The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Rep. Wortley, George C. [R-NY-27]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000752_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
2,275 records where Rep. Wortley, George C. [R-NY-27] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1985
Designates the week of April 13 through April 19, 1986, as Hemochromatosis Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1985
Designates the week of October 6 through October 13, 1985, as National Housing Week.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide, with respect to Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) payment for lens implantation procedures, that the amount recognized as reasonable may not exceed a percentage (specified by the Secretary and which must be less than 100 percent) of the applicable adjusted DRG prospective payment rate with respect to discharges classified under the diagnosis-related group for lens implantation. Requires a report to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit to taxpayers engaged in the trade or business of raising agricultural products for contributions of agricultural products to certain tax-exempt organizations. Sets the amount of such credit at 10 percent of either: (1) the wholesale market price; or (2) the most recent sale price of the agricultural product contributed.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Designates March 1986 as Music In Our Schools Month.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Disapproves the President's recommendation to extend the President's authority to waive the freedom of emigration requirements under the Trade Act of 1974 in order to extend the most-favored nation status of Romania.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force to prescribe regulations to ensure that National Guard technicians are protected from certain adverse employment actions (i.e. removal, suspension, grade reduction, or furlough) in the same manner as are Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1985
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize regulating the activities of U.N. employees (including employees of the U.N. Secretariat) outside the United Nations Headquarters District in a manner determined to be in the best interests of the United States and pursuant to the United Nations Headquarters Agreement Act. Exempts U.S. nationals from such regulations. Requires the Secretary of State to report periodically to the Congress on plans to implement this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
Grants a Federal charter to the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Incorporated.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1985
Entitles individuals who performed service as National Guard technicians before January 1, 1969, to credit for such service when determining length of service for purposes of civil service retirement, leave, employee death and disability compensation, group life and health insurance, severance pay, tenure, and status.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1985
Children's Justice Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make additional grants to States for developing, operating, or implementing programs for: (1) handling child abuse cases in a manner to reduce trauma to the child (especially in sexual abuse cases); (2) successful prosecution or legal action against child abusers; and (3) protection of children from abuse. Makes a State eligible for such assistance if it establishes a multidisciplinary task force and adopts reforms recommended by such task force. Requires the task force to be comprised of professionals experienced in the criminal justice system. Requires a State to adopt reforms recommended by the task force in each of the three stipulated categories or submit a detailed explanation of the reasons for not carrying out such recommendations. Requires the Secretary, through the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, to: (1) compile, publish, and disseminate evaluations of the approaches utilized with respect to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases; (2) develop and disseminate model training materials and procedures to help insure that law enforcement, legal, judicial, and child welfare personnel are adequately trained to deal with child abuse victims; and (3) provide for support of research projects to assist in identifying effective approaches to achieving successful investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. Directs the Secretary, within two years, to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the activities carried out with the funds made available under this Act and report the results to the Congress. Requires the evaluation to be made available to State officials within 180 days after enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, and any other agency or department head designated by the President, to meet regularly to coordinate and prevent the overlap of programs that address child abuse. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress on the coordination of Federal programs. Requires the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information Center in its Interstate Identification Index, and by the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its Criminal File and its Uniform Crime Reporting System, with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Amends the Public Health Service Act with regard to the confidentiality of patient records to provide that nothing in such section shall supersede any State or local requirement for the reporting of incidents of suspected child abuse to authorities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Amends the Susquehanna River Basin Compact between New York State and Pennsylvania to permit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to set interest rates for the Commission's bonds rather than requiring such bonds to bear an interest rate of no more than six percent.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the: (1) local field office structure of the Social Security Administration should be maintained, strengthened, and fully staffed; and (2) proper amount of administrative costs of such offices should approximate 1.5 percent of the costs of the social security benefit programs serviced by such offices.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Controlled Substances Penalties Act of 1985 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase the penalties for offenses involving: (1) a kilogram or more of cocaine; (2) two or more kilograms of any other narcotic drug in schedules I or II; (3) a kilogram or more of phencyclidine (PCP); or (4) 25 grams or more of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Provides for a fine of not more than $500,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 30 years. Prohibits any person from being released on bail pending trial for or appeal with respect to an offense under such Act. Requires first offenders to serve at least one half of their sentences before they become eligible for parole. Makes second drug offenders subject to life imprisonment.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute (RICO) to allow a civil action to be brought by a plaintiff only when the private suit rests on an injury caused by conduct that led to the defendant's conviction of one of the predicate offenses listed in the statute or of a criminal violation of RICO itself. Requires the plaintiff to bring such action within one year of the defendant's conviction.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1985
Designates the week beginning September 1, 1985, as National Buy American Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Establishes the Office of Inspector General in the Postal Service. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities of such office.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the year of 1986 as the Sesquicentennial Year of the National Library of Medicine.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate September 21, 1986, as Ethnic American Day.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the week beginning on November 10, 1985, as National Blood Pressure Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates the Week of October 6 through October 12, 1985, as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Designates May 1986 as Public Awareness of the Hearing Impaired Month.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the practice of forced abortions, economic coercion, and infanticide in the People's Republic of China or anywhere else in the world is condemned. Provides that if the President certifies that such practices are condoned by Chinese officials, then he should: (1) direct the U.S. representatives to the U.N. Fund for Population Activities to put forward a motion to withdraw the Fund from all operations in China; and (2) review all other bilateral relations and programs with the Chinese to consider further steps to deter such practices.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Recognizes the efforts of the members of the Airborne Divisions of the U.S. Army who served during World War II. Urges the Postmaster General to issue commemorative stamps honoring those Divisions, and to determine the appropriate denomination, design, and period of issuance of the stamps.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1985
Designates the week beginning September 15, 1985, as National Independent Free Papers Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should negotiate a treaty with other democratic nations to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks. Provides that such treaty should incorporate: (1) an operative definition of terrorism; (2) integrated intelligence operations; (3) joint counterterrorist efforts; and (4) uniform laws on asylum, extradition and punishment.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with any physician owing a past-due obligation because of a breach of contract by the physician under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship program. Requires the agreement to provide that: (1) deductions will be made from amounts owed the physician under the Medicare or Medicaid (title XIX of the Act) program until the past-due obligation has been repaid; (2) Medicare payments for services provided by such physician shall only be made on the basis of an assignment; and (3) if the physician does not provide services for which payment may be made under Medicare or Medicaid or if the physician breaches any provision of the agreement then the Attorney General shall sue the physician to recover the amount owed and the physician shall be barred from Medicare and Medicaid participation until the obligation has been repaid. Prohibits barring a physician if such physician is the sole community physician. Requires a State's Medicaid program to make such deductions from amounts otherwise payable. Provides, under the Public Health Service Act, for the collection of such past-due amounts through Medicare and Medicaid deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Designates November 1, 1985, as National Philanthropy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1985
Supports U.S. policy which rejects capitulating to international terrorist demands. Expresses the House of Representatives' hope for the safe return of all U.S. hostages (in Lebanon), just compensation for their suffering, and just punishment and retribution for the crimes and atrocities committed by the terrorists.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for Federal crimes. Requires the Government, for any offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea that it intends to seek the death penalty, as well as notice of the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury or the court upon motion by the defendant when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. Provides that at the hearing, any information may be presented as to any matter relevant to the sentence and shall include all matters relating to any of the listed aggravating factors and to any mitigating factors. Allows the defendant to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading of the jury. Allows the Government to present any information relevant to mitigating or aggravating factors in accordance with the rules of evidence applicable to a criminal trial in which the question of guilt or innocence is determined. Permits the Government and the defendant opportunity to rebut any information received at the hearing. Specifies mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the information and aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Lists threshold aggravating factors for homicide, including that the defendant: (1) intentionally killed the victim; (2) intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury which resulted in the death of the victim; or (3) intentionally participated in an act which he reasonably should have known would create grave risk of death to a person and the victim did die as a direct result of the act. Sets forth other aggravating factors. Includes among the mitigating factors that the defendant was less than 18 years old at the time of the crime. Conditions imposition of the death penalty on a unanimous finding by the jury that: (1) some aggravating factor exists in addition to a threshold factor; and (2) the aggravating factor sufficiently outweighs any mitigating factor found to exist. Directs the court to impose the death penalty upon a finding that such sentence is justified. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the death sentence. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the court of appeals, upon considering the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Revises the definition of "aircraft piracy" to state that it is a continuing offense throughout the period the seizure or exercise of control continues.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to permit specified domestic entities, before the 75th day after either the filing of a petition for import relief regarding a perishable commodity or the beginning of an investigation regarding a perishable commodity, to file a request with the International Trade Commission (the Commission) for interim import relief for the domestic industry producing a competitive commodity. Requires the Commission, within 45 days after receiving a request for interim import relief to make its decision and recommend, if relief is to be granted, the form of relief. Directs the Commission to recommend interim import relief if it has reason to believe that: (1) the domestic industry producing the competitive perishable commodity is likely to be irreparably harmed if relief is not granted; and (2) the imports are of such a quantity as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat thereof, to the domestic industry. Directs the Commission, if it recommends import relief, to recommend to the President interim relief in the form of: (1) an increased duty on the perishable commodity; (2) a tariff-rate quota on the commodity; or (3) such other relief as is necessary to prevent irreparable harm. Requires the President, within seven days after receiving a recommendation from the Commission, to decide whether or not to provide relief. Gives the President the option, under certain circumstances, to proclaim import relief in the form of quantitative restrictions. Provides that the interim import relief shall terminate the day on which either: (1) the Commission notifies the Commissioner of Customs that the Commission did not find, pursuant to its investigation, a serious injury or threat to the domestic industry concerned; or (2) the President, after receiving a report from the Commission, determines not to provide import relief. Lists the perishable commodities covered by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Superfund Amendments of 1985 - Title I: Provisions Relating Primarily to Response and Liability - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)(Superfund) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish reportable quantities for all hazardous substances by December 31, 1986. Directs the Administrator to give primary attention to releases which may present a threat to public health. Confirms the President's discretion to decide when responsible parties are authorized to conduct cleanup actions in lieu of Superfund-financed responses. Requires short-term removal actions undertaken by the Administrator to contribute to the highest degree possible to the efficient performance of any long-term action. Increases the maximum time and funding limit on short-term response actions when appropriate. Limits the 50 percent State cleanup obligation to those facilities which are both owned and operated by the State. Credits States with expenditures made at National Priorities List (NPL) sites on cost-eligible response actions. Revises other State cost-sharing measures. Treats long-term cleanup of groundwater, surface water, or soil contamination as part of the costs of remedial action. Grants EPA employees or contractors the necessary access to facilities and information to determine if the need for a response action exists. Prescribes a cleanup schedule for Superfund, requiring an evaluation within three years of sites on the Emergency Response and Remedial Investigation System (ERRIS) list for possible inclusion on the NPL. Sets a schedule for the conduct of remedial investigations and feasibility studies (RIFS) for NPL sites, requiring the commencement of remedial action at a minimum of 90 percent of such facilities within one year of the RIFS' completion. Directs the Administrator to revise the National Contingency Plan (NCP) within 18 months to reflect this Act's amendments. Requires the review of the hazard ranking system within one year. Permits individuals to petition the Administrator for a preliminary hazard assessment at a site. Includes contamination of the ambient air as a criterion for ranking a hazard. Eliminates the requirement that the NPL contain at least 400 sites. Prohibits the Administrator from taking abatement action against any release resulting from an applied pesticide registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Includes all vessels releasing hazardous substances within the jurisdiction of the United States under the liability provisions of CERCLA. Makes certain investigatory and assessment costs recoverable from the responsible party. Exempts from liability for all but negligence actions of government agencies responding to a hazardous substance emergency. Directs the Administrator and each Governor to appoint Federal and State trustees, respectively, for natural resources, creating a rebuttable presumption that their assessment of damages to such resources is valid. States that cleanup costs incurred in a response action constitute a Federal lien against the property of a responsible party. Sets forth evidentiary requirements for establishing financial responsibility. Permits direct action against a financial guarantor if the person liable is financially or physically unavailable for redress. Entitles such a guarantor to all rights and defenses available to the liable party. Limits the liability of such guarantor to its financial responsibility to the responsible party. Increases criminal penalties and adds certain civil penalties for violations of this Act, including failure to provide accurate information at specified times. Establishes a total fund level of $1,750,000,000 for each of five years, through FY 1990. Authorizes the use of Superfund monies for the authorities created by this Act. Eliminates the use of Superfund for payment of natural resource damage claims. Revises auditing procedures to require annual audits and reports to the Congress by the Inspector General. Authorizes appropriations for Superfund for FY 1986 through 1990. Establishes a six-year statute of limitations for Superfund claims, setting forth special rules for minors and incompetents. Authorizes nationwide service of process under CERCLA. Establishes a three-year statute of limitations for the initiation of actions for contribution for response costs of damages and for recovery claims for damages to natural resources. Establishes a six-year statute of limitations for cost recovery actions. Authorizes a State to require contributions to a fund to pay the costs of hazardous substance response actions or damages. Establishes within the Public Health Service the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), headed by an Administrator. Requires ATSDR to implement the health-related authorities of this Act. Directs such Administrator to establish and maintain a listing of areas closed to the public or otherwise restricted in use because of contamination by hazardous substances or pollutants or contaminants. Directs the Administrator of EPA to list and periodically revise a list of hazardous substances or pollutants or contaminants which pose the most significant potential threat to human health. Directs the Administrator of ATSDR to establish and maintain an inventory of information on the health effects of each listed substance. Requires such Administrator to also develop toxicological profiles for each such substance, assessing the current state of knowledge of their deleterious effects, and revising such profiles at least every three years. Requires the Administrator to initiate research where inadequate information is available on a substance. Requires Federal coordination of research efforts. Requires the Administrator of ATSDR to perform a health assessment for each NPL facility where a significant possibility exists that a human population has been exposed to hazardous substances existing at such facility and a significant threat of adverse health effects exists. Bases the selection of such facilities on criteria developed by the Administrator of EPA. Permits the Administrator of ATSDR to conduct health assessments at other facilities as well. Authorizes individuals to petition the Administrator of EPA for a health assessment of a site where evidence of human exposure to hazardous substances exists. Requires the completion of health assessments before the completion of remedial investigation and feasibility studies (RIFS) whenever possible. Grants priority to those sites where the potential risk to human health appears highest. Requires State or local officials conducting a health assessment to report the results and recommendations to the Administrators. Requires the Administrator of ATSDR to provide the affected State and the Administrator of EPA with the results and recommendations of any ATSDR assessment. Includes the costs of an assessment among recoverable cleanup costs whenever such assessment reveals human exposure to a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Directs the Administrator of ATSDR to conduct a pilot study of health effects of exposure whenever justified by an assessment to determine if full scale epidemiological studies are appropriate. Requires the Administrator to establish a registry of exposed persons if appropriate. Directs the Administrator to initiate a health surveillance program for an exposed population if justified by an epidemiological study or exposure registry. Requires the Administrator to report biennially to the Administrator of EPA on ATSDR's activities under this Act. Directs the Administrator of EPA to abate significant risks to the human population through exposure by providing alternate household water or relocation of individuals. Requires peer review of all ATSDR studies and research. Requires the Administrator of ATSDR to provide States and health professionals with educational materials on exposure-related issues. Requires the Administrator of EPA to provide a reasonable opportunity for public comment on any proposed plan for remedial action before it is implemented. Requires the Administrator to publish an explanation of any divergences from such plan or public comments. Authorizes the Administrator to make assistance available to affected individuals to help them evaluate and assess technical information and data. Prohibits the Administrator from taking a response action to certain types of releases unless such releases constitute a public health or environmental emergency. Prohibits response to releases: (1) of naturally occurring substances; (2) of building products; (3) into drinking water supply systems due to ordinary deterioration; and (4) from coal mining sites. Grants highest cleanup priority to releases which have contaminated or closed a sole or principal drinking water source. Requires the consideration of certain factors when adopting offsite remedies, including the long-term risks and uncertainties of land disposal. Exempts response-action contractors from liability for nonnegligent cleanup activities if they would not otherwise have been liable. Includes Federal facilities under CERCLA as if they were private facilities, except for certain financial responsibility and time period provisions. Requires the Administrator to establish a Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket for each Federal agency and department which will include information on off-site contamination and monitoring data, and releases of reportable quantities of hazardous substances. Requires that such information be made available to the public. Requires the Administrator to evaluate certain Federal facilities by January 31, 1987, for placement on the NPL, using National Contingency Plan (NCP) criteria. Requires the commencement of a RIFS within six months of a Federal site's placement on the NPL. Directs the Administrator to review the RIFS and enter into interagency agreements for cleanup when necessary, allowing for public participation. Requires each agency to report annually to the Congress on its implementation progress. Requires Federal agencies to notify buyers or transferees of Federal land where hazardous substances were disposed of or stored. Requires the Administrator to select appropriate cost-effective remedial actions in accordance with the NCP. Requires remedial actions selected to provide sufficient control or amelioration of the hazardous substance so as to protect human health and the environment. Requires such measures to take into account the long-term effectiveness of the solution and the alternative technologies available to the maximum extent possible. Requires a standard of control at least as strict as that provided by any other applicable Federal environmental law such as the Safe Drinking Water Act. Requires onsite disposal to be in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into agreements whereby the releasor or any potentially responsible person conducts the remedial response. Permits the Administrator to fund part of such response. Limits the liability of the cleaning up party to that specified in the agreement. Permits the Administrator to take action against any person not a party to such agreement. Enters such agreements in the appropriate U.S. district court as consent agreements, enforceable as such. Directs the Administrator to notify potentially responsible parties of each other's identities and of the seriousness of the necessary cleanup, providing a moratorium on the commencement of remedial action for a specified period after such notice has been given. Grants notified persons an opportunity to submit a proposal to the Administrator for the undertaking or financing of remedial action. Permits the Administrator to commence remedial action if no good faith proposal is forthcoming within a specified period. Authorizes the Administrator to proceed on remedial actions where a significant public health threat exists, regardless of the status of negotiations. Authorizes the Administrator to agree to refrain from pursing any future liability of a person if an approved response action would be expedited and the person is in full compliance with the consent decree. Permits such an agreement only in the public interest after an evaluation of the effectiveness of the remedy and the nature of the remaining risks. Places premiums from such agreements into a contingency fund for future remedial actions at other facilities. Permits the Administrator to settle with persons whose share of response costs is not substantial. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Terminates the Post-Closure Liability Fund's responsibility to fund the cleanup of already closed sites where hazardous waste was stored in compliance with the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Requires the promulgation of natural resource assessment damage claims regulations within six months of this Act's enactment. Requires the Department of Transportation to promulgate regulations requiring shippers to notify transporters whenever hazardous substances are offered for transportation. Establishes a federally-required commencement date for the running of State statutes of limitations for injury or damages caused by exposure to a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Makes such date the time a plaintiff should reasonably have known exposure to such a substance caused or contributed to a personal injury. Renames the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund the Hazardous Substances Superfund. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Administrator to provide for the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks. Requires the Administrator to use funds in the Petroleum Release Response Account of Superfund for such purposes, but holds the owners and operators of such tanks strictly liable for such costs. Authorizes State implementation of such authority under specified conditions, authorizing the Administrator to make grants to such States for such purpose. Establishes the Petroleum Release Response Account within Superfund out of specified funds. Authorizes citizen suits against violators of this Act, including the Administrator and other government officials who have failed to perform nondiscretionary duties. Permits citizen suits against nongovernment officials in the Federal district court in which the violation occurred. Permits citizen suits against any Federal official only in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Empowers such courts to impose civil penalties and to order the performance of required acts. Requires plaintiffs to give notice to the Administrator, the alleged violator, and the State in which the violation occurred before commencing proceedings. Prohibits citizen suits where the Administrator has commenced and is pursuing an enforcement action. Permits the awarding of court costs to the substantially prevailing party. States that the United States may intervene as a matter of right in all citizen suits in which it is not otherwise a party. Requires the Federal Government to provide the assurances that it will pay a share of the remedial action and maintenance costs of a cleanup on Indian lands that is otherwise required to be made by a State. Authorizes Indian tribes to recover damages for injury to natural resources from hazardous substance releases, except as specified. Includes Indian tribes on the same basis as States under certain provisions of CERCLA. Requires the Administrator to commence a study on the adverse effects of drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes associated with the production of crude oil or natural gas on human health and the environment within six months of this Act's enactment. Title III: Community Right to Know and Emergency Planning - Requires owners and operators of facilities which produce, use, or store hazardous chemicals to file with local and State officials and periodically revise a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical. Requires such sheets to contain the same information as the sheets required under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Requires each State Governor to designate the appropriate government officials to receive such information and who in turn must make such information available to the public. Requires such owners and operators to supply such information to any other facility owner or operator who is receiving shipments of such chemicals. Requires owners and operators to supply health professionals with specific chemical information on a substance if requested to do so. Requires owners or operators to provide a material safety data sheet to such professionals when an emergency arises or it is medically necessary to do so. Limits the use of certain information to health-related needs. Directs each Governor to appoint a Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Commission to coordinate response planning in such State. Directs these Commissions to designate local Emergency Response Committees to develop and implement Emergency Response Plans in case of a a hazardous substance emergency. Requires such Plans to include emergency notification personnel and procedures, evacuation plans, and an assessment and use plan for local medical and police resources. Requires the owner or operator of a facility having a hazardous substance emergency to immediately notify the appropriate authorities according to the Plan, including providing an emergency bulletin for the community which provides sufficient chemical and response information to inform the public of the nature of the crisis. Preempts State and local law in the area of chemical hazard communication. Establishes civil penalties for violations of these requirements and provides for court-ordered enforcement of the medical information provisions. Permits owners and operators to withhold trade secret information from their material safety data sheets, but not from medical personnel. Title IV: Provisions Relating to Taxation - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the environmental tax on petroleum and certain chemical feedstocks for five years, through FY 1990. Repeals the Post-Closure Liability Trust Fund and tax. Exempts certain chemicals from such tax, including: (1) methane or butane used as fuel; (2) substances used in the production of fertilizer; (3) sulfuric acid produced as a byproduct of air pollution control; (4) substances derived from coal; (5) substances used in the production of motor fuel; (6) substances having transitory presence during the refining process; and (7) substances used in the production of animal feed. Allows refunds or credits for certain uses. Imposes a waste end tax sufficient to raise $300,000,000 in each of the five years of the environmental tax extension period. Imposes a broad-based corporate tax sufficient to raise $900,000,000 in each of those five years. Deposits all such revenues in Superfund. Imposes taxes sufficient to raise $250,000,000 in each of the five years for deposit in the Petroleum Release Response Account.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Designates the week beginning October 6, 1985, as National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1985
Designates Saturday, April 5, 1986, as International Worker Solidarity Day.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1985
Designates the week beginning on December 1, 1985, as National Home Health Care Week.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1985
Designates the week of November 24 through November 30, 1985, as National Adoption Week.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Money Laundering and Related Crimes Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish money laundering as a Federal offense. Sets forth fines and penalties to be imposed on anyone who conducts transactions involving the movement of funds by wire or other electronic means, or involving monetary instruments, through a financial institution engaged in or affecting interstate commerce: (1) with the intention of carrying out specified types of unlawful activity; or (2) with knowledge or reckless disregard of the fact that such a monetary instrument represents income derived from such unlawful activity. Provides for a fine of not more than $250,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both. Imposes a civil penalty of the greater of the value of the funds or the monetary instrument involved or $10,000. Authorizes components of the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury to investigate such an offense, as appropriate. Establishes extraterritorial jurisdiction if certain conditions are met. Amends the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 to permit a financial institution to provide records to law enforcement agencies without notice to customers when it has reason to believe that those records are relevant to the commission of a crime. Permits a financial institution to alert a law enforcement agency that it has information relevant to a possible violation. Provides as a defense for a financial institution in a civil suit under the Right to Financial Privacy Act that it provided records in a good faith belief that they were relevant to a possible violation of law. Amends the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to allow the court to prohibit any person to whom a subpoena is directed from notifying any other person of the existence of the subpoena. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) examine books, papers, and records of domestic financial institutions; and (2) summon an officer or employee having possession or custody of reports or records to appear before the Secretary and give testimony under oath. Allows the Secretary to disclose such information when relevant to a matter within the jurisdiction of the receiving agency or for national security reasons. Increases the civil penalties for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act's reporting rules. Provides in the case of a reporting violation for a maximum penalty of $1,000,000 and a minimum penalty of $25,000. Imposes a $10,000 fine in any other case. Reduces the civil penalty by any amount forfeited to the United States. Imposes a civil penalty for the criminal violation of such section, in the amount of the transaction or $25,000, whichever is greater, where the violation involves a transaction. Provides for a fine of the entire amount deposited in an account during the reporting year or $250,000, whichever is greater, where the violation involves the failure to report or omissions in such report. Imposes a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 in the case of a negligent violation. Increases the penalty, if such violation is in conjunction with violations of other laws, or if it is part of a pattern of illegal activity involving more than $100,000 in a year, to imprisonment for not more than ten years. Lists money laundering as a predicate offense for purposes of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute. Authorizes wiretapping for purposes of the investigation of money laundering. Makes whoever knowingly facilitates, by providing substantial assistance, the commission by another person of an offense against the United States punishable as a principal. Makes it a Federal offense for any person to receive, possess, or conceal any money or property which has been obtained in connection with a violation of any law of the United States or to bring or transfer into the United States any money or other property which has been obtained in connection with a violation of any law of a foreign country concerning the manufacturing of or trafficking in a controlled substance. Provides for a fine of not more than $250,000 and imprisonment for not more than ten years or both. Establishes civil and criminal forfeiture procedures for the offenses of money laundering and of receiving the proceeds of a crime.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of the use of unleaded fuel in agricultural machinery and to report to the Congress on such study. Prohibits any reduction in the permitted lead level in gasoline below a specified level until after the Congress receives such report. Authorizes appropriations
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
(Report filed by Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, S. Rept. 99-113) Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a criminal offense for the unauthorized disclosure of classified secret information for profit to any foreign government (or faction therein) with the intent to injure the United States or for the advantage of a foreign nation. Authorizes the death penalty if such disclosure severely jeopardizes the national security of the United States. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury or the court (upon motion by the defendant) when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to such offense, except when the Government stipulates that one or more mitigating factors exist. Requires the jury or the court (if there is no jury) to find that one or more specified mitigating factors exist. States that if such a factor exists the court shall not sentence the defendant to death.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to immediately suspend (without notice or hearing) the right of any air carrier or foreign air carrier to engage in foreign air commerce to and from a nation in which a commercial passenger aircraft has been unlawfully seized by persons who boarded it in one of the nation's airports. Requires the Secretary (in consultation with the Secretary of State) to suspend the right of any foreign carrier to engage in foreign air transportation if it provides transportation to a foreign airport at which tightened security measures have not been implemented within 48 hours of an unlawful air carrier seizure. Provides that, if a nation does not implement certain minimum security measures within 30 days after the Secretary's notification that such steps are necessary, the Secretary is authorized to: (1) revoke or impose conditions upon the operating authority of that nation's airlines; and (2) suspend the right of air carriers or aircraft operators to engage in foreign air transportation to or from such nation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the sanctions imposed upon a non-compliant nation. States that the Secretary's authority to impose conditions upon an airline's operating authority or upon an air carrier's transportation rights shall be deemed to be a condition to any certificate to engage in foreign air commerce. Imposes civil penalties upon air carriers or aircraft operators who engage in foreign air transportation in violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Act to Combat International Terrorism - Defines "international terrorism" for purposes of this Act. Defines "state support of international terrorism" as any act of terrorism when committed deliberately by a State by: (1) furnishing arms, explosives, or lethal substances; (2) planning, directing, or training for such an act; (3) providing financial support; (4) providing diplomatic facilities to aid in the commission of such an act; or (5) allowing the use of its territory as a sanctuary from extradition or prosecution. Directs the President to report to the Congress every six months on incidents he determines to be acts of international terrorism. Requires the President to report within 30 days of an occurrence of terrorism if it involves citizens, property, or significant interests of the United States. Requires the report to include: (1) a description of the incident and identity of the individual, group or organization involved in the incident; (2) the identity of any government providing support; (3) a description of the actions of any government assisting in bringing about a positive termination of the incident; and (4) a description of U.S. response to the incident. Directs the President, every six months, to submit a list of states supporting international terrorism to the Congress with reasons for such determinations. Provides that with respect to any listed state the President: (1) shall not provide assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) shall not sell any defense articles under the Arms Control Act; and (3) shall follow a certain procedure with regard to applications for licenses under the Arms Export Control Act. Authorizes the President to devise initiatives to combat international terrorist actions and reduce state support for such actions, including: (1) the suspension of air service between the United States and any state supporting international terrorist actions; and (2) appropriate diplomatic measures. Requires the President to promptly and fully inform the Congress on such actions. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require the Secretary of Transportation to conduct an assessment and report to the Congress on the effectiveness of security measures at foreign airports. Requires the Secretary to notify the appropriate authorities of a foreign government if the Secretary finds that one of its airports does not maintain and administer effective security measures. Sets forth notification procedures and, in certain circumstances, procedures to suspend service with regard to an airport which fails to bring security measures up to the specified standards. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance and training to foreign governments in aviation security. Amends the Federal criminal code to define "identification taggant" and "detection taggant." Makes it unlawful for any person to manufacture any explosive material which does not contain an identification taggant and a detection taggant. Prohibits the resale or disposal of any explosive material sold as surplus by a military, naval, or other agency of the United States which does not contain such identification or detection taggants. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury, under certain conditions, to delay the requirements with regard to detection and identification taggants. Exempts explosive material used by the Department of Defense or for national security from such identification requirements. Amends the Federal criminal code with regard to the destruction of aircraft facilities. Prohibits any act of violence against an individual on board a foreign aircraft while such aircraft is in flight. Makes it an offense to cause damage to (or place explosive devices or substances on) a foreign aircraft which renders it incapable of flight or is likely to endanger that aircraft's safety in flight. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to extend the "special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States" to any violator of the Montreal Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation as long as the aircraft involved lands in the United States with an alleged offender still on board. Makes it a Federal criminal offense to convey any threats with the apparent determination and will to carry out such a threat with regard to the destruction of aircraft, trains, or vessels. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to provide civil and criminal penalties for conveying false information with regard to aircraft piracy. Imposes a civil penalty upon any unauthorized person having possession of a concealed weapon while aboard or boarding any aircraft. Urges the President to seek international agreements to assure more effective cooperation in combating terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the amount of the income tax deduction for the legal adoption of a child by a taxpayer to not exceed $5,000 ($7,000 in the case of an international adoption). Reduces the amount of the deduction for taxpayers whose taxable income exceeds $60,000. Expands such deduction to include all reasonable and necessary expenses which are directly related to a legal adoption of a child (current law restricts expenses to those incurred in the adoption of a child with special needs), if such adoption has been arranged by a State or local agency, a nonprofit agency, or through a private placement which does not violate a Federal or State law. Disallows such deduction for expenses of adoption by an individual of a child who is a child of such individual's spouse. Disallows such deduction for expenses in connection with artificial insemination, embryo transplantation, in vitro fertilization, or surrogate parenthood. Disallows such deduction for expenses incurred for travel outside the United States, unless such travel is required as a condition of the child's adoption, to assess the health and status of the child, or to escort the child back to the United States. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on his behalf by an employer pursuant to an adoption assistance program. Establishes dollar amount and income amount limitations on such exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Designates July 20, 1985, as Space Exploration Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1985
Recognizes the contributions made by members of the Airborne Ranger companies who served in the Korean conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1985
Designates the square dance as the national folk dance for 1985 and 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1985
Narcoterrorism Information Rewards Act of 1985 - Authorizes the Attorney General to reward any individual who furnishes information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who killed or kidnapped, or conspired to do so, any U.S. officer or employee (or family member) on account of his or her official duty involving drug enforcement. Grants a reward to any individual who furnishes information leading to the prevention or frustration of such a kidnapping or killing. Authorizes the Attorney General to determine the amount of such reward. Allows the Attorney General to protect the identity of a recipient, if necessary. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1985
Designates the month of November 1985 as National Diabetes Month.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the week beginning October 20, 1985, as The Lessons of Grenada Week.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1985
Designates August 13, 1985, as National Neighborhood Crime Watch Day.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.