United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1980
Directs the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences to establish a program of training in military medicine for reserve commissioned officers enrolled in the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship program. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to relieve participants who complete such training program from the 45-day active duty service requirement during one year of the scholarship program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the present level of the trade deficit with Japan is intolerable and threatens the future of trade between our nations. Urges Japan to cooperate in correcting such deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1980
Small Business Direct Expensing Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer to elect to treat expenditures paid or incurred by him during the taxable year (not to exceed an aggregate of $10,000, or $5,000 in the case of a married person filing a separate return) for depreciable tangible property as expenses not chargeable to capital account (thus deductible as current business expenses). Limits such treatment to property purchased after December 31, 1980, for use in a trade or business. Disqualifies property acquired from a related person or another component member of the same controlled group of companies.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply the excise tax on the sale of coal at the coal preparation plant. States that such tax shall not apply to a sale by the producer (at the mine) if: (1) the purchaser is a coal preparation plant or the coal is for resale by the purchaser to a second purchaser which is a coal preparation plant; (2) the coal preparation plant is located in the United States; and (3) no process has been applied for the separation of the coal from waste material mined with the coal.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1980
Prevention, Identification, and Treatment of Adult Abuse Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish as an office the National Center on Adult Abuse. Requires the Secretary, through such Center, to: (1) compile and disseminate annually a summary of recently conducted research on adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (2) develop an information clearinghouse on all programs for prevention and treatment of such occurrences; (3) compile and disseminate training materials for personnel engaged in the prevention or treatment of such abuse; (4) provide technical assistance to public and nonprofit agencies and organizations to assist in programs and activities relating to adult abuse; (5) conduct research into the causes and prevention of such behavior; and (6) study and investigate the national incidence of adult abuse. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or enter into contracts with public agencies or nonprofit organizations for demonstration programs and projects designed to prevent, identify, and treat adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Permits such funding to be used for the development and establishment of training programs for personnel in relevant fields, for the establishment of local centers, and for furnishing the services of trained personnel to small communities. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to the States to assist in developing, and carrying out adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention and treatment programs. Requires each State to have an adult abuse and exploitation law in effect which is actively enforced to qualify for such grants. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the provisions of law requiring twice a year cost of living adjustments for Federal civil service and military retirees should not be changed.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional excise tax on imported automobiles manufactured in a foreign country, when imports of such automobiles account for more than ten percent of the new automobiles sold in the United States for the most recent 12-month period for which data are available. Imposes such tax in each case also on parts or accessories sold in connection with such sale. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to determine for each quarter such tax in an amount equivalent to the nontariff barrier for the same quarter imposed by the foreign country of manufacture on United States automobiles exported to such country. Defines "nontariff barrier" as any practice or procedure of a country which unreasonably burdens, restricts, or discriminates against United States automobiles in such country's automobile market. Includes commodity taxes, inspection or testing procedures, product approval requirements, and road or other excise taxes. Authorizes the President to waive such excise tax for any quarter (up to four consecutive quarters at a stretch) with respect to automobiles manufactured by any person if it is determined that such person is making a good faith effort to ameliorate the imbalance in automobile trade between the United States and the country in which such person is located: (1) by limiting exports of automobiles to the United States; or (2) by manufacturing automobiles in the United States. Specifies circumstances under which such waiver may be extended. Grants the Congress a veto over any such Presidential waiver by way of a disapproval resolution. Describes the procedure for exercising such veto. Requires the appropriation of amounts equivalent to such excise taxes into the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1980
Extends the congratulations of the Congress to the Order of the Sons of Italy in America for their 75th anniversary. Proclaims Sunday, June 22, 1980, as "National Italian-American Day."
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1980
Industrial Energy Conservation Incentive Tax Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the investment tax credit energy percentage from ten to 20 percent for alternative energy property and for specially defined energy property. Makes such credit refundable. Provides for a refundable 20 percent investment tax credit for qualified conservation property. Defines "qualified conservation property" as property which is used by a taxpayer as an energy-saving modification to an existing industrial facility.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1980
Energy Savings Tax Credit Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a refundable income tax credit for 50 percent of the residential energy costs saved by such taxpayers during a taxable year in comparison with residential energy costs incurred during 1979. Terminates the authority for such tax credit for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Authorizes the President to present a gold-plated medal, on behalf of the Congress, to those athletes selected through the Olympic trial process to be members of the United States Summer Olympic Team of 1980. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cause to be stricken 650 such medals with suitable emblems. Declares that such medals are national medals and that funds to carry out this Act shall be made available under the Amateur Sports Act of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Anthracite Coal Revitalization Act of 1980 - Title I: Grants and Loans for Acceleration of Anthracite Coal Production and Transportation - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants and loans to assist anthracite coal production, utilization, transportation and related activity. Empowers the Secretary to establish appropriate railroad track and other rehabilitation procedures. Title II: Utilization Program for Anthracite Coal - Authorizes the Secretary to establish a progressive conversion and reconversion program for commercial and certain public buildings. Empowers the Secretary to institute package boiler programs for residential installation for central heating systems at housing project complexes. Title III: Technical Assistance, Research, and Information - Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical aid, research and related anthracite coal information in major marketing areas. Title IV: Implementation and Monitoring of Anthracite Coal Revitalization Programs - Designates the Appalachian Regional Commission to monitor appropriate anthracite coal programs. Directs the Commission's Federal Cochairman to design an interagency monitoring structure, to develop a delivery plan among the organizations identified with the anthracite coal revitalization program and to make an annual report to Congress evaluating the programs conducted under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should restore and maintain the peaceful processing of Cubans, and identify and remove from the United States those Cubans who participated in acts of destruction at the processing sites.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1980
National Export Policy Act of 1980 - Title I: General Findings and Purposes - Sets forth congressional findings and the purposes of this Act. Title II: Export Financing - Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to direct the Export-Import Bank to adopt export finance programs comparable in structure to those extraordinary measures of official export credits offered by competing countries, until such financing is limited by international agreements. Requires the Bank to report annually to Congress as to whether any additional appropriations or any increases in its commitment authority or ceiling levels are necessary to carry out this Act. States that this Act shall not take effect until six months after enactment, unless the President defers the effective date for an additional six months. Declares it to be the policy of the Congress that the Export-Import Bank of the United States should facilitate, particularly in the presence of foreign officially-supported export credit competition, exports to countries: (1) having insufficient access to international credit facilities; (2) demonstrating reasonable economic progress; and (3) offering adequate formal assurances of repayment (currently, must offer sufficient likelihood of repayment). Increases the aggregate amount of loans and contractual liability of guarantees and insurance which may be outstanding at any one time. Requires such activities to be carried out through the Export Expansion Facility. Provides for the capitalization of such facility. Establishes staggered ten-year terms of office for the Bank directors. Declares that the appropriate congressional committees should consider limitations on Bank activities when considering appropriations for international trade activities rather than when considering foreign assistance activities. Title III: Export-Related Tax Policy - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the earned income exclusion for United States citizens working abroad, who are bona fide residents of a foreign country, from an annual rate of $20,000 to: (1) $50,000; or (2) $65,000, if such persons qualify as bona fide residents for certain specified periods. Allows separate exclusions to married individuals who are both working overseas, although one's excess exclusion cannot be used against income earned by the other. Waives the residency requirements to qualify for such exclusion for those required to leave a foreign country because of civil unrest, war, or similar adverse conditions precluding the normal conduct of business. Reduces from 17 to 11 months the foreign residency requirement with respect to the deduction for certain housing expenses of living abroad. Revises the formula for determining the base housing amount with regard to such deduction to make it 16 percent of the salary of a GS-14, step 1. Repeals similar deductions for cost-of-living differential, schooling expenses, home leave travel expenses, and residence in a hardship area. Provides that the foreign bad debt loss deduction shall not exceed the greater of 15 percent of the taxpayer's taxable income from exports, or two percent of the taxpayer's export receivables outstanding at the close of the taxable year. Provides that the amount of bad debt losses that may be added to a bad debt reserve shall not exceed five percent of the taxpayer's export receivables outstanding as of the close of the taxable year. Permits the amortization, based on a period of 60 months, of: (1) foreign market studies; (2) foreign marketing expenses; and (3) foreign patents. Permits an income tax deduction for currency fluctuation losses on export credit which have not been repaid by the end of the taxable year. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to extend the six-month deadline for exempting exports from the manufacturer's excise tax for an additional 12 months if it is determined, after consultation with the Secretary of State, that exports were delayed because of war, civil unrest, or similar adverse conditions in a foreign nation. Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to approve the duty-free entry of machinery, materials, and fuels to be used for the production of goods in a foreign trade zone if such goods are not subsequently entered into U.S. customs territory. Sets forth requirements before applications for such treatment will be approved. Makes such approval valid for six years. Requires the Foreign Trade Zones Board to include in its annual report to Congress a summary of activities and proposals to increase the use of foreign trade zones to expand U.S. exports. Makes banking organizations which have invested in an export trading company eligible for treatment as domestic international sales corporations (DISC). Includes the gross receipts from the export of services produced in the United States and from export trade services as qualified export receipts, in the case of a DISC which is an export trading company. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, with the Secretary of the Treasury, to develop and distribute information concerning the utilization of the DISC provisions. Makes export trading companies eligible for Subchapter S treatment if the shareholders of such companies are otherwise small business corporations. Exempts such companies from restrictions on the amount of foreign income they can receive and still be eligible for Subchapter S tax treatment. Title IV: Antitrust - Amends the Webb-Pomerene Act to exempt the export trade, export trade activities, and methods of operation of certified export trade associations and export trading companies from the antitrust laws. Delays the effectiveness of any certificate upon the notification of the Secretary of Commerce by the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of disagreement with the decision to issue a certificate. Sets forth the procedure to be followed by any association, company, or export trading company seeking certification under this Act and by the Secretary in issuing such certificates. Provides for appeal of the Secretary's denial of certification. Authorizes the Attorney General or the FTC to bring an action to invalidate a certification. Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General and the FTC, to publish guidelines for determining whether an association or export trading company will meet the certification requirements. Requires certified associations and export trading companies to submit annual reports to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to establish within the Department of Commerce an office to promote export trade associations and trading companies. Provides for automatic certification of existing associations. Requires that all applications for certification be kept confidential with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Secretary to require an association or trading company to modify its operation to be consistent with international obligations of the United States. Directs the President to appoint, with the Senate's advice and consent, a task force seven years after enactment to examine the effect of this Act and to make recommendations. Directs the Attorney General to study whether: (1) U.S. business conduct to expand exports conflicts with basic antitrust principles; and (2) a more liberal enforcement policy for overseas activities would impede implementation of the antitrust laws. Requires the Attorney General to identify such conduct which would not warrant prosecution under the antitrust laws. Sets forth the procedures for describing such permissible conduct and disclosing such descriptions. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to intervene in such suits and to provide legal assistance to exporters. Prohibits prosecution under the antitrust laws of exporters who: (1) have notified the Attorney General of their intention to engage in such designated conduct; or (2) receive an approval, or no objection, from the Attorney General concerning proposed transactions. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress concerning implementation of this section. Title V: Amendments to Other Laws that Hinder Exports - Amends the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 to change the name of such Act to the Business Practices and Records Act. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers of securities to keep their books and maintain a system of internal accounting controls in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Makes issuers liable for knowingly falsifying any books or for the intentionally wrongful maintenance or circumvention of the system of internal accounting controls. Requires only good faith efforts by issuers holding 50 percent or less of the equity capital to use their influence to cause transactions and dispositions of assets to be carried out consistent with such provisions. Repeals the provisions specifying prohibited foreign corrupt practices by issuers. Amends the Business Practices and Records Act to include issuers within the provisions specifying prohibited foreign corrupt practices by domestic concerns. Permits items of value to be given to foreigners in specified circumstances, including courtesy items, demonstration expenses, and payments lawful under the laws of the country of the intended recipient. Directs the Attorney General to issue guidelines specifying permissible conduct and arrangements associated with common types of export sales arrangements and business contracts and precautionary procedures creating a rebuttable presumption of compliance. Provides for the establishment of a Business Practices and Records Act Review Procedure to answer specific inquiries concerning enforcement of such Act. Requires the Attorney General to issue opinions regarding compliance. Makes such opinions final and binding on all parties if the conduct does not involve a violation. Requires annual reports to Congress by: (1) the Attorney General concerning actions taken pursuant to such Act; and (2) the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the reporting requirements. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should negotiate agreements establishing standards of conduct for international business practices, a resolution procedure, and rates of commissions. Directs the President to report to Congress concerning the progress of such negotiations. Requires Congress to review the Business Practices and Records Act after receiving the President's report. Requires an export competitiveness impact statement from any issuing authority taking significant action which could affect adversely U.S. exports or the international competitive position of the United States and its exporters. Expresses the sense of Congress that export paperwork must be reduced to encourage export sales. Requires all agencies to minimize paperwork and reporting requirements. Title VI: Export Awareness and Export Promotion Programs - Export Trading Company Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to promote export trading companies and facilitate contacts between producers of exportable goods and export trading companies. Authorizes any banking organization to invest up to specified amounts in export trading companies upon notifying, but without obtaining the prior approval of, the appropriate Federal banking agency, if such investment does not cause an export trading company to become a subsidiary of such organization. Allows greater investment by Edge Act Corporations not engaged in banking. Permits any banking organization to invest beyond such limitations with the prior approval of the appropriate Federal banking agency. Requires prior notification of such agencies in specified circumstances. Sets forth further limitations on export trading companies and investments by banking organizations. Specifies factors to be taken into consideration by the banking agencies. Permits such agencies to impose conditions in approving applications to invest in export trading companies. Requires such agencies to report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning implementation of this Act and any recommendations. Provides for judicial review of denial orders in the appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals. Sets forth the grounds for disapproval. Provides for remand for further consideration by the banking agency. Directs the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration to give special weight to export-related benefits when considering applications for loans and guarantees by export trading companies. Directs the Export-Import Bank of the United States to provide loan guarantees to export trading companies or exporters to be secured by accounts receivable or inventories when adequate financing is not otherwise available and such guarantees will facilitate expansion of exports. Small Business Export Expansion Act of 1980 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to permit participating lending institutions to take actions on behalf of the Administrator with respect to deferred participation loans. Empowers the SBA, either directly or in cooperation with lending institutions, to extend credit for export purposes to enable small business concerns to develop foreign markets. Limits the extension of such credit to periods of 18 months or less. Sets a maximum of $750,000 which may be committed to any borrower from the business loan and investment revolving fund. Establishes within the Administration an Office of International Trade to promote sales opportunities for small business goods and services abroad. Requires such Office to: (1) provide small businesses with access to current and complete export information; (2) encourage greater small business participation in trade fairs, shows, missions, and other domestic and overseas export development activities of the Department of Commerce; and (3) assign full-time export development specialists to each Administration regional office. Directs the Administrator, after consultation with specified agencies, to establish an export promotion center in each of two regional offices of the Administration where field offices of the Department of Commerce and the Internal Revenue Service exist. Requires each such center to serve as a one-stop information center of Federal Government export assistance, financing programs available to small business, and other provisions of law governing exporting for small business. Requires: (1) a progress report on the implementation of such centers to the appropriate Congressional committees within six months of enactment of this Act; and (2) an evaluation, within two years after enactment, of the effectiveness of such centers in developing and expanding small business exports. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to qualified applicants to encourage the development and implementation of small business international marketing programs. Sets forth eligibility requirements for applicants. Prohibits the use of any Federal funds to directly underwrite any small business participation in foreign trade missions abroad. Requires each small business international marketing program to: (1) have a full-time staff director to manage program activities; (2) have access to export specialists to counsel and assist small business clients; and (3) establish an advisory board. Directs the Secretary to require, as a condition to any grant, that an additional amount equal to twice the amount of such grant be provided from sources other than the Federal Government. Directs the Secretary to develop a plan to evaluate such programs to: (1) determine the impact of such programs on the small businesses assisted; (2) determine the amount of export sales generated by such businesses; and (3) make recommendations concerning continuation and/or expansion of the program. Requires the establishment of at least one small business international program within each region of the Department of Commerce. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the International Trade Administration, to maintain a central clearinghouse for the collection, dissemination, and exchange of information between such programs. Directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with industrial corporations to develop foreign markets for their products. Requires the Secretary to direct specific market research for the products involved in foreign markets upon entering such agreements. Permits interested industrial corporations to submit a proposal incorporating specific marketing actions to the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a marketing agreement after approving any such proposal. Requires repayment of the Federal share of the costs by the entity entering into such an agreement. International Education Programs Act - Amends the Higher Education Act to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to, and contracts with, institutions of higher education to pay the Federal share of the cost of programs designed to promote linkages between such institutions and the American business community engaged in international economic activities. Requires higher education institutions to apply for such grants and contracts. Limits the amount of Federal assistance. Provides for an advisory board to consider the grants made, or contracts entered into, and to review programs established under this section. Directs each Federal agency and U.S. representative to any international organization to: (1) identify programs affecting the export of U.S. firms' services; (2) make available information concerning such programs; (3) establish programs to publicize export-related programs for services; and (4) modify those programs with an adverse effect on the export of services. Makes the Secretary of Commerce responsible for coordinating such programs. Directs the Department of Treasury to report to Congress concerning the feasibility of extending DISC treatment to the export of services. Title VII: Agricultural Exports - Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to establish the Agricultural Export Credit Revolving Fund to be available for: (1) the export of, or aid in the development of, foreign markets for agricultural commodities; and (2) loans for the acquisition of facilities in foreign countries to improve the countries' capacities to handle agri-commodities exported from the United States. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress annually concerning the export credit sales program. Abolishes such fund effective October 1, 1983. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to require the ratio of credit extended by the Export-Import Bank for agricultural exports in comparison with the total amount extended be at least equivalent to the value of agricultural exports in comparison with total value of exports. Specifies exceptions to this requirement. Requests the President to take action to establish an International Wheat Exporting Commission which would establish an annual minimum world market price for wheat and prescribe export quotas. Requires the President to keep Congress informed about the establishment of such Commission and to report annually once such Commission is established. Title VIII: International Agreements - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the multilateral trade agreement be strongly implemented; and (2) the efforts must continue to secure a freer world trading environment. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a special export subsidy program for agricultural commodities to neutralize the effects of foreign export subsidy programs. Specifies the circumstances required before such program may be implemented. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should enter negotiations for international codes of: (1) official export financing; (2) business conduct; (3) reciprocity of antitrust enforcement; and (4) fair trade in services. Requires the President to report to Congress concerning the progress of such negotiations. Title IX: Government Support of Export Goals - Overseas Private Investment Corporation Act of 1980 - Establishes the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) as an independent agency. Sets forth the duties of OPIC. Provides for the capital of OPIC to be paid in through the appropriation process and through transfer from OPIC's earned income. Sets forth the structure of OPIC with a Board of Directors, a President of the Corporation, an Executive Vice President of the Corporation, other officers and staff, and consultants. Authorizes OPIC to issue insurance to eligible investors covering new or existing investments protecting against specified risks. Authorizes OPIC to make arrangements with foreign governments or multilateral organizations for sharing liabilities. Limits the insurance that may be issued to a single investor. Authorizes OPIC to issue guarantees of loans and other investments. Sets forth limitations on such guarantees. Authorizes OPIC to make direct loans to privately owned or mixed publicly and privately owned firms for projects sponsored by or significantly involving United States small business or cooperatives. Limits the circumstances under which OPIC may acquire stock in any other corporation. Authorizes OPIC to initiate and support the identification, assessment, and promotion of private investment opportunities, with specified exceptions. Authorizes OPIC to administer special projects to provide private technical, professional, or managerial assistance in the development of human resources, skills, technology, capital savings, and intermediate financial institutions and cooperatives. Authorizes OPIC to engage in other insurance, reinsurance, and risk sharing activities with other insurance companies, financial institutions, persons, or groups. Limits the amount of reinsurance of liabilities which OPIC may issue. Limits the amount of maximum contingent liability pursuant to insurance or guarantees issued under this Act which may be outstanding at any one time. Establishes the: (1) Direct Investment Fund as a revolving fund to be available for direct investments; and (2) Insurance Reserve and Guaranty Reserve to be available for discharging liabilities. Authorizes appropriations to the investment and guaranty fund in specified circumstances. Authorizes OPIC to issue obligations in specified circumstances in order to discharge liabilities. Requires that all revenues and income transferred to or earned by OPIC be available to carry out OPIC's purposes. Directs OPIC to determine that suitable arrangements exist for protecting OPIC's interests in connection with any insurance, guaranty, or reinsurance issued under this Act. Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States for the full payment and performance of previous obligations. Sets forth conditions with respect to insurance, guaranty, and reinsurance coverage under this Act concerning fees, time limits, fraud, and settlement of disputes. Sets forth administrative provisions and duties applicable to OPIC. Requires OPIC to undertake to broaden the participation of United States small business, cooperatives, and other small investors in the development of small private enterprise in less developed friendly countries or areas. Directs OPIC to report annually to Congress concerning its operations. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to define "eligible investor" in terms of this Act with respect to housing guarantees. Repeals provisions: (1) prohibiting the transfer of OPIC funds between accounts; (2) authorizing the President to deny assistance to any less developed country which fails to enter into an agreement to institute the investment guaranty program; and (3) establishing OPIC. Stipulates that nothing in this part shall be construed as terminating any of OPIC's statutory authority. Requires the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees any necessary technical or conforming amendments. Declares that the potential for U.S. exports shall be a primary decisionmaking factor in considering which projects to include in U.S. foreign aid programs. Requires the Director of the International Development Cooperation Agency, (IDCA) to transfer the functions of the Office of Reimbursable Development from the Agency for International Development to an independent functional status within the IDCA. Declares that the Office of Management and Budget should assure that adequate budget allocations are made available to carry out the programs prescribed in this Act. Declares that the Department of Justice should do what it can to facilitate procedures for exporters. Declares that the Small Business Administration should: (1) be aware of the benefits of export to small business development; and (2) use every opportunity to provide information and assistance to potential exporters. Declares that the U.S. ability to export coal, nuclear power fuels, and other energy matters in a reliable manner should be a key consideration. Directs congressional committees to include in their reports the effect of the bill or resolution on the international competitiveness of the United States. Creates a National Export Council to: (1) serve as a national advisory body on matters relating to United States export trade: (2) act as a liaison among the communities represented by its membership; and (3) provide advice on Federal plans and actions that affect export promotion and development policies which have an impact on those communities represented by its membership. Requires the Council to make an annual report to the President and the Congress on its activities. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to appoint commercial ministers, counselors, and attaches with the rank and privileges of other ministers, counselors, and attaches in U.S. embassies and consulates, to: (1) provide trade and commercial services; (2) engage in the promotion of U.S. exports; (3) file semiannual reports to the Secretary on market, industrial, and commodity conditions in their districts and on the implementation of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements; and (4) maintain current data on the commercial standing and capacity of foreign firms within their districts. Provides for domestic assignment, office logistics, allowances and benefits of such ministers, counselors, and attaches. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress with any recommendations concerning: (1) the organization of international trading and financing programs in the United States; (2) the effectiveness of foreign export promotion programs; and (3) the trade activities of specified Federal agencies. Expresses the sense of Congress that the appropriate congressional committees should review periodically the trade organization of the U.S. Government.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1980
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Research and Development Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to prepare a comprehensive program management plan of research, development, and demonstration of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems. Directs the President to submit to Congress annually the most recent revision of the plan giving justification for any changes. Directs the Secretary to initiate research or accelerate existing research in areas in which the lack of knowledge limits development of OTEC in order to achieve the purposes of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to initiate a program to design, construct, and operate well instrumental OTEC facilities of sufficient size to demonstrate the technical feasibility of utilizing the various forms of OTEC to displace nonrenewable fuels. Directs the Secretary to conduct evaluations, arrange for tests, and disseminate information to support such design efforts. Provides for the competitive selection of at least two independent parallel pilot demonstration projects. Establishes goals for the demonstration program which shall include: (1) the demonstration of OTEC technical feasibility through multiple pilot demonstration plants with a combined capacity of at least 50 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent by 1987; (2) the delivery of baseload electricity to utilities located on land or the production of commercially attractive quantities of energy products; and (3) the continuous operation of each pilot demonstration facility for a sufficient period of time to collect and analyze system performance and reliability data. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive technology application and market development plan that will permit the realization of the national goal set forth in this Act of 2,500 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent from OTEC systems by 2000. Directs the Secretary to set priorities consistent with several criteria including: (1) the realization of competitive energy costs for OTEC; (2) private cost-sharing; and (3) the promotion of OTEC in areas vulnerable to interruptions in the supply of fossil fuel. Establishes the OTEC Advisory Committee to advise and report to the Secretary. Requires the Committee to meet at least four times annually until the demonstration goals are met. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses for fiscal year 1982. Authorizes appropriations for the conceptual and preliminary design of demonstration plants with a combined capacity of at least 50 megawatts electrical or energy product equivalent.
United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1980
Allows an individual under the Internal Revenue Code an income tax deduction equal to 50 percent of the travel deposit loss sustained by such taxpayer as a result of the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. Limits the amount of such deduction to $2,500.
United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1980
Extends the congratulations of the House of Representatives to members of the 1980 handicapped Olympic team and recognizes specified organizations for their efforts in producing the second winter Olympics for the physically handicapped.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1980
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Boston African American National Historic Site in Boston, Massachusetts. Authorizes the Secretary to accept any gift or bequest of any property within the boundaries of such site and to enter into cooperative agreements with the city of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of their political subdivisions, or any private person or organization for such activities as may be necessary for the preservation of any such properties. Authorizes the Secretary to assist with maintenance of those properties owned by the city of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, their political subdivisions, or not-for-profit organizations. Specifies that if any fees are charged for the use of a property covered by any such cooperative agreement, and Federal funds are committed in the cooperative agreement, the income from such fees shall be applied to the costs of maintenance and renovation of such property. Permits the Secretary, in cooperation with other interested groups, to identify other significant sites relating to the nineteenth century free African American community on Beacon Hill, Boston, and, with the consent of the owners thereof, to mark them appropriately and make reference to them in any interpretive literature.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1980
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay claims for losses sustained by U.S. citizens or corporations as a result of the U.S. boycott of the 1980 summer Olympic games.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1980
Nuclear Waste Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for the disposal of nuclear wastes. Requires the Secretary to identify four regional repository sites in the continental United States, at least one of which shall be located in each of the eastern, central, and western regions of the United States. Directs that emphasis be given to federally owned sites. Directs the Secretary to design, construct, and operate four technology-demonstration repository facilities at the sites selected. Requires that all four repositories be in operation by the end of fiscal year 1990, with the first having been placed in operation by the end of fiscal year 1986. Sets forth certain design requirements for such sites and for disposal methods. Requires the Secretary to conduct a study and report to Congress on advanced techniques for disposal of low-level radioactive wastes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1980
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require payments to any Veterans' Administration hospital for inpatient services furnished to a person entitled to Medicare hospital benefits if that person was not entitled to free services at such hospital and the services were not otherwise reasonably available within the area of the hospital.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that the entitlement of a disabled widow or widower under the age of 60 shall not be less than 71.5 percent of the primary insurance amount of the deceased spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1980
Honors Raoul Wallenberg for his work in Hungary during World War II. Requests the State Department to discover the whereabouts of Raoul Wallenberg from the Soviet Union and secure his return to Sweden.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to enable an insured individual's spouse, who has attained the age of 50 and is not entitled to any other monthly benefits, to obtain a transition benefit for four months upon the death of the insured individual. Establishes the amount of such transition benefits at 71.5 percent of the primary insurance amount of the insured individual, or if it is higher, 71.5 percent of the primary insurance amount of the spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1980
Prohibits the importation of any article from a foreign country whenever export controls are in effect with respect to such country for reasons of national security or foreign policy under the Export Administration Act of 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require that any surviving spouse, surviving divorced wife, or surviving divorced mother (as such term is defined in such Act) to whom an individual had been married for at least five years shall inherit all of the wages and self-employment income credited to such individual during their marriage.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to grant benefits to a divorced woman who had been married for only five years after the younger spouse reached age 50. Maintains, for other marriages, the current requirement that the marriage must have lasted ten years regardless of age.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a married couple, which are attributable to the period of their marriage, shall be shared equally between them for purposes of determining the eligibility for and amount of OASDI benefits to which each spouse is or may become separately entitled. Credits the survivor of the marriage with 100 percent of the combined total wages for the period of the marriage. Declares that this Act shall not apply in specified cases where it would result in a reduction of OASDI benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide a married couple, at the time either or both of them become entitled to benefits, the option of splitting equally their combined earnings, which are attributable to the period of their marriage, for purposes of determining the eligibility for and amount of OASDI benefits to which each spouse is or may become separately entitled. Provides that if a couple exercises such option and one spouse is not fully insured, that spouse shall become fully insured by reason of crediting wages and self-employment income to that spouse. Grants a couple, after a divorce, two years within which to exercise the option. Provides that, if a couple chooses not to exercise the option, their benefit will be based on 75 percent of the combined primary insurance amount.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1980
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the seven-day period beginning October 5, 1980, as "National Port Week." Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report annually to Congress on the conditions of U.S. public ports.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1980
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to sell the United States share of petroleum produced from the Naval Petroleum Reserves Numbered 1 and 3 only to persons who agree to deposit in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve within 30 days an equivalent amount of crude oil in return for payment by the Secretary of the appropriate current market price for such crude oil at the point of transfer of title, taking specified factors into consideration.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a refundable income tax credit for the purchase of new passenger automobiles after May 14, 1980, and before January 1, 1981, which were manufactured by companies whose average fuel economy rating for passenger automobiles in model year 1979 equals or exceeds 120 percent of their rating for model year 1974. Establishes the amount of such credit at $500.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1980
Authorizes and requests the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a national medal to each athlete selected to be a member of the 1980 United States Olympic Team to the Olympic Games. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cause to be struck such medals in bronze with gold plating, and with such emblems as shall be determined by the Secretary in consultation with the United States Olympic Committee. Authorizes the Secretary to strike duplicates and replicas of such medal in bronze for sale to the general public.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to extend from five to ten years the period during which a spouse becoming eligible for a government pension may qualify for an exemption from the provisions of the Social Security Amendments of 1977 requiring a reduction in such spouse's OASDI benefits based on receipt of a government pension.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that bonds issued by a volunteer fire department to finance the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or improvement of firefighting property shall be treated as the obligation of a political subdivision of a State (interest on such bonds is tax-exempt). Provides that a volunteer fire department qualifies for preferential tax treatment of its bonds if it: (1) is organized and operated to provide firefighting services in an area which does not have any other firefighting services; (2) is required by a local government to furnish firefighting services; (3) receives over half of its funding from local government; and (4) makes no charge for its services.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1980
Surface Mining Reclamation Reserve Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the establishment of a reserve account for the addition of tax deductible expenses of surface mining land reclamation incurred during the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1980
Amends the Clean Air Act and the Clear Air Act Amendments of 1977 to extend specified deadlines applicable to stationary sources (relating to State implementation plans, Federal enforcement, and noncompliance penalties).
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1980
Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933 to require Federal savings and loan associations to offer a 30 year standard mortgage with an interest rate fixed at the same rate as a renegotiable rate mortgage, if such a renegotiable rate mortgage is offered.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Postmaster General should distribute for purchase or use any existing postal material relating to the 1980 summer Olympic games, provided that the word "boycott" is superimposed on such material.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1980
Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to grant the Secretary of the Interior greater discretion in assessing civil penalties for violations of such act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1980
Federal Reserve Act Amendments of 1980 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to reduce the term of office for members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 14 years to seven years. Requires at least three members on the Board from the agricultural, industrial, commercial, or small banking sectors.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1980
Expresses the condolences of the Congress over the death of members and officials of the United States Amateur Athletic Union boxing team in a plane crash in Warsaw, Poland.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1980
Arts and Humanities Act of 1980 - Title I: Amendments to National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 - Amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 to authorize the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts to establish and carry out a program of loans to groups or individuals for projects and productions of substantial artistic and cultural significance. Includes cultural diversity as a factor to be considered by the Chairman in making grants or loans under such Act. Limits the amount of funding the Chairman may allot to certain jurisdictions, other than States which have a population of less than 200,000. Permits the Chairman to enter into interagency agreements on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis to promote or assist with the arts-related activities of other Federal agencies. Permits the use of program funds for such purpose. Authorizes the Chairman to establish and carry out a program of contracts with, or grants-in-aid to, public agencies and private nonprofit organizations on a national, State, or local level to assist cultural organizations and institutions and provide additional support for cooperative efforts undertaken by State art agencies and local art groups to promote effective arts activity at the State and local level. Eliminates financial assistance to State agencies for photography and film projects. Eliminates the requirement of Senate advice and consent for the appointment of the members of the National Council on the Arts. Makes available to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities specified percentages of excess funds from the grants-in-aid programs to be allotted among specified grant recipients. Limits the amount of funding such Chairman may allot to certain jurisdictions, other than States, which have a population of less than 200,000. Permits such Chairman to enter into interagency agreements on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis to promote or assist with the humanities-related activities of other Federal agencies. Permits the use of program funds for such purpose. Eliminates the requirement of Senate advice and consent for the appointment of the members of the National Council on the Humanities. Permits such Chairman to unilaterally approve or disapprove any application for $30,000 or less, subject to Council delegation and review. Directs the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities to undertake studies and make reports which address the state of the arts and humanities, particularly with respect to their economic needs and problems. Directs the Council to report to Congress on the state of employment opportunities for professional artists, including the effectiveness of existing Federal programs and the need for new programs. Directs the Council to report to Congress on the effectiveness and feasibility of expanding the indemnity program created by the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act. Directs the Chairmen of the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities to each conduct a study of and report to Congress on the use, sale, or other disposal of property to carry out the purposes of such Act, the effectiveness of such use, sale, or disposition as an incentive for increasing the levels of non-Federal support, and the extent to which such activities of each Chairman result in undue administrative and financial burdens upon grant recipients. Authorizes appropriations for the National Endowment for the Arts and for the Humanities for fiscal years 1981 through 1985. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of such authorizations based upon the value of donated property and the total amounts received by grantees from non-Federal sources. Establishes authorization ceilings for fiscal year 1981. Directs the Chairmen of the Endowments to issue guidelines to implement the authorizations. Title II: Museum Services - Amends the Museum Services Act to authorize the Director of the Institute of Museum Services to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with professional museum organizations to provide financial assistance to undertake projects designed to strengthen museum services. Limits such assistance for projects to a one-year period. Prohibits the use of such assistance for operational expenses. Limits the aggregate amount of financial assistance to such organizations. Requires the Director to establish procedures for reviewing and evaluating grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Authorizes appropriations for such assistance for fiscal years 1981 through 1985. Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to repeal the authority of the Secretary of Education to eliminate or restructure the Institute of Museum Services. Title III: Amendments to Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act - Amends the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to increase from $250,000,000 to $400,000,000 the aggregate amount covered under indemnity agreements. Increases the amounts deductible under such agreements if the estimated value of the covered items exceeds $2,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow homeowners a nonrefundable income tax credit for 50 percent of the expenses paid or incurred to make alterations to their residences for the purpose of making such residences more accessible to, and usable by, a handicapped individual who is either the taxpayer, his spouse, or a dependent of the taxpayer. Limits the amount of such credit, for each such handicapped individual, to the lesser of $1,000 or an amount which, when added to previous year's credits, does not exceed $5,000. Reduces the amount of such credit by one-half of the amount by which the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer exceeds $20,000 ($35,000 in the case of married individuals filing jointly). Defines "handicapped individual" as any individual who has a medically identifiable mental or physical impairment which can be expected to result in death or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months, and which substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual. Requires the handicapped individual to live in the principal residence for which the alterations are made for not less than a nine month period during the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1980
Domestic Steel Industry Protection Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish quarterly the trigger price for each steel mill product based on the costs of producing such products in Japan and the European Economic Community (EEC). Requires the Secretary to initiate an antidumping duty investigation if imports from Japan or any EEC country are made at prices below the applicable trigger price. Requires importers of such products to present a special invoice containing such information as required by the Secretary upon entry of such products into the United States.
![Official portrait of Rep. Murphy, Austin J. [D-PA-20]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001088_200.jpg)