United States · United States Congress · 13 June 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 · 31 May 1984
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to apply a uniform duty rate on imported bicycles and bicycle parts, tires, and tubes. Provides that such duty rate shall not apply to the existing suspension of duty on other specified bicycle parts.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Constitution provides that all citizens have the right to keep and bear arms and that such right supersedes the power and authority of any government.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1984
Amends Rule 14 of the Inland Navigational Rules (enacted by the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 and relating to head-on situations) to declare that certain downbound vessels on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or other specified waters shall: (1) have the right-of-way over upbound vessels; (2) propose the manner of passage; and (3) initiate the maneuvering signals.
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 · 15 May 1984
Amends the Panama Canal Act of 1979 to require that the part of the receipts of the Panama Canal Commission that covers interest on the U.S. investment in the Panama Canal shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State should establish a clearinghouse, to work in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to provide information on missing children within the State. Declares that each clearinghouse should: (1) provide a centralized file for statewide exchange of information; (2) cooperate with State law enforcement agencies; (3) work as a liaison between public and private organizations; (4) provide a toll-free in- State telephone line to allow persons to report missing children; (5) provide a directory of State resources; (6) publish monthly bulletins; (7) distribute emergency flyers; and (8) train individuals in the operation of the clearinghouse.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Amends the Natural Gas Act to provide that an authorization for the importation of natural gas produced outside of the United States shall not be in the public interest for any period unless adequate volumes of domestically produced natural gas are not available at a price below that of the imported gas.
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 · 24 April 1984
Designates the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge and the Barnegat National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey collectively as the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1984
Authorizes the President to: (1) enter into a trade agreement with Israel providing for the continuance of existing duty-free treatment of and the elimination of existing duties and other import restrictions on products of Israel; and (2) proclaim such continuances and modifications of tariff treatment of and import restrictions on such articles as necessary to carry out the trade agreement.
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 · 3 April 1984
Designates the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge and the Barnegat National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey collectively as the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1984
Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit certain credit transactions for the acquisition of securities of United States corporations by either United States or non-United States persons where such a transaction is financed by either United States or non-United States lenders if such a transaction is or would be prohibited if it had been made or the transaction had otherwise occurred in a lender's office or other place of business in a State. Permits the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to exempt any class of persons from the application of such regulation. Sets forth the private right of action for violations of such margin requirements. Applies the provisions of this Act to any purchase or carrying of securities which occurs on or after March 27, 1984, if the loan or extension of credit involved originated, or if the loan proceeds used were disbursed, on or after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1984
Satellite Television Viewing Rights Act of 1984 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize any person to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or lease equipment for use in receiving satellite television programming, and to receive satellite programming which is not encrypted, without obligation to any person. Allows any person to receive encrypted programming decoded for private viewing upon compliance with rates, terms, and conditions established by agreement or by the Federal Communications Commission. Prohibits any person from manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or leasing equipment intended for the unauthorized reception and decoding of encrypted programming by persons not complying with such requirements. Prohibits any producer or distributor of encrypted programming from requiring a person to purchase or lease decoding equipment from a specific source in order to receive such programming. Prohibits any owner of such programming from restricting the availability of such programming for private viewing, except as provided under this Act. Authorizes the Commission to establish rates, terms, and conditions governing a person's rights to view encrypted programming on the petition of such person if such person is not subject to an agreement or order covering such programming. Authorizes any person who is a party to such an agreement to file the agreement with the Commission. Provides that such agreement shall be placed upon public notice and shall be deemed certified as binding upon the class of persons identified therein unless, within 30 days, a person files an objection alleging that he or she would be directly and adversely affected by certification of such agreement. Sets forth criteria to be considered by the Commission in determining whether such agreement should be certified. Authorizes the Commission, upon the expiration of such an agreement and upon petition by a person subject to such agreement, to issue interim orders necessary to preserve the viewing rights of the persons or class previously subject to such agreement. Authorizes any person subject to such an agreement to commence a civil action in U.S. district court seeking specific performance, actual damages, or such other relief as may be necessary to insure compliance with such agreement. Sets forth penalties for willful violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1984
Prohibits the President from issuing a letter of offer to Jordan or Saudi Arabia for basic Stinger air defense guided missile systems. Prohibits the President, if such a sale has already been made, from making deliveries to the recipient country without specific authorization by the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Fair Trade in Steel Act of 1984 - Declares that it is the policy of Congress that access to the U.S. market for foreign-produced carbon, alloy, and specialty steel mill products should be on an equitable basis to safeguard national security, insure orderly trade in steel mill products, reduce unfair trade in steel mill products, and alleviate U.S. balance-of-payments problems. Expresses the intent of Congress to: (1) expand the economic viability of the U.S. steel industry and the jobs of its workers; (2) prevent the further decline of the domestic steel industry; and (3) temper the economic hardships resulting from unemployment in steel industry communities by encouraging reinvestment in existing steelmaking facilities. Limits annual imports of specified steel mill product categories to specified percentages of the apparent domestic supply which are based on adjusted average import penetration levels for each such product category for the years 1979, 1980, and 1981. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to allocate global product limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries, or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocations. Requires the Secretary to make an annual determination of the expected apparent domestic supply in each steel mill product category. Requires the Secretary to revise such determination periodically during the year. Directs the Secretary to determine, within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, whether the steel industry companies have plans to use substantially all of the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and the modernization of the steel sector. Prohibits the import restrictions from taking effect until the Secretary determines that the steel companies have such plans. Directs the Secretary to monitor steel sector investments made and announced by the steel industry and to consult with steel industry representatives and employees in the course of such monitoring. Directs the Secretary to determine annually whether steel companies are using substantially all the cash flow from the steel sector for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Directs the Secretary to modify or suspend the relevant import restrictions if the Secretary determines that substantially less than all the cash flow from the steel sector is being used for such reinvestment and modernization and that the level of investment is not demonstrably justified by adverse financial conditions within the industry. Directs the Secretary to publish: (1) each annual determination and its rationale; and (2) the total amount of cash flow from the steel sector and the total amount used for reinvestment in and modernization of the steel sector. Requires the steel companies to provide the Secretary with the information necessary for making such determinations. Directs the Secretary to examine the supply and demand situation in the United States for a specified steel product category if requested by affected steel consumers. Sets forth criteria to be used in determining short supply. Directs the Secretary to monitor imports of fabricated steel mill products. Sets forth the method of investigating whether imports of fabricated steel products are rendering ineffective or materially interfering with the objectives of this Act. Limits the quantity of iron ore that may be entered from all sources during any calendar year after the effective date of this Act. Directs the Secretary to allocate global iron ore limitations among foreign countries, groups of countries or areas. Sets forth guidelines for making such allocation. Directs the Secretary, in making such allocations, to attempt first to accommodate the requirements of individual steel mills which have been traditionally dependent on ocean sourced foreign iron ore and the requirements of contractual obligations incurred before January 1, 1984. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the import restrictions on iron ore if necessary to meet the needs of such individual steel mills. Provides for the enforcement and implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Petroleum Marketing Practices Act Amendments of 1984 - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to: (1) redefine the term "failure"; and (2) define the terms "constructive termination" and "similar motor fuel marketing operations." Defines "constructive termination" to mean: (1) the failure by the franchisor to supply the franchisee with motor fuel in an amount equal to the minimum specified in the franchise agreement; (2) the failure by the franchisor to make motor fuel available to the franchisee such minimum amount at a price which enables the franchisee to compete with similar motor fuel marketing operations of the franchisor; or (3) any adjustment in the quantity of fuel a franchisee is required or entitled to receive unless the franchisor can show that either the adjustment is applied equally to all franchisees and marketing operations of the franchisor within the relevant geographic area, or, if it is a downward adjustment, the franchisor can show that it is reasonable. Prohibits a motor fuel franchisor from constructively terminating a franchise. Requires a franchisor, in certain circumstances prior to terminating a franchise, to make a bona fide reasonable offer to transfer the franchise to the franchisee. Permits nonrenewal of a franchise relationship if the franchisor and franchisee cannot agree to changes or additions to the provisions of the franchise which are fair and reasonable. Prohibits nonrenewal because of the failure of the franchisor and franchisee to agree to changes or additions to the provisions of the franchise which relate to materially altering, adding to, or replacing the marketing premises. Permits nonrenewal, in a situation where renewal is presently permitted, when it would be uneconomical to the franchisor despite any reasonable changes acceptable to the franchisee, only if the franchisor demonstrates that the nonrenewal is not being made with the intent of avoiding competition with the franchisee. Requires a franchisor to notify a franchisee, 90 days prior to the franchisor's final opportunity to exercise an option to buy or to continue leasing the land where the franchise is located, of the name, address, and phone number of the owner or holder of the underlying lease. Provides that if a franchisee enters into an agreement with the owner or lessor to maintain possession of the premises, then the franchise agreement may continue, at the option of the franchisee. Requires any franchisor who competes with its own franchisees to supply motor fuel to its franchisees at a price and on terms which reasonably enable the franchisee to compete with the franchisor. States that the burden of proof is on the franchisor to show lack of competition. Revises the definition of "trial franchise." Permits a franchisee to maintain a civil action against a franchisor if the franchisor constructively terminates the franchise. States that the death, retirement, or disability of a franchisee shall not be grounds for termination or nonrenewal of the franchise if, prior the franchisee's death, retirement, or disability, the franchisee provides the franchisor with a succession plan. Permits termination or nonrenewal if: (1) the franchisor notifies the franchisee in writing, within 30 days of receipt of the plan, of the franchisor's rejection of the plan; (2) the rejection notice includes reasons for the rejection; and (3) the rejection is reasonable. Provides a franchisee with the right to sell or otherwise transfer the franchise subject to the approval of the franchisor. Prohibits approval from being withheld unreasonably.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Rural Development Reorganization Act of 1984 - Title I: Reorganization Within Department of Agriculture - Amends Federal law to rename the Department of Agriculture the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Retitles the Secretary of Agriculture the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Establishes the Rural Development Administration within such Department. Renames the Farmers Home Administration the Farm Administration. Makes conforming administrative changes. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, except for specified loan provisions, through the Rural Development Administration. States that titles V and VI of the Rural Development Act of 1972 shall be carried out through the Rural Development Administration. Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to expand the number of designated assistance areas from 225 to 450. Transfers certain conservation loan programs from the Farmers Home Administration to the Soil Conservation Service. Makes conforming amendments to specified agricultural and rural affairs acts. Title II: Administration of Federal Rural Housing and Community Development Programs - Transfers to the Rural Development Administration current FmHA loan programs for: (1) business and industry; (2) community facilities; (3) water and waste disposal (including grant authority); and (4) rural development and planning, excluding farm production. Transfers to the new Farm Administration current FmHA single-family housing loan programs. Makes conforming amendments to the Housing Act of 1949. Provides for farm ownership assistance to be carried out through such Administration. Makes conforming amendments to the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Financing Bank Act of 1973. Title III: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth administrative provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to David Phillip Vetter, of Spring, Texas, to be presented to his family in his memory as the oldest survivor of congenital severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to request the Secretary General to seek the cooperation of Vietnam with the United States and specified other countries in ascertaining the whereabouts of the crewmen of the sunken U.S. vessel GLOMAR Java Sea.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1984
Directs the President to: (1) secure from the Indochina nations a full accounting of Americans captured or missing as a result of the Vietnam conflict; and (2) work for the release of captive Americans and the return of the remains of those American servicemen and civilians who died in Southeast Asia. Requires the President to submit two reports to Congress on American POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Panama Canal Appropriations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1985 - Authorizes appropriations for the Panama Canal Commission for FY 1985 for: (1) operating expenses; (2) capital outlay; and (3) reimbursement of other agencies. Authorizes additional appropriations for the Commission for FY 1985 as may be necessary for specified purposes. Amends the Panama Canal Act of 1979 to terminate the Panama Canal Commission Fund on October 1, 1984. Requires that tolls for the use of the Panama Canal and all other receipts of the Commission shall, effective October 1, 1984, be credited to the miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury. Requires that: (1) any deficit incurred by the Commission shall be subtracted from the Commission's receipts for the second fiscal year beginning after the fiscal year in which the deficit is incurred; and (2) appropriations to or for the use of the Commission shall be limited to the remaining amount for the second fiscal year beginning after the fiscal year in which the deficit is incurred.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
Methanol Energy Policy Act of 1984 - Title I: Methanol Demonstration Program for Federal Vehicles - Requires the Secretary of Energy to acquire at least 1,000 methanol-powered passenger automobiles during FY 1985 and conduct studies with respect to the performance and maintenance of such vehicles. Requires that methanol be offered for sale to the public for use in other vehicles through September 30, 1989. Authorizes the Secretary to provide Federal agencies with such methanol-powered vehicles at their request. Requires the agencies to cooperate with the Secretary in studies related to such vehicles. Sets forth reporting requirements which apply to the Secretary. Title II: Demonstration Program for Methanol- Powered Buses - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to permit State and local entities which are eligible for grants under any other provision of such Act to apply to the Secretary of Transportation for grants for the acquisition of methanol-powered buses. Requires grant recipients to participate in a demonstration program under which the Secretary shall conduct studies and tests with respect to the performance and maintenance of such buses. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for supplemental grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989 for the demonstration program. Sets forth reporting requirements which apply to the Secretary. Title III: Interagency Commission on Methanol - Establishes the Interagency Commission on Methanol to develop and coordinate implementation of a national methanol energy policy. Requires the Commission to: (1) perform various studies with respect to the production, use, and promotion of methanol as a fuel; (2) develop a plan for the commercialization of methanol; (3) develop a public-awareness program on methanol as a transportation fuel; (4) coordinate Federal efforts with respect to methanol research and commercialization; and (5) ensure communication between Federal agencies involved in methanol demonstration projects and establish an information clearinghouse for parties working with or interested in methanol and related projects. Requires the Chairman of the Commission to establish a private sector advisory panel to inform the Commission about methanol-related matters. Sets forth reporting requirements which apply to the Commission. Terminates the Commission upon the submission of its last report. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989 to carry out this title. Title IV: Pipeline Study - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to Congress on the transportation of methanol through the interstate liquid pipeline system in the United States. Title V: Allocation of Highway Revenues - Provides that for purposes of the minimum allocation of highway revenues to States, the amount of estimated tax payments attributable to highway users in any State shall be increased by the estimated amount of tax such users would have paid if there were no special tax rate or tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code for any liquid which is at least 85 percent methanol, ethanol, or other alcohol. Title VI: Tax Incentives for the Use of Methanol As A Fuel - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $1,000 for each passenger automobile purchased by the taxpayer the primary fuel for which is methanol, which is domestically manufactured, and the original use of which commences with the taxpayer. Imposes a tax of four and a half cents a gallon in the case of methanol or ethanol fuel: (1) sold by a person to an operator of a motor vehicle or motorboat as fuel; or (2) used by any person as a fuel in a motor vehicle or motorboat unless there was already a taxable sale of such liquid. Permits a tax exemption for methanol produced from natural gas if such methanol is used for an off-highway business use.
![Official portrait of Rep. Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [R-LA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000058_200.jpg)