United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1983
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to announce 1984 feed grain acreage limitations or set-asides by September 16, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1983
Patent Term Restoration Act of 1983 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which encompass specified products or a method for using a product, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a seven year limitation. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent. Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for products subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Act of March 4, 1913 (relating to virus, serum, toxin, and analogous products).
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that one-half of the cost of insurance paid by a self-employed taxpayer for medical care during the taxable year will be allowed as a business deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1983
Soil Conservation Act of 1983 - Title I: Policy, Findings, and Definitions - States policy, findings and definitions. Title II: Program Eligibility on Highly Erodible Land - Declares that any person who produces an agricultural commodity on highly erodible land shall be ineligible with respect to such commodity for: (1) price or income support assistance; (2) a loan for the construction or purchase of a storage facility; (3) crop insurance; (4) a disaster payment; or (5) any new loan if used for a purpose which will contribute to excessive erosion of highly erodible land. Exempts from such restrictions lands and crops cultivated before enactment of this Act and any crop produced under an approved conservation system. Title III: Certified Voluntary Set-Aside - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program whereby owners and operators of cropland certify that certain crops have been planted with grass or legumes as part of a rotation pattern designed to reduce soil erosion or build soil productivity. Provides for annual renewal. Provides for the classification of croplands eligible for certification. Directs the Secretary to allow any farmer who has certified lands to designate those lands as cropland in rotation for purposes of establishing a normal crop acreage base for his farm. Allows farmers to designate certified lands as set-aside land or conserving-use acreage in a commodity stabilization program before the Secretary announces such program. Title IV: Conservation Reserve Program - Authorizes the Secretary to establish a program to assist owners and operators of erosion-prone land in making changes in land-use needed to conserve and protect soil and water resources. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts to carry out these purposes. Prescribes the contents of such contracts. Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance, to share the cost of conservation measures, and to pay land-rental fees on conserved lands to the contracting owner or operator. Provides a formula to determine the Secretary's share of conservation costs. Requires bids from owners and operators to determine land rental fees. Title V: Rules and Regulations - Requires the Secretary, within 120 days of enactment of this Act, to publish regulations to effectuate its purpose. Title VI: Additional Authority - States that any authority provided by this Act is in addition to other authorities available to the Secretary and the Commodity Credit Corporation for carrying out soil and water conservation programs. Title VII: Authorization for Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1983
National Economic Cooperation Act of 1983 - Amends the Employment Act of 1946 to add a new title on national economic cooperation. Establishes a National Economic Cooperation Council. Sets forth the purposes of the Council, including the requirement that the Council report annually to the President and the Congress on the state of the national economy. Requires that the general policies and administrative direction of the Council shall be controlled by a Board composed of nine members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets forth the qualifications of members of the Board. Requires the principal administrative officer of the Council to be an Executive Director appointed by the Board. Requires the Council to promote the growth and vitality of the U.S. economy by: (1) collecting and analyzing relevant data concerning economic trends and market opportunities; (2) evaluating existing and alternative government and business policies in terms of their impact on the capacity of American enterprises to take advantage of those trends and opportunities; (3) recommending government and business strategies and practices which will improve that capacity; (4) developing such concensus among the branches of government, labor, and business as is necessary to implement such strategies and practices; and (5) evaluating State and local policies and practices in terms of their impact on the economy. Sets forth methods for the Council to follow in carrying out such functions. Authorizes the Council to make special reports as necessary, in addition to its annual report. Sets forth the authority of the Council to conduct hearings. Establishes within the Council a Bureau of Economic Information and a Bureau of Economic Analysis and Policy. Sets forth the duties of such Bureaus. Directs the President to designate a Special Adviser for Economic Coordination who: (1) shall be the principal official responsible for the coordination of executive branch trade and economic functions and activities; and (2) shall serve as the principal liaison official between executive branch departments and agencies and the Council. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1989. Sets forth general administrative provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1983
Secondary Mortgage Market Equity Act - Amends the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act and the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to set forth a formula for increasing the maximum mortgage limitation for a one- to four- family residence in certain areas where high prevailing housing sales prices have limited housing opportunities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that further expansion of cargo preference requirements, either for commercial or other trade, should not be imposed.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1983
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit bids (without specifying any bid limitations) from cotton producers in order to acquire sufficient cotton for 1983 payment-in-kind stocks. States that until sufficient stocks are acquired or a reasonable bidding time has been made available by the Secretary (not less than two weeks), no bids shall be rejected unless they exceed similar feed grain bids. Permits producers to modify previous bids as provided for by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1983
Establishes the Commission on Capital Markets to evaluate the regulation of financial intermediaries by the Federal and State governments and the functioning of such intermediaries in the accumulation and allocation of capital within the United States economy. Sets forth the information to be included in such evaluation. Requires the Commission, within nine months after the initial meeting, to submit to Congress a report on the results of its evaluation. Terminates the Commission ninety days after the submission of its final report. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1983
Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to exempt States and political subdivisions of States from coverage under the Act. Replaces the requirement that the Secretary of Labor make inspections of surface mines at least twice a year with the requirement that the Secretary establish criteria to determine the minimum number of inspections to be made at each surface mine. Directs the Secretary to issue a notice of violation to a mine if the Secretary believes that there is a violation of any mandatory health or safety standard (currently, a citation is issued in such a situation). Directs the Secretary to issue a citation if the Secretary finds a violation that is a significant health and safety hazard (meaning, a situation reasonably likely to result in a reasonably serious injury or illness). Prohibits a penalty from being assessed if the operator has been issued a notice of violation and the operator has corrected the violation within the period permitted for its correction. Revises requirements for mandatory health and safety training. Eliminates the present requirements for refresher training and provides instead that such refresher training shall be at such intervals as the Secretary determines is necessary. Authorizes the Secretary to provide consultation and assistance to any mine operator in order to assist the operator in meeting the requirements of the Act and in improving the health and safety conditions and practices in the mine. Prohibits: (1) such consultation and assistance from being considered an inspection or investigation; and (2) the issuance of any notice of violation, citation, or order as the result of such consultation and assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1983
Surplus Dairy Products Exchange Act - Declares that it is in the national interest to promote the exchange of surplus dairy stocks for critical and strategic materials. Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, during FY 1984 and 1985, to accept offers from individuals or commercial firms to exchange strategic and critical materials for surplus dairy stocks provided specified conditions relating to value determination and protection of export markets are met. Requires the Secretary to export, if possible, at least 15 percent of uncommitted surplus dairy stocks in each of FY 1984 and 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1983
Government Printing Office Pay Reform Act of 1983 - Requires the pay of Government Printing Office employees to be administered under the prevailing rate system and the General Schedule. Provides that employees who, upon enactment of this Act, hold positions for which the pay rates are determined by conference with the Public Printer or by appeal to the Joint Committee on Printing, shall, with specified exceptions, continue to receive basic pay at a rate not below the rate in effect immediately before enactment of this Act, plus any increase payable under the prevailing rate system or the General Schedule. Repeals the limitation on the number of apprentices that the Public Printer may employ at one time.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1983
Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1971, to state that any livestock buyer who purchases livestock in the ordinary course of business shall take the animals free of any security interest, even though such interest is perfected and even though such buyer knows of its existence.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) State regulatory commissions should carefully review requests for telephone rate increases; (2) the Federal Communications Commission should ascertain the impact on telephone rates of regulatory changes and judicial decisions and should furnish the House with an estimate of the number of people who would suffer an economic hardship or be forced to discontinue telephone service as a result of such changes and decisions; and (3) specified House committees should consider legislation that will assure affordable telephone service for all the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1983
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the changes in the Federal estate tax laws which were made by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 are vital to the continuation of the family farm and small business, and should not be repealed or amended.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1983
Rural Electrification and Telephone Revolving Fund Self-Sufficiency Act of 1983 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (REA) to eliminate the requirement for a State certificate of convenience and necessity before the Administrator may make loans to provide rural telephone service. Revises the liabilities and uses of the Rural Electrification and Telephone Revolving Fund established under the REA to provide that notes of the Administrator to the Secretary of the Treasury to obtain funds for loans shall be equity capital of the Fund. States that assets of the Fund shall be available only for: (1) payment of interest and principal on loans to the Administrator from the Secretary of the Treasury; and (2) for certificates of beneficial ownership issued to such Secretary or in the private market. Requires the Administrator to maintain two separate accounts within the fund: (1) the Electrification Account; and (2) the Telephone Account. Lists the items that shall be accounted for in each Account respectively, and restricts the purposes for which the assets of each Account shall be available. Authorizes the Administrator to repurchase specified certificates of beneficial ownership under certain conditions affecting their interest rates. Establishes guidelines for interest-bearing insured loans made by the Administrator to electric and telephone borrowers. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to request in each annual supplemental budget estimate the amount needed to replenish the Fund for anticipated and actual costs resulting from loans made at less than a specified rate during the preceding fiscal year. Directs the Administrator to guarantee loans to specified borrowers or to accommodate or subordinate liens or mortgages held in the Fund, according to prescribed rules and regulations. Directs the Administration to promulgate such rules and regulations within 90 days after the effective date of this Act. Prescribes guidelines under which certain lenders are authorized to adjust interest rates on loans guaranteed by the Administrator. Requires rural electrification borrowers to obtain concurrent supplemental financing according to prescribed guidelines in any fiscal year in which the minimum loan level for insured rural electrification loans is less than $1,000,000,000. Repeals the loan-making authority of the Governor of the Rural Telephone Bank which require approval by the Secretary of Agriculture of facilities or lines to be acquired with such loans. Eliminates loan restrictions placed upon potential borrowers whose net worth exceed their assets by twenty percent.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1983
Church Audit Procedures Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restrict the Secretary of the Treasury from investigating or auditing churches unless the Secretary possesses evidence causing him to believe that a church: (1) is carrying on an unrelated trade or business; or (2) should not be granted tax-exempt status. Restricts the Secretary from beginning any investigation unless he has first provided the church with written notice that an investigation is being commenced. Sets forth the requirements of such notice. Requires that the Secretary must first approve an application by the regional counsel of the internal revenue region for examination of church records and religious activities before beginning any such examination. Requires the Secretary, prior to the approval of any such application, to offer in writing an opportunity for a conference to discuss facts, evidence, and issues relevant to the investigation. Requires the Secretary to notify the church in writing of the approval of the application for examination at least 15 days prior to the commencement of such examination. Limits the examination of religious activities to that necessary to determine whether an organization is a church or convention or association of churches. Limits the examination of church records to that necessary to determine the amount of tax imposed. Allows an organization which claims that the Secretary has violated the provisions of this Act to bring a civil action for injunctive relief against the Secretary. Reduces the statute of limitations for collection after assessment of tax to three years in the case of any organization which is a church or convention or association of churches.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1983
Amends the Small Business Act to define "small agricultural cooperative," for purposes of eligibility for disaster loans under such Act, as an association: (1) acting pursuant to the Agriculture Marketing Act; (2) whose size does not exceed the size standard established for other agricultural small business concerns; and (3) whose board members or governing members each qualify as a small business concern.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1983
Establishes the Special Joint Committee on Arrangements to provide for the congressional commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Harry S. Truman. Declares it the duty of such committee to: (1) arrange a joint meeting of the Congress in commemoration of such anniversary; (2) plan proceedings for such joint meeting; and (3) coordinate activities with the Truman Centennial Committee. Enumerates the powers of such joint committee. Provides that the expenses of such joint committee may not exceed a specified amount and shall be paid from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1983
Fragile Lands Preservation Act of 1983 - Makes crops produced on highly erodible land (as defined by this Act) after 1983 ineligible for agricultural price supports, disaster payments, and storage facility loans. Exempts from such prohibitions production under an approved soil conservation system. Authorizes conservation incentive payments (in cash or in-kind) for land retired from commodity production for at least seven consecutive years.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a business expense income tax deduction for additions to a reserve established for the cost incurred by a regulated public utility in decommissioning (retiring) a nuclear powerplant. Limits the deduction to the amount which the regulatory body having ratemaking jurisdiction over the utility permits as addition to a reserve and which is included in its cost of service for ratemaking purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1983
Dairy Production Act of 1983 - Title I: Dairy Compliance Program - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982, to eliminate the 50-cent milk producer assessments. Sets milk support prices for FY 1984 and FY 1985 at $13.10 per hundredweight for those farmers producing at or below their 1981-1982 marketing history levels. Sets forth provisions for farmers with less than full, or no marketing history levels. Establishes a reduced dairy compliance price (of up to $12.00, resulting in a blend price of not less than $12.10 per hundredweight) for over production as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. States that the difference between the price support received and the reduced dairy compliance price shall be remitted to the Commodity Credit Corporation and credited to the Dairy Stabilization Settlement Fund to provided for a FY 1984 and FY 1985 paid diversion program. Requires farmers to present the Secretary with evidence of their 1981-1982 marketing history in order to participate in such diversion program, which may be adjusted to compensate for abnormally low production as a result of a disaster. Sets forth program provisions, including: (1) a $10 per hundredweight reduced production payment; (2) reductions as determined by the producer of between five and 30 percent of the base; (3) monthly partial payments; (4) limited transferability of a producer's marketing history; (5) penalties for failure to make the agreed reductions and remit the resultant funds, and for a knowing violation of a diversion contract; and (6) limited transferability of dairy cattle to other producers. Title II: Dairy Promotion Program - Requires the Secretary to publish (with notice and opportunity for public hearing) a proposed dairy research and promotion order within 30 days of receiving a request for such proposed order. Permits such proposal to be submitted by an individual or an organization certified under this Act. Makes such order effective 90 days after the public comment period. Authorizes the Secretary to amend such orders. Sets forth required terms of such orders, including the establishment of a National Dairy Promotion and Research Board made up of at least 36 milk producer members appointed by the Secretary. Sets forth organizational and operating provisions, including penalties for disclosure and other related violations of such orders. Funds such dairy promotion, research, and nutrition education program through a 15 cents per hundredweight assessment on commercially marketed milk. Permits a credit of up to ten cents per hundredweight for contributions to qualified State or regional dairy promotion or nutrition education programs. Requires an organization to be certified by the Secretary in order to represent milk producers. Authorizes the Secretary to develop such criteria, and makes the Secretary's eligibility decision final. Requires the Secretary, within the 60-day period preceding September 30, 1985, to conduct a producer referendum on such program's continuation (approval to be by a simple majority of those voting). States that after September 30, 1985, such referenda may be held when the Secretary deems appropriate, or when requested by ten percent of the affected producers. Reimburses the Secretary from assessments collected by the Board for related expenses. Permits cooperative association representation at such referenda, provided that the association notifies its members in advance and provides them an opportunity to vote as individuals. Provides petition and review in U.S. district court for a person subject to an order. Vests enforcement powers in U.S. district courts. Sets forth penalty provisions. Grants the Secretary investigative and related authority. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Effective Date - Makes this Act effective October 1, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1983
Equal Access Act - Prohibits public schools that allow students to participate in extracurricular activities from receiving Federal funds if they deny equal access or opportunity for students and faculty to engage in voluntary prayer or religious discussion on school premises during noninstructional periods.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are no greater than total receipts. Permits Congress in such statement to provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a three-fifths vote directed solely to that subject. Prohibits total receipts for any fiscal year set forth in such statement from increasing by a rate greater than the rate of increase in national income in the last calendar year ending before such fiscal year, unless Congress passes a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law. Permits Congress to waive the provisions of this Act with respect to any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt holdings in an independent local newspaper business from the tax on excess business holdings of private foundations. Defines an "independent local newspaper business" as: (1) a proprietorship which publishes an independent local newspaper; (2) a partnership which publishes such a newspaper and which has none of its outstanding partnership interests traded in an established securities market; and (3) a corporation which publishes such a newspaper and which has none of its outstanding capital stock traded in an established securities market.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1983
Amends the Interstate Commerce Act to revise the Federal rail transportation policy to allow competition among carriers to provide transportation services to establish rates. (Currently competition and the demand for services establish such rates.) Removes provisions which require the maintenance of reasonable rates where rail rates provide excessive revenues. Sets forth factors for the Interstate Commerce Commission to consider when determining the reasonableness of rail rates. Revises standards and procedures for establishing revenue levels for rail carriers. Requires the Commission to assist carriers in attaining such revenue levels, while recognizing the need to maintain reasonable rates where there is market dominance. Revises factors which determine whether or not a rail carrier establishing a challenged rate has market dominance over transportation. Directs the Commission, in determining the existence or absence of effective competition, to consider only transportation competition for the same commodity. Requires the Comptroller General to make appointments to the Railroad Accounting Principles Board within 120 days of enactment of this Act. Terminates the Board three years after its members have been appointed.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1983
Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the President in selecting the members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to appoint one member each to represent the respective interests of small businesses and agriculture.
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
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to specified congressional committees on the advisability of replacing only the Federal individual income tax or replacing both the Federal individual income tax and the Federal corporate income tax with a simplified income tax on gross income.