United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1984
Fair and Simple Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual and Corporate Tax Rates - Subtitle A: Reduction of Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual tax rates. Imposes a tax rate of 25 percent on the taxable income of every individual. Imposes a tax rate of 15 percent on corporate income which does not exceed $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent on corporate income exceeding $50,000. Subtitle B: Increase in Amount of Personal Exemption and Zero Bracket Amount - Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $2,000. Increases the zero bracket amount to $2,700 for single taxpayers and $3,500 for a joint return or surviving spouse. Provides for an annual adjustment in the personal exemption and the zero bracket amount by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Repeals the exemption for dependents who are students over the age of 18. Subtitle C: Employment Income Exclusion Established - Allows an individual taxpayer to exclude 20 percent of the amount received during the taxable year by such individual as employment income. Provides that the exclusion shall be phased out when the individual's wages and salaries exceed the Federal Insurance Compensation Act's maximum wage base for the calendar year. Excludes all of an individual's employment income where the employment income for the taxable year is $10,000 or less ($15,000 or less in the case of a joint return). Provides for an annual adjustment in the employment income exclusion by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Subtitle D: Repeals Related to Reduction in Rates - Repeals provisions relating to: (1) tax tables for individuals; (2) special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions; (3) accumulated corporate surplus; (4) personal holding companies; (5) income averaging; and (6) graduated corporate tax rates. Applies the trust throwback rules only to amounts distributed from a foreign trust. Title II: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the following income tax credits: (1) the credit for household and dependent care services; (2) the credit for the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled; (3) the residential energy credit; (4) the credit for contributions to candidates for public office; (5) the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs; (6) the credit for producing fuel from nonconventional sources; (7) the credit for increasing research activities; (8) the credit for work incentive expenses; (9) the credit for alcohol used as fuel; (10) the employee stock ownership credit; (11) the general tax credit; (12) the investment credit for depreciable property; and (13) the credit for employment of certain new employees. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the tax exclusion for: (1) compensation for injuries or sickness; (2) dividends received by individuals; (3) amounts received under qualified group legal service plans; (4) qualified transportation furnished by employer; (5) dividend reinvestment in public utilities; and (6) payments to encourage exploration, development, and mining for defense purposes. Reduces the maximum amount of the earned income credit from $5,000 to $4,000. Provides for an annual adjustment in the earned income credit by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Treats as taxable income: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) the annual increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies; and (3) interest on industrial development bonds and mortgage subsidy bonds. Provides that the transfer of a corporation's stock in satisfaction of indebtedness will be treated as having satisfied the indebtedness with money equal to the fair market value of the stock. Provides a limited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships. Amends the Merchant Marine Act to repeal the tax exemption for deposits into, and withdrawals from, a capital construction fund. Excludes the first $7,000 ($10,500 for a joint return) of Social Security benefits from gross income. Provides that no more than one-half of Social Security benefits may be includible in taxable income. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) casualty and theft losses; (2) unused business credits; and (3) two-earner married couples. Repeals the deduction for State and local income taxes. Raises the floor on the deduction for medical and dental expenses from five to ten percent. Repeals the deduction for consumer interest. Subtitle D: Adjustment to Basis; Changes in Certain Special Capital Gains Treatment Provisions - Allows an inflation adjustment, based on the gross national product deflator, to the adjusted basis of capital assets which have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss on such assets. Excludes from such treatment: (1) creditor's interest; (2) options; (3) net lease property in the case of the lessor; (4) preferred stock with fixed dividends; and (5) stock in small business corporations and certain foreign corporations. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to disallow all or part of an adjustment where there was a transfer to increase the inflation adjustment or depreciation allowance. Reduces the alternative tax rate for corporations from 28 to 20 percent. Repeals the deduction for individuals for capital gains. Phases out the limitation on the deduction of capital losses by individuals over a ten-year period, with full deductibility of such losses after 1994. Provides that capital loss deductions shall be treated as tax preference items subject to the minimum tax. Permits the carryover of the excess of capital losses over gross income by individuals. Makes applicable only to corporations the rules for capital gains and losses relating to: (1) the sale of land with unharvested crop; (2) the disposal of coal or domestic iron ore; (3) gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore; (4) distribution of property; (5) collapsible partnerships; (6) property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions; (7) the sale or exchange of patents; (8) amortization in excess of depreciation; (9) gain from the sale of depreciable property between certain related taxpayers; (10) gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property; (11) gain on foreign investment company stock; (12) the election by foreign investment companies to distribute income currently; (13) gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations; (14) gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations; (15) gain from disposition of certain depreciable realty; (16) gain from disposition of farm land; (17) gain from disposition of interest in oil, gas, or geothermal property; and (18) gain from disposition of property acquired with certain cost-sharing payments. Provides a transition period of ten-years, beginning on January 1, 1985, in which a taxpayer may elect to not apply the inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss. Provides that when such election is made, 25 percent of any gain from the sale or disposition of such asset shall be excludible from gross income and 25 percent of any loss shall not be deductible. Title III: Capital Cost Recovery - Subtitle A: Simplified Cost Recovery System for Depletable Property - Allows individuals and corporations a depletion deduction for qualified depletable property equal to an applicable percentage determined by the cost recovery tables for cost recovery property. Requires that qualified depletable property be assigned to one class of recovery property. Uses the anticipated productive life of such depletable property (rather than the present class life as provided under current law) for making the assignment. Assigns oil, gas wells or wells drilled for any geothermal deposit to the class of three year property. Provides that these rules shall not deny any deduction allowable for loss sustained by reason of the abandonment of a nonproductive well or mine. Subtitle B: Other Changes - Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) research and experimental expenditures; (2) soil and water conservation expenditures; (3) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by a lessee on a lessor's property; (4) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (5) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (6) start-up expenditures; (7) intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (8) percentage depletion; (9) development expenditures; and (10) deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures. Allows a ten-year period for the amortization of construction period interest and taxes. Allows a deduction for circulation expenses for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical ratably over a five-year period. Excludes amounts chargeable to a capital account from such treatment. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Income - Repeals the domestic international sales corporations (DISC) provisions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires farmers to compute their taxable income using the accrual method of accounting with the capitalization of preproduction expenses. Exempts taxpayers who do not have gross receipts of $1,000,000. Requires farming syndicates to use the accrual method of accounting without regard to gross receipts. Requires the recognition of the gain or loss on distributions of property by corporations. Eliminates the special bad debt reserves of financial institutions. Reduces the percentage by which Social Security benefits must be reduced for income earned above certain amounts. Repeals the earnings reduction test for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1989. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1984
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, in recognition of his work on behalf of veterans who served in Vietnam. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal rules relating to the determination of the issue price of certain debt instruments issued for property. Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1984 to repeal the revisions made to rules for the imputation of interest on certain deferred payments. Provides that the Internal Revenue Code shall be applied and administered as if such revisions had not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1984
Gold Standard Act of 1984 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, by one year after enactment of this Act, to establish a permanent definition of the dollar, expressed as a fixed weight of gold, nine-tenths fine. Declares that the dollar so defined shall be the standard and unit of value of the United States. Permits any person, after such time, to redeem for gold at any Federal Reserve bank any currency or coin of the United States or any demand note or demand liability of a Federal Reserve bank. Requires the Secretary to mint gold coins in such weights, denominations, and forms as will best serve the maintenance of gold payments and the needs of commerce. Makes such gold coins legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues. Permits the exchange of gold bullion for gold coins which contain an equal weight of fine gold minus a charge which shall not exceed mint costs and related expenses. Requires the Secretary and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe rules and regulations to carry out this Act. Repeals restrictions on gold payments and gold ownership.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that in light of the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and other specified human rights agreements, the Soviet Union should: (1) provide the signatories of the Helsinki Final Act with information on the whereabouts, health, and legal status of Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner; (2) void all charges against Yelena Bonner and issue her an exit visa in order to obtain medical care outside of the Soviet Union; and (3) allow them to live in the country of their choice. Urges the President to: (1) protest the Soviet Government's continued refusal to provide such information and to issue Yelena Bonner an exits visa; and (2) call upon all other signatory nations of the Helsinki Final Act to join in such protests.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1984
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with specified agencies, to conduct at least ten demonstration projects to determine the feasibility of providing for alternative Medicare benefits for individuals entitled to Medicare benefits who are diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer's disease or a related memory disorder. Directs the Secretary, in conducting such projects, to consider: (1) alternative benefits that encompass a range of outpatient services that are particularly appropriate to individuals suffering from such a progressive, chronic illness; and (2) providing alternative benefits in a manner that is analogous to the manner in which benefits for hospice care are made available under Medicare. Limits the cost of each such project. Provides for the paying for such projects.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1984
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, regarding Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, to: (1) promote the establishment of family support groups; (2) provide for a national coordinating network; and (3) report to Congress within one year.
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 · 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 · 31 May 1984
Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act - Requires each State and local government responsible for conducting elections to assure that all polling facilities for Federal elections are accessible to handicapped and elderly voters. Establishes limited exceptions in an emergency or if the chief election officer of the State determines that no accessible facilities are available and allows any handicapped or elderly voter to be assigned to the nearest accessible facility. Requires the chief election officer to report every two years to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on the number of accessible and inaccessible polling facilities. Requires the FEC to compile this information and transmit it to Congress. Requires each State or local government to provide a reasonable number of accessible permanent registration facilities except in the case where there is mail registration. Requires States to make available registration and voting aids for handicapped and elderly individuals in Federal elections. Authorizes the Attorney General or aggrieved persons to bring actions in Federal court for declaratory or injunctive relief to enforce this Act.
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
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 · 3 May 1984
Crime Control Act of 1984 - Title I: Bail - Bail Reform Act of 1984 - Repeals the Bail Reform Act of 1966 and sets forth new bail procedures. Retains execution of a money bond as a condition for pretrial release. Authorizes a judicial officer to consider the safety of any person or the community when making a pretrial release determination. Establishes as a mandatory release condition that the person not commit a Federal, State, or local crime during release. Expands the discretionary release conditions to include that the defendant: (1) maintain employment or an educational program; (2) avoid contact with an alleged victim or potential witness; (3) report to a law enforcement or pretrial service agency; (4) comply with a curfew; (5) refrain from possessing a firearm or using alcohol or narcotic drugs; (6) undergo medical treatment; (7) agree to forfeit designated property, including money, upon failure to appear; and (8) return to custody at specified hours. Prohibits a judicial officer from imposing financial conditions that result in the pretrial detention of a person. Authorizes a judicial officer to order detention for up to ten days: (1) if a person who is presently on pretrial release for a felony under Federal, State, or local law or on probation or parole or release pending sentencing or appeal for any offense, upon a determination that such person may flee or pose a danger to any person or the community; or (2) if such person is not a U.S. citizen. Requires that a detention hearing be held upon motion of the attorney for the Government or upon the judge's own motion in any case involving: (1) a crime of violence; (2) any offense punishable by life imprisonment or death; (3) a narcotics offense punishable by at least ten years' imprisonment; (4) a serious risk of flight or obstruction of justice; or (5) any felony committed after the person has been convicted of two or more offenses for which a hearing is mandated. Authorizes a judicial officer after such a hearing to order the pretrial detention of a person upon finding that no condition will reasonably assure such person's appearance and the safety of any other person and the community. Enumerates additional factors to be considered by the judicial officer in making a release determination, including the defendant's past conduct, history of drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and the nature and seriousness of the danger to the community or any person. Requires the detention of a person who has appealed his conviction unless the judicial officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) such person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to another person or property; and (2) the appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact. Requires the detention of a person awaiting sentencing unless the officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or the community. Authorizes a U.S. attorney to appeal a release order. Allows a defendant to file a motion for amendment of a condition of release. Makes a person guilty of an offense for failing to appear after having been released. Provides increased penalties for persons charged with more serious offenses. Makes it an affirmative defense to such crime that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the person from appearing. Establishes mandatory additional penalties for commission of an offense while on pretrial release. Subjects a person who has been conditionally released and violates a condition of release to revocation of release and prosecution for contempt of court. Authorizes a surety to arrest a person charged with an offense who is released upon execution of an appearance bond with such surety. Requires such person to be delivered promptly to a judicial officer for a revocation determination. Grants new authority to law enforcement officers to arrest a person who violates pretrial release conditions. Title II: Limitation of the Exclusionary Rule - Exclusionary Rule Limitation Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that evidence obtained by a search or seizure shall not be excluded in a Federal proceeding if the seizure was undertaken in a reasonable good faith belief in its conformity with the fourth amendment to the Constitution. Provides that evidence obtained in accordance with a warrant is prima facie evidence of good faith, absent intentional and material misrepresentation. Title III: Reform of Federal Intervention in State Proceedings - Reform of Federal Intervention in State Proceedings Act of 1984 - Conditions consideration of a habeas corpus claim by a State prisoner on a showing of actual prejudice resulting from the Federal right violated and a showing that: (1) State action precluded assertion of the right; (2) the Federal right did not previously exist; or (3) the factual basis of the claim could not have been discovered by reasonable diligence. Establishes a one-year statute of limitations for habeas corpus actions brought by State prisoners. Vests authority to issue certificates for probable cause for appeal or habeas corpus orders exclusively in the courts of appeals. Permits denial on the merits of habeas corpus writs notwithstanding the failure to exhaust State remedies. Prohibits the granting of a habeas corpus writ with respect to any claim which has been fully and fairly adjudicated in State proceedings. Title IV: Reinstitution of Capital Punishment - Establishes procedures for imposition of the death penalty in certain homicide, treason and espionage cases.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Fair and Simple Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual and Corporate Tax Rates - Subtitle A: Reduction of Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual tax rates. Imposes a tax rate of 25 percent on the taxable income of every individual. Imposes a tax rate of 15 percent on corporate income which does not exceed $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent on corporate income exceeding $50,000. Subtitle B: Increase in Amount of Personal Exemption and Zero Bracket Amount - Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $2,000. Increases the "zero bracket amount" to $2,700 for single taxpayers and $3,500 for a joint return or surviving spouse. Provides for an annual adjustment in the "zero bracket amount" by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Subtitle C: Employment Income Exclusion Established - Allows an individual taxpayer to exclude 20 percent of the amount received during the taxable year by such individual as employment income. Provides that the exclusion is phased out when the individual's wages and salaries exceed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act maximum wage base for the calendar year. Excludes all of an individual's employment income where the employment income for the taxable year is $10,000 or less ($20,000 or less in the case of a joint return). Subtitle D: Repeals Related to Reduction in Rates - Repeals provisions relating to: (1) tax tables for individuals; (2) personal service corporations; (3) special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions; (4) accumulated corporate surplus; (5) personal holding companies; (6) income averaging; and (7) graduated corporate tax rates. Applies the trust throwback rules only to amounts distributed from a foreign trust. Title II: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the general tax credit, the investment tax credit, and the income tax credits relating to: (1) the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled; (2) investments in certain depreciable property; (3) work incentive expenses; (4) contributions to candidates for public office; (5) home purchases; (6) expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment; (7) employment of certain new employees; (8) residential energy credit; (9) producing fuel from a nonconventional source; (10) alcohol used as fuel; (11) research activities; (12) employee stock ownership credit; and (13) clinical testing for certain drugs. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the tax exclusion for: (1) compensation for injuries or sickness; (2) amounts received under accident and health plans; (3) partial exclusion of dividends received by individuals; (4) amounts received under qualified group legal service plans; (5) qualified transportation furnished by an employer; (6) dividend reinvestment in public utilities; (7) partial exclusion of interest as in effect in 1985; and (8) payments to encourage exploration, development, and mining for defense purposes. Reduces the maximum amount of the earned income credit from $5,000 to $4,000. Treats as taxable income: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) the annual increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies; and (3) interest on industrial development bonds and mortgage subsidy bonds. Provides that the transfer of a corporation's stock in satisfaction of indebtedness will be treated as having satisfied the indebtedness with money equal to the fair market value of the stock. Provides a limited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships. Amends the Merchant Marine Act to repeal the tax exemption for deposits into, and withdrawals from, a capital construction fund. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) the additional exemption for the elderly and the blind; (2) unused investment credits; (3) two-earner married couples; and (4) adoption expenses. Provides that the deduction for losses shall be limited to capital losses. Increases the floor on the deduction for medical and dental expenses from five to 10 percent. Subtitle D: Adjustment to Basis; Changes in Certain Special Capital Gains Treatment Provisions - Allows an inflation adjustment, based on the gross national product deflator, to the adjusted basis of capital assets which have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss on such assets. Excludes from such treatment: (1) creditor's interest; (2) options; (3) net lease property in the case of the lessor; (4) preferred stock with fixed dividends; and (5) stock in small business corporations and certain foreign corporations. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to disallow all or part of an adjustment where there was a transfer to increase the inflation adjustment or depreciation allowance. Reduces the alternative tax rate for corporations from 28 to 20 percent. Repeals the deduction for individuals for capital gains. Repeals the limitation on the deduction of capital losses by individuals. Permits the carryover of the excess of capital losses over gross income by individuals. Applies the rules for capital gains and losses only to corporations relating to: (1) the sale of land with an unharvested crop; (2) the disposal of coal or domestic iron ore; (3) the gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore; (4) the distribution of property; (5) collapsible partnerships; (6) property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions; (7) the sale or exchange of patents; (8) amortization in excess of depreciation; (9) gain from the sale of depreciable property between certain related taxpayers; (10) gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property; (11) gain on foreign investment company stock; (12) an election by foreign investment companies to distribute income currently; (13) gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations; (14) gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations; (15) gain from disposition of certain depreciable realty; (16) gain from disposition of property used in farming where farm losses offset nonfarm income; (17) gain from disposition of farm land; (18) gain from disposition of interest in oil, gas, or geothermal property; and (19) gain from disposition of property acquired with certain cost-sharing payments. Provides a transition period of ten years beginning January 1, 1985, in which a taxpayer may elect to not apply the inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss. Provides that when such election is made, 25 percent of any gain from the sale or disposition of such asset shall be excludible from gross income, or 25 percent of any loss shall not be deductible. Title III: Capital Cost Recovery - Subtitle A: Simplified Cost Recovery System for Depletable Property - Allows individuals and corporations a depletion deduction for qualified depletable property equal to an applicable percentage determined by the cost recovery tables for cost recovery property. Requires qualified depletable property be assigned to one class of recovery property. Uses the anticipated productive life of such depletable property, rather than the present class life, for making the assignment. Assigns oil, gas wells, or wells drilled for any geothermal deposit to the class of three year property. Provides that these rules shall not deny any deduction allowable for loss sustained by reason of the abandonment of a nonproductive well or mine. Subtitle B: Other Changes - Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) research and experimental expenditures; (2) soil and water conservation expenditures; (3) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by a lessee on a lessor's property; (4) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (5) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (6) start-up expenditures; (7) intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (8) percentage depletion; (9) development expenditures; and (10) deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures. Allows a ten year period for the amortization of construction period interest and taxes. Allows a deduction for circulation expenses for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical ratably over a five-year period. Excludes amounts chargable to a capital account from such treatment. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Income - Repeals the domestic international sales corporations (DISC) provisions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires farmers to compute their taxable income using the accrual method of accounting with the capitalization of preproduction expenses. Exempts taxpayers who do not have gross receipts of $1,000,000. Requires farming syndicates to use the accrual method of accounting without regard to gross receipts. Requires the recognition of the gain or loss on distributions of property by corporations. Eliminates the special bad debt reserves of financial institutions. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
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 · 12 April 1984
Federal Reserve Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to place the Secretary of the Treasury on the Federal Open Market Committee. Changes the term of office of the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from four years to the period ending on January 31 of the first calendar year beginning after the calendar year during which the term of the President who appointed the Chairman is scheduled to expire. Provides that in the event of the absence or unavailability of the chairman, the vice chairman (or in the vice chairman's absence another member of the Board) may be designated acting chairman. Provides that the vice chairman shall perform the duties of the chairman until a successor is appointed in the event of the chairman's death or resignation. Provides that in the case of the death or resignation of the chairman and the vice chairman or a vacancy in both offices, the member of the Board with the most years of service shall perform the duties of the chairman until a successor is appointed. Changes from 14 years to seven years the term of office of members of the Federal Reserve Board. Requires each change, of any nature whatsoever, in the intermediate targets for monetary policy that is adopted by the Federal Open Market Committee to be disclosed to the public on the date of adoption. Defines "intermediate targets" as any policy objectives regarding monetary aggregates, credit aggregates, prices, interest rates, or bank reserves.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Balanced Monetary Policy and Price Stability Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to make it the policy of the Federal Open Market Committee to maintain low interest rates and stable exchange rates, and to encourage strong economic growth, to the extent that such policy is consistent with long-term price stability. Requires the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Secretary of the Treasury to develop a price index to assist the Committee in establishing intermediate targets for the conduct of monetary policy. Requires the Chairman and the Secretary to establish a target range for such price index which will not result in a decline in the general level of prices. Requires the Committee, if the price index rises above such target range, to restrict the availability of bank reserves, or raise their cost, or both, and if the index falls below the target to increase the availability of bank reserves, or reduce their cost, or both. Permits a new target range to be set after a declaration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances by the Chairman and the Secretary. Repeals the requirements of such Act concerning the targeting of monetary aggregates. Directs the Secretary to seek the establishment of an international advisory task force, and ultimately an international monetary conference, consisting of representatives of the major industrial nations. Declares the purposes of such task force and conference to be: (1) the improvement of price stability throughout the world; (2) the improvement of the stability of currency exchange rates; and (3) the improvement of the prospects for liberal trade and strong noninflationary economic growth.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Ten Percent Flat Tax Rate Act - Title I: Ten Percent Tax Rate For All Individuals And Unincorporated Associations - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a flat rate tax of ten percent on the adjusted gross income of individuals and unincorporated associations. Defines "unincorporated association" as any taxable entity which is not incorporated pursuant to the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign nation. Repeals the income tax credits for: (1) the elderly; (2) contributions to candidates for public office; (3) the purchase of a new principal residence; (4) dependent care expenses; (5) earned income; and (6) residential energy conservation expenses. Repeals the alternative minimum tax for taxpayers other than corporations. Provides that specified income tax credits shall not be available to individuals and unincorporated associations. Excludes from the gross income of individuals or unincorporated associations: (1) alimony and separate maintenance payments; (2) scholarship payments and fellowship grants; (3) social security payments; (4) excess social security tax payments; (5) payments received for disability; (6) payments received pursuant to the Railroad Retirement Act; (7) certain civil service retirement benefits; and (8) interest payments received on State and municipal bonds. Defines "adjusted gross income" in the case of an individual or unincorporated association as gross income minus: (1) trade or business deductions; (2) trade and business deductions of employees; and (3) expenses relating to income production. Disallows certain exclusions from the gross income of individuals and unincorporated associations, including exclusions for: (1) certain death payments; (2) gifts and inheritances; (3) injury or sickness compensation; (4) employer contributions to accident and health plans; (5) partial dividends; (6) contributions to corporation capital; and (7) dependent care assistance. Allows deductions from the adjusted gross income of individuals for personal exemptions. Sets the amounts of such exemptions at: (1) $2,000 for the taxpayer and spouse; and (2) $2,000 for each dependent of the taxpayer. Provides for cost-of-living adjustments for such amounts. Disallows all itemized deductions for individuals and unincorporated associations except those for interest, taxes, charitable contributions, and certain retirement savings. Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) medical and dental expenses; (2) alimony payments; (3) taxes, interest, and business depreciation by cooperative housing tenant-stockholders; (4) two-earner married couples; and (5) adoption expenses. Imposes a flat rate tax of ten percent on the gross income of estates and trusts. Repeals special rules, income tax deductions, and income tax credits applicable to estates and trusts. Revises rules for determining the income tax of a partner to provide that each partner shall take into account separately his or her distributive share of the partnership's: (1) gains and losses; (2) taxes; and (3) taxable income or loss. Provides that the foreign tax credit shall not apply to unincorporated associations. Repeals the estate tax. Title II: Tax Amnesty - Provides for a one-time amnesty from criminal and civil tax penalties for taxpayers who: (1) file a written statement with specified information concerning any underpayment of tax; (2) pay the amount of such underpayment when filing the statement; and (3) within 30 days of notification of the amount of interest payable on any tax delinquent amount, pays the full amount of such interest or delinquency. Permits installment payments of tax due in certain cases. Disallows an amnesty period for taxpayers against whom a tax deficiency has already been assessed, who have committed fraud in seeking amnesty, or against whom a criminal investigation is pending. Establishes a special fund in the Treasury for taxes recovered under such amnesty program. Requires that revenues from such fund be used to offset possible revenue losses.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1984
Acid Deposition Control Act of 1984 - Title I: Acid Deposition Control Program - Amends the Clean Air Act ("the Act") to establish an acid deposition control program. Defines an "acid deposition impact region" as the 31 States east of or bordering on the Mississippi River and the District of Columbia. Requires that by January 1, 1996, the total annual sulfur dioxide emissions in the acid deposition impact region not exceed a level 11,000,000 tons less than the actual level of such emissions in 1980. Requires that one-half of such reduction be completed within six years after the enactment of this Act, or January 1, 1991, whichever is earlier. Provides that sulfur dioxide emissions from major stationary sources which did not begin operation before January 1, 1981, or which have increased emissions since such date (to the extent such emissions do not exceed one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input on a 30-day basis), calculated on an annual basis, shall not be added to the amount of sulfur dioxide which the State in which such sources are located is required to reduce by January 1, 1996, under provisions for regional reduction allocation and State reduction requirements. Provides that no emissions from such sources shall be added in any State which during 1980 had no major stationary source which was a utility boiler which had an actual annual average emission rate greater than one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input. Provides that increases in sulfur dioxide emissions from utility boilers which are coal capable as defined under the Fuel Use Act and which convert to the use of coal as a primary fuel shall be so added only to the extent such emissions from a particular source exceed one and one-half pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input on an annual average. Prohibits any major stationary source of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides from commencing operation after January 1, 1996, in such region unless there has been identified for such source a simultaneous net reduction in emissions of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, or both, at one or more points in such region: (1) in excess of the emissions which potentially would result from the proposed new source; and (2) not otherwise required by a State implementation plan. Exempts from such prohibition any major stationary source which: (1) adopts the best available control technology, as defined under specified provisions of the Act as appropriate for the location of the proposed new source; and (2) attains at least the most stringent emission limitation shown by an adequate operating history to have been achieved in practice by a major stationary source of the same size, type, and class within the region. Directs the Governors of all 31 States within the region to enter into negotiations to establish sulfur dioxide emission reduction requirements for each such State sufficient to achieve the total reduction required for the region. Makes such an agreement binding and enforceable on each such State, but only upon notification to the Administrator by the Governors of 75 percent of the States in the region, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, that such agreement has been reached. Requires each such State, if the Governors fail to reach agreement within such 18 months, to achieve its share of the reduction in annual sulfur dioxide emissions required for the region. Bases such share on the actual utility emissions which are in excess of one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input averaged over 1980. Authorizes the Governors of any two or more States in the region to reallot among agreeing States such required reductions, provided that the total reductions equal the required total. Requires each such State, within 30 months after the enactment of this Act, to adopt enforceable measures to achieve the required reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions, including emissions limitations and schedules for compliance for sources within such State and other means of emissions reduction in accordance with specified provisions. Directs the Governor of such State to submit such measures to the Administrator for review and to the Governors of all other States in the region for comment. Provides for such review and approval according to specified procedures. Directs the Administrator to approve such measures if, taking into consideration the comments of the other State Governors, the Administrator finds that such measures: (1) contain enforceable requirements for continuous emission reduction; (2) contain requirements for monitoring by the source and enforcement agencies to assure that the emission limitations are being met; and (3) are adequate to meet the required reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions for such State by the deadline under this Act. Makes each emission limitation, compliance schedule, or other measure approved under this Act a requirement of an applicable implementation plan and an emission limitation for purposes of specified provisions of the Act. Provides that, in the case of any major stationary source which is in any State in the region and which is not by December 31, 1986, in full compliance with the applicable implementation plan in effect on January 1, 1981, the owner or operator shall be subject to: (1) the emission limitation established under specified provisions of this Act for all facilities in such State owned or operated by such owner or operator; and (2) a noncompliance penalty for each such source or facility, including each electric generating facility, for the period from the original date for compliance under the applicable implementation plan until actual compliance with such emission limitation. Requires that such enforceable measures adopted by States in the region include compliance schedules which specify actions to be performed leading toward final compliance and increments of progress to be achieved by dates in advance of dates by which the State requires each particular source to comply with the emission limitation necessary to attain the reduction for such State. Requires the State in adopting (and the Administrator in reviewing) such measures to stage or phase such compliance dates so that to the maximum extent practicable one-half of the total emission reduction under this Act is achieved within six years of enactment, or prior to January 1, 1991, whichever is earlier. Requires each major stationary source which proposes to comply with an emission limitation established under this Act by any means other than an innovative system of continuous emission reduction technology or the replacement of existing facilities with new facilities of substantially lower emissions to comply with such emission limitation by January 1, 1994. Sets forth major stationary source sulfur dioxide reduction requirements to apply in any State in the region which has not: (1) adopted, within 30 months after enactment of this Act, measures to achieve the required reduction; or (2) had such measures approved by the Administrator within six months after their submission. Requires, in such States, the owner or operator of each fossil-fuel-burning electric generating facility which is a major stationary source which is not subject to specified performance standards for new stationary sources to comply with an emission limitation or limitations for all such facilities owned or operated by the same entity in such region equivalent to an average among such facilities of one and two-tenths pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu of heat input on a 30-day average. Requires the owner or operator of each such facility to submit to the Administrator a plan or schedule of compliance for achieving such emission limitation or equivalent emission reduction in accordance with provisions for enforceable mission reduction programs, within three years after the enactment of this Act or six months after the date on which such owner or operator becomes subject to such emission limitation, whichever is later. Directs the Administrator to approve such plan and compliance schedule if it: (1) contains enforceable requirements for continuous emission reduction; (2) contains requirements for monitoring by the source and enforcement agencies to assure that the emission limitations are being met; and (3) will achieve the required emission reduction in a manner consistent with a specified schedule established under provisions for State enforceable measures, or otherwise at the earliest practicable date, but no later than January 1, 1994. Makes specified violations of such requirements violations of emissions limitations for purposes of certain provisions of the Act. Sets forth provisions for enforceable emission reduction programs. Permits alternative methods or programs for net emission reduction to be used to maintain emission limitations or attain emission reductions required under specified provisions of this Act. Permits a State or the owner or operator of a source to use such alternative methods or programs, in addition to enforceable continuous emission reduction measures, if emissions limitations under such methods or programs are enforceable by the Federal Government, States other than those in which the emissions occur, and citizens under specified provisions of the Act. Includes among such alternative methods or programs: (1) least emissions dispatch to meet electric generating demand and existing generating capacity; (2) retirement of major stationary sources at an earlier date than provided in schedules on file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, or State utility regulatory agencies; (3) investments in energy conservation where reductions in emissions can be identified with such investments; (4) trading of emission reduction requirements and actual reductions on a State or regional basis, for which States and the Administrator are authorized to establish emission reduction banks or brokerage institutions to facilitate such trading; (5) precombustion cleaning of fuels; and (6) fuel substitution. Permits a State or the owner or operator of a source required to achieve emission reductions under specified provisions of this Act to substitute reductions in nitrogen oxides emissions, at a rate of two units by weight of nitrogen oxides for each unit of sulfur dioxide. Directs the Administrator to: (1) conduct a study of air pollution problems associated with the long-range transport of pollutants in the portions of the continental United States not included in the acid deposition impact region; and (2) report the results of such study to the Congress within two years after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Acid Precipitation Task Force established under the Energy Security Act to submit to specified congressional committees two comprehensive reports, one by December 31, 1986, and one by December 31, 1988. Requires that such reports present specified research findings and recommendations, based on existing scientific knowledge, for reducing acid deposition and its effects. Directs the Task Force to provide for appropriate scientific peer review of such research and of its reports. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1989 in addition to any other funds authorized to be appropriated to the Task Force to carry out specified research activities under such Act. Directs the Administrator, promptly after the date established under provisions for major stationary source sulfur dioxide reduction requirements, to report to specified congressional committees on emission limitation and other enforceable measures adopted by the States and approved by the Administrator or in effect under such provisions, for all States in the region. Directs the Administrator to develop an inventory of sources of nitrogen oxides in the region and in each State in the region. Directs the Administrator, within four years after enactment of this Act, to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) such inventory; (2) control technology and methods for new and existing sources of nitrogen oxides; and (3) any recommendations for requirements to reduce existing emissions or control new emissions of nitrogen oxides to reduce acid deposition, including but not limited to the question of whether levels of such emissions should be strictly limited or reduced. Establishes a National Commission on Air Quality Employment Impacts to study and report to Congress on the direct and indirect impacts on employment in domestic coal mining that would result from the reduction of emissions required by this Act. Authorizes the Commission, if it deems it appropriate, to study and report on other direct employment impacts of this Act on industries related to coal mining. Requires that the Commission's report be filed with specified congressional committees by December 31, 1987. Permits such report to include: (1) legislative recommendations to correct any substantially adverse impact on employment dislocations in coal mining regions caused by this Act; and (2) recommendations to States, counties, cities, or private industrial entities to aid in the correction of said employment dislocation. Provides for Commission membership, including representatives of specified congressional committees, a representative of the United Mine Workers, and representatives of the coal industry. Provides for cooperation, information, and technical assistance from Federal agencies for the Commission. Terminates the Commission upon completion of its report. Authorizes the Commission, in the conduct of the study, to contract with nongovernmental entities competent to perform research or investigations in areas within the Commission's mandate, and to hold public hearings, forums, and workshops to enable full public participation. Authorizes the Commission to contract with nonprofit technical and scientific organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, to develop necessary technical information for a specified authorized study. Authorizes the Commission to expend up to $3,000,000 to carry out its required functions.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Amends the Federal criminal code to allow for the advertising, transporting, mailing, or broadcasting between States of materials and information concerning State-conducted or authorized lotteries.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should urge Canada to discontinue imposing taxes on travel literature imported from the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1984
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide community impact planning assistance to Indian tribes located near once potential sites for the MX missile. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance to such Indians on the same basis as that provided to State and local governments under the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1981, utilizing available FY 1981 Air Force appropriations. Limits coverage to requests for assistance made before a specified date.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Recognizes the important contribution of the arts to a complete education. Urges all citizens to support efforts which strengthen artistic training and appreciation within schools.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Expresses the appreciation of Congress to the descendants of blacks who contributed to American Independence. Encourages State and local governments and private organizations to conduct activities during Black History Month 1985 in honor of black involvement in the American Revolution.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1984
Amends the Social Security Amendments of 1983 to delay until after December 31, 1985, mandatory coverage under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program for employees of tax-exempt religious or apostolic organizations which do not have in effect on January 1, 1984, a waiver certificate (which waives such an organization's exemption from taxation for purposes of the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program).
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
States that the House of Representatives demands that one Jewish prisoner of conscience in the Soviet Union be released for every person who perished aboard Korean Air Lines flight 7.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1984
Establishes in the House of Representatives the Congressional Child Care Center for the use of children of Members, officers, and employees of the House. States that the Committee on House Administration shall operate the Center. Directs the Chairman of such Committee to appoint a nonpartisan advisory board to make recommendations on management and operation of the Center, and to conduct semiannual reviews of such Center. Requires that operating expenses be recovered through child care fees. Establishes a revolving fund within the House contingent fund for the purpose of operating the Center.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a new license to an existing licensee for a hydroelectric project authorized under such Act if the United States does not, upon the expiration of the existing license, exercise its right to take over, maintain, and operate such licensee's project, unless the Commission determines that such licensee's project will not meet the licensing standards under such Act. Provides that if the Commission determines that such licensee's project does not meet such standards, the Commission is authorized to issue a new license to a new licensee which may cover the existing licensee's project provided that the new licensee pays just compensation determined by the Commission and enters into any contracts required under the Federal Power Act. (Under current law, the Commission is authorized to issue a new license to the original licensee or a new license to a new licensee if the United States does not exercise its rights with respect to an expired license.)
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
States that the Congress: (1) holds Iran responsible for upholding the rights of the Baha'is; (2) condemns Iran's decision to destroy the Baha'i faith; and (3) calls upon the President to work with appropriate foreign governments to form an appeal to Iran concerning the Baha'is, to cooperate with the United Nations in its efforts on behalf of the Baha'is, and to provide humanitarian assistance for Baha'is who flee Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the news media should voluntarily refrain from projecting election results before the polls close; and (2) the news media and industry, trade and professional organizations should voluntarily adopt guidelines to assure that exit interview data is not used to project election results before the polls close.
![Official portrait of Rep. Vucanovich, Barbara F. [R-NV-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/v000124_200.jpg)