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United States · Official source
12,551 records where Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1985
Urges the Postmaster General to issue a commemorative stamp in 1986 in honor of the 350th anniversary of the National Guard.
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
Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Freeze and Arms Reduction Act of 1985 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should immediately invite the Soviet Union to enter into negotiations with the United States which seek an agreement on a comprehensive freeze (a bilateral and adequately verifiable halt by the United States and the Soviet Union in all testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons systems). Declares the President should inform the Soviet Union of the U.S. intention to engage in a bilateral halt in the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons systems. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) both during and after negotiations for a comprehensive freeze the President should pursue reductions in nuclear arsenals; and (2) a comprehensive freeze is entirely consistent with, and an essential part of mutual stabilizing reductions in nuclear forces. Requires both the Senate and the House Intelligence Committees to begin oversight hearings on verification procedures for the comprehensive freeze. Sets forth which committees and subcommittees may have members participate in such hearings. Requires the Intelligence Committees to report to their respective Houses within six months of enactment of this Act on the adequacy of U.S. monitoring systems and existing procedures for verifying Soviet compliance with the comprehensive freeze. Requires the reports to include: (1) an assessment of the nature and extent of Soviet activities and installations involved in the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons systems; (2) an assessment of current U.S. capabilities to monitor threatening changes in the status of Soviet nuclear forces under the comprehensive freeze; and (3) an assessment of additional monitoring systems and cooperative procedures that may be needed to increase monitoring confidence of compliance. Requires the Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency to begin preparing an operational plan for implementation of the comprehensive freeze. Requires the Director to report to the Congress on the plan within nine months of enactment of this Act. Requires the report to specify: (1) procedures for the cessation of activities and closure or conversion of facilities affected by the comprehensive freeze; (2) a program for the retraining and re-employment of Government and defense industry personnel directly affected by the termination of nuclear weapons-related activities; and (3) a program of economic adjustment assistance for adversely affected communities. Directs the President to submit semi-annual reports to the Congress on: (1) the status of U.S. and Soviet negotiation efforts; (2) Soviet military activities relating to the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons systems; and (3) any uncertainties concerning verification of the comprehensive freeze, the status of efforts to reduce those uncertainties, and the national security implications of those uncertainties. Imposes the following restrictions on nuclear testing, deployment, and production only if the Soviet Union, within a specified time, informs the President that the Soviet Union will observe a bilateral halt in the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons systems. Prohibits obligating or spending appropriations for testing, producing, or deploying nuclear weapons systems, unless the Congress expressly provides otherwise. Allows the testing and deployment of specified nuclear missiles for a limited time. Sets forth the effective dates of such restrictions. Authorizes the President to request the Congress to remove the funding restrictions on the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons systems only if the President certifies to the Congress that: (1) the Soviet Union has failed to demonstrate a restraint with respect to nuclear weapons systems which corresponds to the restraint being shown by the United States; or (2) continuation of the funding restrictions would cause significant and irreparable damage to U.S. national security. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of such a request by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Children's Survival Act - Title I: Programs for the Improvement of Foster Care - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend indefinitely: (1) the conditional ceiling on Federal financial participation in foster care; (2) the provision which permits a State to use, under part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV, funds made available to it under the conditional ceiling that are not needed under part E; and (3) the provision permitting Federal financial participation for foster care for certain children voluntarily placed in foster care. Requires a State, under such part E, to: (1) make foster care maintenance payments to foster care children until they reach the age of 21, if they are students who are regularly attending a secondary school or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit them for gainful employment; and (2) provide financial subsidies (independent living subsidies) to support youths aged 16 through 21, who are in substitute care under the supervision of a child welfare agency, in the transition to financial and social independence. Amends the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 to make permanent specified provisions which provide for Federal payments for certain dependent children voluntarily placed in foster care. Title II: Child Care Provisions - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to provide that the amount of the payment to a State shall be equal to 75 percent of its expenditures for the provision of services directed at the goals set forth in such title, but may not exceed the amount of its allotment. Sets allotment amounts for FY 1985 through 1988 and each succeeding fiscal year. Reserves from the allotments set for FY 1986 through 1988 and each succeeding fiscal year specified amounts for: (1) a National Resource Center on Family Day Care; (2) human services personnel training; (3) child day-care services; (4) grants to States for upgrading or implementing their licensing, regulation, and monitoring of child day-care services to meet specified standards; and (5) provision of services (including human services personnel training and child day-care services) generally authorized under title XX. Provides that the National Resource Center on Family Day Care is to be operated on a regional basis, either directly or through grant or contract. Includes among Center functions: (1) training individuals involved in training family day care providers; (2) serving as a clearinghouse for resource materials; and (3) providing technical assistance with respect to relevant laws and regulations. Designates specified percentages of the funds reserved for use by States to provide human services personnel training for: (1) training providers, operators, and staffs of licensed or registered child care services and facilities, State licensing and enforcement officials, and parents; (2) making grants to community-based nonprofit organizations (meeting certain requirements) within a State to provide support services and assistance for family day-care providers. Requires that specified funds reserved for child day-care services be used by States only for the provision of such services to children: (1) who are, or are at risk of being, abused or neglected, and who are in families receiving child protective services; (2) of eligible families who are recipients of aid to families with dependent children (AFDC); and (3) of low-income adolescent parents, working parents, parents enrolled in education or training programs, and parents seeking employment. Sets forth conditions for State eligibility to receive specified funds reserved for assistance in meeting standards for licensing, regulation, and monitoring of child day-care services. Sets forth provisions for allotment of the various sorts of reserved funds under title XX. Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to add new chapter 3 provisions for school-based child care and early childhood education demonstration projects. (Redesignates the current chapter 3 provisions as chapter 4.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such projects in the public schools to increase the availability of child care and early childhood education services for children aged four and five, particularly those from low-income families. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing and supplementing child care services and early childhood education for four and five-year-old children in the elementary and secondary schools of such LEA. Permits such child care services and early childhood education to include: (1) the extension of half-day kindergarten to meet the needs of working parents; (2) services for four-year-old children which shall be available for the full working day throughout the calendar year using public elementary or secondary school facilities; and (3) arrangements to furnish part-day care for children to complement half-day school-based kindergarten or early childhood education programs furnished in elementary schools. Allows LEAs receiving such assistance to enter into contracts for such services with public agencies and nonprofit private organizations which: (1) represent significant portions of the community to be served; and (2) have experience furnishing child care services. Sets forth provisions for grant applications and approval. Requires LEA applications to be reviewed by the appropriate State educational agency (SEA) before submission to the Secretary. Requires assurances that project participants will receive the services free of charge for children from families with incomes less than 150 percent of the poverty level. Requires a sliding scale of fees dependent upon the family's income for other participants. Requires a description of measures which the LEA will take to encourage the equitable participation of handicapped and severely handicapped children in such projects. Requires projects to meet specified minimum standards and to encourage parent involvement in project design and operation. Requires specified assurances as to the non-Federal share of such project costs. Requires establishment of community advisory panels. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish objective criteria for application approval; (2) ensure adequate distribution of such grants; and (3) give preference to applications which propose projects serving a significant portion of children from low-income families and projects furnishing services for the entire workday. Allows such grants to be made for a period of five fiscal years, but requires annual reevaluation to ensure that project goals and objectives have been met. Directs the Secretary, upon finding that an LEA is not making progress toward meeting its project goals and objectives, to discontinue its grant, after notice and opportunity for a hearing. Limits the maximum Federal share of project costs to: (1) 75 percent in the first year; (2) 60 percent in the second year; and (3) 40 percent in the third, fourth, and fifth years. Sets forth annual reporting requirements for LEAs receiving such project grants. Directs the Secretary, by September 30, 1989, to report to the Congress and the President on the basis of such annual LEA reports and an independent evaluation of such projects. Limits the amount of funds which may be used for such evaluation. Sets forth the following provisions which may be cited as the "Public Housing Child Care Demonstration Program Act." Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) make grants to public housing agencies to contract for lower-income housing project resident child care services; and (2) design such program to determine the extent to which it facilitates resident employability. Requires a report to the Congress on such program within three years after the enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for such program for FY 1986 through 1988. Sets forth provisions for grants to States for scholarships for individuals pursuing child development associate credentials. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make a grant for any fiscal year to any State receiving a grant under title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to enable the State to award scholarships to eligible individuals within the State who are candidates for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Defines "eligible individual" as a CDA candidate whose income does not exceed a specified poverty line by more than 50 percent. Sets forth requirements for State applications for such grants and for distribution of such grants throughout the Nation. Requires States receiving such grants to submit specified program information to the Secretary annually. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and succeeding fiscal years. Title III: Child Health Programs - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant) of the Social Security Act to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for FY 1986 for specified purposes under such title V. Provides that such sums as may be necessary for such purposes shall be authorized for each fiscal year after FY 1986. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for: (1) community health centers for primary care; and (2) migrant health centers. Repeals provisions relating to the primary care block grant program. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require States to make Medicaid assistance available if the individual's family income and resources do not exceed specified levels to: (1) medically verified pregnant women; (2) effective October 1, 1985, individuals under age six; and (3) effective October 1, 1986, individuals under age 18. Defines "family," for such purposes. Provides that medical assistance for pregnant women under Medicaid shall include all of specified care and services without limitation on the amount, duration, or scope of necessary medical assistance, and without regard to whether such care and services are furnished in equal amount, duration, or scope to other individuals entitled to assistance under the State plan. Provides that, for purposes of eligibility for and extent of Medicaid assistance, the financial responsibility of an individual for the individual's child shall not be taken into account if such child is medically verified pregnant. Provides, for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility, for treating as incurred expenses the amount that would otherwise be charged by a provider, who is funded in whole or in part under title V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant) of the Social Security Act or under provisions for primary care community health centers or migrant health centers under the Public Health Service Act, for services rendered to pregnant women or to individuals under age 21, if such charge has been reduced or not imposed pursuant to specified provisions of such Acts. Title IV: Child Education Program - Amends Chapter 1 (Financial Assistance to Meet Special Educational Needs of Disadvantaged Children) of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to authorize appropriations to carry out Chapter 1 for FY 1986 and 1987. Amends the Bilingual Education Act to specify the amounts which are authorized to be appropriated for FY 1986 through 1988 to carry out such act. Amends title VII (Magnet School Assistance) of the Education for Economic Security Act to rename such title "Desegregation Assistance." Deletes aiding local educational agencies (LEAs) as a stated purpose of such title. Replaces that stated purpose with the stated purpose of aiding LEAs to implement desegregation plans. Adds to the current list of stated purposes other purposes relating to: (1) additional staff; (2) new curricula, methods, or materials for a program for children from all social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds; (3) innovative educational activities, including extracurricular activities, involving the joint participation of minority group children and other children; (4) community relations activities in support of the plan; (5) repair, minor remodeling, or alteration of existing school facilities and lease or purchase of mobile education facilities to carry out program activities. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants under such title to eligible LEAs for use in activities (current law limits this to use in magnet schools) which are part of an approved desegregation plan and which are designed to bring students from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds together. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for such title in FY 1986 and extends the authorization of appropriations through FY 1990. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) appropriations for FY 1986 for all programs under the Education of the Handicapped Act should total a specified amount to reflect the authorization levels enacted in the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1983; and (2) the appropriation for FY 1986 for part B of the Education of of the Handicapped Act, relating to Assistance for Education of All Handicapped Children (the basic State grant program) should equal a specified amount to compensate for the excess cost in educating handicapped students. Amends Chapter 1 of ECIA to establish a program of early childhood education incentive grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such program. Directs the Secretary of Education to make such grants to LEAs for programs and projects designed to meet the special educational needs of educationally deprived children who are four years of age. Requires such programs and projects to meet specified conditions under Chapter 1. Sets forth application requirements and formulas for the allocation of such grants. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for such title. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to add a new title X, School Dropout Prevention and Recovery, which may be cited as the Dropout Prevention and Recovery Act of 1985. (Redesignates the current title X as title XI.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such dropout prevention and recovery program. Provides that specified portions of such funds shall be used for: (1) a nationwide school dropout reporting system; (2) a one-year national study by the Secretary of Education (with a portion of the FY 1986 funds); (3) national dissemination and evaluation (with a portion of the funds for fiscal years after 1986); (4) demonstration projects for potential school dropout identification and prevention; and (5) demonstration projects for school dropout recovery. Sets forth provisions for the dropout reporting system. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) with approved plans on file for the establishment and operation of comprehensive systems for reporting information on school dropouts. Sets forth formulas for allotments to States and within-State allocations. Sets forth requirements for State and local applications. Sets forth annual reporting requirements for LEAs and SEAs. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Congress on school dropouts. Directs the Secretary to carry out a one-year study to develop: (1) model local and State reporting systems; (2) standard minimum reporting requirements; (3) a standard definition of school dropouts; and (4) a standard list of reasons for dropping out of school. Directs the Secretary to disseminate information on and requested technical assistance in implementing, model reporting systems to SEAs and LEAs. Sets forth provisions for dropout prevention projects. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to LEAs for demonstration projects for the early identification of potential school dropouts and the prevention of their dropping out. Requires each project to consist of at least one secondary school and its feeder junior high or middle school and elementary schools. Sets forth grant requirements, including LEA establishment of an advisory council representing specified groups. Directs the Secretary to give special consideration to areas with large proportions of potential dropouts and to projects which focus on the problems of teenaged parents. Limits such grants to three years, with annual reviews of progress. Sets forth application requirements. Makes the Federal share no more than 75 percent in the second year and 50 percent in the third year. Sets forth provisions for dropout recovery projects. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to LEAs for demonstration projects to encourage school dropouts to return to educational programs. Sets forth grant requirements, including operation on a clinical and client-oriented basis, teaching of basic academic skills, career counseling and placement, partnership with labor and business, use of community-based organizations, and involvement of parents. Authorizes the LEA to conduct such a project: (1) under a contract with a community-based organization; (2) in a school or a nonschool community setting; (3) with needed support services, such as child care; (4) combining classroom and workplace instruction; and (5) providing instruction in practical work values and specific vocational skills which reflect labor market demand. Directs the Secretary to give special consideration to projects designed to serve large numbers of dropouts and projects focusing on teenaged parents. Limits such grants to three years, with annual reviews of progress. Sets forth application requirements. Makes the Federal share no more than 75 percent. Sets forth provisions for dissemination of information on demonstration projects relating to school dropouts and for evaluation of such projects and the dropout reporting system. Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a system to disseminate such information on dropout prevention and recovery projects. Directs the Secretary to arrange for the evaluation of dropout reporting systems and dropout prevention and recovery projects. Sets forth general provisions relating to grants under the dropout prevention and recovery program. Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to add a new Chapter 4, School-Based Child Care for Adolescent Parents. (redesignates the current chapter 4 as chapter 5.) Authorizes the Secretary of education to make grants, under such chapter 4 program, to LEAs for school-based child care centers for students who want to continue their education following the birth of a child. Requires that such centers serve predominantly low-income students and be designed to meet the special needs of adolescent parents and their children by providing (either directly or by contract with community-based child care organizations): (1) child care which starts as soon as the mother can return to school and continues at least until the child is 30 months of age; (2) parenting education; and (3) transportation services. Authorizes centers to also use funds to provide specified other services. Requires that such child care services be within walking distance of the school building attended by the student and meet specified standards. Requires LEAs to establish local advisory panels for such chapter 4 projects. Sets forth application requirements. Makes the Federal share no more than 75 percent in the second year and 50 percent in the third and any subsequent year. Requires such program to continue for five years, with annual reevaluations which are to be summarized in a specified annual report of the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations for such chapter 4 program for FY 1986 through 1990. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to add a new title XI, School-Based Student Enterprises Program. (Redesignates as title XII of such Act that current title X which was redesignated as title XI earlier in this Act.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such school-based student enterprises program. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to LEAs to operate school-based student enterprises within secondary schools. Requires LEAs, in developing such student enterprise programs, to: (1) try to meet community social and economic needs and cooperate with local economic development efforts; and (2) establish an advisory board including representatives of specified groups. Sets forth application and approval requirements. Provides that a grant under such program shall continue for three years, with annual reviews. Allows extensions of such three-year period. Makes the Federal share of such grants 100 percent for the first three years, but no more than 40 percent for the fourth and fifth years. Requires LEAs receiving such grants to report annually to the Secretary.. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to add a new title VIII, Effective Schools, which may be cited as the Effective Schools Development in Education Act of 1984. Establishes, under such new title VIII of ESEA, a grants program to promote more effective schools and excellence in education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such grants program. Allows program grants to be used to: (1) promote State educational agency (SEA) and local educational agency (LEA) awareness of effective schools information through conferences at schools and district and multidistrict offices and through onsite visits to model effective schools; (2) develop and implement systems of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication; (3) plan, review, and revise program activities; (4) support related effective schools efforts; (5) obtain technical assistance and consultant services from regional educational laboratories, research and development centers, institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit educational organizations; (6) design, develop, and publish educational materials on effective schools programs; (7) conduct program evaluations; and (8) otherwise identify, document, and disseminate information concerning exemplary effective schools programs. Requires that program grant applications by SEAs or LEAs demonstrate that: (1) the applicant has an effective schools improvement program in effect; (2) grant funds would be used to pay not more than one-half of the cost of any program or activity; (3) grant funds would be supplementary; and (4) independent annual evaluations will be conducted and reported. Directs the Secretary of Education, in selecting grant recipients, to: (1) consider the extent to which grant funds would be used to improve schools in districts with the greatest numbers or percentages of educationally deprived children and the extent to which the applicant's ongoing effective schools program has demonstrated the capacity to improve student achievement or behavior; (2) ensure reasonable geographic distribution of grants; and (3) designate grants as being available for a period of at least one but not more than three years. Sets forth provisions for technical assistance and program evaluation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress by September 1, 1986. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to add a new title XII, University-High School Partnerships. (Redesignates the current title XII as title XIII.) Authorizes appropriations for 1986 through 1990 for the new title XII, to encourage partnerships between institutions of higher education and secondary schools serving low-income students in order to support programs that: (1) improve the academic skills of secondary school students; (2) increase their opportunity to continue a program of education after high school; and (3) improve their prospects of employment after high school. Requires, for purposes of eligibility for a title XII grant, for institution of higher education and a local education agency to enter into a written partnership agreement. Allows the partnership to include businesses, labor organizations, professional associations, community-based organizations, or other private or public agencies or associations. Requires all partners to sign the agreement. Requires the agreement to include a listing of all participants in the partnership, a description of their responsibilities, and a listing of the resources to be contributed by them. Directs the Secretary of Education to reserve 65 percent of title XII funds for programs operating during the regular school year and 35 percent for summer programs. Limits the amount of such a grant to between $250,000 to $1,000,000. Allows the partnership to use the grant for programs that use college students to tutor high school students and that improve high school students' basic academic skills, their understanding of specified subjects, opportunity to continue a program of education after graduation, and their prospects for employment after graduation. Directs the Secretary, in making such grants, to give preference to: (1) programs which will serve predominantly low-income communities; (2) partnerships which will run programs during the regular school year and the summer; and (3) programs which will serve educationally disadvantaged students, potential dropouts, pregnant adolescent and teen parents, or the gifted and talented. Sets forth grant application requirements. Limits the Federal share of the cost of the project to no more than 70 percent in the first year, 60 percent in the second year, and 50 percent in the third year and any subsequent year. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to add a new title XII, College-Based Child Care Programs. (Redesignates the current title XII as title XIII.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for grants to institutions of higher education for: (1) construction, reconstruction, and renovation of higher education facilities to be used to provide child care services; (2) child care services for disadvantaged college students (with two-thirds of the participants to be low-income students who are first generation college students, and the remainder, to be either low-income or first generation college students); and (3) child care personnel work-experience programs (which provide experience for students by arranging part-time employment for them in child care programs). Title V: Child Nutrition Programs - Subtitle A: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to provide food stamp program eligibility as households for homeless individuals or homeless groups of individuals who do not reside in permanent dwellings or who have no fixed addresses, but who customarily purchase food and prepare meals for their own consumption. Requires the State agency to provide a method for certifying and issuing to individuals who qualify, assuring that such method limits participation in the program to eligible households. Sets forth requirements, under the food stamp program, for specified annual adjustments of the thrifty food plan. Excludes child support payments, which are disregarded for AFDC purposes, from household income for purposes of eligibility determinations under the food stamp program. Raises the earned income deduction to 20 percent for purposes of such food stamp program determinations. Provides for an excess shelter expense deduction and an excess medical expense deduction for purposes of such food stamp program determinations. Sets forth provisions for monthly reporting and retrospective accounting for purposes of household income calculations under the food stamp program. Increases the monetary amounts of household resources which may be owned by households participating in the food stamp program. Excludes from determinations of the amount of such household resources any real or personal property to the extent that it is directly related to the maintenance or use of a licensed vehicle which is used to produce earned income or is necessary for the transportation of a physically disabled member. Requires annual adjustments of the value of vehicles excluded from such resource determinations. Limits the value of such an excluded vehicle to not more than $5,500. Requires State agencies to undertake effective action (including the use of services provided for other federally funded agencies and organizations) to inform low-income households of the availability and benefits of the food stamp program and insure the participation of eligible households in such program. Subtitle B: School Lunch Program - Amends the National School Lunch Act to reserve a specified amount of school lunch program appropriations for food service equipment assistance for those programs which served 60 percent or more of their lunches during the second preceding school year for free or at a reduced price. Revises income guidelines for determining eligibility for free lunches under the school lunch program. Makes such free lunch income guidelines equal to 130 percent of the applicable family-size income levels contained in the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget, with annual adjustments based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Eliminates reference to food stamp program eligibility standards for purposes of the school lunch program. Revises the income guidelines for determining eligibility for reduced price lunches under the school lunch program. Increases such reduced price lunch income guidelines. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from requiring local school authorities to verify data contained in school lunch program applications for any fiscal year for which funds have not been appropriated to reimburse the direct costs of such verification. Authorizes appropriations for such reimbursement of verification costs. Excludes certain medical expenses from household income determinations for purposes of school lunch program eligibility. Provides for automatic eligibility for free lunch and breakfast, under the school lunch program, for any child who is a member of a household under the food stamp program or a member of an AFDC assistance unit, in a State where the standard of eligibility for such assistance does not exceed 130 percent of the income poverty guidelines. Prohibits any school or school food authority participating in a program under the National School Lunch Act from contracting with a food service company to provide a la carte food service unless such company agrees to offer free, reduced-price, and full-price reimbursable meals to all eligible children. Permits local educational agencies to use facilities, equipment, and personnel provided under the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to support nonprofit nutrition programs for the elderly (including programs funded under the Older Americans Act of 1965). Includes specified types of private nonprofit organizations under the definition of service institutions for purposes of the summer food service program for children. Defines private nonprofit organizations, for such purposes, as only such organizations (including summer camps) which: (1) operate at not more than 15 sites (or 20 sites, if a waiver is granted); and (2) use self-preparation facilities to prepare meals or obtain meals from a public facility (such as a school district, public hospital, or State university). Sets forth requirements for participation in such program by such private non-profit institutions. Extends through FY 1988 the authorization of appropriations for the summer food service program for children under the National School Lunch Act. Extends through FY 1988 the responsibility of the Secretary of Agriculture to use certain funds to carry on the commodity distribution program for purposes of programs under the National School Lunch Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and the Older Americans Act of 1965. Revises provisions relating to reimbursement rates for specified child care food programs of: (1) lunches and suppers under the National School Lunch Act; (2) breakfasts under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; and (3) supplements (snacks). Adds one meal and one snack (for a total of three meals and two snacks per day) to the child care food program. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study to consider: (1) the feasibility of making the school lunch program a universal program for all children; and (2) various methods operating a self-financing school lunch program for all children, including reserving a separate source of revenue for any such program. Directs the Secretary to report on such study, with recommendations, to the Congress by January 1, 1988. Extends through the school year ending June 30, 1986, a specified school lunch pilot project study, subject to the availability of appropriations. Requires such study to include: (1) at least 16 of the school districts using the commodity letter of credit approach; (2) at least 16 of the school districts using the cash in lieu of commodities approach; and (3) the six remaining school districts from a specified original study. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in carrying out such pilot project study, to: (1) provide bonus commodities; (2) provide all cash, or all letters of credit, in lieu of commodities; and (3) maintain the control group sites used on the date of enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to provide cash compensation to a school district which was participating in such pilot project study on or before the date of enactment of this Act for losses sustained by the district as a result of the alteration of study methodology during the school year ending June 30, 1983. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress by December 15, 1985, on the results of such study extension. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such study extension and to provide for such compensation. Subtitle C: School Breakfast Program - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide that a limitation relating to certain schools under the special milk program shall not apply to their kindergartens. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to increase by six cents the annually adjusted payment for each breakfast served under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National School Lunch Act to assist States in improving the nutritional quality of such breakfasts. Directs the Secretary to review and revise (taking into account certain considerations) the nutrition requirements for meals served under the school breakfast program to improve the nutritional quality of such meals. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to implement such revisions within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Permits the local school food authority to allow students in schools that participate in the school breakfast program to refuse not more than one item of such meal which they do not intend to consume. Provides that such refusal shall not affect the full charge to the student or the amount of payments to such school for such breakfast. Extends through FY 1988 the authorizations of appropriations, under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, for: (1) State administrative expenses for specified programs under such Act and the National School Lunch Act; (2) the special supplemental food program for low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children who are at nutritional risk (WIC) and State and local administrative expenses for such program; and (3) grants to States for nutrition education and information programs (and increasing the maximum amount authorized to be appropriated for such grants). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of the allocation formula and procedures used under such provisions for payment of State administrative expenses. Requires such study to include an analysis of State costs and contributions for administrative expenses and a State matching requirement. Directs the Secretary to report on such study to the Congress by January 31, 1986. Replaces the definition of, and references to, "administrative costs" with a definition of, and references to, "costs for nutrition services and administration. Replaces references to "administrative funds" with references to "funds for nutrition services and administration. Includes coordination with the AFDC program among required provisions in State agency plans for the special supplemental food program. Includes provision of technical assistance to improve State agency administrative systems among those uses to which the Secretary of Agriculture may put specified reserved funds under the special supplemental food program (WIC). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to limit to a minimal level specified documentation required of a State agency wanting to expend a lesser amount than required for nutrition education activities under the special supplemental food program (WIC). Sets forth provisions relating to the apportionment and the expenditure of funds under the special supplemental food program (WIC). Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) fill within 90 days any vacancy on the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant, and Fetal Nutrition; and (2) ensure that such Council meets at least once every 12 months. Deletes a provision which declares that 11 members of such Council shall constitute a quorum. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of the effect on families of the school breakfast program, the child care food program, and other programs under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Requires such study to consider whether alternative nutrition delivery programs would strengthen families. Directs the Secretary to report on such study, with recommendations, to the Congress by January 1, 1987. Subtitle D: School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs - Increases the Federal reimbursement for reduced price meals for the school lunch program under the National School Lunch Act and the school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Raises the tuition limitation amount for private schools under such programs and provides for annual adjustments in such tuition limitation amount to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making any change in the method of calculating income, as in effect on January 1, 1985, used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, food supplements, or other assistance under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 which would result in any reduction in, or denial of, such assistance, except as specifically directed by law. Makes such prohibition effective during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on September 30, 1986. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Subtitle E: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for various provisions of this title. Permits school food authorities to elect to delay implementation of specified provisions for a certain period. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, to issue final regulations to implement amendments made by this Act which provide for the exclusion of certain medical expenses from household income determinations under the National School Lunch Act. Makes such amendments effective upon issuance of such final regulations, but permits each school food authority to delay implementation of any such amendments to a date not later than July 1, 1985. Title VI: Family Support Programs - Amends Part A (Aid to Families With Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide incentives to States to increase AFDC benefit levels. Provides that, in the case of a State increase of AFDC benefit levels, the State share of expenditures attributable to such increase shall be reduced and the Federal share increased. Requires the adjustment of the State standard of need under the AFDC program by October 1, 1988, to reflect increases in the cost of living since July 1, 1969. Sets forth requirements for the establishment of a national minimum benefit level under the AFDC program. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make such grants to assist States and localities in establishing and carrying out programs designed to help pregnant individuals and parents residing with young children to become self-sufficient. States that it shall be the objective of each such program to help achieve self-sufficiency for individuals under the age of 25 who are eligible for AFDC, who are pregnant, or who are parents residing with children under the age of six, and who voluntarily elect to participate in the program by: (1) requiring such individuals to seek a high school diploma or take part in appropriate training; (2) providing each participant with academic or vocational training and job placement; (3) coordinating services available to participants; and (4) providing each participant with other services and assistance designed to meet such objective. Requires a program to meet certain requirements, including the provision of child care services, necessary transportation, and an outreach program designed to attract individuals who would be eligible for the program. Limits the size of a grant for such program to: (1) in FY 1985 and 1986, two percent of the State's AFDC Federal payment; (2) in FY 1987, three percent of such payment; and (3) in FY 1988 or any subsequent fiscal year, four percent of such payment. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the States, to establish a systematic reporting system capable of yielding comprehensive data on which service figures and program evaluations shall be based. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress, and the States to report annually to the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations for such grants program. Provides for modifications of AFDC earned income disregards. Revises the definition of dependent child to include any eligible needy child who is a student regularly attending secondary school (or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit him or her for gainful employment) and who is under the age of 21. Repeals provisions which require consideration of parental and certain other familial income in determining the AFDC eligibility of adolescent parents who live in their parents' home. Provides for AFDC payment to a pregnant woman from the time her pregnancy is medically verified. Removes restrictions on AFDC payments to meet the needs of an unborn child or to meet the needs of a woman occasioned by or resulting from her pregnancy. Sets forth program requirements for AFDC eligibility for needy children in two-parent families not otherwise eligible. Revises the formula for determination of the portion of a stepparent's income which is to be taken into consideration for AFDC program eligibility purposes. Title VII: Tax Reform Designed to Benefit Families - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to increase the earned income credit. Includes consideration of dependent children under 21 and additional consideration of dependent children under age 6 in determining the amount of such credit. Phases out the credit as the earned income of the taxpayer increases. Provides for a cost-of-living adjustment to the earned income credit. Sets forth requirements that payments of needs-based governmental benefits be disregarded in determining support and maintenance of household, under IRC provisions relating to definitions and special rules. Increases the zero bracket amount for heads of households to the amount for joint returns. Increases, and makes refundable, the tax credit for household and dependent care services. Requires that the earned income credit and the credit for household and dependent care services be disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility for, or amount of, benefits or assistance under any Federal program or under any State or local program financed in whole or part with Federal funds. Title VIII: Youth Employment and Training Programs - Sets forth provisions which may be cited as the Summer Youth Employment, Training, and Education Act of 1985. Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to require the addition of an education component to the summer youth employment and training programs under part B of title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of JTPA. Requires that each service delivery area (SDA) be allotted an amount equal to at least 90 percent of the amount available to such area for the summer youth program in the preceding fiscal year. Requires ratable reductions in the allocation to each SDA if appropriations are not sufficient to provide such amount to each SDA. Requires that allotments to States and allocations to SDAs be: (1) made in accordance with provisions for prompt allocation of funds; and (2) available for planning purposes before the beginning of the summer months for which allotted and allocated. Requires that summer youth program funds be used so that participants spend a portion of their time on individualized, self-paced, remedial and basic academic and functional competency development and achieve specified types of performance standards established and developed in each SDA. Requires that the portion of a participant's time spent on such competency development be in addition to, and not in place of, regular employment under the summer youth program. Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to provide employment to any individual who fails to comply with attendance standards established by the SDA with respect to such education components. Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to compensate or reward participants for attendance at such education components, except under specified provisions which require that a portion of matching funds be used to provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence. Specifies that planning for summer youth programs does not have to be conducted during the summer months. Sets forth matching fund requirements for summer youth programs. Requires each private industry council (PIC), for each program year beginning after June 30, 1987, to make available from non-Federal sources an amount for use in such programs equal to at least one and one-half percent of the amount made available under JTPA for such programs in that SDA for the applicable program year. Allows each PIC, for program years beginning July 1, 1985, and July 1, 1986, to make available such matching amounts. Limits, for any program year beginning after June 30, 1987, such matching amounts to not less than $20,000 and not more than $100,000 per SDA. Requires each PIC to notify the State of the PIC's matching amount by April 1 of the preceding program year. Requires each State, for program years beginning after June 30, 1987, to provide to each PIC an amount equal to the PIC matching amount. Allows States to provide such State matching amount from non-Federal sources or to use funds available to them under part A (Adult and Youth Programs) of title II of JTPA and under chapter 2 (Consolidation of Federal Programs for Elementary and Secondary Education) of the Educational Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. Requires each State, for program years beginning July 1, 1985, and July 1, 1986, to reserve one and one-half percent of its State allotment under part A, to be allocated to PICs in proportion to the matching amounts made available by such PICs for such program years. Requires that such matching amounts be used to: (1) support the education and training components of the summer youth programs; (2) provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence; and (3) after complying with (1) and (2), create additional employment opportunities under the summer youth programs. Allows matching amounts to be in cash or in-kind, but requires that in-kind matching amounts be in the form of state-of-the-art basic and remedial education materials and equipment suitable for use for summer youth programs for the applicable program year. Requires each SDA to maintain complete records on the improvements in academic and functional competency attained by participants in the summer youth programs. Requires that such records be compiled by reference to State and locally determined general education diploma and basic education competency requirements. Requires each SDA to submit summaries of such records to the State. Requires States to submit annual reports on such summaries to the Secretary of Labor. Directs the Secretary to include an analysis of such reports in the Secretary's annual report to the Congress on employment and training programs. Provides that a specified portion of the State allotment under JTPA which is currently available for State education programs shall also be available to carry out matching requirements for summer youth programs. Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to authorize appropriations in a specified amount for FY 1986. (Continues the authorization of appropriations in such sums as shall be necessary for such program in succeeding fiscal years.) Revises the definition of "supportive services", under JTPA, to: (1) require inclusion of transportation, child care, and needs-based payments (determined with locally developed formula or procedure); and (2) allow inclusion of certain other services. Includes local social service agencies among those groups which must be represented on private industry councils under JTPA. Requires that special efforts to recruit teenaged parents and other youth from families receiving public assistance be included under the procedures for identifying and selecting participants which job training plans must contain. Requires that the number of teenaged parents and other youth from public assistance families participating in the job training program be specified in an annual report to the State Governor. Raises from 30 percent to 35 percent the limitation on the maximum portion of funds available to a service delivery area for any fiscal year for programs under part A (Adult and Youth Programs) of title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of JTPA which may be expended for administrative costs and specified other costs (including certain work experience program expenditures and supportive services). Requires, in the making of expenditures for such specified costs, priority to be given to ensuring that participants' needs for transportation, child care and needs-based payments are met. Requires, in outreach activities using funds under part A of title IV of JTPA, that particular emphasis be given to informing, and encouraging program participation by, teenaged parents and other youth from public assistance families. Makes technical and conforming amendments. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the minimum wage to $4.00 an hour after December 31, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Elderly Crime Prevention and Victim Assistance Act of 1985 - Establishes in the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice the National Resource Office Relating to Crimes Against Older Individuals. Provides for the appointment of an administrator from the employees of the Department of Justice to head such office. Requires the administrator to coordinate activities of the Department of Justice relating to training of law enforcement officers, financial assistance for older victims, compilation of statistical information, and research with regard to crimes committed against the elderly. Requires the administrator to: (1) establish a liaison with all Federal departments and agencies involved with programs for older persons who are or may become victims of crimes; (2) disseminate information regarding such programs and assistance; and (3) provide technical assistance to reduce or prevent the committing of crime against older individuals.
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 · 30 July 1985
Designates the week of September 23 through September 29, 1985, as National Historically Black Colleges Week.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should reaffirm its commitment to the principles expressed in section seven of the Helsinki Accords; and (2) the President should urge Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to reaffirm the Soviet Union's commitment to such principles.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Occupational Disease Compensation Act of 1985 - Establishes a Federal program for occupational disease compensation for the death or disability of workers or their dependents which is caused by work-related exposure to asbestos or to other toxic substances (to be designated later). Makes such compensation compulsory and nonelective and the claimant's exclusive remedy with respect to any employer, such employer's insurance carrier, or the collective bargaining agent of such employer's employee, and any employee, officer, director or agent of such persons. Provides that such compensation shall not constitute the exclusive remedy with respect to any "third party." Provides that these exclusive remedy provisions shall neither: (1) terminate any lawsuit pending on the effective date of this Act; nor (2) preclude such a suit after such date if the suit claims that the employer, with knowledge of the associated health hazards nonetheless intentionally or with reckless indifference exposes its employees to unsafe levels of asbestos or any other toxic substance or substances. Allows compensation claims under this Act for such death or disability occurring at any time prior to, on, or after the effective date of this Act. Requires compensation to be paid retroactively to the date of death or of onset of disability. Provides that, for purposes of claims relating to additional toxic substances designated under this Act, the "effective date of this Act" shall be construed to mean the effective date of such designation. Bars any third party or the Fund established under this Act from suing for indemnification, contribution, or other monetary damages against any party immune from suit by a claimant under this Act. Bars employers, insurance carriers, and the Fund from having a lien or any right of subrogation, upon any judgment rendered in any third party liability action brought by an employee or dependent. Provides, however, that any monetary benefits for death or disability received by the claimant in a third party liability action shall be reduced by the amount of any monetary benefits received under this Act. Makes this Act inapplicable to claims otherwise covered under the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act (Longshore Act) or the Employers Liability Act. Provides that compensation under this Act shall cover death and total, partial, permanent, and temporary disabilities. Sets forth formulas for determining monetary benefits under this Act. Provides that for death benefits or total disability benefits shall be the greater of: (1) two-thirds of the employee's average weekly wage (up to 200 percent of the national average); or (2) four-fifths of the national manufacturing (or construction, if applicable) average weekly wage. Provides for distribution of death benefits to survivors. Provides that partial disability benefits shall be that portion of total disability benefits which is greater if determined: (1) from the degree of impairment; or (2) by the percentage reduction in physical capacity to engage in similar work. Provides for redetermination of such partial disability payments. Provides for medical benefits for all reasonable and necessary associated medical costs. Provides for monetary benefits for the death or disability of dependents (to be calculated on the basis of formulas similar to those described above, as applied to the dependent's wages). Provides for annual adjustments in monetary benefits, up to six percent per year, to reflect increases in the national average manufacturing or construction wage. Requires that any monetary benefits for death or disability under this Act be reduced by the amount of any monetary benefit received by a claimant at the same time under a State worker's compensation law or under the Longshore Act for a similar claim. Prohibits, except as otherwise provided in this Act, any maximum limitation on the total amount or duration of monetary benefits for death or disability or medical benefits (or their type or extent). Declares ineffective any comprise or release of monetary or medical benefits unless the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) determines it is in the best interest of the claimant (and sufficient to provide for future medical care). Declares ineffective under any circumstances any waiver or release relating to future coverage or compensation under any State workers' compensation law or under this Act that is executed prior to the death or onset of disability resulting from any exposure to a toxic substance. Sets forth eligibility criteria for compensation. Requires the employee's work-related exposure to a toxic substance to have significantly contributed to or aggravated the disability or death of the employee or the employee's dependent. Sets forth presumptions with respect to claims of employees and dependents based on exposures to asbestos. Establishes a conclusive presumption that the following diseases result from exposure to asbestos: (1) mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum; (2) asbestosis; and (3) lung cancer in cases where evidence of certain asbestotic changes is presented or, in the absence of such evidence, where the claimant can establish a certain duration exposure (provides only a nonconclusive presumption in the absence of such evidence or duration). Sets forth various durations of exposure to asbestos which result in such conclusive presumption in lung cancer cases involving insulation workers, shipyard workers, chemical plant workers, and other workers. Provides that such presumptions shall not apply in cases of cancers occurring less than ten years after the employee or dependent was first exposed. Sets forth procedures for making claims. Requires filing of a claim with the appropriate Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within three years of the death or onset of disability with the following exceptions. Allows asbestos-exposure claims with respect to deaths or onset of disability which occurred prior to the effective date of this Act to be filed within two years after such date. Allows claims based on exposure to a toxic substance designated under procedures established by this Act to be filed within three years after the effective date of such designation. Provides that the time for filing a claim shall only begin to run when the employee is disabled or has died and the employee or claimant is aware or should have been aware through the exercise of reasonable diligence, of the casual relationship between the workplace exposure and the disability or death. Allows two years for filing after a disability becomes compensable, in those cases where a timely claim was filed before the disability was compensable. Prohibits any limitations on filing which are based on: (1) length of time since last employment or exposure, or (2) the exposure's duration or intensity. Sets forth procedures for claim adjudication. Provides for claim processing, investigation, and evaluation by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (the Office). Provides that the administrative law judges in hearings on such claims shall have the same powers as those under the Longshore Act. Allows disability awards to be made after the death of the disabled employee or dependent. Provides for referral of claims to another district of the Office for specified purposes. Sets forth provisions for appeals. Makes a compensation order effective on the date it issued, and final unless the claimant or the Secretary files a petition for review with the Benefits Review Board (the Board) within 30 days after such date. Sets forth evidence standards for such review. Makes any final order of the Board enforceable and reviewable in accordance with specified provisions of the Longshore Act. Establishes the Exclusive Federal Occupational Disease Workers Compensation Insurance Fund (the Fund). Directs the Secretary to administer the Fund in order to: (1) insure all employers and toxic substance market participants against liability for occupational disease and death resulting from occupational disease sustained by employees compensable under this Act; and (2) provide compensation and benefits to such employees and their dependents. Defines "toxic substance market participants" (participants) as present or former manufacturers, mine operators, processors, refiners, importers, distributors, or other enterprises (including growers, where appropriate) involved in the commercial or industrial production of: (1) asbestos; or (2) any toxic substance designated by the Secretary under this Act. Makes the Fund responsible for the payment of all compensation with respect to claims under this Act. Requires employers or participants to be insured by the Fund in order to be entitled to the limitations on liability provided under this Act. Directs the Secretary to determine and notify, by individual or general notice, all employers and participants required to become insured by the Fund. Allows any other employers or participants to petition the Secretary and, if approved, become insured by the Fund. Provides for establishment of Fund insurance premiums. Directs the Secretary to determine the annual aggregate of insurance necessary to cover anticipated claims for the following year and administrative costs. Directs the Secretary to use certain allocation formulas in determining the proportions of insurance premiums to be provided by employers and participants. Directs the Secretary to suspend, after notice and opportunity for hearing, Fund agreements with employers or participants if they fail to: (1) obtain and maintain Fund insurance; (2) pay the applicable premium; or (3) comply substantially with this Act or regulations promulgated under it. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) bring civil actions in the appropriate U.S. district court to require employers or participants to obtain and maintain Fund insurance and to pay applicable premiums; and (2) assess civil penalties against employers or participants who fail to do so. Provides that the following entities are liable for and shall be insured by the Fund in the same manner as would have been payable by the prior operator of a toxic market substance participant with respect to its operations prior to January 1, 1940: (1) any person who on or after such date, has acquired or acquires that participant or substantially all its assets; and (2) any other entity which was the operator of such participant or the owner of its assets on or after such date. Makes a participant liable for the total amount of its liability for contributions under this Act without regard to whether: (1) it is or has been a debtor in a bankruptcy case; or (2) any plan, discharge, or judgment is or has been confirmed, granted, or entered in such case. Treats the successor corporation or other business entity from a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or division of a participant, or the parent corporation into which a participant has been liquidated, as the participant to which Fund provisions apply. Makes the Fund responsible for payment of an annual fee to the Secretary in an amount determined by the Secretary to represent the Federal administrative costs of operations necessary to establish and maintain the compensation and benefit system established under this Act. Sets the maximum amount of such fees at an amount equal to: (1) ten percent of the annual aggregate of coverage for claims payments (to be used to cover program administration costs); and (2) one percent of such annual aggregate (to be used for the research program on surveillance and medical treatment of occupationally-related diseases established under this Act). Sets forth provisions relating to compensation payments, their frequency and duration, information concerning them, their suspension, and penalties for late payments. Sets forth provisions relating to representation fees in claim cases under this Act. Provides for determination and payment of such fees and witnesses expenses. Sets criminal penalties for receipt of such fees or other consideration or gratuities without approval of the Office, the Board, or the appropriate court. Prohibits discrimination by any participant or other employer, insurance carrier, or other person against any employee because of: (1) claims filed under this Act; (2) proceedings brought under or related to this Act, or suits brought for damages resulting from occupational exposure to a toxic substance; (3) disability caused by such exposure; (4) previous employment with a toxic substance market participant; or (5) exposure or possible exposure to a toxic substance. Sets forth civil penalties for such discrimination, procedures for review of alleged discrimination, and requirements for reinstatement with back pay and benefits. Prohibits any provider or insurer of health care coverage from excluding from coverage any worker or family member on the basis of that person's inclusion in a population at risk. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with the Secretary, to conduct research into improving the means of: (1) surveillance of workers exposed to occupational health hazards; and (2) medical treatment of workers exposed to occupational hazards. Sets forth requirements relating to such research. Provides that all such research be conducted with funds available under provisions for Fund payment of administratives fees under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS, in carrying out such research, to engage the services of experts and consultants. Establishes regulatory procedures by which workers suffering from occupational exposure to other toxic substances (besides asbestos) may be brought under coverage by this Act. Directs the Secretary to promulgate and revise, as may be appropriate and in accordance with specified procedures, regulations providing that this Act may provide compensation to such workers. Establishes the Risk Assessment Panel, within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, to review medical and scientific studies and reports relating to occupational diseases and to recommend inclusion of such exposure as compensable under this Act in accordance with specified guidelines for such findings. Requires the Panel to undertake as its first priority the designation of populations exposed to agents or processes for which there already exists a permanent standard issued under specified provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Requires the Panel to consider, act, and transmit to the Secretary their findings on these agents and processes within one year. Sets forth deadlines for Panel reports to the Secretary, the Secretary's publication for comment of proposed regulations, Panel review, and the Secretary's publication of final regulations. Requires the Director of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to establish a separate task force within that Office for administering claims filed under this Act. Permits eventual integration of the work of such task force with the remainder of the Office under specified conditions. Sets forth standards for review of Office orders under this Act by the Benefits Review Board. Sets forth administrative provisions for the Fund. Grants the Secretary the authority to bring an action in the proper U.S. district court to enjoin violations of this Act or of any rule or regulation under this Act. Directs the Secretary and the Risk Assessment Board to devise and implement a Federal uniform recordkeeping system, including, where appropriate and useful, registries of populations and individuals exposed to toxic substances and processes. Requires annual reports by employers for purposes of such recordkeeping program. Requires the Secretary to implement, directly and by grants to employer and employee groups, education programs on the rights and obligations of employers and employees under this Act. Directs the Secretary to support an Educational Advisory Committee with equal representation by the Secretary, employers, and employees to define guidelines and policy for such an education program. Requires that such grant applications be peer reviewed based on the system in place at the National Institute of Health. Sets forth separability provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the amount of a qualified artistic charitable contribution shall be the fair market value of the property contributed (determined at the time of such contribution). Defines "qualified artistic charitable contribution" as the contribution of any literary, music, artistic, or scholarly composition, any letter or memorandum, or similar property, but only if: (1) such property was created by the personal efforts of the taxpayer making such contribution no less than one year prior to such contribution; (2) there is a written appraisal of the fair market value of the property included with the tax return; and (3) the use of such property by the donee is related to the purpose or function constituting the basis for the donee's tax exemption. Limits the amount of the qualified artistic charitable contributions for any taxable year to the artistic adjusted gross income for the taxpayer for such taxable year. Defines "artistic adjusted gross income." Prohibits public officials from taking a deduction for donation of their papers if the papers were produced while the officials were officers or employees of the United States or any State, or if the papers were created out of the performance of any duties as officers or employees of the government. Provides that alternative tax itemized deductions shall be determined without regard to the deduction for qualified artistic charitable contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Designates the week of December 15 through December 21, 1985, as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should instruct the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to vote in favor of a French and Danish resolution calling for the imposition of voluntary sanctions against South Africa, the lifting of the state of emergency there, and the release of its political prisoners.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) it shall be the national policy for hospitals and emergency centers to provide emergency care to all patients without discriminating on the ground of economic status, color, race, religion, sex, or national origin; and (2) States and local governments have a responsibility to provide adequate funding for such care.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1985
Designates the week of October 6 through October 13, 1985, as National Housing Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1985
Designates November 11, 1985, as a day to honor the works of Irving Berlin.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Designates November 18, 1985, as Eugene Ormandy Appreciation Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Aaron Copland in recognition of his contributions to American musical composition. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Dropout Prevention and Reentry Act of 1985 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 (ESEA) to add a new title X, the Dropout Prevention and Reentry Act of 1985. (Redesignates the current title X as title XI.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990 for such new title X. Directs the Secretary of Education, from such title X funds for any fiscal year, to allot 20 percent to each of five categories of local educational agencies (LEAs) (based on total elementary and secondary school student enrollments). Directs the Secretary, from the amounts allotted to such categories of LEAs, to award as many grants as practicable within each such category to LEAs whose applications: (1) have been approved; and (2) propose a program of sufficient size and scope to be of value as a demonstration. Limits an LEA to no more than one such grant in each of three fiscal years. Requires the amount of a grant to be, to the extent practicable, proportionate to the extent and severity of the local dropout problem. Limits the amount of a grant to 90 percent of the total cost of a project during its first fiscal year, 80 percent in the second, and 70 percent in the third. Sets forth grant application requirements (including plans for addressing the needs of pregnant minors and school-age parents). Directs the Secretary to give first priority within each category of LEA to applicants with either very high numbers or very high percentages of school dropouts. Sets forth requirements for review of LEA second or third year projects. Requires such grants to be used to carry out plans set forth in the applications. Lists activities such grants may also be used for, including counseling, remedial education, work-study, community-organization service, curriculum review, and school staff training. Requires at least 30 percent of each grant to be used for dropout prevention activities, and another 30 percent for dropout reentry activities (i.e. persuading dropouts to return to school and assisting former dropouts with specialized services once they return to school). Directs the Secretary, from amounts appropriated to the Secretary for FY 1986, to use a specified limited amount to conduct a one-year study of the nature and extent of the dropout program. Sets forth requirements for such study, (including development of a model dropout information collection and reporting system and minimum reporting system requirements). Sets forth general provisions for title X, including provisions relating to withholding payments, annual reports, and audits. Requires that title X grants supplement other funds.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force to prescribe regulations to ensure that National Guard technicians are protected from certain adverse employment actions (i.e. removal, suspension, grade reduction, or furlough) in the same manner as are Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Foreign Language Assistance for National Security Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies to fund model programs, designed and operated by local educational agencies, for the improvement and expansion of foreign language study for children aged five through 17 who reside within their school districts. Sets forth formulas for determining the amount of such grants based on State population. Sets forth provisions relating to the availability of such funds. Sets forth grant application requirements for State educational agencies, including provisions for periodic student proficiency evaluation. Provides for program participation by private school children. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to State agencies to fund model foreign language programs designed and operated at community and junior colleges. Bases the amount of such grants on State population. Sets forth grant application requirements, including periodic student proficiency evaluation. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education to cover part of the costs of undergraduate foreign language instruction. Sets forth formulas to determine whether an institution is eligible for such grants, based on the percentage of its student body enrolled in qualified postsecondary language courses. Provides that to be eligible for such grants an institution must require that: (1) each entering student have successfully completed at least two years of secondary school foreign language instruction; or (2) each graduating student have earned two years postsecondary credit in a foreign language (or have demonstrated equivalent competence in a foreign language). Authorizes the Secretary to establish standards, including reporting requirements, for programs assisted by such grants. Sets forth formulas for determining the amounts of such grants, based on numbers of undergraduate students enrolled in such courses. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, in each Federal region for summer intensive language training institutes for exceptional secondary school students. Bases the amount of each grant on the number of students (up to a limited number) enrolled in such institute. Sets forth application requirements for such grants. Directs the Secretary to encourage, to the extent possible, diversity in the languages taught in summer institutes. Bases awarding of such grants on the excellence of the proposed program, taking specified elements into consideration. Permits such grant funds to be used to cover costs associated with enrollment in an institute. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, in each Federal region for summer language training institutes for the professional development of the proficiency of elementary and secondary school language teachers. Bases the amount of each grant on the number of students (up to a limited number) enrolled in such institute. Sets forth application requirements for such grants. Bases awarding of such grants on the excellence of the proposed program, taking specified elements into consideration. Permits such grant funds to be used to cover costs associated with enrollment in an institute. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make matching grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, to assist advanced foreign language students to develop their language skills and knowledge of foreign cultures and societies through study abroad. Allows such study abroad to be combined with an internship in an international business enterprise. Requires such program to provide the opportunity for language-proficient students with majors in various other fields to combine language study with studies in those fields. Sets forth a range of world regions and languages which such programs may include. Limits the amount of each grant to one-half the cost of providing such assistance. Sets forth application requirements for such grants. Permits grant funds to be used to cover costs associated with enrollment in an institute. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Prohibits any grant or contract under this Act except to such extent, or in such amounts, as may be provided in appropriation Acts. Defines "foreign language" as any language other than English, except that with respect to programs and activities conducted under this Act in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico such term includes English. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989 to carry out grant programs under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
'Designer Drug' Enforcement Act of 1985 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish criminal penalties for the manufacture or possession with intent to distribute or the distribution of unregulated drugs with a chemical structure or effect substantially similar to that of a controlled substance.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the: (1) local field office structure of the Social Security Administration should be maintained, strengthened, and fully staffed; and (2) proper amount of administrative costs of such offices should approximate 1.5 percent of the costs of the social security benefit programs serviced by such offices.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Calls upon the President to grant asylum in the United States to individuals who do not want to serve in the armed forces of South Africa because of the policy of apartheid.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, in providing assistance to developing countries, to: (1) place a high priority on conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests; and (2) take certain steps (including engaging in dialogues on conserving forest resources and information exchanges with recipient countries, supporting projects and activities which offer alternatives to colonizing forests, supporting related training and research programs, helping to end destructive agricultural practices, and denying any assistance for certain activities harmful to the forests). Directs the President, whenever feasible, to accomplish the objectives of this Act through projects managed by private and voluntary and other nongovernmental organizations. Requires the annual report to the Congress on foreign aid programs to include a report on the implementation of this Act. Requires that each country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development include an analysis of actions necessary to achieve conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests and the extent such actions meet the needs identified.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations to help developing countries protect and maintain wildlife habitats and develop sound wildlife management and plant conservation programs. Requires each country development strategy statement or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development (AID) to include a detailed plan to assist that country in the conservation of biological diversity. States that, whenever feasible, such protection, maintenance, management, and conservation activities shall be accomplished through projects managed by private and voluntary organizations and other nongovernmental organizations. Directs AID to allocate at least a specified sum for projects managed by such organizations. Directs the Administrator of AID to take certain steps, including: (1) cooperating with appropriate organizations; (2) looking to the World Conservation Strategy as an overall guide; (3) engaging in dialogues and exchanges of information with recipient countries which stress the importance of conserving biological diversity; (4) supporting training and education which improve the capacity of recipient countries to prevent loss of biological diversity; and (5) the denial of any assistance for actions which invade or significantly degrade national parks or similar protected areas. Requires the annual report to the Congress on foreign aid programs to include a report on implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute (RICO) to allow a civil action to be brought by a plaintiff only when the private suit rests on an injury caused by conduct that led to the defendant's conviction of one of the predicate offenses listed in the statute or of a criminal violation of RICO itself. Requires the plaintiff to bring such action within one year of the defendant's conviction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Urges the President to begin talks with the Soviet Union aimed at creating a jointly administered U.S.-Soviet student exchange program. Sets forth certain aspects of such exchange program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Establishes the Office of Inspector General in the Postal Service. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities of such office.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Institutional Aid Act of 1985 - Amends title III (Institutional Aid) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise institutional aid programs, especially in relation to the development needs of historically black colleges and universities and other institutions with large concentrations of minority, low-income students. Includes as eligible institutions, for purposes of the title III part A (Strengthening Institutions) grants program, any institution of higher education which meets specified requirements and which has an enrollment of which at least: (1) 20 percent are Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Hispanic students, or combination thereof; (2) 60 percent American Indian, Alaska Native, or Aleut, or combination thereof; or (3) five percent Native Hawaiian, American Samoan, Micronesian, Guamian (Chamorro), or Northern Marianan, or any combination thereof. Establishes under title III part B, "Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities" (which replaces the current part B, Aid to Institutions with Special Needs). Defines a "part B institution" as any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964 and whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans. Sets forth authorized uses for grants allotted to institutions under the part B program. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make allotments to part B institutions according to formulas based on number of: (1) Pell grant recipients; (2) graduates; and (3) graduates in attendance at graduate or professional schools in degree programs in disciplines in which blacks are underrepresented. Sets forth a special rule regarding allotments to Howard University or the University of the District of Columbia. Sets forth provisions for applications for part B grant allotments. Sets forth provisions for part B program grants to professional and graduate institutions. Directs the Secretary, subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, to award such grants to each of listed postgraduate institutions that the Secretary determines to be making a substantial contribution to the legal, medical, dental, veterinary, or other graduate education opportunities for black Americans. Prohibits any such grant in excess of $500,000 unless the postgraduate institution assures that 50 percent of the cost of the purposes for which the grant is made will be paid from non-Federal sources. Limits the duration of any such grant to five years. Provides that any one undergraduate or postgraduate institution may receive no more than two such five-year grants. Allows use of such grants for: (1) any of the authorized uses of part B allotment grants; (2) contribution development offices; and (3) institutional endowments. Sets forth application requirements. Provides that independent professional or graduate institutions eligible for such grants include: (1) Morehouse School of Medicine; (2) Meharry Medical School; (3) Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School; (4) Atlanta University; and (5) Tuskegee Institute School of Veterinary Medicine. Sets forth reporting and audit requirements and penalties for misuse of funds. Revises title III part C (Challenge Grants for Institutions Eligible for Assistance Under Part A or Part B) to rename the "endowment grants" under such part "challenge grants." Makes technical and conforming amendments to eligibility requirements under such part. Reduces the maximum amount of any such part C challenge grant for FY 1985 through 1987. (Retains the current maximum for FY 1988 and succeeding fiscal years.) Establishes under title III a new part D, "Reservation for Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Basin Institutions." (Redesignates the current part D as part E.) Directs the Secretary, from part A appropriations, to make available for use for the purpose of such part the greater of specified amounts or the following portions of such funds: (1) 20 percent for Hispanic institutions; (2) five percent for Native American, Native Alaskan, or Aleut institutions; and (3) five percent for institutions serving Native American Pacific Islanders, including Native Hawaiians residing in the Pacific Basin, including the State of Hawaii. Sets forth authorized uses of such part A funds which are reserved under the new part C. Revises the redesignated part E (General Provisions) under title III. Directs the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register all policies and procedures required to exercise the authority to approve applications for title III assistance. Prohibits any other criteria, policies, or procedure from being applicable for such purpose. Directs the Secretary to: (1) use the most recent and relevant data concerning the number and percentage of students receiving need-based assistance under title IV (Student Assistance) of HEA in making eligibility determinations under part A of title III; and (2) advance the base-year forward following each annual grant cycle. Requires the Secretary to waive specified part A institutional eligibility requirements (involving an institution's having a relatively high percentage of students receiving need-based assistance under title IV of HEA) in the case of an institution which is: (1) extensively subsidized by the State in which it is located and charges low or no tuition; (2) serving a substantial number of low- and middle-income students as a percentage of its total student population; (3) contributing substantially to increasing higher education opportunities for black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Native American Pacific Islanders, including Native Hawaiians, who are low-income individuals; or (4) substantially increasing higher educational opportunities for individuals in rural or other isolated areas unserved by postsecondary institutions. Includes Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Basin institutions which have been determined eligible under part D, although not satisfying a specified eligibility criterion (involving an institution's having relatively low and general expenditures), among those institutions which must be included in an annual report of the Secretary to the Congress. Includes among those reasons for which the Secretary may grant a waiver of specified eligibility requirements (involving an institution's being accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency and its being authorized to offer bachelor's or junior or community college degrees) a determination that such waiver will substantially increase higher education opportunities appropriate to the needs of Hispanic Americans or Native American Pacific Islanders, including Native Hawaiians. Directs the Secretary to take care to assure that representatives of historically black colleges, Hispanic institutions, Native American institutions, and Native American Pacific Islanders, including Native Hawaiians, are included as readers on title III application review panels. Revises provisions for grants to encourage cooperative arrangements to include such arrangements between title III aid recipients and institutions not receiving such assistance. Includes benefit to the applicant institutions as a priority criterion in making such grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the following title III programs: (1) part A, Strengthening Institutions; (2) part B, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (with a separate authorization for part B provisions for Professional and Graduate Institutions); and (3) part C, Challenge Grants for Institutions Eligible for Assistance Under Part A or Part B. Directs the Secretary to make available part A funds for any fiscal year to eligible institutions as follows: (1) at least 30 percent to junior or community colleges; (2) at least 20 percent (or a specified minimum amount, if that is greater) for Hispanic institutions; (3) at least five percent (or a specified minimum amount if that is greater) for Native American, Alaskan, or Aleut institutions; (4) at least five percent (or a specified minimum amount if that is greater) for Pacific Basin institutions; and (5) the remainder to institutions that plan to award a bachelor's degree during that year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include in the gross income of a highly compensated employee who is a participant in a discriminatory fringe benefit plan an amount equal to such employee's employer provided benefit under such plan. Provides that a plan shall be considered discriminatory unless: (1) the plan benefits 100 percent of all employees of the employer in the case of an accident or health plan; or (2) the plan benefits 85 percent or more of the employees of the employer in the case of any other type of plan. Specifies that certain employees shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of calculating such percentages. Requires that any benefits of an employee benefit plan provided to any participant who is highly compensated must be made available on the same terms and conditions to all other participants. Defines a "highly compensated employee" as an employee who is among the employer's 15 percent most highly compensated employees, or who owns more than five percent of the employer.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the year of 1986 as the Sesquicentennial Year of the National Library of Medicine.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the week beginning on November 10, 1985, as National Blood Pressure Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the Week of October 6 through October 12, 1985, as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1985
Consumer Products Energy Efficiency Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide that the labeling rules regarding consumer product energy efficiency standards shall require disclosure of such standards at the point of sale and in any advertising of the product. Directs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to: (1) publish and make available comparative guides of the energy efficiency and annual operating cost of certain consumer products; (2) prescribe an energy efficiency standard for certain consumer products; (3) include in the Secretary's annual report on consumer product energy efficiency standards the percentage of covered products or components which are imported. Requires the Secretary, before determining whether a standard is economically justified, to weigh its effect on domestic production, reduction of unemployment, electric utilities, and the human environment. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe an energy efficiency standard for certain consumer products if it is determined that improvement of 20 percent or more is feasible. Delineates the criteria to be considered by the Secretary in determining whether a performance-related feature justifies the establishment of either a higher or a lower energy efficiency standard. Directs the Secretary to: (1) issue energy efficiency improvement guidelines for each of the following five years if no standard for a covered consumer product is prescribed; (2) monitor the improvements in efficiency; and (3) prescribe an energy efficiency standard whenever a certain type of consumer product type fails for three consecutive years to achieve at least half of the improvement under such guideline.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1985
Designates The Stars and Stripes Forever as the national march.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Federal Firearms Act of 1985 - Amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit any person licensed under such Act from manufacturing, selling, delivering, or transferring: (1) any concealable handgun; or (2) any revolver or pistol which fails to meet specified requirements. Exempts from such prohibition handguns which are relics or curios as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury and the use of handguns for research or by the government.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Extends adverse action provisions (concerning removal, suspension for more than 14 days, reduction in grade or pay, or furlough for 30 days or less) to Postal Service employees who: (1) are preference eligibles, except to the extent of inconsistency with a collective bargaining agreement; (2) are supervisors or employees engaged in confidential personnel work; and (3) have completed two years of continuous service in the same or similar positions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Child Care Opportunities for Families Act - Title I: Increasing the Supply of Child Care - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to increase the amount of appropriations authorized for FY 1985 through 1988 and succeeding fiscal years for title XX allotments to States. Reserves specified amounts from such title XX funds for FY 1986 through 1988 and succeeding fiscal years for use only for the provision of qualified child day care services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allot such reserved funds in the same proportions as regular title XX allotments. Defines qualified child day care services, for such purposes, as child day care services which are provided to: (1) children who are abused or neglected children, or at risk of being abused or neglected, or in families receiving child protective services; (2) children of eligible families who are recipients of aid to families with dependent children (AFDC); and (3) children (handicapped or nonhandicapped) of low-income parents (including legal guardians or primary caretakers) who are adolescents, or working, or enrolled in education or training programs, or seeking employment. Provides that such child day care services funds shall be: (1) only supplementary to funds from other sources (including other title XX funds); (2) separately accounted for in reports and audits; and (3) not transferable for purposes of other Federal block grant programs. Requires States, as a condition of eligibility for title XX block grants, to provide a State share of the total expenditures made by the State during any fiscal year (in cash or kind) for the provision of services directed at the goals set forth under title XX. Sets such State share to be provided from non-Federal public or private sources, at 25 percent of such total expenditures. Establishes a school-based early childhood education and child care services pilot program. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to States to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish and expand such education and services for children aged four and five. Permits such pilot program funds to be used to: (1) extend half-day kindergarten to a full school day or typical working day to meet the needs of working parents; (2) contract with community-based child care organizations to provide part-day child day care to complement existing half-day or full school day school-based kindergarten or early childhood education programs; and (3) establish, or contract with community-based child care organizations to provide, pre-kindergarten or early childhood education programs and child day care services for children four years of age for a typical working day. Sets forth provisions for State applications for such pilot program grants, including requirements for: (1) State and LEA advisory panels; (2) encouragement of participation of severely handicapped children; and (3) priority consideration to programs serving substantial proportions of children from low-income families. Directs the Secretary of Education, in considering such applications to: (1) give preference to applicants whose programs provide services for the typical working day; and (2) ensure an equitable distribution of grants among States. Sets forth requirements for such pilot programs, including parent involvement, sliding scale fee scales, and no fees charged to families with incomes less than 150 percent of the poverty level. Sets forth matching requirements for such pilot programs. Limits the Federal share to 75 percent in the first year of assistance, 60 percent in the second year, and 40 percent in the third and any subsequent year. Limits administrative costs to five percent of the grant to the State or five percent of assistance to any LEA. Requires that at least ten percent of the total enrollment opportunities in each LEA in such pilot programs shall be available for handicapped children, with services to meet their special needs. Sets forth requirements for reports on, and evaluation of, such pilot programs. Defines community-based child care organization, for purposes of such pilot program provisions, as a private organization which is representative of the community and which has experience in providing child care services to low-income families. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for such pilot program of school-based early childhood education and child care services. Title II: Upgrading State Child Care Standards - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to add a further increase (above that already provided under title I of this Act) in the amount of appropriations authorized for Fy 1986 through 1988 and succeeding fiscal years for title XX allotments to States. Reserves specified amounts from such title XX funds for FY 1986 through 1988 and succeeding fiscal years for incentive grants to States for improvements in their child care licensing, regulatory, and monitoring systems. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to initially allot such reserved funds in the same proportions as regular title XX allotments. Requires that any remaining part of such reserved funds be used for making further grants to States which require additional assistance to carry out their State plans for such purpose. Requires that, for years after FY 1986, priority be given in distributing such additional funds to those States which have developed plans that will lead to their meeting or exceeding the recommended standards established by the National Advisory Committee on Child Care Standards pursuant to this Act. Requires the Governor of each State, as a condition of the State's eligibility for receiving title XX Federal payments, to establish or designate a State Advisory Committee on Child Care Standards which shall: (1) examine, investigate, and study the State's laws, regulations, and procedures for licensing, regulating, and monitoring child care services and programs within the State; and (2) prepare a report outlining the committee's findings and recommendations, including a description of the current status of child care licensing, regulating, or monitoring within the State to be submitted to each State's Governor for transmittal, along with the Governor's comments, to the Secretary of HHS. Establishes a National Advisory Committee on Child Care Standards in order to assist and provide guidance to the States in improving the quality of child care services. Requires each State Advisory Committee and the National Advisory Committee to review the options for child care standards published by the Department of HHS in January 1985 and the final 1980 HEW Day Care Regulations. Directs the National Advisory Committee to issue recommended standards for child care programs, after first publishing proposed standards and receiving comments. Terminates the National Advisory Committee 90 days after the publication of the final recommended standards. Directs the Secretary of HHS, from the title XX funds reserved and allotted to the States for such purpose, to make incentive grants to assist States in carrying out their plans to correct deficiences in, or otherwise improving, the licensing, regulating, and monitoring of their child care programs. Requires that State applications for such grants include such plans. Requires a detailed explanation if the State plan omits carrying out any recommendation contained in the State advisory committee's report. Title III: Expanding Private Sector Initiatives - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program of grants to local private nonprofit organizations to improve and expand child care services in the community by establishing and administering community funds for child care, in partnership with private for-profit businesses. Requires that such grants be used to provide: (1) child care scholarships on a sliding fee scale for low-income families through vouchers or by purchasing slots in child care programs; (2) partial scholarships of such sort to families ineligible for child care under title XX of the Social Security Act and whose income does not exceed $30,000; and (3) loans and grants to local nonprofit organizations (especially those serving significant proportions of low-income children) for start-up or renovation costs for community child day care services. Sets the maximum Federal share of the cost of expenditures from such community funds at 50 percent in the first year of Federal assistance, 40 percent in the second year, and 25 percent in the third and any subsequent year. Sets forth grant application requirements, including: (1) establishment of local advisory boards; and (2) obtaining of at least half of the local share of such community funds from for-profit private businesses. Directs the Secretary of HHS, in considering such applications, to: (1) ensure an equitable distribution of assistance among States and among urban and rural areas; and (2) give preference to organizations that have received such assistance in the previous year. Sets forth requirements for annual reports, evaluations, and audits of such community child care funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for such community child care funds program. Title IV: Training Child Care Personnel - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to add a further increase (above that already provided under titles I and II of this Act) in the amount of appropriations authorized for FY 1986 through 1988 and succeeding fiscal years for title XX allotments to States. Reserves specified amounts from such title XX funds for FY 1986 through 1988 and succeeding fiscal years for use by States in providing child care personnel training and retraining (including training in child development and in prevention of child abuse in day care settings). Provides that such training may be given to: (1) providers of licensed or registered child care services; (2) operators and staffs of facilities where such services are provided; (3) State licensing and enforcement officials; and (4) parents. Gives priority in such training to infant care providers, family day care providers, and providers of care for children with handicapping conditions. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to initially allot such reserved funds in the same proportions as regular title XX allotments. Requires that any remaining part of such reserved funds be used for making further payments to States on the basis of their respective needs and other factors which the Secretary of HHS considers appropriate. Establishes a program of scholarships for low-income individuals who are candidates for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Directs the Secretary of HHS to make grants to States to provide such scholarships. Requires that preference be given to scholarship applicants who are candidates for the CDA credential for work in: (1) a family day care setting with children who are not more than five years of age; or (2) a center-based setting with children who are not more than three years of age. Requires State grant applications to assure that: (1) each scholarship will cover all necessary costs incidental to receiving the CDA credential; and (2) the State will not expend more than five percent of the grant for administrative costs. Defines low-income individual, for such purposes, as one whose income does not exceed 185 percent of a specified poverty line. Amends title V (Teacher Corps and Teacher Training Programs) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to add a new part G, Training Personnel for Early Childhood Education. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to institutions of higher education to: (1) train personnel for careers in early childhood education and development; and (2) prepare professional personnel to provide such training. Directs the Secretary to ensure that such part G grant funds are equitably distributed by geographic region and between four-year and two-year institutions. Permits such grants to be used by the institutions: (1) to cover the cost of such courses of training or study; and (2) for scholarships to individuals who agree to be providers of early childhood education or child day care services for at least two years after completion of their academic program. Requires that such scholarships be awarded on the basis of need to full- or part-time students, with preference to be given to those preparing to work with children three years of age or younger or children with handicapping conditions. Sets forth reporting requirements for grant or contract recipients under part G. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 to carry out such HEA title V part G grants program for training personnel in early childhood education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 to carry out such program. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to revise provisions for grants to States for planning and development of dependent care programs. Adds an authorization of appropriations for FY 1986 for allotments to States to carry out the family day care training and technical assistance grants program added by this Act. Prohibits a project under such program from duplicating any services already provided by the State or locality to be served. Permits such program funds for FY 1986 to be used for grants to eligible nonprofit community-based organizations to provide: (1) training to family day care providers and individuals involved in training such providers (including child development and infant care training); and (2) technical assistance to family day care sponsors, providers, and individuals involved in training such providers, on laws and regulations applicable to the provision of family day care services. Allows training and technical assistance relating to the provision of family day care for handicapped children to be included under such grants. Makes nonprofit community-based organizations eligible for such grants if they: (1) have experience with working with such providers; and (2) agree to give training and technical assistance to such providers serving low-income families. Defines family day care as the care of children provided outside their residences, for a fee and on a part-day basis, by an individual in that individual's residence. Title V: Child Care Services for Special Groups - Part A: Child Care Services for Low-Income Postsecondary Students - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to add a new part D, Higher Education Institution-Based Child Care Program. Authorizes appropriations for such new part D program for FY 1986 through 1990. Directs the Secretary of Education to use such part D funds to make grants to institutions of higher education to provide child care services to low-income students. Sets forth grant application requirements, including provision of assurances that: (1) at least two-thirds of program participants are low-income individuals who are first-generation college students; (2) the remaining participants are either low-income individuals or first-generation college students; (3) the participants require the services to pursue a successful education beyond secondary school; (4) participants are enrolled at the grant recipient institution; and (5) the institution will provide to participants market rate vouchers for child care in licensed or registered programs or purchase slots in such programs for use by participants. Limits institutional administrative costs to five percent of the program grant. Defines low-income individual as one from a family whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of a specified poverty level amount. Part B: Respite Care Demonstration Grants for Families with Special Needs - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program of grants to States to assist public and private agencies to provide in-home or out-of-home respite care for handicapped children and children with chronic or terminal illnesses. Requires that such care be provided on a sliding fee scale with hourly and daily rates. Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a demonstration program of grants to States to assist public and private agencies to provide crisis nurseries (i.e. centers providing temporary emergency services and care) for children who are abused and neglected, at high risk of abuse and neglect, or in families receiving child protective services. Requires crisis nurseries to: (1) provide such services and care without fee for a maximum of 30 days; (2) provide referral to support services. Sets forth administrative provisions for applications and awards of grants for the demonstration programs under this part. Requires States receiving such grants to submit annual funded program evaluation reports to the Secretary of HHS. Part C: Comprehensive Service Centers - Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a program of grants to State and local health departments and nonprofit agencies to establish and operate school-located comprehensive health service centers. Requires such programs to be administered through the health resources and services administration of the Department of HHS. Requires such centers to provide, or arrange for the provision of, comprehensive health care services, child care sufficient to enable a student to continue education or enter employment, family life and parenting education, and academic and employment counseling and placement. Makes such services available to any student, but requires that priority attention be given the needs of any student who is an adolescent parent, pregnant, or a potential dropout. Requires such programs to provide or arrange provision of: (1) such services on school campuses, to the extent practicable; and (2) transportation of students to and from agencies supplying such services, and of eligible adolescent parents and their children to and from child care services. Sets forth provisions for fee schedules for such services. Prohibits discrimination on the basis of inability to provide full payment for such services. Requires grant recipients to collect reimbursement, where possible, for the Medicaid and title XX child care services programs under the Social Security Act. Limits State or local administrative costs to ten percent, and Federal administrative costs to one percent, of program funds. Sets forth grant application requirements. Directs the Secretary of HHS, in reviewing such applications, to: (1) consider the equitable geographic distribution of grants among States, and among urban and rural areas; and (2) give preference to recipients who will provide services in schools with the highest adolescent birth rate and the highest concentrations of low-income students and potential dropouts. Requires that Federal funds for such programs be supplementary to State and local funds, and that such programs provide services which are in addition to, rather than in substitution for, comparable services previously provided without Federal assistance. Sets the maximum Federal share of assistance to a center at 100 percent in the first year, 75 percent in the second year, and 50 percent in the third and any subsequent year of assistance. Sets forth annual reporting requirements for grant recipients. Directs the Secretary of HHS, after the second year of such assistance, to provide for an independent evaluation of a representative sample of such programs. Defines comprehensive health care services to include: (1) primary and preventive health services, including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care; (2) pregnancy testing and maternity counseling; (3) nutrition counseling and referral; (4) screening and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; (5) appropriate pediatric care; (6) pediatric services for infants born to adolescents; (7) mental health services and referral; (8) family planning services; (9) dental services and referral; and (10) such other services as the Secretary of HHS provides by regulation. Defines child care services,for purposes of this part, as services that: (1) are provided by a school-based or community-based child care organization (2) at a minimum include the provision of child care services to any child of an adolescent parent from birth through age 30 months; and (3) meet applicable State licensing standards. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for the grants program for school-located comprehensive health service centers under this part. Part D: Child Care Expenses for AFDC Recipients - Amends Social Security Act provisions relating to aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) to allow an increased amount of child care expenses to be taken into consideration in determinations of AFDC eligibility.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Designates November 1, 1985, as National Philanthropy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Designates July 13, 1985, as Live Aid Day.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1985
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to provide that whenever a person is transported aboard an international air carrier at Federal expense, the appropriate Federal agency shall assure that any beer or wine served on such aircraft is principally a product of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that proposals to repeal provisions of the Internal Revenue Code which allow taxpayers to make designations of payments to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund should not be enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
University Research Facilities Revitalization Act of 1985 - Requires each of the major Federal research and development agencies to establish and carry out a new university research laboratory modernization program, under which an amount equal to a specified portion of the funds available to the agency involved for research and development awards to institutions of higher education will be reserved for the replacement or modernization of such institutions' obsolete laboratories and other research facilities. Requires that funds under such program be awarded in response to specific proposals submitted by universities and colleges, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the head of the agency involved. Requires that such regulations provide that funds to carry out the program be awarded on a competitive basis and in an amount not exceeding 50 percent of the cost of the replacement or modernization involved. Sets forth required criteria for the award of such funds. Defines the "major Federal research and development agencies" as: (1) the National Science Foundation; (2) the Department of Health and Human Services; (3) the Department of Defense; (4) the Department of Energy; (5) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and (6) the Department of Agriculture. Title I: Identification and Assessment of University and College Research Facility Needs; Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the National Science Foundation - Authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to design, establish, and maintain a data collection and analysis capability to identify and assess the research facilities needs of universities and colleges. Directs NSF, in conjunction with other appropriate Federal agencies, to: (1) conduct biennial surveys for such identification and assessment purposes; and (2) report the results to the Congress, with the first such report to be due on September 1, 1986. Directs the NSF, when conducting such surveys and reporting to the Congress, to also collect and assess data on the implementation of the university research laboratory modernization programs being carried out under this Act. Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in NSF. (Note: The following provisions are similar to those for such program funding in the other "major Federal research and development agencies" which are set forth in titles II, III, IV, V, and VI of this Act.) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 to NSF to implement and carry out the new university research laboratory modernization program. Requires that a specified minimum amount (equal to a portion, as determined by certain formulas, of the total amount which is appropriated to NSF for FY 1988 through 1996 and which is available for obligation by NSF for research and development awards to universities and colleges) be reserved for purposes of this Act and used only to carry out NSF's university research modernization program. Permits such funds to be used for such program either as a part of awards made to universities and colleges involved for activities carried out under the authority of other laws or through separate awards made for purposes of this Act. Requires that such funds be used only on the basis of proposals submitted by such universities and colleges. Requires that a specified minimum portion of such funds be available only for awards to universities and colleges that received less than $10,000,000 in total Federal obligations for research and development in each of the two preceding years. Title II: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Health and Human Services - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Health and Human Services. (Note: These provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title III: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Defense - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Defense. (Note: These provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title IV: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Energy - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Energy. (Note: These provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title V: Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (Note: these provisions are similar to the program funding provisions under title I.) Title VI; Funding for the University Research Laboratory Modernization Program in the Department of Agriculture - Sets forth provisions for the funding for the university research laboratory modernization program in the Department of Agriculture. (Note: these provisions are similar to the program funding provision under title I.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Directs the Secretary of Labor, during any period when the number of cases pending and awaiting review by administrative law judges under the Black Lung Benefits Act exceeds 2,000, to assign to such pending cases administrative law judges who receive compensation at the GS-16 rate without regard to the grade or classification held by such judges. Provides that such assignments shall not adversely affect any subsequent review of the grade or classification of such judges.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Designates the week beginning October 6, 1985, as National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1985
Designates the week beginning on December 1, 1985, as National Home Health Care Week.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1985
Designates the week of November 24 through November 30, 1985, as National Adoption Week.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Child Abuse Reporting and Clearinghouse Improvements Act of 1985 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to clarify the intent of certain confidentiality provisions to provide that such provisions do not supersede any State or local reporting requirements of suspected child abuse. Modifies the classification system used by the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to include a category for statistics for offenses involving child abuse (including sexual abuse). Requires the Attorney General to report to the Congress within 90 days on whether such modification has been made, or, if not, when it will be made. Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in coordination with the Department of Justice to compile, analyze, publish, and disseminate to each State information on effective programs in the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. Directs the Center to develop model training materials for law enforcement, legal, judicial, and child welfare personnel to deal with child sexual abuse victims and to support research projects to identify improvements in the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of the use of unleaded fuel in agricultural machinery and to report to the Congress on such study. Prohibits any reduction in the permitted lead level in gasoline below a specified level until after the Congress receives such report. Authorizes appropriations
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the amount of the income tax deduction for the legal adoption of a child by a taxpayer to not exceed $5,000 ($7,000 in the case of an international adoption). Reduces the amount of the deduction for taxpayers whose taxable income exceeds $60,000. Expands such deduction to include all reasonable and necessary expenses which are directly related to a legal adoption of a child (current law restricts expenses to those incurred in the adoption of a child with special needs), if such adoption has been arranged by a State or local agency, a nonprofit agency, or through a private placement which does not violate a Federal or State law. Disallows such deduction for expenses of adoption by an individual of a child who is a child of such individual's spouse. Disallows such deduction for expenses in connection with artificial insemination, embryo transplantation, in vitro fertilization, or surrogate parenthood. Disallows such deduction for expenses incurred for travel outside the United States, unless such travel is required as a condition of the child's adoption, to assess the health and status of the child, or to escort the child back to the United States. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on his behalf by an employer pursuant to an adoption assistance program. Establishes dollar amount and income amount limitations on such exclusion.