United States · United States Congress · 13 December 1982
Space Commerce Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue licenses for launching private sector space objects. Sets forth the conditions for issuing a license, including the ability to meet liability insurance requirements. Establishes criminal penalties for launching private space objects without such a license. Directs the Secretary to establish requirements for liability insurance to be carried by any licensee. Permits the Administrator to suspend or revoke a license for failure to comply with applicable regulations. Excludes from this Act space objects launched by or on behalf of the United States Government. Establishes the Commercial Space Study Commission to study the direction of future Government involvement and regulation of private sector commercial activity in outer space. Directs the Commission to report to Congress within a specified time. Terminates the Commission 60 days after its final report.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1982
Reaffirms the commitment of Congress to locating and repatriating Americans unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Expresses congressional appreciation to the Lao Government for its expressed willingness to help. Supports the President's actions to locate and return missing Americans. Urges the President to respond to the indicated willingness of the Lao Government to cooperate in this effort.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1982
Comprehensive Victim and Witness Protection and Assistance Act of 1982 - Amends rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require that presentence reports contain: (1) information concerning any harm or loss suffered by the victim; (2) information that may aid the court in sentencing; (3) a statement of the circumstances of the commission of the offense; and (4) any prior criminal record of the defendant. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish as offenses "tampering with a witness or an informant" and "retaliating against a witness or an informant." Authorizes the Attorney General to initiate civil proceedings to restrain any harassment of a victim or witness. Authorizes a sentencing court to order the defendant to make restitution. Requires the court to state for the record the reasons for not ordering restitution. Prescribes a procedure for the issuance of restitution orders. Directs the Attorney General to develop Federal guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses. Requires the Attorney General to consider certain objectives in preparing the guidelines, including: (1) ensuring that victims receive prompt social and medical services; (2) giving victims and witnesses notice of important criminal justice proceedings and scheduling changes; (3) arranging for the prosecution to obtain the nonbinding views of victims of serious crimes during such stages as plea bargaining and pretrial release; (4) encouraging employers to continue to pay victims and witnesses for work absences to assist investigations and prosecutions; (5) training law enforcement personnel in victim assistance; and (6) informing victims or witnesses on legal steps for protection from intimidation. Directs the Attorney General to recommend to Congress any laws that are necessary to ensure that no Federal felon derives any profit from the sale of his or her story until any victim of the offense receives restitution. Amends the Bail Reform Act of 1966 to require as a condition of pretrial release that the defendant not commit certain offenses.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1982
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for employment at less than minimum wages for handicapped individuals in work activities programs (i.e. programs which provide therapeutic activities for individuals whose physical or mental impairment is so severe as to make their productive capacity inconsequential). Deletes a requirement that such employment be in work activities centers planned and designed exclusively for such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1982
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the establishment of a means test for Medicare benefits would be a breach of faith with the American public; and (2) the Medicare program should not have a means test.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should withdraw certain proposed rules that would reduce public notice and comment opportunities in rulemaking procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 13 August 1982
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit to any individual who maintains a household which includes one or more elderly qualified persons. Sets the amount of such credit at $1,000 for each such elderly person living in the household. Limits the aggregate amount creditable to $2,000 on any return for the taxable year. Defines "qualified elderly person" as any individual who: (1) has attained age 65; (2) has an impairment which, as determined by a physician, renders such individual physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself and has lasted or is expected to last six months or longer; and (3) has as a principal place of abode for more than half of the taxable year the home of the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 12 August 1982
Older Americans Vocational Education Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a model grant program for centers for older persons' vocational needs and employment opportunities. Sets forth application requirements for grant eligibility and for such centers. Requires such centers to: (1) provide certain services; and (2) in providing services, to give priority treatment to certain older persons. Limits any such grant to $400,000 for any fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to operate a national clearinghouse for information on such centers. Permits any business or labor organization, public agency, or nonprofit or profitmaking organization, as well as a State, State or local educational agency, educational institution, postsecondary educational institution, or private vocational training institution, to be an eligible recipient of such a grant. Defines "older person" as an individual 55 years of age or older. Authorizes appropriations for such model grant program for FY 1984 through 1986. Amends the Vocational Education Act of 1965 to add to the purposes of such Act: (1) the overcoming of age discrimination and age stereotyping in vocational education programs; (2) the furnishing of equal educational opportunity in such programs to persons of all ages; and (3) the provision of part-time employment to older persons who need the earnings to continue full-time vocational training. Requires State vocational education programs to assign personnel to review such programs for: (1) assurance that grant distribution addresses older persons' needs; (2) age bias in such programs; (3) age discrimination in program hiring, firing, or promotion; (4) recommendations for overcoming age stereotyping and bias in such programs; and (5) assisting interested parties in improving vocational educational opportunities for older persons. Requires that State advisory councils on vocational education include older persons with employment and training program experience, including older persons who are minority group members. Requires that the State five-year plans for vocational education set forth: (1) the uses which the State intends to make of Federal vocational education assistance to meet the special needs of older persons; and (2) policies and procedures to assure equal access to vocational education programs by older persons.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1982
Prohibits any executive agency from obligating, during the last two calendar months of FY 1983, 1984, or 1985, more than 20 percent of its total controllable budgetary resources, as defined by this Act, for such fiscal year. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to waive such spending limitation upon determining that it would seriously disrupt an agency program or operation, if the Director reports on such waiver to Congress before the agency violates such limitation. Requires the head of each agency to submit a report to the President and the Congress not later than 90 days after the close of each such fiscal year describing the department's or agency's compliance with this Act. Permits the Director to apportion annual appropriations and set aside reserves in a manner consistent with the purposes and requirements of this Act. Exempts reserves established to comply with a spending limitation under this Act from reporting requirements of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1982
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the termination of an individual's disability benefits on the grounds that the individual's disability has ceased or did not exist, unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services finds that: (1) there has been a medical improvement in the individual's impairment such that the individual is no longer disabled under the disability standards in effect at the time of the original disability determination; or (2) the original disability determination was clearly erroneous under the disability standards in effect at the time it was made. Makes such requirement inapplicable in the case of an individual who has demonstrated an ability to engage in substantial gainful activity. Provides that subsequent reviews of a disability determination following an initial review for purposes of determining the continuing eligibility of beneficiaries who become entitled in October 1982 and thereafter shall be at the discretion of the State agency or the Secretary, as appropriate. Requires that such individuals be notified when subsequent reviews of disability determinations are scheduled. Limits the number of reviews of disability determinations for purposes of continuing eligibility which the Secretary may conduct for individuals who become entitled to disability benefits before October 1982, but authorizes the Secretary to review, at his or her discretion, selected cases to the extent that such review will be cost-effective and that adequate personnel and time are available for such review. Permits a disability insurance beneficiary who has been found to be no longer entitled to disability benefits to elect to have such benefits continued until the disability determination has been affirmed or overturned on appeal or until the time for such an appeal has expired. Provides that benefits paid pursuant to such an election shall be considered overpayments if the decision after a hearing affirms the determination that the individual involved is no longer entitled to benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1982
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that regulations recently proposed by the Secretary of Education under the Education of the Handicapped Act should not be permitted to take effect.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1982
National Nursing Home Standards Act of 1982 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a National Commission on the Regulation of Nursing Homes. Provides for a moratorium on deregulation of skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities until September 30, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1982
Prohibits the Secretary of Labor from promulgating regulations changing: (1) the conditions for employment of 14 and 15 year-old children; and (2) existing regulations governing full-time student employment at subminimum wages.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1982
Residential Mortgage Investment Act of 1982 - Permits employee benefit plans, as defined under this Act, to engage in any qualified mortgage transaction involving any qualified residential mortgage loan, provided transactions between all parties are at arm's length. Permits such plans to participate in any mortgage pool, provided such pool conforms to specified requirements with regard to permitted investments. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations to carry out this Act. Provides that this Act shall supersede any and all contrary provisions of State law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code. Prohibits the imposition of Federal excise tax on a plan or pool that engages in a transaction described under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1982
Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933 to declare that State law shall apply to the enforcement of any due-on-sale clause, or other similar provision, contained in: (1) any mortgage which secures sums borrowed from a Federal savings and loan association or national bank; or (2) any promissory note which serves as evidence of sums borrowed from a savings and loan association or national bank.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1982
Amends the Federal criminal code to abolish the defense of insanity. Provides that insanity at the time of an offense will not negate the mental state or condition required by law to convict a defendant, provided that the defendant was able to understand the nature and consequences of the offense. Places upon the defendant the burden to prove a lack of comprehension of the nature of his offense which is necessary to excuse him from trial. Requires a judge to commit to the appropriate medical institution any defendant so excused. Allows the court to commit a convicted defendant to an appropriate institution for medical assistance, until the defendant is declared sane by the medical authorities at the institution. Requires any remainder of a sentence to be served in prison.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1982
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to give adequate public notice of any intention to close or consolidate a weather service office. Sets forth factors the Secretary must consider in deciding to close or consolidate, including the effect on the community served and the economic savings to the National Weather Service. Permits the appeal of a closing by any person served by the office to the Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1982
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the termination of disability benefits in the case of an individual who has been found to be no longer eligible for disability benefits and who has requested reconsideration of such determination. Provides for the continued payment of such benefits until the reconsideration has been completed and such determination has been upheld or until the end of the sixth month after the month in which the initial eligibility determination was made, whichever is earlier. Requires that an initial disability determination by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which is unfavorable to the disability benefit applicant, contain a statement of the case with a discussion of the evidence and the basis for the Secretary's decision. Entitles the applicant or the applicant's spouse, surviving spouse, former spouse, surviving divorced mother, child, or parent to reconsideration of such an initial determination upon request and upon a showing that his or her rights may be prejudiced by the determination. Entitles an individual who requests a reconsideration to a new disability determination. Authorizes the State agency which made the initial disability determination to make the new disability determination during the reconsideration process: (1) after notification to the Secretary; (2) in accordance with the rules governing disability determinations; and (3) after opportunity for an evidentiary hearing at which the individual requesting the reconsideration and the individual (if different) whose disability is in question shall have a right to appear. Requires that a reconsideration by the Secretary which is unfavorable to the individual requesting the reconsideration contain a statement of the case with a discussion of the evidence and the basis for the Secretary's decision. Continues Medicare entitlement for a disabled qualified railroad retirement beneficiary who is appealing the termination of his or her benefits until such individual has exhausted all possible administrative remedies. Requires the Secretary to transmit to Congress quarterly reports on: (1) the number of eligibility reviews carried out under title II; (2) the number of initial benefit termination decisions resulting from such reviews; (3) the number of benefit termination decisions with respect to which reconsideration or a hearing is requested; and (4) the number of benefit termination decisions which are overturned at the reconsideration or hearing level.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Israel should be commended for complying with the Camp David accords by returning the Sinai to Egypt; and (2) the United States should assure that Israel maintains a qualitative military edge in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1982
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to exempt taxpayers who have attained age 65 from social security taxation (employees' and self-employment tax).
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1982
Prohibition of Mandatory Retirement and Employment Rights Act of 1982 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to eliminate the upper age limitation of the class of persons to whom such Act applies.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1982
Interest Rate Reduction Act of 1982 - Prohibits any officer or employee of the United States from selling any debt obligation of the United States bearing interest at a rate, or at a discount from face value yielding a rate of return greater than: (1) 15 percent; or (2) one-fourth of one percent less than the average auction price for Treasury bills at the auction held the week prior to the date of the enactment of this Act, whichever is lower. Sets forth the formula for reducing the maximum interest rate or yield after such date and for maintaining such maximum interest rate or yield at such level. Declares that the maximum legal rate of interest shall not be greater than five percent above such currently effective rate. Makes all contracts and assurances for the loan or forbearance in money or other thing of value at more than the legal rate of interest void as to the excess of interest over the legal rate. Permits the principal, with legal rate of interest, to be recovered on any such contract or assurance, but not the excess of interest. Permits such excess of interest, if already paid, to be recovered from the lender or forbearer even though payment was made to an assignee. Declares that no person may plead or set up the taking of more than the legal rate of interest as a defense to any action brought against such person to recover damages on, or to enforce payment of, any mortgage, bond, note, or other obligation executed or assumed by such person. States that a reasonable charge for origination fees, finder's fees, delinquency fees and commissions, and actual costs of recording and filing fees and of documentary and intangible taxes shall not be considered interest under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1982
Omnibus Victim-Witness Protection and Assistance Act of 1982 - Amends Rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require that presentence reports contain: (1) a statement of the harm done or loss suffered by the victim; (2) information on any available nonprison programs and resources; and (3) a statement of the financial needs of the defendant and his dependents, the restitution needs of the victims, and the amount of any gain derived from or loss caused by the criminal conduct of the defendant. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish as offenses "tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant" and "retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant." Prescribes an additional penalty for an individual convicted of one of the above offenses while on bail. Grants general authority to the Attorney General to relocate or protect government witnesses. Authorizes the attorney for the government to initiate civil proceedings to restrain tampering with a witness or victim. Allows for a defendant found guilty of an offense to be sentenced to make restitution. Directs the Attorney General to recommend to Congress laws necessary to compensate victims of crimes where restitution is not possible. Grants exclusive jurisdiction to the Federal courts over civil claims against the United States for damages caused by dangerous offenders who are released or escape from the lawful custody of a U.S. employee as a result of such employee's gross negligence. Directs the Attorney General to develop Federal guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses. Directs the Attorney General to recommend to Congress any laws that are necessary to ensure that no Federal felon derives any profit from the sale of his or her story until any victim of the offense receives restitution.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1982
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1982
Prohibits the payment of an annuity under the civil service retirement system to a Member of Congress or to his or her survivor or beneficiary if such Member is convicted of a felony. Provides for the refund of contributions and deposits made to the civil service retirement system or the armed forces survivor benefit plan for the period after the conviction. Restores the right of an individual to an annuity denied because the individual was convicted of a State felony, if such individual is pardoned by the State's governor.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1982
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to construct a memorial to honor and recognize law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Directs that such memorial be known as the National Law Enforcement Heroes Memorial and be located near the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, District of Columbia. Establishes the National Law Enforcement Heroes Memorial Advisory Committee to study and make recommendations to the Secretary on the appropriate location and design of the Memorial, not later than six months after the last appointment to the Committee. Requires approval of such Memorial by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, unless they fail to notify the Secretary of approval or disapproval within 90 days of receipt of plans or proposals. Prohibits the use of Federal or District of Columbia funds to carry out this resolution. Requires the Secretary to provide maintenance for the Memorial and to begin construction, if funds are available, not later than two years after enactment of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1982
Independent Contractor Tax Classification and Compliance Act of 1982 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify standards for determining whether certain individuals qualify as independent contractors for purposes of the tax on employment income. Treats an individual as an independent contractor if such individual: (1) controls the total number and scheduling of his work hours; (2) has no principal place of business provided rent-free by the service-recipient; (3) has substantial investment in his business (excluding vehicles) and earns income based upon sales or output rather than upon number of hours worked; and (4) performs services under a written contract and is provided written notice of his responsibilities with respect to income and self-employment taxes. Provides that the criteria established by this Act shall not be applicable to agent-drivers, commission-drivers, full-time life insurance salesmen, home workers, and traveling or city salesmen who are statutorily designated as employees for purposes of social security taxation. Sets forth special rules for: (1) contracts entered into before January 1, 1983; and (2) determining control of scheduling work hours. Provides that the failure of an individual claiming independent contractor status to meet the criteria established by this Act shall not create an inference that such an individual is an employee or that the recipient of his service is an employer. Limits the applicability of the criteria established by this Act to questions of employment status arising under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, self-employment tax provisions, and withholding requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. Requires a recipient of an independent contractor's services to file an information return disclosing payments made to such individual in excess of $600 per year. Requires persons who sell over $5,000 in consumer products to buyers on a buy-sell, deposit-commission, or similar basis to file a similar return. Permits an election to file such returns in certain circumstances. Requires individuals who file such information returns to furnish to persons with respect to whom such information is reported written statements which indicate the amount of payment reported. Provides penalties for failure to furnish information returns or statements. Requires the payment of a surcharge for multiple violations. Requires the withholding of tax on certain persons where the identifying number is incorrect or missing on any return filed by a service-recipient. Sets forth effective dates and transitional rules for provisions of this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Santini, James D. [D-NV-98]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000058_200.jpg)