United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Military Real Property Disposal Act of 1985 - Alters the criteria for triggering the notice requirements before a proposed closure or realignment of any military installation may take place. Repeals the current criterion regarding any closure and any realignment involving a reduction of more than 1,000 or more than 50 percent of the civilian personnel authorized at the installation in question. Establishes as a new criterion any closure or realignment which increases the rate of unemployment in the economic region in question by one percent or more. Requires the Secretary of Defense or the military department concerned to include a socio-economic impact statement in any justification to the Armed Services Committees concerning a closing or realignment. Reduces the waiting period following the justification from 60 to 30 days. Removes the requirement that at least 300 civilian personnel be employed at a military installation before it is considered a military installation for purposes of such closures or realignments.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, in providing assistance to developing countries, to: (1) place a high priority on conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests; and (2) take certain steps (including engaging in dialogues on conserving forest resources and information exchanges with recipient countries, supporting projects and activities which offer alternatives to colonizing forests, supporting related training and research programs, helping to end destructive agricultural practices, and denying any assistance for certain activities harmful to the forests). Directs the President, whenever feasible, to accomplish the objectives of this Act through projects managed by private and voluntary and other nongovernmental organizations. Requires the annual report to the Congress on foreign aid programs to include a report on the implementation of this Act. Requires that each country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development include an analysis of actions necessary to achieve conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests and the extent such actions meet the needs identified.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations to help developing countries protect and maintain wildlife habitats and develop sound wildlife management and plant conservation programs. Requires each country development strategy statement or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development (AID) to include a detailed plan to assist that country in the conservation of biological diversity. States that, whenever feasible, such protection, maintenance, management, and conservation activities shall be accomplished through projects managed by private and voluntary organizations and other nongovernmental organizations. Directs AID to allocate at least a specified sum for projects managed by such organizations. Directs the Administrator of AID to take certain steps, including: (1) cooperating with appropriate organizations; (2) looking to the World Conservation Strategy as an overall guide; (3) engaging in dialogues and exchanges of information with recipient countries which stress the importance of conserving biological diversity; (4) supporting training and education which improve the capacity of recipient countries to prevent loss of biological diversity; and (5) the denial of any assistance for actions which invade or significantly degrade national parks or similar protected areas. Requires the annual report to the Congress on foreign aid programs to include a report on implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1985
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit public employees engaged in law enforcement and fire protection activities to take compensatory time off in lieu of receiving overtime compensation. Sets forth conditions under which such arrangement is permissible. Requires that such compensatory time off equal one and one-half hours for each hour the employee is employed in excess of 40 hours in a workweek.
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
International Airport Security Cooperation Act - Directs the Secretary of State (the Secretary) to determine: (1) which countries are high terrorist threats; (2) which international airports in such countries are serviced by United States air carriers or frequently used by United States citizens; and (3) which of these airports do not comply with minimum international airport security standards. Requires the Secretary, within six months after the date of enactment of this Act, to publish in the Federal Register a list of the airports identified as especially vulnerable to terrorist threats, and to update such list at least every six months. Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register and to publicize widely a travel advisory regarding such airports. States that with respect to international airports which fail to meet minimum security standards, the President shall prohibit: (1) U.S. air carriers from landing at such an airport; (2) all air carriers of the country in which the airport is located from landing at U.S. airports; and (3) the air carriers of all other countries from making direct flights between that airport and the United States. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions if a national security or humanitarian emergency requires such waiver. Directs the President to suspend assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act to any countries which are the sites of international airports which are officially listed as especially vulnerable to terrorist threats and have not met minimum international airport security standards. Permits the President to lift the travel advisory and sanctions only if the minimum international airport security standards have been met. Precludes the lifting of any sanction until 15 days after the Congress has been notified. Requires the Secretary to call for an immediate meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization to: (1) discuss international airport compliance with existing international security standards; (2) upgrade security standards for international airports; and (3) call on the member countries of the International Civil Aviation Organization to enforce such Organization's existing standards and impose a moratorium on the use of any international airport which does not comply with such standards. Directs the Secretary immediately to seek to renegotiate existing treaties regarding enforcement procedures with respect to aircraft hijacking and to establish an international sky marshal program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1985
Risk Assessment Research and Demonstration Act of 1985 - Directs the President to establish coordinated projects which shall be designed to: (1) improve the use of risk assessment within Federal agencies mandated by law to protect life, health, and the environment; (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. Describes risk assessment as the use of factual bases to quantify the effects of exposure to potentially hazardous materials and situations. Directs the President to designate an appropriate scientific advisory agency to coordinate the projects. Directs such agency to submit a report to the 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 agency research projects relating to risk assessment. Directs the coordinating agency to report to the Congress with recommendations concerning risk assessment.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1985
Designates the period of October 1, 1985, through September 30, 1986, as the time to reflect on the achievements of the Peace Corps during its 25 years and on ways such programs might be used in the future. Authorizes and requests the President to proclaim this period as a time to honor Peace Corps volunteers and reaffirm the Nation's commitment to such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1985
Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to revise the humane standards for animals transported in commerce. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate standards to govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals by dealers, research facilities, and exhibitors. Requires each research facility to establish an institutional animal study committee with sufficient expertise to assess the appropriateness of animal care and treatment in experimental research. Requires the committee at each facility to: (1) inspect at least semiannually all animal study areas and animal areas and animal facilities at the research facility; (2) file an inspection certification report of each inspection at the research facility; (3) notify the administrative representative of the research facility of any deficiencies; and (4) notify the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the funding Federal agency if such deficiencies remain uncorrected. Requires each research facility to provide for annual training in the humane treatment of animals for scientists, animal technicians, and other personnel involved with animal care and treatment in such facility. Directs the Secretary to establish an information service at the National Agricultural library to provide information on improved methods of animal experimentation, including: (1) employee training; (2) preventing unnecessary duplication of animal experimentation; (3) reducing or replacing animal use; and (4) minimizing pain and distress. Requires funding Federal agencies to revoke Federal support for a project if it is determined that conditions of animal care, treatment, or practice in a particular project have not been in compliance with standards promulgated under this Act. Requires the Secretary to inspect each research facility at least once each year. Requires such follow-up inspections as may be necessary until all deficiencies which may be found are corrected. Imposes penalties for the release of any confidential information or trade secrets by any member of an institutional animal committee. Increases penalties for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1985
Deplores and condemns the murder of Major Arthur D. Nicholson, Jr., and calls on the Soviet Union to apologize for his murder and to indemnify his family. Calls on the President to rename Checkpoint Charlie in honor of Major Nicholson.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Declares that the House will act expeditiously to implement this legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for the amount of the premiums paid on a life insurance contract the beneficiary of which is a trust established for the benefit of a disabled individual. Requires the insurance contract to be on the life of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a former spouse. Limits the amount of the insurance contract to $100,000. Sets forth rules for the establishment and operation of the trust for the benefit of a disabled individual. Provides that amounts distributed from such trust shall not be included in the gross income of the beneficiary of a qualified disabled individual's trust. Provides that the proceeds of the insurance contract shall be excluded from the estate of the taxpayer, and includes in the gross estate of the income beneficiary of the trust the remaining portion of the corpus attributable to the insurance contract and any accumulated income attributable to such amount. Sets forth a formula for computing the estate tax on this amount.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should establish a task force of expert farmers to address the long-range concerns of the U.S. agricultural industry.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1985
Establishes in the legislative branch of the Government the Perot Commission on Americans Missing in Southeast Asia to conduct an investigation and report to the Congress its findings with respect to the existence and the release of prisoners of war in Southeast Asia. Sets forth specified administrative procedures and powers of the Commission. Requires the Commission to terminate 30 days after the filing of its report to the Congress or on January 3, 1987, whichever occurs first.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1985
Sets forth specified findings of the Congress with respect to the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. States that the Congress will monitor developments in Nicaragua and will determine if progress toward peace and democratic institutions there will warrant U.S. economic assistance. Sets forth specified actions the United States will take if progress is not made by Nicaragua. States that the Congress is concerned about human rights violations by both the Sandinistas and the armed opposition groups. Provides for the continued prohibition on funding for military or paramilitary operations in Nicaragua. Authorizes the President to allocate for FY 1985 $4,000,000 for payment to the Contadora nations for expenses incurred from implementation of a Contadora agreement and $10,000,000 for humanitarian assistance for Nicaraguan refugees. Specifies the source of such funds. Requires the President to report to the Congress with respect to Sandinista actions relating to democracy in Nicaragua and progress for peace by the Contadora process. Permits the President to submit to the Congress a request for authority to take specified actions with respect to Nicaragua. Sets forth congressional procedures with respect to such request.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1985
Prohibits any agency of the government from obligating or appropriating funds for the production of lethal chemical weapons. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should intensify efforts to achieve agreement with the Soviet Union and other countries to stop the production, proliferation, and stockpiling of lethal chemical weapons; (2) the Department of Defense should protect the armed forces against the use of lethal chemical weapons in attacks; (3) an agreement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization must be concluded on the prepositioning of any new chemical weapons; and (4) funding of new lethal chemical weapons is unwarranted in light of the Federal budget deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income as an employee fringe benefit any use of a transferable pass for air passenger transportation by a nonemployee receiving such pass from an airline employee.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1985
Renewable Energy and Conservation Transition Act of 1985 - Title I: Extension of Business Energy Credits - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the energy investment tax credit for solar energy property from 1985 to 1990. Sets the amount of such credit during such period at 15 percent for low temperature solar property and 25 percent for all other solar property. Extends the energy investment tax credit for wind property from 1985 to 1988. Sets the amount of such credit at: (1) ten percent during 1986 and 1987; and (2) five percent during 1988. Extends the energy investment tax credit for geothermal property and biomass property from 1985 to 1988. Extends the energy investment tax credit for ocean thermal property from 1985 to 1990. Revises the definition of "solar property" for purposes of such tax credit. Sets forth special rules for geothermal equipment to qualify for such credit. Title II: Affirmative Commitment Rule to Extend the Business Credit for Certain Long-Term Projects - Extends the time period during which an affirmative commitment must be made in order for long-term energy projects to be eligible for the energy investment tax credit. Allows such extension: (1) from 1990 to 1993 for solar energy property; (2) from 1988 to 1990 for geothermal energy property; and (3) from 1985 to 1990 for hydroelectric generating property. Title III: Extension of Residential Energy Credits - Extends the residential energy income tax credit for solar renewable energy property from 1985 to 1990. Phases out such credit over such period of time. Provides that solar hot water systems and active space heating systems must meet certain additional standards in order to qualify for such credit. Extends the residential energy income tax credit for wind renewable energy property from 1985 to 1988. Phases out such credit over such period of time. Extends the residential energy income tax credit for geothermal renewable energy property from 1985 to 1988. Phases out such credit over such period of time. Revises the definition of geothermal deposits for purposes of such credit. Revises the definition of energy conservation expenditures for purposes of the residential energy income tax credit to limit the amounts taken into account to $700. Limits the energy conservation income tax credit to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $30,000. Title IV: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income otherwise eligible to be taken into account in computing the Puerto Rico and possession tax credit shall not be ineligible merely by reason of being received in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Soviet Union should be condemned for the murder of Major Arthur D. Nicholson, Jr., and actions inconsistent with the 1947 Military Liaison Missions Agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1985
Westway Landfill Funding Prohibition and Hudson River Habitat Protection Act of 1985 - Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from expending funds for the Westway landfill in New York City, New York.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1985
Youth Employment Opportunity Wage Act of 1985 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to authorize employers to pay employees under 20 years of age 75 percent of the minimum wage rate between May and September of each year. Exempts such employees from special certificate requirements. Restricts such authorization to: (1) hours worked by eligible employees in compliance with applicable child labor laws; and (2) youth employed after May 1 of each year. Prohibits the removal of employees ineligible for the subminimum wage rate in order to replace them with employees who are eligible. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Job Training Partnership Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor to monitor the implementation of this Act and to report to the Congress concerning the employment effects of this Act. Terminates such minimum wage rate exception after September 30, 1987, and repeals, as of that date, the amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1985
Prohibits interstate and foreign commerce in any article of fur derived from an animal trapped in a steel jaw leghold trap. Establishes criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to reward nongovernment informers for information leading to a conviction under this Act. Makes the Secretary, with the assistance of appropriate Federal or State personnel, responsible for enforcing this Act. Empowers enforcement officials to detain, search, and seize suspected merchandise or documents and to make arrests with and without warrants. Subjects seized merchandise to forfeiture.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that travel by Members of Congress to the Soviet Union and travel by Soviet leaders to the United States serves the interests of the two nations and that such travel is encouraged.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1985
States that the United Support of Artists for Africa should be commended for aiding the African famine victims and for demonstrating that people can make a difference in relieving the plight of those victims.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Declares that the House will act expeditiously on the necessary implementing legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1985
Handicapped Independence Assistance Act of 1985 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to treat sensory and communication aids, including training in the use of such aids, as medical and other health services. Requires such items and services to be designed to substantially reduce handicaps to employment and education caused by blindness, deafness, a severe hearing or visual impairment, or the inability to communicate vocally. Limits expenses that may be incurred under this Act for such items and services.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1985
Repeals specified provisions of Federal law which restrict or prohibit the private carriage of letters. Exempts letters and packages carried by private express from the requirement that all letters and packages carried by a vessel in interstate commerce be delivered promptly to the local post office upon arrival in a port.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1985
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1984 to make permanent the rules relating to the allocation of research and experimental expenditures for purposes of determining income from sources within the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the residential energy income tax credit for solar energy property for five years (from 1985 to 1990). Phases out the percentage of expenditures which may be taken into account for such credit between the years 1986 and 1990. Limits to $6,000 the maximum amount of expenditures for solar hot water systems which may be taken into account for purposes of such credit. Specifies additional standards which solar hot water systems and active space heating systems must meet in order to qualify for such credit. Increases and extends for five years (from 1985 to 1990) the energy investment tax credit for specified types of solar energy property.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1985
Colorado River Floodway Protection Act - Establishes under the Secretary of the Interior the Colorado River Floodway Task Force to prepare recommendations concerning the management of land within the Colorado River Floodway. Establishes the Colorado River Floodway, with boundaries to be determined by floodflow levels downstream of Davis Dam. Directs the Secretary to file with the appropriate congressional committees maps of the floodway, and to provide each State, local, or Federal agency affected by such floodway system with copies of such maps. Permits the Secretary to make minor modifications to such maps after timely notice to the State or agency involved. Directs the Secretary to review such maps at least once every five years and to make all necessary changes. Denies the availability of new expenditures or new financial assistance for any purpose within the Floodway, with specified exceptions. Allows the appropriate Federal officer to make Federal expenditures or financial assistance available within the Floodway for: (1) any dam, channel, levee, or other structure whose purpose is flood control, water conservation, power, or water quality drainage facility, or other remedial or corrective measure; (2) the maintenance and expansion of publicly operated roads, structures, or facilities, with specified exceptions; and (3) certain other activities whose purposes are consistent with this Act, such as fish and wildlife enhancement projects, air and water navigation aids, scientific research, emergency assistance, and riverbank stabilization projects. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to make written certification each year after FY 1984 that each Federal agency concerned has complied with the provisions of this Act. Requires the Secretary, within one year of enactment of this Act, to submit a report on the Floodway to the appropriate congressional committees, detailing the work of the task force and any recommendations the Secretary may have. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to limit new flood insurance coverage on new construction or substantial improvements to structures within the Floodway to a date 90 days after the enactment of this Act. Denies the granting of Federal leases on land located within the Floodway unless the Secretary determines that the proposed use of such land will be consistent with the purposes of this Act. Requires pre-Act Federal land lessees to take reasonable steps to minimize any land use inconsistent with the purposes of this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits the granting of leases between Hoover Dam and Davis Dam unless the Secretary determines that the lease would be consistent with the operation of Lake Mohave.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should: (1) continue to express U.S. opposition to the exile of Igor Ogurtsov; and (2) urge the Soviet Union to provide Igor Ogurtsov with medical care, grant his release from exile, and accept his application for an exit visa and allow him to emigrate without forcing him to renounce his views.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to the family of Harry Chapin in recognition of Harry Chapin's efforts to address issues of world hunger. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
National Training Incentives Act of 1985 - Declares that it is the policy and responsibility of the Federal Government to encourage cooperation between employers and employees to promote training programs which will assist employees, should they be displaced from the work force, in training for a trade or occupation for which present and future employment opportunities exist. Enumerates congressional findings with respect to the inadequacies of existing employment and training programs, the importance of such programs to the national security and economy, the current funding of such programs, the impact of foreign trade competition on the U.S. economy and job market, and the inadequacies of the unemployment compensation system. Title I: Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1954 Relating to Employee Training - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an employee training credit for employers. Adds such employee training credit to those credits which are included in the current year business credit for purposes of determining the general business income tax credit for a taxable year. (The Internal Revenue Code provisions for such general business income tax credit permit three-year carrybacks and 15-year carryforwards of unused credits, with specified limitations.) Makes such employee training credit for any taxable year equal to 25 percent of the excess, if any, of: (1) the qualified training expenses of the taxpayer for such taxable year, over (2) the base period training expenses of such taxpayer. Defines "qualified training expenses" as the aggregate amount of expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year in connection with the training of employees under approved training programs. Defines "base period training expenses" as the average of the qualified training expenses for each year in the base period. Defines "base period" as the five taxable years of the taxpayer immediately preceding the taxable year for which the determination is being made ("the determination year"). Sets forth transitional rules for the first four determination years beginning after December 31, 1984. Sets minimum base period training expenses by providing that, in the case of any determination year of the taxpayer for which the qualified training expenses exceed 200 percent of the base period training expenses, "50 percent of such qualified training expenses" shall be substituted for "the base period training expenses" in the formula to determine the amount of the credit. Defines "approved training program," for purposes of such employee training credit, to include: (1) any apprenticeship program registered or approved by Federal or State agencies; (2) any employer-designed or employer-sponsored training program which meets certain requirements prescribed by the Secretary of Labor (Secretary); (3) any cooperative education; (4) any training program designated by the Secretary which is carried out under the supervision of an institution of higher education; or (5) any other training program approved by the Secretary. Sets forth the special tax rules for the aggregation of qualified training expenses, allocations of such credits, and adjusted to such employee training credit amount for acquisitions and dispositions of a trade or business. Specifies that the employee training credit shall be in addition to any other deduction or credit allowed for the same expenses under the Federal tax law. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from any penalty tax early withdrawal from an individual retirement account or annuity (IRA) of a displaced worker if such withdrawals are made to pay training expenses, do not exceed the allowable amount, and are made in accordance with the requirements of this Act. Incorporates provisions of title II of this Act relating to the definition of displaced workers, training expenses, and allowable IRA distributions within the Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to individual retirement accounts and annuities. Title II: Withdrawals from Individual Retirement Accounts and Annuities for Job Training for Displaced Workers - Entitles a displaced worker to apply to the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) for certification of such individual's status as a displaced worker. Defines a "displaced worker" as any individual, as of the time of application for a certificate, who has at least 20 quarters of coverage under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, who has received employment counseling within the past year from an agency approved by the Secretary, and who is in one of the following categories: (1) receiving regular State unemployment compensation; (2) exhausted the right to receive such compensation; (3) unemployed, or received notification of termination of employment within six months, due to permanent closure of a plant or facility; or (4) unemployed for six months or more and with limited opportunity for employment in a similar trade or occupation within a reasonable commuting distance. Permits displaced workers to withdraw amounts from their individual retirement account or annuity (IRA) to pay the expense (tuition, fees, books, supplies, or required equipment) of an eligible training program. Limits the amounts of such IRA withdrawal to $4,000 per year (with cost-of-living adjustments), minus aggregate amounts distributed for training expense payments in the four immediately preceding taxable years. Requires withdrawals from an IRA for training expenses to be made only through the use of a voucher issued by the account trustee or insurance company custodian upon presentation to such trustee or custodian by the displaced worker of a displaced worker certificate and an invoice or statement evidencing that such worker has enrolled in an eligible training program. Sets forth requirements for the presentation and redemption of vouchers for payment of job training expenses. Prohibits depositary institutions from assessing any penalty against a displaced worker for early withdrawals from an IRA to pay such training expenses. Permits adjustments in the rate of return on certain investments when IRA funds are withdrawn to pay such training expenses. Provides that the participation of displaced workers in an eligible training program shall not disqualify such workers for unemployment compensation to which they are otherwise entitled. Defines "eligible training program" as a training program offered by an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, a proprietary institution of higher education, or any other institution approved by the Secretary which prepares students for gainful employment in a trade or occupation in which present and future employment opportunities exist. Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations for: (1) the application of an educational institution for qualification of its training program; and (2) criteria for determining whether such a job training program qualified as an eligible training program under the terms of this Act. Directs the Secretary, for purposes of determining whether certain job training programs qualify as eligible training programs, to consider any determination relating to such programs made by: (1) the Administrator of Veterans Affairs or a State approving agency for veterans' educational programs; (2) a private industry council established under the Job Training Partnership Act or other official or group empowered to make determinations under such Act; (3) the Secretary of Education; (4) any State education agency; or (5) a nationally recognized accrediting agency which the Secretary determines to be reliable in evaluating the quality of job training programs. Sets forth nondiscrimination requirements for institutions offering such job training programs. Requires the Secretary to minimize the amount of paperwork and time necessary to certify any individual as a displaced worker or any training program as an eligible training program. Title III: State Employment Service Responsibilities - Directs the Secretary of Labor to allocate funds to States to reimburse administrative costs of public employment offices which provide certification for displaced workers, labor market and training information, and job search services. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose for FY 1986 and thereafter. Directs the Secretary to submit a report to the Congress on a nationwide computerized job bank and matching program authorized under the Job Training and Partnership Act. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to direct the private industry councils established under such Act to make information on job training programs available throughout their service delivery areas. Exempts such councils from limitations on expenditures imposed by such Act in providing such information. Excludes from the computation of the amount of the expected family contribution to a student for Pell Grant purposes any unemployment compensation received by such student or any IRA distribution used to pay training expenses of such student, provided such student is certified as a displaced worker under the terms of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
Amends the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 to extend permanently the increase in the excise tax on cigarettes. (Present law terminates such increase as of October 1, 1985.)
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1985
High Technology Research and Scientific Education Act of 1985 - Title I: The Credit for Increasing Research Activities - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credit for research and development (R&D) expenditures. Modifies the definition of qualified research for purposes of the R&D credit to narrow the category of eligible activities for which the credit is allowable. Provides that in-house and contract research expenses paid or incurred by a regular corporation (not an S corporation, a personal holding company, or a service corporation) will constitute qualified research expenses for R&D credit purposes if the corporation undertakes the research with the intention to use the result thereof in the active conduct of a present or future trade or business. Provides that in the case of research being conducted in partnership form, research expenses will constitute qualified research expenses if they are incurred by the partnership in carrying on a trade or business as applied at the partnership level, and the credit is apportioned among the partners in accordance with general partnership rules. Provides exceptions to this general rule where: (1) there is a joint venture enterprise of regular corporations; or (2) not all of the members of the joint venture are regular corporations, but each member's own trade or business would satisfy the trade or business test with respect to the partnership's research expenditures. Provides that for these two exceptions the research expenses will flow through to the partners, with the trade or business test being applied at the partner level. Title II: Promotion of University Research and Scientific Investigation - Establishes a new income tax credit equal to 20 percent of that portion of a corporation's payments to universities (and other qualified non-profit tax-exempt organizations for basic research) which exceeds a fixed, historical "minimum university basic research" floor. Defines the "minimum university basic research" floor as one percent of the annual average of the corporate taxpayer's combined qualified in-house research expenses, contract research expenses and university basic research payments for the base period composed of the period from 1981 through 1983. Provides that the amounts of research expenses which fall below the floor shall remain eligible for the present R&D credit and are included in the corporation's base period for purposes of calculating the present R&D credit. Treats the amounts which exceed the "minimum university basic research" floor as ineligible for the present R&D credit and excludes such amounts from the corporate taxpayer's base year research expenses for purposes of calculating the corporations R&D credit under present law. Provides that a corporation's payments to universities for basic research that is eligible for the new tax credit shall be reduced to the extent that the corporation's general (i.e., not designated for research purposes) charitable giving to all universities falls below historical levels (the annual average of undesignated payments for three of the immediately preceding four years as selected by the taxpayer). Makes additions to the list of organizations to which corporate payments for basic research may be made and be eligible for the tax credit. Allows a corporation an income tax deduction for contributions of scientific or technical property to an institution of higher education. Defines scientific property to mean tangible personal property (including computer software) used in a trade or business, which is donated for the direct education of students or faculty, for research and experimentation, or for research training in the United States in mathematics, the physical, biological, or chemical sciences, engineering, or advanced computer sciences. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of the allowable deduction for contributions of scientific property. Provides for an income tax exclusion for the scholarships, fellowship grants, student loan forgiveness, or stipends of a graduate student in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or the physical or biological sciences. Provides that such tax exclusion is not forfeited merely because the student is required, as a condition of the scholarship or fellowship, to perform future service in teaching or research.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Military Real Property Disposal Act of 1985 - Alters the criteria for triggering the notice requirements before a proposed closure or realignment of any military installation may take place. Repeals the current criterion regarding any closure and any realignment involving a reduction of more than 1,000 or more than 50 percent of the civilian personnel authorized at the installation in question. Establishes as a new criterion any closure or realignment which increases the rate of unemployment in the economic region in question by one percent or more. Requires the Secretary of Defense or the military department concerned to include a socio-economic impact statement in any justification to the Armed Services Committees concerning a closing or realignment. Reduces the waiting period following the justification from 60 to 30 days. Removes from the Federal courts jurisdiction to review the actions of Federal officers and employees with respect to such closures or realignments.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance for famine relief, rehabilitation, and recovery in Africa. Requires that not less than 80 percent of the funds appropriated for such relief shall be used for grants to private and voluntary organizations and international organizations. Requires that at least 18 percent of funds appropriated for such relief shall be used for emergency health projects. Requires that a specified amount of funds appropriated for such relief shall be transferred to the operating expenses of the Agency for International Development for management support activities relating to emergency food assistance for Africa. Authorizes supplemental appropriations for FY 1985 for such relief. Authorizes supplemental appropriations for FY 1985 to the Department of State for migration and refugee assistance in Africa. Requires that not less than 54 percent of the funds appropriated for such assistance shall be made available to the United Nations Development Program Trust Fund for refugee assistance in Africa. Requires the remaining amount to be used by the Bureau for Refugee Programs of the Department of State for emergency relief and recovery efforts in Africa. Requires that amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act shall be available only for aid in those African countries that have suffered during 1984 and 1985 from exceptional food supply problems due to drought and other calamities. Requires such assistance to be provided without regard to the prohibition against aid to countries which have nationalized or expropriated property of U.S. citizens. Requires that the President shall ensure that such assistance is provided to the famine victims for whom it is intended. Requires the President to report to the Congress by June 30, 1985, on: (1) the emergency needs for African famine assistance; and (2) the projected FY 1985 contribution by the United States to meet an appropriate share of such needs. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should submit a request for supplemental funding for emergency African famine assistance if available funding is insufficient to meet the projected contribution.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Liberty Double-Eagle Bullion Coin Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold double-eagle coins. Sets forth specifications for and the design of such coins. Makes such coins legal tender. Permits the sale of such coins at a price equal to the cost of minting and issuing such coins plus a surcharge equal to the amount by which the fair market value of gold bullion held by the United States and used in the minting of the coins exceeds the statutory maximum value of any gold certificates outstanding against the bullion. Requires the revenue from such surcharges to be used to reduce the national debt. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1985
Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee to review, on a continuing basis and when considering public bills or resolutions, those portions of the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (Grace Commission report) pertaining to such committee's jurisdiction. Amends rule XI to require each committee report on a public bill or resolution to contain: (1) an identification of each recommendation of the Survey to be implemented and the resulting estimated program cost savings or revenue enhancement; and (2) a statement setting forth the disposition of each recommendation pertaining to such bill or resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1985
Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to use, sell, or import into the United States without authority a product produced by a patented process. Places the burden of proof upon the party asserting that a product was not produced with the patented process in an infringement action where the court finds a substantial likelihood that the product was so produced and the claimant has exhausted all means of discovery.
![Official portrait of Rep. Zschau, Edwin V. W. [R-CA-12]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/z000014_200.jpg)