United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the targeted jobs income tax credit for five years from 1985 to 1990. Includes as members of a targeted group handicapped individuals who are eligible to receive rehabilitative services. (Present law limits such group to handicapped individuals who have completed rehabilitative services.) Increases the eligibility period for supplemental security income (SSI) recipients and general assistance recipients to be included as members of a targeted group.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate 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.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1985
Korean War Veterans Memorial Act of 1985 - Authorizes the American Battle Monuments Commission to erect a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in the Korean war. Subjects the selected site, design, and plans for the construction of such memorial to the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. Directs that, upon its completion, the memorial shall be turned over to the Department of the Interior which shall then be solely responsible for its maintenance. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 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 an 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 · 24 May 1985
Softwood Lumber Stabilization Act of 1985 - Limits imports of softwood lumber during any calendar quarter to an amount equal to the product of the historical percentage of imports for such quarter multiplied by the total quantity of softwood lumber that the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) estimates will be consumed in the United States during such quarter. Directs the Secretary to allocate the limitation among foreign countries. Sets forth factors to be considered in making such allocation. Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register every quarter specified information relating to such limitation. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury to take the actions necessary to enforce this Act. Authorizes the President during the five years following enactment of this Act to enter into trade agreements providing for limitations on imports of softwood lumber into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1985
Amends the Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956 to authorize additional appropriations for assistance to non-Federal organizations for developing reclamation projects.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1985
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for anesthesia services and related care provided by a registered nurse anesthetist.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1985
Amends the Small Business Act to treat businesses owned by economically disadvantaged Indian tribes (including any Alaskan Native village or regional or village corporation) as socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses for purposes of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) business development program. Sets forth specified factors to be considered by the SBA in determining the economic disadvantage of an Indian tribe.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1985
Authorizes and requests the President to: (1) designate the week beginning on April 13, 1986, as National Garden Week; and (2) urge the wearing of garden flowers as a symbol of our appreciation for the contributions of our gardeners.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1985
Integrates the Hilltop and Gray Goose Irrigation Districts, South Dakota, into the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. Requires such units to be integrated physically and financially with other Federal works under the Flood Control Act of 1944. Makes Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin power available to the Hilltop and Gray Goose Units. States that the suballocated costs assigned to such Units shall be reimbursed by the water users as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1985
Amends the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Walsh-Healey Act to require overtime compensation only for hours of employment in excess of 40 hours in a workweek for employees of Federal Government contractors or subcontractors.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1985
Cable-Porn and Dial-a-Porn Control Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to include communication by means of television or cable television within the prohibition against broadcasting obscene language. Prohibits the distribution or the production of any indecent or profane material by means of radio, television, or cable television. Raises the fine to not more than $50,000. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to revise the provisions prohibiting obscene phone calls. Permits a civil penalty to be imposed of not more than $50,000. Allows a court, upon petition and a proper showing, to issue a preliminary injunction against such communications. Eliminates as a defense to a violation that access to the prohibited communications was restricted to persons 18 years of age or older.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1985
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 to be used by the Secretary of Commerce to assist in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities. Repeals a provision that requires 75 percent of the funds appropriated for such purposes in a fiscal year to be available to extend delivery of public telecommunications services to areas not receiving such services. Authorizes appropriations, to match up to a specified amount of non-Federal contributions to public broadcasting entities, for the Public Broadcasting Fund for FY 1987 through 1990. Repeals a provision that requires that a specified portion of the amount made available to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from the Fund be earmarked for expenses of research, training, technical assistance, engineering, instructional support, and the payment of interest on indebtedness. Repeals provisions requiring a public telecommunications entity to refund to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting an amount of Federal funds equal to the amount of any unrelated business income tax paid by such entity.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1985
Expresses, on the 40th anniversary of V-E Day, the Nation's deep gratitude and recognizes the enormous debt owed to the American servicemen who fought in World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1985
Vietnam Veterans' Delayed Reentry and Psychological Readjustment and Vocational Rehabilitation Assistance Act of 1985 - Provides Vietnam veterans who are suffering from psychological readjustment problems related to their military service or readjustment therefrom with priority treatment within the mainstream Veterans Administration (VA) medical health resources. Gives service connected disability status, at a noncompensable level, to Vietnam and other eligible veterans who experience mental health problems which are determined by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist to require mental health services to facilitate successful readjustment to civilian life. Requires VA psychiatrists and psychologists to determine if a Vietnam veteran's psychological problems were incurred or aggravated in the service or constitute a post-traumatic stress disorder, thus warranting a service connection for a disability. Directs the VA to institute a comprehensive research and training program for professional, paraprofessional, and lay personnel dealing with Vietnam veterans to assure that they have the ability to counsel, screen, and test Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and provide effective therapy, readjustment, and rehabilitation for their unique medical and psychosocial readjustment problems. Authorizes veterans whose serious mental health problems are related to their military service or readjustment therefrom, but do not warrant permanent disability compensation, to participate in the VA's vocational rehabilitation program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1985
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to revise the benefit levels of individuals becoming eligible for benefits in or after 1979 so that they are equal to the benefit levels of individuals who became eligible for benefits before 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1985
Amusement Ride Safety Commission Act - Establishes a National Commission on Amusement Ride Safety to conduct an investigation of the scope and adequacy of safety measures employed to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injuries from amusement rides. Directs the Commission to review: (1) Federal, State, and local laws; (2) voluntary safety standards; and (3) self-regulation measures. Directs the Commission to determine the uniformity of application and quality of enforcement of such laws, standards, and self-enforcement mechanisms. Directs the Commission to transmit to the President and the Congress a final report, not later than 18 months after enactment of this Act. Grants the Commission the power to hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, and order any person to give testimony by deposition.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) ensure that U.S. officials carry out the pledge to resolve the issue of the Americans still missing and unaccounted for in Indochina; (2) work for the immediate release of any Americans still held captive and the return of the remains of those who died in Southeast Asia; and (3) make every effort to secure the further cooperation of Laos and Vietnam in resolving this issue.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1985
Beekeeper Preservation Act of 1985 - Requires the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to investigate and report to the President on the effects of honey imports on certain domestic programs and on the amount of products processed in the United States from honey. Requires the President, if the ITC recommends that fees or limitations be imposed on honey imports, to: (1) impose such fees or limitations; or (2) deny the existence of the facts justifying such fees or limitations. Requires the President to take such action within 60 days of the issuance of the ITC report.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1985
Commends the Rural Electrification Administration and dedicated individuals for their contributions to the progress made by the Nation during the past 50 years in achieving the electrification of rural America.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1985
Continental Scientific Drilling and Exploration Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior through the the United States Geological Survey, and the Director of the National Science Foundation to implement the policies of the proposed Continental Scientific Drilling Program of the United States relating to earth science research and technological development. Prescribes guidelines for such implementation, including: (1) taking action to assure an effective cooperative effort in furtherance of the Program; (2) taking administrative and financial measures to assure the effective functioning of the Interagency Accord on Continental Scientific Drilling; (3) assuring the continuing operation of the Interagency Coordinating Group; and (4) assuring that the Interagency Coordinating Group receives appropriate Federal agency cooperation. Requires a report to the Congress within 180 days of enactment which describes: (1) policy objectives; (2) projected schedules of scientific and engineering events that would advance Program objectives; (3) resources and funding levels needed for projected schedules of events and Program policy objectives; and (4) cooperation with the international community.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1985
Beekeeper Preservation Act of 1985 - Requires the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to investigate and report to the President on the effects of honey imports on certain domestic programs and on the amount of products processed in the United States from honey. Requires the President, if the ITC recommends that fees or limitations be imposed on honey imports, to: (1) impose such fees or limitations; or (2) deny the existence of the facts justifying such fees or limitations. Requires the President to take such action within 60 days of the issuance of the ITC report.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should pay honor to the memories of the innocent civilians and American and Allied soldiers who died at the hands of the Nazis; (2) it is fitting and appropriate for the President, in a gesture of reconciliation, to visit the Federal Republic of Germany; (3) the President should recognize the importance of the relationship between the two countries; and (4) the President should reassess his planned itinerary for his forthcoming trip to the Federal Republic of Germany.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1985
States that the Congress condemns: (1) Nicaraguan actions that hinder freedom of religion; and (2) the association of the Nicaraguan Government with international terrorist organizations, including the Palestine Liberation Organization. Calls upon the President, in communications with Nicaragua, to raise the issues of religious persecution and compensation for members of the Jewish, Miskito, and other communities who have been forced to leave because of interference with freedom of religion.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1985
Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Persons Act of 1985 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State should review and revise its law to ensure that mental health patients receive the protection and services they require. Declares that States should consider the recommendations of the President's Commission on Mental Health in making such revisions. Sets forth a bill of rights for mental health patients which includes the right to: (1) appropriate treatment; (2) an individualized treatment plan; (3) freedom from restraint or seclusion; (4) confidentiality of and access to records; and (5) privacy. Declares that a patient's attorney or legal representative shall have access to: (1) the patient; (2) the facility; and (3) subject to the patient's written authorization, the records. Permits States to apply for an allotment to establish a system to protect the rights of the mentally ill. Requires such a system to include the establishment of an advisory board to advocate the rights of the mentally ill. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prescribe a formula for making such allotments. Directs the Secretary to report on the activities, accomplishments, and expenditures of such systems. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and 1987. Repeals title V (Mental Health Rights and Advocacy) of the Mental Health Systems Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1985
Extends through the school year ending June 30, 1987, a school district's eligibility under the school lunch program to continue receiving all cash or all letters of credit in lieu of commodities. Makes such districts eligible for bonus commodities on the same basis as other districts participating in the school lunch program. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into agreements with private companies for processing donated commodities into end food products at the expense of the eligible recipient agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1985
Securities, Safety, and Soundness Act of 1985 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit any person from acquiring certain equity securities between April 23 and December 31, 1985, if: (1) such person would then be entitled to cast 15 percent or more of the securities holders' votes in an election of directors of the issuer; (2) such acquisition is disapproved by a majority of those members of the issuer's board of directors who are not issuer officers or employees; and (3) 20 percent or more of the acquisition is financed by the issuance of takeover securities the proceeds from which exceed $25,000,000. Defines "takeover securities" as certain low-rated or unrated bonds or preferred stock, other debt instruments subordinated in right of payment to the payment of any substantial amount of unsecured indebtedness, or equity or quasi-equity instruments other than common or preferred stock. Prohibits any insured bank or institution from purchasing non-investment grade securities. Directs the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation to prevent insured institutions from carrying non-investment grade securities as loans.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the English language is the official language of the United States; and (2) no language other than the English language is recognized as the official language of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1985
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to add Afghanistan to the list of communist countries the imports from which are subject to the column two rate of duty. Prohibits granting nondiscriminatory (most-favored-nation) treatment to the products of Afghanistan. Prohibits entering into a commercial agreement with Afghanistan pursuant to the Trade Act of 1974. Prohibits Afghanistan from participating in any program under which the United States extends credit, credit guarantees, or investment guarantees.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1985
Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to exempt from the cargo preference requirements activities of the Commodity Credit Corporation or the Department of Agriculture that promote the export of agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1985
Authorizes the President to call a White House Conference on Library and Information Services, to be held not later than 1989, to develop recommendations for improvement of such services and their public use. Requires that the Conference be planned and conducted by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences. Authorizes the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the National Library of Medicine, and the Director of the National Agricultural Library, upon request, to detail personnel to the Commission. Requires the Conference to submit a final report to the President within 120 days following its close. Directs that the final report be made public, and within 90 days after receipt by the President, transmitted to the Congress with recommendations. Establishes an advisory committee to assist in planning and conducting the Conference. Includes among its appointed members the Secretary of Education and the Librarian of Congress. Authorizes appropriations as necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1985
Water Research Foundation Act of 1985 - Establishes the Water Research Foundation to: (1) promote and support water research; (2) assist in the determination of long term national priorities for the preservation and use of the Nation's water resources; (3) support scientific and social research; (4) foster the interchange of water resource information; and (5) encourage the establishment of non-governmental water research programs. Establishes within the Foundation a Water Research Planning Center to: (1) support studies in cooperation with other institutions, universities, and Federal and non-Federal agencies; (2) correlate water-related studies; (3) determine additional research needs; (4) recommend long term research priorities; and (5) provide funding for research and related efforts approved by the Board. Establishes within the Foundation a Water Information Clearinghouse to: (1) provide information to user groups; (2) analyze water resources information; (3) develop an information retrieval system; and (4) support educational programs and activities about water. Requires the Foundation to report to the Congress five years after the appointment of the Board. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a defined contribution retirement plan of a rural electric cooperative to include a qualified cash or deferred arrangement.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Veterans' Administration Health Care Programs Improvement Act of 1985 - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to establish and conduct a pilot program in five geographic areas to furnish medical, rehabilitative, and social services care to eligible veterans in lieu of nursing home care. Outlines eligibility requirements for veterans participating in such program. Gives priority for such program to veterans who are either over 65 or catastrophically disabled. Requires each Veterans' Administration medical facility administering such pilot program to furnish unified care management services for each veteran receiving services under such program. Prohibits the cost of the pilot program from exceeding 60 percent of what it would have cost the VA to furnish nursing home services instead of such program. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study of the benefits of the pilot program as an alternative to nursing home care and report the findings of such study to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Congress within 18 months after the commencement of the pilot program. Requires the Administrator to submit to the same Committees a final report on the program within 90 days after the termination of such program. Commences the pilot program on January 1, 1986, and terminates it on December 31, 1988. Directs the Administrator to monitor the performance of VA programs of treatment and rehabilitation for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse to determine various benefits of such programs. Requires the Administrator to report findings to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Congress on an annual basis. Prohibits the Administrator from entering into contracts under such programs which exceed a total program level of $10,000,000 in any fiscal year. Directs the Administrator to establish and conduct in five geographic areas a pilot program under which the Administrator may contract for community residential care for chronically mentally ill veterans. Outlines eligibility requirements for veterans participating in such program. Requires each VA medical facility administering the pilot program to furnish unified care management services for each veteran receiving care under such program. Requires the Administrator, within 18 months after the commencement of the pilot program, to provide an interim report to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Congress. Requires the Administrator to submit to the same Committees a final report on the program within 90 days after the termination of such program. Commences the pilot program on January 1, 1986, and terminates it on December 31, 1988. Directs the Administrator, through the Office of the Inspector General of the VA, to establish and conduct a comprehensive quality assurance program to monitor and evaluate the quality of health care furnished by the Department of Medicine and Surgery to eligible veterans. Requires the Chief Medical Director of the Department of Medicine and Surgery to provide certain standards, statistics, and information on the surgery programs within the Department and to make evaluations and recommendations. Requires the Inspector General of the VA to review certain mortality and morbidity data collected, make certain determinations as to the appropriateness of the mortality and morbidity rates within the Department of Medicine and Surgery, and report such findings to the Congress. Requires the Administrator to establish the Advisory Committee on Veterans' Administration Facility Planning. Requires the Committee to review the criteria for sizing VA medical facilities. Directs the Committee, not later than October 1 annually, to report its findings to the VA, together with recommendations. Requires the Administrator, not later than six months after each such annual report is submitted, to transmit such report together with comments and recommendations for proposed legislation to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Provides, for taxable years prior to 1985, that rural letter carriers are permitted to compute the amount of the deduction for the use of their automobile in performing services involving the collection and delivery of mail on a rural route by: (1) using the amount received as equipment maintenance allowances from the United States Postal Service; or (2) using the form entitled "Worksheet for Use of Rural Carrier in Reporting Equipment Allowance and Claiming Transportation Expense Deduction." Provides, for taxable years beginning after 1984, that rural letter carriers are permitted to compute the amount of their deduction for use of their automobile in performing such services: (1) by using a standard mileage rate for all such miles of such use equal to 150 percent of the basic standard rate; or (2) by calculating the equipment allowance deduction equal to the operating expenses. Removes the 50 percent of business use limitation contained in the Internal Revenue Code for rural letter carriers who claim the investment tax credit and the depreciation deduction for their automobiles.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, the Internal Revenue Code, and other Federal law to provide that the pensions received by retired judges who are assigned to active duty shall not be treated as wages for purposes of title II.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1985
Proclaims October 23, 1985, as A Time of Remembrance for all victims of terrorism. Urges Americans to wear a purple ribbon in honor of the sacrifices made in pursuit of peace and freedom. Authorizes and requests the President to call upon U.S. departments, agencies, and other interested parties to fly U.S. flags at half staff.
![Official portrait of Sen. Abdnor, James [R-SD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/a000009_200.jpg)