United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1985
Civil Service Supplemental Retirement System Act of 1985 - Title I: Civil Service Supplemental Retirement System - Establishes a Civil Service Supplemental Retirement Plan for Federal employees, postal employees, and Members of Congress who began service after December 31, 1983. Sets forth provisions for the benefit plan including: (1) eligibility for an annuity after five years of creditable service; (2) entitlements to retirement based on age and years of service; (3) the formulas for computing an annuity; (4) survivor election reductions; and (5) funding. Sets forth provisions for mandatory retirement for air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. Establishes a Thrift Savings Plan under which participants may contribute up to 10 percent of their annual basic pay. Requires employing agencies to contribute the lesser of: (1) 50 percent of amounts contributed by the employee; or (2) three percent of such employee's basic pay. Provides for the payment of benefits, lump sum or annuity, at the employee's separation from service. Establishes in the Treasury the Thrift Savings Fund for the deposit and accounting of amounts under the Plan. Prescribes how money in such Fund shall be invested. Describes survivor annuities under the supplemental retirement plan. Describes disability benefits for employees who have completed five years of creditable service. Sets forth general and administrative provisions. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to pay all benefits payable under the benefit plan and administer provisions not specifically assigned to another entity. Directs the Office to adjudicate all claims under provisions it administers. Provides for annual cost-of-living adjustments in basic pensions based upon an increase in the Consumer Price Index. Provides for withholding of State income taxes from retirement annuities. Declares that basic annuities, survivor annuities, and disability benefits are exempt from legal process (i.e. levy, attachment, garnishment) unless otherwise provided by Federal law. Establishes in the executive branch the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to be responsible for policies and regulations for, and review of, the investment and management of the Thrift Savings Fund. Directs the Board to establish an Employee Thrift Advisory Council to advise the Board on matters relating to investment policies for the Fund. Directs the Board to appoint an Executive Director to carry out its policies, invest and manage the fund, and administer provisions of the Thrift Savings Plan. Title II: Amendments to Chapter 83 of Title 5, United States Code - Provides for civil service retirement for certain employees excluded from the supplemental retirement plan. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Federal Employees' Retirement Contribution Temporary Adjustment Act of 1983 to extend its provisions until January 1, 1987. Allows employees covered under such Act to elect participation in the supplemental retirement plan. Title IV: Effective Dates - Declares this Act in effect on January 1, 1987, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Postmaster General should issue a stamp, before October 1, 1986, commemorating the 100th Congress; and (2) the U.S. Postal Service should conduct a public competition for the design of the stamp.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Equitable Automobile Transportation Act of 1985 - Requires a person exporting Japanese motor vehicles to be imported into the United States to: (1) transport an equal number of such vehicles on U.S. - documented vessels as are transported on Japanese vessels; and (2) file an annual certification with the Department of the Treasury which contains specified assurances and information. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations to enforce this Act. Provides penalties for the violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide that funds made available for family planning programs may only be used for programs: (1) in which there is not any element of coercion of individuals to practice family planning or to accept any particular method of contraception; (2) which include an accurate description of the effectiveness and risks of all major methods of family planning; and (3) which include an agreement to provide either other family planning methods if requested or referral to programs offering other methods as appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Authorizes the Francis Scott Key Park Foundation to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor Francis Scott Key, the author of the words to our national anthem. Subjects the selected site, design, and plans for the memorial to the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. Provides that only non-Federal funds may be used to establish the memorial and that these must be sufficient before construction begins. Terminates the authority provided by this Act if construction does not begin within five years.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1985
Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the method of determining the inpatient hospital deductible to make such deductible equal to the preceding year's deductible increased by the lesser of the applicable increase percentage determined under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Act or the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Reduces the rate of increase of the coinsurance amount payable for extended care services.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1985
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit in Government trust funds amounts equal to interest lost to such trust funds through disinvestment of Federal or federally-insured obligations by the Secretary during FY 1986 for the purpose of avoiding any violation of the public debt limit.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Joint Chiefs of Staff Reorganization Act of 1985 - Revises Federal provisions concerning the composition and function of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to define the Chairman of JCS as the principal military advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. Authorizes a member of JCS other than the Chairman to offer, to the Secretary of Defense and then to the President, a separate opinion in disagreement with that of the Chairman concerning military advice given. Directs that the Chairman of JCS shall supervise the commanders of the combatant commands and act as their spokesman. Extends the term of the Chairman of JCS from two to four years. Establishes the position of Deputy Chairman of JCS. Prohibits the Deputy Chairman and the Chairman from being a member of the same military branch, unless the Secretary of Defense waives such prohibition for a limited period. Sets the term of the Deputy Chairman at four years. Requires the Deputy Chairman to perform such duties as delegated by the Chairman with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. Directs the Deputy Chairman to act as Chairman if the latter position is vacated for any reason. Directs the Deputy Chairman to act as director of the Joint Staff, which performs such duties as the Chairman prescribes. Eliminates any maximum number of officers on the Joint Staff. Provides that the four-year term of a member of the Joint Staff may be extended with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. Directs the Secretary to ensure that the Joint Staff is independently organized and operated in order to provide for the unified strategic direction of the combatant forces and their operation and integration into an efficient team of land, naval, and air forces. Requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit an evaluation to the President of any person for appointment to a grade above major general or rear admiral. Requires such evaluation to consider the performance of that officer as a member of the Joint Staff and in other assignments involving joint military experiences. Requires such evaluation to be submitted to the President at the same time as the submission of the recommendation for the appointment. Directs the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman of JCS to attend all meetings of the National Security Council and participate fully in its deliberations. Directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than six months after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress on plans for further changes in the administration of the military high commands of each of the armed forces. Outlines proposals to be developed in such report.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Interstate Compact - Grants the consent of the Congress to the Southern States Energy Compact regarding coordination among specified States for the development, production, and use of energy. Declares the following States eligible parties to such compact: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Declares any State contiguous to the foregoing States an eligible party to the Compact. Repeals the Act of July 31, 1962 granting the consent of the Congress to the Southern Interstate Nuclear Compact.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1985
Declares that the Congress: (1) condemns the hijacking of the Achille Lauro and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer; (2) commends the President and others who assisted in the apprehension of the perpetrators of such hijacking and murder; and (3) calls on all governments having jurisdiction over such matter to ensure that the individuals responsible for such hijacking and murder are prosecuted and punished. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should convene an international meeting to determine the steps which must be taken to rid the world of hijacking and the taking of hostages.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1985
Federal Government Easy Access Act - Requires Federal agency correspondence outside the executive branch to include the name, phone number, and mailing address of individuals to whom responses and inquiries may be made.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1985
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a system for the accreditation of courses of study at foreign medical schools. Sets forth guidelines for the design of such system. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits Federal payments for medical services furnished by physicians who are graduates of foreign medical schools which are unaccredited under this Act. Sets forth exceptions to such prohibition for: (1) services furnished outside the United States (defined as including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam) by members of the Armed Forces or employees of the Department of Defense; and (2) individuals who have matriculated in such courses of study before May 1, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1985
Amends the copyright law to make permanent the prohibition against importing certain English language books not manufactured in the United States and Canada, denying copyright protection to books imported in violation of this restriction (the manufacturing clause).
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1985
Social Security Budget and Administrative Reorganization Act of 1985 - Title I: Establishment of the Social Security Administration - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to establish as an independent executive agency a Social Security Administration, headed by a Social Security Board. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Administration to administer the programs established by titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Board to study and make recommendations as to the most effective methods of providing economic security through social insurance and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy. Establishes in the Administration: (1) a Commissioner of Social Security; (2) a Deputy Commissioner of Social Security; (3) a General Counsel; (4) an Inspector General; and (5) an Office of the Beneficiary Ombudsman, to be headed by a Beneficiary Ombudsman who shall represent the interests of beneficiaries under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income Program within the Administration. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a description of the activities of the Beneficiary Ombudsman. Requires the Board to make annual budgetary recommendations relating to the Administration. Requires that appropriations requests by the Administration for staffing and personnel be based upon a comprehensive workforce plan as established by the Board. Provides for the apportionment of administrative costs. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a section reflecting the use of budget authority provided to the Administration. Requires that authority for automated data processing procurement and facilities construction be provided in the form of contract authority covering the total cost of such acquisitions. Makes amounts needed for the liquidation of contract authority so provided available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to the extent that such amounts are not needed to meet current obligations for benefit payments. Requires the Board and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to implement demonstration projects relating to personnel matters. Directs the Board and the Administrator of General Services to implement such projects relating to delegations from the Administrator. Specifies the authorities which are to be delegated to the Board from the Administrator and the Director. Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees concerning such projects, including an evaluation of the Board's readiness to assume full and permanent authority. Requires the Board to cause a seal of office to be made and judicial notice taken thereof. Provides for the transfer to the Administration of all functions carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the programs and activities to be carried out by the Administration under this Act. Abolishes the position of Commissioner of Social Security in the Department of Health and Human Services. Sets forth effective date and transitional rule provisions. Title II: Conforming Amendments and Rules of Construction - Requires the Secretary and the Board to report to Congress within 120 days after the beginning of each regular session on their administration under this Act. Requires the Secretary to study and make recommendations on the most effective methods of providing economic security and on the administrative policy for the programs which he or she administers. Directs the Board to appoint, quadrennially, an Advisory Council on the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program and an Advisory Council on Health and Supplementary Medical Insurance to review the relation of the trust funds supporting the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Medicare program and the long-term commitments of those programs. Requires each council to submit a report to the Board for transmittal to the Congress and the Board of Trustees of each Trust Fund. Sets forth the effective dates of this title. Title III: Budgetary Treatment of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program - Provides for off-budget treatment of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund beginning with FY 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the current Government of Guatemala is to be commended for its perseverance and determination to return to civilian rule.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1985
Establishes a field sanitation occupational health and safety standard with respect to agricultural employees engaged in hand-labor operations in the field. Provides that such standard shall be deemed to be an occupational health and safety standard promulgated, enforceable, and subject to penalties for violations under specified provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA). Prohibits modification, revocation, or challenge of such standard under specified provisions of OSHA. Provides that this Act shall not preempt any State occupational health and safety standard, or any provision thereof, which is more effective in providing sanitized potable drinking water and toilet and handwashing facilities for agricultural employees than the standard established under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1985
National Schoolbus Safety Act of 1985 - Limits the amount of financial assistance which the Secretary of Education may provide to any State or local educational agency in a State or locality that does not impose certain requirements for inspecting school buses and equipping them with safety belts. Sets forth the initial form of such requirements as follows: (1) equipping those school buses first placed in service after the effective date of this Act with safety belts; and (2) annual safety inspection of all school buses. Limits the amount of financial assistance in cases of noncompliance to not more than: (1) 95 percent of the allocated amount for the first fiscal year beginning after the effective date of this Act; (2) 90 percent for the second such fiscal year; and (3) 85 percent for any subsequent fiscal year. Sets forth final requirements which must be effective on or before January 1, 1995, as follows: (1) equipping all school buses with safety belts; and (2) annual inspections of all school buses. Prohibits any financial assistance to any State or local educational agency in a State or locality which does not have such requirements in effect by such date. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to annually provide the Secretary of Education with information necessary to determine whether a State or local government has in effect the requirements referred to under this Act, if there is an approved highway safety program for pupil transportation safety in effect for such State or local government. Requires the State or local government to provide such information when such a program is not in effect. Makes this Act effective beginning one year after its date of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the tax treatment of loans with below market interest rates (i.e. the imputed interest rules) shall not apply to any obligation issued by the State of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from changing reimbursement levels or methodologies for home health services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act prior to the later of: (1) October 1, 1986; or (2) any freeze period beginning after June 30, 1985, and before October 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the appointment by the Secretary of Education of members of the National Advisory and Coordinating Council on Bilingual Education who oppose programs authorized under the Bilingual Education Act meets with the strongest of disapproval by the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1985
Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code to define "armor-piercing ammunition." Excludes from the definition: (1) shotgun shot composed in order to comply with Federal or State law; (2) frangible projectiles for target shooting; (3) ammunition containing frangible projectiles; and (4) any ammunition or projectiles which the Secretary of the Treasury determines are primarily intended for sporting purposes. Makes it unlawful for any person to manufacture or import armor-piercing ammunition. Allows: (1) the manufacture or importation of armor-piercing ammunition for the use of the United States or any State or local government; (2) manufacture for the sole purpose of exportation; or (3) manufacture or importation for the purposes of testing and experimentation authorized by the Secretary. Establishes a licensing fee of $1,000 per year for manufacturers and importers of armor piercing ammunition. Authorizes the Secretary to revoke a license from a dealer for violating this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to promulgate regulations allowing for special marking on armor-piercing communication and packaging. Establishes an additional mandatory sentence for any person who during and in relation to the commission of a violent crime carries a firearm and is in possession of armor-piercing ammunition capable of being fired by such firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Internal Revenue Service to reimburse State and local law enforcement agencies that provide information which substantially contributes to the recovery of Federal taxes. Limits the amount of such reimbursement to ten percent of the sum ultimately recovered.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Internal Revenue Code provisions dealing with the Puerto Rico and possession tax credit (allowing domestic corporations a tax credit if certain percentages of gross income are derived from sources within a possession or from the active conduct of a trade or business within a possession) should not be revised and should be allowed to continue to operate in their present form.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Pension Plan Reversion Moratorium Act of 1985 - Provides for a 270-day moratorium, beginning on June 12, 1985, on: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury's issuance of determinations of continuing qualification of certain retirement plans, under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions, upon actual or proposed plan terminations; and (2) the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's issuance of notices of sufficiency of assets with respect to certain plans under specified provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Makes such moratorium effective only in cases where plan termination has resulted or would result in an aggregate amount of reversions to employers in excess of $1,000,000. Sets forth the effects of such moratorium on declaratory judgments relating to qualification and on the period of issuance of a notice of sufficiency. Sets forth procedures under which the Secretary of Treasury may waive such moratorium in cases of substantial business hardship. Declares that such moratorium shall not apply to multiemployer plans.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Director of the Office of Technology Assessment to annually review changes affecting the cost of surgical procedures for the implantation of artificial devices and organs for which Medicare makes payments: (1) in medical technology, skill, and procedures; and (2) in the costs of artificial devices and organs. Directs the Director to recommend to the Secretary of Health and Human Services changes in the amounts that should be recognized as reasonable for purposes of Medicare payments.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to: (1) establish regulations necessary to ensure access (currently, reasonable access) to telephone service by persons with impaired hearing; and (2) require that all telephones (currently, essential telephones) provide internal means for effective use with hearing aids specially designed for telephone use. Repeals a provision directing the Commission to consider the costs and benefits to all telephone users when making rules concerning telephone service for the disabled.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the amount of a qualified artistic charitable contribution shall be the fair market value of the property contributed (determined at the time of such contribution). Defines "qualified artistic charitable contribution" as the contribution of any literary, music, artistic, or scholarly composition, any letter or memorandum, or similar property, but only if: (1) such property was created by the personal efforts of the taxpayer making such contribution no less than one year prior to such contribution; (2) there is a written appraisal of the fair market value of the property included with the tax return; and (3) the use of such property by the donee is related to the purpose or function constituting the basis for the donee's tax exemption. Limits the amount of the qualified artistic charitable contributions for any taxable year to the artistic adjusted gross income for the taxpayer for such taxable year. Defines "artistic adjusted gross income." Prohibits public officials from taking a deduction for donation of their papers if the papers were produced while the officials were officers or employees of the United States or any State, or if the papers were created out of the performance of any duties as officers or employees of the government. Provides that alternative tax itemized deductions shall be determined without regard to the deduction for qualified artistic charitable contributions.