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United States · Official source
1,816 records where Rep. Watkins, Wes [R-OK-3] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
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 · 20 January 1981
Requests the President to designate the first full week of June of each year as "National Garden Week."
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1981
Renames Clayton Lake, Oklahoma, being constructed as part of the flood control project for the Clayton and Tuskahoma Reservoirs, as Sardis Lake.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1981
Requests the President the designate the week commencing with the third Monday in February of 1982 as "National Patriotism Week."
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Irrigation Water Conservation Tax Act of 1981 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an additional ten percent investment tax credit for equipment which conserves farm irrigation water and an election to depreciate such equipment based on a useful life of three years.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Sunset Review Act of 1981 - Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to jointly develop and maintain an inventory of all Federal programs and tax expenditures. Requires such inventory to classify all such programs and expenditures according to the jurisdiction of the various legislative committees of the two Houses. Requires the General Accounting Office (GAO), before the beginning of the 98th Congress, after consultation with the appropriate legislative committees and the Congressional Budget Office, to submit a draft inventory to the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Requires such Committees to notify each legislative committee of the programs and tax expenditures which are classified within its jurisdiction. Allows any legislative committee to propose revisions of such inventory within 30 days after notification. Requires that such inventory be published in a single document. Requires that an update be made of such inventory at the beginning of every Congress. Specifies information to be contained in such an inventory. Directs the GAO to publish a supplement to such inventory which includes certain budget information. Requires each legislative committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate, by a specified date, to report a resolution setting forth an agenda for the sunset review of selected Federal programs within its jurisdiction, or, in the case of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance, of selected tax expenditures. Directs the committees of each House to develop their sunset review agenda in consultation with any other committee which has concurrent jurisdiction over any programs or tax expenditures involved. Requires, where practicable, that related programs and expenditures be reviewed during the same Congress. Requires the report accompanying any agenda reported in the 104th Congress and every fifth Congress thereafter to summarize the programs and expenditures reviewed and not reviewed during the five previous Congresses. Prohibits either the House or the Senate from considering a primary expense resolution for any legislative committee in any Congress until that committee has developed and submitted its sunset review agenda. Requires the House Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to incorporate such agendas into a consolidated sunset review agenda and to report such consolidated agenda to its House in the form of a concurrent resolution, within seven legislative days after all committee sunset review agendas have been submitted. Requires the consolidated sunset review agenda to be adopted in the House and in the Senate no later than March 30 in the first session of each Congress. Sets forth the procedures for the consideration and adoption of such agenda. Requires each committee of the House or the Senate, not later than May 15 in the second session of each Congress, to report a bill or bills modifying, continuing, or terminating each program or tax expenditure which it has been directed to review under the consolidated sunset review agenda adopted during the first session. Requires such bill to be accompanied by a report. Requires each department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch of the Government which is responsible for the administration of a Federal program or tax expenditure selected for sunset review to provide the appropriate Congressional committees with its views, information, and assistance. Directs the Comptroller General to supply specified information on audits. Exempts foreign intelligence or counterintelligence programs designated by the President as requiring protection from unauthorized disclosure. Directs the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate to review such programs pursuant to the spirit of this Act. Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to include the consolidated sunset review agendas and the Congressional inventory of Federal programs as part of the House Committee on Rules' functions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Sunset Act of 1981 - Title I: Reauthorization of Government Programs - Sets forth a ten-year schedule for reauthorization of all Federal programs according to budget function and subfunction as set forth in the Budget of the United States Government for fiscal year 1979. Sets forth the procedure in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the consideration of any bill, resolution, or amendment which authorizes new budget authority. States that it is not in order for either House to consider any legislation which authorizes the enactment of new budget authority for a program for a period of more than ten years, for an indefinite period, or for any fiscal year beginning after the next reauthorization date applicable to such program. Provides that before the Congress can appropriate funds for any program, after its first reauthorization date, there must be a specific authorization in law to support the appropriation. Requires the committees of the Senate and House of Representatives to schedule and conduct a sunset review of programs to be reauthorized. Requires that the report accompanying such reauthorizations contain specified information and be completed during the Congress in which the program is scheduled for reauthorization. Exempts from the requirements of this Act specified programs such as interest on Federal debts, health care services, general retirement and disability payments, as well as litigation activities which have as their objectives the protection and implementation of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and specified retirement pay and benefits. Allows the reauthorization schedule set forth in this Act to be changed by concurrent resolution of the two House of Congress and sets forth the procedure for such change. Requires all legislation and other matters related to changes in the dates for programs under this Act to be referred to the committee with legislative jurisdiction over any program affected by the proposal and, sequentially, to the Committee on Rules in the House Representatives and to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the Senate. Requires such committees to report any concurrent resolution or bill referred to it by a committee of legislative jurisdiction within 30 days, with a statement on each of its recommendations. Makes provisions for any proposed change which has been reported by a committee before June 1, 1982. Title II: Program Inventory - Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs. Declares that the purpose of such program inventory is to advise and assist Congress in carrying out reauthorization and reexamination requirements and to link such reauthorization and review process with the budget process. Requires the Comptroller General to submit such program inventory to each House of Congress no later than January 1, 1982. Sets forth the contents of the inventory program, including the type of authorization provided for such programs' new budget authority and the manner in which related program areas may be grouped for evaluation and review. Permits the Congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service to review the program inventory and to suggest revisions. Requires that the program inventory be revised at the end of each session of Congress, and that such revisions be reported to each House. Requires that periodic reports tabulate the progress of Congressional action on bills and resolutions authorizing budget authority for programs in the inventory. Requires the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to submit periodic reports to the Congress on the adequacy of the functional and subfunctional categories for grouping programs of like missions or objectives. Title III: Program Reexamination - Requires each committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reexamine selected programs or groups of programs over which it has jurisdiction. Sets forth procedures for such review, and criteria for selection of program areas for evaluation. Directs each committee to consult with the appropriate committees of either the House of Representatives or the Senate in order to achieve coordination of program reevaluation. Directs each Committee to inform itself of the related activities of or available assistance from the General Accounting Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, the Office of Technology Assessment, and other appropriate instrumentalities in the executive and judicial branches. Requires each committee to deliver a report on the reexamination to the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House at the date specified in the funding resolution first reported by such committee in 1983 and thereafter for the first session of each Congress. Allows two or more committees which have legislative jurisdiction over the same programs or portions of the same programs to examine such programs jointly and submit a joint report. Stipulates that such report: (1) contain the findings, recommendations, and justifications of the program; and (2) include specified information including, but not limited to, an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the program and an identification of any trends, developments, and emerging conditions which are likely to affect the nature and extent of the problems or needs which the program is intended to address. Requires each executive department or agency which is responsible for a program selected for reexamination to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget and to the appropriate committees of the Congress on its findings, recommendations, and justifications of specified aspects of the program. Title IV: Tax Expenditures - Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, after consultation with the Joint Committee on Taxation of the Congress, to prepare an inventory of tax expenditure provisions and to submit a report on such inventory to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House and the Senate Finance Committee. Defines the term "tax expenditure provision" as any provision of Federal law which allows a special exclusion, exemption, or deduction in determining liability for any tax or which provides a special credit against any tax, a preferential rate of tax, or a deferral of tax liability. Specifies the contents of the report, which include an estimate of the revenue loss from each tax provision. Requires the Director to: (1) submit a revised inventory to each House of Congress by December 1, 1982; (2) revise the inventory after the close of each session of Congress and report such revisions to Congress; and (3) periodically report on Congressional action on bills and resolutions which create or affect tax provisions. Directs the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance to prepare a reauthorization schedule for all tax provisions similar to the schedule set out for Federal programs in title I of this Act. Requires Congress to take final action on the reauthorization schedule for tax provisions before the end of the 97th Congress. Provides that each tax expenditure provision shall expire unless it is reauthorized by a law enacted during the Congress in which it is scheduled for review. Sets forth procedures and restrictions for the consideration of bills reauthorizing tax provisions, which are similar to the restrictions and procedures governing bills authorizing new budget authority for Federal programs as described in title I. Requires that the report accompanying a reauthorization bill include specified information. Permits Congress to prescribe technical rules necessary to mitigate adverse effects which might result for taxpayers who rely on a certain tax provision. Title V: Miscellaneous - Amends the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to permit the committees of Congress to obtain from the agencies of the Government estimates or requests for appropriations, or requests for increases in an item of any such estimate or request, and recommendations as to how the revenue needs of the Government should be met. Sets forth administrative procedures and requirements. Directs the President, with the cooperation of the head of each appropriate agency, to submit to the Congress a "Regulatory Duplication and Conflicts Report" for all programs scheduled for reauthorization in the next Congress. Requires that each such report identify duplicative or conflicting rules and regulations promulgated by executive departments, independent agencies, and State and local governments and contain recommendations which address such conflicts or duplications. Directs the chairmen of the House and Senate committees having jurisdiction over a program scheduled for reauthorization during a Congress, to introduce a bill constituting a reauthorization within 15 days of the beginning of the second session of that Congress. Declares that it shall be in order to discharge a committee from consideration of such a bill if the committee fails to report the bill by a specified date. Makes it the duty of the Committees on Governmental Affairs and on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committees on Government Operations and Rules of the House of Representatives to review the operation of the procedures established by this Act and to submit a report every five years beginning December 31, 1988. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1981
Regulation Reform Act of 1981 - Title I: The Analysis, Management, and Organization of Agency Functions - Requires the head of each Federal agency to publish for each proposed major rule a preliminary regulatory analysis which describes: (1) the need for the rule; (2) the reasonable alternative approaches; (3) regional differences; (4) the projected benefits, adverse economic effects, and effectiveness of the proposed rule and alternatives; (5) the estimated effect on small businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions and competition in interstate and foreign commerce; and (6) the advantages and disadvantages of adopting performance standards rather than design standards. Requires each agency to provide interested persons 60 days after the preliminary analysis is issued to submit written comments and to provide 20 additional days for persons to respond to such comments. Requires that each agency publish for each final major rule a final regulatory analysis which includes: (1) a justification over alternatives which are more cost-effective or which have less adverse economic effects; (2) a summary of the significant issues raised by public comments; (3) a statement on the possibilities of providing requirement exemptions or less burdensome compliance standards for small businesses, organizations, or governmental jurisdictions; and (4) the total costs of the agency of the preliminary and final regulatory analysis. Directs each agency to: (1) include in the notice of each proposed and final major rule instructions of how the public may obtain copies of such analyses; and (2) send a copy of such analyses to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Authorizes an agency to delay completing such analyses by publishing a finding that the rule is being adopted in response to an emergency that makes completion of such analyses impossible. Terminates any such emergency rule if such analyses are not completed within 180 days of the publication of the rule. Bars judicial review of such regulatory analyses. Directs an agency to issue a rule providing exemptions or less burdensome compliance standards to small businesses, organizations, or governmental jurisdictions when it has indicated in the final regulatory analysis that such regulatory flexibility is lawful, feasible, and desirable. Requires the Director of OMB and the Comptroller General to report to Congress on agency compliance with the requirements of this title. Requires each agency to publish in the Federal Register, semiannually, a regulatory agenda containing a list of major and other rules for the next year and certain specified information concerning such rules. Directs each agency to submit its proposed major rules to the President for incorporation, semiannually, into the Calendar of Federal Regulations. Requires the Director of OMB to review and publish a list of rules submitted which potentially duplicate or conflict with other proposed or existing rules. Directs each agency to: (1) include in the notice of rulemaking or adjudicatory proceeding the date by which the agency intends to complete such proceeding; and (2) prepare and publish in the first regulatory agenda of the year a report on such proceedings which includes the number of proceedings the agency failed to complete by the established deadline and the reasons for such failure. Requires that such report also disclose specified information concerning the use of funds by the agency for procuring services for the preparation of any report in connection with such a proceeding. Requires each agency, within six months of the effective date of this act, to: (1) establish an office, within such agency, to be responsible for regulatory planning and management; (2) issue guidelines for determining which rules are significant rules according to specified standards; and (3) issue guidelines to insure that an adopted major or significant rule meets certain criteria including requirements that: (a) the rule is written to be easily understood; (b) there has been full consideration with affected State and local governments; and (c) the public has been given a full opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process. Directs each agency to publish and report to Congress on the costs of performing regulatory analyses and of reviewing its rules during the preceding year. Requires that each agency submit to OMB and publish in the Federal Register a draft schedule for the review, over a ten-year period, of its major rules and practices. Sets forth guidelines for such review. Directs each agency to publish a final review schedule within one year. Requires that each agency announce the review date for each major rule upon its publication. Requires each agency to publish an assessment of each precept reviewed. Declares that such review requirements shall not apply to precepts involving the internal revenue laws of the United States. Title II: Reorganizing and Improving Agency Proceedings - Requires that the general notice of a proposed rule include: (1) a statement that the agency seeks proposals from the public of alternative methods; and (2) a statement of where the file of the rulemaking proceeding may be inspected or how file copies may be obtained. Subjects rules concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts to notice and comment rulemaking procedures. Directs each agency to maintain a file of each rulemaking proceeding. Requires each agency to prepare, semiannually, and transmit to the appropriate Congressional committees an agenda listing all areas in which the agency intends to propose major rules during the following year. Directs each agency to transmit a copy of each final rule to each House of Congress and to such committees on the day the rule is published. Prohibits the rule from becoming effective: (1) within 30 days after it is received by such committees; (2) until the earlier of the expiration of 60 days after the date on which a committee reports a resolution disapproving the rule or the date on which such resolution is rejected; or (3) if such a resolution is enacted. Exempts from such time constraints any major rule promulgated in response to an emergency situation. Prohibits an agency from promulgating a new rule substantially the same as a disapproved rule. Requires agencies to respond in an appropriate manner to good faith requests from interested persons for interpretations of agency rules. Creates a new procedure for administrative proceedings required by statute. Establishes an "expedited procedure" which applies to any proceeding predominantly concerning policy issues of a general character, including rulemaking and initial licensing. Requires "trial-type procedures" for proceedings concerning specific factual questions, including proceedings to assess a civil penalty or fine or to determine a claim for certain individual benefits. Enumerates the powers and responsibilities of a presiding employee at proceedings under trial-type procedure. Directs the agency, in such a proceeding, to conduct a hearing to afford parties an opportunity to submit written data, arguments, and responses, and an opportunity for oral argument. Authorizes the presiding employee to designate disputed questions for formal cross-examination. Sets forth procedures for issuing subpoenas in formal proceedings under the expedited or trial-type procedures. Allows an agency to designate an appropriate employee to recommend a decision for a proceeding under expedited procedure when the presiding employee submits a record of the proceeding without a recommended decision. Authorizes each agency to establish employee boards to review the decisions of presiding employees. Directs each agency to specify conditions under which it will accept an appeal of a decision of a presiding employee or such a board and conditions under which it will exclude a decision from the jurisdiction of a review board. Requires an action to be brought in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the review of an agency rule for which there is no applicable special statutory review procedure. Prohibits a court reviewing an agency action involving a rule from making any presumption in favor of the agency action if either the House of Representatives or the Senate has agreed to a resolution finding that the rule exceeded the agency's statutory authority or is inconsistent with legislative intent. Title III: Organizational and Program Improvements - Amends the Administrative Conference Act to repeal a requirement that the public members of the Conference be attorneys, scholars in government, or otherwise especially informed about Federal administrative procedure. Prohibits an agency from providing financial assistance for the costs of public participation in agency proceedings without specific statutory authority. Limits the maximum amount of such assistance. Requires any person awarded such assistance to enter into an agreement with the Chairman which outlines the representation to be provided by such person in the proceeding and permits the Chairman to examine expenditures from such assistance. Directs the Chairman to examine expenditures from such assistance. Directs the Chairman and the Director of OMB to report to Congress on the identity of applicants for such assistance and the amounts of assistance provided for fiscal years 1981 through 1984. Directs the Comptroller General to audit and report to Congress regarding the financial assistance procedures. Title IV: Congressional Review of Agency Regulations - Establishes the Committee on Regulatory Affairs as a permanent select committee of the House of Representatives to monitor the rulemaking activities of Federal agencies on a continuing basis. Requires each agency, upon proposing and upon promulgating a rule, to notify the Committee of certain information about the rule. Authorizes the Committee to investigate any such rule and report to the House. Specifies grounds for objections. Requires the Committee to transmit copies of such a report to the House committees with jurisdiction over the rule and to the promulgating agency. Directs the agency head to submit to the Speaker of the House within 30 days a statement indicating that the report has been reviewed, responding to issues raised by the Committee, and describing any accommodative agency actions. Precludes the House from considering any legislation appropriating funds to promulgate or implement such rule if the agency fails to submit such statement. Authorizes the Committee to report a joint resolution to prevent the promulgation of, postpone the effectiveness of, or repeal any rule on which it has issued a report. Permits the Speaker of the House to refer to the Committee: (1) any bill or resolution which authorizes an agency to issue rules which carry civil or criminal penalties for noncompliance; and (2) any resolution other than a joint resolution introduced pursuant to a provision of law authorizing Congressional disapproval of an agency rule. Directs the Committee to submit to the Ninety-eighth Congress a report on its activities during the Ninety-seventh Congress.
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 · 13 December 1980
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System should immediately take all necessary steps to reduce interest rates.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1980
Nonattainment Area Postponement Act of 1980 - Amends the Clean Air Act to postpone by three years the dates required for: (1) adoption and submission of State implementation plans for areas which have failed to attain national air quality standards; and (2) attainment of such standards. Amends the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 to make conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1980
Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center Endowment Act - Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to make matching grants to assist in the development of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, located at the University of Oklahoma. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1982 through 1986 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1980
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Wichita Mountains Association specified lands in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in the State of Oklahoma. Conditions such conveyance upon the use of the lands for public recreational and cultural activities. Requires that title revert to the United States in the event the lands are no longer used for such purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1980
Declares that the Congress accepts the gift of a red oak tree as a symbol of American hopes for the immediate release of the hostages in Iran. Dedicates the tree to the principles of individual freedom and world peace.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1980
Credit Control Sunset Act of 1980 - Amends the Credit Control Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to report to Congress periodically on its operations under such Act. Terminates such Act on July 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Federal Government should treat impartially all persons who violate the law.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 1980
Designates March 16 of each year as "Freedom of Information Day."
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1980
Nuclear Safety Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for instituting practical improvements in the safety of nuclear powerplants during the next five years. Sets forth the goals of such program, including: (1) the development of cost-effective improvements in the generic design and operation of nuclear powerplants; (2) the identification of aptitude, training, and manning levels which are necessary to assure reliable operator performance; and (3) the analysis of nuclear powerplant fuels, components, and subsystems which offer significant improvements in plant safety. Directs the Secretary to coordinate such activities with those of other Government agencies, foreign governments, and industry. Requires the Secretary to: (1) make recommendations to minimize the complexity of nuclear powerplant systems and operations; (2) use federally owned research facilities and personnel, to the extent feasible; and (3) fully disseminate information concerning projects and activities conducted under this Act. Directs the Secretary to prepare an annual comprehensive program management plan for the conduct of such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1980
Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act Amendments of 1980 - Amends the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963 to revise the definition of "farm labor contractor" to: (1) broaden specified exclusions from such definition (thus broadening certain exemptions from coverage under such Act); and (2) exclude from such definition (and such coverage) any nonprofit or cooperative association of farmers, growers, or ranchers, duly incorporated under appropriate State laws, and operated solely for the mutual benefit of the members thereof, and any full-time or regular employee of such association or cooperative who engages in such activity solely for such employer. Adds other definitions relating to such revisions. Revises the definition of "agricultural employment" to specify that listed activities take place on a farm or ranch. Limits the definition of "migrant worker" to mean (among individuals engaged in agricultural employment on a farm or ranch on a seasonal or temporary basis) only those who cannot regularly return to their domicile each day after working hours, or who are transported from and to their domicile each workday by the person who recruits, solicits, hires, or furnishes such worker for agricultural employment on a farm or ranch owned or operated by another person.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1980
Extends the program of awarding energy allowances to applicants needing assistance from June 30, 1980, until September 30, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1980
National Water Utilities Bank Act - Charters the National Water Utilities Bank, as a Government corporation, to provide financial assistance for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of public water systems. Sets forth the powers of such Bank. Provides for a Board of Directors. Provides for such Bank's capitalization by water suppliers and the United States. Establishes different classes of stock. Authorizes the Bank to borrow funds and to make loans to water suppliers. Specifies preferences in making such loans. Sets forth requirements of such loans. Exempts the Bank and its assets, other than real property, from taxation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. foreign policy should reflect a national strategy of peace through strength with specified principles and goals.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1980
Confers jurisdiction upon the United States Court of Claims to hear all claims which the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma may have with respect to loss of mineral interests.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1980
Research and Development Authorization Estimates Act - Amends the Presidential Science and Technology Advisory Organization Act to require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to advise the President and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget every other fiscal year in preparing an estimate of the appropriate funding levels for research and development for each Federal department, agency and instrumentality for at least that and the following fiscal years. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to identify and describe situations and conditions which warrant special attention within the next four years, rather than the next five years as is now required, including the significant effects of current and projected trends in science and technology on the requirements of the Nation and existing and projected scientific and technological resources. Requires the director to consult with the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology concerning programs and responsibilities relating to the problems, constraints, and opportunities so identified, and to recommend legislation which will contribute to the resolution of such problems. Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to study on a continuing basis the impact of inflation on the conduct of federally-supported research and development. Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to require the Foundation to annually submit to Congress an analysis of all Federal research and development funding by function.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1980
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that neither the Secretary of Transportation nor the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall take any actions which would reduce public air service into Washington National Airport.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that any income received or accrued by a tax-exempt mutual or cooperative electric or telephone company from qualified pole rentals, or by a cooperative telephone company from the sale of display listings in a directory furnished to company members, shall not be treated as unrelated business income subject to tax. Defines qualified pole rental as any rental of a pole (or other structure used to support wires) if: (1) such pole or structure is used by the telephone or electric company in providing telephone or electric services to its members; and (2) the use of such pole or structure pursuant to the rental is in connection with the transmission by wire of electricity or of telephone or other communications.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should restore and maintain the peaceful processing of Cubans, and identify and remove from the United States those Cubans who participated in acts of destruction at the processing sites.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Urges the President to expel those Cuban immigrants who have participated in rioting and other civil disturbances at various processing centers.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1980
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Research and Development Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to prepare a comprehensive program management plan of research, development, and demonstration of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems. Directs the President to submit to Congress annually the most recent revision of the plan giving justification for any changes. Directs the Secretary to initiate research or accelerate existing research in areas in which the lack of knowledge limits development of OTEC in order to achieve the purposes of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to initiate a program to design, construct, and operate well instrumental OTEC facilities of sufficient size to demonstrate the technical feasibility of utilizing the various forms of OTEC to displace nonrenewable fuels. Directs the Secretary to conduct evaluations, arrange for tests, and disseminate information to support such design efforts. Provides for the competitive selection of at least two independent parallel pilot demonstration projects. Establishes goals for the demonstration program which shall include: (1) the demonstration of OTEC technical feasibility through multiple pilot demonstration plants with a combined capacity of at least 50 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent by 1987; (2) the delivery of baseload electricity to utilities located on land or the production of commercially attractive quantities of energy products; and (3) the continuous operation of each pilot demonstration facility for a sufficient period of time to collect and analyze system performance and reliability data. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive technology application and market development plan that will permit the realization of the national goal set forth in this Act of 2,500 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent from OTEC systems by 2000. Directs the Secretary to set priorities consistent with several criteria including: (1) the realization of competitive energy costs for OTEC; (2) private cost-sharing; and (3) the promotion of OTEC in areas vulnerable to interruptions in the supply of fossil fuel. Establishes the OTEC Advisory Committee to advise and report to the Secretary. Requires the Committee to meet at least four times annually until the demonstration goals are met. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses for fiscal year 1982. Authorizes appropriations for the conceptual and preliminary design of demonstration plants with a combined capacity of at least 50 megawatts electrical or energy product equivalent.
United States · United States Congress · 29 May 1980
Designates March 19, 1981, as "National Agriculture Day."
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1980
Space Industrialization Act of 1980 - Title I: Establishment of Space Industrialization Corporation - Authorizes the establishment of the Space Industrialization Corporation. Directs the President to appoint a panel assist in the selection of persons to be appointed to the board of directors of such corporation. Sets forth the terms and conditions of membership on such board. Sets forth the powers and duties of such corporation, including the provision of the financial means to purchase satellite launching and related services. Requires the Corporation to provide assistance by financing industrial ventures under negotiated management plans to promote the development of new products, processes, services, and industries in space, and the transfer of space technology for applications having potential societal benefits. Requires applications for assistance to contain a detailed description of all of the technical, business, and economic aspects of the project. Limits assistance to corporations or groups organized under the laws of any State or territory or possession of the United States and to U.S. citizens. Requires the Corporation to give preference to those proposals which have high potential benefits with consideration being given to the level of risk and the potential for recovery of the assistance provided, and in which the applicant demonstrates substantial commitment to achieving technical, financial, and business objectives. Requires the Corporation and an applicant whose proposal is found to be meritorious to negotiate a management plan which includes appropriate intermediate goals and milestones, a requirement that no less than five percent of the costs will be provided by the applicant, provision for continuing review by the Corporation, a requirement for repayment of the assistance authority of the Corporation to terminate such assistance, the cost of utilizing space industrial systems, and the functions to be performed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Permits the Corporation to make special grants to applicants to correct deficiencies in proposals otherwise meritorious. Requires the Corporation to establish criteria and guidelines for administering the assistance program. Reserves to an applicant for assistance all rights to intellectual properties and discoveries pertaining to or disclosed in the proposal and any other such properties held and discoveries made prior to final approval of the project involved. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States a Space Industrialization Trust Fund to be made available to the Corporation for use in carrying out the objectives and purposes of this Act. Authorizes appropriations to the Fund. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to invest a portion of the Funds as specified. Directs the President to aid in the planning, development, and execution of a national program implementing space industrialization systems, coordinate the activities of governmental agencies with responsibilities in fields related to space industrialization, and exercise appropriate supervision over relationships of the Corporation with foreign governments and international bodies. Directs NASA to advise and consult with the Corporation on the technical characteristics of space industrialization systems, assist in the conduct of research, development, and operations, and to furnish launching and associated services. Requires the Corporation to notify and consult with the Department of State whenever specified business negotiations are entered into with any international or foreign entity. Directs the Corporation to transmit annually to the President and Congress a report containing a comprehensive description and evaluation of the activities and accomplishments of the Corporation. Title II: Public Ownership of Space Industrialization Corporation - Directs the Board to take all steps necessary to transfer the Corporation from Government to public ownership. Subjects the Corporation to the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act. Authorizes the Corporation to issue shares of capital stock, nonvoting securities, bonds, debentures, and other certificates of indebtedness. Permits inspection and copying of Corporation records by stockholders without regard to the percentage of stock held. Requires all proceeds from securities issued to be deposited in the Space Industrialization Trust Fund. Requires sums from such Fund to be used to pay all expenses of dividend, interest, and redemption payments and to repay appropriations as specified to the general fund of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1980
Expresses the opposition of Congress to the imposition of any withholding tax on interest-bearing bank accounts and on dividend income.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the windfall profit tax: (1) independent producer oil; and (2) royalty interests attributable to ownership of the property from which such oil is produced.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1980
Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 - Title I: Community and Neighborhood Development and Conservation - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to specify for fiscal years 1981, 1982, and 1983 that no data derived from the 1980 Decennial Census, except those relating to population and poverty, shall be taken into account for purposes of the allocation of funds to metropolitan areas. Prohibits, for fiscal years 1981, 1982, and 1983, any revision of the criteria for establishing a metropolitan area or defining a central city of such an area published after January 1, 1980, to be taken into account for purposes of this title, except in the case of any area or city which would newly qualify as a metropolitan area or a central city of such an area. Specifies that, with respect to grants for State, tribal, and local community development programs, beginning in fiscal year 1981, the population of any unit of general local government which is included in that of an urban county shall be included in the population of such urban county for three program years beginning with the program year in which its population was first so included. Requires any county seeking qualification as an urban county, including any urban county seeking to continue such qualification, to notify each unit of general local government, which is included therein and is eligible to elect to have its population excluded from that of an urban county, of its opportunity to make such an election. Declares that the Congress finds that the Nation's cities, towns, and smaller urban communities face critical social, economic, and environmental problems arising in significant measure from increasing energy costs which have seriously undermined the quality and overall effectiveness of local community and housing development activities. Requires concerted action by Federal, State, and local governments to address the economic and social hardships borne by communities as a consequence of scarce fuel supplies. Allows grants for State and local community development programs to be available for the conservation of the Nation's scarce energy resources, improvement of energy efficiency, and the provision of alternative and renewable energy sources of supply. Allows the applicant, at the discretion of the applicant, when applying for such grants, to include as part of the program summary, formulation, and description as required by such Act, comparable information with respect to the applicant's energy conservation and renewable energy resource needs and objectives. Makes activities necessary to the development of a comprehensive community-wide energy use strategy eligible for assistance under the community development program. Authorizes the appropriation of funds for the purpose of making grants to States and units of local government to help finance community development programs for fiscal years 1981 through 1983. Authorizes funds for fiscal years 1981 through 1983 for the purpose of assisting severely distressed cities that require supplemental grant assistance in order to alleviate excessive deterioration through neighborhood reclamation and community revitalization. Limits amounts of appropriated funds which may be used to aid metropolitan cities, urban counties, and other units of local government within metropolitan areas to meet their basic grant needs. Eliminates hold-harmless entitlements. Declares that funds which are to be reallocated, after a determination by the Secretary that they are not likely to be fully obligated during a community development program period, shall be reallocated first to other units of general local government in the metropolitan area to which the funds were originally allocated, second, in any metropolitan area in the same State, and third, in any other metropolitan area. Requires an applicant for a grant under the community development program to take into account the effect of such activities on the involuntary displacement of low- and moderate-income persons and takes into account appropriate environmental factors. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to continue the study on involuntary displacement conducted under the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 and to transmit, not later than March 30, 1981, a report to Congress which shall contain: (1) data collected since the initial report; and (2) further recommendations on minimizing involuntary displacement and alleviating problems caused by such displacement. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to define the terms "congregate housing" as residential property in which some or all of the dwelling units do not contain kitchen or bathroom facilities, and the term "single-room occupancy housing" to mean residential property in which some or all of the dwelling units do not contain bathroom or kitchen facilities. Extends the rehabilitation loan program under such Act to include congregate housing and single-room occupancy housing, and to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1980 and 1981 for community and neighborhood development and conservation programs. Authorizes appropriations, through fiscal year 1982, for the neighborhood self-help development programs under the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to reimburse the Veterans Administration for properties transferred to urban homesteading programs. Requires the Secretary, not later than January 1, 1983, to report to the Congress with respect to the adequacy, effectiveness, and equity of the formula used for the allocation of funds for community development programs under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, with specific analysis and recommendations concerning the manner in which such formula is or could be affected by the data derived from the 1980 decennial census. Title II: Housing Assistance Programs - Authorizes additional authority for the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enter into contracts for annual contributions under the United States Housing Act of 1937, after October 1, 1980, for low-income housing projects. Directs the Secretary to enter into only such new contracts for preliminary loans as are consistent with the number of dwelling units for which contracts for annual contributions may be entered into. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide assistance to improve the physical condition of existing public housing projects, and to upgrade the management and operation of such projects, in order to assure that that such projects continue to be available to serve low-income families. Allows the Secretary to make available and contract to make available financial assistance to public housing agencies for the purpose of improving the physical condition of existing low-rent public housing projects and for upgrading the management and operation of such projects to the extent necessary to maintain such physical improvements. Prohibits such assistance from being made unless the Secretary has approved an application from the public housing agency which has been developed in consultation with appropriate local officials and with tenants of such housing projects. Sets forth the information required in such application. Declares that in making such assistance the Secretary shall give preference to public housing agencies which: (1) request assistance for projects having conditions which threaten the health or safety of the tenants or have a significant number of vacant, substandard units; and (2) which have demonstrated a capability of carrying out the activities proposed in the plan submitted and approved by the Secretary. Provides for assistance to any public housing agency in an amount which the Secretary determines is necessary to meet emergency or special purpose needs. Allows the Secretary to make, and contract to make, periodic interest reduction payments on behalf of the owner of a multifamily rental project in order to encourage the construction of new or substantially rehabilitated multifamily rental housing projects designed for families with incomes which do not exceed 150 percent of the median income of the area in which the project is located. Permits such payments to be made for a period of not more than 30 years to mortgagees holding mortgages secured by such project. Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for review of incomes of tenants at intervals of two years. Requires the Secretary, if as a result of such review it is determined that there are tenants in the project whose incomes exceed 150 percent of the median income for the area, to provide that rental payments made by each such tenant shall increase over a three-year period so that at the end of such period each such tenant will be paying the amount of rent which would be charged with respect to the tenant's dwelling unit if payments were not made with respect to the project. Reduces the amounts payable by the Secretary with respect to the project by any amount received by the owner as a result of such increased rental payments. Directs the Secretary, in making such rental assistance, to give a preference to projects which have or will receive financial contributions from a State or local government. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1982 for operating assistance for troubled multifamily housing projects under the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978. Amends the National Housing Act to direct the Secretary to utilize amounts credited to the rental housing assistance fund for the sole purpose of carrying out assistance for troubled multifamily housing projects through September 30, 1981. Increases the allowable maximum amount for mortgage assistance payments under the National Housing Act. Allows the Secretary, under the mortgage insurance program, to insure a mortgage involving a principal obligation which exceeds, by not more than ten percent, the maximum limits, if such mortgage relates to a dwelling to be occupied by a physically handicapped person. Allows the Secretary, in order to prevent inflationary conditions and related governmental actions from having a severely disproportionate effect on the housing industry, to make and contract to make periodic assistance payments to mortgagees or other lenders on behalf of homeowners (including the owners of mobile homes). States that not more than 75 percent of such authority may be so utilized. Terminates such authority on September 30, 1981, or at such earlier date as the Secretary may deem appropriate. Sets forth the eligibility requirements for such assistance payments. Specifies that assistance payments to a mortgagee by the Secretary on behalf of a homeowner shall be made only during such time as the homeowner shall continue to occupy the property which secures the mortgage or loan. Permits the Secretary to insure, upon application by the mortgagee, a mortgage executed by a mortgagor who meets the eligibility requirements for assistance payments. Sets forth the eligibility requirements for such insurance. Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to require a public housing agency or nonprofit corporation applying for assistance to provide congregate services: (1) to elderly residents to consult with the Area Agency on Aging; and (2) to nonelderly handicapped residents to consult with the appropriate agency. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide funds to cover the administrative cost of public housing for Indians and Alaskan Natives. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enter into contracts for assistance with respect to newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated public housing projects. Requires the installation of a passive or active solar energy system in any such project unless the Secretary determines that such installation would not be cost effective over the estimated life of the system. Title III: Program Amendments and Extensions - Extends through September 30, 1981, the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to insure mortgages or loans under certain HUD mortgage or loan insurance programs under the National Housing Act and to set interest rates for insured mortgage loans. Extends until October 1, 1981, the authority of the Government National Mortgage Association to enter into new commitments to purchase mortgages under the interim mortgage purchase authority of the National Housing Act, as amended by the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act of 1974. Authorizes appropriations for research and demonstration housing projects through fiscal year 1981. Amends the National Housing Act to authorize appropriations to cover losses sustained by the General Insurance Fund. Amends the National Housing Act to specify that neither the holder of a mortgage insured under such Act and covering five or more dwelling units, nor the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as insurer or holder of such a mortgage insured or formerly insured under such Act, shall be precluded, limited, or delayed in the exercise of any rights or remedies provided in the mortgage or in any contract or agreement governing the maintenance or operation of the property secured by the mortgage, by the provisions of any Federal law, except Federal law enacted expressly in limitation. Amends the National Housing Act to increase the mortgage purchase authority of the Government National Mortgage Association. Increases, by up to 20 percent, the amounts which may be insured under the National Housing Act for multifamily and institutional projects if such increase is necessary to account for the increased cost of the project due to the installation of a solar energy system. Requires a mortgage, in order to be eligible for mortgage insurance under the National Housing Act, to have a period of not less than ten years to run beyond the maturity date of the mortgage. Makes mortgaged property located where concentrated housing, physical development, and public service activities are being or will be carried out in a coordinated manner, pursuant to a locally developed strategy for neighborhood improvement, conservation, or preservation, eligible for rehabilitation and neighborhood conservation housing insurance under the National Housing Act. Authorizes the Secretary, as an alternative to the acquisition of an insured mortgage to avoid foreclosure, to make all or part of the monthly payments due on an insured mortgage of a one to four family residence necessary to avoid default caused by circumstances beyond the mortgagor's control. Stipulates that such payments may be provided for a period of up to 18 months which may be extended for an additional 18 months at the discretion of the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to provide home ownership counseling to persons receiving such assistance. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, by March 15 of every other year beginning with calendar year 1981, to report to Congress concerning housing production goals for the current year and set forth general objectives for such activity during the next year. Declares that the land transferred by the city of Springfield, Illinois, to the United States Department of the Interior for the Lincoln Home National Historic Site shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act of 1961 and any other law and with any regulations or other requirements in implementation thereof. Amends the Energy Conservation Standards for New Buildings Act of 1976 to extend until August 1, 1982 the deadline for energy conservation standards for new buildings. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to limit mortgage amounts which may be purchased under certain secondary financing programs. Amends the National Housing Act to provide supplementary loans for multifamily housing projects if meters are purchased or installed in connection with other energy conserving improvements or with a solar energy system or the project meets minimum standards of energy conservation as established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Increases the mortgage limits in the case of property upon which there is located one to four family dwelling. Increases the limit on loans for mobile homes and lots with respect to credit insurance of financial institutions. Amends the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to study the feasibility of utilizing manufactured and other appropriate types of housing in carrying out housing programs for Indians and Alaskan Natives. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to authorize the corporation to purchase, service, sell, lend on the security of, and otherwise deal in loans and advances of credit secured by mortgages or other liens against mobile homes. Amends the National Housing Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in connection with a loan or mortgage insurance program established under such Act, to require that payment of such premiums be made promptly upon their receipt from the borrower. Stipulates that the Secretary may approve payment of such premiums within 12 months of such receipt if the financial institution, mortgagee, or agent thereof pays interest, at a rate specified by the Secretary, to the insurance fund for the period beginning 20 days after receipt from the borrower and ending upon payment of the premiums to the Federal government. Title IV: Planning Assistance - Declares that the following are national policy objectives with respect to housing under the Housing Act of 1954: (1) the conservation and improvement of existing communities; (2) an increase in housing and employment opportunities and choices; and (3) the promotion of orderly and efficient growth and development of communities, regions, and States, taking into consideration the necessity of conserving energy. Declares that it is the purpose of this title to help achieve these objectives by: (1) encouraging the joint efforts of State and local governments and areawide planning organizations in developing State and areawide strategies; and (2) assuring that strategies developed pursuant to this section will lead to implementation activities by States, areawide planning organizations, and local governments. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to contract to make, and to make, grants approved in accordance with the provisions set forth in this section to: (1) States, for statewide activities; (2) States, for the provision of assistance to metropolitan areawide planning organizations, nonmetropolitan areawide planning organizations, units of general local government, counties, other than urban counties, and any group of adjacent units of general local government having a total population of less than 50,000; (3) area-wide planning organizations; (4) units of general purpose local government; (5) urban and rural counties; (6) Indian tribes; and (7) the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Specifies that such grants shall not exceed two-thirds of the estimated cost of the work for which the grant is made. Sets forth the information to be included in the applications for such grants and requires such applications to meet such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations. Requires such applications to set forth a strategy statement which identifies policies and programs over at least a three-year period which address the major issues and problems of the applicant's jurisdiction. Requires the Secretary to establish, by regulation, criteria for the evaluation and approval of strategy statements and applications for grants and for the awarding of such grants. Requires each State and other entity receiving assistance directly from the Secretary for actions or activities being carried out to submit to the Secretary, each year, a performance report concerning such actions and activities. Requires the Secretary, on an annual basis, to make such reviews and audits as may be necessary or appropriate to determine whether a recipient of funds has carried out actions and activities substantially as described in its application. Allows the Secretary to adjust, reduce, or withdraw grant funds, or take other action as appropriate in accordance with such reviews and audits. Specifies that a strategy statement approved by the Secretary shall remain in effect for a maximum of three years following the date of its approval. Title V: Rural Housing - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 for the following rural housing programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture subject to approval in appropriation Acts: (1) low and moderate income or elderly rental and cooperative housing assistance; (2) insurance of loans for housing and related facilities for domestic farm labor; and (3) advances from the escrow account for taxes, insurance, and other expenses. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) payments on notes and obligations issued by the Secretary for the purpose of making direct loans; (2) loans and grants for repairs and improvements to rural dwellings; (3) financial assistance to provide low- rent housing for domestic farm labor; (4) loans and loan insurance for the purchase of condominiums in rural areas; and (5) sums necessary for the Secretary to administer specified Federal housing program for lower income families. Repeals the ceiling on the aggregate loan principal which may be insured in a single fiscal year for housing and related facilities for domestic farm labor. Limits the amount of contract authority for home ownership subsidies in fiscal years 1980 and 1981. Prohibits such assistance in any fiscal year after 1980. Authorizes appropriations for mutual and self-help housing programs for fiscal year 1981. Requires such amounts appropriated, together with principal collections from loans made under appropriations in any previous fiscal year, to be deposited in the Self-Help Housing Land Development Fund, which shall be available as a revolving fund for making loans under the mutual and self-help housing programs. Allows the Secretary to enter into rental assistance contracts with respect to the fiscal year 1981. Defines the terms "Indian tribe", "rural resident", and "adequate dwelling" for the purposes of Federal rural housing programs. Makes persons who reside in reservations or villages of Indian tribes eligible for assistance under the Federal rural housing program. Applies energy conservation standards to homes acquired and sold by the Farmers' Home Administration. Prohibits the Secretary from approving any rent increases in specified projects which are assisted under such Act unless the project owner is receiving, or has applied for rental assistance payments under the United States Housing Act of 1937. Permits the Secretary to make and insure loans to consumer cooperatives to enable such cooperatives to finance the transfer of membership in the cooperative upon such terms and conditions as low- and moderate-income persons can reasonably afford. Specifies that a loan made to a consumer cooperative for cooperative housing purposes may be made upon condition that persons, admitted as eligible members and tenants of the cooperative, may not subsequently be deprived of their membership or tenancy by reason of their no longer meeting the income eligibility requirements. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1969 to allow the Administrator of General Services to transfer any Federal surplus real property, within the meaning of such Act, to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the Secretary of Agriculture at either's request for sale or lease by either Secretary at its fair value for use in the provision of housing to be occupied predominantly by families or individuals of low- or moderate-income, assisted under a Federal housing assistance program or under a State or local program. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to study the legislative and administrative changes which would be required: (1) to conform the procedures of the Farmers Home Administration for reporting budget and accounting information with the reporting principles established by the Presidential Commission on Budget Concepts; (2) to establish procedures to reflect fully in the Federal Budget the budget authority and outlays of the programs administered by the Farmers Home Administration; (3) to remove budget and accounting practices which are inconsistent with the practices for recording debt transactions as provided in the current policy of the Office of Management and Budget; and (4) to simplify the authorities provided in the Housing Act of 1949. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to permit the Secretary of Agriculture to administer, in any rural area, any mortgage insurance program established pursuant to the National Housing Act to the extent to which the administration of any such program is delegated to the Secretary by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to delegate certain mortgage insurance programs to the Secretary of Agriculture in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1980
Federal Reserve Act Amendments of 1980 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to reduce the term of office for members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 14 years to seven years. Requires at least three members on the Board from the agricultural, industrial, commercial, or small banking sectors.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1980
Designates the Indian health facility in Ada, Oklahoma, as the "Carl Albert Indian Health Facility."
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1980
Condemns the internal exile of Andrei Sakharov and urges the restoration of full human rights and fundamental freedoms to him. Declares it U.S. policy to halt official travel to the United States by Soviet scientists and scholars, which is not directly beneficial to the United States, for at least six months. Recommends that all governmental agencies, private agencies, scientists, and engineers be requested to defer all official travel to the Soviet Union related to scientific and technological cooperation for at least six months. Calls upon foreign governments, professional societies, scientists, and engineers to join in similar actions. Directs the President to assure that all Federal agencies take coordinated action should any circumstances change. Urges Federal agencies, together with governments and scientists of all nations, to develop standards, and/or policies for the conduct of international cooperative research and research communications and for the protection of the human rights of scientists. Directs the President to report to Congress concerning the appropriate policies to further this resolution and steps taken to assure coordinated Federal agency actions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1980
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System should immediately take steps to reduce interest rates.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1980
National Usury Act - Establishes the legal rate of interest at ten percent per year. Provides that, except with respect to loans of less than $2,500 made by petty loan companies or credit unions: (1) any agreement to charge interest in excess of ten percent per year on a loan of more than $300 is void as to the excess interest which may be recovered by the borrower; and (2) any partial payment on a debt must be first applied to the interest due. Prohibits the defense of usury in any action to recover on a debt. States that insurance premiums required to be paid under a secured loan agreement shall not be considered interest if the premiums do not exceed those charged under similar policies unrelated to loans. Sets forth provisions governing the application of the legal rate of interest to judgments. Requires any person engaged in the business of financing loans on personal property sold by dealers to purchasers on credit to pay interest at five percent per year on any reserve withheld from the dealer under the contract for financing. States that any amount so withheld shall be due immediately upon the close of the loan account. Requires that dealers receive biannual reports on the status of their reserve accounts. Establishes a fine for violation of such provisions on dealer financing. Requires the board of directors of any institution which deals in bills of exchange to fix the rates of exchange. Requires such rates to be publicly posted. Prohibits any officer of such an institution from deviating from the posted rate of exchange. Sets forth provisions governing secured and unsecured installment loans given by banks, trust companies, and combined banks and trust companies.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1980
National Technology Foundation Act of 1980 - Establishes the National Technology Foundation as an independent agency to: (1) foster communication between scientific and technological agencies of the Federal Government and the small business community; (2) collect, analyze and publish information concerning grants and contracts awarded to small business concerns by such agencies; (3) operate programs of grants and contracts for the development of high-technology small businesses; and (4) operate the programs transferred to it by this Act. Transfers to the Foundation; (1) the Patent and Trademark Office; (2) the National Bureau of Standards; (3) the National Technical Information Service; (4) the Office of Small Business Research and Development of the National Science Foundation; (5) the directorate for Engineering and Applied Science of the National Science Foundation; and (6) the working groups on Innovation Processes and their Management and on Socioeconomic Effects of Science and Technology. Establishes specified offices within the Foundation to perform the functions of such organizations and other functions of the Foundation. Requires the Foundation to: (1) collect and analyze information on the availability of and the current and projected need for engineering, technical, and technology managerial resources in the United States; (2) support engineering, technical, and technological managerial training through grants, loans, or other assistance; (3) assist the establishment of Centers for Industrial Technology to enhance technological innovation through specified means; (4) conduct technology assessments; (5) determine the relationships of technological developments and international technology transfers to the productivity, employment, and world trade performance of the United States and foreign industrial sectors; (5) develop improved indicators of the state of technology; (6) determine the influence of economic conditions and government policies on industrial innovation and the development of technology; (7) promote technology transfer from the Federal government and private enterprise to State and local governments; (8) support applied research in engineering and other disciplines as necessary in the national interest; (9) promote United States interests in international voluntary standardization activities; and (10) promote technology transfer from the Federal Government to private enterprise. Establishes within the Foundation a National Technology Board to supervise and control the policy of the Foundation. Sets forth the composition, procedures, and terms of membership on such Board which is to be operated under the auspices of a Chairman, a Director, and a Deputy Director. Sets forth the general authority of the Foundation. Establishes a National Technology Medal to be awarded by the President to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of technology and technological manpower for the improvement of the economic, environmental, or social well-being of the United States. Requires the Director to coordinate the programs of the Foundation with other programs of the Federal, State, and local governments and the private sector. Sets forth the powers of the Director, including the exercise of authority over the transferred Federal divisions, the establishment and alteration of regional or field offices, and the transfer of funds within the Foundation. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1980
Methane Transportation Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to designate an organizational entity within the Department of Energy to manage the methane vehicle research, development, and demonstration program established under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, or any other Federal agency, providing that such agencies conduct specified aspects of such program as the Secretary deems appropriate. States that the Secretary shall have responsibility to ascertain that such program includes activities to: (1) promote research on methane-fueled vehicles; (2) determine optimum overall specifications for such vehicles; (3) determine means and facilities for storing, transporting, and dispensing methane for use as vehicular fuel; (4) conduct demonstration projects with respect to the feasibility of such vehicles; (5) gather performance data on such vehicles and related methane transmission and storage facilities; (6) enter into arrangements to assure adequate continuous supplies of methane for use in the demonstrations assisted under this Act; (7) ascertain the need for modifying available methane-fueled vehicles in order to facilitate their use by fleet owners; and (8) report to the Congress on any changes in fuel supply patterns, tax policies, and manufacturing standards needed to facilitate the manufacture and use of such vehicles. Directs the Secretary to assure maximum coordination between Federal agencies and the Department of Energy in carrying out such program. Directs the Secretary to initiate and provide for research and development in areas relating to such vehicles. Directs the Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations and to issue an initial report for proposals for technical and financial assistance to support public and private entities in developing and implementing demonstration projects to gather data on the operation of such vehicles and facilities for the transmission and storage of methane as a vehicular fuel. Sets forth the types of technical and finacial assistance to be provided under this Act, including grants and loans to cover specified percentages of the costs associated with the installation of methane transmission, storage, and dispensing facilities. Sets forth requirements as to the number and duration of such demonstrations. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Postmaster General, the Administrator of the General Services Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other Federal agencies to determine the practicability of using methane vehicles in the performance of agency functions and to arrange for appropriate use of such vehicles at the earliest practicable date. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report on all activities undertaken under this Act to the Senate and the House of Representatives for referral to appropriate committees. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981 thorugh 1985 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1980
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. foreign policy should reflect a national strategy of peace through strength with specified principles and goals.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1980
Condemns the internal exile of Andrei Sakharov and urges his restoration to his former situation. Declares it U.S. policy to halt official travel to the United States by Soviet scientists and scholars, which is not directly beneficial to the United States, for at least six months. Recommends that all governmental agencies, private agencies, scientists, and engineers be requested to defer all official travel to the Soviet Union related to scientific and technological cooperation for at least six months. Calls upon foreign governments, professional societies, scientists, and engineers to join in similar actions. Directs the President to assure that all Federal agencies take coordinated action should any circumstances change. Urges Federal agencies, together with governments and scientists of all nations, to develop standards for the conduct of international cooperative research and research communication and for the protection of the human rights of scientists. Directs the President to report to Congress concerning the appropriate policies to further this resolution and steps taken to assure coordinated Federal agency actions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1980
Designates the week commencing with the third Monday in February of 1981 as "National Patriotism Week."
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1980
Designates the week beginning July 13, 1980, as "National Travel and Tourism Week."
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1980
Budget Deficit Control Act - Declares it the policy of the Congress to balance the Federal budget annually. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to determine, during the first quarter of each fiscal year, whether anticipated Federal revenues will cover the level of budget outlays set forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget for such fiscal year. Requires the President, if the Secretary anticipates a deficit, to issue an order sequestering controllable expenditures to effect a pro rata reduction which would balance the budget. Renders such orders effective within 15 days, unless revised or abrogated by the Congress. Sets forth expedited procedures for congressional review of such orders. Authorizes the Congress, on its own motion or upon request of the President, to suspend the operation of an order which has taken effect.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1980
Research Revitalization Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer engaged in a trade or business an income tax credit equal to 25 percent of the cash contributions made by such taxpayer to a reserve fund established to finance research or experimentation related to the taxpayer's business. Limits the total amount of such credit to five percent of the taxable business income of the taxpayer for the taxable year. Exempts such reserve fund from income taxation. Allows an income tax deduction for research expenses paid out of the reserve fund during the taxable year. Specifies that research financed pursuant to this Act shall be performed by an institution of higher education. Prescribes tax penalties for the use of funds from the research reserve for purposes other than research and experimentation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1980
Amends the Clean Air Act to repeal the requirement that State implementation plans for meeting the national primary ambient air quality standard provide for periodic inspection and testing of motor vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the International Olympic Committee should allow Taiwan to participate in the 1980 winter Olympic games under its own name, flag, and national anthem.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1980
Requires the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Company to maintain its entire railroad system as it existed on September 1, 1979, through August 31, 1980, unless: (1) any discontinuance or abandonment is authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission; and (2) no affected State (or local or regional or transportation authority) opposes such action. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, pursuant to the Emergency Rail Services Act of 1970, to guarantee trustee certificates of such railroad. Raises the ceiling on the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all such certificates.