports their rights to obtain reparations from the Soviets; (4) calls on the Soviets to assist in the recovery of the remains of the victims; (5) calls for an international investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization; (6) declares its intention to demand that the Soviets modify their air defense procedures to assure the safety of commercial airliners; (7) finds that this incident will make it difficult for the U.S. and other nations to accept the Soviets as responsible members of the international community; and (8) urges our allies and other nations to cooperate with specified demands on the Soviets.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Wine Equity Act of 1983 - Requires the President to direct the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to negotiate the harmonization of tariff and nontariff barriers on wine with each designated major trading country. Requires negotiations with designated major trading countries which do not export wine to the United States in order to eliminate all tariff and nontariff trade barriers of such countries to the importation of U.S. wine. Requires the President to impose tariff and nontariff trade barriers equal or substantially equivalent to the barriers applied by a designated major trading country if such country does not provide harmonization to U.S. produced-wine with 180 days of the country's designation as a designated major trading country. Provides for removing such U.S. tariff and nontariff barriers. Requires the USTR to report to specified congressional committees at the beginning and end of each negotiation. Requires the USTR to consult with such committees to identify further tariff and nontariff barriers to and potential markets for U.S. wine. Provides for assistance for the USTR from other Federal agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Women's Business Ownership Act of 1983 - Establishes the National Commission on Women's Business Ownership to review: (1) the status of women business owners nationwide; (2) the role of the Federal Government in aid to and the promotion of women business owners; and (3) data collection procedures with regard to women-owned businesses and Federal initiative and procurement. Directs the Commission to recommend: (1) new private sector initiatives regarding management and technical assistance to women business owners; (2) ways to create greater access to credit for women in business; and (3) ways to enhance procurement opportunities for women business owners. Terminates the Commission on the date that it transmits its final report to the President and to each House of the Congress. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Reform Act - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to expand the definition of "active ingredient" to include any ingredient of a pesticide which will endanger human beings. Revises Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) information requirements for pesticide registration. Provides that waivers and variation in data requirements may be granted only if the advisability of the waiver or variation is clearly established. Requires the Administrator of EPA to make the data submitted in support of registration applications and petitions to establish tolerances publicly available. Specifies the procedures and provisions governing the joint development and sharing of defensive data as required by the Administrator to fill a data gap. Extends the application comment period from 30 to 90 days. Requires the Administrator, when registering a pesticide, to make a written determination of active and inert ingredients. Requires the Administrator to consider potential chronic health effects in determining whether a pesticide will endanger human beings. Eliminates the Administrator's authority to waive efficiency data requirements. Requires the Administrator to publish in the Federal Register a summary of the factual basis supporting registration actions. Requires, rather than allows, the Administrator to deny registrations when certain requirements are not met. Prohibits the Administrator from granting a conditional registration for a previously canceled or suspended pesticide. Requires the Administrator to make the data submitted in support of a conditional registration publicly available. Repeals provisions specifying the conditions which must be met before initiating an interim administrative review. Directs the Administrator, in all decisions pertaining to classification, to consider the potential contamination of groundwater in determining whether a pesticide should be classified for restricted use. Provides that registration of a pesticide constitutes prima facie evidence that a pesticide is in compliance only if the active ingredient has been registered after enactment of this Act or re-registered since October 21, 1972, and provided that a cancellation proceeding is not in progress and that no required studies are outstanding. Requires the Administrator to publish in the Federal Register a list of pesticide active ingredients not re-registered since September 31, 1978, in order of their priority for re-registration, and a list of active ingredients and data gaps. Requires the Administrator to issue a notice of intent to suspend a pesticide's registration if there are outstanding data gaps on the pesticide and the Administrator has failed to include the ingredient on the re-registration priority list. Provides that a registrant must conduct studies to fill data gaps and report the results of the studies to the Administrator within three years of the publication of the list and data gaps. Requires the Administrator to issue regulations specifying what tests shall be undertaken on inert ingredients. Allows information on inert ingredients to be disclosed under specified circumstances. Revises requirements for restricted use certification. Eliminates provisions that prohibit a State from requiring a written examination as part of the certification process. Prohibits the Administrator from granting an experimental use permit if the use has previously been canceled, suspended, or voluntarily withdrawn for health or environmental reasons. Requires the Administrator to revoke an experimental use permit if such permit will not yield certain registration data. Authorizes the Administrator to immediately issue a notice of intent to cancel a pesticide's registrations, or revoke tolerances, if it appears that false, misleading, or inaccurate supporting information has been submitted. Requires, rather than allows, the Administrator to issue a notice of intent to hold a hearing or cancel a pesticide's registration if it may reasonably be expected to endanger human beings (including children permitted to work in areas treated with pesticides). Restricts the scope of a hearing held to consider data not available to the Administrator either when the hearing for registration of a previously canceled use of a pesticide was terminated or upon issuance of a cancellation decision. Provides that when a use or uses of a pesticide have been canceled, suspended, or voluntarily withdrawn because of health or environmental concerns, such use or uses shall not be eligible for registration unless there are no alternatives to control new or expanding pest infestation. Authorizes the Administrator to issue commercial applicators' recordkeeping regulations. Repeals certain EPA indemnification provisions. Establishes a private right of action against any person (including the United States or any other governmental instrumentality or agency), or against the Administrator for violations under this Act. Specifies time limits and conditions for such an action. Revises the foreign government notification requirement to include cases where a pesticide's registration has been voluntarily withdrawn. Authorizes an Administrator to grant a public health danger exemption to a State or Federal agency when no other pesticide alternatives are available. Provides that such an exemption may not be issued for more than one year or renewed more than twice. Revises requirements regarding the comprehensive national plan for monitoring pesticides. Provides that the plan shall be proposed by rule not later than June 1, 1984, and be effective not later than October 1, 1984. Transfers responsibility for regulating occupational exposure to pesticides to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Authorizes States to impose or continue in effect requirements for pesticide labeling or packaging in order to enforce a prohibition on the use of a federally registered pesticide or device in the State. Eliminates the Administrator's discretion to disapprove a special local need registration that is inconsistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Allows a rebuttable presumption that a special local need for a pesticide does not exist if five or more States seek the same pesticide for the same local need. Revises provisions pertaining to the appointment of members of the Scientific Advisory Panel. Directs the Administrator to appoint members from specified scientific disciplines. Requires the Administrator to promulgate safe use regulations within one year. Allows States to impose enforcement provisions and regulations more stringent than required by Federal law. Allows States two years to adopt an enforcement program responsive to the new requirements and regulations established pursuant to the National Pesticide Hazard Prevention Act. Directs the Administrator to collect registration fees. Provides certain protections for employees who have commenced actions, testified, or otherwise participated in an enforcement action or complaint. Authorizes the Administrator to establish and enforce standards for indoor human exposure to pesticides. Makes certain technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
White House Conference on the Homeless and the Hungry Act - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on the Homeless and the Hungry to develop recommendations and stimulate a national assessment of the problem of hunger and homelessness in the United States. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct the planning and conduct of the Conference. Directs Conference participants to give special consideration to: (1) providing long-range planning to ensure appropriate shelter and nutrition for all needy families; (2) accelerating the availability of emergency community food and shelter facilities; (3) exploring ways of using Government surplus food for the hungry; (4) encouraging States to exchange information on available services and issues of mutual concern; (5) providing incentives for private developers and criteria to rehabilitate abandoned housing; and (6) improving data collection activities. Directs the Conference to submit its final report to the President within 120 days of its formation. Requires the report's findings and recommendations to be made available to the public. Requires the President to transmit recommendations for implementing the report's recommendations to Congress within 120 days after receiving such report.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Commemorates the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the State of Georgia. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and furnish national medals to the Semiquincentenary Commission of the State of Georgia.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should not export nuclear reactor components for the nuclear power station at Tarapur, India, unless India provides stronger nuclear nonproliferation guarantees. Specifies what guarantees should be included.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Urges the Secretary of Education to postpone further action on the reorganization of certain programs in the Department of Education until a study by the General Accounting Office determines that such reorganization would not reduce the ability of the Department to achieve the goals intended by Congress when it authorized the affected programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1983 - Title I: Standards of Disability - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that an individual who is receiving disability benefits or child, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits based on disability may be determined not to be entitled to such benefits on the grounds that the disability involved has ceased, does not exist, or is not disabling, only if: (1) there has been medical improvement in the individual's impairment so that the individual can engage in substantial gainful activity; (2) the individual can engage in substantial gainful activity as a result of medical or vocational therapy or technology; or (3) on the basis of new or improved diagnostic techniques, the individual's impairment is not considered as disabling as it was at the time of the most recent prior disability determination and the individual can engage in substantial gainful activity. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) conduct a study, in conjunction with the National Academy of Sciences, on the use of subjective evidence of pain in making disability determinations; and (2) submit the study results to specified congressional committees. Requires the Secretary to consider the combined effect of all of an individual's impairments in determining whether such individual is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity. Title II: Disability Determination Process - Requires the Secretary to revise the criteria under the category "Mental Disorders" in the "Listing of Impairments" in effect under part 404 of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations which are used to make individualized determinations of disability for purposes of determining eligibility for disability benefits under title II of the Social Security Act. Prohibits the Social Security Administration from carrying out continuing eligibility reviews with respect to individuals previously determined to be under a disability due to mental impairment until such revisions have been established by final regulation. Makes such prohibition inapplicable in any case involving fraud or where an individual is engaged in substantial gainful activity. Sets forth requirements for the redetermination of disability determinations made after the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Secretary's revisions are established by final regulation. Provides that an initial disability determination by the Secretary or by a State agency which is unfavorable to a disability benefit applicant shall remain pending until after notice and opportunity for review. Requires that such a determination contain a statement of the case which indicates the basis of the disability determination, the right to a review, and the right to submit additional medical evidence before such review. Entitles the applicant or the applicant's spouse, divorced spouse, surviving divorced spouse, surviving spouse, surviving divorced mother, child, or parent to a review of a pending disability determination upon request and upon a showing that his or her rights may be prejudiced by such determination. Sets forth procedural requirements with respect to such a review. Requires the Secretary or the State agency to affirm or modify a pending disability determination on the basis of such a review. Provides that an initial decision by the Secretary as to an individual's eligibility for disability benefits which is based upon an initial disability determination and which is unfavorable to such individual shall contain a statement of the case which indicates the basis of such decision, the individual's right to a hearing, and the individual's right to submit additional evidence before or at such hearing. Entitles an individual who is dissatisfied with an initial decision by the Secretary to judicial review. Requires the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects in at least five States implementing the amendments made by this Act. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on such projects. Removes certain time restrictions on the continued payment of disability benefits during the appeal process. Requires the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the effect of the continued payment of benefits during the appeal process upon the expenditures of the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund; and (2) the rate of appeals to administrative law judges of unfavorable disability benefit entitlement determinations. Provides that a disability determination in the case of an individual with a mental impairment shall be made only after a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist employed by the State agency or the Secretary has made the proper medical evaluation. Requires the Secretary to prescribe standards with respect to consultative examinations which must be obtained for disability determinations. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Provides for the application of Federal rulemaking and administrative procedure requirements to disability determinations under title II of the Social Security Act. Specifies certain decisions by a U.S. court of appeals with which the Secretary and the Department of Health and Human Services must comply, unless there is a review by the U.S. Supreme Court. Expands the types of cases with respect to which States may be reimbursed by the Secretary for the costs of furnishing vocational rehabilitation services. Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services an Advisory Council on the Medical Aspects of Disability, which shall advise and make recommendations to the Secretary on disability standards, policies, and procedures. Terminates the Council on December 31, 1985. Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to require that each report by the Secretary to Congress on the administration of the Social Security Act contain a description of the current status of the disability insurance program under title II of such Act. Requires the Secretary to establish enough attorney adviser positions in the Department of Health and Human Services to insure adequate opportunity for career advancement for attorneys in the Social Security Administration. Requires that such attorneys be given qualifying experience for appointment to administrative law judge positions. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees with respect to complying with these requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1983
Fire Island National Seashore Amendments Act of 1983 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to sell any property within the boundaries of the Fire Island National Seashore in New York which is acquired by condemnation under this Act (except for certain undeveloped tracts within the Dune District, certain beach areas, property within a specified eight-mile park area, and any property acquired before October 1, 1982, which the Secretary determines should be retained to further the purposes of this Act). Requires that the Secretary sell the property: (1) to the highest bidder; (2) at not less than fair market value; and (3) subject to covenants or restrictions to ensure that the use of the property conforms to standards protecting the national seashore and to any approved zoning ordinance to which the property is subject. Provides that money from such sales shall be available to the Secretary only for purposes of acquiring property within the seashore. Authorizes the Secretary, upon or after the commencement of any condemnation action, to apply for a temporary restraining order or injunction to prevent any use of, or construction upon, the property involved that would fail to conform to the standards protecting the seashore or that would result in undeveloped tracts in the Dune District not being maintained in their natural state. Provides for the termination of the suspension of the Secretary's authority to acquire property within the seashore boundaries by condemnation because of nonconforming variances and uses with respect to any property, including improved property but excluding undeveloped property in the Dune District, which becomes subject to such a variance or use after the enactment of this Act. (Currently, the suspension of the Secretary's authority to acquire property by condemnation because of non-conforming variances and uses is terminated with respect to any improved property which becomes subject to such a variance or use.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1983
Establishes a Commission on the Eleanor Roosevelt Centennial to encourage and coordinate Federal observance of October 11, 1984, the centennial of Eleanor Roosevelt's birth. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to complete the renovation of the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site at Val-Kill in Hyde Park, New York, in FY 1984, sufficiently to open it to full public visitation. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1983
Amends rule XXXIV of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require official reporters and stenographers of committees to take down a verbatim account of House and committee proceedings. Requires the verbatim account in the House to be designated in the Congressional Record as Proceedings of the House. Provides for corrections to such account in a separate section of the Record. Authorizes each committee to adopt a procedure for the correction of errors in its transcripts.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that it should not be U.S. foreign policy to overthrow governments with which the United States disagrees politically. Urges the President to indicate U.S. support for the Contadora Group initiative by endorsing specified proposals of the Group. States that the United States should: (1) announce its willingness to pursue negotiations with all Central American nations and to stop U.S. arms shipments; (2) offer technical assistance to the Group to assist in the verification of such a freeze on arms traffic in the region; (3) stop funding guerrilla forces seeking to overthrow Nicaragua; and (4) exert diplomatic efforts to persuade other involved governments to cease activities aimed at destabilizing the existing Central American governments.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1983
Establishes the Kamehameha National Monument in Hawaii. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide facilities to commemorate the historical significance of the monument. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1983
Universal Telephone Service Preservation Act of 1983 - Provides that, effective as of enactment of this Act, the decisions and orders of the Federal Communications Commission in C.C. docket numbered 78-72 shall cease to have effect. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Commission to establish a system of charges to compensate exchange common carriers for exchange access, and to reform the system of settlements and jurisdictional separation of property and expenses in force on the date of enactment. States that the purposes of such system of charges shall be: (1) to compensate exchange common carriers for all costs associated with providing or making available exchange access; (2) to achieve equitable treatment of all interexchange carriers and other persons who benefit from the services and facilities of each exchange common carrier, and to prevent contributions between exchange services or functions and interexchange services or functions of such carriers, except as provided below; (3) to ensure the continued universal availability of communications service provided by exchange common carriers at reasonable and affordable charges; (4) to assure that payments and assignments of costs relating to exchange access are carried out in a manner which ensures accountability and is open to public examination; and (5) to encourage efficient investment decisions and technological development. Requires the system to provide that an exchange common carrier shall file to the Commission a tariff for exchange access for each of its exchange areas. Authorizes a carrier to file, or the Commission or State Commission may require a carrier to file, a joint tariff for exchange access for all of its exchange areas within a single State until January 1, 1988, or later as the Commission may provide. Requires each tariff to specify separate charges for each type of exchange access on an element-by-element basis. Requires the charges for each type of tariff to be justified by costs. Requires each tariff to consist of four charges to be recovered from interexchange carriers. Provides that three of the charges shall encompass all costs associated with exchange access and one shall be the surcharge determined by the Universal Service Board (established by this Act). Requires the charges of each tariff which encompass all costs associated with exchange access to specifically identify the separate charges involved. Requires the system to provide that an exchange common carrier shall submit to the Commission a tariff for exchange access available from such carrier for interexchange carriers or other persons who indirectly interconnect with the facilities of such exchange carrier. Requires each tariff to include: (1) a charge for the direct costs of any services, facilities, or other factors required solely for the provision of such interconnection; (2) a charge reflecting an appropriate portion of the cost of services, facilities, and other factors which are used jointly or in common to provide exchange service and exchange access; (3) a charge reflecting the availability of the facilities of the exchange carrier for exchange access as an alternative for indirectly interconnecting interexchange carriers and interexchange customers to the extent such facilities are not used for exchange access by such carriers and customers; and (4) the surcharge determined by the Universal Service Board. Requires any person who owns or operates facilities to originate or terminate interexchange communication other than through direct interconnection to notify the appropriate exchange carriers, the Commission, and the appropriate State Commissions. Imposes a $50,000 fine on any person who is required, but fails, to make such notification. Directs the Commission, after consideration of recommendations of the Universal Service Board, to establish practices and methods to ascertain and fully apportion the cost of services, facilities, and other factors used jointly or in common to provide exchange services and exchange access. Provides that the initial tariffs for exchange access shall take effect on July 1, 1985. Sets forth provisions governing the transitional period. Establishes the Universal Service Fund, in order to assure the continued availability of universal transmission services, including service in rural or remote areas, at reasonable and affordable charges. Directs the Universal Service Board to annually determine uniform surcharges on the amounts collected by exchange common carriers under this Act, such that the Fund is sufficient to make required payments. Provides that an exchange common carrier is entitled to receive payments from the Fund if it certifies to the Universal Service Board that its average costs for nontraffic sensitive facilities per customer access line is in excess of 115 percent of the national average of such costs. Provides that the amount of such payments for an eligible exchange carrier shall be determined by the Universal Service Board. Directs the Universal Service Board to establish and oversee an exchange access board (consisting of representatives of exchange common carriers, interexchange carriers, and other customers directly obtaining exchange access) to administer the accounts of the Universal Service Fund. Directs the Commission to establish the Universal Service Board for the purpose of: (1) ensuring equitable and efficient economic treatment of users of common carrier services and exchange services and carriers providing such services; (2) providing for an orderly transition to the system of charges for exchange access established by this Act; and (3) achieving cooperation between the Federal Government and the States. Directs the Board to: (1) establish and maintain formulas for defining and comparing national average costs and charges and uniform practices for determining the payments required by the Fund, and to oversee the distribution of funds from the Fund by the exchange access board; (2) make such changes and modifications in the system of jurisdictional separation of carrier property and expenses in force as may be necessary for the transitional system of charges for exchange access; and (3) determine at regular intervals the relative assignment by exchange common carriers of the cost of factors of production which are used jointly or in common to provide exchange service and exchange access. Grants State commissions authority: (1) to establish classifications for exchange facilities and the portion of facilities used jointly for exchange and interexchange services assigned to the States by the Board; and (2) to prescribe the methods by which exchange carriers shall recover investments in such facilities. Requires such methods to provide for recovery of investments in such classes of facilities in a manner which promotes the economic viability of the exchange carriers involved. Provides that in the case of any interexchange service provided by any carrier under a tariff in effect July 1, 1983, which was filed jointly with another carrier or under any successor tariff in effect after such date, the tariff applicable to such service provided by such carrier shall be based on the nationwide average of the cost of providing interexchange service. Authorizes a State commission to require any exchange common carrier to lease and maintain on request a single basic one-line telephone instrument, and associated wiring, to any subscriber within such State on the basis of a tariff that includes all costs of providing and maintaining such instrument and wiring. Requires each State commission to establish rules for the provision of lifeline telephone service by exchange carriers which consists of providing minimum telephone exchange service at a discounted rate for low-income residential customers. Prohibits any carrier or exchange carrier from using revenues from regulated communications services to defray any costs associated with its entry into or engaging in commercial activities the prices for which are not regulated by the Commission or any State commissions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1983
Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to give equal weight in making oil and gas leasing decisions to the potential for environmental damage, potential for the discovery of oil and gas, and the potential for adverse impact on the coastal zone. (Currently, the Secretary is to strike the proper balance between the three.) Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to require the use of the best available and safest technologies and operating procedures on all new drilling and production operations and, wherever practicable, on existing operations wherever failure of equipment or procedures would have significant effect on safety, health, or the environment.
![Official portrait of Rep. Mrazek, Robert J. [D-NY-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001057_200.jpg)