United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1981
Older Worker Employment Incentives Act of 1981 - Title I: Pension Accruals for Older Workers - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the prohibition against participation in a pension plan by employees who begin employment five years or less before the normal retirement age. Prohibits suspension or reduction, solely because of age, of an employee's benefit accrual, in the case of a defined benefit plan, or of employer contributions to the employee's account, in the case of a defined contribution plan. Provides that the amendments made by this title shall apply with respect to plan years beginning after December 31, 1982. Title II: Amendments to the Social Security Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Disability and Survivors Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide for: (1) a graduated increase in delayed retirement credit; and (2) a liberalization of the earnings test, for taxable years ending after the date of enactment of this Act. Title III: Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the amount of credit for new employees to provide for an income tax credit for the employment of lower-income older workers. Makes such credit applicable to amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 1980, in taxable years ending after such date. Title IV: Age Discrimination in Employment - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to eliminate provisions permitting age discrimination in employment where age is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business. Removes the existing 70-year upper age limit to which the discrimination prohibitions apply, thus extending coverage to all individuals who are at least 40 years of age. Eliminates provisions permitting mandatory retirement at age 65 for bona fide executives or high policymakers entitled to specified benefits. Amends specified laws relating to Government organization and employees to eliminate provisions which permitted maximum-age entrance requirements for Federal employees. Eliminates provisions relating to automatic separations or mandatory separations based on a prescribed retirement age for Federal employees or employees of the government of the District of Columbia. Sets forth conforming amendments to the District of Columbia Public Education Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate a mandatory retirement at age 70 requirement for tax court judges and to permit such judges who have attained age 70 to retire at any time after serving for ten years or more. Amends specified law relating to the Federal Judicial Center to eliminate a mandatory retirement at age 70 requirement for the Director of the Center and to permit retirement at age 70 upon the request of the Director. Amends a specified law relating to the appointment and tenure of U.S. magistrates to eliminate a mandatory retirement at age 70 requirement for such magistrates. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to repeal mandatory retirement provisions for participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System. Provides that specified annuities under such System commence at age 60, or at separation for participants who separate after reaching age 60. Amends a specified law relating to Lighthouse Service officers and employees to eliminate compulsory retirement at age 70 for such officers and employees. Amends the Coast and Geodetic Survey Commissioned Officers' Act of 1948 to eliminate provisions relating to: (1) transfer of officers to the retired list; (2) separation from service; (3) effective date of retirements and separations; (4) lump-sum payment upon separation from service; and (5) retirement of officers for age. Eliminates the duty of a personnel board to make selections and recommendations for retirement of officers. Amends the Public Health Service Act to eliminate mandatory retirement at age 64 for commissioned officers of the Service and to permit such officers to be retired at such age upon their own request. Removes the authority of the Secretary to retire such officers after completion of specified periods of active service (retains the officers' right to be retired after such periods upon their own application). Amends the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921, to eliminate mandatory retirement at age 70 for the Comptroller General and the Deputy Comptroller General and to permit such officials to retire at such age upon their own request. Amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to eliminate the requirement that the Chief Judge of the District Court of the Virgin Islands be under 70 years of age. Amends the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 for Certain Employees to repeal provisions for mandatory retirement of participants in the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. Declares that the provisions of, and amendments made by, this title shall apply only to individuals employed on the effective date of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1981
Retirement Security Portability Non-Discrimination Act of 1981 - Title I: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Subtitle A: Vesting; Benefit Accrual; Reciprocal Agreements - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow a pension plan to meet minimum vesting standards if an employee who has completed at least five years of service has a nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of his accrued benefit derived from employer contributions. Eliminates the prohibition from participation in a plan by employees who begin employment five years or less before the normal retirement age. Prohibits suspension or reduction of an employee's benefit accrual, in the case of a defined benefit plan, or of employer contributions to the employee's account, in the case of a defined contribution plan, solely because of age. Permits contributions to a pension or welfare plan made pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement to be transferred to another such plan under which the employee had previously participated. Subtitle B: Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements - Requires pension plans which pay benefits in the form of an annuity to provide a survivor's annuity for the spouse of a participant who dies before the annuity starting date. Permits lump-sum or installment distributions of annuities of not more than $1,750. Requires a plan under which the normal form of benefit is not an annuity to make lump-sum or installment distributions to a surviving spouse, not later than 60 days after the participant's last plan year, of a participant's nonforfeitable benefit. Requires any election to take the joint and survivor annuity to be signed by both the participant and the spouse and to be notarized. Eliminates the allowance of provisions in such plans which make ineffective an election, or a revocation of an election, if the participant dies within two years of such election or revocation. Limits increases in the costs of a plan to those attributable to the availability of survivors' benefits before the participant's attainment of normal retirement age. Subtitle C: Minimum-Benefit Pension Plan System - Requires any employer engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce to maintain a minimum-benefit pension plan. Defines "minimum-benefit pension plan" as a tax-deferred compensation plan or a tax-exempt trust: (1) in which all of an employers' employees may participate; (2) to which, in the case of an individual account plan, the employer contributes at least four percent of the lesser of the amount of the participant's compensation for the plan year or the maximum amount of earnings considered wages for purposes of title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act as of the beginning of the plan year; (3) under which, in the case of a defined benefit plan, each participant's accrued benefit derived from employer contributions equals at least the amount of the accrued benefit which would have been derived from employee contributions if the participant made mandatory contributions for each plan year equal to four percent of the lesser of the amount of the participant's compensation for the plan year or the maximum amount of earnings considered wages for OASDI purposes; and (4) a participant in which has a nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of his accrued benefit derived from employer contributions. Subtitle D: Special Master and Prototype Plans - Provides for the establishment of a new type of master or prototype employee pension benefit plan which has been approved by the Secretary of Labor and the assets of which are controlled by one or more master sponsors, who may be registered investment advisors, banks, insurance companies, or savings and loan associations. Relieves an employer who establishes such a plan of specified administrative requirements of ERISA. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 - Subtitle A: Vesting; Benefit Accrual; Reciprocal Agreements - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make conforming changes in accordance with the vesting, benefit accrual, and reciprocal agreement provisions of this Act. Subtitle B: Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirement - Makes conforming changes in accordance with the survivors' benefit provisions of this Act. Subtitle C: Amendment Relating to Minimum-Benefit Pension Plan System - Imposes upon any employer who fails to make required contributions to a minimum-benefit pension plan an excise tax equal to 110 percent of the difference between such required amount and the amount actually contributed. Subtitle D: Integration of Pension Benefits with Social Security Benefits - Qualifies as a tax-deferred compensation plan a plan under which contributions or benefits based on remuneration excluded from "wages" for purposes of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act differ from those based on included remuneration and which meet specified benefit requirements. Subtitle E: Income Tax Credit for Employer Contributions to Pension Plans - Allows a tax credit for employer contributions to a tax-deferred compensation plan equal to: (1) six percent of the amount of the deduction allowed for such contributions; or (2) 46 percent of the amount of the deduction allowed for such contributions or contributions to qualified foreign plans, if the employer elects not to deduct such amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1981
National Automotive Research Act of 1981 - Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to require the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to plan, direct, and conduct automotive research and technology development activities, utilizing to the extent possible the capabilities of other Government laboratories, private industry, and institutions of higher learning. Gives contract or grant priorities to American industrial concerns with production activities in the United States. Requires NASA to establish and implement a program to solicit and evaluate ideas from inventors and to stimulate the further development of specified ideas. Transfers to NASA within two years of enactment all automotive research and technology development activities currently being conducted by other Federal departments and agencies and as many of the positions, personnel, property, and funds of such departments and agencies as the Administrator of NASA shall recommend. Authorizes and directs the Administrator to prepare a comprehensive management program for the conduct of research and technology development activities under this Act, including a progress report on the transfer to NASA of the automotive research and development activities of other departments and agencies. Requires the Administrator to transmit such program to the appropriate committees of Congress. Requires the Administrator to detail modifications in such program in the annual budget submission. Authorizes specified amounts through fiscal year 1982 and amounts to be set in annual authorization Acts for subsequent fiscal years to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1981
Comprehensive Supplemental Security Income Amendments of 1981 - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act to provide that only those individuals below the poverty threshold (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services according to specified criteria) will be considered eligible for SSI. Provides that benefits shall be payable at a rate equal to the threshold. Provides that an individual's resources shall no longer be taken into account in determining benefit eligibility. Increases: (1) income exclusions for purposes of determining eligibility based on income; and (2) benefits for individuals in certain medical institutions. Makes cost-of-living adjustments applicable to income exclusions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1981
Declares the sense of the Congress that the President shall take steps to: (1) call upon the Soviet Union to permit the resurrection of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic Churches; (2) contact the officials of the Soviet Union to secure freedom of worship in the Ukraine and (3) bring to the attention of national and international religious councils Soviet violations of basic human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1981
Noninstitutional Long-Term Care Services for the Elderly and Disabled Act - Amends the Social Security Act by adding a new title, title XXI (Noninstitutional Acute and Long-Term Care Services for the Elderly and the Disabled), to provide a comprehensive system of noninstitutional health, developmental, and social services for individuals with chronic disabilities. Entitles an eligible individual to the following benefits: (1) home health services; (2) homemaker-home health aide services; (3) adult day services; (4) respite care services for up to 14 days, or 336 hours, in any year; (5) service coordination; (6) home help services; and (7) other services, provided on a demonstration basis, which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines may be of value. Sets forth definitions of such benefits. Provides benefits to every individual who: (1) has attained age 65; (2) is disabled and eligible for benefits under titles II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance), XVI (Supplemental Security Income), XVIII (Medicare), and XIX (Medicaid) of the Act; (3) was eligible for such benefits and ceased to be so eligible, but only if loss of benefits would seriously jeopardize such individual's ability to continue to live in a noninstitutional community residence and such individual's income is not sufficient to allow such individual to provide a reasonable equivalent of the services available under this Act; or (4) has been certified as eligible by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. States that no eligible individual shall be eligible to receive any benefits under title XXI or any long-term care benefits under titles XVIII, XIX, or XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Act unless such individual has a plan of care, as specified in this Act, and has been screened and assessed by a preadmission assessment and screening team (PAT) in order to determine the types and frequency of services required by such individual and in order to assure the maximum level of independence for such individual. Requires the Governor of each State to designate the State agency or agencies which shall administer or supervise the administration of the States' PAT program. Directs such agency or agencies to designate the PAT. Directs the Secretary to reimburse any PAT, and any State, for the reasonable costs incurred under this Act. Requires beneficiaries under title XXI to make copayments. Sets limits based on income for such copayments. Exempts those below the poverty line from copayments. Directs the Secretary to pay amounts for benefits incurred by an eligible individual in accordance with specified guidelines. Creates the Federal Long-Term Care Trust Fund into which specified funds will be deposited in order to make the payments required by this Act. Coordinates the provisions of this Act with titles XVIII, XIX, and XX of the Act by providing that no payment shall be made under such titles to or on behalf of an individual who is eligible under title XXI for services available under title XXI, unless the individual seeking coverage first undergoes a preadmission screening and assessment as provided in title XXI. States that this Act shall be effective between January 1, 1982, and December 31, 1987. Directs the Secretary to monitor the effects of this Act and report to Congress. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct an ongoing evaluation of the effects of this Act and to report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1981
Malt Beverage Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that no antitrust law shall prohibit the importer, brewer, or trademark licensee of a trademarked malt beverage from entering into an agreement granting a wholesale distributor the exclusive right to sell such beverage within any defined geographic area within a State, or limiting such distributor to the sale of such beverage for ultimate resale to consumers in that area, when such beverage has substantial competition from other malt beverages in that area. Declares that this Act shall not affect any provision of State law.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1981
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require that States, to be eligible for grants under such Act, to submit plans which assure that if a substantial number of older individuals residing in any planning and service area are of limited English-speaking ability the area agency on aging will be required to: (1) utilize outreach service delivery workers who are fluent in the language spoken by the predominant numbers of such individuals; and (2) designate an employee, or another person available on a full-time basis, whose responsibilities will include: (a) making counseling available to such individuals to help them participate in programs and receive assistance under such Act; and (b) enabling social service delivery workers to take into account cultural sensitivities and linguistic differences.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Economic Equity Act - Title I: Tax and Retirement Matters - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the maximum deduction for contributions to an individual retirement plan: (1) shall be computed separately for each individual who is married; and (2) in the case of a married individual who has no compensation or less compensation than that of the spouse, shall be determined as if such compensation were the same as that of the individual's spouse. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to require that a retirement plan which provides an annuity to a participant with at least ten years of creditable service shall provide a survivor's annuity for the spouse of a participant who dies before the annuity starting date in an amount not less than the amount which would have been made under the survivor's annuity if the participant had survived and retired on such annuity date. Provides that a participant's election not to take a joint and survivor's annuity shall not be effective unless the spouse of the participant consents in writing to such an election. Allows the assignment of the benefits of a qualified retirement plan in the case of a judgment, decree or order relating to child support, alimony payments, or marital property rights pursuant to a State domestic relations law. Amends ERISA to lower the age limitation for participation in a qualified retirement plan from age 25 to age 21. Amends ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for accruals of creditable service to continue while an individual is on approved maternity or paternity leave at the rate of 20 hours service for each week of approved leave. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the zero bracket amount; (2) lower the tax rate; (3) decrease withholding requirements; and (4) increase minimum filing requirements for heads of households. Entitles former spouses of members of the uniformed services, civil service employees and members of Congress who were married to such a member or employee for at least ten years during creditable service to an annuity based upon a portion of such member's or employee's retired or retainer pay period. Amends the Survivor Benefit Plan of the uniformed services to make former spouses eligible for annuities under such plan. Provides for survivor's annuities for surviving former spouses of civil service spouses or members of Congress. Provides that the election of a member of the uniformed services, civil service employee or member of Congress not to take a joint and survivor's annuity shall not be effective unless the spouse and any former spouse of such member or employee consents in writing to such an election. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit to employers of displaced homemakers. Title II: Day Care Program - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the tax credit for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment from 20 percent of the cost of such services to 50 percent of the cost reduced by one percent for each $1,000 amount by which the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $10,000. Makes such credit refundable. Increases the dollar limit for such credit from $2,000 to $2,400 (from $4,000 to $4,800 for two or more dependents). Allows such credit for certain services performed outside the taxpayer's household. Establishes a minimum income for individuals engaged in business on a substantially full time basis to be used in the computation of the earned income limitation on the amount of such credit. Includes as a tax-exempt organization any organization which provides non-residential dependent care services to the general public for purposes of enabling individuals to be gainfully employed. Title III: Armed Forces - Revises the rules for the distribution of the property of deceased members of the Air Force and Army by removing any gender distinctions from such rules. Establishes a distribution formula based on six classes: (1) beneficiary named in a will; (2) surviving spouse; (3) children; (4) parents; (5) siblings; and (6) next of kin. Eliminates sexual distinctions with regard to promotion procedures and procedures to remove reserve officers from active duty status in the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve. Requires the Secretary of Defense to make an annual report to the Congress concerning the status of women in the armed forces. Title IV: Estate Tax on Agricultural Property and Farm Loans - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the unified credit against the estate and gift tax from $47,000 to $192,800 by specified annual increments through 1985. Increases the minimum gross estate requirement for filing a return from $175,000 to $600,000. Qualifies estates of decedents who were disabled or retired for the special valuation of certain farms based on use if they materially participated in the operation of such farm for five out of eight years preceding the year in which they became disabled or eligible for disability benefits. Permits the spouse of a decedent to use such valuation if the spouse has managed the farm or business for ten years preceding the decedent's death. Permits active management rather than material participation as a test for qualification of the estate for spouses, children under 21, students, and disabled individuals who receive property from a decedent who qualified for special use valuation. Repeals the $500,000 limitation on the reduction of the value of qualified real property permitted by the special use valuation. Provides that the interest rate on extended payments of estate taxes shall be the lower of 6 percent or 75 percent of the prime rate. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to remove the preference to married persons in receiving farm improvement loans. Title V: NonDiscrimination in Insurance Act - Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in the consideration of applications for, or the granting of, insurance policies and the terms of such policies. Permits insurers who regularly provide insurance solely to persons of a single religious affiliation to continue to do so. Grants to State or local governments having insurance discrimination laws the primary opportunity to enforce this Act. Permits an aggrieved person to file a civil action in State or Federal court against an insurer, if a State or local authority which has received notice of a complaint fails to act within 60 days or with respect to those authorities not having insurance discrimination laws. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in district court when there is reasonable cause to believe that a person or group is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the rights granted by this Act and that such denial raises an issue of general public importance. Title VI: Regulatory Reform and Sex Neutrality - Requires the head of each executive agency to conduct a review of all rules, regulations and policies of the agency which result in different treatment based on gender. Directs each agency to report annually to the Congress on such review. Provides that such report shall include proposals to eliminate any resultant sex-based discrimination. Requires that all rules, regulations, documents and other writings of executive agencies shall use words that are neutral as to gender unless it is impracticable to do so or the subject matter specifically applies only to one sex. Title VII: Study of Enforcement of Alimony and Child Support Payments - Directs the Attorney General to undertake a study of the appropriate role of the Federal Government in the enforcement of delinquent payments of alimony, child support, and property settlement orders against an absent spouse or parent. Requires the Attorney General to submit to the President and the Congress not later than one year after enactment of this Act a report of such study together with recommendations for appropriate legislation. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Government Cost Reduction Act - Title I: General Provisions - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to reduce the costs of Government to the taxpayers and to improve Government productivity. Title II: Agency Program Appraisal - Requires the head of each Executive agency to: (1) classify its activities into programs and identify each program under its jurisdiction; (2) set forth long term goals of each such program; and (3) review and revise, if appropriate, program categories and goals at least every four years. Directs each agency head: (1) to provide for the collection and analysis of information necessary for the evaluation of each program and of the agency's success in reducing program costs; and (2) to develop program performance indicators based on the annual and long-term goals of the program and the annual cost-reduction objectives for the program. Requires each agency head to submit to the President for each fiscal year a management improvement plan. Directs the President to review such plans and establish annual program goals and cost-reduction objectives for the fiscal year for each agency and each designated program having the greatest need for improved management. Requires each agency to modify its management plan as necessary, implement such plan, and report on its success in meeting program and cost-reduction objectives to the President and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Directs the President to rate the success of each agency in meeting its objectives and of each designated program according to a system to be established by OPM. Requires each agency head to rate each agency program. Directs each agency to provide for employee participation in the development of management improvement plans. Authorizes the OPM to adjust, within specified limits, the amount of benefits (including merit pay increases, cash awards, and promotions) available during a fiscal year to employees within a program on the basis of the program rating for the preceding year. Title III: Cost Savings - Defines the term "cost savings" as an amount which is budgeted but not spent for an agency program because of improvements in program management or operation, provided that the savings do not adversely affect the attainment of annual or long-term program goals or generate additional costs later. Permits any agency to report program savings to the President and request the President to designate them as cost savings. Directs the President to review and verify such savings and to determine the amount of such savings which qualifies as cost savings. Declares that 50 percent of any cost savings shall be returned to the U.S. Treasury, ten percent shall be available to the agency for employee benefits, and the remainder shall be available to the agency for any authorized purpose. Title IV: Work Force Planning - Requires each agency to develop by October 1, 1985, a work force planning system capable of determining personnel requirements for all agency programs according to an implementation schedule and guidelines prescribed by OPM. Directs each agency to test the system, make necessary modifications, and apply to OPM for certification of the system by October 1, 1986. Directs agencies to use data derived from such systems to formulate requests, reallocate personnel, and determine whether to have work performed by contract. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to report to Congress on its use of such data to formulate budget requests. Requires the Director of OPM to conduct and prepare project evaluations for demonstration projects using certified work force planning systems. Title V: Cost Accounting and Productivity Measurement Cost Accounting Systems - Requires each agency, by October 1, 1985, to establish a cost accounting system to determine the per-unit cost of output of each program and to provide a basis for allocating the indirect cost among agency programs. Directs the Comptroller General to prescribe regulations to standardize such systems. Requires the Director of OPM: (1) to establish a productivity measurement system to contain productivity data submitted by each agency; (2) to develop an index of such data; and (3) to provide such index to the Director of the General Services Administration for entry into the Federal Information Locator. Transfers to the Director of OPM all functions of the Secretary of Labor pertaining to the measurement of the productivity of agencies which are carried out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Requires the Director to submit to the President and Congress an annual productivity report including: (1) a measure of the productivity of Government overall and of each agency program; (2) comparisons of the productivity of ways to improve Government productivity. Requires the Director to provide for a clearinghouse for information on productivity improvement programs. Requires the Director to encourage agencies to develop procedures for increasing employee participation in decisions affecting program administration. Title VI: Capital Investment Funds - Authorizes the Director of OMB to establish special accounts to finance capital improvement projects which: (1) require expenditures of less than $100,000; and (2) will generate cost savings at least equal to the project expenditures within four years after completion. Sets forth criteria for the approval by each agency head of project proposals. Requires designated agency employees to review and report to the agency head on the data supporting the projected cost savings and productivity improvements of each proposed project. Directs the agencies to monitor the projects and report to OMB on whether the cost savings and productivity improvements of funded projects match original projections. Title VII: Additional Incentives for Increased Productivity - Directs OPM to prescribe regulations which permit agencies to institute involuntary separations to meet reduced labor requirements caused by improved productivity only if alternative methods of responding to a reduced work load have failed. Applies grade retention provisions to any employee in a civilian supervisory position which is reduced in grade because of personnel reductions caused by productivity improvements. Requires the contributions of a Federal employee or a senior executive toward the attainment of annual program and cost-reduction objectives to be considered in his or her performance evaluation. Requires performance appraisal periods to be coterminous with the fiscal year. Directs OMB to prescribe regulations permitting agency employees to demonstrate that agency work to be performed by contract could be performed as efficiently and effectively by agency employees. Authorizes the Inspector General of any agency to pay a cash award to an employee whose disclosure of waste or fraud resulted in cost savings. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the President to review the functions of OPM and OMB under this Act and to transfer any functions the President determines would be performed better by the other agency. Restricts the use of contracted services to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Older Americans Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the definition of "State" for purposes of the Act. Includes among the functions of the Administration on Aging the coordination of Federal activities with respect to the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information relevant to older individuals. Eliminates the National Information and Resource Clearinghouse for the Aged. Sets March 31, 1982, as the deadline for a study by the Federal Council on Aging evaluating programs for older Americans. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Council through fiscal year 1983. Eliminates outdated provisions relating to a report on legal services programs. Repeals a provision that a Congressional declaration of policy respecting "Insular Areas" not apply to the administration of programs for older Americans. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for grants for State and community programs on aging (relating to social services and to congregate and home delivered nutrition services). Continues through fiscal year 1983 formulas for allotments to States and determination of the Federal share of costs of such programs. Changes (from a minimum of 50 percent) to "an adequate proportion" that portion of the amount of social service grant funds which area plans must assure will be expended for access to services, in-home services, and legal services. Requires that State plans provide that each nutrition service project will be available not only to individuals aged 60 or older and their spouses but also to handicapped or disabled individuals under 60 years of age residing in senior citizen centers where congregate nutrition services are provided. Requires that such plans give primary consideration to congregate nutrition services, but allows area agencies to award funds to organizations for home nutrition services without requiring that such organizations also provide congregate services. Permits charges for access to meals for the elderly where appropriate. Repeals a limitation on the use of nutrition services funds for supportive services. Extends through fiscal year 1983: (1) the 30 cents per meal minimum level of assistance under the program of donation of surplus agricultural commodities to nutrition services for the elderly grant or contract recipients; and (2) the requirement that the Secretary of Agriculture purchase high protein foods, meat, and meat alternates for such purpose. Directs the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to consult with minority aging organizations and include the status of meeting the manpower needs of the minority elderly in reports on existing and future personnel needs. Includes weatherization improvement and energy efficiency among the special housing needs of older individuals for which special consideration will be given in awarding project grants and contracts. Provides that a report on special projects in comprehensive long-term care be included in the annual report on programs for older Americans. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for training, research, and discretionary projects and programs in the field of aging. Includes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in: (1) provisions for distribution of assistance under such Act; and (2) in the definition of "State" for purposes of the Older American Community Service Employment Programs. Includes weatherization activities among community services for purposes of such programs. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for such programs. Extends through fiscal year 1983 the authorization of appropriations for grants for Indian tribes for elderly services, including multipurpose senior centers. Sets forth technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State should recommend to the Attorney General that aliens who are nationals of El Salvador be granted extended voluntary departure status until they can reside safely in El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Commends the peaceful attempts to resolve differences between Poland's workers and government officials and expresses the hope that they will continue to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations. Welcomes to the United States Poland's First Deputy Prime Minister. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States could not remain indifferent to external aggression or internal repression against Poland and that such developments would have serious consequences for East-West relations. Supports efforts to work with other nations to ease Poland's economic difficulties and the U.S. decision to sell surplus food to Poland at concessionary prices and in Polish currency provided neither external aggression nor internal repression occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1981
Calls upon the President and the Attorney General to direct the Attorney General's Task Force on Violent Crime to study the social causes of violent crime, review Federal research in this area, consider the recommendations of previous commissions on crime prevention, insure that the Task Force represents a wide range of individuals involved in crime prevention, and issue findings within one year of the Task Force's establishment.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1981
Military Spouse Retirement Equity Act - Entitles a former spouse of a member of the uniformed services who was married to such member for at least ten years to an annuity based upon a percentage of such member's retired or retainer pay. Allows annuities to be paid to former spouses covered by spousal agreements or court orders which are not inconsistent with provisions of this Act. Provides that the ten-year requirement for the marriage of a former spouse to a member of the uniformed services should not be construed to affect the rights of any such person under applicable State laws. Amends the Survivor Benefit Plan to make such former spouses eligible to receive annuities under such plan.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1981
Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1981 - Title I: Community and Neighborhood Development and Conservation - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to: (1) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for grants to metropolitan areas for Community Development Programs; and (2) to limit the amount of commitments to guarantee notes and other obligations which the Secretary may enter into with respect to community development loan guarantees in fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to increase the amount of funds authorized for rehabilitation loans and to limit the amount of commitments to make such loans for fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing Act of 1954 to reduce the funds authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1982 for grants for activities relating to the development of comprehensive plans for community development, employment, and conservation, and to restrict the use of such funds to carrying out the clearinghouse functions required by OMB Circular A-95. Amends the Neighborhood Self-Help Development Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for grants for community development to neighborhood organizations. Amends the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to authorize appropriations for the Corporation for fiscal year 1982. Title II: Assisted Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937: (1) to increase, on October 1, 1981, the maximum amount of annual contractual contributions which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make to low-income housing; (2) to limit the amount which may be obligated over the duration of such contracts with respect to additional authority provided after October 1, 1981; (3) to allocate such additional authority; and (4) to authorize appropriations to fiscal year 1982 for annual contributions for the operation of low-income housing projects. Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to authorize fiscal year 1982 appropriations for operating assistance for troubled multifamily housing projects, with restrictions on the use of such funds for operating deficits resulting from failures to amend project contracts. Amends the National Housing Act to prohibit the approval of the appropriation of funds for such assistance after September 30, 1982. Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary to provide additional assistance payments of a specified amount per year to lower income families for acquiring home ownership or membership in a cooperative association. Title III: Program Amendments and Extensions - Amends the National Housing Act to extend the Secretary's authority to insure loans for mortgages and home improvement. Extends the Secretary's authority to establish the maximum interest rates for certain mortgage insurance programs. Limits the maximum principal amount of loans and mortgages that the Secretary may insure under such Act in fiscal year 1982. Amends the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act of 1974 to extend the authority of the Secretary to direct the Government National Mortgage Association to purchase mortgages and securities. Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to limit the amount of loans the Secretary may make for the provision of housing for elderly or handicapped families in fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 to authorize appropriations for research for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in fiscal year 1982. Amends the National Housing Act to increase the amount of funds authorized to be appropriated to cover losses sustained by the General Insurance Fund. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to: (1) increase, on October 1, 1981, the limitation on the total amount of commitments authorized for the Government National Mortgage Association; and (2) to limit the aggregate principal amount of mortgages that the Association may purchase and the amount of securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association that the Association may guarantee during fiscal year 1982. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1975 to direct the President to appoint two of the members of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences selected each year, and to extend the authorization for the Institute through fiscal year 1987. Amends the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 to authorize appropriations for the weatherization program for fiscal year 1982. Title IV: Flood, Crime, and Riot Insurance - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend the national flood insurance program until September 30, 1983, and to authorize appropriations for various insurance studies during fiscal year 1982. Amends the National Housing Act to extend: (1) the Secretary's powers to enter into contracts with respect to the Federal riot reinsurance program and the Federal crime insurance program until September 30, 1983; and (2) the deadline for submitting a plan for the liquidation of such programs to Congress until September 30, 1986. Title V: Rural Housing - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 to the Secretary of Agriculture: (1) to insure and guarantee loans for rural housing, with certain restrictions; (2) to make loans and grants for improvements of rural housing; (3) to provide financial assistance for the provision of low- rent housing for domestic farm labor; (4) to make grants or contract for the development of programs to assist low-income persons in benefiting from housing programs in rural areas; and (5) to insure loans to provide rental housing for persons of moderate income in rural areas. Terminates use of the Rural Housing Insurance Fund for certain rural housing loans as of October 1, 1981. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into contracts to provide: (1) interest credit payments with respect to such loans made during fiscal year 1982; (2) additional assistance payments to low income persons who are unable to afford dwellings with such interest credit payments; and (3) rental assistance payments. Authorizes appropriations for such payments in fiscal year 1982 with annual and aggregate limitations. Authorizes fiscal year 1982 appropriations for: (1) programs of mutual and self-help housing in rural areas; and (2) the Self-Help Housing Land Development Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1981
Directs the President to award a special gold medal to Fred Waring. Stipulates that funds may not be appropriated under this Act for any period before October 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1981
Proclaims Raoul Wallenberg an honorary citizen of the United States. Requests the President to ascertain his whereabouts from the Soviet Union and to secure his freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1981
Establishes a Special Joint Committee on the Centennial of the Birth of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Directs that such committee shall be composed of sixteen Members of the Congress. Directs that such committee shall prepare an overall program for nationwide observances and make comprehensive plans for commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, including a joint session of Congress to be held on January 29, 1982. Provides that the expenses of such committee shall not exceed a specified amount to be paid from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives. Directs that upon termination of the committee one-half of its expenses shall be paid by transfer from the contingent fund of the Senate to the contingent fund of the House of Representatives. Provides that such committee shall terminate not later than April 30, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Postal Electronic Mail Act of 1981 - Authorizes the United States Postal Service to provide electronic mail service. Directs the Postal Service to: (1) create a separate unit to manage such service; and (2) establish rates and fees to produce sufficient revenues to cover the costs of providing such service. Prohibits the Government from subsidizing such service. Prohibits the Postal Service from owning any telecommunications media for the purpose of providing electronic mail service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Pregnant Women's Assistance Act - Amends the Public Health Services Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants and enter into contracts to provide for: (1) the counseling of pregnant women on their legal rights and the benefits and services available to them; and (2) the development of information (including education materials) on family planning and the legal rights, benefits and services available to them.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) express to the Soviet Union the United States' deep concern about the Soviet Union's depriving the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families of religious freedom and refusing them permission to emigrate; (2) ensure that such families may reside in the U.S. embassy in Moscow until the Soviet Union authorizes their emigration; and (3) ensure provision of assistance for such families during their residence in the embassy.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Nuclear Reactor Moratorium and Nuclear Waste Disposal Prohibition Act - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from issuing or renewing any licenses for the construction or operation of nuclear reactors until after the submission to appropriate Congressional committees of a study by the Office of Technology Assessment on nuclear powerplant safety. Amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from constructing any nuclear waste disposal facility within or near densely populated areas.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Hunger and Global Security Act - Title I: Public Law 480 - Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to require the President to consider the extent to which a developing country is using self-help measures to reduce illiteracy among young farmers and to improve the health of farmers and their families before the President can enter an agreement for the sale of agricultural commodities for foreign currencies and long-term-dollar credit with such country. Requires that the economic development and self-help measures the recipient country agrees to undertake be sufficiently described so that the primary beneficiaries will be needy people with incomes below the level required to prevent malnutrition. Requires such economic development and self-help measures to be in addition to the measures the recipient country had otherwise been planning to take. Directs the President to verify that such measures are being carried out and to report to the appropriate Congressional committees on such verification and on the additional nature of such measures. Title II: Multilateral Development Banks - Amends the Federal provisions for aiding international financial institutions to require the United States to work within certain multilateral development banks to establish a requirement that not less than 50 percent of such bank's lending benefit needy people. Requires the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury to report to Congress annually on establishing such requirement. Title III: World Food Security - Directs the President to encourage other grain exporting countries to establish food security reserves or take other measures that complement the U.S. food security reserve. Directs the President to report to Congress on actions taken with respect to such food security reserves. Directs the President to negotiate the establishment of a global food financing facility and ensure that the benefits of such facility meet basic human needs. Directs the President to report to Congress on the actions taken to implement such facility. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from imposing export controls on food if it is determined that such controls would cause measurable malnutrition in the countries against whom the controls are proposed unless the President determines such controls are necessary to protect U.S. national security. Title IV: Generalized System of Preferences - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit the President from designating as a beneficiary developing country any country that fails to give priority to alleviating malnutrition and poor health and enabling the poor to participate actively in increasing economic productivity, unless the President determines that such designation is required by U.S. national security interests and so reports to Congress. Directs the President to review the possibility of increasing the benefits available to the poorest beneficiary developing countries under such Act's Generalized System of Preferences. Title V: American International Public Health Fund - Establishes within the Agency for International Development (AID) an American International Public Health Fund to provide financial assistance to private and voluntary organizations to support specified public health activities in developing countries. Limits the Fund's financial assistance with respect to the administrative activities of such organizations. Specifies factors to be considered in allocating the Fund's resources. Authorizes the Fund to carry out all AID programs assisting private and voluntary organizations. Directs the Administrator of AID to establish a Board for International Public Health which shall: (1) participate in project proposal review; (2) review documents that detail the terms under which the Fund provides financial assistance to private and voluntary organizations; (3) review the impact of activities supported by the Fund; (4) recommend the allocation of funds; and (5) participate in preparing the annual report. Requires the Director of the Fund to report annually to Congress and the President on the Fund. Authorizes appropriations for such Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Municipal Capital Assistance Act of 1981 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into annual contribution contracts with local governments to pay a stated portion of total interest and principal of specific bond issues to finance restoration work on water and sewer systems, roads, and bridges. Directs the Secretary to select projects based on the urgency of the need for restoration, the money to be saved, the contribution to the economic development or the reduction of the economic decline of the area, and the number of persons who will benefit from the completion of the project. Specifies that the total amount of each such contract shall equal 25 percent of the debt service for the long-term debt involved. Allows the suspension of the issuance of annual contribution contracts if the Secretary finds that there is congestion in the municipal bond market. States that such a suspension shall be based upon a determination that yields on taxable bonds of comparable maturity and credit rating. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into such contracts on $5,000,000,000 principal amounts for fiscal years 1982 through 1986. Prohibits the Secretary from entering into such contracts in the principal amount of more than $5,000,000,000 during any fiscal year. States that all amounts appropriated for a fiscal year during which the Secretary has suspended the issuance of such contracts shall remain available until expended.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Defense Department Overseas Teachers Act of 1981 - Amends the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act regarding Department of Defense overseas dependents schools to limit the term of teaching positions and the travel and quarters allowance benefits for teachers who are recruited outside the United States. Provides exemptions from such limitations in specified teaching situations. Eliminates the limitation on the amount of leave an overseas teacher may accumulate. Permits the use of leave for paternity purposes. Entitles a Federal or District of Columbia government employee who becomes an overseas teacher to a lump-sum payment for annual leave accumulated as such an employee. Transfers leave accumulated by such a teacher as sick leave if the teacher becomes a Federal or District of Columbia government employees. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to grant a sabbatical to any teacher on the condition that the teacher agrees to serve in the civil service for three years after completing the sabbatical.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1981
Judicial Tenure Act - Establishes a 13-member Council on Judicial Tenure, consisting of one member from each judicial circuit and one member from each of the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, the Court of Claims, and the Customs Court, to receive and investigate written complaints by any person concerning a Justice or judge of the United States. Directs the Council to determine the existence of any grounds specified: (1) in existing law for the involuntary retirement of a judge; or (2) in this Act for the removal or censure of a judge. Authorizes the Council to dismiss any complaint which it finds to be frivolous, unwarranted, or insufficient in law or fact. Directs the Chairman to appoint panels, consisting of members of the Council to conduct hearings with respect to complaints which are not dismissed. Specifies due process protections for the judge who is the subject of such hearing. Grants to the Council or panels appropriate judicial powers to conduct such hearings. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to elect annually one of its members to be the presiding officer on any matter concerning the removal, censure, or involuntary retirement of a Justice or judge of the United States. Provides that the Conference or, with the concurrence of a majority of its members, a committee of nine judges appointed by the presiding officer, shall sit as a court to hear any cause relating to the involuntary retirement, removal, censure, or assignment of duties of a justice or judge of the United States. States that the Conference or committee shall be convened for such purpose upon the receipt of a recommendation from the Council that a justice or judge be removed, censured, or involuntarily retired. Authorizes the Conference or the committee to order, by majority vote: (1) censure; (2) removal from office; (3) involuntary retirement; or (4) dismissal or remand to the council of the case. Allows the judge affected to petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court within ten days after notification of such order. Provides that removal or censure may be ordered upon a finding that the conduct of the Justice or judge has been inconsistent with the good behavior standard required by article III, section 1 of the Constitution. States that habitual intemperance that seriously interferes with the performance of any of the critical duties of a justice or judge shall be deemed to be a permanent disability for purposes of involuntary retirement. Establishes a procedure by which a judge who is involuntarily retired may make a claim that he is not being assigned such judicial duties as he is willing and able to undertake. Authorizes the Judicial Conference, upon resolution of such matter, to make an appropriate order to the authority responsible for the assignment of judicial duties to such judge. Authorizes a Justice or judge who has retired involuntarily to be assigned to active duty. Directs the Council on Judicial Tenure to promulgate rules for the conduct of its activities within one year after the date of enactment, and the Judicial Conference to promulgate rules of evidence for use in proceedings under this Act by such date. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1981
Calls upon the President to: (1) demand that El Salvador thoroughly investigate the December, 1980, murders of four U.S. missionaries; (2) instruct, in light of allegations that Salvadorans residing in the United States were involved in those murders, the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assume a more directive role in the investigation and employ all other available U.S. resources in that investigation; (3) report on the investigation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on at least a biweekly basis; (4) demand that El Salvador begin investigating the murders of two U.S. labor representatives, and the disappearance of a U.S. journalist; and (5) warn El Salvador that, if these investigations are not satisfactorily resolved, the United States will consider terminating U.S. assistance to El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend tax-exempt status to veterans' organizations at least 75 percent of whose membership consists of past or present members of the armed forces of the United States (combat or noncombat veterans) and whose remaining membership consists substantially of cadets or spouses, widows, or widowers of armed forces personnel or cadets.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Title I: International Development Association - Amends the International Development Association Act to authorize the U.S. Governor to pay a specified sum as the U.S. contribution to the sixth replenishment of the Resources of the Association, subject to obtaining the necessary appropriations. Title II: African Development Bank - African Development Bank Act - Authorizes the President to accept membership for the United States in the African Development Bank. Provides for the appointment of a Governor and an Alternate Governor of such Bank. Makes U.S. participation in such Bank subject to the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Problems. Prohibits unauthorized: (1) subscriptions to additional shares in such Bank; (2) agreements increasing U.S. obligations or modifying the purpose of such Bank; or (3) financing for such Bank. Requires any Federal Reserve bank to act as the Bank's depository at the request of such Bank. Specifies the shares of such Bank to which the President is authorized to subscribe. Sets forth venue and jurisdiction provisions for such Bank. Exempts such Bank's obligations from specified limitations on underwriting investment securities and for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Requires such Bank to file reports as determined appropriate by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Authorizes the Commission to suspend the exemptions from the Securities laws. Directs such Bank to carry out U.S. policies concerning human rights and the development of light capital technologies. Makes U.S. citizen representatives to such Bank eligible for civil service benefits. Title III: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Asian Development Bank - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act and the Asian Development Bank Act to provide that any subscription to additional shares of such Banks shall only be effective to the extent as provided in advance in appropriation Acts (presently, may be made only after the necessary amount has been appropriated). Title IV: Inter-American Development Bank and Asian Development Bank - Amends the Inter-American Development Bank Act to authorize the U.S. Governor to contribute a specified sum to the Fund for Special Operations subject to obtaining the necessary appropriations. Authorizes specified sums to be appropriated for the U.S. subscription to the Bank's capital stock and for the U.S. contribution to the Fund for Special Operations. Amends the Asian Development Bank Act to authorize the U.S. Governor to contribute a specified sum to the Asian Development Fund subject to obtaining the necessary appropriations. Authorizes a specified sum to be appropriated to pay such contribution. Title V: Effective Date and Availability of Funds - Stipulates that authorized funds are not available for obligation prior to October 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1981
Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to: (1) vote to increase the authorized capital stock of the Bank; and (2) subscribe on behalf of the United States to a certain number of shares subject to obtaining the necessary appropriations. Authorizes appropriations to pay for such subscription.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1981
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1981 - Title I: Information Practices: Use of Consumer Reporting Agencies - Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to permit a Federal agency to disclose records pertaining to an individual to a consumer reporting agency. Authorizes a Federal agency attempting to collect a claim under the Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966 to notify a consumer reporting agency that a person is responsible for a claim if: (1) the agency has sent a written notice informing the person that a consumer reporting agency will be contacted, describing the information to be disclosed, and explaining the person's right to dispute the agency's claim; (2) the person has not agreed to repay the claim or filed for review of the claim; (3) the agency has reviewed the claim, if requested; and (4) the agency has obtained assurances that the consumer reporting agency complies with Federal laws governing the provision of consumer credit information. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish regulations requiring each agency with outstanding debts to submit annual reports on the amount and number of such debts, the interest charged on such debts, the cost to the agency of collecting debts, and other information on the agency's debt collection activities. Requires the Director to report annually to Congress on the management of agency debt collection activities. Title II: Collection Practices for Defaulted Student Loans - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1954 to require the Secretary of Education to analyze, quarterly, the collection status of defaulted Federal, federally-guaranteed, and federally-insured student loans. Directs the Secretary: (1) to notify the borrower of a defaulted loan of the consequences of not repaying the loan; (2) to attempt to enter into a repayment agreement with the borrower; and (3) if such attempt is not successful within 180 days of the loan becoming defaulted, to engage a nonprofit collection agency to service the loan. Directs the Secretary to refer any loan which is not under a repayment agreement within one year after being placed with a collection agency, to: (1) the Attorney General if the projected outstanding balance exceeds $600; or (2) the Secretary of the Treasury for collection. Requires the Attorney General to establish procedures for the efficient collection of such loans. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to require any borrower of a defaulted loan referred to the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the amount owed: (1) with income tax imposed for the year of the referral; or (2) by other methods prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Grants the Secretary of the Treasury the same powers to assess and collect such defaulted loans as if such amounts were imposed income taxes, the collection of which would be jeopardized by delay. Exempts any such collection or assessment from review by a Federal court. Directs the Comptroller General to analyze the systems for collecting student loans established under this Act, and to submit to Congress recommendations for the application of these systems to the collection of other loans made, insured, or guaranteed by the Government. Title III: Collection of Child-Support Obligations - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify the amount of child support obligations assigned to a State for collection by the Secretary of the Treasury without regard to whether a State agrees to reimburse the United States for collection costs. Shortens the period that collection of such an obligation is stayed after service of the notice and demand for payment in the case of the first delinquency assessment against an individual. Title VI: Higher Interest Charges During Periods of Default for All Federal Loan Programs - Requires each agency which administers a program providing direct Federal loans to include in any such loan a provision stating that the interest rate on the loan for each month during which the loan is in default may be increased to a rate equal to the Federal borrowing cost. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to promulgate regulations for the uniform implementation of this title. Title V: Other Provisions Relating to the Collection of Federal Claims - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury, by January 15 of each year, to notify any person owing a debt (excluding student loans) to a Federal agency for the preceding year of the amount and method of payment of such debt. Requires such person to pay the debt with his or her income taxes or as prescribed by the Secretary. Grants the Secretary the same powers to assess and collect such debts as if such amounts were imposed income taxes, the collection of which would be jeopardized by delay. Permits the head of an agency to garnish an employee's wages to pay any debt owed to the United States because of an erroneous payment to the individual by another agency. Declares that the statute of limitations for actions brought by the United States for money damages shall not bar the Government from collecting money payable to an individual by administrative offset if the individual is provided with an opportunity for an administrative hearing subject to judicial review. Authorizes the Secretary to disclose a taxpayer's address to an agency or an agency contractor engaged in a proceeding to collect a Federal claim. Permits such agency or contractor to redisclose such information. Authorizes appropriations for the employment in the Internal Revenue Service of sufficient personnel to collect all Federal tax liabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1981
Federal Financing Bank Act Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Federal Financing Bank Act of 1973 to include the receipts and disbursements of the Bank in the discharge of its functions in the totals of the budget of the United States Government. Authorizes such Bank, to the extent as may be provided in advance in appropriations Acts, to make commitments to purchase and sell, and to purchase and sell, any obligation which is issued, sold, or guaranteed by a Federal agency. Directs the Bank to make commitments to purchase, and to purchase, any obligation offered to it: (1) which is guaranteed by a Federal agency; (2) which has not previously been issued or sold to any person or governmental entity; and (3) in any case in which the guarantee with respect to such obligation would cease to be effective if such obligation were held by any person or governmental entity (other than such agency or the Bank). Permits any Federal agency, to the extent as may be provided in advance in appropriations Acts, which is authorized to issue, sell, or guarantee any obligation to issue or sell such obligation directly to the Bank. Subjects any guarantee by a Federal agency of an obligation to the condition that if such obligation is held by any person or governmental entity, other than such agency or the Bank, such guarantee shall thereafter cease to be effective, except in the case of any obligation which: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury determines is of a type which is not ordinarily brought and sold in the same markets as investment securities; or (2) which is issued or sold by the Bank.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1981
Amends the highway safety programs uniform standards to include: (1) comprehensive alcohol-traffic safety programs; and (2) penalties to deter motorists from driving while under the influence of alcohol.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Working Family Tax Reduction Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an income tax credit to married working couples in order to equalize the income tax between single individuals and married people.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Entitles any child who is a student during a school year to continue to receive a civil service survivor annuity throughout any period of such year during which the child cannot continue full-time study or training because of illness, if the child satisfies the Office of Personnel Management as to his or her intention to return to school upon recovering.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Requires the Office of Personnel Management, upon the request of a State, to withhold State income tax from the civil service annuity of any annuitant who requests such withholding. Declares that an annuitant may have only one such request in effect at any time and not more than two requests in effect in different States during one calendar year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Entitles a former spouse of a Member of Congress or Federal employee to a survivor annuity to the extent provided in an election by the employee or Member or by a court decree of divorce or annulment. Prohibits any adjustment of a survivor annuity after the death of the employee or Member. Permits an employee or Member to elect an additional survivor annuity for any other surviving spouse, provided that the total survivor annuity or annuities elected may not exceed 55 percent of the employee's or Member's annuity. Requires the employee or Member to provide for such survivor annuities by a specified reduction in annuity or salary or by a lump sum or installment payments. Restores such annuity or salary and refunds such payments if the spouse for whom such survivor annuity is elected dies or becomes ineligible for the survivor annuity before the death of the employee or Member. Declares a former spouse to be ineligible for a survivor annuity if such spouse remarries before attaining age 60. Declares that cost of living adjustments in civil service annuities shall not apply to such survivor annuities unless authorized by the Office of Personnel Management. Entitles a qualified former spouse to survivor benefits if the employee or Member dies after completing at least 18 months of civilian service.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Permits a Federal employee who is retiring on an immediate annuity to elect to receive a lump-sum payment for one-third of the value of accrued sick leave in lieu of including such leave as creditable service for computing retirement benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Defines an "unmarried" child, for purposes of determining eligibility for civil service survivor annuity, Government life insurance, or health insurance coverage, as any child who has never married or whose marriage has been dissolved by death, divorce, or annulment.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Athletic Opportunities Assistance Act - Entitles any Federal employee who is an athlete or a coach in the official U.S. delegation to the pan-American games, the Olympic games, or an international athletic competition for the handicapped paid leave up to 90 days to prepare for or participate in such competition.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1981
Requires uniformed Federal employees to be provided with a uniform allowance of $300 upon appointment and an annual uniform allowance of $200 in lieu of comparable benefits under any other provision of law.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that taxpayers who incur expenses for the care of a dependent child who is mentally or physically handicapped shall be eligible for the child care credit whether or not the taxpayer incurred such expenses to enable him to seek gainful employment or such expenses were incurred outside his household. Increases the amount of expenses which may be considered in determining the amount of the credit. Provides that the earned income limitation shall not apply to taxpayers who provide care for handicapped children. Grants tax-exempt status to a trust established for the care of a physically or mentally handicapped child of the taxpayer. Allows an income tax deduction for contributions to a child care trust. Limits the amount of such deduction for contributions to a child care trust. Limits the amount of such deduction to the lesser of 15 percent of the taxpayer's compensation includable in gross income for the taxable year, or $1,500. Provides that distributions from such a trust shall not be taken into consideration in determining the eligibility of such child for Federal or State assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1981
Declares that the President's decision to commit U.S. military personnel to El Salvador requires the President to submit to Congress a specified report required by the War Powers Resolution in order to preserve the integrity of such Resolution and to ensure the full and cooperative judgment of both Congress and the President with respect to the introduction of U.S. military personnel into El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1981
Authorizes appropriations in the amount of $1,500,000 to the city of Atlanta, Georgia, for law enforcement expenses with respect to the recent murders of children.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1981
Repeals the requirement under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act that the amount of monthly benefits payable to a spouse or surviving spouse be reduced by the amount such spouse or surviving spouse receives monthly from a Federal or State pension fund.
![Official portrait of Rep. Oakar, Mary Rose [D-OH-20]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/o000001_200.jpg)