United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Capital Cost Recovery Act of 1981 - 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. Permits calculation of the investment tax credit for such property without regard to the useful life of the property. 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 a taxpayer 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 · 22 January 1981
Congressional Pay Reform Act of 1981 - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to specify that pay adjustments for Members of Congress shall become effective on the March 1 following the beginning of the next Congress after the Congress during which such adjustment was approved. Conditions such adjustment on the adoption of a concurrent resolution by each House of Congress. Requires a recorded vote on such resolution to reflect the vote of each Member. Prohibits any congressional employee from being paid at a rate in excess of the rate payable for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives. Requires the President to transmit to the Congress, within a specified time period, recommendations with respect to the rates of pay of Members of Congress, legislative, and judicial employees. Prohibits the House of Representatives and the Senate from considering any bill or joint resolution carrying an appropriation for compensation of Members of Congress for any fiscal year if such bill or joint resolution carries an appropriation or a limitation on appropriations for any other purpose.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Biennial Budgeting Act of 1981 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish a two-year cycle for the congressional budget process. Requires each standing committee of Congress to review the laws and programs under its jurisdiction every other year and to consider the desirability of new legislation in such areas. Requires separate consideration for authorizing legislation, budget resolutions, and appropriation bills.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1981
Expresses the appreciation of the American people for the efforts of the Algerian Government to secure the safe and peaceful release of the Americans held hostage in Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1981
Family Enterprise Estate and Gift Tax Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the unified credit against the estate and gift taxes from $47,000 to $155,800 by specified annual increments through 1985. Increases from $175,000 to $500,000, by specified annual increments through 1985, the minimum gross estate requirement for filing of a return. Repeals the existing limitations on the marital deduction for gift and estate taxes. Increases from $3,000 to $6,000 the annual gift tax exclusion. Qualifies estates of decedents who were disabled or retired for the special valuation of certain farms based on use if such decedents materially participated in the operation of the farm for five out of eight years preceding the year in which they became disabled or eligible for disability benefits, under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Permits the spouse of a decedent to use such valuation if the spouse has managed the farm or business for ten years preceding the decedent's death or takes over active management upon the decedent's death. Qualifies the owner of a woodland for the special use valuation if the owner or a member of the owner's family actively managed the property for ten years prior to the owner's death. Reduces from 15 to ten years the length of time a qualified property must be held and put to a qualified use following the decedent's death before it can be disposed of without incurring a recapture of estate tax benefits. Permits active management rather than material participation as a test for qualification of the estate for spouses, children under 21, students, and disabled individuals who receive property from a decedent who qualified for special use valuation. Repeals the $500,000 limitation on the reduction of the value of qualified real property permitted by the special use valuation. Allows the like kind exchange of property without loss of special use valuation eligibility. Allows valuation based on net crop share rentals as an alternative method of valuing farms. Repeals the requirement that an heir elect special treatment for involuntary conversions of qualified real property, thus making such treatment automatic upon such conversion. States that gifts made within three years of a decedent's death shall be valued as of the time of transfer rather than as of the date of death. Authorizes an individual to elect to pay a gift tax rather than use the unified tax credit. Modifies the alternate extension of time for payment of the estate tax where the estate consists largely of an interest in a closely held business to: (1) allow an installment payment election if the value of the interest in the closely held business is either 35 percent of the value of the gross estate or 50 percent of the taxable estate; (2) increase to 50 percent the value of an interest disposed of which will accelerate the payment of tax; and (3) permit payment, but with a penalty, of an installment within six months after the due date. Allows a disclaimer of an interest in property for estate tax purposes in specified circumstances where such disclaimer does not result in the passing of the interest concerned under the applicable State law.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $20,000 to $75,000 in 1981 (with annual adjustments up to $95,000 in 1985 and thereafter) the earned income exclusion for U.S. citizens working abroad who are bona fide residents of a foreign country. Repeals the requirement that, as a condition of their employment, such individuals reside in a hardship area. Reduces from 17 to 11 months the residency requirement for such exclusion. Provides for an income tax exclusion for the value of employer-provided lodging in a camp in cases where satisfactory housing is not generally available. Reduces from 17 to 11 months the foreign residency requirement with respect to the deduction for certain housing expenses of living abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow preference visas to be given to an alien who: (1) requests such treatment; (2) was born after 1950 in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, or Thailand; (3) was fathered by an American serviceman; and (4) provides a guarantee of financial support. Stipulates that such guarantee must: (1) be signed by a citizen or lawful permanent resident who is at least 21 years old; and (2) provide that such signing sponsor will provide necessary financial support for five years. Allows the Attorney General to enforce such guarantee against the sponsor in a civil suit unless such sponsor dies or is adjudicated bankrupt.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 1981
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that any individual who would be fully insured at age 62 may qualify for disability insurance benefits if such individual has 40 quarters of coverage, regardless of when such quarters were earned. Provides such coverage requirement as an alternative to the requirement that an individual have 20 quarters of coverage during the 40-quarter period immediately preceding his or her disability.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard mileage rate used in computing the charitable deduction for expenses incurred in the operation of a motor vehicle shall be the same as the standard mileage rate for the business related deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 70 percent to 50 percent the maximum rate of income tax for individuals. Requires separate computation of personal service income and nonpersonal service (unearned) income, applying each category to the lowest tax rates initially. Prohibits separate computations in the case of any taxpayer with more than $10,000 in tax preference items.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1981
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to add a new title (Title XI: Regulatory Budget Procedure) to require Congress, on or before September 15 of each year, to complete action on a concurrent resolution establishing a regulatory budget for each Federal agency that sets the maximum costs of compliance with all rules and regulations declared by the agency. Directs the President to establish a Business Advisory Council to include representatives of each major industrial and commercial sector, and each geographic region, to provide such information, advice and consultation as required to develop and carry out regulatory costs analysis procedures. Directs the President, in consultation with the Council, to formulate the criteria for determining the costs of compliance with Federal rules and regulations. Requires the head of each agency, using such criteria, to conduct a study of the costs of compliance with rules and regulations set forth by the agency and to submit such reports to the President, Congress, and the Comptroller General. Directs the Comptroller General to review such agency reports and to submit findings to Congress. Requires the President to include regulatory budget recommendations in the Budget to Congress. Directs Congress to utilize such findings and recommendations in developing the regulatory budget for each agency. Requires Congressional committee reports on bills or resolutions to contain a statement of the estimate of the costs of compliance with agency rules or regulations to carry out the provisions of such bill or resolution. Sets forth the rules for consideration of any bill, resolution, or amendment that would cause the level of costs of compliance for any agency to exceed the maximum costs of compliance as established in the regulatory budget for the agency.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income a corporate stock distribution to a stockholder based upon the reinvestment of stock dividends in the corporation by such stockholder pursuant to his election to participate in a qualified dividend reinvestment plan, as defined in this Act. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $1,500 per year. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a distribution made by a corporation which purchases its common stock within one year of such distribution shall not be deemed a distribution pursuant to a qualified dividend reinvestment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Limitation on Government Recordkeeping Requirements and Actions Act of 1981 - Prohibits any Federal agency from: (1) requiring any person to maintain, prepare, or produce records (other than records relating to a dangerous material) of an event more than four years after the event has occurred; and (2) commencing an action against a person for a violation of a regulation more than four years after such violation has occurred, except as otherwise provided by the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers who do not itemize income tax deductions to claim a deduction from gross income for charitable contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Child Care Agency Tax Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the windfall profit tax oil produced from interests held by or for a residential child care agency. Defines such an agency as a tax-exempt charitable organization operated primarily for the residential placement, care, or treatment of delinquent, dependent, neglected, or handicapped children.
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 · 5 January 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow married individuals filing jointly an income tax deduction from gross income equal to ten percent of the earned income of the lower income spouse (or of one spouse if both incomes are the same). Limits the amount of such deduction to $2,000 for the taxable year. Denies such deduction if one spouse has earned income amounting to less than 20 percent of the combined income of both spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Requires that each State establish and maintain an approved workfare program as a condition of its eligibility for Federal payments or other assistance under the: (1) program of aid to families with dependent children under the Social Security Act; (2) food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977; and (3) public housing and assisted housing programs under the United States Housing Act of 1937. Requires that such State workfare program shall require every State resident applying for or receiving aid under such Federal public assistance program to perform work in return for, and as a condition for, such aid. Directs the appropriate Federal agencies to promulgate guidelines for approval, supervision, and oversight of such State workfare programs. Exempts from required participation in such programs those who are: (1) under age 18 or over age 65; (2) disabled; (3) regularly employed for at least 40 hours a week; or (4) primarily responsible for the care of a child less than three years old (or for the care of a child more than two but less than six years old if suitable child care is not available at reasonable cost). Requires that each State workfare program must provide that if any individual who is required to participate in such program refuses to accept a bona fide offer of qualified employment or to perform qualified employment, in any month, neither such individual nor any other person in the family or household of which such individual is a member shall be eligible to receive any aid under such Federal public assistance programs for that month. Requires that State workfare programs include provision for job counseling, assistance in obtaining employment outside the program, and job search activities. Provides for: (1) Federal matching funds to cover administrative costs of such State programs; (2) Federal cut-offs of funds to State agencies for failure to comply with this Act; and (3) Federal agency reports to Congress on such State programs. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1970 to revise and increase the mandatory penalties for using or carrying a firearm during commission of a Federal felony. Defines such offense as using a firearm to commit a felony over which the district courts have exclusive jurisdiction or carrying a firearm during such a felony involving violence. Deletes the requirement that the firearm be carried "illegally." Increases the additional penalty imposed for such offense from one to ten years' imprisonment to five to ten years' imprisonment for a first offender and from two to 25 years to ten years to life imprisonment for a second or subsequent offender. Extends to first offenders the directions, currently applicable only to second offenders, that the court not suspend any sentence or grant probation and that the additional sentence not run concurrently with any term of imprisonment imposed for the offense itself. Makes a first offender ineligible for parole for five years and a second or subsequent offender ineligible for ten years. Expresses the sense of Congress that the executive prosecute vigorously such offenses.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Includes as creditable service for purposes of determining the amount of an individual's civil service annuity payment, any military service performed by that individual after December, 1956, regardless of that individual's eligibility for Social Security benefits for such military service.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Establishes a Commission on More Effective Government to study and recommend ways of promoting economy, efficiency, and improved service within the Executive branch of Government. Directs the Commission to recommend methods to improve the relationship between Federal, State, and local governments. Directs the Commission to submit a final report to the Congress ten days after the Ninety-eighth Congress convenes. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such date. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Congress would consider military action by the Soviet Union against Poland a serious breach of international peace; (2) in the event of such action, the President, in conjunction with the leaders of Japan, Australia, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, should immediately discontinue all credit lines and severely curtail trade and economic relations with the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1980
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the right to life vests from the moment of fertilization without regard to age, health, or condition of dependency.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Postal Service should not increase the number of digits of the zip code until: (1) the Service and the Congress have fully examined the costs, social consequences, and technical issues associated with such action; and (2) the Service has fully examined other means of improving productivity in the sorting of mail.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1980
Public Right to Comment Act - Allows any person to participate in the rulemaking of a Federal agency by submitting written data, views, or arguments, within not less than 30 days after the publication in the Federal Register of general notice of the proposed rulemaking. Provides that any persons making a submission shall not become a party to the rulemaking. Requires such submissions to be maintained in a separate portion of the public record of the rulemaking.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for certain expenses incurred in the rental of a dwelling unit as a residence to a member of the taxpayer's family.
United States · United States Congress · 28 August 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $500,000 to $1,000,000, by specified annual increments from 1980 through 1984, adjusted for inflation, the aggregate decrease in the value of qualified real property taken into account for purposes of the special valuation of certain farms and other property for application of the estate tax. Requires annual adjustments for inflation in such maximum after 1984, according to a specified formula.
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 · 30 July 1980
Gasohol Competition Act of 1980 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit the direct or indirect restriction by any person engaged in commerce on the use of credit instruments in any transaction concerning the sale, resale, or transfer of gasohol or other synthetic motor fuel of equivalent usability where there is no similar restriction on transactions concerning conventional motor fuel. Allows such person to impose a credit fee for such sale or transfer, provided such fee does not exceed the actual costs of extending the credit. Prohibits any other condition, restriction, agreement, or understanding which otherwise discriminates against or unreasonably limits the sale, resale, or transfer of gasohol or other synthetic motor fuel of equivalent usability. Provides that nothing in this Act: (1) precludes such person from requiring labeling of pumps dispensing gasohol or synthetic fuel to indicate that such fuels are not manufactured, distributed, or sold by such person; (2) precludes such person from issuing disclaimers of product liability for damage resulting from the use of such fuels; (3) requires such person to provide advertising for such fuels; or (4) requires such person to furnish additional pumps or facilities for the sale of such fuels.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should request the International Red Cross to: (1) make regular visits to the hostages held in Iran and report back to Congress with its findings; and (2) urge its member countries to solicit Iranian cooperation in such visits.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1980
Directs the President to furnish the House of Representatives with information concerning White House and Justice Department actions with regard to Billy Carter's involvement with Libya.
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
Urges the President to negotiate with Japan to obtain a commitment from Japanese automobile manufacturers to increase U.S. production of automobiles in proportion to increases in U.S. sales in return for open access to the U.S. auto market.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide homebuilders with an income tax credit for the construction of residences which incorporate a passive solar energy system. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretaries of Energy and Housing and Urban Development, to prescribe regulations setting forth a solar construction credit table for purposes of determining the amount of the credit for which the incorporator of the solar energy system is eligible. Limits the dollar amount of such credit to $2,000 for calendar years prior to 1986 and phases out the amount of the credit by $500 decrements until 1989 when such credit terminates. Defines "passive solar energy system" as a system which contains a solar collection area, an absorber, a storage mass, a heat distribution method, and heat regulation devices. Requires such system to be installed in a new residence after September 30, 1980 and before January 1, 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1980
Presidential Nomination Commission Resolution - Establishes the Commission on Presidential Nominations to make an investigation regarding the presidential nominating process. Directs the Commission to report to the President and Congress respecting such investigation, including recommendations for the 1984 presidential elections. States that the Commission shall cease to exist 60 days after submitting such report. Sets forth the powers of such Commission and related administrative provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the present level of the trade deficit with Japan is intolerable and threatens the future of trade between our nations. Urges Japan to cooperate in correcting such deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1980
Small Business Direct Expensing Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer to elect to treat expenditures paid or incurred by him during the taxable year (not to exceed an aggregate of $10,000, or $5,000 in the case of a married person filing a separate return) for depreciable tangible property as expenses not chargeable to capital account (thus deductible as current business expenses). Limits such treatment to property purchased after December 31, 1980, for use in a trade or business. Disqualifies property acquired from a related person or another component member of the same controlled group of companies.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1980
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to halt immediately implementation of those regulations relating to clinical laboratory personnel published October 12, 1979, and published as corrected October 23, 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that accruals of benefits or forfeitures in a tax- qualified deferred compensation plan, which would otherwise be deemed discriminatory against certain classes of employees, will not be considered to have taken place if: (1) the total present values of such nonforfeitable benefits attributable to employee-officers or shareholders is less than the total present values of nonforfeitable benefits of all other employees; (2) employee-officers or shareholders having nonforfeitable benefits constitute a reasonable cross section of plan participants; or (3) the deferred compensation plan provides that an employee who has completed at least four years of service has a nonforfeitable right to a specified percentage of the accrued benefit derived from employer contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1980
Trade Procedures Simplification Act of 1980 - Requires the Attorney General, in consultation with other Federal agency heads, to determine whether: (1) U.S. business conduct and arrangements in various countries to expand exports conflict with basic antitrust principles; and (2) a more liberal enforcement policy for overseas activities would impede implementation of the antitrust laws. Directs the Attorney General to identify conduct and arrangements associated with particular types of export sales which the Attorney General determines would not warrant prosecution under the antitrust laws. Sets forth the procedures for describing such permissible conduct and disclosing such descriptions. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to intervene in such suits and to provide legal assistance to exporters. Prohibits prosecution under the antitrust laws of exporters who: (1) have notified the Attorney General of their intention to engage in such designated permissible conduct; or (2) receive an approval, or no objection, from the Attorney General concerning proposed transactions. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress concerning implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1980
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to impose certain limitations on the value of honorariums which may be accepted by an employee of a Member or committee of the House of Representatives. Prohibits such employees from having outside earned income in excess of 15 percent of their aggregate pay during a calendar year. Sets forth a procedure to determine violations of provisions of this Act for individuals employed less than a complete calendar year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1980
Commission on the International Application of the United States Antitrust Laws Act - Establishes a Commission on the International Application of the United States Antitrust Laws. Charges such Commission with examining the international aspects of United States antitrust laws and related statutes, court rules and administrative procedures, and with making recommendations to the President and to the Congress on the results of such study. Directs the President to appoint the 18 member Commission from the executive branch, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the private sector. Sets forth the organization and compensation of members and the powers of the Commission. Excludes such Commission from the application of the Freedom of Information Act. Requires that any formal recommendation made by the Commission to the President and to the Congress must have the majority vote of the Commission as present and voting. Requires the Commission to submit its final report within one year after its first meeting. Terminates the Commission 60 days after it submits the report to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations as may be necessary to carry out the activities of the Commission.
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 · 4 June 1980
Authorizes the President to present a gold-plated medal, on behalf of the Congress, to those athletes selected through the Olympic trial process to be members of the United States Summer Olympic Team of 1980. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to cause to be stricken 650 such medals with suitable emblems. Declares that such medals are national medals and that funds to carry out this Act shall be made available under the Amateur Sports Act of 1978.
![Official portrait of Rep. Tauke, Thomas Joseph [R-IA-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000053_200.jpg)