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United States · Official source
4,495 records where Rep. Murphy, Austin J. [D-PA-20] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1985
Designates the week beginning January 12, 1986, as National Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1985
Designates the week beginning September 22, 1985, as National Needlework Week.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Children's Television Education Act of 1985 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each television broadcasting station to broadcast a substantial amount of programming which: (1) serves the educational and informational needs of children who are 12 years old or younger; and (2) is reasonably scheduled throughout the week. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to designate for hearing any license renewal application by a television station if a petition for denial is filed alleging that the applicant has failed to broadcast a specific minimum amount of such programming. Provides that the burden shall be on the applicant to prove it has fulfilled its obligation to serve the child audience. Permits the Commission to dismiss a petition to deny an application for renewal only if it determines that the petition is frivolous. Requires the Commission's annual report to the Congress to: (1) list the television licensees whose licenses were renewed notwithstanding a failure to meet children's programming requirements, with an explanation of each such renewal; and (2) describe the implementation of this Act and its impact on children's programming. Directs the Commission to conduct and report to the Congress on an inquiry into program length commercials for which the primary audience is children who are 12 years old or younger.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Black Lung Benefits Amendments Act of 1985 - Amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide that all administrative law judges making determinations under such Act shall receive compensation at a rate not less than the GS-16 level. Makes such amendment applicable to determinations for benefits pending before the Department of Labor on the date of enactment of this Act as well as to claims brought after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Designates March 16, 1986, as Freedom of Information Day.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1985
Amends the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an annual contest to select the design for the duck hunting stamp to be issued each year. Requires proceeds received from contest entry fees to be deposited in the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund established under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Technology Education Act of 1985 - Defines "technology education" as a comprehensive educational process designed to develop a population that is knowledgeable about technology and its evolution, systems, techniques, utilization in industry and other fields, and social and cultural significance. Directs the Secretary of Education, subject to the availability of appropriations under this Act, to establish a program of grants to local educational agencies (LEAs), State educational agencies (SEAs), and institutions of higher education for demonstration programs in technology education for secondary schools. Sets forth grant application requirements. Directs the Secretary to consider equitable geographic distribution in making such grants. Permits such grants to be used to develop a model demonstration program for technology education with specified components. Includes among such components research and development of curriculum materials, an institute to develop teacher capabilities in technology education, and multidisciplinary teacher workshops for interfacing mathematics, science, and technology education. Limits the Federal share to 75 percent of the costs of programs or projects assisted under this Act. Directs the Secretary to disseminate the results of such programs or projects so as to improve the training of educational personnel. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY 1987 and 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to: (1) establish regulations necessary to ensure access (currently, reasonable access) to telephone service by persons with impaired hearing; and (2) require that all telephones (currently, essential telephones) provide internal means for effective use with hearing aids specially designed for telephone use. Repeals a provision directing the Commission to consider the costs and benefits to all telephone users when making rules concerning telephone service for the disabled.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Revitalized American Industrial Steel Effort Act - Establishes the American Steel Corporation as a mixed-ownership Government corporation. Provides that the five-member board of directors of the Corporation shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires that, of such five members: (1) two be representative of upper-level management of a profitable steel company and selected from a list recommended by the American Iron and Steel Institute; (2) one be representative of the financial community and selected from lists recommended by financial institutions, the financial community, and recognized financial leaders; and (3) two be representative of steel labor and selected from a list recommended by the United Steelworkers of America-AFL-CIO. Requires that each such list consist of at least three qualified individuals. Makes the Secretary of Labor or the Secretary's delegate an ex officio, non-voting member of the board. Sets forth provisions for board selection of a chairman, terms of office, meetings, compensation, and completion of organization. Directs the Corporation to purchase a qualified steel plant or plants on such terms and conditions as the board considers appropriate. Defines "qualified steel plant" as one that: (1) ceased to operate within the two-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act; (2) was able to produce more than 3,000,000 tons of raw steel a year when fully operating; (3) was in a community which suffered economic upheaval because of the plant's closing; (4) was the predominant source of employment for the majority of individuals in the labor force living in that community; (5) is situated in a county where unemployed skilled steel workers are available for work, where the total labor force was between 90,000 and 100,000 persons in 1984, and where the unemployment rate was not less than 11 percent in 1984; (6) has specified types of and capacities in its ironmaking and steelmaking facilities; and (7) has the capability to produce a wide range of products, including specified types of products. Directs the Corporation to operate any steel plant by: (1) repairing or replacing its equipment and facilities; (2) phasing-in plant operation; (3) adopting and following management and operating practices that are likely to result in profits within a reasonable period of time; and (4) selling the plant back to the private sector when it has become reasonably profitable, but in no event later than ten years after the date of enactment of this Act. Requires the Corporation, for any steel plant it is operating, to produce: (1) high quality steel products; and (2) ensure fair competition domestically by selling all products at the prevailing market price. Requires the Corporation to first hire, for any plant it has purchased, steel workers who have been laid off from that plant in the order in which they were laid off, as long as any such worker is still living in the plant vicinity and qualified to do the available job. Requires the Corporation to pay each worker no less than the pay established and negotiated, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, by the United Steelworkers of America for that job. Requires the Corporation to provide the same or greater fringe benefits, seniority rights, and retirement benefits as the worker was entitled to or had accumulated before being laid off (except that no retirement payments may be made until six months after the plant begins operations). Directs the Corporation to establish a trust which forms part of an employee stock ownership plan. Requires such plan to: (1) be maintained by the Corporation; (2) satisfy specified requirements under the Internal Revenue Code; (3) benefit 90 percent or more of all employees of the Corporation, excluding those who have not satisfied minimum requirements for plan participation; (4) grant each participant a nonforfeitable right to accrued benefits; (5) provide for allocation of employer contributions in equal amounts to the accounts of all participants; and (6) provide that distributions from the trust are made in accordance with specified requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. Directs the Corporation to either continue or create an organization within the Corporation through which employees and management can participate jointly in solving problems of the Corporation, with the goal of improving efficiency, productivity, profitability, and employee morale. Provides that employees of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be Federal employees. Directs the Corporation to conduct research and development, either alone or jointly with private industry, to improve steel manufacturing technologies and types of products. Requires the Corporation to allow the private entity to share with the Corporation for a ten-year period the rights to any new discoveries made through the joint venture. Sets forth the powers of the Corporation. Sets forth provisions relating to the Corporation's principal office, designated agent, and officers. Requires the Corporation to report annually to the President and the Congress, and to make copies of the report available to interested persons at a reasonable cost. Directs the Secretary of Labor to submit to the board and the Congress, within six months after the date of the completion of the organization of the Corporation, a study of the long-term viability of the Corporation's involvement in the steel industry. Requires such study to assess: (1) the impact of likely trends and events on the steel industry and the Corporation; and (2) the adequacy of the industry's existing structure to make necessary technological and corporate adjustments. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress an annual comprehensive assessment of the state of the steel industry and its interaction with the economy. Requires the board to take the results of the six-month study and each annual assessment into account when examining and evaluating the Corporation's finances and operations. Adds the American Steel Corporation to a list in specified provisions of Federal law relating to the definition of mixed-ownership Government corporations. Exempts the Corporation from Federal, State, and local income taxes. Requires the Corporation's receipts and disbursements to be presented annually in the Budget of the U.S. Government, but not be included in the totals of the Budget. Authorizes appropriations to the Corporation for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1985, in such amounts as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the amount of a qualified artistic charitable contribution shall be the fair market value of the property contributed (determined at the time of such contribution). Defines "qualified artistic charitable contribution" as the contribution of any literary, music, artistic, or scholarly composition, any letter or memorandum, or similar property, but only if: (1) such property was created by the personal efforts of the taxpayer making such contribution no less than one year prior to such contribution; (2) there is a written appraisal of the fair market value of the property included with the tax return; and (3) the use of such property by the donee is related to the purpose or function constituting the basis for the donee's tax exemption. Limits the amount of the qualified artistic charitable contributions for any taxable year to the artistic adjusted gross income for the taxpayer for such taxable year. Defines "artistic adjusted gross income." Prohibits public officials from taking a deduction for donation of their papers if the papers were produced while the officials were officers or employees of the United States or any State, or if the papers were created out of the performance of any duties as officers or employees of the government. Provides that alternative tax itemized deductions shall be determined without regard to the deduction for qualified artistic charitable contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Designates the week of December 15 through December 21, 1985, as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1985
Designates the week of October 6 through October 13, 1985, as National Housing Week.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Designates March 1986 as Music In Our Schools Month.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Designates November 18, 1985, as Eugene Ormandy Appreciation Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Dropout Prevention and Reentry Act of 1985 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 (ESEA) to add a new title X, the Dropout Prevention and Reentry Act of 1985. (Redesignates the current title X as title XI.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990 for such new title X. Directs the Secretary of Education, from such title X funds for any fiscal year, to allot 20 percent to each of five categories of local educational agencies (LEAs) (based on total elementary and secondary school student enrollments). Directs the Secretary, from the amounts allotted to such categories of LEAs, to award as many grants as practicable within each such category to LEAs whose applications: (1) have been approved; and (2) propose a program of sufficient size and scope to be of value as a demonstration. Limits an LEA to no more than one such grant in each of three fiscal years. Requires the amount of a grant to be, to the extent practicable, proportionate to the extent and severity of the local dropout problem. Limits the amount of a grant to 90 percent of the total cost of a project during its first fiscal year, 80 percent in the second, and 70 percent in the third. Sets forth grant application requirements (including plans for addressing the needs of pregnant minors and school-age parents). Directs the Secretary to give first priority within each category of LEA to applicants with either very high numbers or very high percentages of school dropouts. Sets forth requirements for review of LEA second or third year projects. Requires such grants to be used to carry out plans set forth in the applications. Lists activities such grants may also be used for, including counseling, remedial education, work-study, community-organization service, curriculum review, and school staff training. Requires at least 30 percent of each grant to be used for dropout prevention activities, and another 30 percent for dropout reentry activities (i.e. persuading dropouts to return to school and assisting former dropouts with specialized services once they return to school). Directs the Secretary, from amounts appropriated to the Secretary for FY 1986, to use a specified limited amount to conduct a one-year study of the nature and extent of the dropout program. Sets forth requirements for such study, (including development of a model dropout information collection and reporting system and minimum reporting system requirements). Sets forth general provisions for title X, including provisions relating to withholding payments, annual reports, and audits. Requires that title X grants supplement other funds.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Trade Emergency and Export Promotion Act - Declares that actions by the President, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) pursuant to this Act shall not be reviewable by any court, except for abuse of discretion. Title I: International Trade Actions and Agreements - Declares that a national emergency exists because of distortions and imbalances in trade and instability in exchange rates and that such emergency requires extraordinary measures, including action to: (1) restore the value of the dollar; and (2) either eliminate foreign unfair trade barriers or prohibit countries which employ such barriers from enjoying trade surpluses with the United States or increasing shares of world export markets. Authorizes the President to negotiate and enter into with any foreign country or entity agreements limiting the export from such country or entity, and the importation into the United States, of any article. Directs the USTR to initiate proceedings against Japan before appropriate international bodies in order to obtain authorization to take trade actions against Japan on the grounds that: (1) Japan has failed to comply with trade agreements entered into with the United States; and (2) Japan has adopted numerous domestic policies and practices that impair and violate such trade agreements and impede achievement of their objectives. Directs the USTR, with the cooperation of the Secretary of Agriculture, to initiate actions under all international trade agreements to which the United States is a party in order to take appropriate countermeasures against agricultural export subsidies provided by the European Communities and other countries which will be used to prevent: (1) injury to U.S. agricultural producers; (2) nullification or impairment of such trade agreements; and (3) serious prejudice to the United States. Authorizes the USTR to initiate actions against each foreign country (except Japan and the European Communities) or entity that was an excess worldwide trade surplus country or an excess bilateral trade surplus country for 1984 under all applicable U.S. laws and international agreements in order to: (1) enforce the rights of the United States under such international agreements; and (2) obtain the elimination of certain trade acts, policies, and practices of such countries or entities. Directs the USTR to explain in proceedings initiated under this title that the United States finds it necessary to take the actions provided in title II of this Act as interim measures pending the outcome of such proceedings in order to protect vital U.S. interests. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to develop a plan to reduce fluctuations between currencies on foreign currency exchange markets. Sets forth characteristics of such plan. Title II: Interim Domestic Trade Actions to Respond to the Trade Emergency - Subtitle A: Stand-by Duties - Directs the ITC to determine annually each major exporting country's: (1) worldwide nonpetroleum export percentage; (2) bilateral nonpetroleum export percentage; (3) worldwide nonpetroleum trade surplus; (4) bilateral nonpetroleum trade surplus; (5) worldwide trade surplus limitation; and (6) bilateral trade surplus limitation. Requires the ITC to report annually to the President on: (1) the determinations on the trade of such major exporting countries; (2) the identity of each foreign country which was an excess worldwide trade surplus country or excess bilateral trade surplus country during the preceding year; and (3) whether or not standby duties should be imposed on imports from such countries. Requires the President, within 15 days of receiving such report to determine, with respect to each country identified as an excess worldwide trade surplus country or excess bilateral trade surplus country: (1) whether such country unfairly restricts or limits the access of imports to its markets; and (2) if the President determines that such country does restrict access to its markets, whether such restriction contributes to that country's trade surplus. Requires the President, if both such determinations are positive, to impose stand-by duties on all imports from such countries. Prohibits making such determinations or imposing such duties if the U.S. trade deficit divided by the U.S. gross national product is less than one and one-half percent. Requires the President to report to the Congress, within 15 days of receiving the reports on worldwide and bilateral trade, on the determinations made with respect to imposing stand-by duties. Declares that the rate of a stand-by duty shall be 25 percent ad valorem and that such duty shall be in addition to any other duties. Provides for the implementation of such duties. Requires all revenues from such stand-by duties to be allocated to the Public Debt Reduction Account in the Treasury. Expresses the sense of the Congress that all funds in such Account be used only to reduce the Federal debt. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the Congress on the revenue derived from such stand-by duties. Prohibits imposing stand-by duties on articles imported after April 30, 1992. Prohibits requiring reports and determinations on trade surpluses after April 1991. Subtitle B: Reports - Directs the President to report annually to specified congressional committees on the operation of this Act. Title III: Trade Law Reform - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to transfer to the USTR from the President the authority to order import relief and the authority to extend tariff preferences. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to transfer to the USTR from the President the authority to approve or disapprove ITC actions to prevent unfair practices in import trade.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force to prescribe regulations to ensure that National Guard technicians are protected from certain adverse employment actions (i.e. removal, suspension, grade reduction, or furlough) in the same manner as are Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Amends the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to repeal Title IV provisions requiring sale of the Federal interest in the common stock of the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail). Requires Conrail to pay certain amounts to the general fund of the Treasury as repayment of loans made by the United States or the United States Railway Association.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
United States Peace Tax Fund Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit conscientious objectors to designate their income, estate, or gift tax payments for nonmilitary purposes. Establishes within the Treasury a United States Peace Tax Fund (Fund) to receive such tax payments. Defines a "conscientious objector" as an individual who by reason of religious training and belief is opposed to participation in war in any form and either: (1) has been exempted from combat training and service in the armed forces under the Military Selective Service Act; or (2) satisfactorily demonstrates that he is conscientiously opposed to war in any form. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to deny such status to a taxpayer upon a finding that the taxpayer is not entitled to make such a designation. Allows a taxpayer to challenge such a denial by bringing an action in the United States Tax Court or in a U.S. district court for a declaratory judgment as to whether the taxpayer is an eligible individual and entitled to make such a designation. Requires every taxpayer who makes such a designation for any taxable year to file a questionnaire return during such year for the purpose of determining whether the taxpayer is an eligible individual. Permits the setting aside of criminal or civil penalties imposed upon a taxpayer for nonpayment of tax prior to 1988 if the taxpayer pays the tax due (with interest) and satisfactorily establishes that the nonpayment was due to religious beliefs. Directs the Comptroller General to determine the percentage of actual appropriations made by the United States from the Federal budget during the preceding year for military purposes. Requires the publication of such information in the Congressional Record. Establishes a United States Peace Tax Fund Board of Trustees to direct research efforts on behalf of world peace. Sets forth the membership structure and duties of the Board. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1985
Children's Justice Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make additional grants to States for developing, operating, or implementing programs for: (1) handling child abuse cases in a manner to reduce trauma to the child (especially in sexual abuse cases); (2) successful prosecution or legal action against child abusers; and (3) protection of children from abuse. Makes a State eligible for such assistance if it establishes a multidisciplinary task force and adopts reforms recommended by such task force. Requires the task force to be comprised of professionals experienced in the criminal justice system. Requires a State to adopt reforms recommended by the task force in each of the three stipulated categories or submit a detailed explanation of the reasons for not carrying out such recommendations. Requires the Secretary, through the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, to: (1) compile, publish, and disseminate evaluations of the approaches utilized with respect to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases; (2) develop and disseminate model training materials and procedures to help insure that law enforcement, legal, judicial, and child welfare personnel are adequately trained to deal with child abuse victims; and (3) provide for support of research projects to assist in identifying effective approaches to achieving successful investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. Directs the Secretary, within two years, to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the activities carried out with the funds made available under this Act and report the results to the Congress. Requires the evaluation to be made available to State officials within 180 days after enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, and any other agency or department head designated by the President, to meet regularly to coordinate and prevent the overlap of programs that address child abuse. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress on the coordination of Federal programs. Requires the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information Center in its Interstate Identification Index, and by the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its Criminal File and its Uniform Crime Reporting System, with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Amends the Public Health Service Act with regard to the confidentiality of patient records to provide that nothing in such section shall supersede any State or local requirement for the reporting of incidents of suspected child abuse to authorities.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1985
Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide that the performance bond furnished by an applicant for surface coal mining and reclamation operations may be limited to coverage of land upon which such operations are actually to be conducted, and may cover specific limited phases of reclamation within the permit area.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take such actions as are necessary to ensure that, with respect to each field office of the Social Security Administration in operation as of July 1, 1985: (1) such office is not closed; (2) any type of function performed by such office is not terminated; and (3) no employee of such office is removed, reassigned, furloughed, or reduced in grade. Permits a field office to be relocated if the new location is within the same commuting area as the former site of such office. Sets forth reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the: (1) local field office structure of the Social Security Administration should be maintained, strengthened, and fully staffed; and (2) proper amount of administrative costs of such offices should approximate 1.5 percent of the costs of the social security benefit programs serviced by such offices.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Controlled Substances Penalties Act of 1985 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase the penalties for offenses involving: (1) a kilogram or more of cocaine; (2) two or more kilograms of any other narcotic drug in schedules I or II; (3) a kilogram or more of phencyclidine (PCP); or (4) 25 grams or more of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Provides for a fine of not more than $500,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 30 years. Prohibits any person from being released on bail pending trial for or appeal with respect to an offense under such Act. Requires first offenders to serve at least one half of their sentences before they become eligible for parole. Makes second drug offenders subject to life imprisonment.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Methanol Vehicle Incentives Act of 1985 - Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to set forth the manner of determining the fuel economy of methanol powered automobiles.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Urges the President to begin talks with the Soviet Union aimed at creating a jointly administered U.S.-Soviet student exchange program. Sets forth certain aspects of such exchange program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1985
Designates the week beginning September 1, 1985, as National Buy American Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Establishes the Office of Inspector General in the Postal Service. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities of such office.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the year of 1986 as the Sesquicentennial Year of the National Library of Medicine.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the Week of October 6 through October 12, 1985, as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Recognizes the efforts of the members of the Airborne Divisions of the U.S. Army who served during World War II. Urges the Postmaster General to issue commemorative stamps honoring those Divisions, and to determine the appropriate denomination, design, and period of issuance of the stamps.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1985
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit the purchase, lease, or acquisition of control in any manner of a substantial portion of an air carrier by the following persons: (1) any air carrier which is a debtor; (2) any person who is a debtor and controls an air carrier; (3) any person controlling an air carrier which is a debtor; or (4) any person who is a debtor and is substantially engaged in the business of aeronautics.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit in an amount equal to 50 percent of expenses incurred for the purchase and installation of television subtitle equipment to be used by a hearing-impaired individual. Limits the amount of such credit to $250 ($125 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return).
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Designates November 1, 1985, as National Philanthropy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Designates July 13, 1985, as Live Aid Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1985
School Excellence and Reform Act - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 to make payments for programs of: (1) general improvement and excellence in education; and (2) reform and equity in education. Sets forth (after reserving specified amounts for certain U.S. territories and possessions) formulas for State and local allocation of payments for general improvement and excellence in education. Provides, under such local allocation formula, for certain increases in the amount of such payments on the basis of numbers of children eligible to be counted for purposes of special needs funding under specified provisions of subpart 1 (Basic Grants), part A (Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies) of title I (Financial Assistance to Meet Special Educational Needs of Children) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Sets forth (after reserving specified amounts for payments to certain U.S. territories and possessions) formulas for State and local allocation for reform and equity in education. Provides, under such State allocation formula, for certain increases in payments based on numbers of children eligible to be counted under the aforementioned ESEA provisions for special educational needs funding. Authorizes the State educational agency to establish the relative weights of factors under such local allocation formula, but requires that such formula be composed of only the following factors: (1) the number of children aged five to 17, inclusive, who are eligible to be counted under the aforementioned ESEA provisions for special educational needs funding; (2) the graduation rate; (3) the absentee rate; and (4) the number of low-achieving students. Permits those general improvement and excellence funds which are allocated to local educational agencies to be used for: (1) pursuit of general educational excellence and improvement of instruction in mathematics, the sciences, communications skills, foreign languages, and technology; and (2) where necessary, for guidance and counseling. Permits those reform and equity funds which are retained by a State under specified provisions of this Act to be used to administer and carry out categorical programs and projects. Permits those reform and equity funds which are allocated to local educational agencies (LEAs) to be used for the development, expansion, or improvement of any of the following categorical programs and projects: (1) early childhood education; (2) school day care; (3) in-service teacher training; (4) dropout prevention; (5) effective schools; and (6) improvement of secondary schools basic skills instruction. Requires State applications for allocations of general improvement and excellence payments and reform and equity payments for any fiscal year under this Act to: (1) meet specified requirements under the General Education Provisions Act; and (2) in the case of reform and equity payment allocations, describe the intended use of funds to be retained by the State to enhance State reform efforts. Allows a local educational agency, in any fiscal year, to submit a single application for an allocation of general improvement and excellence funds or an allocation of reform and equity funds, or both. Permits two or more local educational agencies that propose to conduct joint programs and projects from funds for general improvement and excellence to file such application as a consortium or other combination. Prohibits a local educational agency from applying for an allocation of reform and equity funds unless the total number of children age five to 17, inclusive, in the schools of such agency who are eligible to be counted under the aforementioned ESEA provisions for special educational needs funding exceeds the lesser of 5,000 or 20 percent of the total enrollment of such schools. Requires local educational agencies, in order to receive either general improvement and excellence or reform and equity allocations, to have on file with the State educational agency an application which includes description of the programs and projects to be funded and a plan for the improvement of the selected educational areas covered by such programs and projects. Requires such local educational agency or consortium applications, or application renewals, to also contain assurances that: (1) the programs and projects are designed and implemented in consultation with the parents and classroom teachers of the children to be served; (2) the funds received under this Act will supplement and not supplant non-Federal funding; and (3) the local educational agency will comply with specified maintenance of effort requirements which the State educational agency must enforce. Requires each local educational agency receiving an allocation under this Act for any fiscal year to submit to the State educational agency evidence of progress in particular areas for which funds were expended or evidence of general improvement in the educational system, such as: (1) reductions in, or maintenance of acceptable levels of, absenteeism, discipline problems, and dropouts at the secondary level; (2) more instructional time; and (3) smaller class size. Authorizes the State educational agency, at the State's discretion, to conduct audits on a sampling basis to verify the accuracy of such submissions. Terminates a local educational agency's eligibility to obtain an allocation under this Act for more than three fiscal years, unless the evidence submitted demonstrates progress as verified by the State. Authorizes the Secretary, from specified amounts reserved from reform and equity funds, to make business involvement matching grants to local educational agencies. Sets the maximum amount of any such grant at 50 percent of the fair market value of any donation by local business concerns to the local educational agency for the conduct of programs and projects under this Act. Allows such donations to be in cash or in kind, and to consist of equipment, the services of business personnel, or training provided to the local educational agency.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
University Research Facilities Revitalization Act of 1985 - Requires each of the major Federal research and development agencies to establish and carry out a new university research laboratory modernization program, under which an amount equal to a specified portion of the funds available to the agency involved for research and development awards to institutions of higher education will be reserved for the replacement or modernization of such institutions' obsolete laboratories and other research facilities. Requires that funds under such program be awarded in response to specific proposals submitted by universities and colleges, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the head of the agency involved. Requires that such regulations provide that funds to carry out the program be awarded on a competitive basis and in an amount not exceeding 50 percent of the cost of the replacement or modernization involved. Sets forth required criteria for the award of such funds. Defines the "major Federal research and development agencies" as: (1) the National Science Foundation; (2) the Department of Health and Human Services; (3) the Department of Defense; (4) the Department of Energy; (5) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and (6) the Department of Agriculture. Title I: Identification and Assessment of University and College Research Facility Needs; Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the National Science Foundation - Authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to design, establish, and maintain a data collection and analysis capability to identify and assess the research facilities needs of universities and colleges. Directs NSF, in conjunction with other appropriate Federal agencies, to: (1) conduct biennial surveys for such identification and assessment purposes; and (2) report the results to the Congress, with the first such report to be due on September 1, 1986. Directs the NSF, when conducting such surveys and reporting to the Congress, to also collect and assess data on the implementation of the university research laboratory modernization programs being carried out under this Act. Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in NSF. (Note: The following provisions are similar to those for such program funding in the other "major Federal research and development agencies" which are set forth in titles II, III, IV, V, and VI of this Act.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 to NSF to implement and carry out the new university research laboratory modernization program. Requires that a specified minimum amount (equal to a portion, as determined by certain formulas, of the total amount which is appropriated to NSF for FY 1988 through 1996 and which is available for obligation by NSF for research and development awards to universities and colleges) be reserved for purposes of this Act and used only to carry out NSF's university research modernization program. Permits such funds to be used for such program either as a part of awards made to universities and colleges involved for activities carried out under the authority of other laws or through separate awards made for purposes of this Act. Requires that such funds be used only on the basis of proposals submitted by such universities and colleges. Requires that a specified minimum portion of such funds be available only for awards to universities and colleges that received less than $10,000,000 in total Federal obligations for research and development in each of the two preceding years. Title II: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Health and Human Services - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Health and Human Services. (Note: These provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title III: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Defense - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Defense. (Note: These provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title IV: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Energy - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Energy. (Note: These provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title V: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (Note: these provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title VI; Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Agriculture - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Agriculture. (Note: these provisions are similar to the program funding provision under title I.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
National Public Works Corporation Act - Amends title II of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to name such title "Public Works Corporation." Establishes the National Public Works Corporation. Provides for the Board of Directors, the officers and employees, and the powers of such Corporation. Requires the principal office to be in the District of Columbia. Provides for the borrowing authority, capitalization, and reserve fund of the Corporation. Authorizes appropriations for the capitalization of the Corporation for fiscal years following 1985. Authorizes States electing to participate in the Corporation to make certain contributions. Sets the maximum amount of contributions any one State may make to the Corporation. Authorizes the Corporation to make loans to participating States and local governments for projects for the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of public facilities in accordance with this Act. Prohibits loan plans from being used to pay the non-Federal share of the cost of Federal projects. States the maximum amount of outstanding loans authorized for such projects. Prohibits the Corporation from making a loan for a public facility project unless it determines that such facility, upon completion, will generate sufficient fees to repay the principal and interest on such loans and create a sufficient reserve for the operation and maintenance of the project, including replacement costs over the useful life of the project. Requires applicants for such loans to demonstrate to the Corporation that they have legal authority to assess and collect such fees and that such fees will provide sufficient revenues to meet the conditions for making such loans. States additional conditions and requirements for such loans. Requires the Governor of a State to submit applications for public facility project loans for the State or State agency or instrumentality. Requires the responsible official of local government to submit applications for public facility project loans for such unit or agencies thereof. Prohibits the Corporation from approving local government project loans unless the Governor of the appropriate State certifies approval of the application. Prohibits any Governor from submitting or approving loan applications for more than the maximum amount allowable to any one State. Requires Governors to ensure a proper distribution of available loan funds in a State between urban and rural areas according to a certain allocation formula. Requires the Corporation to require all contracts made with such loan proceeds to be awarded on the basis of competitive bidding. Requires the Corporation to conduct necessary audits to enforce this Act. States procedures to be followed if the Corporation determines that insufficient fees are being collected. Authorizes appropriations to the Corporation for fiscal years after 1983, in order to reduce interest rates paid by borrowers under this Act. Declares that the Corporation, its assets, and certain property shall be exempt from State, local, or Federal taxes, except for certain real property and tangible personal property. States that any obligations issued by the Corporation shall be taxed as to principal and interest to the same extent as the obligations of private corporations. Requires the General Accounting Office to audit the financial transactions of the Corporation. Sets forth procedures to be followed in the event of a default on any loan made under this Act. Requires the Corporation to submit an annual report to the Congress and the President after each fiscal year on the status of the Corporation and its reserve fund. Requires such report to include a description of the projects for which loans were made during the preceding fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Designates the week beginning October 6, 1985, as National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1985
Comprehensive Trade Law Reform Act of 1985 - Title I: Countervailing and Antidumping Duties - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to add requirements for a country to be considered a "country under the Agreement" (the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures) for purposes of the countervailing duty provisions of such Act. Requires such a country to have made a commitment under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to: (1) eliminate its export subsidies within one year (five for least developed countries); (2) not increase, extend, or add export subsidies; and (3) eliminate immediately export subsidies on those products in which such country is competitive. Requires the International Trade Commission (ITC), upon request, to investigate whether the merchandise is already competitive in the U.S. market and whether the merchandise would be competitive in the absence of export subsidies. Directs the administering authority to review the status of, and compliance with, specified trade agreements at least once during each 12 month period. Directs the administering authority to publish such determinations. Imposes penalties for failure of a foreign country to honor any term of such agreements, including withdrawing designation of a country as a "country under the Agreement," suspension of liquidation of imports, and initiation of a countervailing duty investigation. Directs the administering authority, if there is an affirmative determination, based upon allegations in a petition for relief of the existence of a subsidy which requires the imposition of a countervailing duty and the petition alleges that the subsidy is inconsistent with the Agreement or if the administering authority initiates a countervailing duty investigation and the administering authority has reason to believe that a subsidy is inconsistent with the Agreement, to: (1) notify the U.S. Customs Service and direct customs officials to collect and forward to the administering authority information on the imports of the merchandise which is the subject of the investigation; (2) order the suspension of liquidation of all entries of such merchandise; and (3) begin monitoring the volume of imports of such merchandise to determine whether the volume of such imports has significantly increased. Prohibits making any determination on whether the volume of such imports has significantly increased until 60 days after the date the investigation began. Terminates any suspension of liquidation of such imports if the administering authority makes a preliminary determination that a subsidy does not exist. Directs the administering authority to order the posting of security for, and the application of a suspension of liquidation of, unliquidated imports which were imported 90 days before the date on which the preliminary determination is published if there is a determination that the volume of imports has surged, the alleged subsidy is inconsistent with the Agreement, and there have been massive imports of the merchandise subject to the countervailing duty investigation in a relatively short period. Directs the administering authority to terminate any suspension of liquidation of imports and to release any posted security requirement if a countervailing duty investigation is terminated. Requires the final determination of the administering authority in a countervailing duty investigation, if there is a final determination that a subsidy exists and if there is a finding that the volume of the investigated imports has increased significantly, to contain a finding on whether the alleged subsidy is inconsistent with the Agreement and whether there have been massive imports of the merchandise being investigated over a relatively short period of time. (Such finding is a finding of critical circumstances.) Requires the final determination of the ITC, if such determination is that there is no material injury but that there is a threat of material injury, to include a finding as to whether material injury by reason of subsidized imports would have been found but for any suspension of liquidation of such imports. (Deletes the provision requiring the ITC to include in its final determination findings as to whether there is material injury which will be difficult to repair and whether the material injury was caused by massive imports of subsidized merchandise over a relatively short period of time.) Requires the administering authority, if the administering authority makes a final determination that critical circumstances do not exist or if the ITC determines that there is no material injury but that there is a threat of material injury or that the establishment of a U.S. industry is materially retarded, to: (1) terminate any suspension of liquidation of imports ordered under a countervailing duty investigation; and (2) release any security and refund any cash deposit required with respect to such imports. Permits determinations of whether critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of articles that are not duty-free. Directs the administering authority, if the preliminary determination in an antidumping investigation is affirmative or if the investigation is initiated by the administering authority, to: (1) notify the U.S. Customs Service of such determination and direct customs officers to collect and forward information on the volume and value of imports of the merchandise subject to such investigation; and (2) begin monitoring the volume of such imports to determine whether the volume of such imports has significantly increased. Requires the administering authority to publish notice of a determination that the volume of such imports has significantly increased. Prohibits making such a determination until 60 days after the antidumping investigation has begun. Directs the administering authority to order the suspension of liquidation of all imports of the articles subject to the antidumping investigation 70 days after the date the investigation has begun. Terminates such suspension of liquidation if the preliminary determination under waiver of verification is negative. Directs the administering authority to determine whether critical circumstances exist if the administering authority determines that the volume of imports of the articles under investigation for dumping has significantly increased. (Current law requires the administering authority to determine whether critical circumstances exist if the petitioner alleges critical circumstances.) Requires the administering authority, if it determines that critical circumstances exist, to order the posting of security for, and require any suspension of liquidation to apply to, unliquidated entries of merchandise imported on or after the date that is 90 days before the date on which the affirmative preliminary determination is published. Terminates any suspension of liquidation of imports and releases any posted security if an antidumping investigation is terminated. Requires the final determination of the administering authority in an antidumping investigation, if it finds that the merchandise subject to the investigation is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value and the administering authority has found that the volume of imports of such merchandise has increased significantly, to contain a finding as to whether: (1) either there is a history of dumping in the United States or elsewhere of such merchandise that the importer knew or should have known that the exporter was selling such merchandise at less than its fair value; and (2) there have been massive imports of such merchandise over a relatively short period. (Current law requires such a finding to be included in the final determination if such critical circumstances have been alleged in the petition for relief.) Requires the final determination of the ITC, if such determination is that there is no material injury but that there is a threat of material injury, to include a finding as to whether material injury by reason of dumped imports would have been found but for any suspension of liquidation of such imports. Requires the administering authority, if the administering authority makes a specified final determination or the ITC determines that there is no material injury but that there is a threat of material injury or that the establishment of a U.S. industry is materially retarded, to: (1) terminate any suspension of liquidation of imports of such merchandise; and (2) release any security and refund any cash deposit required with respect to such imports. Declares that if the ITC has made an affirmative preliminary or final determination that countervailing or antidumping duties should be imposed with respect to merchandise that is the subject of a countervailing or antidumping duty investigation during the one-year period ending on the date on which such investigation is begun: (1) the ITC shall not be required to make another preliminary determination of injury; and (2) the preliminary determination of relief shall be applied without regard for the requirement that an affirmative injury determination be obtained. Authorizes the administering authority to suspend a countervailing duty investigation if the government of the country in which the subsidy practice is alleged to occur agrees, or exporters who account for substantially all of the imports of the merchandise agree, to: (1) eliminate the subsidy completely within six months; or (2) cease exports of such merchandise to the United States within six months. Deletes the provision authorizing suspension of such investigation if the subsidizing country agrees to offset the amount of the subsidy. Adds new conditions for the waiver of deposit of estimated antidumping duties. Authorizes such waiver if in addition to the current requirements: (1) the investigation has not been designated as extraordinarily complicated; (2) the final determination has not been postponed; (3) credible evidence is presented that the amount by which the foreign market value of the merchandise exceeds the U.S. price is significantly less than the amount of such excess specified in the antidumping duty order; and (4) the data concerning the foreign market value and the U.S. price apply to sales in the usual commercial quantities and in the ordinary course of trade and the number of such sales are sufficient to form an adequate basis for comparison. Requires the administering authority, before determining to allow such waiver, to: (1) make all confidential information supplied to the administering authority available under a protective order to all interested parties; and (2) afford all interested parties an opportunity to comment on whether the waiver should be permitted. Amends the definition of "subsidy" for purposes of the countervailing duty provisions to include the provision of capital, loans, loan guarantees, goods, or services at preferential rates or on terms inconsistent with commercial considerations. Amends the definition of "interested party" to include a U.S. manufacturer, producer, or wholesaler, or a union, trade or business association, or another association which represents manufacturers, producers or wholesalers of a like product of major parts, materials, components, or assemblies or subassemblies which are irrevocably destined for incorporation into the like product. Defines "diversionary dumping" as the purchase by a manufacturer or producer of any material or component at less than the foreign market value of such material or component which is incorporated into the merchandise under investigation and which has been the subject of a previous antidumping investigation. Sets forth the method of determining the adjustment amounts for determining foreign market value, sales at less than the cost of production, and the constructed value of components and materials. Includes subsidies provided under the authority of a statute, regulation, policy, or practice of a customs union within the definition of upstream subsidies. Creates a presumption of competitive benefit if: (1) a countervailing duty order is in effect with respect to an input product or an input product is subject to an import restriction agreement; (2) a subsidy continues to be paid on such input product after the countervailing duty order was issued or after the agreement took effect; and (3) the administering authority determines that an increase in imports of merchandise under a countervaling duty investigation has occurred. Requires (currently authorizes) the administering authority and the ITC to make confidential information submitted to an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation available upon receipt of a request which describes in general terms (currently with particularity) the type of information sought and the reasons for the request, unless the person who submitted such information establishes that substantial harm to the business operations of such person would result from such disclosure. Sets forth additional limits on disclosure of such information, including a time limit on making the determination of whether to disclose information. Title II: Relief from Injury Caused by Import Competition - Transfers from the President to the Administering Authority the authority to take certain actions following import relief investigations by the ITC. Authorizes a petition for import relief to include within its statement of reasons for requesting import relief the desire to facilitate the orderly transfer of resources to enhance competitiveness. Changes the scope of the ITC's import relief investigation to include determining whether an article is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a cause (currently substantial cause) of serious injury or threat of serious injury to any domestic industry that produces an article like or directly competitive with the imported article or that produces materials, parts, components, or subassemblies irrevocably destined for incorporation in an article like or directly competitive with the imported article. Changes one of the factors that must be considered in making such determination with respect to serious injury in order to cover the inability of a significant number of firms to operate domestic production facilities at a reasonable profit. (Current law refers to the inability of firms to operate at a reasonable profit.) Changes the factors that must be considered in making such determination with respect to the threat of serious injury in order to cover: (1) a decline in sales or market share in the domestic industry; (2) a higher and growing inventory in the domestic industry; (3) a downward trend in production, profits, wages, or employment (or increasing underemployment) in the domestic industry; (4) any combination of coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specific enterprise, industry, or group thereof the effect of which is to assist the beneficiary to become more competitive in the export of any class or kind of merchandise and that causes or threatens to cause serious injury to the domestic industry; (5) the extent to which the U.S. market is the focal point for diversion of exports of the article concerned because of restraints on exports of such article to, or imports of such articles into, third country markets; (6) in the case of an industry that has developed an industry assessment and competitiveness strategy, the inability of producers in the domestic industry to generate adequate capital to finance the modernization of plant and equipment or to otherwise enhance competitiveness. Requires (currently authorizes) the ITC to make certain determinations with respect to determining the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with an imported article. Defines "cause" for purposes of determining whether imports are a cause of injury to mean a cause which is important. Declares that a cause may be important even though other causes are of equal or greater importance. Requires the ITC, if it finds that serious injury or the threat of serious injury exists for a domestic industry, to: (1) find the amount of the increase in, or imposition of, any duty or import restriction necessary to prevent or remedy such injury; and (currently or) (2) if it determines that adjustment assistance can assist in remedying such injury, recommend the provision of such assistance. Directs the Administering Authority, if during an important relief investigation it finds that critical circumstances exist, to impose provisional measures (increase in tariff, tariff-rate quotas, quantitative restrictions, orderly marketing agreements or a combination of such actions). Requires such measures to remain in effect until the later of the date: (1) on which the President revokes such measures; (2) on which the ITC makes a negative determination of injury; or (3) which is 60 days after the date on which the ITC makes an affirmative determination of injury. Declares that critical circumstances exist if a significant increase in imports over a short time has led to circumstances in which delay in relief would cause damage that would be difficult to repair. Requires the ITC, if it finds that serious injury has resulted from imports, to determine: (1) whether trade in the article concerned has been affected by coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specific enterprise, industry, or group and that assist the beneficiary in becoming more competitive in exporting a class or kind of merchandise; and (2) the extent to which the U.S. market is the focal point for diversion of exports of such article because of restraints on exports of such article to, or on imports of such article into, third country markets. Directs the Administering Authority, if it determines to provide import relief and the ITC has found that trade in the article has been affected by such coordinated government actions, to consult and negotiate with other countries that produce or consume such article to seek the establishment of a multilateral framework to maintain and develop fair, equitable, and nondisruptive patterns of trade in such article. Directs the Administering Authority, after the ITC begins an import relief investigation based on a petition, to establish, upon request, an industry advisory group. Requires such advisory group to prepare for the industry concerned an assessment of current problems and a strategy to enhance competitiveness. Directs the Administering Authority to try to obtain, on a confidential basis, information from the individual members of such advisory group on: (1) how such members intend to act upon the recommendations in such assessment and strategy; and (2) any other actions such members intend to take which will foster the objectives of the strategy. Requires the Administering Authority, the ITC, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Commerce to consider such assessment and strategy in making any import relief determination or taking any import relief actions. Requires the Administering Authority, if it determines to provide import relief and if an industry assessment and competitiveness strategy was submitted to the Administering Authority, to publish notice of the availability of, and a summary of, such assessment and strategy. Requires a review committee, if such summary is published, to: (1) monitor actions taken by the petitioners to improve the competitive position of the industry; (2) make recommendations for administrative action; and (3) submit recommended legislation to the Congress. Requires the review committee to consult with the advisory group members if the review committee determines that the firms or workers are not implementing or are implementing unsatisfactorily: (1) the recommended objectives and actions in the industry assessment and competitiveness strategy; or (2) the actions declared in the confidential information obtained by the advisory group. Requires the Administering Authority to request the ITC to issue a report on the probable economic effect on the industry of import relief if, after consultations with the advisory group members, the review committee determines that the failure to implement or failure to implement satisfactorily such actions is not justified by changed circumstances and has adversely affected overall implementation of the objectives of the industry assessment and competitiveness strategy. Requires the Administering Authority, if it decides to provide import relief, to consult with petitioners and representatives of workers and firms in the affected industry on the advisability and desirability of taking appropriate action under countervailing or antidumping duty provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 or under title III of the Trade Act of 1974 if the Administering Authority has reason to believe that a foreign government or firm is engaged in any action or practice for which such relief is available. Title III: Relief from Injurious Industrial Targeting and Unfair Trade Practices - Provides that injurious industrial targeting may trigger import relief actions. Defines injurious industrial targeting to mean any combination of coordinated government actions: (1) which are bestowed on a specific enterprise, industry, or group thereof; (2) which assist such enterprise, industry, or group to become more competitive in the export of any class or kind of merchandise; and (3) which cause or threaten to cause material injury. Transfers from the President to the Administering Authority the authority to take certain actions to enforce U.S. rights under trade agreements and to respond to certain foreign trade practices. Authorizes the Administering Authority to: (1) suspend, withdraw, or prevent application of the benefit of trade agreement concessions with the foreign country or instrumentality involved; (2) direct customs officers to assess duties or impose other import restrictions on the products of such country or instrumentality or to assess fees or impose restrictions on the services of such country or instrumentality for such time in such amount, and to such degree as the Administering Authority deems appropriate; (3) negotiate agreements to offset the burden or restrictions on U.S. commerce; (4) submit proposed administrative actions and legislation to implement any other government action which would restore or improve the international competitive position of the injured or threatened industry; (5) recommend to the President action respecting service sector authorization; or (6) any combination of such actions. Transfers to the Administering Authority from the President the authority to impose certain limits on service sector access authorizations (authorizations that permit a foreign supplier of services access to the U.S. market). Deletes the provision authorizing the President to take action to enforce U.S. trade rights even though no petition for relief has been filed. Directs the Administering Authority to consult with representatives of domestic firms and workers that may be affected by any import relief investigation which is initiated by petition filed with the Administering Authority regarding any determination which is required to be made by the Administering Authority. Directs the Administering Authority, upon written request, to make confidential business information obtained by it in connection with an import relief investigation available under a protective order. Prohibits release of information classified for national security reasons. Requires the Administering Authority to act upon requests for such information within ten days of the request. Requires the Administering Authority, in conducting an import relief investigation initiated by petition to the Administering Authority, to present detailed questionnaires to the foreign government or enterprise involved in order to obtain information concerning the allegations in the petition. Directs the Administering Authority to verify any such information which the Administering Authority relied upon in making any determinations. Provides for relying on the best information available, which may be the information contained in the petition, if the foreign government fails to provide information or provides insufficient or unsatisfactory information. Requires the Administering Authority to make a preliminary determination within five months of the start of such an import relief investigation on whether there is reason to believe that import relief is warranted. Authorizes the Administering Authority to take certain actions based on the preliminary finding. Requires the final determination to be made within 11 months of the start of the investigation. Requires the Administering Authority to determine what actions to take if the final determination is that import relief is warranted, except that specific actions are required if injurious industrial targeting is found to exist. Requires the Administering Authority to consult with the petitioner and representatives of the affected domestic firms and workers if the final determination is affirmative. Requires the Administering Authority to report to the Congress if the final determination is affirmative and the Administering Authority declines to take any action. Terminates any preliminary import relief if the final determination is negative. Requires publication in the Federal Register of such preliminary and final determinations. Requires the Administering Authority, if it makes a preliminary finding that injurious industrial targeting exists, to: (1) establish an advisory committee; and (2) formulate, in consultation with such advisory committee, proposals which would restore or improve the competitive position of affected domestic industries. Requires the Administering Authority to notify the ITC when it initiates an investigation of injurious industrial targeting. Requires the ITC to make a preliminary determination within 60 days of receiving such notice of whether there is a reasonable indication that because of sales or likely sales of the merchandise which is the subject of the investigation: (1) an industry in the United States is materially injured or is threatened with material injury; or (2) the establishment or growth of an industry in the United States is materially retarded. Requires the ITC to make a final determination of whether such circumstances exist by: (1) 45 days after the affirmative final determination of the Administering Authority if the Administering Authority's preliminary determination is affirmative; or (2) 75 days after an affirmative final determination of the Administering Authority if the Administering Authority's preliminary determination is negative. Makes the ITC's determination subject to review by the U.S. Court of International Trade if such determination was made under the countervailing or antidumping duty provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930. Defines material injury and threat of material injury. Requires the Administering Authority, pending conclusion of the investigation, to take at least one of several provisional actions in order to prevent further injury or threat of injury from injurious industrial targeting. Requires the Administering Authority, after a final determination of injury has been made, to take at least one of several actions to fully offset the material injury or threat of material injury from injurious industrial targeting. Directs the Administering Authority to submit to the President any proposed administrative action and any proposed legislation to restore or improve the competitive position of the injured industry if the preliminary and final determinations are that injurious industrial targeting has occurred. Provides for expedited consideration of such legislation. Requires the Administering Authority to report to the Congress on the actions the Administering Authority will take to offset the material injury or threat of material injury from the injurious industrial targeting. Authorizes the Administering Authority to enter into a settlement agreement with the foreign country or entity involved in lieu of taking other actions if: (1) such agreement completely eliminates the material injury or threat of material injury from the injurious industrial targeting; and (2) such agreement is approved by the petitioner if the investigation began because of a petition. Authorizes the Administering Authority to take actions to compensate a foreign country or entity if the contracting parties to the General Agreement Tariffs and Trade (GATT) disapprove of actions taken in response to injurious industrial targeting. Directs the Administering Authority to consult with the petitioner and the representatives of affected domestic firms and workers if, in the course of an investigation, the Administering Authority has reason to believe that a foreign government engaged in dumping or other actions for which relief is available under specified provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930. Title IV: Negotiating Objectives - Declares that the principal U.S. negotiating objectives shall be to: (1) obtain and preserve maximum access to international markets for U.S. manufactured products; (2) obtain the elimination of foreign barriers to market access; (3) obtain internationally accepted rules to evaluate and respond to the maintenance and operation of government-controlled enterprises that engage in international trade; and (4) establish procedures governing such enterprises.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1985
Designates the week beginning on December 1, 1985, as National Home Health Care Week.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the amount of the income tax deduction for the legal adoption of a child by a taxpayer to not exceed $5,000 ($7,000 in the case of an international adoption). Reduces the amount of the deduction for taxpayers whose taxable income exceeds $60,000. Expands such deduction to include all reasonable and necessary expenses which are directly related to a legal adoption of a child (current law restricts expenses to those incurred in the adoption of a child with special needs), if such adoption has been arranged by a State or local agency, a nonprofit agency, or through a private placement which does not violate a Federal or State law. Disallows such deduction for expenses of adoption by an individual of a child who is a child of such individual's spouse. Disallows such deduction for expenses in connection with artificial insemination, embryo transplantation, in vitro fertilization, or surrogate parenthood. Disallows such deduction for expenses incurred for travel outside the United States, unless such travel is required as a condition of the child's adoption, to assess the health and status of the child, or to escort the child back to the United States. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on his behalf by an employer pursuant to an adoption assistance program. Establishes dollar amount and income amount limitations on such exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Designates July 20, 1985, as Space Exploration Day.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1985
Older Americans Food Stamp Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to permit elderly or disabled food stamp recipients to use food stamps at restaurants (currently limited to private establishments that contract with the State agency and provide concession-price meals). Permits recipients who are unable to purchase and prepare their own meals to be considered as a separate household regardless of the income level of the caretaker family. Allows an elderly or disabled recipient to deduct as a medical expense the excess costs of a physician-advised special diet. Makes supplemental security income and aid to families with dependent children recipients categorically eligible for food stamps. Makes the monthly medical expense threshold the lesser of $35 or five percent of gross income (currently $35 a month). Raises financial resource ceilings from: (1) $1500 to $2250 for nonelderly households; and (2) $3000 to $3500 for elderly households. Authorizes recipients to maintain separate burial funds of up to $1500. Requires (50 percent reimbursed) outreach programs for the elderly and disabled. Provides for food stamp program and application information to be available at Social Security Administration offices.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1985
Designates the square dance as the national folk dance for 1985 and 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1985
Performing Arts Labor Relations Amendments - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to exclude specified types of employers and performers in the performing arts from coverage under unfair labor practice provisions prohibiting specified contracts or agreements between employers and labor organizations and prohibiting specified actions of labor organizations to force or require cessation of dealings with others, joining of labor or employer organizations, or recognition of or negotiation with labor organizations not certified as representative. Permits such employers, excluding employers in the broadcasting or motion picture industries, to: (1) agree with a labor organization to make membership in such organization a condition of performing arts employment; and (2) make agreements with a labor organization covering performing artists even if the majority status of the organization has not yet been established. Defines "employer" to include purchasers of musical performance services. Defines "employee" to include independent contractors engaged to perform musical services.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for expenses incurred for radon-reduction equipment installed in a principal residence. Sets the amount of such credit at 40 percent of such expenditures. Limits to $2,000 the amount of such expenditures which may be taken into account.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an energy investment tax credit of ten percent for equipment used for conversions to coal fuel and five percent for coal mining equipment. Terminates both credits after 1993. Allows a 12-month amortization period for pollution control facilities used in connection with a plant that uses coal as a principal fuel. (Present law allows such amortization over a five-year period.) Increases the income tax credit for increasing research activities from 25 percent to 50 percent for activities relating to coal mining or burning and to controlling pollutants caused by the burning of coal. Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to require each executive agency to survey its electric powerplants and major fuel-burning installations in order to identify those which could result in substantial savings if converted to coal. Requires each executive agency to submit to the Office of Management and Budget an annual plan for the conversion of electric powerplants and major fuel-burning installations to coal. Repeals the 15 percent reduction in the depletion allowance for coal and iron ore.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that procurement of the new U.S. weather radar system, NEXRAD, continue on schedule and according to the established minimum requirements agreed to by the National Weather Service, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Defense.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1985
Fair Insurance Coverage Act - Prohibits any insurer from discriminating in an insurance contract against any person because of blindness. Includes within the prohibition refusing to make or negotiate a contract for insurance or giving different treatment with respect to terms, conditions, rates, or benefits because of blindness. Establishes a preference for State actions prior to judicial enforcement under this Act. Authorizes any aggrieved person, in the absence of State actions or jurisdiction, to bring an action under this Act for individual relief. Authorizes the Attorney General of the United States to bring an action for injunctive relief whenever there is reasonable cause to believe a person is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination or when an individual is aggrieved and an issue of general public importance is raised. Grants the Federal district courts jurisdiction of such actions regardless of the amount in controversy. Allows a court to order monetary, equitable, or other appropriate relief, including punitive damages.