United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1983
United States Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act - Charters and incorporates, as a nonprofit and charitable corporation, the United States Fish and Wildlife Foundation (the Foundation) which shall encourage, accept, administer or transfer private gifts of real or personal property, and acquire real or personal property for the benefit of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Directs the Foundation to undertake and conduct activities which further the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources. States that the Foundation will not be an agency or establishment of the U.S. Government. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) the Board of Directors of the Foundation; (2) the rights and obligations of the Foundation; (3) exemptions from taxation; (4) administrative services and support; (5) volunteers; and (6) accounting and reporting requirements, and petition of the Attorney General for equitable relief. Exempts the United States from all debts, defaults, acts, or omissions of the Foundation. States that the right to repeal, alter, or amend this Act at any time is expressly reserved to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations for ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1983
Medicare Fiscal Intermediary Amendments Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit each provider of services to have the right to elect to have payments made by the Secretary of Health and Human Services rather than by a fiscal intermediary.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1983
Urges the United States and the Soviet Union to begin talks aimed at creating a jointly administered United States-Soviet student exchange program. Sets forth certain aspects of such exchange program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1983
Amends the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act to declare that actions concerning water and related land resources projects upstream from the Imperial Dam shall not be governed by specified provisions of the Water Resources Planning Act. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to give preference to those salinity control units that reduce the salinity of the Colorado River at the least cost per unit of salinity reduction. Deletes certain provisions of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act concerning agreements with the Secretary of Agriculture for the Grand Valley unit. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to construct and maintain the following salinity control units according to specified directions: (1) the Stage I of the Lower Gunnison Basin unit, Colorado; (2) the McElmo Creek unit, Colorado; (3) the Stage I of the Uinta Basin unit, Utah; (4) the Palo Verde Irrigation District, California; (5) the saline water use and disposal opportunities unit, Colorado River Basin; and (6) the Sinbad Valley unit, Colorado. Requires the Secretary to carry out specified directions in implementing the construction of such units. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a voluntary cooperative program with private landowners to improve on-farm water management and reduce watershed erosion on non-Federal and Department of Agriculture lands. Directs the Secretary to issue reports to certain congressional committees and to certain others. Prohibits the expenditure of funds for measures implementing such program until the lapse of 60 days following submission of such reports or if any of the congressional committees or the others disapprove it. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1989. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from assuming continuing operation and maintenance obligations for permanent salinity control measures constructed on non-Federal lands. Requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture in implementing the construction of such sanity control units and such voluntary cooperative program to comply with State water laws. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a program for minimizing salt contributions to the Colorado River from lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that an individual's "years of coverage" for purposes of computing such individual's primary insurance amount under title II shall include those years (up to a specified maximum) during which such individual had a child age six or under in his or her care for more than six months.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to restore the minimum monthly social security benefit with respect to benefits for months after December 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require that, upon the death of an individual who was married at least three years prior to the date of death or was divorced after at least three years of marriage, the surviving spouse or surviving divorced spouse shall inherit all of the wages and self-employment income credited to such individual during marriage.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement that the amount of monthly benefits payable to a spouse, surviving spouse, or mother be reduced by the amount such spouse, surviving spouse, or mother receives in monthly payments from a Federal or State pension plan.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to enable an insured individual's spouse who has attained the age of 50 and is not entitled to any other monthly benefits to obtain a transition benefit for four months upon the death of the insured individual. Establishes the amount of such transition benefit at 71.5 percent of the primary insurance amount of the insured individual or, if it is higher, 71.5 percent of the primary insurance amount of the spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Social Security Modernization Act - Amends title II (Old age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a married couple which are attributable to the period of their marriage shall be shared equally between them for purposes of determining the eligibility for and amount of OASDI benefits to which each spouse is or may become separately entitled. Credits the survivor of the marriage with 100 percent of the combined total wages for the period of the marriage. Provides that this Act shall not apply in specified cases where it would result in a reduction of OASDI benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide full benefits for disabled widows and widowers without regard to age.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a married couple which are attributable to the period of their marriage shall be shared equally between them for purposes of determining the eligibility for and amount of old-age or disability insurance benefits to which each spouse is or may be come separately entitled if: (1) their marriage lasted at least three years; (2) they are divorced; and (3) either of them elects to have such combined earnings so shared. Makes this Act inapplicable to a surviving divorced spouse if it would result in a reduction in OASDI benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard mileage rate used in computing the charitable deduction for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle shall be the same as the standard mileage rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury for the business-related deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1983
Agricultural Productivity Act of 1983 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) make an inventory of existing research and extension materials and recommend further areas of research regarding crop rotation, intercropping, biological pest control, and other related farming and soil conservation systems; and (2) make such information available to the public. Directs the Secretary to conduct research on 12 pilot farms (having specified mixes of livestock and crops) to examine the effects of the transition from practices relying on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and traditional soil tillage to systems relying on organic and biological pest control, crop rotation, and conservation tillage. Requires such farms to be chosen within 120 days. Directs the Secretary to make a parallel study of 12 farms which have been using such farm systems for at least five years. Sets the term of such projects at five years each. Sets forth on-farm study data, including soil profile changes, crop yields, energy and water use, and farm income. Directs the Secretary to make payments to the owner of a pilot farm if the Secretary determines such payments are justified. Stipulates that these payments may be made only during a project's last four years. Directs the Secretary to coordinate such pilot farms project with specified Federal and State agricultural services, colleges, and farmers. Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) within 15 months regarding the information inventory; and (2) by April 1 of each year from 1985 through 1988 regarding the pilot farms, with a final project summary and recommendations by April 1, 1989. Provides for a five-year program of intercropping assistance under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1983
Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to extend medical benefits to a former spouse who was married at least 20 years to a member with at least 20 years of service when a minimum of ten years rather than 20 years of such marriage and service coincide. Repeals the requirements that the former spouse be unmarried and have no medical coverage under an employee-sponsored health plan. Grants medical benefits to a former spouse who has a disease or disability attributable to the nature or location of a member's or former member's military service. Limits the health care available to such former spouses to that necessary for the treatment of such a disease or disability. Applies this Act to all eligible former spouses, regardless of the date of divorce.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1983
States that the House of Representatives: (1) recognizes that Mobilization for Animals represents the first major international coalition of individuals and animal protection organizations in history working toward increasing our awareness of the important issue of animals used in laboratory experimentation; and (2) applauds the work of those taking the lead in this area of deep concern.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should reduce imports of apparel to no more than 25 percent of the American apparel market.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1983
Increases the number of judicial divisions in the Northern District of Ohio. Changes the location of the district courts for such divisions. Sets guidelines for the assignment of active, full-time district court judges sitting in Akron and Youngstown.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the inability to reach a settlement on Namibia represents a tragic consequence of South Africa's illegal rule; (2) the issue of Cuban presence in Namibia should be removed from the U.S. negotiating stance; and (3) the U.S. should adopt a firmer stance on South African withdrawal from Namibia. Sets forth the context in which: (1) future U.S.-South African relations should be conducted; and (2) acceptance of U.N. Resolution 435 should be obtained.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1983
Dedicates the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California to Phillip Burton. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to inform the public of the contributions of Phillip Burton through the use of signs, maps, and interpretive programs and to establish an appropriate memorial to him within the recreation area. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1983
Civil Rights Amendments Act of 1983 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation. Provides that this Act shall not be construed to permit a finding of discrimination based on statistical differences or the fashioning of any remedy requiring a quota.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1983
Proclaims Nelson Mandela an honorary citizen of the United States and requests the President to take steps to secure his unconditional release from prison in South Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1983
Proclaims Winnie Mandela an honorary citizen of the United States and requests the President to seek from South Africa a revocation of her banishment to Brandfort, South Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Military Command Reorganization Act of 1983 - States that the National Command Authorities consist of the President and the Secretary of Defense. Establishes a military chain of command running from the President to the Secretary of Defense, to the Chief of Staff of the National Command Authorities to the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands. Abolishes the joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chairman thereof. Reconstitutes such staff as the Joint Military Staff of the National Command Authorities under the Chief of Staff of the National Command Authorities. Creates the position of Chief of Staff of the National Command Authorities (Chief) to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate to serve as the principal military adviser to the President, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. Sets forth the duties of the Chief, including; (1) preparing strategic and logistic plans; (2) formulating training policies; and (3) reviewing material and personnel requirements of the armed forces. Establishes two Deputy Chiefs of Staff to be selected by the Chief from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces. Directs the Chief to designate one such Deputy to serve as Acting Chief as specified. Establishes a Joint Military Staff under the Chief. Sets forth the composition of such staff which is to include members from all the armed forces. Sets forth the terms of assignment on such Staff. Requires that such Staff be independently organized and operated. Establishes in the Department of Defense a National Military Council to advise the Secretary and President on matters pertaining to national security policy. Sets forth the terms of membership on such Council. Directs the President to designate a Chairman to administer such Council and to represent him at all National Security Council meetings.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Mortgage Retirement Account Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers an election to treat home mortgage prepayments as a tax-deductible contribution to an individual retirement account. Allows amounts to be withdrawn from an individual retirement account for the purchase of a principal residence.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should take steps to: (1) issue a proclamation commemorating the Ukrainian famine of 1933; (2) issue a warning that the continued enslavement of the Ukrainian nation is a threat to world peace; and (3) convey to the Soviet people U.S. sentiments for the recovery of Ukrainian freedom and independence.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1983
Balanced Monetary Policy Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to require the Board of Governors and the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System to establish yearly targets for money and total credit aggregates and for real interest rates consistent with historic levels. Requires the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee to take necessary actions to assure that such targets are achieved, on average, on an annual basis. Requires a written report to specified Congressional committees if such targets cannot or should not be achieved because of unfavorable economic conditions. Requires the Board of Governors to transmit specified information to Congress biannually. Requires the Board to announce publicly changes in objectives and plans at the time those changes are determined. Requires the President to state for the System's record the administration's position on each vote on monetary policy taken by the Board and by the Federal Open Market Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1983
Health Care for the Unemployed Act - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title, Title XXI - Health Care for the Unemployed: Part A - Grants to States - Authorizes appropriations for a sum sufficient to enable each State to furnish medical assistance to unemployed individuals and their immediate family. Requires a State, in order to receive funding, to have an approved State plan for medical assistance for the unemployed. Requires a State plan to: (1) meet specified administrative requirements of the State's Medicaid plan; (2) make medical assistance available to eligible individuals voluntarily enrolled during the individual's coverage period; (3) require the State unemployment compensation agency to inform unemployment compensation recipients of the plan and of group health plans, and to notify the State Medicaid agency of eligible unemployment compensation recipients; (4) provide the following services: (a) inpatient hospital services up to nine days annually; (b) outpatient hospital, emergency, rural health clinic, and physician services for up to ten visits annually; (c) laboratory and x-ray services, subject to such limits as the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish; and (d) family planning and nurse mid-wife services; (5) provide for the imposition of premiums, enrollment fees, and similar charges; (6) provide that the plan will be secondary in payment to any other insurance or benefit plan providing medical assistance; and (7) provide that a State make reasonable efforts to determine the Medicaid eligibility of individuals enrolled in the plan who are not receiving unemployment compensation. Requires the Secretary to approve any plan meeting the above requirements, but precludes approval of any plan: (1) which excludes any U.S. citizen or any individual residing in the State; (2) which, if approved, would result in a deduction of Medicaid services; or (3) which does not meet requirements relating to the continuation and coversion rights of employees who lose health benefits under group health plans due to unemployment. Provides that an individual is eligible for a week if the individual: (1) is receiving unemployment compensation and three weeks have elapsed since the first week the individual received unemployment compensation; or (2) is not receiving unemployment compensation for the week, was receiving unemployment compensation for a week during the 104 week period ending with the week before the first week in which the plan is in effect and has not received unemployment compensation for any week in which the plan is in effect, and certain requirements relating to work availability. Makes an individual's family eligible if the individual is eligible. Requires a State plan to establish standards concerning whether or not an individual is employed. Requires an individual to be considered employed for a week if the individual's earnings equal or exceed an amount equal to 30 times the minimum hourly wage. Makes an individual ineligible for a week if: (1) the individual is covered under a group health plan for which a contribution is being made by someone other than the individual; (2) the individual is covered under his or her spouse's group health plan; (3) the individual is eligible for Medicaid; (4) the individual is employed for four consecutive weeks; or (5) the individual was disqualified because of fraud for unemployment compensation or convicted of a Medicaid offense in the previous year. Authorizes a State to impose a premium of between two and five percent of an individual's unemployment compensation. Requires a State to provide for the same deduction, cost-sharing, and similar charges as imposed under Medicaid. Sets forth the methods for determining payments to States. Makes provisions of title XIX relating to the operation of State plans applicable to title XXI. Sets forth definitions used in this part. Directs the Secretary, provided certain conditions are met, to grant a waiver to a State plan with respect to some or all of the Medicaid administrative requirements in the case of a State plan which enters into an arrangement with one or more private health benefits plans under which health insurance or health benefits are made available to all eligible individuals which provide required benefits at a cost no greater than the premiums and other charges of the State plan. Makes specified provisions of title XIX and part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Act relating to rural health clinics, fraud and abuse, Indian health service facilities, cost sharing, judicial and administrative review, capital expenditures, and administration applicable to this title. Requires a State to provide an employee covered under an insured group health plan who would otherwise lose coverage because of an involuntary separation (other than for cause) from employment be provided with the option of coverage under a group health plan. Part B: Assistance to Hospitals Serving the Unemployed - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to hospitals to assist the hospitals in providing services to individuals unable to pay. Requires a hospital, in order to receive a grant, to: (1) be located in an area of high unemployment or serve primarily medically underserved populations; (2) serve a significantly disproportionate number of patients having low income; (3) provide services to individuals without regard to their inability to pay; and (4) offer assurances that it will use the grants in addition to, rather than in lieu of, existing Federal, State, and local funds. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress concerning the grants. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY 1984-1987. Establishes the effective date for part B of title XXI as the beginning of FY 1984. Amends provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to group health plans to require a group health plan to have an open enrollment period of at least 30 days for each eligible married employee whose spouse loses coverage under a group health plan due to involuntary termination (other than for cause) of the spouse's employment. Provides for the participation of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa in the program established this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1983
Directs the President to furnish to the House of Representatives, within ten days after adoption of this resolution, documents relating to: (1) military assistance furnished to Honduras; (2) certain military intelligence activities in Nicaragua and Honduras; and (3) combat activities of and casualties incurred by Nicaragua and Honduras.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Clean Campaign Act of 1983 - Adds a new title to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971: "Title V: Financing of General Election Campaigns for the House of Representatives". Establishes eligibility criteria entitling candidates to receive campaign payments on a matching basis. Establishes formulae to determine such sums. Limits expenditure of personal funds to $20,000 per election. Waives spending limits for eligible candidates whose opponents have spent sums exceeding the limit imposed upon such candidates. Requires specified independent expenditures to be reported to the Commission and to each candidate within specified time-frames. Permits additional payments to certain candidates who have waived specified broadcasting rights. Requires the Federal Election Commission to certify the eligibility of candidates to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall disburse funds to such candidates. Directs the Secretary to establish a separate United States House of Representatives Election Campaign Account in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and to deposit certain sums in such account in accordance with specified guidelines. Directs the Commission to audit campaign accounts. Requires repayment of excess payments and unexpended payments. Penalizes the use of funds for other than campaign purposes. Authorizes the Commission to institute repayment actions in U.S. district courts. Delineates the administrative authority of the Commission in carrying out this Act. Requires the Commission to make certain reports to the House of Representatives. Authorizes appropriations. Limits to $90,000 in any calendar year the amount of contributions which congressional candidates or their authorized political committees may accept from non-party multicandidate political committees. Specifies exceptions for candidates in general and special elections. States that any extension of credit for advertising on broadcasting stations, in newspapers or magazines, or by direct mail, or for other types of public political advertising shall be considered a contribution, if such credit is: (1) in excess of $1,000; and (2) for a period exceeding 30 days.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to separate temporary agricultural labor from other temporary labor for purposes of nonimmigrant worker (H-2 visa) provisions. Restricts the definition of agricultural labor or services to specified definitions in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Internal Revenue Code. Limits H-2 workers to an eight-month stay in any calendar year. Authorizes agricultural workers to remain longer if before enactment of this Act the Secretary of Labor has recognized an extension as necessary. Prohibits entry to workers who have violated entry conditions within the past five years. Prohibits entry to agricultural workers unless specified conditions have been met respecting housing, injury benefits, meals, transportation, and wages, including piece rates, and recordkeeping. Requires an employer submitting an H-2 visa petition to certify that: (1) there are not enough qualified U.S. workers for the job; and (2) similarly employed U.S. workers' wages will not be adversely affected. Makes such certification a prerequisite for the admission of H-2 workers. Prohibits the Attorney General from approving more H-2 petitions in any fiscal year than were approved in FY 1982 unless the Secretary of Labor has certified to the Attorney General and to Congress that sufficient enforcement funds are available. Permits the Secretary to charge application fees. Requires employers of H-2 agricultural workers to pay them an additional amount equal to the amount of FICA and unemployment taxes that would have been paid to U.S. workers. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a petition if: (1) a job is open because of a strike or other labor dispute; or (2) the employer violated certification terms, including failure to pay penalties. Provides with regard to H-2 agricultural workers that: (1) employers must submit petitions at least 80 days in advance of need; (2) the Secretary must respond promptly in writing regarding a disapproved petition, and within 20 days of need regarding an approved petition; (3) there must be a 60-day recruitment period before an employer may file a petition; (4) the Secretary shall establish expedited procedures for review of denied petitions or de novo administrative hearings; and (5) producer associations may file such petitions (individual members or users are still liable for any violations). Authorizes appropriations beginning with FY 1984 for recruitment of domestic workers, work program monitoring, and certification expenses. Provides a private right of action in U.S. district court for any person aggrieved by a violation of the H-2 provisions. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, to: (1) promulgate implementing regulations; and (2) report to Congress within 18 months regarding improvements in the temporary worker program. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should establish an advisory commission to consult with Mexico and advise the Attorney General regarding such temporary worker program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should convey U.S. concern for the welfare of Ethiopian Jews and seek ways to assist Ethiopian Jews to emigrate freely.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1983
Prohibits the implementation of certain regulations proposed by the Office of Personnel Management (published in the Federal Register on March 30, 1983) that change the administration of the civil service system by establishing a performance management system and revising regulations concerning reductions-in-force, pay administration under the Fair Labor Standards Act, bargaining policy in labor-management relations, and the prevailing rate pay system. Voids any such regulations which became effective before enactment of this Act. Prohibits the implementation of any other regulations that would have the same effect.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1983
Requires the head of each executive agency to conduct a review of all rules, regulations, and policies of the agency which result in different treatment based on gender. Directs each agency head to report annually to the Congress on such review. Provides that such report shall include proposals to make agency rules and regulations neutral as to sex. Requires all agency rules, regulations, and programs to the extent practicable be neutral as to sex.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Child Support Enforcement Improvements Act of 1985 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to state that the purpose of part D is to assure compliance with the obligations to pay child support to each child in the United States living with one parent. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for payment to a State of past-due child support from Federal tax refunds in cases where collection services have been made available under part D to an individual not otherwise qualified for part D services. Requires a State under part D to maintain a child support clearinghouse: (1) through which support payments will be recorded; (2) into which support payments will be paid and forwarded; (3) which will maintain collection records; and (4) which will have a system for reporting support obligations owed, collected, and disbursed, and for notifying the courts when payments are not made. Requires a State under part D to: (1) seek medical support for children for whom it is seeking financial support; (2) provide for mandatory withholding and payment of past-due support from wages; (3) provide a procedure for imposing liens against property and estates for past-due support; (4) provide for the collection of past due support from State tax refunds; (5) provide that quasijudicial or administrative procedures be available to aid in the establishment and collection of support obligations and in the establishment of paternity; and (6) provide for at least three of the following: voluntary wage assignment to pay support obligations, the use of scientific testing to determine paternity, the imposition of a bond to secure support obligations of absent parents having a pattern of past-due support, a procedure for establishing paternity without participation of the alleged father if such father refuses to cooperate in establishing paternity, or use of an objective standard to guide in the establishment and modification of support obligations by measuring the amount of support needed and the ability of an absent parent to pay such support, so that comparable amounts of support are awarded in similar situations. Amends Federal bankruptcy law to provide that the discharge of a debtor's debts does not discharge the debtor from any debt (currently, the debt must be in connection with a separation agreement, divorce decree, or property settlement) to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor, for alimony to, maintenance for, or support of such spouse or child.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
National Park System Protection and Resources Management Act of 1983 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) collect, analyze, and document data on the factors which degrade or threaten to degrade the natural and cultural resources of the national park system; and (2) transmit to Congress a biennial State of the Parks report. Provides that such report shall include: (1) a description of the condition of each national park unit's natural and cultural resources, of the factors which damage or threaten such resources, and of the ongoing and planned mitigation actions and their results; (2) a description of the systemwide efforts to address the resource protection requirements listed above; (3) a discussion of systemwide resource protection and management policies for natural and cultural park resources; (4) a discussion of the adequacy of congressional appropriations in addressing protection and resource management programs; and (5) a discussion of funding needs to implement such policies and measures. Requires the National Park Service to solicit public involvement in the preparation of such report. Requires the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees an annual report on the 50 most critical natural and the 50 most critical cultural resource problems within the national park system. Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences for development of a plan for the National Park Service to conduct natural and cultural resources inventories and research on the problems and solutions with respect to national parks. Requires the plan to be submitted to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees. Requires that resource management plans for each national park unit be prepared and updated continually. Provides that general management plans for each park unit shall be based upon the park's resource management plan. Directs the Secretary to review and revise the current land classification system for the preservation and use of national park system lands. Requires the development of a new classification for maximum resource protection for sensitive ecosystems and cultural resources of special research value. Requires that those park units designated as biosphere reserves or world heritage sites receive priority consideration for monitoring and resource protection efforts. Expresses the sense of Congress that park and legislative officials establish ways to ensure the protection of international parks designated as biosphere reserves. Permits the Secretary to exercise the authority to issue leases within a national park unit, permit the use or development of such an area, or dispose of lands and waters within such an area only if the exercise of such authority will not have a significant adverse effect on the park unit. Restricts the Secretary's authority to act in areas adjacent to national park units in the same way, unless any significant adverse effects on the national parks are less important than the public interest value of a proposed action. Requires Federal agencies conducting activities within, or adjacent to, any national park unit to insure, to the extent practicable, that such activities will not significantly degrade the natural or cultural resources of the park unit. Provides for notification of the Secretary by a Federal agency if a proposed agency action may degrade or threaten the natural or cultural resources of a national park unit. Requires the Secretary to respond in writing on the foreseeable impact on park resources of a proposed agency action and to recommend any changes in such action needed to avoid adverse effects on park resources. Authorizes the Secretary to request information regarding a proposed agency action where the agency fails to notify the Secretary and the Secretary determines that such action may threaten park resources. Requires the Secretary to consider any adopted city, county, State, or Federal development plan during the deliberations on a proposed agency action. Requires the Secretary to hold a public hearing: (1) if requested by the affected government unit; and (2) if the Secretary's response to the proposed action is to be negative. Requires the proposing Federal agency to comply fully with the Secretary's recommendations in all cases where the proposed agency action would occur upon Federal lands or waters within the boundaries of a national park unit. Permits the proposing Federal agency to proceed with its action after consideration of the Secretary's recommendations in cases where the proposed action would occur on non-Federal lands within the boundaries of a national park unit, if the public interest in the proposed action is greater than the public interest in avoiding the adverse effects on the park resources involved. Provides that when the proposed agency action would involve areas adjacent to a national park boundary, the Federal agency must consider the Secretary's recommendations and must notify the Secretary of its decision to proceed. Sets forth notification requirements when proposed agency action differs from the Secretary's recommendation. Requires proposing agencies to notify specified congressional committees. Requires the Secretary to publish notices of proposed Federal actions and responses in the Federal Register. Exempts emergency, disaster, and national security actions from this Act. Requires actions under this Act to be brought in the U.S. district court in the district in which the national park unit involved is located. Provides for the Secretary to cooperate with, and provide technical assistance to, governmental and other entities to protect national park system resources. Requires the superintendent of each park unit to work with governmental and other entities which influence or control lands, resources, and activities within or adjacent to the park unit to develop a mutually compatible land use plan for the general area. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to local governments for park resource protection and for the development of such plan. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986 for such grant. Provides that such cooperative efforts shall be initiated in at least two park units for each administrative region, as well as in all biosphere reserves and world heritage sites, within one year after enactment of this Act. Requires that such efforts be initiated within two years after enactment of this Act in all national park units. Requires that each park unit or regional office have on its staff a person to coordinate the activities required by this Act. Directs the Secretary to initiate a training program for park personnel in the principles and techniques necessary to carry out the requirements of this Act. Requires the Secretary to establish a public information program to inform park visitors and the public of the need to protect park resources. Directs the Secretary to assure that the National Park Service includes adequate numbers and distribution of professional and scientific personnel to provide for park resource protection and management. Requires that general management plans for each national park unit be updated at least every ten years. Requires the Director of the National Park Service to assist potential donors of property located adjacent to or within national park units in satisfying the requirements under the Internal Revenue Code relating to charitable contributions. Provides that if provisions of this Act conflict with provisions of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the provisions of such Act shall prevail. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Interior to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Environmental Protection Act of 1983 - Title I: Findings and Purposes - Declares that the existing governmental entities charged with preventing air, water, and land pollution have not adequately protected the environment. States the purpose of this Act to be to protect Americans against adverse effects of environmental changes through the establishment of a multimember independent regulatory commission. Title II: Establishment of Commission - Establishes the Environmental Protection Commission as an independent regulatory commission to be composed of five members appointed by the President with the Senate's approval. Sets forth provisions governing the members, officers, powers, and functions of the Commission and the functions of the Chairman of the Commission. Directs the Science Advisory Board to provide such scientific advice as the Commission may request. Sets forth guidelines for the nomination, selection, and appointment by the Chairman of an individual to fill any vacancy on the Board. Requires the Chairman to issue regulations regarding conflicts of interest with respect to members of the Board. Title III: Transfer of Functions - Transfers to the Commission all functions, not otherwise transferred by this Act, of: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency; and (2) the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Title IV: Administrative Provisions - Part A: Personnel Provisions - Provides for the appointment and compensation of Commission officers and employees and the procurement and compensation of experts and consultants. Part B: General Administrative Provisions - Sets forth provisions governing the authority of the Commission to: (1) exercise transferred functions; (2) delegate functions to its officers and employees; (3) reallocate functions among its offices and reorganize its structure; (4) enter into and perform contracts; and (5) promulgate rules. Requires the Commission, for each proposed action to promulgate or revise a rule, to: (1) establish and make available to the public a rulemaking docket containing the comments and certain documentary information concerning each rule; (2) publish a notice of the proposed action which shall include a statement of the purpose and basis of the rule and the period available for public comment; (3) allow any person to present oral or written data on the rule during the comment period; and (4) keep the record of the rulemaking open for 30 days after completion of the proceeding to provide for submission of rebuttal or supplementary information. Requires the promulgated rule to be accompanied by: (1) a statement of its basis and purpose; (2) a justification of major changes to the rule as proposed; and (3) a response to significant data submitted during the comment period. Provides for the judicial review of such rules. Authorizes a six-month extension of a statutory deadline for the promulgation of such a rule if such extension is necessary to afford the public and the agency adequate opportunity to carry out rulemaking requirements. Authorizes the Commission to: (1) establish, alter, discontinue, or maintain regional and other field offices as necessary; (2) acquire and maintain schools, research and training facilities, and accommodation as may be necessary for employees; (3) establish eating facilities for employees at its installations; (4) provide certain facilities, services, and supplies for employees at remote locations; (5) use the resources of Federal, State, local, and foreign instrumentalities with their consent; (6) permit public and private organizations to use its facilities for Commission purposes; (7) acquire copyrights, patents, applications for patents, licenses under copyrights and patents, and releases for past patent or copyright infringement; (8) accept and use gifts, bequests, and devises of property; (9) provide advice and technical assistance related to its functions; (10) establish a working capital fund; and (11) transfer funds among Commission appropriations, with certain limitations. Directs the Commission to procure a seal of office. Requires the Commission to submit to the President and Congress at the beginning of each regular session of Congress a comprehensive report on the administration of its functions. Requires that such report include: (1) an appraisal of the incidence of health and other effects to the population resulting from environmental causes; (2) an evaluation of the degree of observance of environmental rules; (3) a summary of outstanding problems confronting the Commission; and (4) specified information on voluntary environmental standards developed with the Commission's assistance. Title V: Transitional, Savings, and Conforming Provisions - Sets forth provisions governing the transfer and allocation of personnel, appropriations, and other resources transferred to the Commission under this Act. Terminates the Environmental Protection Agency and positions in such Agency which were expressly authorized by law or compensated at an Executive Schedule pay rate. Declares that this Act shall have no effect on orders issued, determinations made, proceedings pending, or civil actions commenced before its enactment. Provides that statutory requirements for notice, hearings, and administrative or judicial review applicable to functions transferred by this Act shall continue to apply to such functions. Title VI: Effective Date and Interim Appointments - Sets forth the effective date of this Act. Provides that funds available to any agency the functions of which are transferred by this Act may, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, be used to pay the compensation of interim officers and other expenses of establishing the Commission or transfering functions until funds for such expenses are otherwise available. Authorizes the President to designate an officer on the executive branch to act as a Commission officer for 120 days or until such office is filled, whichever occurs first.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to States which adopt and implement effective child passenger safety programs. Sets forth eligibility requirements for States to receive such grants and a limitation on apportionments. Requires the Secretary to establish, by regulation, standards for such programs. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1984 through 1986. Directs the Secretary to conduct an annual evaluation of each eligible State's child passenger safety program to measure its effectiveness on child safety seat usage.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should express U.S. opposition to the Soviet Union's policies of forced labor. Declares that the Soviet Union should cease such practices and honor their international commitments.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1983
Civil Service Spouse Retirement Equity Act - Entitles a former spouse of a Federal employee or Member of Congress to: (1) a portion of the retirement annuity of such employee or Member; and (2) a survivor annuity upon the death of the employee or Member. Requires that the former spouse must have been married to the Member or employee for at least ten years during periods of creditable service. Provides for the calculation of the amount of either such annuity of a former spouse on the basis of the portion of the employee's or Member's creditable service during which the former spouse was married to the employee or Member. Disqualifies any former spouse who remarries before becoming 60 years of age from eligibility for either such an annuity calculated as a regular retirement annuity based on the employee's or Member's creditable service. Authorizes an employee or Member providing a survivor annuity benefit for a former spouse to elect, or to be ordered by a court, to provide for an additional survivor annuity for any other former or current spouse if the employee or Member passes a physical examination prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Limits the maximum survivor annuity or combination of survivor annuities to 55 percent of the employee's or Member's annuity. Authorizes the employee or Member to provide for survivor annuities either by a reduction in his or her retirement annuity or pay, or by a lump sum payment, or by a combination of both. Provides for the recomputation of an employee's or Member's retirement annuity and the refund of certain amounts deposited in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund if a former spouse for which a survivor annuity benefit is provided dies or remarries before the age of 60. Declares that provisions regarding cost of living increases in civil service annuities shall not apply to such annuities for former spouses unless authorized by OPM. Entitles an eligible former spouse: (1) to an annuity under this Act only if such former spouse elects to receive it instead of any other annuity provided to a Federal employee's spouse; (2) to an annuity if the employee or Member died in service (in the same amount as if the employee or Member had died after becoming eligible for an annuity); and (3) to a portion of any lump sum credit payable to an employee or Member who transfers or is separated from service prior to the commencement of either such annuity. Authorizes a Member or employee, a spouse, or former spouse to jointly elect to waive or reduce a survivor annuity for that spouse. Eliminates the current authority of the employee or Member to elect not to provide for a survivor annuity without the spouse's agreement, except when the employee or Member satisfies OPM that the spouse cannot be located. Requires both the employee or Member and the spouse, rather than just the employee or Member, to elect not to increase a survivor annuity upon the employee's or Member's reemployment. Declares that, except when determined by OPM to be inconsistent with this Act, the right of a former spouse to an annuity, survivor annuity, or lump sum credit shall be determined in accordance with an applicable court order or spousal agreement covering such former spouse, with certain limitations. Sets forth provisions governing civil service survivor benefits in cases of divorces occurring prior to the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that the family planning program under title X of the Public Health Service Act should be administered in the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from repealing, amending, or otherwise modifying specified rules regarding network television syndication, network television financial interests, and prime time access before July 1, 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
Child Care Information and Referral Services Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, to establish a grant program to assist public or private nonprofit organizations in the establishment or operation of community- based child care information and referral centers. Sets forth grant application requirements. Limits the duration and amount of grants to a center. Sets reporting requirements for centers receiving such grants. Directs the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees on activities under this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1983
National Diffusion Network Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to promote the use of exemplary educational programs, products, and practices to interested elementary and secondary schools. Requires the Secretary to provide information, materials, training, technical assistance, and evaluations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and contracts with, public and nonprofit private educational institutions and organizations to carry out such program. Declares that such program shall be deemed to be a continuation of the National Diffusion Network for which provision is made under the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. Directs the Secretary to allocate funds available under such Act to such program. Authorizes additional appropriations, if necessary, to carry out such program in FY 1984 through 1987.
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