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Person

Rep. Ratchford, William R. [D-CT-5]

United States · Official source

Memberships

  • · House of Representatives · present
  • D · D · present

Votes

No stored named vote for this person. House roll-calls come from Congress.gov; Senate member lists come from senate.gov LIS XML.

Bill· HRH.R. 6404 (98th)referred

Plan Termination and Reversion Control Act of 1984

United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1984

Plan Termination and Reversion Control Act of 1984 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to delineate the eligibility and sufficiency criteria which single-employer pension plans must meet in order to terminate under the protection of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the Corporation). Includes among the termination eligibility requirements for such single-employer pension plan: (1) business necessity; (2) pay-status participants not in excess of 80 percent (pay-status participants are those whose retirement benefits have become payable); (3) absence for a specified period of a different employer-maintained plan; and (4) the plan to be terminated did not participate in an asset or liabilities transfer between plans during such period. Delineates the criteria under which plan termination is considered a business necessity for purposes of this Act. States that plan termination will not be considered a business necessity if the termination's primary purpose is to make funds available to contributing sponsors or to a sponsor's controlled group in order to prevent or promote entry of other persons into the controlled group. Treats fiduciaries who have permitted single-employer plan terminations to take place without meeting the eligibility criteria as having breached a fiduciary duty. Sets guidelines under which residual assets of terminated plans shall be distributed among: (1) employee contributors; (2) participants and beneficiaries; and (3) employers. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax upon the distribution of residual assets to an employer if a single-employer benefit plan is terminated, except under the business necessity criteria of this Act. Makes the employer liable to pay such tax. Requires a plan administrator to file a plan termination notice with the Corporation after giving plan participants and beneficiaries advanced written notice of such proposed termination. Requires the Corporation to hold a hearing on the record regarding: (1) plan termination; and (2) distribution of residual assets. Amends the limitations set upon plan acquisition of qualifying employer securities and real property. Directs the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries (the Board) to report to specified congressional committees regarding the results of a study concerning reasonable actuarial assumptions and methods for determining the actuarial status and funding requirements of various pension plans. Requires the Board to publish in the Federal Register the actuarial assumptions and methods it prescribes for various types of pension plans. Authorizes the Board to terminate enrolled actuaries upon finding that they have not used the methods and assumptions prescribed. Makes conforming amendments to the Internal Revenue Code. Sets guidelines for qualified trust treatment where assets of a terminated plan are transferred to an employee stock ownership plan. Amends ERISA to prohibit fiduciaries from permitting the transfer of terminated plan assets to an employee-stock-ownership plan unless specified conditions are met. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disqualify from trust status any comparable pension plan formed by an employer within five years of such employer's receipt of the residual assets of a pension plan terminated without business necessity. Provides that where employers have accepted payments of the residual assets of certain terminated pension plans, certain comparable pension plans formed by such employers will be denied: (1) minimum funding standard waivers; (2) extension of amortization periods; and (3) alternative minimum funding standards. Directs the President to establish the Plan Termination and Reversion Control Commission as an independent agency within the executive branch of the Government. Establishes the position of special liaison officer to the Commission within the office of: (1) the Secretary of Labor; (2) Secretary of the Treasury; and (3) the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Provides for an Executive Director as the principal administrative officer under the Commission. Provides that if the Corporation finds that residual assets exceed a specified amount upon the termination of certain single-employer plans, then the Commission shall assume all functions of the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of the Treasury and of the Corporation, insofar as such functions concern residual assets requirements in their respective areas. Authorizes the Commission to prescribe rules and regulations, policies and procedures. Authorizes appropriations.

Bill· HRH.R. 6315 (98th)referred

A bill to prohibit the issuance in bearer form of Treasury obligations or of securities which are interests in Treasury obligations, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1984

Requires that every obligation of the United States be issued in registered form. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the issuance in bearer form of securities which are interests in U.S. Government-backed securities. Imposes a three percent excise tax on the issuer of registration-required U.S. Government-backed securities which are not issued in registered form. Provides that the issue price of any U.S. Government-backed security shall be treated as the principal amount of the obligation. Imposes a 30 percent withholding tax on interest received by foreigners from U.S. Government-backed securities.

Bill· HRH.R. 6282 (98th)referred

A bill for the relief of Mary Lou Golightly.

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1984

Deems a named individual to have been afflicted with scleroderma before the expiration of her insured status, for purposes of determining eligibility for disability insurance benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Provides for the payment of benefits to such individual by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Bill· HRH.R. 6244 (98th)referred

Residential Energy Conservation Tax Credit Act of 1984

United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1984

Residential Energy Conservation Tax Credit Act of 1984 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the income tax credit for residential energy conservation expenditures for five years (from 1985 to 1990). Revises the method of calculating the amount of such credit. Reduces the maximum amount of the expenditures which may be taken into account from $2,000 to $1,000. Increases the percentage of the expenditures which may be taken into account from 15 to 40 percent. Phases out such credit for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income in excess of $30,000.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 355 (98th)referred

A concurrent resolution establishing a commission to study wage discrimination and other discriminatory personnel policies and practices in the legislative branch.

United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1984

Establishes a Commission on Employment Discrimination in the Legislative Branch. Directs the Commission to: (1) employ a nongovernmental consultant to study the compensation paid to Library of Congress personnel and analyze personnel policies of the Library; (2) evaluate the compensation system of the Library for compliance with title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and make any recommendations needed to achieve compliance; (3) develop a plan for the application of title VII through the legislative branch; and (4) make recommendations to Congress for improvement of personnel policies and practices in the legislative branch. Directs the Commission to submit a final report to Congress 18 months after enactment of this Act. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of the final report.

Bill· HRH.R. 6210 (98th)referred

Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Freeze and Arms Reduction Act of 1984

United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1984

Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Freeze and Arms Reduction Act of 1984 - Provides for the establishment of a comprehensive freeze by the United States and the Soviet Union on the testing, production, and deployment of any nuclear weapon, delivery system, or any subsystem or component for a nuclear warhead, weapon, or delivery system (the comprehensive freeze). Directs the House and Senate Select Intelligence Committees to begin oversight hearings on verification procedures for the comprehensive freeze. Requires such committees to report to their respective Houses within 90 days of enactment of this Act on the adequacy of U.S. verification procedures. Sets forth information to be included in the report. Requires the Director of the Arms Control Disarmament Agency to begin preparing an operational plan for U.S. implementation of the comprehensive freeze within 120 days of enactment of this Act. Directs the Director to submit the plan to specified congressional committees within 60 days of enactment of this Act. Declares that the President should: (1) invite the Soviet Union to participate in a comprehensive bilateral and verifiable nuclear weapons freeze; and (2) encourage the Soviet Union to write to the United States whether it intends to implement the comprehensive freeze. Requires the President, 120 days after enactment of this Act, to direct the implementation by the United States of the comprehensive freeze which shall continue so long and to the extent that the Soviet Union acts in a reciprocal mannner. Requires the President to certify to the Congress the nature of Soviet noncompliance with the freeze, all relevant evidence, and his recommendations for the U.S. response if the President finds evidence that the Soviet Union is not acting in a reciprocal mannner. Requires the appropriate congressional committees to report a bill setting forth the extent to which the United States should modify its participation in the comprehensive freeze. Declares that the United States and the Soviet Union should begin nuclear arms reduction negotiations as soon as the comprehensive freeze is implemented.

Bill· HRH.R. 6207 (98th)referred

National Child Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1984

National Child Protection Act - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to add provisions for licensing and information with respect to providers of child day care services. Requires, as a condition for receiving any funds under title XX, that a State have a program in effect which meets specified requirements. Requires the State to require the licensing and monitoring of all providers of child day care services in accordance with standards established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires the State to provide information to the Secretary with respect to: (1) all individuals providing child day care services or employed by providers of child day care services; and (2) all individuals convicted of child abuse, child molesting, or similar crimes. Requires the State to have in effect a toll-free telephone hotline for the reporting of any allegations of child abuse, child molestation, or similar acts committed by any individual providing child day care services or by any employee of a provider of child day care services. Directs the Secretary to establish standards and guidelines for State licensing and monitoring of providers of child day care services. Requires that such standards and guidelines: (1) assure the children's safety, health, and developmental potential and promote their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth; and (2) assure that only adequately trained individuals provide such services. Directs the Secretary to determine a uniform definition of "child day care services" and of "provider of child day care services" to apply for purposes of this Act and to assure that the maximum feasible number of children shall be protected under this Act. Directs the Secretary to establish a national file of the names, addresses, and social security numbers of all individuals convicted of crimes involving child abuse, child molestation, or such similar acts which the Secretary determines ought to be included in such file to protect children receiving child day care services. Requires each State to report to the Secretary such information on any individual convicted in that State of such acts which the Secretary has determined ought to be included in the national file. Directs the Secretary to establish a uniform reporting system which shall apply to all States for such purpose. Requires each State to prohibit any individual or provider from being licensed to provide child day care services in such State if such individual, or any employee of such provider, has been convicted of a crime which has been reported by any State to the Secretary and is contained in the national file. Requires each State, prior to granting such a license, to request the Secretary to check the names of each individual seeking a license to provide child day care services, and each employee of a provider seeking such a license, against the list of names contained in the national file. Requires each State to establish a toll-free telephone hotline for the reporting of any allegations of child abuse, child molestation, or any similar act designated by the Secretary for inclusion in the national file, committed by an individual providing child day care services, or by an employee of a provider of such services. Requires the State to provide follow-up investigation of each such allegation in accordance with standards established by the Secretary under regulations. Establishes an Advisory Panel on Child Protection to advise the Secretary on the standards and guidelines issued under this Act and to recommend appropriate changes in such standards and guidelines. Sets forth provisions relating to Panel membership and assistance. Directs the Secretary to promulgate all regulations required under this Act within 90 days after the enactment of this Act. Makes the requirements of this Act applicable to States beginning 180 days after the enactment of this Act.

Bill· HRH.R. 6124 (98th)referred

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a clinical trial to determine the efficiency and economic feasibility of providing medicare coverage for personal emergency response systems.

United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1984

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a clinical trial in order to determine the efficiency and economic feasibility of providing Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) coverage for personal emergency response systems. Requires each personal emergency response system to include, for purposes of the clinical trial: (1) communication equipment located in the home which transmits signals for emergency medical assistance over the telephone; (2) a local response center to monitor such signals; and (3) medical personnel or other persons to provide emergency medical assistance. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to transmit to Congress a report containing the findings and conclusions of the clinical trial, along with any legislative recommendations.

Bill· HRH.R. 6132 (98th)referred

A bill to amend the Social Security Act to modify the terminology relating to handicapped children.

United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1984

Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance), IV (Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families With Children and for Child-Welfare Services), V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant), and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act to strike out the words "crippled" and "crippling" wherever they appear and insert instead the words "handicapped" and "disability," respectively.

Bill· HRH.R. 6139 (98th)referred

A bill to authorize the President of the United States to award a congressional gold medal to Jan C. Scruggs in recognition of his work on behalf of Vietnam veterans, and to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to sell bronze duplicates of such medal.

United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1984

Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, in recognition of his work on behalf of veterans who served in Vietnam. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.

Bill· HRH.R. 6066 (98th)referred

A bill to require that the President transmit to the Congress, and that the congressional Budget Committees report, a balanced budget for each fiscal year.

United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1984

Requires the President to transmit to Congress for FY 1986 and each fiscal year thereafter a balanced budget. Permits the transmittal of alternate budget proposals which, if implemented, would result in a deficit or surplus if the President determines that a balanced budget is inappropriate for any fiscal year. Urges the President to submit to the House and the Senate, not later than September 30, 1984, a comprehensive plan to balance the Federal budget. Requires the Committee on the Budget of each House to report, by April 15, 1985, and by April 15 of each year, a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Requires the chairmen of the budget committees and an individual designated by the President to meet from time to time and agree upon common economic and technical estimating assumptions which shall be used for the preparation and reestimation of the President's budget. Establishes a commission which shall: (1) review, with respect to FY 1986, the balanced budget proposal submitted by the President and the budgets reported by the Committees on the Budget; (2) study the effectiveness of the provisions of this Act in achieving balanced Federal budgets; and (3) make recommendations for further changes which may be necessary to achieve balanced Federal budgets. Requires the commission to transmit to the President and Congress a report not later then December 31, 1986, containing a detailed statement of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate. Terminates the commission 30 days after the submission of such report.

Bill· HRH.R. 6050 (98th)referred

A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and title 18 of the United States Code to increase the criminal penalties for those who willfully sell or offer for sale drugs, devices, or medical treatment knowing that it is unsafe or ineffective or unproven for safety or efficacy.

United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1984

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and other Federal law, to increase the criminal penalties for those who willfully sell or offer for sale drugs, devices, or medical treatments knowing that they are unsafe or ineffective or unproven.

Bill· HRH.R. 6054 (98th)open

A bill to require that Presidential primaries or caucuses be held only during the period beginning on the second Tuesday in March and ending on the second Tuesday in June of the Presidential election.

United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1984

Provides that presidential primaries shall be held only during specified months in the year of the presidential election. Directs the Attorney General of the United States to seek compliance with this Act in Federal district court.

Bill· HRH.R. 6051 (98th)referred

A bill to establish a Strike Force on Health Quackery to coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies to curb the sale and promotion of fraudulent health remedies.

United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1984

Establishes within the Department of Justice the Strike Force on Health Quackery, composed of two representatives from each of the following organizations: (1) the Department of Justice; (2) the Food and Drug Administration; (3) the Federal Trade Commission; and (4) the U.S. Postal Service. Requires the Strike Force to make a full analysis of (including a plan to curtail) the sale and promotion of drugs, medical devices, and medical treatments which are known to be false or whose safety and effectiveness is not proven. Sets forth periodic reporting requirements and requires a final report to Congress upon termination of the Task Force three years after its establishment.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 555 (98th)passed

A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that it disapproves the appointment of Anne M. Burford as Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere and that the President should withdraw her appointment to that position.

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1984

States that the House of Representatives disapproves the appointment of Anne M. Burford as Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere, and urges the President to withdraw her appointment.

Bill· HRH.R. 6021 (98th)referred

A bill to repeal the changes made by the Tax Reform Act of 1984 with respect to the tax treatment of debt instruments issued for property.

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1984

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal rules relating to the determination of the issue price of certain debt instruments issued for property. Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1984 to repeal the revisions made to rules for the imputation of interest on certain deferred payments. Provides that the Internal Revenue Code shall be applied and administered as if such revisions had not been enacted.

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