United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1984
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1984 - Title I: Public Water Systems - Amends the Safe Drinking Water (the Act) to revise provisions for national primary drinking water regulations. Provides that, effective on the date of enactment of this Act, each national interim primary drinking water regulation promulgated before such date shall be deemed to be a national primary drinking water regulation. Provides that no such regulation shall be required to comply with specified standards under this Act unless such regulation is amended to establish a different maximum contaminant level after the date of enactment of such amendments. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), within specified time periods for certain contaminants, to: (1) simultaneously propose maximum contaminant level goals and national primary drinking water regulations; and (2) after opportunity for public comment, simultaneously publish maximum contaminant level goals and promulgate national water regulations. Directs the Administrator to do so: (1) within 18 months after the enactment date of this Act, for the 14 contaminants listed in the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in a specified issue of the Federal Register; and (2) within 36 months after such enactment date, for each of the contaminats listed in the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in a specified later issue of the Federal Register. Requires the Administrator, if such goals and regulations for a particular contaminant are not to be proposed and published by such deadlines, to make and publish a determination in the Federal Register that such a regulation is not necessary because the levels of such contaminant currently found in public water systems do not represent a threat of a known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons. Directs the Administrator to publish maximum contaminant level goals and simultaneously promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for each substance (other than those contaminants referred to in the previous paragraph) which, in the Administrator's judgment, may have an adverse effect on the health of persons. Requires the Administrator on January 1, 1988, and at annual intervals thereafter, to publish a list establishing priorities for the review of substances which may require regulation under the Act to prevent known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons. Requires the Administrator's consideration, in establishing such priorities, to include substances regulated as toxic water pollutants under the Clean Water Act and substances registered as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Directs the Administrator, within three years of each contaminant's being listed on such priority list, to either: (1) simultaneously publish a maximum contaminant level goal and promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation; or (2) make and publish a determination in the Federal Register that such a regulation is not necessary for such contaminant because its levels in public water systems do not represent a threat of a known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons. Requires that each maximum contaminant level goal established under this Act be set at the level which, in the Administrator's judgment, no known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons occur and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Requires that each national primary drinking water regulation for a contaminant for which such a goal is established specify a maximum level which is as close to the goal as is feasible. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation that requires the use of a treatment technique in lieu of establishing a maximum contaminant level, upon a finding of overriding economic and technological constraints on monitoring. Requires the Administrator, in such case, to identify those treatment techniques which, in the Administrator's judgment, would prevent known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons to the extent feasible. Requires that such regulations specify each treatment technique known to the Administrator which meets such requirements, but authorizes the Administrator to grant a variance from any such specified treatment technique. Requires that the specified regulatory deadlines for certain contaminants be complied with in the promulgation of any such treatment technique use requirement for any such contaminant. Directs the Administrator to propose and promulgate regulations requiring: (1) filtration as a treatment technique for all public water systems supplied by surface raw water sources; and (2) disinfection as a treatment technique for all public water systems. Authorizes the Administrator to grant variances from these requirements. Authorizes the Administrator, after opportunity for public comment, to change maximum contaminant level goals or the list of treatment techniques. Requires the Administrator, simultaneously with such change, to amend the national primary drinking water regulations concerned accordingly. Defines "feasible," for purposes of the establishment of maximum contaminant levels or treatment technique requirements. Directs the Administrator to provide the Science Advisory Board an opportunity to comment prior to proposal of a maximum contaiminant level goal and national primary drinking water regulation. Adds provisions for monitoring unregulated contaminants. Authorizes the Administrator to take into consideration the size of a public water system and the contaminants likely to be found in its drinking water in requiring a system to monitor for unregulated contaminants. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to promulgate regulations for every public water system to conduct a monitoring program for unregulated contaminants. Provides that such regulations shall: (1) require monitoring of drinking water supplied by the system; and (2) vary the frequency and schedule of monitoring requirements for systems based on the number of persons served and the contaminants likely to be found, but requires each system to monitor surface sources and representative supply wells at least once within five years after the effective date of the Administrator's regulations. Requires such regulations to list the unregulated contaminants which the systems may be required to monitor, but allows each State with primary enforcement authority to add or delete contaminants for individual systems on the basis of approved assessments. Requires each such State to submit to the Administrator an assessment which shall be treated as approved on the date 30 days after its submission, unless disapproved by the Administrator within such 30-day period. Requires that notification of the availability of the results of such monitoring (or of monitoring by a system which is given a waiver) be given to the persons served by the system and the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to waive the monitoring requirements for a system which has conducted a monitoring program after January 1, 1983, upon determination that the program has been consistent with regulations promulgated under specified provisions for records and inspections. Provides that any system supplying less than 150 service connections shall be treated as complying with such monitoring requirements if such system supplies appropriate water samples to the Administrator. Directs the Administrator to arrange for analysis of such samples. Revises provisions for enforcement of national primary drinking water regulations. Directs the Administrator to notify the public water system involved, as well as the State, in cases of noncompliance with regulations under the Act. Directs the Administrator, if the State has not commenced appropriate enforcement action within 30 days of the notification of noncompliance, or if the State does not have primary enforcement responsibility, to either: (1) issue an order requiring the public water system to comply with the regulation or requirement; or (2) commence a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court to require such compliance. Sets forth provisions for compliance orders by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to issue such orders in any case in which the Administrator is authorized to bring a civil action for compliance with respect to any regulation under the Act. Provides for notice and opportunity for public hearing, and an opportunity to confer with the Administrator for any State with primary enforcement responsibility, before such an order takes effect. Requires that copies of any such order issued to a corporation be issued to appropriate corporate officers. Sets forth civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day for violation of such orders. Authorizes the Administrator to assess such penalties of up to $5,000 per day, but requires that such penalties above $5,000 per day be assessed by the appropriate U.S. district court. Directs the Administrator, within 12 months after the enactment date of this Act, to amend regulations relating to public notification of such violations of regulations to provide for different types and frequencies of notice based on differences between intermittent or infrequent violations and those which are continuous or frequent, and taking into account the seriousness of any potential adverse health effects. Requires that notice for violations designated by the Administrator as continuous or posing a serious potential adverse health effect: (1) be given no less frequently than every three months; and (2) include notice in a newspaper of general circulation serving the area served by the public water system (as determined by the Administrator). Provides that the regulations in effect on the enactment date of this Act shall remain in effect until such amendments are promulgated. Revises provisions for variances. Provides that a variance may only be issued to a public water system after a system's application of the best technology, treatment techniques, or other means, which the Administrator finds are available (taking cost into consideration). Directs the Administrator to propose and promulgate such findings at the time of proposal and promulgation of the maximum contaminant levels involved. Allows such finding to vary depending on the number of persons served by the system or for other physical conditions related to engineering feasibility and costs of compliance. Requires a State to prescribe a schedule for compliance and implementation of any additional control measures at the same time it grants a variance. (Current law gives the State one year to prescribe such schedule after granting a variance.) Revises provisions for exemptions. Requires a State to prescribe a schedule for compliance and implementation of control measures at the same time it grants an exemption. (Current law gives the State one year to prescribe such schedule after granting an exemption.) Requires that such schedules require compliance by the public water system with each contaminant level and treatment technique requirement with respect to which the exemption was granted as expeditiously as practicable but not later than: (1) 12 months after the enactment date of this Act, in the case of exemptions granted with respect to such a level or requirement prescribed by the national primary drinking water regulations promulgated before such enactment date; and (2) 12 months after the issuance date of the exemption, in the case of exemptions from such regulations promulgated after such enactment date. Authorizes States with primary enforcement responsibility, or the Administrator in any other case, of such compliance deadlines for a period not to exceed three years after the issuance date of the exemption, if the public water system establishes that it: (1) cannot meet the standard without capital improvements which cannot be completed within the exemption period; (2) has entered into an agreement to obtain necessary financial assistance for necessary improvements; or (3) has entered into an enforceable agreement to become a part of a regional public water system. Allows one or more additional two-year period renewals of such extensions of exemptions granted under specified provisions in the case of any system which does not serve more than 500 service connections, which needs financial assistance for the necessary improvements, and which establishes that it is taking all practicable steps to meet the standard. Adds new provisions relating to tampering with public water systems. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for such tampering and for attempts or threats to tamper. Adds new technical assistance provisions. Authorizes the Administrator to provide technical assistance to small public water systems to enable such systems to achieve and maintain compliance with national drinking water regulations. Permits such assistance to include "circuit-rider" programs, training, and preliminary engineering studies. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989 for such technical assistance. Title II: Protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water - Revises provisions for protection of underground sources of drinking water. Adds new provisions for restrictions on underground injection of hazardous waste. Prohibits disposal of any hazardous waste by underground injection above or into a formation which contains (within one-quarter mile of the injection well bore) a drinking water source. Authorizes the Administrator to allow injection of contaminated ground water into the aquifer from which it was withdrawn, upon determination (pursuant to specified approved procedures) that such injection is an appropriate and environmentally acceptable aspect of a cleanup, removal, or remedial action for the contaminated aquifer. Adds new provisions relating to the regulation of State programs. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to revise regulations issued under the Act to require monitoring of underground injection wells so as to provide the earliest possible detection of fluid migration into or towards an underground source of drinking water. Directs the Administrator, in cooperation with the States, to compile an inventory of all wells in the United States which inject hazardous wastes. Requires that such inventory be made available to the public within nine months after the enactment of this Act. Requires that the inventory include such information as the Administrator deems necessary to define the scope and nature of hazardous waste disposal in the United States through underground injection. Revises provisions for enforcement of State underground injection control programs. Directs the Administrator, if the State has not commenced appropriate enforcement action within 30 days of the notification of a violation by any person subject to a requirement of an applicable underground injection control program, or if the State does not have primary enforcement responsibility, to either: (1) issue an order requiring the person to comply with such requirement; or (2) commence a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court to require such compliance. Declares that such court has the jurisdiction to require such compliance with any requirement of an applicable underground injection program. Raises from $5,000 to $25,000 the amount of the civil penalty which may be imposed by such court for each day of such a violation. Shortens to 30 days (currently 60 days) the period after notification which must expire before imposition of such civil penalty may begin. Sets forth provisions for compliance orders by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to also issue such orders in any case in which the Administrator is authorized to bring a civil action for compliance with respect to any requirement of an applicable underground injection program. Provides for notice and opportunity for public hearing, and an opportunity to confer with the Administrator for any State with primary enforcement responsibility, before such an order takes effect. Requires that copies of any such order issued to a corporation be issued to appropriate corporate officers. Sets forth civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day of violation of such orders. Authorizes the Administrator to assess such penalties of up to $5,000 per day of violation, but requires that such penalties above $5,000 per day be assessed by the appropriate U.S. district court. Adds new provisions for State plans to protect underground sources of drinking water. Requires each State, after notice and opportunity for public hearing and within 30 months after the enactment of this Act, to adopt and submit to the Administrator a State plan to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination that may adversely affect the health of persons. Sets forth requirements for such plans. Sets forth procedures for approval of such plans. Prohibits any State from exercising primary enforcement responsibility for a State underground injection control program if that State has not complied with specified requirements for approval or if any portion of the plan has not been approved or treated as approved by the Administrator before the expiration of specified periods. Requires, in States where oil or natural gas exploration occurs, that such State plan, consistent with underground injection requirements, protect underground sources of drinking water from brine contamination which may adversely affect public health and which is associated with the recovery of oil or natural gas. Allows any State to provide special protections under such plan for any areas designated under specified provisions for interim regulation of underground injections. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to such States to implement such special protections. Directs the Administrator, within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, to establish criteria for areas to be so designated and eligible for such special protections. Requires such criteria to include aquifer use , vulnerability, water quality, and unavailability of alternative supplies of drinking water. Requires that such area designations made before the enactment of this Act be reviewed and reevaluated in accordance with such criteria. Title III: General Provisions - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989 for the following programs under the Act: (1) research, technical assistance, information, and personnel training; (2) grants for State programs for supervision of public water systems; and (3) grants for State programs for underground water source protection. Provides that any need certifications or orders issued under provisions for assurances of availability of adequate supplies of water treatment chemicals shall remain in effect for up to one year. Directs the Administrator, upon the application of any State, to make grants to the State for 50 percent of the costs incurred by such State (as determined by the Administrator) in developing and implementing a State plan to protect underground sources of drinking water. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose for FY 1986 through 1989. Reserves ten percent of such funds for grants to States for implementation of special protections for designated areas. Repeals specified provisions for grants to public water systems which are required under State law to meet drinking water turbidity standards more stringent than those in effect under the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1984
Establishes the National Commission on Federal Budget Deficit Reductions to review all relevant elements of fiscal and monetary policy. Requires particular emphasis to be given to the causes of cyclical and structural Federal budget deficits and the impact which growing structural Federal deficits have on employment, capital formation, and the vigor and viability of economic growth in the United States. Requires the Commission to: (1) identify problems which may hinder the control and reduction of Federal budget deficits; and (2) analyze all potential options which would result in deficit reductions and place the Government on a sound financial basis. Requires the Commission to report to the President and Congress by January 15, 1985, detailed findings, conclusions, and recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of such report.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1984
Repeals the Service Contract Act of 1965. Provides that any provision of law requiring the payment of wages and benefits at rates determined by reference to determinations of the Secretary of Labor under such Act shall cease to be effective on the enactment date of this Act. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect rights and duties under contracts entered into prior to such enactment date.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1984
Replacement Motor Fuels Act of 1984 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to promote the development and use in the United States of replacement fuels produced in the United States. Requires the program to be designed to promote the replacement of gasoline as a motor fuel with a motor fuel containing the maximum percentage of replacement fuel as is economically and technically feasible. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with heads of appropriate agencies and departments, to determine: (1) the most suitable raw materials for the production in the United States of replacement fuels; (2) the nature of the replacement motor fuel distribution systems and certain production processes necessary for the rapid development of a replacement motor fuel industry in the United States; (3) the technical and economic feasibility of including liquids extracted from oil shale and coal as part of the replacement fuels program; and (4) the technical and economic feasibility of producing in the United States by 1997 sufficient replacement fuels to replace 20 percent of the projected consumption of gasoline for 1997. Directs the Secretary to prescribe a substitute percentage goal if 20 percent is inappropriate. Directs the Secretary to establish production goals for the optimal production of replacement fuel in the United States in each of the calendar years 1986 through 1992. Sets forth factors the Secretary shall take into account in establishing such goals. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on such goals within 180 days of enactment of this Act. Requires that a specified minimum percentage of the total quantity of gasoline and replacement fuel sold in commerce during any year by any refiner must be replacement fuel produced in the United States. Sets forth penalties for violation of such minimum percentage. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for preparing the development and production goals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1984
Reaffirms that it is U.S. policy to oppose the practice of torture by foreign governments through the implementation of laws and through public and private diplomacy. Requests the President to: (1) instruct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to continue to raise the issue of torture by such governments; and (2) continue to involve the U.S. Government in the formulation of international standards, particularly the draft Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Requests the Secretary of State to issue specified formal instructions to each U.S. mission chief regarding U.S. policy with respect to such torture. States that the Secretary of Commerce should continue to enforce the current restrictions on the export of crime control equipment pursuant to the Export Administration Act of 1979. Directs the heads of U.S. departments that furnish military and law enforcement training to foreign personnel to include in such training instruction regarding international human rights standards with respect to torture.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $40,000 (currently $20,000 per calendar quarter) the threshold amount of wages which must be paid in a calendar quarter before agricultural employers are required to pay unemployment tax with respect to every person employed. Exempts all full time students from agricultural unemployment taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1984
Synthetic Fuels Reform and Budget Reduction Act - Provides that, except as provided below, all funds in the Energy Security Reserve shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall not be available for obligation with respect to synthetic fuels projects. Sets aside $500,000,000 of the funds in the Reserve to be made available to the Secretary of Energy to carry out a five-year program for the advanced research and development of coal utilization technologies. Provides that $2,500,000,000 which shall be available for obligations by the United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation in accordance with this Act and with the Energy Security Act, plus the funds necessary to meet obligations with respect to binding commitments entered into before enactment of this Act and still in effect, shall be retained in the Reserve. Requires the Corporation to submit for congressional approval a proposed comprehensive strategy to achieve the national synthetic production goal established under the United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation Act of 1980. Requires that such strategy be submitted within a specified time period. Requires that such strategy include a financial or investment prospectus justifying the proposed obligation of amounts retained in the Reserve for synthetic fuels projects. Permits such obligations only after the proposed strategy has been approved by joint resolution. Amends the United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation Act of 1980 to provide that the Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Government in the Sunshine Act, and Federal law relating to disclosure of confidential information shall apply to the Corporation as if it were a Federal agency. Requires the Board of Directors of the Corporation to fix the compensation of Corporation officers and other employee categories in accordance with the Executive Schedule and the General Schedule. (Under current law, the Board must take the Executive and General Schedules into consideration in fixing such compensation.) Requires the Board of Directors, the Secretary of Energy, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to agree on a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a program for monitoring and accumulating data with respect to the technical performance, environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and economic viability of projects funded by the Corporation. Provides that contracts for financial assistance shall require the financial assistance recipient to develop a plan ensuring full cooperation with such program. Changes the date on which the Corporation shall terminate from September 30, 1997, to June 30, 1987. Provides that the liquidation of the Corporation and the winding up of its affairs shall be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Energy, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency jointly in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding agreed to by them if the Board of Directors of the Corporation has not completed the termination of the Corporation's affairs and its liquidation by the termination date. (Under current law, such duties are to be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury only.)
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1984
Designates the week beginning February 17, 1985, as a time to recognize the contributions of volunteers who give their time to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters to youths in need of adult companionship.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1984
Criminal Fine Enforcement Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code in regard to the collection and payment of fines and penalties. Provides that a judgment may direct imprisonment until a fine or penalty is paid if the court finds that the defendant has the present ability to pay such fine or penalty. States that a judgment imposing the payment of a fine or penalty is a lien in favor of the United States and it applies to all property of the defendant other than property exempt from levy under the Internal Revenue Code. States that payment of a fine is due immediately unless the court requires payment by installment or by any date certain. Allows the Attorney General to make payment due immediately upon the default of any installment payment. Requires the defendant to pay interest at a rate of 1.5 percent per month on any amount of a fine or penalty that is past due (plus an extra 25 percent if the delinquency extends beyond 90 days). Allows the Attorney General and the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to provide by regulation that fines for specified categories of offenses be paid to the clerk of the court. Provides that if the fine is imposed on an organization, payments are authorized from the assets of the organization; but if the fine is imposed on a director, officer, employee, or agent of the organization, payment shall not be authorized from organization assets unless expressly permitted by State law. Requires a defendant to pay a fine made a condition of probation even after the probation's end. Provides penalties for criminal default on a fine. Lists factors that the court must consider in determining whether to impose a fine, including: (1) the ability of the defendant to pay; (2) the burden that payment will impose on the defendant; and (3) any restitution or reparation made by the defendant. States that if a defendant has the obligation to make restitution to a victim of the offense, the court shall impose a fine only to the extent that such fine will not impair the ability of the defendant to make restitution. Increases the maximum fine levels for certain felonies, misdemeanors, and offenses which result in pecuniary gain. Provides a procedure for establishing security if a fine is stayed. Conditions parole upon a diligent effort to pay a fine. Increases the fine for the commission of a misdemeanor to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1984
Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to define "armor piercing ammunition." Excludes from the definition: (1) shot gun shot required by Federal or State regulations for hunting; (2) frangible projectiles for target shooting; and (3) projectiles that the Secretary of Treasury determines are primarily intended for sporting purposes. Makes it unlawful for any person to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition. Allows for: (1) the manufacture or importation of armor piercing ammunition for the use of the United States or any State or local government; and (2) manufacture for the sole purpose of exportation. Establishes a licensing fee of $1,000 per year for manufacturers and importers of armor piercing ammunition. Imposes an additional mandatory sentence of not less than five years for any person who uses or carries a firearm and is in possession of armor piercing ammunition during the commission of a violent felony. Provides that such sentence shall not be suspended nor probation nor parole granted.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1984
Strategic Petroleum Corporation Charter Act - Amends the Energy and Conservation Act to establish within the Department of Energy the Strategic Petroleum Corporation for the purpose of creating another means of obtaining reserves of petroleum. Provides that the Corporation shall be administered by a Board of Directors. Directs the Corporation to seek to increase exports to a foreign nation, when such nation is adversely affected by financial problems which make it difficult for such nation or importers within such nation to make payment for U.S. exports, through arrangements whereby such nation or importers within such nation can provide petroleum as security to assure payment for such U.S. exports. Permits the Corporation to accept petroleum as security, and to issue a negotiable warehouse receipt for such security, which is provided to ensure repayment of financing provided or guaranteed by the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Central Bank for Cooperatives, the Export-Import Bank, or any private financing institution with respect to the export of products and commodities produced in the United States. Requires the petroleum to be stored in the United States. Requires the Corporation to provide that, as part of any agreement entered into under this Act, the Federal Government shall have: (1) in the event a severe energy supply interruption is declared by the President, the right to purchase any petroleum used as security at the average refiner acquisition cost for crude oil in effect 30 days before the date of the applicable declaration; (2) the right of first refusal to purchase the petroleum at the sale price agreed to between a third party and the borrower or his successor or other holder of interest if the sale of the security is negotiated while it is in such storage, or the right to purchase the petroleum at the current market price if the material is to be removed from storage; and (3) such other rights as the Corporation may prescribe by rule. Provides that any such petroleum purchased by the Federal Government shall become part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Provides that the Corporation shall have the powers conferred on a nonprofit corporation under the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act. Provides that the Secretary of Energy shall be the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and that the other directors shall consist of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Secretary of the Treasury. States that nothing in this Act shall limit the barter authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation under the Commodity Credit Corporation Act. Requires the Corporation to report annually to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1984
Sunshine Resolution of 1984 - Amends Rule XXVIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that, after the approval of any matter, House conferees shall be entitled to three days in which to file supplemental, minority, or additional views. Establishes Rule LI which requires the Speaker of the House to provide for printing of the floor schedule in the Congressional Record at least two legislative days in advance. Amends Rule XXVII to require the printing in the Record of the names of Members who have signed, or withdrawn a signature to, a motion to discharge a committee from consideration of a bill or resolution, whenever 100 Members have signed such a motion. Amends Rule I to require the broadcasting system to include frequent, wide-angle visual coverage of the chamber when the House is in session. Amends Rule X to provide for the compilation of an oversight agenda resolution. Requires the House to complete action on such resolution within 100 days after the Congress convenes. Amends Rule XI to prohibit proxy voting in committees. Establishes Rule LII which requires the body of the Congressional Record for the House to contain an accurate and verbatim account of remarks actually delivered on the floor. Limits extension and revision of remarks delivered on the floor to the correction of grammatical and typographical errors. Authorizes Members, by unanimous consent, to make insertions of remarks not actually delivered on the floor and requires such insertions to be clearly distinguished from verbatim remarks. Amends Rule X to require committee ratios to reflect the majority to minority party ratio in the House.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1984
American Passbook Savings Act of 1984 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $5,000 ($10,000 for joint returns) of the interest earned on a passbook savings account.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Reagan administration and succeeding administrations: (1) stress to China the importance the American people attach to religious freedom; and (2) urge the Chinese Government to release from prison five Roman Catholic priests and persons of various faiths who are being held because of religious activities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1984
Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to delete "sources of radiation" from the definition of "food additive". Defines "food irradiation treatment" as a food process. Applies specified food additive regulatory provisions to food irradiation treatments. Declares it to be the express intent of Congress to require national uniformity in the regulation of food irradiation treatment. Prohibits States or their political subdivisions from establishing food irradiation requirements different from, or in addition to, Federal requirements. Authorizes permanent appropriations to carry out the byproducts beneficial uses portion of the Department of Energy (DOE) defense nuclear waste management program. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to state that DOE may lease at fair market rates nuclear byproduct material for commercial food irradiation purposes. Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Joint Operating Commission for Food Irradiation Treatment. Includes within such Commission's functions: (1) research and information exchange coordination; (2) encouragement of private enterprise in the development of food irradiation treatment; and (3) an annual report to Congress. Authorizes permanent appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1984
Arms Race Moratorium Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should immediately communicate to the Soviet Union the willingness of the United States to enter into a mutual United States - Soviet Union moratorium on the flight testing and deployment of new ballistic missiles and anti-satellite weapons and the testing of nuclear warheads. Prohibits spending or obligating any U.S. funds for the flight testing or deployment of new ballistic missiles, the flight testing against objects in space or the deployment of anti-satellite weapons, or the testing of nuclear warheads if, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the President has not made such a communication with the Soviet Union and, within such period, the Soviet Union communicates to the President that at the end of the 90 days the Soviet Union will observe a mutual United States - Soviet Union moratorium on such testing and deployment. Authorizes U.S. funding for such testing and deployment if, after the beginning of the moratorium, the President certifies to Congress that the Soviet Union has conducted a test or deployed a missile or anti-satellite weapon or tested a nuclear warhead inconsistent with the moratorium. Requires the President, as part of such certification, to submit to Congress an unclassified report summarizing the basis for the certification and a classified report describing in detail the basis for the certification. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress: (1) on the progress in negotiating nuclear arms control agreements with the Soviet Union; (2) on whether the President believes that continuation of the moratorium is in the best national security interests of the United States. Authorizes Congress, if the President states that continuation of the moratorium is not in the best national security interests of the United States, to enact a joint resolution which terminates the moratorium and permits funds, to be used for testing and deployment.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Public Broadcasting Amendments Act of 1984 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 through 1987 to be used by the Secretary of Commerce to assist in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities. Repeals a provision that requires 75 percent of the funds appropriated for such purposes in a fiscal year to be available to extend delivery of public telecommunications services to areas not receiving such services. Authorizes appropriations, to match up to a specified amount of non-Federal contributions to public broadcasting entities, for the Public Broadcasting Fund for FY 1987 through 1989. Repeals provisions requiring a public telecommunications entity to refund to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting an amount of Federal funds equal to the amount of any unrelated business income tax paid by such entity.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which emcompass specified products or methods for using a product, including methods of manufacturing which primarily use recombinant DNA technology, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a five 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: (1) any new animal drug or antibiotic subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (2) any veterinary biological product subject to regulation under the virus, serum, toxin, and analogous products provisions of the Act of March 4, 1913; (3) any pesticide subject to regulation under the Federal Insectide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should express to the Soviet Union the U.S. disapproval of the Soviet Union's: (1) systematic nondelivery of U.S. mail addressed to persons in the Soviet Union; and (2) violation of specified treaties governing international mail. States that at the meeting of the Congress of the Universal Postal Union in Hamburg, Germany, U.S. representatives should; (1) bring such violations to the attention of the Union; (2) request that an investigation of such violations be conducted by the Union; and (3) consider possible sanctions against the Soviet Union for such violations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Civil Rights Act of 1984 - Amends the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination by any recipient of Federal financial assistance. (Currently, discrimination is prohibited only in a program or activity receiving Federal assistance.) Defines the term "recipient" to extend comprehensive coverage for purposes of the four Acts to any State or local governmental unit, any public or private agency or entity, and any subunit, successor, assignee, or transfereee of any such unit, agency, or entity.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1984
Telecommunications Employees' Protection Act of 1984 - Extends the agreement providing for the reciprocal recognition of employees' service credit by entities subject to the modified judgment of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in the case of the United States v. Western Electric, et alia, to cover certain employees who change employment between such entities on or after January 1, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1984
Progressive COLA Act of 1984 - Limits the percentage of any automatic cost of living adjustment (COLA) that an individual may receive under certain Federal entitlement programs based on the ratio of that individual's benefits to the program's maximum rate of benefits, whenever such ratio exceeds 40 percent. Prescribes a formula for determining each individual's allowable COLA. Defines a covered entitlement program to exclude any assistance program based on need and to include: (1) the Civil Service Retirement and Disability System; (2) the retirement pay system for the uniformed services; (3) the retirement salary system for U.S. justices and judges; (4) the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program; (5) the railroad retirement program; and (6) the Federal workers' compensation programs. Requires the President to issue and maintain a comprehensive list of all covered entitlement programs.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1984
Family Farm Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an established farmer who sells farmland to an eligible beginning farmer an income tax credit equal to the difference between the market price of the farmland and the farm value price of the land. Limits the maximum amount of the tax credit to $300,000. Permits a carryback and carryforward for any portion of the tax credit not used in the taxable year. Imposes an additional tax on the beginning farmer who acquires farmland for which the tax credit was allowed where the farmland is either disposed of or ceases to be family farm property within ten years of the original sale. Specifies rules for determining when property ceases to be considered a family farm, and for calculating the amount of the additional tax. Provides that the total amount of tax deductions for farming operations allowed for an individual or corporate taxpayer cannot exceed an amount equal to the gross income earned from farming plus non-farm income up to a maximum of $15,000. Requires the $15,000 limit to be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount by which the adjusted non-farm income exceeds $15,000.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1984
Agricultural Producers Antitrust Access Act - Amends the Clayton Act to provide that no person shall be barred from commencing an antitrust action to recover damage resulting from any underpayment received on the sale of cattle, hogs, sheep, grains, or soybeans because such person is not a direct seller to the defendant, provided that such person possessed the livestock or grain for at least 21 days prior to sale. Prohibits such person from recovering any amount of such an underpayment that has been passed on to other persons who are entitled to recover damages themselves.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1984
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives to urge the various House committees to apply an across-the-board budget-freeze approach to their formulation of the FY 1985 budget.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Want Not, Waste Not Act - Directs an executive agency to print copies of its reports for distribution to only those Members of Congress requesting the reports. Directs an agency: (1) at least 60 days before publishing a report, to notify each Member of his or her right to receive the report; and (2) to use the number of requests from Members as a publication guide.
![Official portrait of Rep. Tauke, Thomas Joseph [R-IA-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000053_200.jpg)