United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1984
Declares that Congress reaffirms its commitment to the principle that funds for the support of scientific research projects and facilities should be awarded solely on the basis of scientific merit as determined in a fair and open competition review by peers. Urges interested parties to refrain from action that would bypass such a process.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that an international prayer breakfast would be an appropriate event to be held in conjunction with the games of the XXIII Olympiad.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. objectives in Lebanon can best be accomplished by: (1) continuing to support negotiations among the parties at the Geneva Conference on National Reconciliation that will lead to a government of national unity in Lebanon; (2) following consultation with other nations participating in the Multinational Force, redeploying U.S. armed forces to positions where their presence can demonstrate U.S. commitment to an independent Lebanon; and (3) seeking involvement of armed forces from other nations, under the auspices of the United Nations, in peacekeeping operations in the Beirut area.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Prohibits any change in the standard Federal regional or subregional structure or policy as established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circular A-105 of April 4, 1974, except by Act of Congress. Terminates the authority of the Director of OMB to approve combinations of standard Federal regions pursuant to such circular.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1984
Prohibits any change in the standard Federal regional or subregional office structure or policy as established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circular A-105 of April 4, 1974, except by Act of Congress. Allows combinations of standard Federal regions approved pursuant to such circular before January 1, 1984, to be continued without specific approval by Act of Congress. Requires the Director of OMB to wait at least 90 days after notifying Congress of an agency's request for approval of certain regional or subregional organization plans before approving such a plan.
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 · 18 November 1983
National Observance Advisory Act - Establishes a commission known as the President's Advisory Commission on National Observances to establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed national observance be approved or disapproved.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Korean Air Lines Victims Claims Act - Directs the President to prohibit all transactions involving assets of the Soviet Union in the United States or any other transactions described in a specified section of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act pending voluntary settlement of the claims of the survivors of U.S. citizens on board the Korean Air Lines plane that was shot down by the Soviets. Directs the President to direct the Secretary of State to initiate negotiations as soon as practicable to conclude an agreement with the Soviet Union which would provide for the payment of awards certified by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to seize and liquidate Soviet assets in the United States and pay such funds into a claims fund if no agreement with the Soviet Union is reached by the time all the claims have been certified. Amends the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 to direct the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to determine the validity and amounts of the claims of the survivors of the U.S. citizens on board the downed Korean Air Lines plane. Requires the claims to be submitted to the Commission within one year of the publication of notice of the right to file. Requires the Commission to certify the amount determined to be the loss suffered by each claimant. Provides for consolidated awards. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish in the Treasury a Claims Fund for payment of unsatisfied claims of U.S. citizens against the Soviet Union. Requires the Claims Fund to consist of: (1) sums paid to the United States pursuant to a claims settlement agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States; or (2) in the absence of such agreement, the sums acquired by the seizure and liquidation of Soviet assets in the United States. Sets forth the claim payment procedures. Requires the Commission to complete its affairs in connection with the settlement of claims within six months of the final date for the filing of such claims. Provides that necessary records and documents shall be made available to the Commission. Authorizes appropriations. Limits the fees that may be charged for services rendered on behalf of a claimant.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the American Broadcasting Company, the Department of State, and the U.S. Information Agency should work to have the television movie "The Day After" aired to the Soviet public.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to introduce before the U.N. General Assembly a resolution calling for the withdrawal of Syrian and Syrian-controlled forces from Lebanon in order to facilitate the return of peace to the country.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1983
States that the Congress: (1) expresses its condolences to the families of the Koreans who were killed in Burma; (2) reaffirms the friendship between the people of the United States and Korea; and (3) condemns such killings and calls upon the international community to combat terrorism and punish the perpetrators of such acts.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Designates November 12, 1983, as Anti-Defamation League Day in honor of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Anti-Defamation League of the B'nai B'rith.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the: (1) Argentine people are to be commended on the conduct of elections and the return to democracy; (2) United States is supportive of a transition from military rule to the installation of the duly elected government and discourages any delay in such installation; and (3) United States recognizes the problems confronting the new government.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from Federal income taxes members of the armed forces of the United States who die as a result of hostile action outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1983
Title I: Risk Assessment Research and Development - Risk Assessment Research and Demonstration Act of 1983 - Directs the President to establish and direct coordinated projects which shall be designed to: (1) improve the use of risk assessment within Federal agencies; (2) develop a systematic approach to the use of risk assessment by Federal agencies; (3) identify research needed to improve risk assessment; and (4) bring public awareness to the nature of regulated risks. Directs the President to designate an agency or agencies to coordinate the projects. Directs the coordinating agencies to submit a report to Congress which includes: (1) a review of the risk assessments presently being carried out in Federal agencies; (2) recommendations for sharing research results among Federal agencies; (3) a proposal for the risk assessment demonstration projects required by this Act to be undertaken by specified Federal agencies; and (4) identification of the areas where the use of the results of a risk assessment is required, encouraged, limited, or prohibited by current law, regulation, or practice. Requires specified Federal agencies to recommend to the coordinating agencies research projects relating to risk assessment. Directs the coordinating agencies to report to Congress with recommendations concerning risk assessment. Title II: Central Board of Scientific Risk Analysis - Central Board of Scientific Risk Analysis Act of 1983 - Authorizes an agency designated by the President to enter into a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with the National Academy of Sciences to establish within the National Research Council a Board of Scientific Risk Analysis. Directs the Academy, through the Board, to: (1) issue and revise scientific principles and practices for risk analysis; (2) review analyses made by Federal agencies; and (3) make recommendations to agencies on research needed in risk analysis. Requires an agency, before taking regulatory action based on a risk assessment concerning a hazardous substance and involving scientific issues that the agency determines are of national importance, to submit the risk analysis part of such assessment to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy for possible referral to the Board for review. Requires the Director to make such referral and publish notice of such review if the Director and the Academy concur with the agency's determination. Requires the Academy: (1) through the Board, to review such analysis expeditiously; (2) to submit a review timetable to the Director for publication, along with an invitation for public comment, in the Federal Register; and (3) to submit to the agency and provide to the public a report on such analysis. Provides that nothing contained in the Academy's reports shall be binding on any agency, but requires any agency that fails to act in accordance with the Academy's findings to publish a justification for such failure. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1983
Establishes the National Commission on Federal Budget Deficit Reductions to review all relevant elements of fiscal and monetary policy, identify problems which may hinder the control and reduction of Federal budget deficits, and analyze all potential options which would result in deficit reductions and place the Government on a sound financial basis. Requires the Commission to transmit a report to the President and Congress not later than February 15, 1984, or the close of the 90th day beginning after the date of enactment of this resolution. Requires such report to contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate. Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits its report.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Fire Prevention Week, 1983, should be observed with appropriate activities; and (2) firefighters who have died while performing official duties be honored appropriately at the Annual National Observance Services for Fallen Firefighters on October 16, 1983, at the Federal training center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1983
National Organ Transplant Act - Title I: Amendment to Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make planning and operations grants for local organ procurement organizations. Sets forth eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1989. Directs the Secretary to establish a private nonprofit United States Transplantation Network to provide a central registry linking donors and potential recipients. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health a National Center for Organ Transplantation to coordinate Federal organ transplantation activities; and (2) appoint an advisory council for such Center. Requires the Secretary to publish an annual organ transplantation report. Title II: Medicare and Medicaid Amendments - Amends the Social Security Act to permit Medicare organ transplantations at specified centers. Exempts organ procurement activities from specified cost limits. Requires States to develop written Medicaid payment polices for organ transplants. Requires State Medicaid plans to participate in any transplant program established under Medicare. Requires designated Medicare transplant centers to serve Medicaid patients. Title III: Prohibition of Organ Purchases - Prohibits the sale of human organs. Subjects violators to maximum penalties of $50,000 or five years in prison, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1983
Alternative Energy Tax Incentives Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the residential energy income tax credit for renewable energy sources for five years from 1985 to 1990. Reduces the qualifying percentage for energy source expenditures by specified increments between 1985 and 1990. Increases from 15 percent to 20 percent the investment tax credit for solar, wind, geothermal, and ocean thermal property. Extends such tax credit for five years from 1985 to 1990. Extends the investment tax credit for hydroelectric generating property and biomass property for five years from 1985 to 1990. Reestablishes the credit for cogeneration property until 1990. Qualifies until 1995 affirmative commitments for solar, wind, geothermal, ocean thermal, biomass, and cogeneration projects begun by December 31, 1990. Eliminates the 20 percent limitation for oil and natural gas used in cogeneration facilities. Qualifies as biomass property methane- containing gas produced by anaerobic digestion from nonfossil waste materials. Revises the definition of geothermal deposit to lower the required temperature to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (from 122 degrees Fahrenheit). Includes shale oil property and tar sands equipment as energy property for purposes of the investment tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1983
Research and Development Joint Venture Act of 1983 - Provides that no person shall be liable under the antitrust laws for entering into or performing a contract for joint research and development projects if such person gives notice to the Attorney General in accordance with this Act. Sets forth requirements and restrictions with respect to such contracts. Requires the parties to such a contract to notify the Attorney General in writing of: (1) the date of the contract and of any contract amendments; (2) the names of the parties to the contract; (3) the nature of each research and development project to be carried out under such contract; (4) the names of the parties who will participate in each such project; and (5) the contract's compliance with the requirements under this Act. Requires the Attorney General to publish this information in the Federal Register. Provides that no person shall be liable under the antitrust laws for any relief other than injunctive relief for performance of a contract for a joint research and development project if: (1) such person discloses the nature of the project and the identities of the project participants to the Attorney General and provides any information the Attorney General may require; and (2) contract performance occurs more than 90 days after such information is disclosed or more than 60 days after the Attorney General publishes notice with respect to such project in the Federal Register. Authorizes the Attorney General to investigate the parties to a contract for joint research and development projects in order to ascertain whether: (1) the information required to be submitted by such parties under this Act is accurate; (2) the contract complies with requirements under this Act; and (3) the research and development projects comply with the contract terms. Requires the Attorney General to notify the persons who are the subjects of such investigations: (1) that an investigation is in progress; and (2) if the investigation shows that the contract involved does not comply with this Act. Provides that entering into or performing a contract for joint research and development shall not be considered per se to be a violation of the antitrust laws. Provides that no person shall be liable under the antitrust laws for an amount in excess of actual damages sustained by a claimant, the cost of suit, and any interest awarded if such liability is the result of entering into or performing such a contract. Requires the awarding of reasonable attorney's fees to a person against whom a claim arising from such a contract is made if such claim fails. Requires the Attorney General to submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President pro tempore of the Senate a report on the operation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should urge the Japanese to extend the current voluntary auto export limits beyond March 31, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1983
Directs the Postal Service to issue a set of postage stamps, based on designs by named artists, commemorating calendar year 1983 as the Year of the Bible.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should continue to: (1) give support to the efforts by the members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to secure a political resolution of the Kampuchean problem (and ensure the withdrawal of foreign forces and the restoration of Khmer self-determination); (2) urge other nations to support the ASEAN efforts in the United Nations; (3) urge other nations to cooperate with ASEAN in maintaining economic and diplomatic pressure on Vietnam to accept a peaceful settlement; (4) support international efforts through the United Nations Border Relief Operation to relieve the suffering of the Khmer refugees along the Thailand border; and (5) give humanitarian and political support to the non-Communist Khmer nationalist forces.