United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1981
National Health Care Reform Act of 1981 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish actuarial categories, including an aged and disabled actuarial category, of individuals eligible for Federal financial assistance toward the purchase of membership in a health care plan qualified under this Act (health care contributions). Sets forth the factors to be considered in establishing such categories. Requires the Secretary to delineate the United States into health care areas according to specified criteria. Title I: Health Care Contributions - Makes every individual who is a resident citizen of the United States or a lawful resident alien eligible for a health care contribution. Stipulates that dependents of eligible individuals are not eligible for health care contributions unless they are aged or disabled. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax exclusion of contributions paid by an eligible individual's employer toward the premium of such plan. Sets forth the conditions for such exclusion. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer a tax credit for the premium paid by such taxpayer during the taxable year for membership in such plan. Limits the tax credit to individuals eligible for such contribution. Specifies the maximum allowable credit for a taxable year. Sets forth additional limitations on such credit. Directs the Secretary to make a contribution to eligible disabled or elderly individuals who elect to receive such contribution in lieu of benefits under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare). Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register the amount of contributions for such individuals in each health care area. Sets forth the method for computing such contributions. Entitles an eligible individual whose family income is below specified guidelines to receive for the year in which a plan is effective (plan year) a direct health care contribution. Limits contributions to one eligible individual per family. Sets forth the conditions for receipt of such contribution. Entitles an eligible aged or disabled individual to such a contribution only if he or she has: (1) elected to receive such a contribution in lieu of Medicare benefits; and (2) waived any right for the aged or disabled for the plan year. Provides for the periodic transfer of funds from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under the Social Security Act to make payments for such contributions to aged or disabled individuals. Directs the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register the amount of contributions for the financially needy made for each health care area. Allows the Secretary to enter into a contract with any State under which the State will determine the eligibility for and the amount of a contribution for financially needy residents. Directs the Secretary to issue a health care voucher to eligible individuals in the amount of the contribution. Specifies the contents of such voucher and its date of issuance. Requires a plan to accept a voucher issued to an eligible individual as full or partial payment of the plan's annual premium. Requires the Secretary to make payments to a plan presenting such vouchers. Sets forth the terms for such payments. Prohibits the Secretary from withholding any portion of the health care payments to which a plan is entitled to offset any amount owed to the United States by the plan, an eligible individual, or any other person. Prohibits the Secretary from denying payment of an invalid voucher unless a plan has actual knowledge of such invalidity at the time of acceptance. Prohibits the assignment or attachment of a health care voucher. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude such health care voucher payments from gross income. Title II: Qualified Plans - Allows a plan to apply to the Secretary for certification as a qualified plan in one or more health care areas. Requires the Secretary to act upon such application (otherwise such application shall be deemed approved) within 30 days. Sets forth the factors to be considered in acting upon such application. Directs the Secretary to provide a plan with a written explanation and a hearing in the event of disapproval. Provides for the continued qualification of an approved plan until it is disqualified under this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from changing regulations for a plan year later than April 1 of the previous year unless all affected plans agree. Requires a plan to provide its members with basic health care services including: (1) medical, surgical, and obstetrical care; (2) inpatient, outpatient, and other institutional health services, plus home health or institutional services for aged or disabled individuals; (3) preventive health services; (4) prescription drugs; (5) blood; (6) emergency transportation; (7) medical equipment, including therapeutic devices and prosthetic applications; and (8) out-of-area coverage. Specifies exclusions from such required services. Requires a plan to provide a written membership agreement which sets forth the rights and obligations of the plan and its members. States that the term of each membership agreement shall be a plan year. Limits membership to eligible residents of the health care area in which a plan is located. Requires a plan to: (1) have an open membership enrollment, with specified exceptions including the number of medically high-risk individuals; (2) provide an individual with a written explanation if membership is denied; and (3) enroll a member's spouse or dependents as associate members, including the automatic enrollment of a new spouse or dependent. Requires each plan to establish an annual premium for each actuarial category. Sets a maximum individual cost per plan year for basic health services. Requires the Secretary to publish such maximum cost in the Federal Register. Allows group premium reductions. Requires a plan to permit: (1) monthly premium payments; and (2) premium transfers between qualifying plans. Entitles an aged or disabled individual who tenders a health care voucher which is greater than the premium to a refund or credit. Requires a plan to: (1) report annually to the Secretary with enrollment information; (2) submit to the Secretary any proposed coverage changes; and (3) provide financial information and make payments to the Health Benefits Assurance Corporation established under this Act. Requires a plan to file with the Secretary a brochure for a plan year describing: (1) the health care services to be provided; (2) the method by which such services will be provided; (3) the location of health care facilities; (4) the maximum amount of expenditures required of a member; (5) the health care area or areas in which the plan will be offered; (6) the premium charged for each actuarial category; and (7) the installments in which such premium may be paid. Directs the Secretary and the plan to make such brochures available to the public. Allows advertising of the health care plan. Directs the Secretary to bar the distribution of a misleading and inaccurate brochure or advertisement. Allows: (1) members of a plan to refuse services by a person designated by the plan to provide such service; and (2) health care personnel to refuse for moral reasons to provide certain services. Requires arbitration of specified grievances between an individual and a plan. Sets forth limitations on the authorities of the Secretary, the qualified plan, the plan's sponsor, and the deliverer of health care services. Requires the Secretary to disqualify a plan if any proposed changes will prevent such plan from providing basic health care services or will require excessive out-of-pocket expenditures. Allows the Secretary to: (1) disqualify a plan if the plan's sponsor has violated the antitrust provisions established by this Act; and (2) rescind such disqualification if the plan meets certain criteria. Prohibits treatment of a plan as a qualified plan after the U.S. Health Court appoints a receiver. Requires the Secretary to provide information about qualified plans and to help process applications for health care vouchers. Allows an eligible individual to authorize any person to act as his or her agent. Permits only a chartered health care contribution agent to serve as an authorized agent for more than 25 persons. Directs the Secretary to designate as chartered health care contribution agents persons who meet specified qualifications of honesty and expertise. Prohibits State payments under title III (Unemployment Compensation) and title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to any eligible person who is not a member of a qualified plan. Requires membership in a plan in order to qualify for supplemental security income and food stamp benefits. Exempts specified persons from such membership requirements. Grants standing to a plan to assert the rights of its members. Deems members to have assigned their rights to a claim in specified circumstances. Repeals the provisions of Federal law relating to Federal employee health insurance. Requires the Federal Government to contribute to the premium of a health plan on behalf of Federal employees. Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee an insurance policy of a qualified plan where similar insurance is not available at commercially reasonable rates. Establishes the Health Benefits Assurance Corporation to periodically review health plan applications for financial certification. Exempts the Corporation from all Federal, State, and local taxes. Sets forth the powers of the Corporation. Requires the Corporation to establish a protective fund to assure the provision of services by plans financially unable to meet their obligations. Establishes a revolving fund in the U.S. Treasury for the Corporation to use to carry out its duties. Authorizes the Corporation to issue debt obligations. Requires a plan to repay the Corporation if any amount of the protective fund is used to fulfill the obligations of such plan. Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse a plan for services furnished to a nonmember. Sets forth arbitration procedures. Provides for judicial review of any agency action by the Health Court. Establishes the Health Court. Sets forth the organization of such Court. Grants such Court exclusive jurisdiction over all civil actions brought to enforce this Act and all civil claims and disputes arising under this Act and under agreements by or with qualified plans. Directs the Court to appoint a receiver for a plan if the Court determines there is a strong possibility the plan will not be able to fulfill its obligations to its members. Prohibits the commencement, or requires the suspension, of any Federal or State bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding during any period for which a receiver has been appointed. Establishes a Health Court of Appeals with jurisdiction over appeals brought from the Health Court. Allows the Supreme Court to review cases in the Health Court of Appeals by writ of certiorari. Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of this Act or specified sections of the Internal Revenue Code. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and contracts to compensate public or private nonprofit charitable organizations for providing graduate medical education and training for health care professionals. Preempts specified State and local laws, including those which would prevent or impede the health care delivery system reforms of this Act. Revises the medical expense deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to exclude the separate deduction for medical insurance and to prohibit any deduction for premiums paid to qualified health care plans. Sets forth the method of determining the adjustment amount which States that have elected to accept health care contributions instead of Medicaid assistance owe the Federal government or which the Federal government owes such States. Repeals provisions of the Social Security Act concerning professional standards review, uniform reporting, capital expenditure limitations, hospital utilization and bylaws, and customary charges. Revises the reasonable cost definition of the Medicare provisions to be costs actually incurred. Repeals specified provisions of the Public Health Services Act concerning health maintenance organizations, health planning, and health resources development. Negates the duty of an institution to provide free care and to fulfill community service obligations if 50 percent or more of the patient days of such institution were accounted for by members of qualified plans. Title IV: Effective Dates and Nonseverability - Establishes the effective date of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from making a direct health care contribution to an individual who has not made a timely election to receive the health care contribution instead of Medicare benefits. Repeals the Medicare provisions after more than 50 percent of the eligible persons elect health care contributions. Requires a State to notify the Secretary by a certain date of its irrevocable election to accept health care contributions instead of Medicaid benefits. Deems such a State to have agreed to make any necessary adjustment payments. Deems the Act invalid, except the repeals and amendments of the Social Security and the Public Health Service Acts, if any portion of this Act is found to be invalid.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Anti-Inflation Tax Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require annual cost of living adjustments, based on the Consumer Price Index, to individual income tax rates, the personal tax exemption, withholding requirements, and minimum income tax return amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1980
Motor Vehicle Safety and Cost Savings Authorization Act of 1980 - Amends the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1980, 1981, and 1982 for traffic and motor vehicle safety. Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to authorize appropriations for: (1) automobile bumper standards; (2) consumer information studies; (3) diagnostic inspection demonstration projects; and (4) odometer requirements. Specifies that the impact test velocity used in the bumper standards shall be 2.5 miles per hour for longitudinal impact test procedures and 1.5 miles per hour for corner impact test procedures. Denies the Secretary of Transportation authority to establish any impact test velocity exceeding the aforementioned speeds before September 1, 1982. Directs the Secretary, within 18 months after the close of model year 1982, to promulgate a bumper standard in accordance with specified requirements. Directs the Secretary to submit to the President for transmittal to Congress an annual report regarding the progress made on carrying out this Act. Sets forth information to be included in such report. Authorizes the Secretary to exempt those classes of motor vehicles for which the Secretary finds that odometer readings have no meaningful relation to value or performance. Directs the Secretary to publish, together with the rule containing such exemption, the findings of fact which support the exemption and an analysis of the reasons for such exemption. Sets forth procedures for the notification, by the manufacturer by first class mail, of the most recent purchaser of a tire that has been determined to be unsafe or defective. Directs that public notice be made under certain circumstances. Prohibits the Secretary from establishing any rule that requires a tire dealer or distributor to compile records of tire sales. Directs the Secretary to require such dealers or distributors to furnish the first purchaser of a tire with a form that such purchaser may complete and return directly to the manufacturer. Specifies that, in determining a State's compliance with enforcement of the 55 miles-per-hour speed limit, a sampling technique rather than a monitoring of all vehicles would suffice. Directs the Secretary to amend the standard to require that affected automobile manufacturers install passive occupant restraints (airbags) in all passenger cars having wheel bases not greater than 100 inches in model year 1983 and in all passenger cars manufactured in model year 1984 and thereafter. Defines "affected manufacturers" as those that produced more than 1,600,000 passenger cars worldwide and sold more than 200,000 passenger cars in the United States in model year 1979. Directs that passive seatbelt assemblies installed in passenger cars beginning in model year 1983 shall be detachable by the user in a manner that does not impair the subsequent reattachment and performance of such assemblies. Exempts manufacturers from installing passive occupant restraint systems in certain passenger car models to be discontinued on or after December 31, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1980
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase to $24,000 in 1981 the amount of outside earnings which a beneficiary age 65 or over may have without a reduction of benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1980
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to increase from 100,000 to 300,000 barrels per day the average rate of increase in the amount of crude oil in storage in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1980
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Management Improvement Act of 1980 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to establish a nonprofit corporation, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Corporation, to exercise authority over the Reserve (currently exercised by the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Office). Requires the Corporation to have a Board of Directors. Applies specified provisions of the Department of Energy Organization Act to the Corporation, the Board, and its officers and employees. Directs the President of the Corporation to conduct a study and report to Congress on financing the acquisition of crude oil for storage in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve by methods other than directly purchasing crude oil with appropriated funds. Sets forth elements to be included in such study. Terminates all authority for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and any regulation issued pursuant to such authority on September 30, 2000. Repeals references to the Early Storage Reserve Plan. Declares that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Plan shall store a specified amount of crude oil by December 31, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1980
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to extend the date by which public water systems which have been granted an exemption from contaminant level and treatment technique requirements must meet such requirements. Provides an alternative procedure by which a State with an underground injection control program relating to oil or natural gas production or recovery may receive approval for obtaining primary enforcement responsibility for protecting its underground water sources. Authorizes a State to demonstrate that its underground injection control program meets the minimum requirements of State program regulations and will prevent underground injection which endangers drinking water sources, rather than file an application which meets the regulations established by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Authorizes a State which has made such a demonstration to make a similar demonstration with respect to any amended requirement of underground injection rather than file a notice that the State program meets the new requirement. Prohibits the application of requirements to determine whether a State retains primary enforcement responsibility if the State initially acquired the responsibility because of such a demonstration. Authorizes the Administrator to determine, after an opportunity for public hearing, that such a demonstration is no longer valid and to remove primary enforcement responsibility from the State. Permits a State which has primary enforcement responsibility to exempt a public water system from a contaminant level or treatment technique requirement if the system was not in operation at the time the requirement took effect and no reasonable alternative source of drinking water is available. Prohibits underground water source protection grants to any State which has not assumed primary enforcement responsibility within a specified time.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1980
Hazardous Waste Containment Act of 1980 - States that nothing in this Act shall apply to oil, or other, pollution of navigable waters. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize a State to submit to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency a plan which includes: (1) an investigation of inactive hazardous waste sites (any site or facility at which hazardous waste is, or has been, stored, treated, or disposed of); (2) an evaluation of any threat to public health and safety from such sites; (3) cleanup and containment priorities for such sites; (4) remedial measures for the release of hazardous waste from such sites; (5) the roles of the Federal, State, and local governments and other entities in implementing such plan; and (6) a program for the recovery from the liable parties of costs incurred in the cleanup and containment of such sites. Directs the Administrator to approve such plan, including any subsequent modifications, unless it fails to comply with this Act or it would not be cost-effective. Makes a State with an approved plan eligible for grants to implement such plan unless the Administrator determines that such State is not implementing such plan in good faith or has misapplied prior grants under this Act. Directs the Administrator to allocate such grants among eligible States on the basis of population and industrial production. Directs the Administrator to promulgate guidelines for making supplemental grants to eligible States. Requires that such grants be made only in emergency situations or to States which have a disproportionate number of inactive hazardous waste sites which pose substantial threats to public health or safety. Directs the Administrator to undertake a research program on hazardous waste management and provide training and technical assistance to States engaged in such management. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to State attorneys general to provide up to 50 percent of the costs of training and technical assistance for State employees engaged in recovering the costs of remedial actions taken by the State at inactive hazardous waste sites from the liable parties. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981-1985 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 August 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that aliens who engage in unlawful or disorderly activities in the United States should be promptly deported in accordance with provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 August 1980
Declares that the people of Poland should be allowed to settle their own affairs, including the formation of independent trade unions and the right to strike, without foreign interference.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1980
Capital Investment Incentive Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 60 percent to 70 percent the noncorporate capital gains deduction from gross income. Reduces from 28 percent to 21 percent the corporate alternative minimum tax rate on capital gains.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1980
Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act Amendments of 1980 - Amends the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963 to revise the definition of "farm labor contractor" to: (1) broaden specified exclusions from such definition (thus broadening certain exemptions from coverage under such Act); and (2) exclude from such definition (and such coverage) any nonprofit or cooperative association of farmers, growers, or ranchers, duly incorporated under appropriate State laws, and operated solely for the mutual benefit of the members thereof, and any full-time or regular employee of such association or cooperative who engages in such activity solely for such employer. Adds other definitions relating to such revisions. Revises the definition of "agricultural employment" to specify that listed activities take place on a farm or ranch. Limits the definition of "migrant worker" to mean (among individuals engaged in agricultural employment on a farm or ranch on a seasonal or temporary basis) only those who cannot regularly return to their domicile each day after working hours, or who are transported from and to their domicile each workday by the person who recruits, solicits, hires, or furnishes such worker for agricultural employment on a farm or ranch owned or operated by another person.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1980
Petroleum Displacement Act of 1980 - Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to repeal certain prohibitions and limitations on the use of natural gas as a primary energy source in electric powerplants. Repeals the authority of the Secretary of Energy to prohibit the use of petroleum or natural gas or both as a primary energy source in electric powerplants where coal or alternate fuel capability exists. Makes certain technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1980
Tax Rate Reduction Act of 1980 - Title I: Individual Tax Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce individual income tax rates for calendar years 1981 through 1985, and permanently thereafter. Title II: Inflation Adjustments for Taxable Years Beginning After 1985 - Requires annual cost of living adjustments to income levels in each income tax bracket, beginning in calendar year 1985. Requires similar cost of living adjustments to the $1,000 personal tax exemption. Increases the minimum income levels at which a taxpayer is required to file an income tax return by providing that such levels shall be equal to the taxpayer's income tax exemption and zero bracket amount, adjusted for inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. foreign policy should reflect a national strategy of peace through strength with specified principles and goals.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1980
Tax Reduction - Job Creation Act - Title I: Individual Tax Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce income tax rates for each category of individual taxpayers. Title II: Incentives for New Plant and Equipment - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the method for determining useful lives of business assets for purposes of computing allowable depreciation deductions. Replaces the asset depreciation range (ADR) method with a schedule of capital cost recovery periods for three classes of business property. Establishes capital cost recovery periods for the following classes of business property: (1) buildings and their structural components, ten years; (2) tangible property, five years; and (3) automobiles, taxis, and light-duty trucks (up to $100,000), three years. Allows a ten percent investment tax credit for buildings and tangible property, and a six percent credit for automobiles, taxis, and light duty trucks. Requires the recapture of depreciation amounts and investment tax credit amounts applicable to assets which are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of the capital cost recovery period. Permits taxpayers to deduct less than the full allowance for capital cost recovery in any taxable year. Permits a carryover to succeeding taxable years of any unused depreciation amounts. Disqualifies capital cost recovery property from the allowance for first year depreciation. Treats amounts claimed as the capital cost recovery of noncorporate lessors as an item of tax preference for purposes of the minimum tax. Adopts as an accounting practice the "half year convention" under which investments eligible for capital cost recovery treatment or the investment tax credit which are made at any time during the taxable year are deemed to be made in the middle of such year.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1980
Unlocking America's Energy Resources Act - Directs the President to order the removal of administrative restrictions not required by Federal law or court order which impede the leasing of energy resources on Federal lands or on the Outer Continental Shelf. Requires the President to institute policies which will give priority to the expeditious leasing and development and production of oil, natural gas, coal, oil shale, tar sands, and geothermal resources on Federal lands. Requires the President to submit to an advisory panel a list of restrictions required by Federal law or court order which impede the leasing of energy resources on Federal lands or on the Outer Continental Shelf. Directs the panel to review the restrictions submitted by the President and submit to Congress and the President a report on: (1) the reasonableness of such restrictions; and (2) appropriate legislative or administrative actions to reduce or eliminate impediments to the leasing of energy resources on Federal lands or the Outer Continental Shelf. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to order substantial lease sales, for private development only, within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Bars civil actions challenging any such lease sale which are brought more than 30 days after the date such lease sale is announced. Exempts any such lease sale from the environmental impact statement requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Requires the President to direct that leasing priority be given to areas of the Outer Continental Shelf that have the highest hydrocarbon potential and known hydrocarbon reserves. Sets forth the conditions for the issuance of Outer Continental Shelf leases by the Secretary of the Interior. Sets forth the requirements for the appointment by the President of members of the advisory panel.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1980
Urban Jobs and Enterprise Zone Act of 1980 - Title I: Designation of Private Jobs and Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of private jobs and enterprise zones, for a ten-year period, by local governments, or by State governments on behalf of local governments subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce, for purposes of extending the tax incentives provided by title II of this Act to employers and employees within designated zones. Specifies that the Secretary may only approve the designation of such zones if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the designating local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous; (3) the area has a population of at least 4,000, or is an Indian reservation; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires designating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's approval, to effect a permanent real property tax reduction in their respective jurisdictions, which is not less than 20 percent of the current effective rate. Requires any such property tax reduction to be disregarded for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a State or local government for Federal assistance or benefits. Expresses the sense of the Congress that in the case of any application for designation of an area in a private jobs and enterprise zone as a foreign trade zone: (1) the Foreign Trade Zone Board should expedite the application process; (2) the Board, in evaluating such application, should consider not only the current economic conditions within the zone, but also future development to be expected as a result of the incentives provided by this Act; and (3) the Board should provide technical assistance to the applicants. Title II: Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce social security payroll taxes in designated private jobs and enterprise zones. States that such tax rate reductions shall not affect an individual's eligibility for social security benefits. Appropriates to the Federal Disability and Hospital Insurance Trust Funds general revenue amounts equivalent to the amount by which such taxes are reduced. Reduces the rate of tax on the capital gains of individuals and corporations in such zones. Exempts gain from the sale or exchange of property used in a business in a private jobs and enterprise zone from the computation of the minimum tax. Reduces the rate of tax on the income of corporations whose workforce comprises at least 50 percent of individuals working in a private jobs and enterprise zone (qualifying businesses). Authorizes accelerated depreciation for qualifying businesses (straight line method based on a three year useful life). Limits the basis for depreciation to $500,000. Allows a full investment tax credit for such property despite election of such accelerated depreciation. Permits qualifying businesses to elect to use a cash method of accounting if their gross receipts do not exceed $1,500,000 in any prior taxable year. Allows a ten year carryover of net operating losses for qualifying businesses. Title III: Effective Date - Specifies effective dates for provisions of this Act which apply to income tax, provisions which apply to social security payroll taxes, and provisions which apply to tax procedure and administration.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1980
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to revise the eligibility requirements for adjustment assistance for workers to make workers eligible for such assistance if: (1) their firms' sales or production threaten to decrease absolutely; or (2) their firms provide essential parts or services to articles adversely affected by increased imports.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1980
Urges the President to negotiate with Japan concerning: (1) a temporary restraint in automobile exports to the United States; (2) an equitable relationship between domestic and foreign sales prices; and (3) trade barriers affecting U.S. products.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that deferred compensation plans shall not be deemed as not satisfying minimum vesting standards even if there is a reasonable likelihood that the accrual of benefits or forfeitures under such plans will tend to discriminate in favor of employees who are officers, shareholders, or highly compensated.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1980
National Health Care Reform Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish actuarial categories, including an aged and disabled actuarial category, of individuals eligible for Federal financial assistance toward the purchase of membership in a health care plan qualified under this Act (health care contributions). Sets forth the factors to be considered by the Secretary in establishing such categories. Requires the Secretary to delineate the United States into health care areas according to specified criteria. Title I: Health Care Contributions - Makes every individual who is: (1) a resident of the United States; and (2) a citizen of the United States or a lawful resident alien, eligible for a health care contribution. Stipulates that a person who is a dependent of an eligible individual is not eligible for a health care contribution. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to allow a tax exclusion of contributions paid by an eligible individual's employer toward the premium of a qualified health care plan. Sets forth the conditions for such exclusion. Establishes limits on the amount of the tax exclusion allowed to an eligible individual. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to allow a taxpayer a tax credit for the premium paid by such taxpayer during the taxable year for membership in a qualified health care plan. Limits the tax credit to individuals eligible for a health care contribution under this Act. Specifies the maximum allowable credit for a taxable year. Sets forth additional limitations on such credit. Directs the Secretary to make a direct health care contribution to each eligible individual who is aged or disabled and who elects to receive such contribution in lieu of any benefits under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare). Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register the amount of direct health care contributions for aged or disabled individuals made for each health care area. Sets forth the method for computing such contributions. Entitles an eligible individual, whose family income is below specified guidelines, to receive for the year in which a qualified health care plan is effective (plan year) a direct health care contribution. Limits entitlement to a direct health care contribution to one eligible individual per family. Sets forth the conditions for receipt of a direct health care contribution for the financially needy. Entitles an eligible aged or disabled individual to such a contribution only if such individual has: (1) elected to receive such a contribution in lieu of Medicare benefits; and (2) waived any right to a direct health care contribution for the aged or disabled for the plan year. Provides for the periodic transfer of funds from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under the Social Security Act to make payments for such health care contributions to aged or disabled individuals. Directs the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register the amount of direct health care contributions for the financially needy made for each health care area. Specifies the amounts of such health care contributions. Allows the Secretary to enter into a contract with any State under which the State will determine the eligibility for and the amount of a direct health care contribution for financially needy, State residents. Directs the Secretary to issue a health care voucher to eligible individuals in the amount of the direct health care contribution. Specifies the contents of such voucher and the date of issuance of such voucher. Requires a qualified health care plan to accept a voucher issued to an eligible individual as full or partial payment of the plan's premium for a plan year. Requires the Secretary to make payments to a qualified health care plan presenting such vouchers. Sets forth the terms for such payments. Prohibits the Secretary from withholding any portion of the health care payments to which a qualified health care plan is entitled to offset any amount owed to the United States by the plan, an eligible individual, or any other person. Prohibits the Secretary from denying payment of an invalid voucher unless a qualified health care plan had actual knowledge of such invalidity when it accepted such voucher. Prevents the assignment or attachment of a health care voucher by an individual. Title II: Qualified Plans - Allows a health care plan to apply to the Secretary for certification as a qualified plan in one or more health care areas. Requires the Secretary to act upon the application of a health care plan for qualification within 30 days after receipt of such application, otherwise such application shall be deemed approved. Sets forth the factors to be considered by the Secretary in acting upon each application. Directs the Secretary to provide a health care plan with a written explanation and a hearing in the event of disapproval of the plan's application. Provides for the continued qualification of an approved plan until it is disqualified under this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from changing regulations which affect qualified plans for a plan year later than April 1 of the previous year unless all qualified plans thereby affected agree to a later date. Requires a qualified plan to provide its members with basic health care services including: (1) medical, surgical, and obstetrical care; (2) inpatient, outpatient, and other institutional health services, plus home health or institutional services for aged or disabled individuals; (3) preventive health services; (4) prescription drugs incident to basic health care services; (5) blood; (6) emergency transportation; and (7) medical equipment, including therapeutic devices and prosthetic appliances. Specifies exclusions from the required basic health care services. Requires a qualified plan to provide a written membership agreement which sets forth the rights and obligations of the plan and its members. States that the term of each membership agreement shall be a plan year. Limits membership in a qualified plan to eligible residents of the health care area in which the qualified plan is located. Requires a qualified plan to have an open membership enrollment, with specified exceptions including the number of medically high-risk individuals. Directs a qualified plan to provide an individual with a written explanation if membership is denied. Sets forth the terms of the qualified plan enrollment periods. Requires a qualified plan which enrolls an eligible individual to enroll as associated members any spouse or dependents (other than aged or disabled individuals) who are named by the individual. Provides for the automatic enrollment of each person who becomes a spouse or dependent (other than aged or disabled individuals) of an enrolled member. Requires each qualified plan to establish for each plan year for each health care area in which it is located an annual premium for each actuarial category established by the Secretary under this Act. Sets a maximum permissible cost per plan year for basic health services for a member of a qualified plan. Requires the Secretary to publish such maximum cost in the Federal Register. Allows a premium reduction to reflect prepayment or administrative savings effected by group purchases. Requires a qualified plan to permit monthly premium payments by members. Provides that if a member prepays premiums to one qualified plan and then enrolls in a different qualified plan during the plan year, such prepaid premiums must be transferred to the latter plan for such member. Entitles an aged or disabled individual who tenders a health care voucher which is greater than the premium for such individual to a refund or credit. Requires a qualified plan to report annually to the Secretary with enrollment information for each health care area in which the plan is located. Requires a qualified plan to submit to the Secretary any proposed changes in coverage. Requires a qualified plan to provide financial information and make payments to the Health Benefits Assurance Corporation established under this Act. Requires a qualified plan to file with the Secretary a brochure for a plan year describing: (1) the health care services to be provided; (2) the method by which such services will be provided; (3) the location of health care facilities; (4) the maximum amount of expenditures required of a member; (5) the health care area or areas in which the plan will be offered; (6) the premium charged for each actuarial category; and (7) the installments in which such premium may be paid. Directs the Secretary and the qualified plan to make such brochures available to the public. Allows advertising of the health care plan based on such brochure. Directs the Secretary to bar the distribution of a misleading and inaccurate brochure or advertisement of a health care plan. Allows members of qualified plans to refuse services by a person designated by the plan to provide such service. Allows health care personnel to refuse for moral reasons to provide certain services. Requires arbitration of specified grievances between an individual and a qualified plan. Sets forth limitations on the authority of the Secretary, the authority of the qualified plan, the authority of the sponsor of a qualified plan, and the authority of a deliverer of health care services. Requires the Secretary to disqualify a plan if the Secretary determines that proposed changes in the plan will prevent the plan from providing basic health care services or will require excessive out-of-pocket expenditures. Allows the Secretary to disqualify a plan if the Secretary finds that the plan's sponsor has violated the antitrust provisions established by this Act. Sets the effective date of disqualification. Allows the Secretary to rescind such disqualification if the plan meets certain criteria. Prohibits treatment of a plan as a qualified plan after the U.S. Health Court appoints a receiver. Requires the Secretary to provide information about qualified plans and to help process applications for health care vouchers by preparing and distributing pamphlets and by working with other organizations. Allows an eligible individual to authorize any person to act as the individual's agent and to take any necessary action under this Act or as a member of a qualified plan. Permits only a chartered health care contribution agent to serve as an authorized agent for more than 25 persons. Directs the Secretary to designate as chartered health care contribution agents persons who meet specified qualifications of honesty and expertise. Prohibits State payments under title III (Unemployment Compensation) and title IV (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of the Social Security Act to any eligible person who is not a member of a qualified plan. Requires membership in a qualified plan in order to qualify for supplemental security income benefits and for food stamp benefits. Exempts specified persons from requirements of membership in a qualifying plan. Grants standing to a qualified plan to assert the rights of its members. Deems members to have assigned their rights to a claim to their qualified plan in specified circumstances. Repeals the provisions of Federal law relating to Federal employee health insurance. Requires the Federal Government to contribute to the premium of a health plan on behalf of Federal employees. Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee an insurance policy of a qualified plan in health care areas where similar insurance is not available at commercially reasonable rates. Establishes the Health Benefits Assurance Corporation to review health plan applications for financial certification. Exempts the Corporation from all Federal, State, and local taxes. Sets forth the powers of the Corporation. Directs the Corporation to review periodically the financial ability of such qualified plan to fulfill its obligations. Requires the Corporation to establish and finance a protective fund to assure the provision of health care services to members of qualified plans financially unable to meet their obligations. Establishes a revolving fund in the U.S. Treasury for the Corporation to use to carry out its duties with regard to the protective fund. Authorizes the Corporation to issue debt obligations. Requires a qualified plan to repay the Corporation if any amount of the protective fund is used to fulfill the obligations of such plan. Allows applications to be made to the Secretary for payment for basic health care services furnished to a non-member of a qualified plan. Requires a panel of three arbitrators to arbitrate a dispute between an individual and a plan involving $10,000 or more. Requires a single arbitrator in disputes involving less than $10,000. Sets forth the arbitration procedures. Provides for judicial review of any agency action by the Health Court. Prohibits judicial review of a determination that a plan is qualified. Establishes the Health Court. Sets forth the organization of such Court. Grants such Court exclusive jurisdiction over all civil actions brought to enforce this Act and all civil claims and disputes arising under this Act and under agreements by or with qualified plans. Directs the Court to appoint a receiver for a qualified plan if the Court determines there is a strong possibility the plan will not be able to fulfill its obligations to its members. Prohibits the commencement, or requires the suspension, of any Federal or State bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding during any period for which a receiver has been appointed. Establishes a Health Court of Appeals with jurisdiction over appeals brought from the Health Court. Allows the Supreme Court to review cases in the Health Court of Appeals by writ of certiorari. Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of this Act or specified sections of the Internal Revenue Code. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and contracts to compensate public or private nonprofit charitable organizations for providing graduate medical education and training for health care professionals. Preempts specified State and local laws, including those which would prevent or impede the health care delivery system reforms of this Act. Revises the medical expense deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to exclude the separate deduction for medical insurance and to prohibit any deduction for premiums paid to qualified health care plans. Sets forth the method of determining the adjustment amount which States, that have elected to accept health care contributions instead of Medicaid assistance, owe the Federal government or which the Federal government owes such States. Repeals provisions of the Social Security Act concerning professional standards review, uniform reporting, capital expenditure limitations, hospital utilization and bylaws, and customary charges. Revises the reasonable cost definition of the Medicare provisions to be costs actually incurred. Repeals specified provisions of the Public Health Services Act concerning health maintenance organizations, health planning, and health resources development. Negates the duty of an institution to provide free care and to fulfill community service obligations if 50 percent or more of the patient days of such institution were accounted for by members of qualified plans. Title IV: Effective Dates and Nonseverability - Establishes the effective date of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from making a direct health care contribution to an individual who has not made a timely election to receive the health care contribution instead of Medicare benefits. Repeals the Medicare provisions after more than 50 percent of the eligible persons elect health care contributions. Requires a State to notify the Secretary by a certain date of its irrevocable election to accept health care contributions instead of Medicaid benefits. Deems such a State to have agreed to make any necessary adjustment payments. Deems the Act invalid, except the repeals and amendments of the Social Security and the Public Health Service Acts, if any portion of this Act is found to be invalid.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1980
Extends the congratulations of the Congress to the Order of the Sons of Italy in America for their 75th anniversary. Proclaims Sunday, June 22, 1980, as "National Italian-American Day."
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1980
Fuel Use Regulatory Reform Act of 1980 - Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to require the Secretary of Energy to grant a permanent or a temporary exemption allowing a new electric power plant or a new major fuel-burning installation to use petroleum or natural gas as a primary energy source to petitioners who certify that the Federal, State or local environmental law prevents, either permanently or temporarily, compliance with prohibitions against such use of petroleum or natural gas. Directs the Secretary to grant a temporary or a permanent exemption to an existing electric powerplant or major fuel-burning installation if the petitioner certifies that Federal State or local environmental law prevents, either temporarily or permanently, compliance with prohibitions of such use of petroleum or natural gas at such plant or installation. Requires the Secretary to grant a permanent exemption for the use of natural gas or petroleum in a new major fuel-burning installation if petitioner certifies that the amount of such fuels to be used as a primary energy source in a fuel mixture will not exceed 25 percent. Directs the Secretary to base any finding that an existing installation has a coal or alternate fuel capability on a consideration of the installation's entire energy generating system. Requires the terms and conditions of any exemption to a new or existing facility to apply only to the unit for which the petition is filed. Permits the Secretary to require only information directly related to the unit for which an exemption under this Act is sought. Requires information obtained under this Act to be treated confidentially.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1980
Federal Lending Oversight and Control Act - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to provide a basis for controlling loans and loan guarantees under Federal credit programs through the congressional budget process. Title I: Amendments to Congressional Budget Act of 1974 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the first concurrent resolution on the budget for each fiscal year to set forth the appropriate level of total gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans and the appropriate level of total commitments to guarantee loans and to allocate such totals among the major functional categories of the budget. Directs each standing committee of the House and Senate to submit its estimates of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments provided for in legislation under its jurisdiction by March 15 of each year for consideration of the Budget Committee in formulating the budget resolution. Directs the House and Senate Banking Committees to submit recommendations to the Budget Committees for the aggregate levels of direct loans and loan guarantees in each fiscal year. Requires the joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on the concurrent resolution on the budget to include an estimated allocation of the total levels of direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments among the committees of the House and Senate. Directs the Committees on Appropriations to provide such an allocation among their subcommittees as soon as practicable after a budget resolution has been agreed to. Requires the House Committee on Appropriations, before reporting any regular appropriations bills, to submit a summary report to the House comparing the credit authority contained in such bills to the levels agreed to in the budget resolution. Requires any report accompanying legislation conferring new budget authority or increasing tax expenditures to include information on direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments. Establishes a deadline for the completion of action on legislation providing credit authority. Requires the second concurrent resolution on the budget in any fiscal year and the reconciliation process to take into account Federal obligations and commitments on loans and loan guarantees. Declares out of order any measure brought up for consideration in either House which would increase the level of loan obligations and guarantee commitments agreed to in the budget process. Requires any authority to guarantee the payment of any indebtedness to be contingent on provisions in appropriation Acts. Title II: Amendments to the Budget and Accounting Act - Amends the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921, to direct the President to include items relating to Federal loan obligations and guarantee commitments in the annual budget message to the Congress. Title III: Amendment to House Rules - Amends Rule X of the House of Representatives to make the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs or other designated committee responsible for reviewing and studying all laws, programs, and Government activities dealing with Federal credit activities. Requires all other House committees to refer any bill or resolution providing for Federal credit activities to such Committee for consideration of such activities before placing the bill or resolution on the appropriate calendar. Title IV: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective dates of the titles of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the windfall profit tax: (1) independent producer oil; and (2) royalty interests attributable to ownership of the property from which such oil is produced.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1980
Disapproves the proposed rule under the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 relating to incremental pricing of natural gas, a copy of which was transmitted to Congress on May 6, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1980
Urban Jobs and Enterprise Zone Act of 1980 - Title I: Designation of Private Jobs and Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of private jobs and enterprise zones by local governments, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce, for purposes of extending the tax incentives provided by title II of this Act to employers and employees within designated zones. Specifies that the Secretary may only approve the designation of such zones if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the designating local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous; (3) the area has a population of at least 4,000; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires designating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's approval, to effect a permanent real property tax reduction in their respective jurisdictions, which is not less than 20 percent of the current effective rate. Expresses the sense of the Congress that in the case of any application for designation of an area in a private jobs and enterprise zone as a foreign trade zone: (1) the Foreign-Trade Zone Board should expedite the application process; (2) the Board, in evaluating such application, should consider not only the current economic conditions within the zone, but also future development to be expected as a result of the incentives provided by this Act; and (3) the Board should provide technical assistance to the applicants. Title II: Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce social security payroll taxes in designated private jobs and enterprise zones. Reduces the rate of tax on the capital gains of individuals and corporations in such zones. Exempts gain from the sale or exchange of property used in a business in a private jobs and enterprise zone from the computation of the minimum tax. Reduces the rate of tax on the income of corporations whose workforce comprises at least 50 percent of individuals working in a private jobs and enterprise zone (qualifying businesses). Authorizes accelerated depreciation for qualifying businesses (straight line method based on a three year useful life). Limits the basis for depreciation to $500,000. Permits qualifying businesses to elect to use a cash method of accounting if their gross receipts do not exceed $1,500,000 in any prior taxable year. Allows a ten year carryover of net operating losses for qualifying businesses. Title III: Effective Dates - Specifies effective dates for provisions of this Act which apply to income tax and for provisions which apply to social security payroll taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1980
Amends the Black Bass Act to make unlawful the catching, killing, taking, sale, purchase, possession, or transportation of any protected fish species, as such term is defined in this Act, in the Great Lakes State of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin other than for direct personal or family consumption or for sporting purposes. Authorizes any such State, any time later than one year after enactment of this Act, to designate any protected fish species as available for commercial fishing within the Great Lakes waters within its jurisdiction. Declares that this Act does not preclude a State from regulating the taking of protected fish species for direct personal or family consumption or for sport for purposes of conserving that species.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt a certain portion of royalty owner oil production from the windfall profit tax. Limits the amount so exempted per quarter to ten barrels per day. Requires proportionate allocation of any production in excess of ten barrels per day between tier 1 oil, tier 2, and tier 3 oil, and within any tier on the basis of removal prices. Requires allocation of the ten barrel amount among royalty owners who are members of the same related group.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1980
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (formerly, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare) to conduct a clinical investigation of the safety and efficacy of dimethyl sulfoxide as a drug to be used by persons with arthritis.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1980
Proclaims October 19, 1981, a national day of celebration as the two hundredth anniversary of the victory of General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1980
Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from promulgating any Federal emergency energy conservation plan or other rule or regulation which would restrict or discriminate against recreational boating.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1980
Amends rule XIII and rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish a special calendar to be known as the Budget Calendar, to which shall be referred all bills and joint resolutions of a public character which are reported from committees and which, if considered immediately, would be in violation of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Requires such calendar to set forth: (1) the number and title of such bill or joint resolution, and the date or dates on which it was reported from committee and referred to the appropriate calendar; (2) the particular provisions or requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 which such bill or joint resolution violates; (3) the number of the resolution containing such waiver and the number of the accompanying report, if a waiver of any provision or requirement of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been reported by the Committee on Rules; and (4) a tabulation of the progress of congressional action on bills and resolutions providing new budget authority or changing revenues or the public debt limit for a fiscal year. Stipulates that such tabulation shall be based on a determination of estimates of budget outlays and revenues made by the Committee on the Budget and the most recent periodic report provided by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. Requires the Committee on Rules, whenever it reports a resolution waiving one or more provisions or requirements of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, to include in its report or in an accompanying statement a brief explanation as to why such waiver is necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. foreign policy should reflect a national strategy of peace through strength with specified principles and goals.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1980
Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to prohibit the President from taking action, pursuant to the President's authority to adjust the imports of articles which threaten national security, to impose import fees on petroleum and petroleum products imported into the United States without specific authorization from Congress, effective March 1, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1980
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to reduce the value of the allotment received by a household containing members who have available to them meals provided under the national school lunch program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1980
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require annual rather than biannual adjustments in the cost of the thrifty food plan and the standard deduction under the food stamp program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1980
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the first concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 1981 reported by the Committee on the Budget shall limit budget outlays to 21 percent of the gross national product.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1980
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to include any loan, payment, or gift made for the purpose of participating or intervening in a political campaign for certain offices within the definition of a "contribution or expenditure" by a national bank, a corporation, or a labor organization for purposes of such Act and the Public Utility Holding Company Act. Allows a corporation or labor organization to establish and administer a separate contributory fund for political purposes provided that all contributions for or to the fund are made voluntarily and are unrelated to any fees required for membership or employment in such organization or corporation. Prohibits the payment of any costs of establishing or administering the fund from moneys obtained in any commercial transaction.
![Official portrait of Rep. Stockman, David A. [R-MI-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000935_200.jpg)