United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1985
Calls upon the President to direct the Agency for International Development to work in a global effort to provide universal access to childhood immunization by 1990 by: (1) assisting in the delivery, distribution, and use of vaccines; and (2) performing and supporting research and development activities that will be targeted at developing new vaccines and at modifying existing vaccines to make them more appropriate for use in developing countries. Declares that the President should appeal to the public to provide the necessary resources to achieve universal access to childhood immunization by 1990. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the authorization of appropriations for FY 1987 for the Child Survival Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 1985
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to extend from August 1, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the special rules concerning the allocation of research and experimental expenditures to income from sources within the United States. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax credit for increased research and experimental expenditures. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the moratorium on net operating loss carryover rules. Extends from January 1, 1986, until July 1, 1986, the moratorium on the issuance of regulations relating to faculty housing. Extends the targeted jobs income tax credit from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986. Extends the authorization for appropriations for administrative and publicity expenses through FY 1986. Extends from December 31, 1985, through June 30, 1986, provisions relating to the awarding of attorney's fees to a prevailing taxpayer in a Federal tax case. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the limited income tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax exclusion for amounts received under qualified group legal services plans. Extends from January 1, 1986, until July 1, 1986, the income tax exclusion for certain employer-provided commuting transportation. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the limited exclusion of dividends from a public utility that are reinvested in common stock of the utility. Extends from December 31, 1985, (until June 30, 1986, the investment tax credit for specified types of energy property. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the residential energy income tax credit. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, social security coverage of retired Federal judges on active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 23 November 1985
Farm Programs Predictability Act of 1985 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide that if the Secretary of Agriculture does not announce the terms of the 1986 price support programs for wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, or rice within 60 days of the planting date, producers may elect to participate in such programs by reducing planted acreages for each crop by specified percentages. Permits five percent increases in the percentage reduction if 1985 carryover stocks exceed a specified percent of annual usage for the 1986 marketing year. Stipulates that such election shall not apply to any commodity for which acreage allotments or marketing quotas are in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1985
Trade Policy Act of 1985 - Declares the United States should: (1) coordinate Federal activities in order to form a systematic trade policy; (2) provide for the collection and evaluation of data necessary to form such a policy; and (3) build a new system of international trade and financial agreements. Establishes the National Trade Data Committee which shall: (1) establish and maintain a National Trade Data Bank; and (2) provide for the analysis and effective dissemination of information in the National Trade Data Bank. Requires the National Trade Data Bank to consist of international economic and trade data and to serve as a clearinghouse for such data. Requires the National Trade Data Committee to report to the Congress annually on the Data Bank and the information it contains. Excludes the actions of the National Trade Data Committee from certain provisions governing coordination of activities with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to establish in the Executive Office of the President a National Trade Council which will advise the President on coordinating national and international policies relating to trade. Terminates the Trade Policy Committee upon enactment of this Act. Establishes the Commission on U.S. Trade in the 1990's which shall study and make recommendations concerning U.S. international trade and export policies. Requires the Commission to report to the Congress by July 1, 1987. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and 1987. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the President, by December 31, 1995, to take such action as may be necessary to: (1) revise all U.S. trade and financial agreements in order to meet specified objectives; or (2) replace such agreements with new agreements that meet such objectives. Requires such agreements to: (1) provide for the reciprocal exchange of obligations that are likely to be mutually economically advantageous to the signatories; (2) provide a reasonable likelihood that the United States can enforce the obligations of such agreements; (3) complement and reinforce other agreements; and (4) be subject to certain withdrawal provisions and fulfill certain objectives. Authorizes entering into a replacement agreement only if the President, before starting formal negotiations of such agreement: (1) notified specified congressional committees of such negotiations; and (2) consulted with such committees on such negotiations. Sets forth special provisions governing congressional consideration of a bill implementing such agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1985
Ground Water Protection Act of 1985 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish criteria for groundwater quality, including an analysis of the contaminants and the risks they pose to human and environmental health. Sets a timetable for the establishment of such criteria. Requires the Administrator to appoint an advisory panel. Requires each State to establish numerical standards for contaminants found in the ambient groundwater. Permits separate standards for special systems. Requires each State to use Federal criteria in establishing such standards. Requires each State to assess the groundwater resources within such State and to develop a management strategy and monitoring program for such resources. Requires the Director of the United States Geological Survey to make grants to States for such assessments. Directs the Administrator to make grants to assist States in meeting the other requirements of this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified development credit institutions to oppose any aid by such institutions for the production of any agricultural commodity for export if: (1) such commodity is in surplus on world markets; and (2) the export of such commodity would cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of the same or a similar competing commodity. Limits the amount of U.S. payment to any capital expansion such institution based upon the amount of assistance furnished by such institution for the production of surplus agricultural commodities that are injurious to U.S. producers or for the subsidization of the export of agricultural commodities from certain countries.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) increase dollar limits on personal contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees; and (2) decrease the amount one multicandidate political committee may contribute to any other political committee. Limits to $100,000 ($125,000 where two or more candidates qualify for the ballot) the aggregate amount which all multicandidate political committees may contribute to a candidate for the House of Representatives in a general or special election, including any primary election, convention, or caucus relating to such general or special election. Limits to $25,000 the aggregate amount allowed for multicandidate political committee contributions in a runoff election for the Office of Representative. Establishes a formula for multicandidate political committee contributions to candidates for the Senate based upon State populations and limited to an aggregate total of $750,000. Requires multicandidate political committees which make independent expenditures for advertisements connected with a candidate's campaign to disclose such information within the advertisement. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require any station licensee which allows a person to broadcast material endorsing or opposing a candidate, to provide the candidate opposing the endorsed candidate, or to the candidate opposed by the material, the opportunity to use the same amount of broadcasting time, without charge, during the same period of the day.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from personal holding company income computer software royalties received by businesses actively engaged in developing, manufacturing, and producing computer software. Requires the deductions for trade or business expenses and research and experimental expenditures of the company to equal or exceed 25 percent of the ordinary gross income of the company. Requires that the dividends paid during the year equal or exceed the excess of the personal holding company income over ten percent of ordinary gross income. Provides special rules for members of an affiliated group. Excludes computer software royalties from foreign personal holding company income.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for the establishment and maintenance through the county committees of farm acreage and crop acreage bases for each program crop (wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, and rice) based on the preceding five crop years. Permits: (1) producer crop acreage base adjustments; and (2) the Secretary to suspend acreage limitations when market factors or emergencies demand. Requires program participation in order to receive price support assistance. Directs the Secretary to provide through the county committees for a farm program yield for each crop based on the preceding five years. Sets forth related county committee recordkeeping responsibilities. Provides that: (1) price supports for peanuts for which marketing quotas have been disapproved shall be 50 percent of parity; and (2) no supports for tobacco for which marketing quotas have been disapproved.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1985
Prohibits the President from issuing a letter of offer relating to proposed sales to Jordan of certain advanced weapons systems before the start of direct bilateral negotiations between Jordan and Israel. Prohibits delivery of any weapons if such a letter of offer is issued and accepted before enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1985
Anti-Terrorism Trade Preference Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of State to identify and publish the name of each country that repeatedly supports acts of international terrorism. Requires the Secretary to provide the Congress with a list of such countries annually. Imposes the following sanctions on countries identified as supporting international terrorism: (1) termination, withdrawal, or suspension of any treaty that relates to most-favored-nation treatment of such country; (2) denial of most-favored-nation treatment and imposition of column 2 tariff rates on imports from such countries; (3) non-application of the Generalized System of Preferences on imports from such countries; and (4) non-application of the provisions of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act with respect to the products of such countries. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions if it would be in the best interests of the United States. Directs the President to notify the Congress 30 days before any such waiver takes effect.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1985
Declares that it is congressional policy to prohibit the number of Soviet nationals admitted to the United States to serve as members of the Soviet mission at United Nations (U.N.) headquarters from substantially exceeding the number of U.S. nationals who serve as members of the U.S. mission at U.N. headquarters, unless the President determines that the admission of additional Soviet nationals would be in the interests of the United States. Directs the Secretary of State to report to the Congress every six months on the number of Soviet nationals admitted to the United States because the President determined their admission would be in the national interest and on their duties with the Soviet mission. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary and the Attorney General should report to the Congress within six months on a plan for ensuring that the excess number of Soviet nationals admitted due to a routine replacement of personnel does not exceed the five percent limit.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1985
Dedicates the Cumberland terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park to J. Glenn Beall, Sr., in recognition of his outstanding efforts to protect the canal and tow path from development. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to design, locate, erect, and maintain a memorial to J. Glenn Beall, Sr., within the exterior boundaries of the park. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Directs the Architect of the Capitol, in cooperation with the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, to plan for the construction of a building on a specified site in the District of Columbia for the use of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, and other judicial functions. Requires the Architect of the Capitol to submit a report with recommendations to specified congressional committees. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1985
Mexican Earthquake Relief Act of 1985 - Makes appropriations, under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, to the President to provide aid to the Mexican earthquake victims. Directs the President to try to enlist the cooperation of private business and nongovernmental institutions in aiding the Mexican earthquake victims. Direct the President to report to the Congress on actions taken pursuant to this Act and on any recommendations for additional legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1985
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the tax treatment of loans with below market interest rates (i.e. the imputed interest rules) shall not apply to bonds issued by the State of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exclude the employees of States and local governments from the provisions of that Act relating to maximum hours. Revises the definition of "employee" under that Act to exclude any volunteer for a State, local, or interstate public agency, even if such volunteer is paid expenses or a nominal fee to perform the voluntary services.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Administrator of the Small Business Administration should be designated by the President as a member of the Cabinet and as the principal advisor on small business matters. Upgrades such position to level I of the Executive Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to declare that in the determination of the Federal share of the rural bus lines programs the term "Federal funds or revenues" does not include funds received by a recipient under a service agreement with a State, local or private social service agency.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that no recess appointments should be made when the Senate stands adjourned or recessed within a session for a period of less than 30 days. Expresses the sense of the Senate that no recess appointments should be made of any person if: (1) such person has been nominated during the present presidential term; (2) the Senate has voted not to give its advice and consent; or (3) the appropriate committee has voted not to report such nomination to the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that it condemns the growing incidence of violence against health care facilities (most of which provide abortion services). Encourages the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Department of Justice to intensify their efforts and apprehend and convict the perpetrators of such violence. Urges the Department of Justice to use all applicable Federal criminal statutes against such persons.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1985
Cultural Property Repose Act of 1985 - Prohibits a foreign state from bringing an action in any U.S. or State court to recover possession of or obtain damages related to any archaeological or ethnological material article of cultural property which has been in the United States under specified circumstances. Applies such prohibition to pending court proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1985
Small Business Tax Simplification and Taxpayer Protection Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the threshold amount for purposes of permitting employers to make monthly (rather than more frequent) deposits of payroll taxes from $3,000 to $5,000. Provides for an inflation adjustment to the threshold amount for any month after calendar year 1986. Makes the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act applicable to all rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Removes the maximum dollar amount (now $25,000) which may be awarded to the prevailing party in a civil tax proceeding. Provides that the awarding of court costs and certain fees will be denied if the United States proves its position was substantially justified or special circumstances exist which would make such a judgment unjust, or if the prevailing party has unreasonably protracted such proceedings. Imposes limits on fees for expert witnesses and attorneys in civil tax litigation proceedings. Provides that the position of the United States includes the position taken by the United States in the civil proceeding and the administrative action or inaction by the United States upon which such proceeding is based.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1985
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to increase the duties on certain petroleum products imported into the United States (by specified amount plus the applicable offset amount per barrel). Defines "applicable offset amount." Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to refund the applicable offset amount if the petroleum product on which such duty was paid: (1) was used as heating fuel or in the production of heating fuel; or (2) is necessary to the manufacturing process for products destined for export. Provides that revenues from the increased duties imposed by this Act shall be allocated to the Petroleum Tariff Account. Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay out of such account any refunds which are allowed under this Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that any funds in such account that are not needed to make such refunds should be used to reduce the Federal budget deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1985
Declares that whether or not the position of an agency in an adjudicative proceeding was substantially justified shall be determined on the basis of the administrative record, as a whole, in the adversary adjudication for which fees and expenses are sought. Provides that the decision on the award of legal fees and other expenses by the adjudicative officer of a Federal agency that conducts an adversary proceeding shall be the final administrative decision. Bars any such decision when the Government appeals the underlying merits of an adversary adjudication until a final and unreviewable decision is rendered by the court on appeal or until the underlying merits of the case have been finally determined pursuant to the appeal. Amends the definition of a "party" which is eligible to be awarded legal expenses to exclude any individual whose net worth exceeds $2,000,000 (currently $1,000,000) and any entity whose net worth exceeds $7,000,000 (currently $5,000,000), including any local government. Redefines an "adversary adjudication" for which such expenses may be awarded to include any appeal before an agency board of contract appeals under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978. Authorizes a party, other than the United States, if dissatisfied with an adjudicative officer's determination of such expenses, to appeal the determination to the appropriate U.S. court within 30 days after such determination is made. Requires a court's determination on such an appeal to be based solely on the factual record made before the agency. Authorizes a court to modify the determination only if it finds that the failure to make an award of expenses or the calculation of the amount of the award was unsupported by substantial evidence. Requires agencies to pay litigation expenses to prevailing parties from funds made available to the agency by appropriation or otherwise. Defines "civil action" to include any appeal by a party other than the United States from a decision of a contracting officer on a dispute in a Federal contract. Provides that a person shall be a prevailing party in eminent domain proceedings if the person obtains a final judgment which is at least as close to the highest valuation of the property attested to at trial on behalf of the property owner as it is to the highest valuation of the property attested to at trial on behalf of the Government. Amends the Equal Access to Justice Act to provide that certain provisions of the Social Security Act limiting attorney fees in old age, survivors and disability insurance benefit actions shall not apply with respect to the award of legal expenses to the prevailing party. Repeals provisions which limit the payment of judgments, fees, and other expenses to amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts. Authorizes awards for fees and expenses incurred before October 1, 1981, in adversary adjudications commenced on or after such date. Revives certain expired provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act relating to the termination date for awarding fees and expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1985
Relieves a named corporation of all liability for payment to the United States of a specified sum representing postage due as a result of reliance on erroneously stated postal rates.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
Earmarks a specified amount of the FY 1986 funds appropriated to carry out agricultural development in rural areas under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for nutrition programs which reduce vitamin A deficiency.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
Trade Emergency and Export Promotion Act - Declares that actions by the President, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) pursuant to this Act shall not be reviewable by any court, except for abuse of discretion. Title I: International Trade Actions and Agreements - Declares that a national emergency exists because of distortions and imbalances in trade and instability in exchange rates and that such emergency requires extraordinary measures, including action to: (1) restore the value of the dollar; and (2) either eliminate foreign unfair trade barriers or prohibit countries which employ such barriers from enjoying trade surpluses with the United States or increasing shares of world export markets. Authorizes the President to negotiate and enter into with any foreign country or entity agreements limiting the export from such country or entity, and the importation into the United States of any article. Directs the USTR to initiate proceedings against Japan before appropriate international bodies in order to obtain authorization to take trade actions against Japan on the grounds that: (1) Japan has failed to comply with trade agreements entered into with the United States; and (2) Japan has adopted numerous domestic policies and practices that impair and violate such trade agreements and impede achievement of their objectives. Directs the USTR, with the cooperation of the Secretary of Agriculture, to initiate actions under all international trade agreements to which the United States is a party in order to take appropriate countermeasures against agricultural export subsidies provided by the European Communities and other countries which will be used to prevent: (1) injury to U.S. agricultural producers; (2) nullification or impairment of such trade agreements; and (3) serious prejudice to the United States. Authorizes the USTR to initiate actions against each foreign country (except Japan and the European Communities) or entity that was an excess worldwide trade surplus country or an excess bilateral trade surplus country for 1984 under all applicable U.S. laws and international agreements in order to: (1) enforce the rights of the United States under such international agreements; and (2) obtain the elimination of certain trade acts, policies, and practices of such countries or entities. Directs the USTR to explain in proceedings initiated under this title that the United States finds it necessary to take the actions provided in title II of this Act as interim measures pending the outcome of such proceedings in order to protect vital U.S. interests. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to develop a plan to reduce fluctuations between currencies on foreign currency exchange markets. Sets forth characteristics of such plan. Title II: Interim Domestic Trade Actions to Respond to the Trade Emergency - Subtitle A: Stand-by Duties - Directs the ITC to determine annually each major exporting country's: (1) worldwide nonpetroleum export percentage; (2) bilateral nonpetroleum export percentage; (3) worldwide nonpetroleum trade surplus; (4) bilateral nonpetroleum trade surplus; (5) worldwide trade surplus limitation; and (6) bilateral trade surplus limitation. Requires the ITC to report annually to the President on: (1) the determinations on the trade of such major exporting countries; (2) the identity of each foreign country which was an excess worldwide trade surplus country or excess bilateral trade surplus country during the preceding year; and (3) whether or not standby duties should be imposed on imports from such countries. Requires the President within 15 days of receiving such report to determine, with respect to each country identified as an excess worldwide trade surplus country or excess bilateral trade surplus country: (1) whether such country unfairly restricts or limits the access of imports to its markets; and (2) if the President determines that such country does restrict access to its markets, whether such restriction contributes to that country's trade surplus. Requires the President, if both such determinations are positive, to impose stand-by duties on all imports from such countries. Prohibits making such determinations or imposing such duties if the U.S. trade deficit divided by the U.S. gross national product is less than one and one-half percent. Requires the President to report to the Congress, within 15 days of receiving the reports on worldwide and bilateral trade, on the determinations made with respect to imposing stand-by duties. Declares that the rate of a stand-by duty shall be 25 percent ad valorem and that such duty shall be in addition to any other duties. Provides for the implementation of such duties. Requires all revenues from such stand-by duties to be allocated to the Public Debt Reduction Account in the Treasury. Expresses the sense of the Congress that all funds in such Account be used only to reduce the Federal debt. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the Congress on the revenue derived from such stand-by duties. Prohibits imposing stand-by duties on articles imported after April 30, 1992. Prohibits requiring reports and determinations on trade surpluses after April 1991. Subtitle B: Agricultural Export Subsidies - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to formulate and carry out a program under which farm commodities are provided for free to U.S. exporters and users and foreign purchasers to encourage the development, maintenance, and expansion of export markets for U.S. farm commodities. Directs the USTR to: (1) investigate the existence and status of export subsidies or other export enhancing techniques; (2) identify and give priority to markets in which U.S. export subsidies can be used most efficiently and will have the greatest impact in offsetting the benefits of foreign export subsidies that harm U.S. exports, are inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), nullify or impair benefits accruing to the United States under international agreements, or cause serious prejudice to U.S. interests; and (3) press for action by the GATT Committee on Trade and Agriculture to institute an effective set of rules eliminating export subsidies. Directs the USTR to report to the Congress and the Secretary of Agriculture on a quarterly basis on: (1) the existence and status of export subsidies and other export enhancing techniques; and (2) the identification and assignment of priority to certain markets. Provides for implementing the farm commodity export program. Subtitle C: Reports - Directs the President to report annually to specified congressional committees on the operation of such Act. Title III: Trade Law Reform - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to transfer to the USTR from the President the authority to order import relief and the authority to extend tariff preferences. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to transfer to the USTR from the President the authority to approve or disapprove ITC actions to prevent unfair practices in import trade.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1985
'Designer Drug' Enforcement Act of 1985 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish criminal penalties for the manufacture or possession with intent to distribute or the distribution of unregulated drugs with a chemical structure or effect substantially similar to that of a controlled substance.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that any tax reform legislation adopted by the Senate should not impose a tax on the annual increase in the value of permanent life insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1985
Calls on the Soviet Union to: (1) release Anatoly Shcharansky, Yosef Begun, and other Prisoners of Conscience and allow them to leave the Soviet Union; (2) issue exit permits to long term "Refuseniks" including Ida Nudel and Vladimir Slepak; and (3) allow thousands of Jews who have requested such permits to leave.